I often remind myself of the situation I am in. I am pastoring in the Bible belt in the Southern United States. Now to some that really seems trivial but I think it really begins to put things into perspective.
The core of the matter is this: our Christian heritage is different according to geography. I was raised in the south in an Appalachian mountain church and my experience is heavily molded by that, while others may have been more metropolitan in their faith experience.
In reminding myself of my heritage and the heritage of those I pastor, I can begin to process both good and "not-so-good" elements of our geographic faith.
For instance, this issue of heritage. Immediately the word carries a positive connotation. To speak of your heritage brings an honorable sensation. It is very important in the southern church. However, I have noticed a "not-so-good" aspect of the Bible belt, southern heritage.
In my opinion, the southern heritage is the strongest in the nation. I evidence that by the adamantcy it possesses. Although not entirely positive, the current southern value system has evolved less over the decades. Part of the value system is Christianity. The "not-so-good" appears in this context.
I am discovering more and more Christians that are living a social Christian lifestyle because it is part of the heritage or social setting. The "rock" of their faith is not in an actual relationship with God but with their heritage. It's as if the value is on the heritage and not on one's Creator. That leads to a "preservation" mentality. The Christian quest becomes a mission to preserve morality, fight change, and oppress the unfamiliar. This is NOT the great commission.
Christ calls us, regardless of heritage to know him personally. Our focus should not be in the social history with him. It should be in our evolving future with him. Our comfort should not be in our Christian bubble that is so familiar, but our call to "go into the world".
I love my heritage, but only in the context of what it means to the future of my faith! I don't care to preserve trivial preferences. I don't care to lock my children away from a super-secular culture. I care to expose myself and my family to a life of martyrdom. I life that is so new and fresh. When I speak of my heritage I don't want to say "this is who I am" but rather" this is where I have come from".
Our social Christianity will not save us. Have we become like the pharisees? Are we more religious that spiritual? I hope not. I hope that regardless of heritage, we can all embrace the command in Romans 12 verse 1:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. "
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I think you're right on. I heard the comment by a local pastor at a revival last week the really disturbed me. The comment was that we should get back to doing things in the church the way his grandmother did it including worship and the way we dressed. The positive spin on that was the place got quiet and it was immediately noticed by the pastor that made that comment.
If we're not moving forward, we're moving backward or, even worse, we're getting stagnant.
Most want to do things like Jesus. That is awesome and I agree. I have that same desire. The thing that 99.999% of these people don't realize is that Jesus came in and turned the world upside down. He scoffed at tradition. He took the word out of the synagogue and into the street and to the people.
I am not content at just praying people through things. Jesus did not do that. He went to the leper and not only healed him, but TOUCHED him to do so. He went and dined with the tax collector. He presented His body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which was His reasonable service.
It is far past time to break out of the "traditions" which, I believe, is the major cause for the decline in Christianity in this country today.
Great job, Adam.
Post a Comment