"The problem with fundamentalism is that it can't adapt to change." ~pg. 18Being a Christian isn't about biding my time until death. It's not about attending certain religious services. It isn't even about making sure to associate with other Christians. Christianity is about embodiment. It's about living as Christ lived and embodying that spirit with people. It's about messing that up on a daily basis and continuing to work toward that example. It's about having conversations with people...conversations that question and challenge each other in a back and forth seeking of understanding and coming to new realizations about what it means for me to be a Christian or a person of faith.
"...faith must adapt in order to survive." ~pg.212
"What my generation is learning the hard way is that faith is not about defending conquered ground but about discovering new territory. Faith isn'g about being right, or settling down, or refusing to change. Faith is a journey, and every generation contributes its own sketches to the map." ~pg. 220My faith has been and is still a journey. It's my journey. Faith isn't a set of answers someone can hand to me to prepare for the "test." Faith is my own study, exploration, and discovery. And wherever I am on that point is just fine. It's a continuum that none of us will ever fully achieve. It's not possible. So there is no need to judge or ridicule anyone else for their journey. We challenge and question each other, have the conversation, and aspire to be better people.
See Rachel Held Evans' blog here.
3 comments:
It's all beautifully said, and especially this: 'It's about living as Christ lived and embodying that spirit with people.'
I'm in the middle of a book that sounds like it might have similar themes. Poseranity by Tony Brown. (Anyone who has grown up in the Bible Belt has to have a certain amount of religious baggage to unload. I'm glad there are people writing about that.)
Janet--I think your commitment and work keeps you out of being "fixed" or unable to adapt to change. Anyone that close to people--lots of different experiences, circumstances and world views--embraces love as the thing. The sacrificial kind. Ideas and doctrines sort of pale if they aren't based in a deeply passionate love.
@Karen~Thanks...and we'll still do lunch soon!
@Cathy_H~Thanks for the book tip and comments. Each day is a new day of working toward learning and doing all things in love.
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