I am a woman. Of no distinction. Of little importance. I am a woman of no reputation, save that which is bad. You whisper as I pass by and cast judgmental glances though you don’t really take the time to look at me, or, even get to know me, for to be known is to be loved, and to be loved is to be known and, otherwise, what’s the point of doing either one of them in the first place? I want to be known. I want someone to look at my face and not just see two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears but to see all that I am and could be. All my hopes, loves, and fears but that’s too much to hope for, to wish for, or pray for so I don’t. Not anymore. Now I keep to myself, and by that I mean the pain that keeps me in my own private jail. The pain that has brought me here, at midday, to this well.

To ask for a drink is no big request, but to ask it of me, a woman unclean, ashamed, used and abused, an outcast, a failure, a disappointment, a sinner. No drink passing from these hands to your lips could ever be refreshing, only condemning, as I’m sure you condemn me now, but you don’t.

You’re a man of no distinction, though of the utmost importance. A man with little reputation, at least so far. You whisper and tell me to my face what all those glances have been about, and you take the time to really look at me but don’t need to get to know me for to be known is to be loved, and to be loved is to be known, and you know me. You actually know me. All of me and everything about me. Every thought inside and hair on top of my head. Every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread from my past and my future, all I am and can be you tell me everything. You tell me about me.

And that which is spoken by another would bring hate and condemnation. Coming from you it brings love, grace, mercy, hope, and salvation. I’ve heard of one to come who would save a wretch like me, and here in my presence you say, “I am he.”

To be known is to be loved, and to be loved is to be known.

And I just met you, but I love you. I don’t know you, but I want to get to. Let me run back to town; this is way too much for just me. There are others–brothers, sisters, lovers, haters, the good and the bad, sinners and saints who should hear what you have told me, who should see what you have shown me, who should taste what you gave me, who should feel how you forgave me.

For to be known is to be loved, and to be loved is to be known.

And they all need this too. We all do. We need it for our own.

There are two aspects of Jesus’ life and mission: His inside ministry and his outside ministry. His inside ministry was focused on his life with the disciples, those close to him, and his work within the religious structures of his day—inside the synagogue and the Temple. His outside ministry was comprised of his connection with the everyday people, often those on the margins, those forbidden entry into the righteous circles, the heavy drinkers, the sexually immoral and the tax collectors. Most of this facet of Jesus’ life was also literally outside, in the marketplaces, on the hillsides, by pools, in porticos and at parties.

[...]

Why have we forgotten the passion of the Son of Man for life on the outside, beyond corrugated roofs and sky-piercing steeples? It’s easy to exchange the unknown and the uncomfortable for the amenities of life on the inside. In today’s church we like the inside Jesus. It’s comfortable to lean to a Savior that’s easy; a Messiah that feels at home in the warm shelter of the four-walled church. The Jesus of Sunday school classes, small groups and deep-dish potlucks. The only problem is that wasn’t where the Jesus of the Gospels stayed for very long. Instead, he was building a reputation, rubbing shoulders with the world of the sexually immoral, the impoverished, with the suffering.

This reminds me of  song by Todd Agnew called My Jesus.

Particularly that last half:

That’s why the end of Brian’s article resonates with me:

Perhaps it’s time for the church to become undomesticated, to go deep into the world and identify with the sinner, the poor and the oppressed, once again, for the mission of Christ. And the only way this will happen is if the church steps outside itself and blazes a path for a brave new culture to follow, one that, like Jesus, may not have a place to lay one’s head.

So now I’m on a journey to be like Jesus – not like Christians. Remember, Christian is a great noun but a lousy adjective. It’s going to be tough for a people pleaser like me to make this journey because it’s going to look radically different than what most people associate with the word Christian – but ultimately, that doesn’t matter because my final authority is God and no one else (if I say that enough times, I have to start believing it deep down, right?).

