Camping at a Position...
Whether we are transitioning into Postmodernism, or postmodernism itself is the transitional period - whether we're already post-Postmodern, or still in a correction phase of Late Modernity - any way you slice it, the world is in flux.
I recently had a conversation with a new ministry friend from back east.
As we began talking, he confessed to still being very "exploratory" with this emerging, postmodern conversation. He said, "I'm not completely decided on what I think about all of it - I haven't found a position to camp out at, yet."
My caution to him (probably unnecessary - he's on a solid track...) was this:
If you want to come to a point where you respect, tolerate and understand the motives and forces behind today's emerging or postmodern church movements, I think you can find a position that is comfortable, respectful and static.
But if you feel the Holy Spirit moving you to truly be a part of an emergent Christian faith, you may have to abandon the expectation of finding a position to camp at.
What I've learned in the last six years is that faith within a paradigm of flexibility, openness and sometimes vagueness (gray), is a necessity during a period like this. "This" being that transitional period.
But if you feel the Holy Spirit moving you to truly be a part of an emergent Christian faith, you may have to abandon the expectation of finding a position to camp at.
What I've learned in the last six years is that faith within a paradigm of flexibility, openness and sometimes vagueness (gray), is a necessity during a period like this. "This" being that transitional period.
The challenge with a lot of movements in the American church is that they have correctly identified a problematic piece of their ecclesiology, but once "corrected" (or at least addressed with good intentions) the movement stops. Or loses steam. So the Jesus People of the 70s (my parents) are now the middle age fundamentalists of today. The Pentecostals of the 1920s to the 1950s are the staunch, comfortable old people in my church demanding hymns and forbidding wine.
If you're familiar with Driscoll at Mars Hill, Seattle, you'll see another good example of masked fundamentalism, "giving a little" for the sake of popular culture:
"Tattoos, beer and swearing are ok as long as you keep women off the pulpit and gays out of the pews." (in less direct language of course - because, remember, it's masked fundamentalism)
Authentic flexibility in an emerging cultural and global climate is vital. Acquiescence of belief is not required, but fearless love, kindness and tolerance are crucial to allowing room for each other (all of us) to grow, stretch and be molded by the Holy Spirit.
Personally, I'm not willing to throw out scripture because it isn't convenient to my worldview or personal feelings. McLaren and Campolo touch on this paradoxical tension in Adventures in Missing the Point.But I'm EQUALLY unwilling to blindly wrap my arms around and embrace Scripture simply because it's Scripture. I respect it and may not directly defy it... but I don't have to like it! I don't have to automatically accept current translation or understanding without my own prayerful wrestling match.
I wrestle ongoing, because I'm also unwilling to withhold my grace or brotherhood from Christians who do believe such-and-such is ok... or not ok. I have Christian friends who are actively gay, some "ex-gay" friends who refuse to accept it in their lives, and straight friends vehemently positioned at each ideological extreme - ALL are on journeys, wholeheartedly seeking the face of God through Christ Jesus.
I believe the Holy Spirit is big enough (and ACTIVE ENOUGH) to speak to the heart and convict in spirit and in truth. Can we be used by the spirit? Of course - but how often do we jump the gun on a God far more patient than ourselves?
By remaining flexible, fluid and somewhat gray, a church or an individual Christian can respond and act in love and faith, rather than fear or anger. I can speak my heart while leaving judgment to God. Or I can even choose NOT to speak to an issue with which I am still wrestling for understanding. Unnecessarily wounding people for the sake of standing on a POLITICAL (pseudo-spiritual) platform is not a paradigm God created (the potential wounding) - it's a mechanism that factions inside and outside the church have adopted.
The point is, as we explore what our faith is evolving into, we must open our hands and set free those specific bullet points we've clung to. That's "sinking sand." The only solid rock is Christ. Jump in and ride Sweet's SoulTsunami imagery. We have to be fluid because things are evolving WAY too fast to stand still. Christ is our boat, (or the church, however you want to use the metaphor) and that boat is sturdy enough to take us through whatever storm we face. Even a perfect storm.
