Like write a multiple page thesis about sexism in the modern Christian church.
Due date: Pi day. Yes of course a copy shall be posted here :)
In my experience in the Christian church, when people talk about giving, it is always about giving money to the church. That’s just what it’s associated with nowadays, it seem, monetary giving.
A good friend of me gave me a good idea though that I thought I would pass on. Stop thinking about money when you hear the word “giving.” Instead of money, what else do you have to give? Time? Knowledge? Love? Care? You can give any number of things.
Just thinking of money is putting yourself in a very small and awkward box, and can give you an attitude of “Well, I would give freely if I was making money to give… but I’m unemployed, so… yeah.” Break out of the box! Are you good at math? Help your friend with math! Do you have a car? Drive friends around! There are so many things that are so much better than money for you to give!
Sometimes, followers of Christ may be referred to as sheep, perhaps inspired by the passage found in John 21:15-17.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Sheep, in this case, is commonly interpreted as the body of Christ, the church as a whole.
Continuing with this metaphor, some pastors like to call themselves shepards, and their congregations their flocks.
One thing that I would contest with this, and this is really my main point, is leadership in the church.
One may go “Of course leadership in a church is necessary!” I even started to type it out myself that it is necessary at some times. However, I’m going to go out on a limb here and boldly state that I do not believe that a leading figure in the church other than Christ is necessary.
Anarchy before God? This sounds like a radical idea. It may even be a radical idea. But think for a moment, what if everybody in a church contributed what they were good at? No specific leader, no head honcho. Who’s good at organizing? They can help organize things that must be organized. Who’s good at thinking of interesting questions and discussions? Let them discuss and question and reason with everyone! What if each contributed to the church according to their gifts and talents?
What if we stopped going to church? What if we instead started being the church, talking about whatever God has put upon our hearts, all using the talents that God has given us instead of letting those talents sit idle while we sit in pews listening to one man?
Of course this wouldn’t work without commited members, members who contribute their full talents to the whole. But I believe it can work. The Lord may be our shepard, but it is my belief that all in His flock are equal, and all are fully capable of great contribution.
It is late. I must refine this more. But it is a start.
People pray all the time for help from God to just get through the day, or to protect them on their journeys, or to quickly heal them from their illnesses.
But what if we instead pray that we learn from these things as much as possible rather than simply wishing that they would be over with already so we can go back to our normal lives?
The first time I went on a drive was in the fall of 2008.
Now, I must clarify, I don’t mean “going for a drive” as just going out to someplace and back. I’d done that millions of times before when I was getting my driver’s license.
This kind of drive is really best described as just going for a drive. No set destination other than getting home sometime, no set itinerary, nothing. Just going out for a drive on the streets.
Now, where was I?
The first time I went for a drive was in the fall of 2008. I had recently been dumped by my girlfriend, ending a relationship which I will not even begin to describe in terms of how unhealthy it was. Anyway, I went for a drive. No music, nobody else, no phone calls, nothing. Just me, the car, the road, and my thoughts.
Today, I went for a drive again. I could have gone to a party, but my mind was not settled. Today I had been challenged not to “know God,” or “grow close to God,” but instead to experience God.
The person who had challenged me to do this is a good friend of mine. He has wandered Africa and stayed alone, by himself, in the wilderness for six months with nothing to think of, no itinerary, no plans. This friend said that one of the best ways he found to experience God is to just go into the wilderness and wander wherever I felt led.
It was raining today. It’s still actually raining now, as I write this post. Anyway, it made the wilderness not really the best option for tonight, this evening. So I went for a drive.
It took me a little while to get it right, to truly wander. At first I had a spot in mind. I would go there, sit, and think for a little while. Then, after that, I would go to the party.
I often find myself, when I am alone, reverting to a strictly objective centered manner. I think of what I have to accomplish, and then exactly how I accomplish it.
This is not how wandering works.
I drove by the place I was going to sit, and didn’t see any place to park (they must have torn it down or something, it was a small parking lot along a runway for Portland International Airport.). For some reason, I continued on. And then I began to truly wander, no destination, no itinerary. Just wandering. Me, my car, the road, and my thoughts. I went wherever I felt compelled to go, not ruled by any itinerary, clock, or destination.
And it was a wonderful experience.
You should try it.
