Too Much of Me

It struck me hard enough to write a sizable paragraph on the back of my chapel card expressing my frustration. The song said things like "I am yours Jesus, and you are mine" but for some reason these particular words were ringing in my ears: "Me, my, I, Jesus, me my I." 

Maybe the phrase "be in the world, but not of the world," isn't strictly 'biblical,' but I think it needs to be applied towards the concept of "individualism". Our culture, not only American culture but also the current world order, is generally & exceptionally individualistic. Life is about ME. Writing worship songs about MY Jesus, strictly discussing my PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ, accepting Christ with a simple prayer said in solitude... Is that wrong? Is that 'of the world,' given the unavoidable nature of our culture? How, as Christians, are we to respond to the individualistic nature of our post-millennial & post-modern culture?

I think the answer is to publicly deconstruct the rampancy of individualism, and, as my contribution to this conversation, I want to present a few examples that point out the overemphasis of individualistic religious faith.

Jesus' physical ministry had several reoccurring components which particularly reference the importance of togetherness, community, fellowship, or simply "non-individualism." On the other hand, Jesus also references the importance of one-on-one interaction with God. So, what's meant to be strictly individual, and what's meant for community?

Generally speaking I think it's fair to form the following categories that support each of these distinct aspects of Jesus' ministry & Christianity at large:

Faith=Individual

Relationship=Communal

Let me explain myself...

Faith, in my context particularly, references belief. Faith is the acceptance of a specific claim. For our purposes, the claim is that Jesus Christ is of the same substance as the God the creator & of God the sustainer. Further, faith in Christ is also the acceptance of Christ as the God of Salvation. Essentially, the Christian faith is the acceptance that Jesus Christ is two things: 

1) Jesus represents the exclusive soteriological rite. 

2) Jesus is of the same substance as the Father & as the Holy Spirit. (3=1)

By this definition of faith (that faith represents the ownership of belief), faith is individualistic. Why? Simply because belief is something that is internal. Where only one is present, only one can be involved. To represent the individualistic nature of faith, Christianity has accepted the sacrament of Baptism. Baptism, one of only two universally accepted sacraments (sorry if that wreaks of strict Lutheranism, but it's true), is a public announcement of a Christian commitment, and is a physical & spiritual entrance into God's kingdom on Earth. And, though this commitment is decided individually, baptism itself involves much more than the individual & their relationship with God. You still need a pastor or priest, and some kind of witnessing body present. You still, even in the midst of an individual faith, NEED community. 

Next, relationship. Relationship is the heart of Christianity. Relationship with God, yes, but almost equally important is our relationships with each other. When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus responded by telling people to Love God & to Love each other. The Gospel writer John says, "Everyone who Loves has been borne of God & knows God." He also writes that Christ's disciples will "be known" by their Love for each other. In regards to the sacraments, it is here we must also take into account the second sacrament. When Jesus ate with his disciples towards the end of his ministry, he says something to the effect of, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." I think when we do communion we change the words around. Usually it seams like someone tells everyone individually "this is christs body, broken for you" when the reality is, Jesus used the plural. A better way to say it is "this is Christ's body, broken for us." Communion is also an entrance into the kingdom of God, its an act of citizenship, a public announcement & commitment to Christ. We do it to remember that Christ gave his life for us & that eating together & that being together is what God has in mind. That is communion. That is Christianity. 

See, we live in a world that's all about "Me, my, I" & our world has birthed a Christianity which is all about "Me, my, I, Jesus, me, my, I." Faith is mine. Jesus is mine. God is mine. That's not the answer. Faith is ours. We belong to Christ. We belong to God. Faith gives US  to HIM. Faith creates me, I don't create my faith. All glory is God's & God's glory is revealed in community not in seclusion. 

Like Jesus, I believe we are also called to time alone with God. But that time should by no means overshadow our time in Christian community. 

Let's be a family again, let's be Christians again. Just an idea...

A Struggle Of Christ

I recently found some encouragement that I wanted to share.

You can find this in John 6 (Im using NRSV)

 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.  24 When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”  26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.  27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set His seal.”  28 They said therefore to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”  29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  30 They said therefore to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?  31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”  32 Jesus therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  33 “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  34 They said therefore to Him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.”  35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  36 “But I said to you, that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.  37 “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.  38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  39 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.  40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” 

See... from what I can tell, the people didn't care much about the miracle. They were hungry for bread. They wanted to eat food. Jesus knows what they are saying and he keeps repeating this stressed phrase which means something like "truly, truly" or "I TELL YOU THE TRUTH" or maybe even more contemporary "THIS IS FOR REAL!" He tells them that bread won't satisfy their hunger, that they shouldn't believe only because they have seen or because they want bread. See... Jesus was misunderstood. They didn't get it. He called them to one thing & he satisfied their hunger because he Loved them and all they did was badger him for more. They weren't thankful, they didn't get what the miracle really meant... 

Wouldn't it be frustrating?

To put forth a MIRACLE and still not really be listened to?

It's encouraging to me to realize this fact: No ministry is perfect. Why? Because some people's hearts will just be too hard to get it. Because no matter what a good minister you are, you will never have a perfect laity. Ministry isn't a one sided conversation. So if I'm discouraged I can know that even JESUS was misunderstood, in fact he's probably more misunderstood than I could comprehend.