My Church Puddle

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

There’s no time like the present: Peace Now!

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Life is good, full of small pleasures: getting up in time to see the “sunrise,” work to do, co-workers to interact with, stimulating ideas, a book to read, humorous thoughts, warm day, nice views, enough food, earning some money, working on some writing projects, watching occasional TV, a walk through the neighborhood, visiting with the neighbors. Simple pleasure. Good life. Thanks.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I want to be one of those people who are known immediately by just one name - like Moses.”

[It might have come true, but He didn’t say it.]

D. Blog: Reaction to Church

When I pour out my reactions to church, I see a mixed puddle.

On one extreme, the larger scheme of things, I agree with Matthew Fox, who says we should divorce ourselves from the church at large because it is so corrupt and/or irrelevant to the issues facing humanity.

In my case, I feel divorced from most church. I have clearly divorced from the church in which I grew up and was ordained, that church with the exclusive name and ostrich-like behavior in the face of change. Clearly, too, I will not associate with certain brands and types of church where people are caught in misleading concepts, destructive theologies, unhealthy biblical understandings, idolatry of nation, and judgmental/condemning/demonizing ideologies.

On the other extreme, the local embodiment of church, I have joined a congregation that seems comfortable to me, very close to what I believe church should be. Like many other local congregations, it offers real personal care and growth. It recognizes my sense of spiritual reality, welcomes and includes diversity. It ministers in the community and witnesses to the wider world. It feels like a spiritual home after having lived in exile from church.

Because I am content associating with this local manifestation of church, my divorce from the whole church is not absolute. I have involvement in what Marcus Borg calls the emerging church that has left old forms behind and strives to address the real issues that face the human community, following the way of Jesus.

I can live in my part of the puddle.