I suppose Krishnamurti is becoming known to you by now as one of my favorite philosophers. Here’s another quote that strikes me as potently true:
The feeling that one must BE something is the beginning of deception, and, of course, this idealistic attitude leads to various forms of hypocrisy.
The truth is that our desire to be something is ultimately destructive. This desire to be something other than what we are translates into pretension and the ugliest forms of hypocrisy. And obviously, if we desire to be something other than what we are, we will automatically desire that others be something other than what they are. What results is that the real me doesn’t relate to the real you. Rather, the desired image I have of myself meets with the desired image I have of you. Phantoms meeting in the darkness.
Religion and church is the perfect place for this to occur. It is the supreme culture for growing the disease of discontent, frustration and, in the end, hypocrisy. I used to believe that theologically we are all screwed up. Over the years my experience has confirmed this. We all are sufferers living in a world of suffering. The first step to wholeness and peace is honesty with ourselves and with others.
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend, Mark Hemmings, and is from his mannequin series.
Some have asked what I spoke on yesterday. Psalm 119: 96:
I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
No matter what we know, no matter how impressive discoveries are or information is, no matter how perfect a certain philosophy or religion is, it is limited because it is human. How many times has the human race said, “This is it. Finally it!”, only to be proven if not wrong, at least imperfect? Over and over again. I don’t care how amazing it is, it is limited. Human knowledge is based on experience, on knowledge that is already stored in our brain cells. So nothing is entirely new. It is only a revamping of the old, a restyling, a renovation. People are flocking to “The Secret”, but do they know that it was all inspired by a book written 100 years ago on the science of getting rich? It isn’t new. Only the package is new. It is a re-energized sales pitch. That’s all. It’s the same ingredients in the shape of a different dish. Just watch: in a year or two it will be “The Secret: New And Improved!”.
I apply this rigorously to all schools of thought, all philosophies, theologies and religions, including Christianity. I’ve seen a limit to the perfection of Christianity and the Church. There is a wisdom that transcends all others. It is a broad and spacious place without borders. It is filled with wonder and benediction.
The fine-art photograph is the creation of my friend Mark Hemmings, from his Japan series.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
With my tongue in my cheek, I put together this list of how to be more you. Hope they help!
- First of all, admit you are not you: unless of course you are. Then skip this whole thing.
- Get introduced: you can’t become yourself until you know who the real you is. Hardest part!
- Like what you see. No matter how repugnant or glorious the real you seems to you, you’re stuck with you, and that’s the real thing.
- Murder the masks: Detect the masks and say bye-bye to them. Shed no tears. Their death is feigned because they are phantoms.
- Don’t be dissuaded: Even those closest to you may rebel against your transformation. “I liked the old you!” “Too bad! Buried him yesterday.”
- Forgive all those who assembled and affirmed the false you for you, including you. They didn’t mean it, unless they did.
- Use every tool at your disposal to get this job done: dreams, intuitions, heart and brain. Especially your brain. This isn’t a hobby! It is 99% demolition work.
- Don’t get all snobby-spiritual about it. This is every person’s project, as naturally necessary as birth.
- However, you are transformed by the re-creation of your mind. The Spirit can help.
- Fly solo: I can’t help you! You have to do this alone.
That’s it! Light-hearted, but I think these points are important. So, get to it, and I’ll see the real you later.
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend, Mark Hemmings, and it is from his Mannequins series.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
Stephen Oates, in his book on Martin Luther King, Jr., Let The Trumpet Sound, quotes King:
For years… I labored with the idea of reforming the existing institutions of the South, a little change here, a little change there. Now I feel quite differently. I think you’ve got to have a reconstruction of the entire society, a revolution of values.
I agree with this statement. I apply this same truth to the church. It isn’t enough to tweak this or that part of the church, just like it isn’t enough to tweak this or that part of our society. And I apply this truth radically to my own life also. The analogy I use is that this method is like rearranging the furniture on a sinking ship. I am tired of modifications. They do nothing significant. What is required is transformation, re-creation, radical change. I must die daily. Even my most modified self must die. Only then can I live a life of resurrection.
