Let All Voices Have a Voice!
Forgive me if I don’t make much sense today, but I’m struggling with some sort of bug that makes me want to crush my head and puke. But here goes anyway:
I remember when I was a young Christian and was fanatical and infantile in my beliefs. I was downright silly at times in my theology and practice. I remember when I was going through college where it was required that I not miss 5 Sunday church services a year, but I’d lie and sleep in anyway. I remember when I went through my seminary training and became very cynical and critical of the church and Christianity and couldn’t find a church anywhere that I was happy with or comfortable in. I remember when I discovered Reformed Theology and abandoned my pentecostal roots and totally submerged myself in the heady and heartless theology I studied at the time. I remember when the people I ministered to were more of a hassle and a hindrance, and I did everything I could to exclude them from my life so that I could pursue my own navel-gazing style of contemplative spirituality I embraced at the time. That lasted years! I remember long seasons of not only questioning the faith, but completely denying it. I remember exclaiming to my spiritual director at the time that I no longer believed in God and all I could see around me was complete and utter darkness. I remember times when I thought I’d discovered the secret and ultimate truths and would preach down to my people as though I had arrived and they had long distances to traverse before they could enjoy where I was at. I remember seasons, regrettable, when I completely gave up all effort and immersed myself in what could easily be called rebellious and sinful behavior. I remember times when I believed in miracles of faith and God’s supernatural involvement in our lives and times when I didn’t. I could go on and on.
So, when I encounter in the lives of my own people similar stages or seasons or attitudes, how do I respond? Should I chastise them? Should I whip them from behind to hurry them through these times? Should I criticize them, judge them, and maybe even condemn them? Should I kick them out? Should I treat them as though what they are going through is unusual and irregular and therefore inadmissible? Should I only allow people a voice who are on the same page as me at this present time and silence those who are not?
I think it is important, no, crucial, that we allow (and I even hate to use that word because it implies an authority figure permitting something) all levels or stages or seasons or attitudes. No one has arrived. No one has made it. And even if we think we have, then we certainly haven’t! We must always remember that there is no guaranteed progression in the spiritual life. The bible makes it very clear that at any time I can revert back to a completely rebellious and sinful place in one blow, just to start all over again. In fact, the bible teaches that my heart is always there. So it is necessary for us to question. In fact, I believe the question is always better than the answer. Everyone should be allowed a voice. I think the reason we restrict all voices other than our own is the sheer cowardice of not wanting to deal with the aftermath. The reason, for instance, we don’t allow one to speak and then the other (as Paul encourages in Corinth), is that we don’t have the guts to discern, challenge, question, affirm or accept what someone with different ideas has to say. I dare us all to give space for all voices, whether from the mouths of babes or from the stones themselves! Remember: we’ve all been where the other is now. Respect that and deal with it as it arises. That, I think, is the way of love and inclusion.
(here’s one caveat: The only time I do consider asking someone to leave the community is when they are explicitly abusive of others. I’ve done it before and will probably do it again.)
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Mark Hemmings. I wonder what she has to say?
If you liked this post, or would like to use it, please buy me a beer!Tags: change, community, humility, involvement, music, naked_pastor, participation
This really touched my heart today, actually it brought about a since of conviction in regards to speaking down to people because I have arrived. This is humbling and is a very needed realization. Thank you, David, for wisdom and transparency. This is by far one of your top posts that I have read. Hope you feel better.
I stumbled upon your blog today. Not bad for a sick man. Just what I needed in my current parched statein the desert as a recovering pastor.
Thanks.
Allowing questions is good. What about someone that doesn’t want to ask? Someone that just wants to answer?
Wow! Slicing your finger nearly off then wanting to crush your head and puke is not an altogether bad thing!
I agree with Scott, this is one of the best your posts I read! Well done!!
Spot on!
( | o )=====:::
Amen David.
Sas x
Thank you so much for speaking what is on your mind. I have found myself in the place you discribed today. The place or questions and rebellion and your blog has been one of the only voices of reasion through all this. Thank you for that and keep up the good work!
I can relate to much of what you have shared. I too was deeply committed to a particular spiritual path defined by Christian assumptions. What I woke up to was that I was trying to make sense out of nonsense.
