GOD ISN'T FINISHED WITH ME YET

I recently re-read a book from my shelves:  THE NEXT CHRISTIANS: How a New Generation is Restoring the Faith, copyright 2010, by Gabe Lyons.  I'm going to deliberately keep it out on my desk for a good while so that I can flip through it and reexamine the many underlined passages.  

The book slowly exposed me in areas that were painful and awakening.  I am deeply challenged by its message and find myself wanting to evolve into a 'Next Christian'.  I have a long way to go and will have to reengage myself regularly if I hope to activate this transformation.

Although I graduated from a seminary that espoused four major branches of theology [Feminist, Calvinist, Progressive, Libertion]. I managed to emerge with my Wesleyan faith-base intact.  I think this was enabled by the fact that the United Methodist Church was sending a lot of their theology students to this school, which created a tolerance for the Wesleyan perspective.  :-)

I emerged from the process as an innovative thinker, cooperative leader, and biblically-based teacher.  Having been raised in the Free Methodist Church, I found it to be a suitable and comfortable base of operation throughout the years, although I currently worship in an evangelical Presbyterian church.  My sources of influence have been eclectic: 

• a Free Methodist college
• a United Methodist seminary
• a liberal Presbyterian seminary
• a charismatic Catholic university
• and a host of friends and associates from a wide variety of Christian-faith-based backgrounds!  

I consequently emerged as a firmly entrenched theological mongrel with a mainstream way of thinking.  I was comfortable and even effective as a result of these processes.

But Gabe Lyons book began to rattle and disturb my comfort zone.  He had a subtle way of showing me that I am judgmental, proud, and ineffective when it comes to engaging those who disagree with my paradigms.  

My activism has often resorted to boycotts, picketing and letter-writing campaigns.  This approach nearly cost my son (Travis) an education at the United States Naval Academy [but that's a story I've told elsewhere].  I was proud of this approach - until I read THE NEXT CHRISTIAN.  This book unpeeled the roots of my exclusivism, anger, and stubbornness!  I'm hopeful that - even at this late stage of my life - I might be able to change my approach to things I don't like or understand.

I want to break the patterns of rigid thinking and express patience, a desire to know and understand and a renewed passion for a restoring impact!  

Unless you've read the book, it's a challenge for me to convey its message in a brief space.  Perhaps a quote from page 75 will suffice [or at least plant a seed].

No one - Christian included - can avoid all contact with potentially corrupting people, systems, and influences.  For everyday followers of Jesus, this tension begs the question: How should Christians react when placed in an environment that celebrates sin, overlooks injustice, or tolerates immorality?

[I think ALL of us would agree that this is a relevant question for our day!] 

Michael Metzger has said, "When confronted with the corruption of our world - Christians ought to be provoked, not offended and withdrawn."

In contrast, classic Separatist Christians (the insiders, culture warriors, and evangelizers) are often offended by corruption.  Characterized by their lifestyle choices, these Christians tend to remove themselves from potentially harmful situations - citing their disgust of immorality or their pursuit of holiness as the reason.  As is consistent with their perspective, they condemn, judge, withdraw, and boycott.  They play the paradoxical role of antagonist instead of the sacrificial pursuer. 

In my copy of this book, you will see the word "OUCH!" penned in my script!

All these years, I've been offended and withdrawn - hoping to punish evil and withdrawing from its presence!  How un-Christ-like of me!  How Pharisaical!  God, help me to change!

Lyons gives many examples of 'Next Christians' working within our culture [and other cultures] to bring a spiritual restoration to situations and environments.  

I reflect on my years of ministry with a mix of pride and remorse.  I'm grateful that due to training, education and excellent role models, I did a lot of things right!  However, I lament that I dropped the ball when it comes to having a restorative impact on the culture!  I will try to do better in the years I have left.  

It's hard to capture the essence of a 200-page book in this brief forum.  If this blog has tickled or unnerved anything within you - perhaps you'd like to get a copy and read it?