The photograph is from my friend Mark Hemmings’s Hungary series.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
I remember back in seminary reading Eugene Peterson’s book, Five Smooth Stones For Pastoral Work. In it, he drew analogies between sex and prayer. There was much controversy and ridicule on campus. I remember how silly several people thought it was. Here’s one quote:
Because of the common origin of our creation and redemption, an examination of our sex life leads to an examination of our prayer life and vice versa.
I have come to agree with him. In fact, I often can’t help comparing our relationship with God to marriage. If sex is communion with the one we love, then, says Peterson, prayer is communion with the God we love. I have come to discover that close examination of our sex life does reveal a great deal about how we relate to God.
The photo is from Mark Hemmings’ New York City Street photos.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
So last week, as a requested birthday present from our son Jesse who just turned 18, we gave him permission not to have to come to church with us every Sunday. We never made him go. He never really questioned it. But close to his 18th birthday, he asked for this as a gift, and we gave it to him. He still wants to come when he can play drums in the worship band though. Which got me thinking…
The other day I picked up a couple of people from the airport who were flying in for a memorial service for Nato. One was Nato’s sister. Very cool people. Both in their twenties. I felt an immediate bond with them. We talked a little bit about Jesus, faith, spirituality, theology and the church, along with a myriad of other things. Neither of them attend any church. Like so many other young adults that I know. I love them. My heart is for them. These are my mission field!Even though I feel our church is quite progressive and radical in many ways, we still aren’t near what we could be. More vision, courage and decision is required. You see, it isn’t that I want these young adults to attend my church. For some reason, even though they don’t attend, I already feel they are a part of the church. They are what I would call the Diaspora… which literally means they are the seeds spread throughout the world… those living outside the visible church. I feel our church is surrounded by such people… young people who have faith but aren’t a part of a visible local community of believers. I feel they would have something to gain from being a part of a community. More than that though, I think that the community would have something to gain from them.
Church needs to be redefined. I don’t just mean renamed or restructured. It’s not enough to change the format or change the bosses. Our hearts need to change. Radically! Now!
The photograph is taken from the Fashion Collection of my friend, Mark Hemmings.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
In Thomas Merton’s significant Asian Journal, he writes about his eastern travels, conversations and studies. Here he is commenting on Marco Pallis’ paper on “Is There Room For ‘Grace’ In Buddhism?“:
“The Buddha’s right hand points downward to touch the earth; the other hand supports a begging bowl, symbolizing acceptance of the gift… grace. Pallis says,’In the two gestures displayed by the Buddha image the whole program of man’s spiritual exigencies are summed up.’ An active attitude toward the world and a passive attitude toward heaven. The ignorant man does the opposite: he passively accepts the world and resists grace, gift and heaven.”
The photograph is taken from my fine-art photographer friend, Mark Hemmings’ Japan collection.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
Moltmann, in his book Experiences of God, wrote:
Only the person who has found his own self can give of his own self. What else can he give? it is only the person who knows that he is accepted who can accept others without dominating them. The person who has become free in himself can liberate others and share their suffering.
The picture is taken from Mark Hemmings’s Japan photography.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
Dan Baker, in his interesting and I think helpful book, What Happy People Know, reminds me of the New Testament, as well as Kubler-Ross, when he writes:
In the ultimate analysis, human beings have only two essential, primal feelings: fear and love. Fear impels us to survive, and love enables us to thrive. This complimentary pair of feelings has been the driving force of human history.
The pic is taken from Mark Hemmings’ New York City Photographs collection.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
I want to thank my friend Mark Hemmings, who is a professional photographer and is a part of our church, for permission to use his photos on my site.
I also want to thank another friend and art-gallery owner Jorgen Klausen, another excellent professional photographer for allowing me the same permission.
These two fine-art photographers should spice things up a bit. It’ll be nice to have some original, unique and powerful images to enhance this site.
I’ll be back online later today and respond to some comments and emails. Stay tuned!
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
