Last night I had a very thought provoking conversation with my friend John Lamb. John is much older than me, nearly twice my age, and I relish moments with him because I am able to learn so much through his life experience and place with God.
We discussed a difference in theology, a theology most evangelical Christians have in this country, and neither John nor I agree is biblical. I guess I've had this point of view for sometime, but never categorized it until John brought it up. Forgive me for I have forgotten the exact terms, but the basic concepts are a boundary theology and a centric theology of Christians and Non-Christians.
The boundary type reasoning is what I would imagine most evangelicals hold true in this country. It is an Us vs. Them mentality. "What are we as Christians going to do to bring Non-Christians to Christ?" is a type of question they would entertain. The idea is that there is a boundary of an "in crowd" and not. Christians are in the "in crowd" and are viewing others outside their realm. Now there can be many categories of boundaries, and depending on which denomination or dare I say sect, you hold firm to, may define your boundaries different from another. Examples may include baptism by sprinkling or by submersion, or is it right for Christians to drink or not, or when is a person truly saved; at point of confession or after baptism? It does not matter what your boundaries are, but the point is there are boundaries and there are those of us that are inside and those of us that our outside.
The centric type model is where I think I conceptually agree with more. I say conceptually because I can admit I don't often live it, but if I had to stick with something, this is where I stand. The idea is that everyone is on the inside with Christ in the center. Think of it as a circle with a center point. God is outside the circle, inside the circle, and the center of the circle. He is everywhere. So, we take the understanding God is with everyone, loves everyone, and desires everyone to be close to him. The idea that everyone, no matter what their political affiliation, race, gender, religion, or ideology, is an image bearer of Christ. Now they may not be saved and in personal relationship with Christ, but they are image bearers, and they have value.
I once heard from a speaker a few years ago the statement, "You'll never look into the eye of someone whom God doesn't love." If our starting point in our theology is along the lines of, God loves everyone, and we are all together in this, than our ministry will take on a different shape. Think of the word outreach. For one to reach out, there must be a point of crossing over. I'd venture to say outreach is a term used in boundary type thinking. "We need to cross over the fence to the fallen and bring them to our side." But if we think that everyone is on a level field, all in God's grace and passion, then we don't go out, to a targeted group, we just live amongst everyone, no matter if they are considered "in" or "out." It isn't a mental decision to talk to a person about God, but rather we live in relationship with others and naturally live out our faith with those around us. There isn't this missional focus, but more of a community.
Don't twist what I am saying to think that missions trips and planned events are wrong; I'm not saying that at all, as I have been on many of those programs. My experience however with these mission trips, and the experience I have heard from many people is that they go overseas with the intent to change the world, and realize how much they didn't change the place they were going, but how much that place changed them. Could it be that God sends us to those places to set our minds straight? Maybe he already has a plan for those people you intended to reach and it doesn't involve you. Maybe God wants to work on you, so you change to be a greater, more brilliant representation of Him just where you are.
I realized how much I don't live or desire to live in a boundary area relationally the other day when I was talking with my wife. We have a mutual friend who will make a perfect wife, but there just hasn't been a guy worthy enough for her. Not because of her standards, but because we just haven't seen anyone as close with God as she is to keep up with her. So, I feel almost obligated to find this Mr. Perfect for her, but when I think about my Godly male friends, they are all married. All my other guy buddies are non-Christians, and they are the friends I desire to have. I have my group of Christian friends who I can share these thoughts with and love every moment I spend with them, but I definitely love my moments with people far from Christ. I don't desire to only relate to those who read their bibles. I desire to relate to those who bear the image of Christ, and as far as I can see, I encounter them frequently.
The personal application for me is, how bright am I shining for those not in relationship with Jesus? Am I bringing them any closer to the center, or am I simply living where I feel comfortable?
A Brief Overview
This blog is not attempting anything great or profound. Rather, it is a time for me to put my thoughts down and arrange them outside of my brain. I encourage anyone who reads my thoughts to reply or make comments. Thanks for stopping by.
About Me
- Rodney
- Littleton, CO, United States
- I occasionally have thoughts and lofty ideas running through my head. Most often, my thoughts aren't new to anyone else, but me being slower, take a little more time to grasp a concept. My wife and I live in Colorado and love it here. Both being from Nebraska, we have grown to love the view of mountains and crispness of the air. Our lives are both dependent on Jesus, and are grateful for the paths He has placed us on.
1 comment:
It's been awhile since I've written...I've been in a slump, which has recently been remedied and I'm burning again. I love it.
The first thing that jumped to mind in reading your post is a lyric from a song I really like that ends with "It's not our job to make anyone believe."
And when I first heard it, I was like, well yes it is...but then I realized, no...no it's not. Our job is to Love, if you can call that a "job." And to go back to your point, can we truly love through a boundary? I think it's very difficult to do so. Sure, we can be generous...we can throw money through a fence hole, and donate some stuff. But can we hug someone through a boundary, can we listen to someone through it, or literally be there for someone? NO! There's a freaking boundary there... so cut it down. (i'm obviously not talking to you...just preaching now).
I've also been thinking a lot about Christian communication. That pastor I told you about had a good sermon talking about how Christians judge non-Christians for what they're doing. And he's like...that's retarded! They are acting biblically. They don't know God personally, they don't have the convictions we do, so who are we to go condemning them? That just makes us look like jerks. We need to love them, build relationships with them, and keep ourselves in check.
I rant.
You're my friend.
I just read a lot of Matthew tonight, I got a lot out of it. But I also got a really good idea out of it too. We need to make a bible called "The Sword of the Spirit" by God. I think that sounds like the coolest bible ever, plus we know who it's by, and we'd make a ton of money, which is the point of selling bibles.
Man, I'm awesome.
Post a Comment