First, let’s get some definitions out of the way:

• Indifferentism is the error of accepting the gospel but refusing to acknowledge the doctrines of the gospel as “unbreachable boundaries for Christian faith and fellowship.”
• Everythingism is the error of holding all doctrines on the same level as the gospel, making every belief a boundary for faith and fellowship.

The problem here is that both are wrong Scripturally.  The one is wrong because there are doctrines that go along with salvation that must be maintained.  The other is wrong because not every doctrine is of the same weight as salvation or necessary for salvation.

I fall into the second category. Well, I’m desperately trying to get out of that second category. To the point of wearing nothing but red shirts.

Most Christians tend to be more sensitive to one error and to neglect the other. Many evangelicals are quick to perceive the intrinsic factiousness of everythingism, but in avoiding it they become tolerant of indifferentists. Fundamentalists go miles out of their way to avoid the compromise of indifferentists, but they are willing to put up with the everythingists. On both sides, political considerations sometimes become more important than integrity.

If we want a truly biblical Christianity, then we are going to have to avoid both errors. We are going to have to treat everythingists and indifferentists with about the same misgiving. Of course, in order to do that we shall have to become skilled at judging the importance of doctrines. We must develop special proficiency for discriminating fundamentals from non-fundamentals.

As much as I hate labels, I like being able to identify an issue that I’m having.

I asked a friend last week how you go about changing something that’s been engrained in you for so long and his answer, annoying as it was, is true: “You just…do.” That’s my current goal. To change. To be able to take my faith seriously despite my doubts. To trust God even when I don’t trust myself.

Don’t expect it to happen overnight.

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

I’m reading a new book, a very short one, called Dare to Desire by John Eldredge.

Oh. My. Goodness. It’s phenomenal! The things that John is writing about aren’t incredibly profound…they’re just truths that are so often overlooked in our busy lives. I’ll post more about it later.

I just couldn’t do it anymore.

People were asking me to write articles and books on how to grow a progressive young church, and I wasn’t even sure I was a Christian anymore.

I didn’t even know if I wanted to be a Christian anymore.

What do you do when you can hear the room filling up with thousands of people who are expecting you to give them words from God, and you don’t even know if it is true anymore?

I was exhausted.

I was burned out.

I was full of doubt.

I was done.

I had nothing more to say.

So I may not be a superpastor people want writing books…but the state of our minds was the same.

I was done.

But Bell began to learn something that I’m just now beginning to learn and figure out how to apply to my life despite years of bad Christian habits:

The point of the cross isn’t forgiveness. Forgiveness leads to something much bigger: restoration. God isn’t just interested in the covering over of our sins; God wants to make us into the people we were originally created to be. It is not just the removal of what’s being held against us; it is God pulling us into the people he originally had in mind when he made us. This restoration is why Jesus always orients his message around becoming the kind of people who are generous and loving and compassionate. The goal here isn’t simply to not sin. Our purpose is to increase the shalom in this world, which is why approaches to the Christian faith that deal solely with not sinning always fail. They aim at the wrong thing. It is not about what you don’t do. The point is becoming more and more the kind of people God had in mind when we were first created.

That kind of flies in the face of fundamentalism, doesn’t it?

It is one thing to be saved. To believe in Jesus. It is another thing to be healed. It is possible to be saved and miserable. It is possible to be saved and not be a healthy, whole, life-giving person. It is possible for the cross to have done something for a person but not in them.

And that brings me to what I have to do in my own life. It won’t be easy, but I think I can do it.

I meet so many people who have superwhatever rattling around in their head. They have this person they are convinced they are supposed to be, and their superwhatever is killing them. They have this image they picked up over the years of how they are supposed to look and act and work and play and talk, and it’s like a voice that never stops shouting in their ear.

And the only way to not be killed by it is to shoot first.

Yes, that is what I meant to write.

You have to kill your superwhatever.

And you have to do it right now.

Because your superwhatever will rob you of today and tomorrow and the next day until you take it out back and end its life.

