Shift Happens

Yes, that bumper sticker/decal can take one's mind multiple ways! Shock value is sometimes good, though one's intent can be easily misinterpreted even among those most trusted!

I truly am seriously considering these two words as a title for an upcoming podcast, one intent upon a transparent dialogue around lessons learned in my 50 years of both community and church leadership. Lessons learned spiritual, as well as practical, which frankly, I see as one and the same.

Back to the title, if my mom were living, she'd be on my case for near "cussin'" though the word from the bumper sticker is of course spelled differently than her first thoughts might have been.

When I was growing up, "Dadgum" was near cuss'n, and the word, "Gosh" was a forbidden byword used by adults to avoid using the Lord's Name in vain!

Of course, if you used His name when praying over the sick and nothing happened, you truly had used The Name, that is the authority granted by the name, in vain!

Lest I go too far in my criticism of religious inconsistencies witnessed during my childhood, I must offer gratitude for being raised where "being prayed up" was encouraged. Among those so practicing, God moved when they exercised the authority of The Name! Trust me, I have seen unexplainable miracles, though fewer of late!

Shift happens, and in our day we are witnessing many transformational moments within the Body of Christ, reflected as challenges to be faced within the institutional church's theological infrastructure.

This morning while reading I Timothy, I began to consider just how much cultural margin one now has to allow for when reading the text of scripture, especially those who profess the text to be the "infallible word of God"! I was confronted with that dichotomy this week as I explored an opportunity to participate in a Bible education program for youth.

Sadly, we tend to cling to language long engraved in doctrine, while clearly adjusting to new parameters within Christian culture.

Shift happens!

The Word of God is infallible, the text itself, a different story, demanding cultural margin and caution apart from an open ear to the Spirit, the true Word! Too often we are encouraged to accept the text literally, while those most insistent upon such, often violate their own mandate.

I was raised in a belief system that demanded literal interpretation, yet ironically respected the right of women to participate in ministry, pulpit ministry. If taken literally, my read this morning from Paul's letter to Timothy clearly instructs otherwise.

My point is not to argue about Paul's gender bias, though his instruction regarding the office of bishop is also strictly directed toward male gender. Hear an openess and appreciation for the rightful shift that has occurred as the Body of Christ has matured over the centuries, though we should still tread lightly as we navigate our cultural biases. Staying prayed up, as was the jargon of my childhood days!

Shift truly has happened in my life time and in a positive way. We have come to see that the kingdom of God truly rises above our biases, the limitations of our human filters, even our doctrinal differences drawn from the writings of those most revered as Christ-followers.

Example, the distance between the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians and the aforementioned letter to Timothy: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Maybe as we learn to worry less about cuss words and gender preference we can get on with the real work of Christ, loving mercy, doing justice, and walking humbly.

The whole reason for the true Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us was to demonstrate such qualities, not to reestablish a new religion.

Having said all this, I am now feeling more comfortable with my podcast title!

Sorry, Mom!