A Journey

Have you ever wondered why you believe what you believe?
I have discovered that I have previously held to many doctrines, based solely on the way I was taught when I first chose to follow Christ.
I see many problems in the theology of the church today, and in order to properly understand what the bible says, I am embarking on a journey to discover truth. My frustration with the social issues unaddressed by the current church has left me questioning what it means to understand the bible.
No more complacency in my theology.

Theology for the Future

The Emerging Church has, in many ways, polarized the American Church. As I have begun to ponder the significance of the things that are being said by the likes of Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Don Miller and Dan Kimball; I see a pattern beginning to "Emerge". While I would not consider myself an Emergent necessarily, I often have more problems with the conventional church than I do with the emergent crowd, so I will take the term if I must. Simply put, I agree with more theology of the conventional church, but I agree with the practice of the Emergent church.

I see so much religion in the conventional, denominational church that I wonder if the denominational church will survive. I see hypocrisy, even about our own hypocrisy. I see churches that preach that the Gospel changes lives, then in the same breath reject newcomers who aren't white, middle-class republicans. As the son of a white middle class republican, I am hurt by the way in which so many treat this emerging generation.The role of the church in social ministry has troubled me, as I see the church casting a passing glance on the problems of the poor, oppressed and broken. Any church that isn't intentionaly reaching its community in visible ways has no business calling itself a church. When an emergent church invites homosexuals into its midst, those same people from the conventional church cry foul, pretending that homosexuals aren't people. While I am not saying that homosexuals acts are OK, I find it troubling that the same people who say that Jesus loves "me" are the ones who condemn these who are sinners of the same nature.

As I look at the dogmatics that characterize the conventional church I see so many people who blindly hold to beliefs, not because they are based on Scripture, but because the pastor told them. I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and as such contained no errors in the original form. However, I find it troubling that often, the Bible is used as a weapon of humiliation. People take some verses (which are often true, in context) and use them to prove their point.

When a pastor gets up in his pulpit, and says that (his) God supports the Republican party, I literally want to throw up. While I have no problem with a Christian holding to federalism and small government, telling people that God supports the Republican party is not legitimate.God does not choose sides in this issue. If we say that God likes Republicans, how are Christians supposed to interact with those of us who are not Republicans? Are there no Christ followers among the Democrats? What about the Green party?Politically, the Christian should be known for the moral issues on which he stands , and not for which party lever he pulls.

The future of American Christianity is clouded. If Evangelicals can grasp a sense of unity in Christ as they let go of some of the things which are holding them back from being authentic in their communities, then they will shape the future. However, as this new reformation starts, it is difficult to foresee the church responding in a biblical manner to the questions raised by the Emerging Church. We must reach the culture, because we have already lost touch with the ways postmodern people think. If we love them, we must find new ways of presenting the unchanging Gospel.

And that is my goal, and hopefully the goal of every emerging Christian. We must be authentic, real-life, little-Christs, if we are to see the Gospel truly transform our culture.

This is the revolution...

Who Is Jesus?

Check out this sister who has it right on the money.
This is the Jesus who we serve!

All My Tears (are Washed Away)

When I go, don't cry for me
In my Father's arms I'll be
The wounds this world left on my soul
Will all be healed and I'll be whole.
Sun and moon will be replaced
With the light of Jesus' face
And I will not be ashamed
For my Savior knows my name.

It don't matter where you bury me,
I'll be home and I'll be free.
It don't matter where I lay,
All my tears be washed away.

Gold and silver blind the eye
Temporary riches lie
Come and eat from heaven's store,
Come and drink, and thirst no more

It don't matter where you bury me
I'll be home and I'll be free
It don't matter where I lay
All my tears be washed away

So, weep not for me my friends,
When my time below does end
For my life belongs to Him
Who will raise the dead again.

It don't matter where you bury me,
I'll be home and I'll be free.
It don't matter where I lay,
All my tears be washed away.

*A beatiful song for the revolution

Christ

What is your christology?
I sometimes wonder if the church's christology has a "Made in America" stamp on it.
It seems that the view of christ we are expressing today is a view of him as our friend, our big brother and maybe the kinfg of heaven. While I do not reject these attributes, it seems that we have forgotten the penal, substitutionary death on the cross.
I want my view of Christ to say, "Made in Heaven".

More thoughts to come...