So what does this look like for me? It looks like forming and living in a community very similar to Shane Claiborne’s “new monastic” community The Simple Way (you won’t get too much info from that link because they recently experienced a horrific fire and are focusing their efforts on rebuilding and funding the rebuilding effort). There are several of these communities popping up around the country (there’s even one in my hometown that I didn’t know existed - funny story…the web filter at work classifies the site as “occult”).

Busted Halo describes The Simple Way like this:

The Simple Way is an alternative Christian community with six semi-permanent members and a few dozen others who have passed through its doors. Members live and pray together, dedicate themselves to work with their poor neighbors, contribute part of their outside incomes (everybody has a part-time regular job) to maintain the house and generally aspire to upset the established order through acts of radical Christian love. Those acts of Christian resistance have included running an art camp for their inner city neighbors, opening the door to prostitutes in crisis and visiting Iraq to perform circuses for war-battered kids. These acts are equal parts punk rock and monastic.

[..]

What distinguishes the house from other locales where cool, politically minded denizens split the rent is that these young adults gather expressly to share in each others’ religious lives and to follow Christ together. While members do not take vows and can stay for as long as forever or as little as a month, the best way to understand The Simple Way may be as a religious order, albeit an anarchist one with no Mother Superior and no dress code (although dread locks and piercings seem to be de rigeur). Living in community means conscientious dedication to each other’s spiritual journey.

[..]

The Simple Way is part of a growing movement of mostly young evangelical Christians and Catholics who are dedicated to taking the Gospel—not Genesis— literally. The group makes common cause with Catholic Worker houses of hospitality and dozens of other alternative communities that operate below the radar of American Christianity.

It’s something that looks and feels very different from traditional Christianity. This is what Rob Bell calls “Repainting the Christian Faith.”

For thousands of years followers of Jesus, like artists, have understood that we have to keep going, exploring what it means to live in harmony with God and each other. The Christian faith tradition is filled with change and growth and transformation. Jesus took part in this process by calling people to rethink faith and the Bible and hope and love and everything else, and by inviting them into the endless process of working out how to live as God created us to live.

The challenge for Christians then is to live with great passion and conviction, remaining open and flexible, aware that this life is not the last painting.

Get ready, because I’m going to start repainting what I know and do regarding Christianity. But I can’t do it alone. This vision of community kind of requires other people to be involved (you can’t have a community of one!). I have 1 friend who is interested in helping, but she is married and can’t be completely involved. Here’s what I need:

1. Prayer partners. Without prayer, this vision will never get off the ground.
2. Physical partners – people who have this same kind of vision and want to see this kind of community take off in Denver, CO.
3. Professionals who may not want to live in this kind of community, but have the knowledge of how to get a non-profit going and would lend their brains to the cause to get us up and running (I’ve been researching laws and how to incorporate and it just makes my head swim).
4. A name. I was hoping to use “The Gathering Place” in either Hebrew, Greek, or Latin, but I don’t like the way any of them sound. And there’s already a women’s day shelter in Denver called “The Gathering Place”.
5. A neglected or abandoned house that we can take over and move into in a neighborhood that will benefit from this type of community.

I’m not asking for much, am I? Even if you only have advice, I’ll gladly take that too.

Trackposted to Perri Nelson’s Website, third world county, The Random Yak, Woman Honor Thyself, Right Truth, Pirate’s Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, Conservative Cat, and Church and State, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord hav been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Join with others in following my example, brothers…

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

That isn’t to say that this isn’t a great book full of things that we all need to know and put into practice. My favorite verse in this book is one that I don’t think I’d ever read before. Or at least, I’d never paid attention to it.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (3:10-11)

Yes! I want to know Christ. It’s a simple phrase, but it’s so powerful! And it’s the deep cry of my heart.

I want to know Christ.

