Swinging from the Vine / 791 posts / 2,699 comments / feed / comments feed

knowledge and experience - final aside

This report from Barna, speaks a lot to what I’ve been talking about and what my final conclusion post is going to address.

I know for a fact (because I’ve been in “that world”) that my evangelical friends will say that the feelings of the other against them is the fault of the other. They will likely say (as all good dispensationalists would) that this is a sign of the times, that we are in the end of the age and that this was all prophesied and hopefully Jesus will return soon and in the meantime we need to “stand firm for Truth and godliness”.

I would disagree with that assessment and even go so far as to suggest that it is a dangerous view of the current state of affairs. And the fact and I and many feel this way is part of what causes this schism between traditionalists and emergents. And it’s part of what has to be addressed when we talk about coexisting as Christians.

My posts may, on the surface, seem to be about defining terms, putting people into categories, nailing down the different systems of belief. But as you likely have gathered by now, I’m an emergent post modern and I don’t care much about definitions if they don’t help us understand and through understanding move onward to living well.

So my hope is that through these types of conversations and explorations, we can move on and avoid getting quagmired. I can only do this for myself, and you can only do it for your self and each of us has to make a choice, moment by moment, how we’re going to handle change and differences. I have chosen poorly more times than I’d like to admit and I have no doubt I will choose poorly again but if I’m not going to at least try, I might as well just give it up entirely.

3 Comments

  1. Pam — September 30, 2007 #

    Mak–
    I really appreciate what you have done in your story telling and laying out definitions of who you are and what you believe.

    For years I have struggled in my church feeling like I don’t fit, not allowing myself to voice my real thoughts and opinions and at times even wondering what was wrong with me. Several years ago, God dealt with my heart about not quitting what we were doing, but rather to take advantage of where we are and work to change structures from the inside. The politics and fears that people have within church structures can sometimes be overwhelming. You’ve seen it, you know what I mean. It is hard to watch people get hurt.

    One time in particular I stood up for a friend who was being viciously attacked by another person and had a 4 hour long conversation with her about the situation. I thought we were ok with everything at the end of our time together. However, she accused me of yelling at her and not being supportive and our relationship was never the same. You know how it goes, basically I didn’t agree with her, so I was not supportive…sigh….

    Last year a friend told me to be careful and not be too open because my brains might fall out :) Before that happened another person said that I shouldn’t voice opinions about some things too freely, because it could eventually harm us.

    I go back and forth in my mind between pulling back from ‘church’ type conservative people, withdrawing from leadership activities all together and simply working where I can be used and staying under the radar.

    And then I find webpages like yours and find strength to keep going forward. First of all, I am not alone in all that I think or feel. I have been relieved to find other people who have some of the same beliefs I do…even if they aren’t in my movement :) My MA is not theological, it is in counseling, although I have taken Bible classes and like most people, been in countless Bible studies, classes, etc. But, I am not a theologian, I don’t want to be. So, secondly, I am thankful to find people who explain scriptures differently or admit that there might not be an explanation that we might know or even understand.

    Even though you may write for those who are leaving the traditional churches and joining emergent movements, you, and others, are also writing for those of us who stay within those movements who search for a different kind of community than what we may be able to find in our present circumstances.

    I’m sorry this is so long. I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am that I have found this site and thank you personally for your guts and bravery in print.

    I pray for your family and Revolution. Thank you again for being where you are… here on the net…

    Grace and peace,
    Pam

  2. Mak — October 1, 2007 #

    Thank you so much Pam, that means a lot to me! God guide you on your journey

  3. Mike L. — October 2, 2007 #

    Thanks for this series of blogs. I enjoyed your take on scripture and your summary of post modern thought.

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