ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 5, 2023
In Philippians 4, Paul wrote some beautiful words about focusing our thoughts on certain ideals:
“From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise” (4:8).
For a lot of people, they take those words as a given, as if their meaning is indisputable and everyone knows exactly what such ideals look like when lived and shared. Yet what does it mean to focus your life energy on, for example, what is pure and just? I’m pretty sure there are many folks ready to provide a rather vague and convoluted answer to the question, even using sophisticated theological terms that require most of us to have a dictionary close at hand. The answer might sound impressive, but so what? Faith is about questioning and discerning what such things might look like in our unique context, for that is where our faith is being invited to exist. Such a faith requires curiosity and inquiry. Being holy and living a just life may look very different today than it did two thousand years ago in Philippi or Jerusalem. In fact, it might look a little different than someone attempting to do so in rural Kansas today.
We need to be inquisitive and unafraid to ask the really hard questions. We might disagree, and that’s ok… assuming (important assumption) that everyone has done the hard work of questioning and exploring how such faith is lived today. In our disagreements, we can continue to explore when everyone is able to articulate their own journey of discovery. To simply say, “You’re wrong,” especially if the one making the accusation has not done the hard work, is to undermine the movement of the Spirit as it helps the Gospel find relevance in a new moment of time. In fact, most of the time I hear someone say, “You’re wrong,” it usually has its origin in a faith that is insecure and easily shaken by even the simplest of questions. A strong faith is one that has explored troubling inquiries and been willing to rethink or even change when faithfulness in a new context requires it.
Your grace and mercy, O God, are greater than any doubt or honest examination of faith. It is your immeasurable love that provides me the freedom to never stop exploring and expanding my understanding of what it means to follow in the way of Jesus. Thank you! Amen.
