These really are random thoughts about evangelism.
This week I keep reading s#*% about stupid churches who exclude people or say ridiculous things. Michelle Bachmann announced the end of the world according to her Bible...even though Jesus clearly says we will never be able to figure out the time. I even heard someone say they would ground their exclusive anti-gay position on the "words Jesus said" about homosexuality being a sin...not the Bible I am reading. The only position Jesus took regarding marriage was anti-divorce.
So, it's understandable that the run-of-the-mill-Joe or Jane thinks spirituality is better than religion.
It's hard not to duck our heads and head for cover when stupidity trumps real church. And it always does in the public forum. Our little congregation who practices helping each other find and celebrate hope, experience belonging, extend and receive forgiveness, and discover a sense of purpose and direction is pretty boring in media standards. (BTW, the list of "real church" characteristics is in a great book you can explore with this link.) Not much excitement when people fight, then forgive each other. Not much controversy to err on the side of acceptance and inclusion. Gotta have a conflict if you want a good story. Hope, peace, belonging...they just don't sell.
Culture is teaching us that Real Housewives is real and congregational life (of any stripe) is fantasy.
It's time for us to know better and to say so.
In New York Magazine this week there is an article titled Why Kids Need Spirituality. It is definitely worth a read. But the point is the same one made by conservative, David Brooks. We can never develop our own morality from scratch. It is too complicated, too extensive, and we are too influenced by our surroundings.
I, for one, think that youth nurtured by a community of faith (especially a community grounded in God's grace and nurture and not concerned with judgment and exclusion) is a far healthier place, a far more hopeful place, a far better place and practice than TV, movies, or video games.
I think if we throw out the word "believe" and use the better biblical translation of "trust" then this might make more sense. We trust in Jesus and his way of living and being in the world. We trust that God is reconciling and transforming the world. We trust that the community of people gathered as "church" is invited to participate in God's work and that we, with the Spirit's support, can make a difference.
It's not about perfection. It's about trying. And I wonder if the first step toward spreading the good news of the gospel is not to be ashamed.
We've been given a great gift. We cannot be silent about its value...or about the fact that the gift is offered to all people.
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