Humbled

Madonna of Humility

I have this group of friends (Christian-ese = Sisters & Brothers) with whom I am most lucky to meet on a monthly basis. I’ve been doing this with them for almost 7 years! We’re a group of people from different Christian experiences (Christian-ese = denominations) who gathering to eat lunch, do some talking about faith and – often – explore something about God (Christian-ese = theology).

This last week, we found our way into a conversation about what it means to be Christian and followers of Jesus. The starting point was from part of a letter found in a book called Acts. In particular, we were talking about Peter – who’s the main character – and how he brought his message to the Gentiles: those who were not practicing Jews. Of course this is an exciting part of the Christian experience, a message that reaches beyond what was considered organised religion at the time … but …

This is where – I admit it – I got triggered. I put on that Devil’s Advocate hat. Now do not get me wrong, I totally love this central theme of the early church:

Love this – believe this – struggle sincerely to live this … but …

Cemetery of Ivry-sur-Seine
Val-de-Marne, France

What triggered me was what has sometimes been done with this central theme in the 2000 intervening years for those of us – me being most certainly included – who have benefited from the privilege that has become woven into our everyday lives. What triggered me is that sometimes it has rationalised colonialism, conversion, and mission work that is dressed in a binary of right and wrong and imposed itself to the detriment of the intrinsic meaning: Jesus, his death and resurrection was an act of Love for all people, not a select few. Or – to be clearer – welcome is neither tied to a checkbox that you believe this, nor that you ever have to!

As one who follows (Christian-ese = disciple) my intention is to live this message in the world, not convince someone of it. And – in places where conversation and trust unfold – I’ll talk your ear off. Why? Because it emboldens me to go into places I know I could not otherwise, it fills me with various neuro-chemical reactions that make me laugh in the face of despair, find joy in the reality of grief, to freely weep in the inevitable suffering of life. And – in such listening – maybe I and the other person might be changed …

In other words … I was on a roll:

Devil’s Advocate indeed … so I asked these question and I think I was heard. And then one of my friends paused and shared that in his experience (Christian-ese = Anabaptist) such had generally never been – implicitly or explicitly – part of their faith experience. In fact, his honesty reminded me that in the Christian journey there have in fact been and are authentic expressions of being a follower of Jesus that has nothing to do with making others believe it.

Share it – of course.

Listen to others – certainly.

Shalom

I was reminded that there may be universal threads that bind us, but each religion is a particular expression of truth. In such conversation, whether ecumenically (Christian-ese = conversation among Christians) or inter-faith, there’ll be passion. After all faith is core to us – but passion does not mean disagreement is bad, it means we care. It also means we should listen and the only problem arises when we stop. When we start talking at one another as though we have something to prove, quantify and qualify … when that occurs bad things happen …

So, there’s my confession for today … I was humbled toward confidence but getting kicked out of my ego. I guess I should be confident in this expression of faith that allows me to experience wholeness and I should also be aware that the dangers of ego can lead either to the oppression of others and also to a doubt that paralyses. A paralysis that can lead to disengagement. And – if there’s one consistent message that the early church hearkens us back to, it is community. In this pluralistic connected planet, we’re a threaded people as we have never been before.