Abstract (in a way): I wrote the following passage to expel a great deal of frustration from my system. It is poorly organized and leaves much to be desired as an argument. With that said, I do think there is some truth in it. This is a topic that has caused me a great deal of sorrow for a very long time, and so there is quite a bit of bias in my interpretation. If you would like to hear my points better articulated, please contact me or leave a comment. I would be happy to discuss this issue, and I look forward to expanding my own perspective to better incorporate the truth.
“The believers form a community
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
-Acts 2:42-47
I will begin by saying that I am deeply loved. There are a number of people around me who have proven themselves exceptions to the sweeping generalizations that I am about to make. It should be understood that I am not referring to any one person in particular. I am addressing the “community of believers,” on this campus, in this country, in this world, etc.
Why am I alienated from the community on my campus? Why would anyone be alienated by a group of Christians? I have heard it suggested that the Christians at Jewell are under the impression that my spiritual identity is being influenced by Satan, that my walk is not a Right one. If it were really that simple, I don’t think I would have any trouble fitting in with the Christians here. Surely a prayer and thorough rebuke would solve that little issue and I would be back on track in no time. Unfortunately, I think my “problem” is a lot deeper.
I will now make a conjecture that I can by no means claim is the opinion of every individual about whom I speak. I am an outcast because my faith does not look like the standard faith of the people of this community. Because I do not attend Worship Jam or Harp and Bowl or weekly prayer I am automatically walking out of the light.
I have a friend who is in a similar place. He was well placed within the community until he developed some uncertainties about his faith. He started asking questions about the established order he had created for his spiritual life, and his community left him hanging out to dry. The people that he relied on for support decided that he was being led astray by the devil and that he didn’t really know God.
Come on now. Is that really the first thing we jump to? Your faith doesn’t look like my faith, so you must be of the devil? You don’t behave like I expect a good Christian to behave so you do not know God? Even if that was the case, shouldn’t the community come up alongside the person in need instead of throwing him or her to the wolves?
I want to throw in a disclaimer: I believe there is such a thing as stepping off the path. There are certainly way of moving that are destructive to faith. I do not believe that this kind of development falls into that category.
Could it be that faith is something that develops over time? Surely you are not the same Christian that you were when you were in diaper school. I doubt that you are the same Christian you were 1 year ago. But I think we reach a point in our faith where comfort replaces progress and we decide to stay for a while. But is it right for us to condemn the man that decides to keep going?
I’d like to point out that I don’t think faith moves along a continuum. I don’t think that any one “stage” or “development level” is better than any other. I don’t see myself or my friend as being “more developed.” I think that as we grow as people, our faith must change to match that growth. It isn’t a matter of “my faith is better than your faith,” or anything of that nature. It is accepting the fact that faith can, and often should, look different for different people in different places.
I believe in asking questions. I do not accept what I am told blindly. I believe that true growth occurs when one challenges his or her beliefs, and strengthens them or finds that they are inadequate. I believe that God is larger than my mind is capable of understanding. Even to say that God is bigger than I can understand is an understatement. I believe that Christians do God a disservice when they make resolute claims regarding His nature, as if God’s ways were can be deduced by our simple minds. I believe that, through Jesus, humankind was given a glimpse into the nature of God. I also believe that Christians have a habit of taking scripture to mean whatever they want it to mean.
My point is that my faith is a faith of determined uncertainty. I am content pursuing a mysterious God. I am grateful that, through Christ, we have been shown some of the corners of that mystery. I know that, whatever else God is, He is good, and just, and loving, graceful, and mighty. I also know that God isn’t necessarily good like I think of good. God isn’t necessarily love in the way that I understand love.
I believe the Jesus Christ was God, and that Jesus Christ chose to die as a sacrifice for humanity. I believe that in His death He paid the toll for me to spend eternity in His glorious presence. I believe that it is my job to live as He would have me live, and that part of that is bringing His Kingdom to earth.
And that, dear friends, is the point. That is what we must agree on as a community of believers. Jesus died so we could live. We are believers. We do not need to agree on everything. In fact, all we need to agree on is that simple fact.
Christians, I have found, are more likely to accept non-believers into their community than Christians of a different perspective. I am not saying that communities should exclude non-believers, but why on earth would a believer be ostracized for a different interpretation? Are we not all here to achieve the same task? Are we not all playing for the same team? If I bat left handed and you bat right handed, is one of us not allowed to play baseball?
The game is the same. The rules are the same. The technique is different. What works for me works for me. What works for you may not work for me, but if it works for you then keep it up.
So lets play the game like God designed us to play the game. And maybe you will come to a point where, for whatever reason, you’d like to change your technique up a little. It is my belief that these moments should be celebrated, not discouraged. Let’s take a lesson from the founders of the Church. Let’s rally behind that which truly unites us, that which does not change with time. We are followers of Christ. What else is there?
