And now a risky suggestion... (In response to the article below)
What if we dropped strategy and agenda to embrace authentic living while in authentic connection? Honest relationship for the sake of relationship, first. We’ve sought to eradicate “maybe” when “maybe” has been embraced as all there is. Why not give up on the agenda and simply let it quietly “pass on” of more natural causes, as we simply live out a genuine connection while we happen to be redeemed?
In the context of honest relationship, any actual advantage in our ideas will emerge, given enough time. We can “live them in” not only “talk them in”. Maybe we need to find the courage to live out the boldest form of confidence: we walk back into society as equal members and let our life-difference speak for itself. Any light we actually have must be trusted to outshine the “darkness” in a way that does not need to be explained or supported with rhetoric. It’s self-effective or it’s non-existent.
Perhaps we’ve believed too much in the power of explanation: that’s what we’ve wanted everyone to listen to, that’s what we’ve honed and refined and trumpeted as our great tool for engaging the world around us. But the value of explanation in general has been somewhat abandoned of late. Why not let the light within us be it’s own explanation? Why not BE FILLED with Christ instead of seeking out Christ filled EXPLANATIONS.
Simplistic-maybe, controversial-likely (as I’m sure someone will find controversy in it); but also honest.
In the context of honest relationship, any actual advantage in our ideas will emerge, given enough time. We can “live them in” not only “talk them in”. Maybe we need to find the courage to live out the boldest form of confidence: we walk back into society as equal members and let our life-difference speak for itself. Any light we actually have must be trusted to outshine the “darkness” in a way that does not need to be explained or supported with rhetoric. It’s self-effective or it’s non-existent.
Perhaps we’ve believed too much in the power of explanation: that’s what we’ve wanted everyone to listen to, that’s what we’ve honed and refined and trumpeted as our great tool for engaging the world around us. But the value of explanation in general has been somewhat abandoned of late. Why not let the light within us be it’s own explanation? Why not BE FILLED with Christ instead of seeking out Christ filled EXPLANATIONS.
Simplistic-maybe, controversial-likely (as I’m sure someone will find controversy in it); but also honest.
posted by CSW at
1:37 PM
3 Comments:
Right on point. Look at the American Evangelical machine pumping more and more apologetics and "Case for This and That" material out. I was at a lunch today where Tony Campolo was talking about how he was at Cambridge for a C.S. Lewis rememberance. He said that the entire crowd was elderly and that none under the age of 40 were there. Apologetics can be enjoyable reading for a christian, but I highly doubt that it is capable of transforming the life of an unbeliever or even winning a conversation. The age of argument has ended along with modernism. We must be less concerned with debate and agenda and more concerned about people. God can defend Himself in debates and He doesn't seem to be very insecure about confrontation (The One enthroned in heaven laughs;the Lord scoffs at them. Ps. 2:4). Besides.... "Religious debate can be alot like pornography... stupid, yet attractive, and potentially addictive. Therefore, dangerous spirituality" (Brian McLaren)
By
Jonas, at 1:29 AM
Well said...
By
CSW, at 7:07 AM
You know me I like debate, not for the sake of debate (well sometimes), but because I actually think that it has value. If you have an argument for or against something I want to hear it, take it apart, and put it back together again. If it works I want it too, if not then lets both move onto something else.
There is a lot of truth to what you have suggested though. People are tired of being preached at. They do not care what list of reasons you have for what you believe. The church needs to stop acting like a bunch of used cars salesman. Be real.
However, there will always be a segment of the population that will not subscribe to Christian theology unless they are convinced of it on an intellectual level. So you cannot abandon that side of the equation altogether.
By
Josh, at 10:03 PM
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