| Towards An Inclusive Christianity |
| Monday, 13 August 2007 | |
|
Christians often over-emphasize the exclusive nature of Christianity. As a result, the wider public also emphasizes this. I think for so many, Christianity is about:
How in the world did this happen? It seems quite inconsistent with Heaven. When I read the Christian Scriptures, I see an inclusive Christianity--a Christianity that people welcome or farewell by faith--but inclusive for all whom believe. I see a Christianity that:
Set as favorite Bookmark
Email This
Hits: 1938 Trackback(0)
Comments (39)
 
As I'm writing this I'm listening to a song called "Way of the World" by a group called MaxQ (an experimental late 80's band headed by Michael Hutchence from INXS). The chorus goes like this:
Whether it's God or the bomb it's just the same it's only fear under another name... It's not a failing of God giving Himself a "bad image", it's a failing of His followers who misrepresent Him. Do we portray Him as a redeemer? Is not Grace a wide, warm, embracing welcome? No, I confess, sometimes my embrace is not wide and warm and welcoming. 1 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 13, 2007
Votes: +0 
Strangely enough, I had a conversation with a friend of mine today along these same lines! In the past, I opted not to attend a local church because all I heard from the Sunday sermons was how sinful we all were. The sanctuary was grand, the people were kind, and the worship style was what I grew up with. However, I had no sense of God's open arms extending to me with love and forgiveness. No matter how beautiful the hymns, all I heard was condemnation.
I have not forgotten that experience and try very, very hard to embrace those who think God isn't there for them, whether in church or outside of it. If I am not there for someone who is lost, why would they think God would be? 2 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 13, 2007
Votes: +0 
is my embrace inclusive and welcoming? well, as someone who is a big F*** up and would like to follow jesus but just can't manage to pull it off i don't really have the option of being exclusive. i mean, if they let me in the door then who the F*** am i to block someone else from coming in.
frick, that sounds really smugly humble. i don't mean it that way. i really am a big F*** up. my ego is too frickin big to be humble. 3 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 13, 2007
Votes: +0 
I am the chief of F*** ups, so I am glad that some make room in the church for me.
But what if I was a Oneness Pentecostal? What then? 4 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 13, 2007
Votes: +0
Lainie,
i used to think that i could draw a circle around what was "orthodox" and "true" but eventually i found i drew the circle so tight that even i didn't fit into it. the trinitarian understanding of god hasn't always been the "orthodox" view. in the early days it depended more on who was emperor or who was "in" with the emperor than with what was "biblical." who the frick am i to say that a Oneness Pentecostal can't be a follower of Jesus? 5 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 13, 2007
Votes: +0 
Hey John, apologies that I haven't been around for a bit...life's been crazy. It's been my experience for a long time getting across the welcome mat in most churches one had to BEHAVE, BELIEVE...THEN YOU BELONGED.
But when one dives into the depths of the gospel, you find in Jesus some gracefully different...Jesus gives you a revelation that you have ALWAYS BELONGED. And in the incredible beauty of the Story, you come to BELIEVE. And in believing, coming to place of faith, transformation happens...and ones life or BEHAVIOR CHANGES. Is my embrace wide, warm and welcoming...I'd like to think so. But there is something about the outstretched arms of Christ on the cross...that should absolutely blow our minds as to how inclusive His love is. Peace Ron ...always great to drop in here for a visit John. 6 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 13, 2007
Votes: +0 
I am doing my best to be warm and welcoming. I find that I'm better at it when I am first warm and welcoming to the Spirit and actually spend time speaking with Jesus alone.
I appreciate Rob's confession: It's not a failing of God giving Himself a "bad image", it's a failing of His followers who misrepresent Him. Do we portray Him as a redeemer? Is not Grace a wide, warm, embracing welcome? No, I confess, sometimes my embrace is not wide and warm and welcoming. Yes, we are all a mess, in fact. Despite our Family's insipid dysfunction, we have to make do with who we are, and learn to welcome more of each other, and those who don't yet want to know the Ultimate Embracer. 7 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
John bro, you're giving me way too much blogging fodder lately.
