wonders and reflections in God's presence

At a consultation with a church session (governing board) a couple of weeks ago, I was asked about the end times … what does the Bible say we should expect of the church during the end times?  Being a good Presbyterian, I evaded the question, thinking it came from a “Left Behind” mindset and not well grounded in Reformed Theology.  But, I have to admit, despite the fact that the whole end of the world thinking is not considered orthodox by most Presbyterians, I do sometimes wonder … the things going on in the world today make our time seem so … dangerously potent.  Change is occurring more rapidly than ever before, and there are now global implications for decisions we make … if not the “end times” we are definitely living through a time pregnant with possibility.

We’ve all heard that we’re in a time of “emerging”, both in the church and in the so many other aspects of our culture.  This week’s Futuring study brought about a huge “ah ha” for me … if it’s a time of something new emerging, then it’s also the time of something old dying.  I know … it takes me a while sometimes   One of our leaders presented some information from a book about the natural cycles of generations, with the opinion that we are currently in the “fourth turning”, a time of crisis.  But times of crisis are always followed by the birth of something new.

Everything has a season the verse says in Ecclesiastes.  Everything runs in cycles.  There is time of birth and a time of death, but the death always leads to a new birth.  There was a huge transition from the hunting/gathering/tribal times to the agricultural times which was the birth of “civilization” as we know it.  We are now in a similar shift from “civilization” to “globalization.”  If he’s right, then we are at the end of civilization.  The question I raise, though, is that so bad?  I think globalization is where we ought to be headed,  Knowing where we’re headed means we have the ability to not just forsee the future, but to shape the future … and how we shape it is so vitally important.

But … I am also very much aware that for some who don’t embrace change and who can’t see a glimpse of the global/Kingdom vision of the new millenium, the end of civilization as we know it, IS the end of the world.  It’s catastrophe; it’s the end times; it’s judgment day.  Perhaps that’s why fear and violence are so rampant.  Perhaps that’s why there are so many in our churches hoping to wake up tomorrow in 1959.  Because the future will be so different; the end of civilization means the end of christendom, the end of denominationalism, the end of the Christian Empire … but I’m wondering … even with that, could our future be just a little closer to the Kingdom?

So,  I’m wondering … what do the “end time” Bible readings have to say to us in this time of re-birth, transition, paradigm-shifting, a new millennium?  Maybe The Book of Revelation and other apocryphal passages are meant to be metaphorical and speak directly to all of us going through “the fourth turning.”  Or any “end time” such as the fall of Jerusalem, the fall of the Roman Empire, and, now, the fall of the American Empire.

It’s funny … when I read the first few “Left Behind” books, I thought it would be a huge responsibility as well as a great adventure to be left behind … to be the ones interpreting, discerning, and leading into a new future … but isn’t that what we’re doing now?  The emerging church movement and others … we are the shapers of the new age.  It’s time to pray.

So, the bible readings for today (OYB) included a lot of “rules” that God gave Moses to share with the Hebrew people. Some of them we still treasure today. Others we have dismissed because they just don’t seem to fit us the same way they used to for one reason or another … like we don’t sell our children into slavery anymore, so we don’t need rules on how to or how not to. It all reminded me of a phone call I had last Thursday … from another pastor in Houston. He asked, “how do we decide where to draw the line?” When are the rules “cultural” and no longer applicable? How do we know? How do we decide?

I felt I only had a trite answer … “pray about it”.

But when I heard the context of the question it hit me personally. He was on his way to visit someone who was trying to talk a good friend out of experiementing with new age mysticism … it says we should stay away from mediums and psychic things in the Bible, afterall. Well … little did he know he was talking to a woman who has personal experience with people close to her exploring psychic and mystical expression of truth. (My mom is a very good meduim… one who sees her gifts as a gift from God to be used for the common good.) hmmm …. this is too close to home. Everyone KNOWS the Bible condemns consulting mediums. So how do we know where to draw the line?

I deflected the direct question (something I’m pretty good at) and talked about what a great opportunity this was to engage a person on a spiritual journey … if they are interested in psychic and spiritual things we have a natural “in” to talk and walk our faith with them. That’s really good, in my opinion. Is it so important to convince her that she’s wrong to explore this other path? Why not allow her natural curiosity to help lead her to knowing Christ? Why is it that Christians want to begin a spiritual conversation with someone by explaining how they are wrong? Why can’t we just meet them and have honest conversations about our own spiritual journey in the process? And thank God for the opportunity.

OK … so I’m biased … my brother is gay and my parents are “new age”. (don’t you think we’d made a great sitcom?) Seriously, though, I’ve had years of both learning from them and, I hope, teaching them a few things, too. Could it be that my job isn’t to change them? But, perhaps to allow God to use them to change me into being a little more like Christ? Could it be that my role is to keep building the relationships of love and acceptance so that we can all experience the grace of God in real and tangible ways?

I guess I know that knowing where to “draw the line” is terribly important for most people. It just seems that everytime I seem to know where to draw it, God challenges me again. Maybe drawing the line, isn’t the important thing …. maybe crossing it is more important.

Comments are really welcome … really …

(This post was written last week, Wednesday, February 1, saved but never posted )

Because of the news lately, I’ve added a blog-search feed to my blogwatcher that looks for blogs containing references to Faith Harbour, Randy, Eklektos or … well, me. Today, after the Christianity Today article was published this morning, two new blog postings appeared, The Prodigal Sheep, and A Classical Presbyterian. They each raised the issue of the church to enforcing its “rules”.

It’s true that Christians need to hold each other accountable. And the Churches needs to hold congregations accountable. But, to what or whom are we accountable? Church rules, specific interpretations of scripture, traditional doctrines? In a church that acknowledges that “there are truths and forms with respect to which men of good characters and principles may differ” (G-1.0305 of the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA)) our strength comes in our ability to hold each other accountable to growing, learning, praying, reading scripture, studying, and discerning the will of the Spirit.

