On the Absence of Dialogue

We need to talk.

But before we do that, we need to create safety.

In order to create safety, we need to not judge.

In order to not judge, we most often need to let go of the idea that “I” am right.  Or, in its subtler, nastier form that disguises itself as righteous thinking: that “I” know what the Bible says about xyz and most importantly, I know how God feels about xyz.

Yeah, that’s going to be tough.  But we really, really need to talk.  About many, many things.  And maybe in some cases, we need to stop talking.

This is assignment number one for the Virtual Qahal.  How do we break down the judgment reflex in our churches?  I think it has to be a process, more of an erosion brought on by experience than a Jericho-esque shakedown.  But what do you think?

And We’re Back!

Well, maybe.

It has been over thirteen months since this blog has seen any activity. I’d more or less forgotten about it, until I saw it on a friend’s blogroll. Gotta appreciate the loyalty and apparent faith of that particular friend.

I admittedly haven’t given a whole lot of thought to the return of this blog, but I have been thinking about what around here I refer to as the “qahal” lately. I think we Americans get church wrong more often than not. I’m not particularly interested in making this a place of negativity, but rather one of suggestion and experimentation.

So I think I’ll make a covenant right here. I’m not going to complain or judge without offering a constructive alternative. Additionally, any suggestions or alternatives to the status quo will be given a practical experiment whenever possible.

I started this blog out of hunger for community and communion, but I know how easy it is for me to slip into unproductive and often hurtful criticism. I’ve noticed I often try to get around that hurtful part by voicing opinions away from those that might be hurt by them, then developing resentment, negativity and unfair barriers in my relationships. A little confession, but I digress…

I guess I’m just saying, I hope this thing does some good. For me and anyone else out there who senses that your church doesn’t quite get it right. And that usually means I’m not getting it right, either. So let’s keep each other honest and loving, and ferret out the footholds that evil has found among us.

If you’re reading this, thanks for coming back, or dropping in.

More Hymn Theology

“This World Is Not My Home”

Do we turn our backs on the world when we sing this song? We tend to draw a line between this world and the next with no connection between the two. We are supposed to store up our treasures in Heaven, but do we do this by sticking our fingers in our ears and “la-la-la”ing when the world wants our attention?

At the beginning of Gladiator, Maximus says durnig his pre-battle speech, “What we do in this life echoes in eternity” (or something like that). If this life is spent focused on not doing something, on avoiding things, perhaps eternity will turn out to be a quiet place.

Or is it more like this: we store up treasure in Heaven by getting our hands, feet, and faces dirty in the alluvial mud pits of God’s redemptive work in the lives of people on Earth?

This world is not my home
I’m just a’passing through
But I’m going to get as filthy as possible
Before that happens

I don’t think that one will show up on an order of worship any time soon.