It was disappointing to admit that what I had given so much energy to was largely based on wishful thinking. But once I got past the ego thing, it was a huge relief.
It is far less difficult to simply observe the world for what is true rather than try and fit everything into one Christian world view that has with it a lot of baggage that involves shame, judgment, hell, and host of other heavy burdens it calls light.
I had assumed that I would have to give up spiritual experience as well. I have found richer, authentic, and more profound deeply spiritual experiences in the natural world than I ever experienced within the Christian world.
Very true. I’ve been at most of those points you mention as well.
Luckily, the community I currently worship with has a very broad understanding of inclusion that allows others a loving space to work through issues. In many ways, I wish I would have had this when I were a bit younger.
Npastor,
Old troublemaker here. Hope you feel better soon.
You write: (here’s one caveat: The only time I do consider asking someone to leave the community is when they are explicitly abusive of others. I’ve done it before and will probably do it again.)
———–And you base doing that on what “”biblical”" scripture?
fishon
fishon: it isn’t necessarily biblical but humane
Npastor,
Ok, thank you
fishon
saaweet!
the question IS better than the answer because it opens space for others to express their convictions. it is when I compare another’s convictions to my own that I am able to, perhaps, evaluate the worth my argued position or concerns based on invaluable wisdom from that other’s confession.
Hi Dave,
You are definitely back to your best Big Lad, you should be sick more often, just like how the best blues songs are written when people are in a state of despair.
But back to what you said, I was just thinking earlier today about the story of Jesus and the woman, throwing the first stone and all that, if we remain aware that we are just as imperfect we also should have the good grace to forgive and include all.
It is refreshing to “hear your confession”, and to know that there is a worldwide growing community of believers who are just as passionate and hungry for rightness as they ever were, but not as dogmatic or ungracious as we now realize we were in our teens, twenties, thirties, forties & even fifties.
May God be gracious to you and bless you and make his face shine upon you,
Just a few pages behind you,
Trevor
amen and again i say amen!
Thanks for the post pastor. A sermon I wish I’d heard years ago, before going off half-cocked.
Excellent Post and thank you for your voice. It reminds me of a Sam Phillips song no not Elvis’s manager but Leslie. Something like Hold on to your voice.
I’d never want to go to a church that discouraged asking questions and struggling with faith. It would be an empty and pointless place to be.
Unfortunately, our experience with the youth groups out there today is kind of like that. They seem content with the kids who show up and don’t question, and seem reluctant to go after the ones with real questions. It’s the easy way out.
I agree whole heartedly with you. It is one of the big things that makes it difficult to grow up as a christian, with other christians around. What happens when I fall. I think that is something as a community that needs to be decided. How should we treat someone who falls when new or immature on the path.
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most amazing post ever. i loved it. so much…i linked it to my blog thats how much i liked it.
xo!!
Beautifully worded — the older I get the more this language of journey and questions makes sense. When I was younger I would figure that you just were not living with enough faith and your life should be a steady climb to new heights of glory and you obey God and he blesses you more and more and life just becomes more “hunkey dorey”
Great stuff — being “under the weather” must bring out even more inspiration — hope you are feeling better David.
Cheers
Hey Dave,
Very insightful and thought provoking, as always.
Blessings as you keep on this journey!!
I am sure you aren’t the first pastor to go thru seasons of questioning… I recently heard a stat that 60% of asscoiate pastors and 40% of senior pastors struggle or have struggled with sex addiction. Me thinks we’re all broken. I love what you said, “no one has arrived, no one has made it”. How I wish the church would stop pretending. Feel better David.
[...] I have also found myself linking to some really, really good blogs. One in particular tonight just made my heartache in compassion for a young (newly singled) mother of, I believe, 6 children. I stumbled upon her blog while reasearching Christian homeschooling blogs. Then I came across another blog that I have spent the last hour reading. It is the blog of a pastor in Canada. I found myself really relating to his mini-teachings. This one in particular really made me think. As it is with everyone, there are things that I am sure he shares that not everyone is going to like or agree with. But I really, really, really enjoyed what I did read. I browsed around and plan to visit again and read more. [...]