I made a discovery today. Its something I've felt for a long time but couldn't put words to. I found the words today while talking to my housemate jess. It was one of those long serpentine conversations where you talk with someone about all sorts of really important things but you wind your way through so many topics that you can't retrace how you got where you got. It just feels good after. Anyway, we've officially started celebrating Christmas here because we had a thanksgiving dinner so we watched a christmas movie, Love Actually. Its a bit sappy but its well made and I like it a bit so... For some reason afterword we started talking about sept. 11 and from there, don't ask me how, we somehow got to talking about the church and inclusivity or lack thereof. All of that to tell you about my discovery, take it for what its worth ive only started to figure it out but i feel really good about it. here goes
So many times in church we feel the need to define who is "in" and who is "out." We describe those who are "in" as people who have faith and those who are "out" as people who don't have faith or a faith different than ours. Fair enough. We like to make categories. Its always hard to make distinctions between people but we do it. So these neat and tidy lines become smeared when someone comes to the church and says, "I have faith. I am one of the "in" ones. Can I come into the church?" But we say to that person, "No you can't come in because you are______ and you have_______. You are "out." Sorry." We may not outright deny that person and say, "you have no faith" but we do place a higher value on what that person is or what they have in order to include them in our church. What I feel like that basically says is "if you fit into the church than you have a valid faith." Putting prerequisites on faith is troublesome to me because it severely limits how our collective faith can grow and be challenged. It also doesn't seem very nice. What if instead the church said to people, "your faith is valid because you are_______and you have_______and God loves you for it. Come on "in" and tell us your story. Whether we know it or not we all have a relationship with God, a bit of faith, something to give us enough hope to wake up in the morning. We as christians, because of our basic theology should know that Christ died for everyone, all inclusive, whether you believe it or not. So why do we insist on putting stipulations on being apart of the church and having faith? Why can't the only rule for those that are "in" be that they are loved by God? Wouldn't that be everybody and isn't that the point?
I decided to share this with all of you because it is the first coherent thought that has made its way all the way out of my head since i've been here and Im excited. It shows two things. 1) that I am finally becoming comfortable enough here to think about things and 2) that I am actually learning something here!!!! I hope it makes sense to all of you. Please please please pick it apart if you want. Let me know what you think. Im down for email disscussions or what not. And if ive hit on something big here possibly some email arguments...
There is hope in Belfast my internet friends, my brain still works. Maybe its because my diploma finally came in the mail. hahahahaha.
Know that I am well and think of you often
Alex
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3 comments:
Alex
It's nice to know that you are getting more comfortable with things and are able to "come up for a breath of air" and think a bit. I hope that this post helps your thoughts, although some may find it rather intellectual and dry.
I must say that I am somewhat confused by your post. First, do you mean the use of the church to refer to the "Church Catholic (the universal church)", the vast number of the ones from the East, West, North and South who belong to Christ? Or do you mean it to refer to a local instance of the church, a gathering of the faithful in a particular time and place? I think you mean a particular instance, but I may be wrong. If that is the case, what stipulations and restrictions do we place on church membership that should be removed? (Give examples and identify why they do not apply). For instance, when a person joins the PCUSA, the first question is "Who is your Lord and Savior?". If a person responds "Fidel Castro" or "George Bush", are we wrong in denying that person membership? (After all, the respondent is loved by God). Or are we wrong to even ask the question?
The last portion of you post seems to argue for the idea of universalism, that everyone is included in the Church Universal and will be saved, whether they know it or not. This doctrine has been debated for a long while in the church and has some outstanding Christian scholars (William Barclay for one) who support it. If this is the position you hold, then you must also determine whether or not humans have free will and a free choice in this most essential manner. We know that everyone is loved by God. Does it follow then that everyone will respond to God? What about those who chose to turn away? If they are saved anyway, doesn't this negate their choice?
This is not easy to discuss via on-line posts, of course, but I hope what I have written will be helpful. Please let me know if I haven't been clear (I know I have been incomplete, but...this subject is worthy of a lot of study).
Reggie
Hey, Son, always good to hear your thoughts. When we share them we get feed back that can help clarify our thinking and beliefs. Reggie and I have had many interesting conversations of a similar vein and he is always thoughtful and searching. I hope he stimulates you as well.
I look forward to every blog and especially like to hear the day to day stuff that have grown to be normal to you but would give us a clue to the differences and similarities to life in a different country and culture.
Who are the people you work with and what are they like?
How are your flatmates handling this experience?
What is worship like in your place?
What are the things from home you can't find or are hard to find there?
How are the various holidays celebrated?
These little things define much of our world view and when we observe carefully we get to know and appreciate people better.
We love you, Dad
This is the first time I have had a chance to read your blog, Alex, and I'm impressed! This is the kind of discussion the church needs to have to grow into the
21st century. I'll refrain from offering my opinion on this here, as I think it is a topic that has too many nuances to adqeuately cover without being face to face. But I'm envious that you are in a place there where you can have those discussions with new friends in a new light and context.
Be well, friend,
Stan
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