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Bad theology will hurt you part 2
If we all worked really hard, we wouldn't need Jesus.
Or at least that's the impression I'm getting from mainline Protestantism and other Christian organizations. During the last workshop of the Ekklesia Project conference, "Christian Responses to the Iraq War," a spokesman for Christian Peacemaker Teams basically said that if we worked really hard at it, devoted a lot of money to it, and organized enough, we could end war. I groaned. I respect the work Christian Peacemaker Teams does, and I believe they provide a faithful and necessary witness for peace. But that kind of Christian humanism drives me nuts.
As does the hymn "Sent Out in Jesus' Name," which I can't find the English words to online (here's the Spanish). The offensive verse is something like "the angels cannot make a world of peace; the task is ours to do." A Reform website had this commentary on the second stanza: "But first we are reminded that though angels may watch over us, they are unable to change the world; that is our task. The world is only set free when we–as individuals and collectively–obey the will of God and carry it out in the world."
I'm so glad to know that HEAVEN is powerless and it's my job to free the world!
Okay, I'll cut the sarcasm. And before you comment on how important it is for the church to work for social justice, let me emphasize that I agree with that one hundred percent. But any social worker or minister will tell you that the Jesus syndrome (thinking it's your responsibility to save the world) is dangerous. You’ll get burned out (very common in both professions), feel lonely, depressed, and probably act out by doing something stupid. This is how bad theology hurts you.
Hear the good news: the world has already been saved.
Liberal Protestants need to drum that into their head. I can pick on liberal mainline Protestantism because that’s my tradition, and I’m grateful for it. It’s where my faith and my passion for social justice was born and nurtured. (Okay, so I love to pick on the evangelical individualistic "Jesus is my personal Lord and Saviour" Protestantism too, but I’ll save that for another day.) I’ll repeat what I said in my poverty blog – poverty, injustice and war are caused by structural and individual sin, and thus neither will be ended until the kingdom of God comes in full. Yes, Christians are supposed to die to sin and love justice and walk humbly with the Lord. And by God's grace we can. But I still hold to this: The kingdom of God is here but not yet – and while we wait we participate in the kingdom by working for justice, but WE do not bring about the kingdom. God does.
We need to hear that distinction, otherwise we slide into a theology that places the work of humanity above the work of Christ.
"But that kind of Christian humanism drives me nuts."
Yep. Me, too.
"...the Jesus syndrome (thinking it's your responsibility to save the
world) is dangerous."
Yep, again.
I love United Methodist Women. I really do. This year I left the UMW/BOGM School of Christian Mission in a dark frame of mind because I spent four days and was not sufficiently spirtually fed.
My only suggestion for improvement was, "Could we at least recite the Apostle's Creed next year?"
Of course, we need to care for the poor, the widow and the orphan, but at some point in this journey, we also need to be clear concerning what we believe.
Let me echo you in saying, "WE do not bring about the kingdom. God does."
Great blog. It touched a little close to home.
I honestly think that our job is to practice love, try to do no harm, and
pray for grace. Our contribution to saving the world is to do our best not
to contribute our own little measure of sin to the prevailing evil.
As
you say, the world will be saved when God comes to save it. Your job and
my job is live so as to make ourselves eligible for salvation. I can't
save your soul and you can't save mine: the most we can do is to not be a
stumbling block for each other. We each have to take up our own cross and
carry it as far as our strength and the grace of God will take
us.
Rob [fourdakins@msn.com]
"the most we can do is to not be a stumbling block for each other."
Whoa! Rob! Are you sure that's the MOST we can do? Have you experienced anything spiritual beyond salvation?
Perhaps you are a deeply spiritual person and I simply do not know that. No problem. But as a flip (and I am being flip) answer, do you REALLY have a relationship with God through Jesus?
Anita
I think that's the most we can do, yes. Heaven is not a country club to
which we can bring a guest who hasn't paid his dues.
I am a spiritual
person (though not as spiritual as I'd like to be); I'm not a mystic. Are
you?
My understanding is that the only way to the Father is through the
Son. I'm not there yet.
Rob [fourdakins@msn.com]
How does one know when one is "there?" Is it possible to know? It would
seem that Paul thought so: "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced
that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day" (2
Timothy 1:12 NIV) The only wat to the Father is surely "through the Son,"
but is the Son in this metaphor a door or a tunnel? The author of Hebrews
would seem to argue for the former: "[S]ince we have confidence to enter
the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened
for us through the curtain, that is, his body...let us draw near to God
with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (10:19-20, 22a NIV).
Words like "know," "persuaded," "confidence," and "full assurance" seem to
me to imply a sure-ness that is available to all.
I don't mean to make light of or challenge the validity of your spiritual journey, Rob...only to point out that perhaps you're farther along than you think.
"'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame'" (Romans 10:8-11 NIV).
Visit me @ http://neotheologue.blogspot.com
Neo:
Thank you. Your words are
encouraging.
Rob [fourdakins@msn.com]