Accountability and discipline is not about punishment. It’s not about control. It’s not about keeping the right rules. It is about learning and practicing a way of life. When I discipline my daughter, I do so not to “keep her in line” or to be sure she grows up to be just like me, but to help her learn appropriate ways of living according to the values our family lives by. A community of believers also have a responsibility to hold each other accountable to a specific way of life — Christ’s way. And we do that, not by shunning or judging or excluding, but by entering into relationship with each other as we encounter the living Christ.

I think the church needs to hold its members and leaders accountable to the marks of discipleship … daily prayer, Bible reading, spiritual friendships, significant giving, regular worship, and meaningful ministry or service. When we hold each other accountable to that … when we hold ourselves accountable to that … the rest will fall in line. I think many of the problems our churches have faced are because we are not paying enough attention to how we live the path of discipleship, and, instead, we attempt to “discipline” good, faithful people for not following the rules.

Interesting, I read the latest email leadership newsletter from Christianity Today this afternoon … and there was an article from Brian McLaren talking about why we (pastors) shouldn’t answer the “homosexual question” directly.

Usually when I’m asked about this subject, it’s by conservative Christians wanting to be sure that we conform to what I call “radio-orthodoxy,” i.e. the religio-political priorities mandated by many big-name religious broadcasters. Sometimes it’s asked by ex-gays who want to be sure they’ll be supported in their ongoing re-orientation process, or parents whose children have recently “come out.”

The question itself is complex. Either it’s a political questions seeking to separate “us” from “them,” or it’s a deeply personal issue that needs to be addressed through a deeper pastoral relationship, not a quick answer. And we are trying to reach real people with Christ, not making a political statement.

Most of the emerging leaders I know share my agony over this question. We fear that the whole issue has been manipulated far more than we realize by political parties seeking to shave percentage points off their opponent’s constituency. We see whatever we say get sucked into a vortex of politicized culture-wars rhetoric—and we’re pastors, evangelists, church-planters, and disciple-makers, not political culture warriors. Those who bring us honest questions are people we are trying to care for in Christ’s name, not cultural enemies we’re trying to vanquish.

The truth is the issue of homosexuality is much more complex that most of those on two “sides” will ever admit. Read the recent comments on the Harbour Blog and we see that illustrated time and time again … it’s just wrong, no question. Well, most of us realize that to take an absolute stand for or against homosexuality only divides us from the people we are called to serve. And even more than that … Brian admits that for many emerging church leaders … they just don’t know.

Frankly, many of us don’t know what we should think about homosexuality. We’ve heard all sides, but no position has yet won our confidence so that we can say “it seems good to the Holy Spirit and us.” That alienates us from both the liberals and conservatives who seem to know exactly what we should think. Even if we are convinced that all homosexual behavior is always sinful, we still want to treat gay and lesbian people with more dignity, gentleness, and respect than our colleagues do. If we think that there may actually be a legitimate context for some homosexual relationships, we know that the biblical arguments are nuanced and multilayered, and the pastoral ramifications are staggeringly complex. We aren’t sure if or where lines are to be drawn, nor do we know how to enforce with fairness whatever lines are drawn.

He suggests we put a five-year moratorium on making pronouncements. I don’t know how sucessful that would be … the Presbyterians have been trying that … and after two moratoriums, we are still in the same bloody fight. What’s wrong with just putting aside the question for now … and focusing on building our relationship with Christ and in community with all those who want the same relationship. I believe that over time, Christ will lead us all to the answer that is best.

That is why Eklektos is not making pronouncements saying homosexualty is good or bad any more than we say sexuality is good or bad. We realize that there are layers of complexity which go beyond our understanding, there are Biblical and pastoral issues that are beyond giving the “right” answer, and too many of us just don’t know for sure.

(this was originally published by me on the Eklektos blog)

It’s official. According to an article today in The Baptist Press, Faith Harbour has been “disaffiliated” with the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention because of its relationship with Eklektos.

The article states:

Biles recounted that the committee hoped to clarify Faith Harbour’s stance toward a church it is helping sponsor and allowing to meet in its facilities, which bills itself on its website as welcoming and affirming of homosexual, bisexual and trangendered people.

Additionally, the new church, Eklektos, has a female senior pastor. Biles said the committee and Faith Harbour pastor Randy Haney were unable to resolve their differences over Faith Harbour’s involvement with Eklektos.

Aside from the fact that Eklektos is not a “church” in any official capacity, and I am not the Senior Pastor, it’s a shame that the political climate of the SBTC is such that merely associating with a ministry outreach that does not condemn homosexuals is so threatening. Does Jesus condemn homosexuals? No, Jesus goes out of his way to associate with people the church of his day condemned, and he offered them love.

I realize that many people differ on the Biblical interpretation of Scripture surrounding issues of homosexuality. My hope is that Eklektos will minister within that controversy and seek Christ in the midst of it. I acknowledge that even the most faithful Christians can disagree over whether homosexuality is sinful — Randy and I differ on that issue — but this ministry is here to reach people who are typically ostracized and hurt by the Church, and to offer them a loving and non-judgemental community in which to seek Christ and grow in discipleship. Even if we all agreed that homosexuality was a sin, should a church require gay and lesbians to be celibate or “convert” to heterosexuality? No. Not anymore than the church should require divorced people to reconcile, wealthy people to divest their money from companies that promote unrepentant consumerism, or gluttonous people to go on diets.

Randy, I know you have suffered greatly for beng a friend to me and to Eklektos. I am sorry that the state of the church is such that men and women are still persecuted for following Christ’s example. Your witness is greatly appreciated.

Comments?

God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!”