 My apologies for another long-winder, but this one hit real close to home for me too. Here's how it came down for me: 15 years ago, in a very tumultuous time of my life--my 1st wife had an affair with one of my elders and deserted my sons and me; my church fell apart at the seams, the other elders citing 1 Timothy 3:5, indicating that if I couldn't look after my own family, how could I look after God's church?, decided to give me the boot, and that split the church and eventually destroyed it altogether; and I had but one Christian friend who stood by my side. On my birthday, after 10 long months of doing everything I could do to restore our family, I received the divorce papers from my soon-to-be ex's attorney. I really didn't think I was going to get through the day alive. I had taken a job driving truck after the church blew up in my face, and had to drive to Connecticut that night. My friend was fearful that I was on the edge and she came over to be with me and to encourage me. Well, you can guess the rest of the story. The "encouragement" went a tad further than we wanted it to go. She had talked me through some horrible periods since my wife and I separated, and I suppose she felt as if she had used up all her other comforting resources except for one. Being that we were both extremely legalistic at the time, we were distraught over what we had done. A few minutes of seemingly divine pleasure, turned into an overwhelming sense of abject hypocrisy for both of us. It poured down rain all the way to CT that night--8 inches of it--as though God was shedding tears along with my own. Indeed, it seemed as if my own tears were enough to cause the flooding. When I got to Waterbury, there is a giant cross on the hill that is illuminated, I think, by neon light. Anyway, it typically gave an off-white glow, but as I rounded the turn, there it stood on the hill, blood red! I couldn't believe my eyes and I pulled over trying to get a better look at it. I actually got out of the truck in the pouring down rain and stood there in awe, getting drenched, while the cross appeared to have blood literally being pumped out of it! I'm almost certain no one else could have seen what was going on, but God, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, knew this was what needed to happen. At that point, I heard what i believe was God's voice speaking to me saying, "My son, when are you going to believe that I paid the price in full for your iniquities?" I can't begin to describe what a transformation took place at that point, but suddenly it was as if my entire soul was inundated by a sense of God's unconditional love and grace. I said to myself, "Of course! Either Jesus died for my sins or He didn't. If He did, then anything I try to add to it takes away from what He did!" I began to think back at how judgmental and intolerant of sin I had been in other's lives, including my wife's. It was the first time I was able to admit that I was at least partly to blame for what was going on in my life, and it wasn't the last. The sin my friend and I committed had its consequences; our friendship will never be the same in this life. But, the revelation I received from it turned me from an intolerant, fundamentalist religious creep into one who embraces all, and judges none. I've come to discover that everyone knows what is wrong with them. What they need to know is that their wrongness doesn't keep them from the embrace of a loving God. That is life-transforming. That was the end of my pastoring career, but the beginning of my missional journey. All I did in my former theological state was drive a wedge between not-yet-Christ followers and the Lord. Today, I seldom leave a conversation with anyone without leaving them with the sense that God loves them despite all. I will likely write a book one day on this topic, as I have some great stories I have been blessed to be a part of since that dark night where others have come to grips with that same unconditional, unmerited grace--some of them even after having spent most of their lives in the ministry. 8 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
I confess that, at times, my embrace is most challenged by the unforgiving, the self-righteous, the fundamentalist, etc. These are hard to know how to embrace, but I know that they must.
Peace, Jamie 9 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Hey John...
Remember that bloke I went to college with, never been to church and when he came to our church at WDNC, the first thing that came out of his mouth at the end of the service was "that was f***ing great"... really loud! We had a great community so it really didn't matter but can you imagine in other churches!!!??? Many come to mind! What really matters is the heart, not the suit and tie! When will we ever get that!!? 10 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
John,
You are dead on with the first half, many of us, myself included define Christianity by what it is not. It leaves the world very confused. The 2nd part I also completely embrace, however, can you provide a bit more detail on this one "Embraces people regardless of how "good" or "bad" they are? Of course we should welcome all sinners with open arms, we do amongst each other, but to what extent do we embrace the "Bad" and to what extent do we embrace unrepentent sin? I know, I may be looking to deeply into your statement. 11 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
I run in southern baptist circles and boy oh boy are we ever known by what we are against rather than what we are for! Unfortunately, the against list is very long.
Your discussion reminds me a bit of Kimball's "They Like Jesus But Not The Church." In it he contrasts perceptions of the church with the reality of Jesus. I don't have the book in front of me right now but the list is something like: That could be followed by the main premise of Kimball's book which is the world holds six common perceptions of the church: 1. The Church is an organized religion with a political agenda. 2. The Church is judgmental and negative. 3. The Church is dominated by males and oppresses females. 4. The Church is homophobic. 5. The Church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong. But the reality is: 1. Jesus wasn't into organized religion. 2. Jesus wasn't judgmental and negative. 3. Jesus wasn't into a male-dominated religion that oppresses females. 4. Jesus wasn't homophobic. 5. Jesus wasn't disrespectful of people of other faiths. 12 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
I'm with Jamie - isn't it funny how those of us who are most inclusive still struggle to be inclusive of the most exclusive folks? What kind of example are we, then; instead we've got to think there is a place for them, too. I'm am trying.
13 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
I was at the Q conference this last April and got to see a preview of David Kinnaman's new book "UnChristian". The book paints an interesting portrait of how the world sees the church. Judgment was at the top of the list.
