Today’s post comes with a big ol’ warning, folks, please proceed with CAUTION! When I began this blog, I posted with a disclaimer – almost a badge of honour – to the effect that the thoughts I post here are my own, and are not representative of those with whom I associate. This freethinking “badge of honour” was quickly followed by relatively conscious (and maybe inconspicuous?) efforts to remain anonymous – naturally to protect those with whom I associate who might disagree with my contentiousness (insert nudge and wink here).This week I finished the in class work for a course in Pauline Literature (the letters of St. Paul). I took it because it looked somewhat interesting, and because it completed my obligations in the Biblical Department.
I enjoyed the course, and almost wished it had run for an entire semester so that I could do more background reading (like I’ve ever had the time to do more background reading). The prof challenged us to look at Paul and his writing in new ways. To consider how those society (including the church) considers as ‘other’ would react to texts the church has traditionally considered liberating.
On my way downtown, this morning, I had an epiphany. Two weeks of this class, and three years of influence from other classes, profs, and students, have helped me begin to realise how SOME (heavily emphasis on the word some) can find institutionalised religion (namely the church) to be an obstacle to God. I’ve begun to consider the rare times when I’ve felt this in my own life, and I am hardly representative of the marginalised. I began to consider when and how our understanding of scripture and our practice have driven people away from God rather than to Him.
I can almost hear the conservative voices of some of my family, and friends cry out “Does this mean that we exchange TRUTH for warm cuddlies and molly coddling?” Well, no, because I don’t think that lying to people is a loving thing to do either. I know a few people who would argue that TRUTH can be divisive, and cite scripture that talks about the world hating these TRUTH tellers for the sake of the name of Jesus. (Probably the same voices crying out the first question.) Yes, scripture does say that but I don’t think it means that simply by offending people, and being intentionally hurtful in delivery, that that means that we are doing the will of God. This leads me to the question “Can a person be correct, in the particular, but be wrong in the global sense?” (That is right with the message but wrong with the delivery.) I would think the answer is yes. It’s the difference between speaking the truth in self-righteousness, and doing so in love (Ephesians 4:15; 1 John 3:18).
So, what does all this realisation and self-awareness stuff mean? I don’t know yet, at least not the full impact. Does it mean I hate the church, that I’m chuckin’ it all to go grow fair trade coffee or hemp products somewhere? Probably not. At the moment, I think it means that I’m more aware of the fact that other people may not get the warm fuzzies from the same stuff I do – that they may even be offended by it. Hopefully, this will affect the way that I interact with people. Well, I’m off to put on a pair of work socks and sandals, sit down with an herbal tea, and listen to the CBC for a while.