Listen to I Want to Know You (In the Secret)

• Rescue 101 – My commitment to Jesus…
  Jesus came, “To Save what was Lost.” – Luke 19:10
  “Whoever enters through Me (Jesus) will be Saved.” – John 10:9
• Connect 201 – My commitment to my local church family…
  “Love one another…As I have loved you.” – John 13:34
  “They devoted themselves…to the Fellowship.” – Acts 2:42
• Grow 301 – My commitment to grow…
  “Teaching them to Obey everything…” – Matt. 28:20
  “Walk as Jesus did.” – John 2:6
• Serve 401 – My commitment to serve…
  “Not…to be served, but to Serve…” – Matt. 10:28
  “To prepare God’s people for works of service…” – Eph. 4:12
• Reach 501 – My commitment to reach others with Jesus…
  “Go and make disciples…” – Matt. 28:19
  “I will make you fishers of men.” – Matt. 4:19

Last night we went through Grow 301, and I walked away realizing that I’m not where I need to be. It’s so easy for me to walk around thinking that I’m an uber-Christian because I’ve got all these verses memorized and I know the right answers and what you’re supposed to do. The problem is that I often don’t do it.

Oh, I’m a “good” person – by worldly standards. But often, my attitude is so far removed from being godly that I’m surprised the lighting hasn’t struck yet.

I’ve written before on Spiritual Maturity, so you would think that I would be closer to losing the immaturity that plagues me. But I’m not. If Spiritual Maturity is being like Christ, then I have a long long long way to go.

There are seven habits of a disciple (someone who is a learner, student, a follower of Jesus):

1. Worship: Living each moment of life in a way to please God, not self or others.
2. Daily Time with God: Daily time alone with God
3. Bible: Reading and listening to what God is saying to you.
4. Prayer: Talking to God.
5. Giving: Giving back to God my first and best.
6. Fellowship: Spending time with and enjoying God’s family.
7. Serving: Doing my part to serve Jesus and others.

I was appalled and ashamed to realize that of those seven habits, I consistently practice only one. I feel hypocritical owning a blog called Imago Dei (Image of God) when I’m so clearly not living as an image of God.

Oh sure, plenty of people think that I’m this great godly woman because I have half a Bible in my brain, I go to church, I attend two small groups, and I work for a Christian organization. But it doesn’t matter what people think. The reality is that all that matters is what God thinks. And I fall woefully short.

This is a public declaration of my commitment to grow more like Christ in my words, thoughts, and actions.

Pause for a moment and remember.

Remember where you were, and what it was like … that moment when you understood the cross for the first time … when you really grasped what happened at Calvary, and what it truly means that Christ died for your sins, what it truly means to be saved.Remember the passion for Jesus you had? Remember the joy and overwhelming gratitude to God that came from knowing your sins were forgiven?

I miss that passion. I feel very complacent and apathetic these days. I read the other day that, “Apathy toward God is the result of being passionate toward something or someone else.”* That’s a nice kick in the pants. It’s true, but I don’t like the truth of it.

Perhaps you often lack joy, or wonder why you can’t make greater progress in spiritual maturity, or feel condemned when you sin. So you study your Bible more, or attend another small-group meeting, or serve in new ways at church, or read the latest book.

All these practices are good. Some are vital. But let me suggest the likely root cause of your problems: Perhaps you have simply drifted from the message that saved you. If you lack passion for God, if you sometimes wonder where the joy went, then consider: Are you still clinging to the gospel? Whether you grew up in church or were saved on the streets, you were saved by the same simple message: Christ died for your sins.

[...]

How quickly we drift from this essential message! We begin basing our relationship with God on our performance. We want to substitute our works — our Bible reading, our church attendance, our church participation — for Christ’s finished work. We easily fall into the subtle but serious trap of legalism, because every one of us has a legalist lurking within.

If you’re unfamiliar with this term, here is how I like to define legalism: Legalism is seeking to achieve forgiveness from God, justification before God, and acceptance by God, through our obedience to God.