14 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
Rob,
Leave it to you to be listening to a band like that Sounds interesting actually. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 15 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Juelie,
Good thoughts. We tell people a lot about God by how we act toward them--or at least that's people's perception. We shouldn't ever underestimate that responsibility. 16 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Mike Murrow,
You seem to have an easier time describing yourself as a F@*! up than ever saying anything nice about yourself! I find you quite likeable personally. None of us deserved any of this. None of us have the right to be prideful about what we had to rely on God to do for us. 17 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Lainie Petersen,
Aren't we all....... If you were a Oneness Pentecostal or anyone you should be warmly embraced. But there's a difference in my mind between being embraced as a human being, and embracing every belief or action someone does. With the latter, none of us embrace everything about others--at least I know I don't, and people don't embrace everything about me either. 18 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Ron,
Thanks for stopping by. My apologies for not being around your place for too long as well. I've never stopped reading you in my feeds! Great thoughts on this topic. That type of thinking needs to become far more widespread. 19 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Jenelle,
I like how you spoke of our Family's disfunction. I can relate to that, and hadn't thought of it that way before. 20 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Webb,
I almost never know how to respond to your comments. I just enjoy drinking it all in. Thanks for sharing such a personal story. 21 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Jamie A-R,
That is probably the hardest group for me to embrace too, though I need more humility, particularly in light of me having lived that life. 22 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Rob,
I had forgot that story, I'm glad you raised it! Those are moments that bring hope and joy to me. I really appreciate it when people feel comfortable totally being themselves around us as believers--and when we just people be themselves. 23 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
JP Manzi,
Thanks for your thoughts. You asked me to explain further what I meant by the statement, "Embraces people regardless of how "good" or "bad" they are". I just mean that we should welcome and love people regardless of their background. I don't think we should try and make people who aren't Jesus-followers live as if they were. And I also think we need a lot more grace and humility among each other, realizing that we all sin. What do you think? 24 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Brad B,
Thanks for your thoughts. Good list. Very true that Jesus wasn't into those things. How have we become, so often, so different from Jesus in how we relate to others? 25 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Erin,
I totally related to that too. God help us to be consistent and non-hypocritical. 26 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Jonathan,
I haven't seen that yet. Will have to put it on my "to read" list. 27 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
Interesting stuff, John. Erin and Jamie do indeed have a compelling point about our ability, while seeking to become inclusive, to deal with those who exclude us and others the most. Obviously, Jesus had no problem with this, but you who else is a great example we might all learn from? Barnabas. Now there was a guy who was inclusive, even when it was almost universally unpopular to accept and support Paul. I'm trying, too, Erin. Some day I fail miserably and act just like those with whom I profess to have such a challenge. Other days, and hopefully more and more days as time goes on, I am finding His grace and mercy causing me to have great compassion for those who are exactly like me. Love the blog and this post, John.
28 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Nameless, Faceless Love,
Erin and Jamie sure do. Barnabas was a great example of this. But you know, as I think of it, Jesus actually seemed to give the hardest time to those who were arrogant religious legalistic fundamentalists. I don't think I have an excuse to act like Jesus on this one though because I have so many faults myself. Thanks for the encouragement with the blog and post  29 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0 
God's embrace is wide and warm and welcoming- mine is all too often not what it should be, and I live with the ongoing struggle of that fact. But that is part of what it means to be becoming like Christ- we are on a journey and as long as we acknowledge that and learn not only to embrace others with the love of God but also ourselves we will get somewhere!
Peace and blessings to all Sally 30 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 14, 2007
Votes: +0
Sally's right-on. If we can't accept God's grace in our own life, it is hard to extend that grace to others. Think about this: We can memorize the Books of the Bible, even memorize the words. We can learn to exegete the Scriptures, learn Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, and I know some churches where most of the congregation can do this. Yet, even with that knowledge we can remain faithless and incapable of even loving ourselves as God loves us let alone loving others that way.
So...one must ponder--How much of our Christian ed. is really even relevant to learning to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us? 31 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 15, 2007
Votes: +0
Ouch Webb aks a huge question!!
"How much of our Christian ed. is really even relevant to learning to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us?" Who dare take that one up... John???? 32 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 15, 2007
Votes: +0 
Great post John....very thought provoking...inclusive Christianity is what it is SUPPOSED to be...Christian MEANS resembling Christ and since that IS what He did, we should do the same.
"So...one must ponder--How much of our Christian ed. is really even relevant to learning to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us? " It's not. Period. All the Bible Education, all the languages, all the theological garbage is so we can stand in the synagogue and say "Look at Me" 33 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 15, 2007
Votes: +0
Carrie, did you find worms in that can when you just opened it?
Let's hope so. 34 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 16, 2007
Votes: +0 
john,
i have a confession to make. i find that my embrace is warm and welcoming to everyone BUT the pharisee. i am sorry for this and battle it deep within. i'm trying to find some balance. brad 35 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 16, 2007
Votes: +0
Webb, I believe that is truely the long and short of it...sure we can say that if we know more about the Greek and Hebrew and the timing of when this book was placed and that book was written it MIGHT help a non-believer. But really what non-believers want most is Hope, Faith and Love. The greatest of these is Love. Notice information and wisdom and greatness are not listed.
36 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 16, 2007
Votes: +0 
Good comment, Carrie.
37 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 16, 2007
Votes: +0
Carrie,
don't forget the good, the beautiful and the true (not really doctrinaire truth but ... you know truth, like life stuff truth.) 38 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 16, 2007
Votes: +0
Good addition Mike...thanks...just like you teach little kids to tell the truth...I know what you mean!
39 report abuse
vote down
vote up
August 17, 2007
Votes: +0 Write comment
|
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
