There are likely but a
few pastors in this faith we call “Christian” who have not counseled others to
find a way forward from some endless variety of “why God?” questions. We can all get stuck in a learned
helplessness upon asking “why?” only to miss out on the far more helpful
question of “how?” involving our faith. It’s the kind of missing out that can turn
our highest faith into our deepest doubt.
That said, it may or may
not be helpful to bring up the question of “how” in relation to our Christian
mission of transformation in today’s world.
How to achieve such a transformation
in our world is a question that may for sure take us down one of two major metaphorical
roadways. The first road is one I would
simply label “fearful control.” This
roadway contains two distinct lanes. One
lane involves our fear that either we transform them to be like us or they will
transform us to be like them. Said
differently concerning our Christian mission of global transformation, “we must
Christianize them or they will paganize / secularize us.”
Either we “make” them into disciples of Jesus Christ, or else. It becomes a power struggle for control. This lane of the “fearful control” roadway
is paved by our Old Testament scriptures and our over-identification with the
ancient Israelites of yore.
The second lane of this roadway
of “fearful control” to achieve our mission of global transformation may involve
not so much our fear of “them” as of "Him," aka “fear of the Lord.” More succinctly, this involves a “fear of God’s
wrath” if we fail to take control over “them” as our rightful favor to
God. It assumes “when we fail God, He
will fail us” and our fear of failure and loss becomes our principle
motivator. Because we assume God to be
in control over us, we then view our control over others as a form of
righteousness or Godliness. Again, this
lane of the “fearful control” roadway is paved by our Old Testament scriptures
and our over-identification with the Israelite people and the Matthean
conscript we call Christ’s Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations.” Implication: either “make them” or else we “fail”
to obey all that Christ has commanded us. Doubly scary.
Thankfully, there is
another roadway. May take longer to reach
the destination, may have only one lane, and may indeed be the road less
traveled. But I would label this second
road as “loving influence.” It compares
quite well with the old single-lane route we might take across country through
the assorted villages, towns, and inner cities. It risks getting behind that slow-moving farm
implement or loaded truck. It means Mom
& Pop motels – restaurants - gas stations, whereas the wider Interstate
means familiar brand names and the rubbing of elbows with other hurried tourists
instead of those slow-moving locals.
This road called “loving
influence” means lower speed limits, for sure, and is the last place those with
“fearful control” want to find themselves if ever afraid of failure and judgement
and being late. But it is precisely “how”
our Lord Jesus seemed to go about transforming the world for his own part. Upon reading Luke’s Gospel, it seems to take
forever and a day for Jesus to reach Jerusalem. Wandering through Samaria. Stopping to heal a crippled woman on the Sabbath day of all times? You’ve gotta be kidding. Lunch with a tax collector? Oh, come on, now. Who has all day to accomplish this mission
of transforming the world?
Who else but Jesus?
How else but Jesus?
The Jesus I personally
have chosen to follow is famous for asking questions first before presuming to
make speeches. And for hearing others’
questions first before presuming to give answers. Takes longer that way. Doesn’t “make” other people think a certain way. Yet it seems to transform in 3 rather
deliberate steps:
1. Conform -- join, accommodate, learn, engage.
2. Inform -- offer an outside perspective or insight using a relatable parable.
3. Transform -- serve, model, teach, challenge.
Reminds me of a therapy session
I once observed many years ago in which my family therapy mentor was asked by
the father of a highly dysfunctional family, “then how am I supposed to even be
a good parent?” to his miscreant offspring.
My mentor’s answer? “There are
actually three ways you can be a good parent here:
1. Be an
example
2. Be an
example
3. Be an
example.”
All of this brings me to
a consideration of what is now happening inside the United Methodist Church
where I have my full Elder’s membership.
I see us as united in the mission to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for
the transformation of this world” and yet stepping all over ourselves trying to
figure out “how to” get there from here.
I see a lot of “fearful control” in what amounts to two lanes of noisy
traffic. But I also see some “loving
influence” taking place in what may be called the “back roads.” And along
this “other roadway” to global transformation, I see us discovering three ways
we can be a good and missional Church here:
1. Follow
Christ’s example
2. Follow
Christ’s example
3. Follow
Christ’s example.
