14 November 2009 2 Comments

(Whichever way you look at it- this sign is ‘wrong’…it was so random I had to put it here though… HT:http://worshipcity.wordpress.com/2007/09/13/actual-church-signs/)

Ever had that feeling when you read something that you wanted to punch the air and say ‘yes’? But then after a while you begin to think ‘I’m really not sure….I think that this applies to me’. I read this a couple of weeks ago from Richard Rohr (‘The Naked Now’):-

“Within the Christian churches, how else can we explain the obvious avoidance of so many of Jesus’ major teachings? Jesus’ direct and clear teachings on issues such as nonviolence, a simple lifestyle, love of the poor, forgiveness, love of enemies, inclusivity, mercy, and not seeking status, power, perks, and possessions: throughout history, all have been overwhelmingly ignored by mainline Christian churches, even those who call themselves orthodox or biblical. This avoidance defies explanation until we understand how dualistic thinking protects and pads the ego and its fear of change. Notice that the things we ignored above require actual change of our lifestyle, our security systems, or our dualistic thought patterns. The things we emphasized instead were usually intellectual beliefs or moral superiority stances that asked little of us: the divinity of Christ, the virgin birth, the atonement theory, and beliefs about reproduction and sex. After a while, you start to recognize the underlying bias. The ego diverts your attention from anything that would ask you to change, to righteous causes that invariably ask others to change.” (p. 94)

(HT: http://miketodd.typepad.com/waving_or_drowning a site that I can’t recommend highly enough…)

I am so pissed off with arguments about who is ‘in’ and who is ‘out’ and reasons why this or that view of ordination/sacrament/church is valid or even ‘important questions have to be teased out first’. I’ve seen more fall outs over doctrine than justice, judgement than grace. Grrrr Grrrrr. But hang on, as I read that quote, I see myself… ‘Lord have mercy on me a sinner’