Here I am at an independent (free-trade-promoting/selling) coffee shop in downtown Bakersfield listening to Brett Dennen on Pandora writing a blog while utilizing the shop's free wi-fi. If this isn't the perfect moment in my blogging life...Recently, at work, that's my CAD Assist* work, I've been listening to some podcasts. Here are my top two favorites so far.
- Jacob Wobbrock talks about relational truth
(This guy has a great grasp on filling in all the reality behind the clicke "it's not a religion, it's a relationship." For anyone who thinks the church is hypocritical in this claim, here's a good talk on what at least we hope we are pursuing.)
- Conrad Gempf
(This one requires iTunes and a little searching, it's a two part series entitled "Luke 7:36-49" & "In the Court Yard." If good storytelling does it for you listen and enjoy)
Those observant among you will realize that both these links are associated with Emergent, one from the states and the other from our friends across the pond in the UK. Last year I discipled a student who if you mentioned "emergent" reacted like you had just spit in his face, and although he isn't catholic, pretty much did all but cross himself in response to the contageous evil spraying from the term. Needless to say, the Emergent movement brings with it as much controversy as any new...uh...emerging "fad" of Christianity. It seems you either love or hate, let's see: dancing, rock guitars and drums in worship, 40 days of Purpose, 7 ways to be soooo successful or the best you or how to dance, and now Brian McClaren, just a second while I cross myself. Here's what I love about the Emergent Conversation, as "they" would call it: It's a conversation. People are in dialogue about some serious issues like homosexuality, justice and the poor, Jesus and politics. Anytime those seen as religious are able to have intellectual conversations about something that has ramifications outside the doors of our safe church haven, without shouting or dividing immediately, I'm for it.
Here's the deal, anytime open dialogue happens, it sure sounds a lot more like relationship than religion. If we can talk about things with people who disagree with us, we're actually allowing for relationships to happen, instead of forcing doctrine or dogma down peoples throats. I just as strongly agree that we need to hold our beliefs intact, I do believe certain things are absolute truth, and if I were to give those up I would cease to bring anything to the relationship. However, holding too tightly to those ideas, so tightly that I can't talk about their validity rationally, is a symptom of fear. Fear that I might end up loosing those convictions or worse, allowing somebody else to believe that I'm actually condoning something I'm against. Love allows for vulnerability which says I'll hold on to my beliefs / convictions lightly knowing that the truth is stronger than my grasp to it. I trust that Jesus will be responsible to affirm truth, not my ability to reason. Perhaps that vulnerability, that love, will allow somebody else to loosen their grasp on what they believe is truth, and in that moment, that perfect moment of relationship, the Truth will set us both free.
*I have finally given in to the reality that I am not an Architect's Assistant. I'm not sure that even sounds better than CAD assistant. All I do is draw lines. 5 years of Architecture school at one of the top public architecture colleges in the nation, and now lines, lots of lines....
