a few things on my mind
*Whine alert*
I have suffered lately through some financial stress and a mild depression, which explains my lack of writing. Out of the circumstances though has come several thoughts. Let me share them with you.
1. The work of a preacher shouldn’t exempt from the minister’s primary responsibilities the one thing that supports the naming of the role: preaching. I have, through a grad course I’m taking at ACU, found a new and profound respect for preaching. The preacher’s work is difficult and often misunderstood. Much grace should be extended to those who preach in our pulpits. This isn’t a selfish, aggrandizing plea for sympathy; it’s the truth.
2. Creating solidarity with others different and less privileged than us often produces messy situations and vulnerable moments. I have no doubt that merely creating a budget for benevolence and calling it good functions as a backdoor move to opt out of genuine responsibilities to love others. To express the love of Calvary calls for a willingness to suffer inconvenience and social stigma… to find oneself often arguing the nonsensical side of things and challenging others to defy conventional wisdom… to include in your circle of friends those you normally wouldn’t.
3. The dark cloud of criticism and perceived failure often surrounds those unwilling to cave to a world-oriented traditionalism that seeks to define and craft the body of Christ in its image. Again, the clash between what’s common and popular for Christianity and a simple desire to manifest Jesus (as his representative body) ignites a fire of competing agendas to co-opt what it means to be church. Too often the loudest and most tenured of the collective church groups, regardless of any attempt to found their opinions in the gospel narrative, force acquiescence from those weary of pleading with rocks.
These are just thoughts. They are somewhat negative and critical, I know. But they flow from an honest desire to see through some of the reasons I feel disconnected from an expression of discipleship as taught by Jesus.
You are welcome to add your thoughts and critiques of what I’ve said.