Go do it.

I have to kill my superMandiKaye. She exists, and I hate that she exists. Say goodbye to her now, because she won’t be around anymore.

I’m going to let Jesus heal my soul.

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.

“It occurred to me one day that though I often worry about whether or not I sense the presence of God I give little thought to whether God senses the presence of me.” 
Philip Yancy in Prayer – Does it Make Any Difference?

In reflecting on that statement, Jeanie wrote:

What sweet invitation.  I was somehow thinking that the pursuit of His Presence was elusive at times.  Why, I wondered, am I so aware of Your Presence sometimes and at other times I am wondering where You are?  Maybe because while I was desiring to be in that place of peace and joy, I wasn’t really “there.”  Maybe it has been me missing from those uncomfortable void times?

What an uncomfortable thought. No one wants to think that a soured relationship has gone that way because of something I did. It’s always the other person’s fault.

But what if it isn’t?

It’s interesting to me that the one part that stuck out the most to me isn’t exactly what the article is about:

Be encouraged when you observe yourself fighting against pride. That is God’s Holy Spirit working!

I had never thought of struggling in this light. When I struggle with a sin or temptation, the struggle exists because God is working in me. If He wasn’t, there would be no struggle and I would just enjoy the sin.

“…you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

These verses are, of course, talking about spiritual maturity. I just had to laugh because of what I posted yesterday. This is a reoccurring theme in my life right now. Evidently, I’m pretty far from being spiritually mature, and God is trying to get my attention.

I don’t like it.

But then, who likes correction? The main thing is that regardless of how I feel, I need to just do it. I’ve heard the truth. I know what I should be doing and how I should be acting. But there’s a world of difference between knowing and doing. And James is clear:

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.”

If I believe, but do nothing about it, and don’t seek to change my life to be like Christ, then I am no better than the demons.

Another verse I read this morning was a swift kick in the pants:

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

The way the word “religious” is taken today, no I don’t consider myself religious. But in this biblical context, I do. This verse describes me pretty well. And there are a couple of different interpretations to this verse, and sadly, they all apply to me. 

“Does not keep a tight rein on his tongue…” That could be talking about gossip/slander. I’m guilty of that. I actually had to (I wasn’t forced to, I felt the need to do this) apologize to one of the elders at my church because I was complaining about something he did to another church member, when I should have gone directly to him. I’ve often been guilty of gossip. The funny thing is that I often get annoyed at others who gossip. My office at work is across from the copier. And the copier is often used as the “water cooler” where people get together and gossip. It drives me nuts! But then I turn around and gossip too.

It could be referring to being humble rather than spouting off about your “religion” and how devout you are and such. Humble is not a word I would use to describe me. People will often tell me I’m wise and tell me that I’m this incredible Christian woman – and I eat it up. I love it. It validates me. It tells me that I must be somebody worth being because people come to me. That’s pretty prideful – the direct opposite of humility.

Either way, they both end up meaning that my religion is worthless. And that stinks.

Luckily, the Bible also says:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentence. 2 Peter 3:9

and:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purigy us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Hallelujah!

Trackposted to Pirate’s Cove, third world county, Conservative Cat, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

• 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

What are you doing to invest into the lives of those in your neighborhood?  How are you building community with believers and initiating ministry with unbelievers?  It’s convicting for me because it’s so much easier to live in my own private world and forget those whom God has placed right in front of me where I live.  Maybe I have some things to learn from you and good ole’ Mister Rogers.

I have to say that I fall short here. I’m much “happier” (not really, but it’s perceived happiness at the moment) when I’m a hermit. Isolated. Alone. Away from the effort it takes to be part of a community.

For some of us, it’s really hard to be emotionally intimate. We’re naturally loners and it takes a lot of effort to be around people. After awhile, it doesn’t seem worth it. When it gets to the point that just being in the same room with another person can make you irritable and grumpy. When you feel as if you’re expending all of your energy to make community work while no one else is. It doesn’t seem worth it.

But big picture? It really is worth it.