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Join a group study of the book "A New Kind of Christian" by Brian McLaren. Buy the book now and plan to begin on February 1!
Once again, Neo is talking about vantage point. How do you see things from where you are? I'm beginning to see just how radically different my vantage point is from someone my age who has a similar education and life experiences, but who did not grow up in the church culture. Just that one variable changes everything. How can we possibly know how to connect with those who don't even know the Christian 'language'? Can we possibly enter their vantage point for awhile and see what it's like on the other side? What kind of insights can those of you who did NOT grow up in a church culture provide to those of us who have been thoroughly churched? What are the acts/words/states of being that would communicate the true message of Jesus Christ? Oh...still so many questions!
ReplyDeleteCarla,
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate to have been brought up in church and I'm thankful for it. I have experienced valleys and mountain tops on my journey. God has always been with me as the "Footprints" picture reminds us. My faith is stronger today than ever. As I think of my daughter-in-law who was not churched, she is amazing!!! She and my step-son are very involved in the Methodist church in Germantown Oh. She has started seminary and Matt feels he is being called too. Sometimes I think "new" Christians might have an excitement and thirst for God and his ways that us "seasoned" Christians take for granted. Shame on us. Her parents never went to church or took her to church. They now, because of her witness, are both envolved in their local church.I think we all need to be open to the Holy Spirit and His leadings. I am so excited about a new service in our "old" congregation that is surprising most of us with the response. Liturgical service, communion every Sunday, upbeat music, pitures projected to go along with the Sermon!!! Imagine that in an old Lutheran church!! Christians can and should enjoy their faith.
Blessings and Peace
I'd be interested to know what brought your daughter-in-law to this place? Was it a life crisis or meeting Christians who loved her to Christ or something else altogether?
ReplyDeleteNext week would you all be willing to move this discussion to Facebook? Our church has a page we can use for the discussion since it's not used for anything else yet. Georgetown United Methodist Church is the group to join. Please let me know if that would be a problem. It would enable us to comment directly on each others' posts, helping us to form threads on various topics within the chapter. Comments? Questions?
ReplyDeleteI guess that is a little too public for me. Ah, I really am not kidding when I say people get the torches and firewood out when I start talking about religion.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for the majority of my years you'd have never convinced any of my old friends you'd find me in a church, well... not and like without bursting into flames or something. It is kind of a radical change.
I like Stan's approach, it is a good one.
I think an easy comparison of how much of a divide between people that grew up attending church and those who did not would be like the difference between say the average American and the Amish.
Which I totally respect by the way.
This book is like a fruitcake of topics and issues... It is packed full of stuff.
ReplyDeleteTurns out there is a word just for one of the controversies. Inerrantcy. Neato.
If I read a few pages each time I was told every word there was true, I'd have read the Bible a whole bunch more times.
People think I am tweaking them when I mention Leviticus. But they had "don't eat stuff that is known to be bad for you" down to a science 2000 years ago.
What a shame we didn't keep that lesson fresh in our memories... no downer cows, msg, or bad peanut butter shipped out.
Good Morning All,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to think of the two vantage points: growing up in the church as opposed to growing up without the church. I grew up in the church, but I at 63 (yikes!) I am at a totally different place in my faith journey than I was at 18. I have so many questions and doubts that I might fit the category of someone who knows nothing. I just keep praying for that steadfast spirit to be present with me on my walk. I am enjoying the book very much. C.S. Lewis is always a challenge for me, so once we got beyond that. . . Mike, I like your fruitcake comparison, because it really is packed full of thought provoking statements/ideas. At my age it is good to be engaged and to have to keep thinking!!!!!! I wonder if the divide isn't greater than that between the average American and the average Amish. We have Amish friends, so I know it is a huge divide, but I'm thinking of an even greater chasm. Carla, I'm willing to try Facebook, but Jim and tried it once before and quit it because we didn't like being "out there".
Jean
The consensus is that we will NOT switch to Facebook. Some are unable to access it during the day; others are concerned about privacy issues or haven't yet conquered the technology. That's okay! Hope everyone is enjoying the discussion as I am. Please check previous chapter posts as there are some new comments. I also have been informed that there are several friends who are reading the blog regularly even though they don't post to it. That has launched several face-to-face conversations about the book and its content. This exchange of ideas means a lot to me. I'm so glad you all have chosen to be candid and thoughtful in sharing your insights.
ReplyDeleteHey folks, check out this morning's NPR story.
ReplyDeleteIt is strange how all of this is un-contorversial to me, but like Mike, I did not grow up in the church. I had a grandmother who prompted occasional attendance, but it is not the same thing. I guess the question really is does our faith and religion have to change to match the times and social climate, or is that a cop-out? We can't help but view the world from the lens formed by our environment and experience - is this fresh perspective or delusional?
Here is the story link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125165061