In other words, a legalist is anyone who behaves as if he or she can earn God’s approval and forgiveness through performance. At its heart legalism is self-atonement for the purpose of self-glorification and ultimately self-worship. Many of us (and I include myself here) can approach legalism casually. But legalism is serious and it is deadly.

I used to be self-righteous when it came to legalism. “I left my old church because they were SO legalistic!” But in reality, I’m still legalistic. Thankfully, there are ways to combat legalism.

First, remember the cross. “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” Paul reminded the Galatians of the cross, and he reminds us as well, because our daily tendency and temptation is to forget the cross. Recognize this tendency in yourself and remind yourself often of the cross. Read cross-centered books, listen to cross-centered preaching, and memorize Scripture verses pertaining to Christ’s work on the cross.

Second, recall your conversion. “Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” With this question, Paul points us all back to the message that saved us. He wants us to begin interrogating the legalist within, whenever legalism rises up to try to dilute or deny the unique saving power of God’s grace. To recall how we were converted is to be reminded of grace. As a practice, I seize every opportunity to share my testimony with other Christians, and I ask them to share theirs. I find this practice helps us marvel at grace together.

Third, review your hope. “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Here is another telling question for your inner legalist and mine. So please be very clear about this: You will never be more justified — more accepted by God and righteous in his sight — than you are right now or than you were that first moment you exercised the gift of faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our hope for each day is not in trying to earn God’s forgiveness, but to look outward and upward, trusting in the work of God’s Son on our behalf, for our justification is in Him, permanently and forever.

May we all remember the hope that we have in the Gospel.

*From Jim Berg’s Changed Into His Image

Uh….no.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:5

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

I could go on, but I think you get the point.

These people make me so angry! There were children in that video. Smiling! And did you see that psycho woman Shirley Phelps-Roper? She looked positively delighted to be singing that God was sending people to hell. What kind of person is that?

This is NOT Christianity. This is a cult. God has nothing to do with what is coming out of that “church.”

And why is Canada evil? They were waving the Canadian flag upside down. I don’t quite understand that one.

I believe in both faith and reason. The more we learn about God, the more we understand how magnificent this universe is. There is no contradiction to it. When I look at history, I would disagree with Sam: Christianity has done far more good than bad. Altruism comes out of knowing there is more than this life, that there is a sovereign God, that I am not God. We’re both betting. He’s betting his life that he’s right. I’m betting my life that Jesus was not a liar. When we die, if he’s right, I’ve lost nothing. If I’m right, he’s lost everything. I’m not willing to make that gamble.

Pretty much.

Before I proceed, I want to admit that I don’t know much about the politics involved in recent issues of immigration, especially in regards to controlling the influx of Latinos coming through the Mexican border. I know that it is a hot topic, and there are a variety of opinions out there. I don’t profess to know the answer to such political dilemmas, but that’s not what this conversation was about. It was about Hispanic places of worship and the white American Church “catering” to them.

A worship service consists of more than going through familiar motions. A really good worship service involves feeling. The multitude of believers (some more multitudinous than others) gather in one company, in one voice, lifting up the one Lord, Jesus Christ. It can be incredibly moving and inspiring.

Now, the ever-present question is, how do we worship? And the answer is different in every culture. Hispanics worship in a much different style than white Americans do. Africans worship in a manner that is very distinct from the way in which an Asian believer would praise God. It is important to not only allow the freedom of different worship styles in context, but to make sure that we do not impose burdens of style on churches that we plant or support in other cultures. The Holy Spirit is very relevant to different cultures, and there is nothing wrong with following his lead in such relevance.

I bring this up because I believe it is appropriate and befitting to allow Hispanics to gather and worship in a manner that suits their culture and adheres to biblical principles. In contrast, it is most certainly not the will of God for us to force a bunch of Mexicans, Hondurans, and Guatemalans into a dry, lulling service of pasty-white Anglo-Saxons, devoid of tambourines, dancing, and the songs to which they are accustomed merely because we are trying to create good, American Christians.

