The New Lost — I like that and I think it would make a cool band name, if it doesn’t already exist. I like to make a lot of changes on this site. There are some big changes that I make, which you notice, but there are a lot of small changes that unless you were very diligent in watching for, which I don’t know why you would be, you wouldn’t notice. I don’t think you would have noticed I changed my About blurb. I changed it to include that I am defining myself as a Christian. This is a term I have definitely struggled with the last couple of years (or the majority of my adult life), but it is one that I also cannot relieve myself of.
Without breaking out and dusting off a testimony of faith in my life, I hope you can take my word for it when I say that being in and amongst Christians and Christianity has been a tumultuous journey. I tried not to use the word journey. It’s tacky. I’m sorry. This post is in response to two things. One, is this post by Ben Gray who happens to be a youth pastor. Two, from hearing the sermon this Sunday at Trinity. And three—I know I said two, but I am a liar—I am in the process of and have the desire to begin to inspire myself to be a man that I am proud to be. I am not a liar, I just like telling tales. So, I’m a writer.
Let’s start with three and then move back to one and two. The problem with calling myself a Christian is that it puts me in a very uncomfortable tub. I have to squeeze into some fairly tepid water with people that would not and do not agree with me and would likely be quite upset if they were to learn some of the things I think and believe. Of course, there are people in the tub that agree with me, but I might say there is a majority that disagree. And if anyone, to extend this analogy to a breaking point, saw me in a tub with the others they would, if they were only to glance, label me the same as those that disagree with me. This is the problem. I want to be me, with my beliefs, without attached preconceived ideas. I don’t want to be seen as a right-winger. I shoot left. But I don’t want to be a left-winger. Nor do I want to be a centre. Alright, enough with the analogies.
The sermon on Sunday and to a lesser extent, Ben Gray’s blog, brought up an idea of what it means, today, to be or not to be a Christian. In my mind, there are a lot of things that need a new definition. Or, I should say, are in the process of being redefined. Things like marriage, Christianity… actually those are the only two I can think of or they are the only two I am actively engaged in.
Defining what the new Christian(ity) (which in fact would be the original, not new) looks like is not something easy. This would also bring up what the new lost looks like—what a terrible phrase, lost. Christianity, in my mind, needs to move towards something like the emerging church—towards a subculture, non-mainline. The church is already a subculture it just hasn’t realized it yet, for the most part. Or perhaps hasn’t realized what it’s place as a subculture should mean or look like. There needs to be a move away from easy institutional ideas and towards a radical form of love. And should search out and distribute said love to those without it or enough of it (the lost). I suppose since I made it my title I should say something about the lost. Ben’s blog and my comments were about the inappropriateness of current day evangelism. The glossy tracts and big screens. When really, the only message of Jesus’ that matters is love in action. I am spewing things that have been said before. Maybe in the future I can go into this further. But for right now, as this post is already much longer than I intended, I just want to explain what it means to have Christian as a definitive attribute in my About blurb.
I am interested in Christianity as a pure attempt to transcend labels and reach myself and people on a level that is real without a purpose other than showing and being an enabler of hope, love and peace. It might be abstract, but it’s better than institutional.
I have to say I’m pretty excited to be a part of the post-Christendom ‘church.’ Definitely lots of opportunity to reclaim lost ground. Christianity was never meant to be a religion of ‘empire’ – it’s too subversive. In order to do ‘empire’ it had to be totally morphed into something it’s not – an institution of power. It may be abstract but Christianity is about love and hope. So let’s get on that…
Rhett now that your married you are only allowed to get in the Tub with your wife, anyone else may cause problems… just thought I would give you a little heads up.
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Laura: Well put. I like the word subversive.
Curtis: Also, well put and funny. Except that JD likes to get in the tub sometimes. He’s an odd cat. So I may have broken those rules already.
So is the sterotype of the word “Christian” a negative thing in your mind? People will always view one with their own preconceived ideas. Does it paint a wrong picture in their mind knowing you’re a Christian; is that what you were having trouble with? I guess we gotta not worry about the titles and just BE what God asks us to be and show His unconditional love, kindness and goodness. I recently learned in a study I was taking on the fruit of the Spirit that kindness tenders and goodness does. I liked that. It says action to me. Hope you’re feeling better today.