A Both/And Perspective

The older I become the more my once quite fixed theology seems most fallible. I was trained in some ways never to question my faith, at least never to question the biblical basis of my faith. Now after fifty years of disciplined Bible study, I find that walking with the God of the Galaxies will not afford an either/or static understanding or fixed opinion of this God who "is beyond finding out."

In fact, the Bible seems more about our human ways than any absolute revelation of God. How else could the entire religion of Judaism be so turned on its ear by the appearance of God in Christ with the text itself written by those most in touch with their Creator. The beauty and mystery compounded by their struggle, they being so devoted, so intent on defining God and to the letter their religion, that the text literally foretells, powerfully points to the Christ and the trajectory of his life and death. So much so that it spawned a "New Testament" that aligns seamlessly with the Old and is personfied by the transformed lives of those willing to accept its truth.

That's a problem for we Christians, though that word, "Christian" was not initiated by Jesus. Christianity was a preferred nomenclature for an emerging religious sect, necessary for a better taxonomy than simply people "of the Way." We love to be able to categorize, to set ourselves apart and to a certain degree become exclusive. It's makes humans more comfortable. I'm sure it must get on God's nerves...wait God is a spirit, likely has no nerves, muscles, etc. Yes, I have my limitations with deep thought and humor.

My ever expanding both/and mentality seems beneficial as I try to get my head around some of the many challenges of my own personal calling. Yes, since a child I have had privileged and inescapable conversations with the Creator. That's good news and bad news.

The good news is that opportunity seems to find me when I am willing to listen and follow the "voice", and often with that a modicum of success financially. The bad news is I am never satisfied with the outcome given that I am by design an innitiator and a people person. Ideation intrigues me, but building human capital (my synonym for discipleship) requires delegation and release of control as I try to honor others whom God brings daily around me.

Not trying to sound all humble, but some control is necessary for the clearest and best transfer of ideation. Sometimes that can be difficult to determine in critical moments of release, especially when one is aware and appreciative of human uniqueness, skill sets and gifts. I love to observe and process with people, which can also be misinterpreted given my raw verbal tendancies. Just ask my wife!

As I age, observe and participate in this most ever unique multi-generational, multicultural moment on our globe, I better understand the challenges of the Bride of Christ as she attempts to operate in a world that is growing suspicious of institutions and to a degree the churches in our land.

I just read an article that detailed the departure of millenials, now down to 39%, with only 41% of Americans viewing the church as trustworthy, Wow! (see link below). The writer cites a culture of consumerism that has now taken hold within the Institutional Church.

Such articles catch my attention as I watch the church and churchmen (like myself, as I too am well-churched) struggle with tweaking the "Old Ship of Zion" as she navigates her declining numbers, inflationary costs and the irony of what seems a more productive impact by those believers in the marketplace. Staff directed church outreach is just not cutting it today! The latter is too often sadly revealing as a means of "people in the pews" marketing, morseso than transformation of society.

What used to be called purposeful discipleship and evangelism as a means of loving people into a better alignment with Jesus and particularly the Sermon on the Mount has become about sustaining the campus bound exclusivity of the far too churches in America, yet we split off and plant more.

Yes, I have been cautioned about my run-on sentences.

We could learn a lesson from the financial community as they maximize communication of their benefits via online resources, merging unproductive branch offices to reduce the cost of business. You may say that's about money not about people. Banks are about both if they survive. So are churches, I think COVID helped us better understand!

This may lead me to my final point (yes, I heard that sigh of relief).

We find ourselves in a dilemma as the "called out ones", those deeply passionate about being "called according to His purpose." We have overly fed the "gospel" that one can only accomplish their God-given purpose by way of the Institutional Church, yet God seems finally able to penetratate that mindset of ecclesiastical bias.

Today, faith based entrepreneurs, Kingdom oriented risk takers are emerging across the globe. Stepping up with solutions and breakthroughs earlier expected only from within the secular community and its working! I know longer feel as concerned about stepping back from my once clergy oriented calling, now having left quite a footprint of impact along my journey, while much of what I had done to grow individual churches seems diminished.

Not at all to say that lives have not been changed in the latter window of my life!

I'm hoping this seismic shift now upon us is the next Great Awakening. History bears out that about every 500 years a multi-generational work culminates and the Body of Christ advances.

I was intrigued recently in one of my "Cabin Talks" when a professional engineer suggested maybe this is the Second Coming, with the return of Christ as per John's Revelation being the Third? Powerful thought!

*https://careynieuwhof.com/consumerism-and-the-church/