The Brain Gap

In the past few years, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about the apparent gap between the academy and our church congregations. Many churches have professionals as members and, as such, are very educated. However, a little bit of probing often reveals a profound ignorance of the gospel message and how it relates to the culture. Many (not all) church members are quite content with an unrooted theology that topples over upon any dissension of any sort. As a result, there is a steady flow of people, from all walks of life, exiting the church. Their thinking goes something like, "this old-fashioned church thing just doesn't seem to hold a lot of water in a capitalist, technology-driven world. Everyone around us seems to be doing just fine without "religion" of any sort. All those pat answers the church teaches do not really make sense anyway. Even if they did, are they not simply that specific pastor's understanding of truth?" And the church watches in dismay as people either exit and do not return or maybe come back infrequently to renew old acquaintances.

Now I want to be clear on a few things. Firstly, I am not suggesting that all pastors preach "pat answers" and are the source of the discontent. There are many good pastors out there doing a marvelous job pastoring, including teaching. I also do not want to come across as a doom-commentator with the answers to all the problems. However, I believe there is a dichotomy that has developed (and is growing) in much of the church. We are, indeed, a relatively educated population in the West (relative to much of the rest of the world anyway). But, we are sometimes ignorant to the point of naivety when it comes to our faith. Why is this so? Is our faith not supposed to define all we are and do? Is the Holy Word of God not a sacred revelation of what we believe is the epitome (God) of all that is true, real, and good? If so, then why are we so content with not understanding it? Why is an understanding of proper exegesis and theology not valued as highly as something that will bring "results" such as a "good foundation for a career"? And why is church often nothing more than a voice of condemnation or a perpetual A.A. meeting?

To some extent I identify with those that have left the church because they see it as merely a crutch that has been carried on from ancient times. I also have been very perturbed by the unthoughtful and narrow responses I have received many times. We don't seem to understand how faith really makes any difference in how we live. If the point of Christianity, or the Bible, is to help people have a conversion moment in order to save them from hell, then maybe all this stuff actually doesn't matter. Maybe it doesn't matter that we do not understand even the most basic theology and doctrine or proper exegesis. Let's leave that for the pastors to learn in seminary as long as people come to a "saving knowledge of Jesus Christ" right?

Well if that truly is Christianity's big answer, then yes, let's leave theology and all that other stuff to those "called" to do so. But is that really the point, to "save souls"? Jesus' mandate to his disciples was not to get people to pray a "sinner's prayer" but to "go make disciples...baptize them...and teach them to obey." If we are not just called to "save people from hell" or even "get them into heaven", but rather to "make disciples," then we must approach this a little differently. Then following Christ is a distinct shift in thinking from the culture around us. Christ then becomes the goal or telos toward which our lives are transformed or discipled (if that's a word). Our entire understanding of reality has been re-shifted. This is much more than a crutch, old-fashioned tradition, or wholesome entertainment. It very much changes how we live, act, and think because it is the goal of our entire lives!

When we view Christ as the centre of our understanding of reality, then we cannot simply resort to fluffy answers because our goal is not merely to "be saved" and then in turn to "save others". The church is the one to disciple and train believers with this diametrically different purpose in view. Although I am not proposing that all Christians get a degree in Biblical studies or theology, I do believe many Christians are attending our churches and are starving to hear how or why all this stuff matters. Why are we only "drinking milk" in church when we eat "pure steak" the rest of the week? Many of us have a presupposition of church that allows us to leave our brains at the door when we enter and then we pick them back up when we leave. The result is inevitable: Christians end up with the exact same value system as the rest of culture. The consequences are obvious: Christianity simply doesn't really matter. That seems to be how many inside and outside the church view Christ and the Christian life.

I am not proposing any answers here. What I do want to do is challenge those who claim Christ as Lord of their life to be thoughtful. Think deeply and graciously about God, how you live your life, and the "big" questions people ask. Although human knowledge has many limitations, Jesus said to "love God with your mind". Being a disciple of Christ is not just one aspect of our lives that is different from others. It is an entirely different telos; a different end or goal. The church must help people to understand how to be "discipled" in Christ. In a culture that for the most part embraces education, let's not be the arrogant voice of ignorance but a community of discipleship. That will entail a passionate devotion to learning about the truth, wherever it is found. Just some thoughts...

Mennonite Stereotypes

As a student in a wider evangelical school, I am absolutely amazed at the stereotypes that go around about Anabaptists, more specifically Mennonites. In several instances in class, a professor has mentioned Mennonite theology and then shrugged it off as though its a radical stream of Christianity that's a little unrealistic. Why is this so?

Historically speaking, many (not all) Mennonites have been fairly removed from the broader ecumenical conversation. An obvious consequence of that is a lack of respect from that culture. However, in recent years, Anabaptist Mennonite theology has evolved into a rather prominent stream of evangelicalism, although often not identified as such. A few weeks ago I was listening to a lecture by Gregory Boyd on nonviolence, one of the crucial aspects of Mennonite theology. He preached a message on the distinction of the kingdom of God from the kingdom of any political system. It was a fantastic message. When asked whether he felt alone in his view, he mentioned some other Christian groups that shared his view, including the Mennonites. But then he brushed them off as a sectarian movement that did not lend a powerful voice to his cause. Again, why? Is the accusation or irrelevance the root of Mennonite stereotypes? A few days ago I was asked, in all sincerity, how I could be an avid hockey fan and still be a Mennonite. I was so taken back, I was not sure how to respond. Are you serious?! What do you think a Mennonite is?

I am currently doing some research on the Donatists, a branch of Christianity from North Africa in the 4th century. It is interesting how the orthodox, catholic church at the time used the power of the state to manipulate the masses into isolating and executing (literally) the Donatists. This movement was labelled heretical by the Catholic church and has historically (almost exclusively) been painted in that light. A little closer look at Donatist theology reveals that they are not that "heretical". In fact, most of their theology looks a lot like my own evangelical Anabaptist theology. But, history is usually recorded by the victors, in this case Augustine, a vigorous opponent of Donatists. Thus, they get painted with a negative brush by historians because their research is done through the eyes of the victors. Is this the case with Mennonites as well?

I realize that Mennonites have recently experienced relative freedom in many parts of the world. I also want to be clear that I am not claiming Mennonites as victims under the oppression of the "victors" of history. However, I do want to suggest that maybe Mennonites have been stereotyped because most people have not bothered to give them a decent chance. It is very frustrating to hear a straw man get erected and then blown away as a ridiculous proposition when that straw man represents what I believe! But this also gives me a stark reminder that I need to do the same for my brothers and sisters in the church. It is way to easy to create compartmentalized theological straw people and then dismiss them as irrelevant to the body of Christ. I want to encourage all of us, let's give our neighbor an honest listening ear. He/she can probably open up our view of reality if we just give some of our time, not to mention, that our stereotypes probably will not hold up very long.

Let's Blog!

I am new at this blogging thing so hopefully I can share some worthwhile thoughts somewhat frequently. Enjoy!