Where are we going?

[Todd Erickson]

Just heard a really interesting two part question on a podcast.

A. What does it actually mean to be a Christian in this day and age?

We seem to have to qualify everything at this point. I'm a CotN Christian. I'm a conservative/liberal Christian. etc. Both for what we are, and what we are not. What, especially going into the next few decades, does "Christian" actually mean?

B. Within the frame that we have a (perhaps) poor grasp on what it is to be Christian here and now, what is the value added for being one?

[Dennis Bratcher]

Just heard a really interesting two part question on a podcast.

A. What does it actually mean to be a Christian in this day and age?

We seem to have to qualify everything at this point. I'm a CotN Christian. I'm a conservative/liberal Christian. etc. Both for what we are, and what we are not. What, especially going into the next few decades, does "Christian" actually mean?

B. Within the frame that we have a (perhaps) poor grasp on what it is to be Christian here and now, what is the value added for being one?

A. I don't think it is much different than it has ever been. It is summarized well by Luke's understanding of the mission of Jesus, which in Luke/Acts is also the mission of the Church:

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

I don't think the essence of what it means to be a follower of the Christ changes with context. Obviously, the context changes and so we have to live as Christians in culturally and historically specific ways. We have to "work out our salvation" in specific circumstances, which means continually struggling with the tension between stability and change, holding fast to who we are as people of God while at the same time engaging a constantly changing world in order to find relevant ways to live out that mission. Yet at its heart, being Christian, beyond taking the name and beyond whatever specific self-identification label one wears, means to conduct yourself in a particular manner, to live consciously and deliberately as the people of God, to serve as a counter voice to the dominant and "default settings" of humanity, to (as Walt Bruggemann put it) "live toward a vision" of shalom, the well being of all people.

Of course, as they say, the devil is in the details. That is, while the overall vision is quite clear, working that out in those specific contexts is a far more daunting task.

B. It is an interesting feature of human nature that people usually try to perform tasks without first reading all the instructions (OK, 'fess up: How many of you guys have bought a new power tool and then tried it out before reading all the instructions?). We tend to read instructions when there is a problem, often caused by failing to read, or ignoring, the instructions.

The world and human existence works in a particular way (with nearly infinite variations!). It would be nice if life came with a set of instructions. But it does. It is not just torah (which means "instruction" not "law"), a written set of "rules," but the entire revelation of God to humanity. God calls us to live a certain way, not because he is hung up on power and control, but because it is the best way to be human. It is like safety signs that say, for example, "One Way-Do Not Enter." Not reading the instruction, or ignoring it, puts one at risk of not living well, or not living at all (lots of real world examples here).

People of God, Christians, whether defined by Micah 6:8, Mark 12:30-31, 2 Cor 5:17-19, Phil 2:1-11, etc., live differently than the "default setting" of humanity. That default setting of self-interest and self-centeredness works out in destructive and chaotic ways of living. Christians live as authentic human beings, following the "instructions" that place others first, that compel unconditional love for others, and call for a lifestyle that embodies the spirit of reconciliation exemplified in Jesus. The "value added" of being People of God is that human life is better precisely because it has been redefined in terms of others rather than self-interest. And that works out in shalom, in well being.

Our problem as human beings is that we tend to think that our infantile default settings that served us well as children are the right ones for the rest of life, and that no change is needed. That's why Paul's imagery of "new creation" is so powerful.

Grace and Peace,

Dennis B.

[Marsha Lynn]

Bump.

I missed this as it floated by a month ago. Thought I would bump it to the top in case I'm not the only one. I very much appreciate these thoughts.

Just heard a really interesting two part question on a podcast.

A. What does it actually mean to be a Christian in this day and age?

We seem to have to qualify everything at this point. I'm a CotN Christian. I'm a conservative/liberal Christian. etc. Both for what we are, and what we are not. What, especially going into the next few decades, does "Christian" actually mean?

B. Within the frame that we have a (perhaps) poor grasp on what it is to be Christian here and now, what is the value added for being one?

A. I don't think it is much different than it has ever been. It is summarized well by Luke's understanding of the mission of Jesus, which in Luke/Acts is also the mission of the Church:

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

I don't think the essence of what it means to be a follower of the Christ changes with context. Obviously, the context changes and so we have to live as Christians in culturally and historically specific ways. We have to "work out our salvation" in specific circumstances, which means continually struggling with the tension between stability and change, holding fast to who we are as people of God while at the same time engaging a constantly changing world in order to find relevant ways to live out that mission. Yet at its heart, being Christian, beyond taking the name and beyond whatever specific self-identification label one wears, means to conduct yourself in a particular manner, to live consciously and deliberately as the people of God, to serve as a counter voice to the dominant and "default settings" of humanity, to (as Walt Bruggemann put it) "live toward a vision" of shalom, the well being of all people.

Of course, as they say, the devil is in the details. That is, while the overall vision is quite clear, working that out in those specific contexts is a far more daunting task.

B. It is an interesting feature of human nature that people usually try to perform tasks without first reading all the instructions (OK, 'fess up: How many of you guys have bought a new power tool and then tried it out before reading all the instructions?). We tend to read instructions when there is a problem, often caused by failing to read, or ignoring, the instructions.

The world and human existence works in a particular way (with nearly infinite variations!). It would be nice if life came with a set of instructions. But it does. It is not just torah (which means "instruction" not "law"), a written set of "rules," but the entire revelation of God to humanity. God calls us to live a certain way, not because he is hung up on power and control, but because it is the best way to be human. It is like safety signs that say, for example, "One Way-Do Not Enter." Not reading the instruction, or ignoring it, puts one at risk of not living well, or not living at all (lots of real world examples here).

People of God, Christians, whether defined by Micah 6:8, Mark 12:30-31, 2 Cor 5:17-19, Phil 2:1-11, etc., live differently than the "default setting" of humanity. That default setting of self-interest and self-centeredness works out in destructive and chaotic ways of living. Christians live as authentic human beings, following the "instructions" that place others first, that compel unconditional love for others, and call for a lifestyle that embodies the spirit of reconciliation exemplified in Jesus. The "value added" of being People of God is that human life is better precisely because it has been redefined in terms of others rather than self-interest. And that works out in shalom, in well being.

Our problem as human beings is that we tend to think that our infantile default settings that served us well as children are the right ones for the rest of life, and that no change is needed. That's why Paul's imagery of "new creation" is so powerful.

Grace and Peace,

Dennis B.