Have You Ever Tried the Mainline?

I stumbled upon this response to a blog post one recent Saturday. I do not remember the issue that prompted the response – but I am drawn to the story reflected in it. Listen:

I’m a former Christian myself. When I followed the Bible, I was a bigot, because I was following it, down to the letter. When I tried being “Spiritual,” I became a liar, because I was no longer following the Bible. When I finally realized how screwed up the Bible really is, I became an Atheist, and I was no longer a bigot nor a liar, but indeed, I became my authentic self – someone worthy of other peoples’ trust. The irony is, I was always who I am , but I used to be buried under so many layers of religio-Biblical nonsense that it was hard to know who I was at all. Now I know. So does everyone else. I’ve never been more free and happy in my entire life than I am now. Just some food for thought.

It is a story of someone’s life and how it was harmed by “being Christian.” The writer seems to presume that the only options for faith are to be a “bigot” or a “liar.” It may be an authentic experience for our times, but at its heart it sorrows me because faith – the Christian faith – is so much more. I want to ask the writer – have you ever tried the Mainline?

Mainline Protestants are those particular branches of Christianity that have been around since the 16^th century. We were born out of a desire to “reform” the abuses we saw in the practice of faith in our time. Yes – to our shame – we have divided and divided and divided again and again. Much of that is human sin, but some of that is the belief that even though God does not change, our understanding of God deepens and grows over time.  We have learned that the Church was wrong about slavery – justifying it with scripture; divorce – condemning it unequivocally; and wrong about the role of women in Church leadership – thinking it knew better than God whom God has called and gifted to serve God’s Church.

As a Presbyterian, I am part of that great heritage that includes Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, the United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and even some Baptists. We used to be the steeple in the center square of every town that united the community. We still are in many places. But we are dwindling. Maybe we became too comfortable with our place in the community. We fussed among ourselves too much. We held too strongly to dying traditions and let the fire of our faith become barely burning embers. We didn’t change when we needed to – and we didn’t see the changes that were happening all around us. Many of us are now – and we want the world to know that there is an option for faith that is not bigotry or falsehood.  We affirm these truths…

• There is a God who is actively re-creating the world – this world. That God loves justice and kindness, not wealth and power.
• That God took on human flesh and walked among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The power of his life, his death, and his resurrection embodies a love so great we can barely catch a glimpse of it, but it can forgive any sin and redeem any darkness.
• There is no human voice who speaks the entire truth about God.
• We work better when we work together.
• Salvation is not primarily a ticket out of this world and into a better one. It is healing, wholeness, reconciliation, and peace with God and the world God loves here and now.

We “main-liners” aren’t perfect; we’re human. But I hope we seek to provide a community where we can become our “authentic” selves: children of God redeemed for love and service. That is at least what we strive for at Seneca Presbyterian Church. So – have you ever tried the Mainline?

  

Chipping Some New Stones off the Old Rock

It's a new year and time to get back to old routines - like posting some ideas to help me ponder preaching this week. I'm looking forward to a new year tradition - the ordination and installation of new Ruling Elders, Deacons, and Trustee. As their Teaching Elder (notice my careful use of the "new" language for officers in the PC-USA), it has been an honor and privilege to work with them as they prepare for their term of service. As Presbyterians, we do have a remarkable tradition. Our elders and deacons serve alongside clergy with equal authority and responsibility for governing, supporting, praying, dreaming, and seeking God's will and direction for each congregation. Our services of ordination and installation exemplify how seriously we take that tradition - and they are holy moments. 

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." 

Those are remarkable words spoken by Jesus to Peter - and they are the text for Sunday. As I ponder them, I am drawn to the amazing work of those first disciples who built the Church - and all those churches - in a world that had no idea what they were doing or building. I'm also pondering how similar is the challenge we face today in building the Church. 

The Church has been the center of my life basically all my life. It's a part of me. When I hear bigoted remarks spoken in the name of faith or learn of yet another scandal that chips away at the world's perception of the Church, I can easily say, "That's not the Church I know." But what of those who do not know? When those who stand outside the Church and outside faith hear of yet another misguided prediction of the "end of the world," they can't or won't distinguish between us and them. We are all part of that body of belief called "Christian." 

So ponder with me:

• How do we proclaim a Gospel of inclusion and justice when too many portray our faith as exclusion and judgment? 
• What perceptions of the Church do you encounter in your lives from people who live outside our faith? 
• How does the work and witness of the Church move forward into a world that is more and more "not-Christian," and not afraid to say it?