I love that he immediately points out that it isn’t the politics behind the issue that concern him. The politics of the matter shouldn’t be an issue. What we’re talking about here is how the church treats people.

What a horrid injustice it would be for us to take such a passionate culture with such “undignified” delight towards the Lord and stick them into our biased prototype of what a “good church” looks like. I admit that the fact that I don’t get a bulletin or that someone may randomly call upon me during the Hispanic service is a bit uncomfortable. Yet, it’s what keeps me coming back for more.

I know that I don’t have everything figured out; in fact, I’m quite sure that the American church does not have everything about Jesus figured out (despite what the top-ten best-selling Christian self-help books might claim). And so, I am searching for pieces of Jesus in different cultures, hoping to see a larger picture of the mosaic called the Body of Christ. Let’s drop our facades and prejudices, please; it’s time to start learning from immigrants.

I wish it were as simple as white and Latino worship services. But, there is something deeper at work here, and it makes me ill – racism in the Church. We fear the things we do not know, and that is a large part of why we fear other cultures “not assimilating” into the American way of life. I think that this whole Christianity-becoming-a-worldview fad is overall a good step for the Church. Our faith is very relevant in culture, politics, and daily life. Men like Nehemiah teach us this. Yet, this kind of proactive political forwardness needs to be done in humility, and I’m afraid that we’re falling away from this. Having a biblical worldview does not mean taking your Republican or Democrat ideals and justifying them from a pulpit.

So, my question is not, “Should the Church shun immigrants?” I’m afraid that’s too big of a question and nothing real would result from this little conversation that we’ve been having. For some churches, it wouldn’t even matter; politics have polluted much of the infrastructure of American churches to the point that someone piping up and saying, “That’s not biblical!” makes little difference in the grand scheme. My question is, “Should you, should I, shun immigrants?” Let’s take off our institutional hats and speak from our hearts. What does Jesus tell you to do about it? Not George W. Bush. Not Jerry Falwell. Not even Tony Campolo.

You see, we in America have too many options. Too many choices of cereal. Too many ways to give to various charities. Too many radio stations and TV channels. We are crippled by indecision. How many times have you thought, “I’d really like to sponsor an orphan or missionary, but I don’t know where to give my money”? And what have you done? If you’re like me, probably nothing. You put the checkbook away for another day – you may have even resolved to pray more about it.

If you’re in this group with me, can we just quit with the hypocrisy? Let’s stop hiding behind what our preacher says. Let’s stop hiding behind the safety and security of our Western comfort. Let’s stop hiding behind our limited giving to charitable organizations. Let’s start really doing something about the injustices in the world, in our communities, and in ourselves. Let it begin in our individual hearts, as they break for the other, the least, and the deserted.

Yes! It’s so frustrating for me to hear people parrot their pastors leaders. Perhaps because, for so long, I was a parrot. I spouted off so much crap because it had been spouted off to me. I can remember when a good friend of mine got saved in college – I was thrilled! But then I matter of factly told her she must get a KJV. *sigh* But the truth is, it doesn’t matter what people say. If Jesus says give to the poor and your pastor says you don’t have to give if you really feel like you can’t…who should you listen to? If Jesus says to love your neighbor and your Christian friends tell you to leave the illegal immigrants alone…who should you listen to? If you answered anything other than Jesus, I’d like to see you answer the same way if Jesus asked you.

The Israelites were commanded to welcome the stranger, remembering that they, too, were once strangers in a foreign land. The New Testament calls us to a deeper understanding of who we are in this world – aliens. Jesus sent out his disciples as wanderers and vagrants – truly homeless – as if to point them to acknowledge their true homeland. And we are to entertain visitors in this world, never sure of who may be God’s messengers in disguise.

Trackposted to Planck’s Constant, third world county, Dumb Ox Daily News, Conservative Cat, Right Voices, Conservative Thoughts, and Pursuing Holiness, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.