| | Warning: For non-Christians out there this might sound like gobldy gook Christian talk and for the most part it is. But if you want to learn a little of the culture that envelops western Christianity, then feel free to ask questions about any of these definitions, ideas, beliefs or concepts. Hopefully soon I will have something a little more relevant to those who do not follow Jesus.
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
-Psalms116:13-14
God has many names and yet one essence. This is not a theological syncretistic statement by the way. And for context I truly live in a Christian culture that is more edgy, contemporary, maybe more culturally relevant, but still evangelical. None of these descriptions are really adequate, but in short I don't go to a traditional Baptist Church like the one a I grew up in. I am not surrounded by folks who still are drenched in that culture. Though I am friends with several who are. I'm just not engulfed in that traditional church culture or surrounded by those who are. And for the record, many and probably most of those folks are my brothers and sisters in Christ. We all are followers of the LORD.
The LORD! Very few who run in my circles call Jesus that anymore at least not often. It has, well... such a traditional ring to it. And most Jesus Followers who run in my circles don't refer to Him as the LORD because it is not a commonly used word in today's vocabulary. And it may be perceived by those in my circles to be somewhat irrelevant to culture outside of Christianity for that very reason. Now those traditional evangelicals (of which I came out of) out there reading this might assume that these missional/seeker/emerging Christian types are always just trying to make things cool and more appealing so that we can sell God to people. I know. I used to fall in more of a traditional mode.
On a very important side note, I really want to distance myself from the label as being an "Emerging" or "Emergeant" Christian, as well as, the label of being a "Seeker" Christian. Even in saying that, I know some godly folks and godly things that have come out of those cultures as well. I don't really like labels much anyway. As I would just label myself as being a follower of whatever Jesus wants. But because we are humans and words/labels help to paint pictures of lifestyles, beliefs and truths. I would consider my self "missional". From my perception, being missional is doing church and living life that is sacrificial for others and for God. Not just God. As a matter of fact, we can't truly know God with out serving and loving others. If you want to know more about this philosophical idea, ask me and I will respond. Now back to the subject.
I think that the traditionalist evangelical would be right in one sense. Often times I think that the more progressive (missional, emergeant, seeker types) evangelicals are just trying to make things cool to attract people to God or to sell God to people (a harsher way of saying it). I'm not sure that this is so scripturally wrong, as it is just tacky and self defeating. God does not need salesman. He can sell Himself. One of the ugly divisions that can happen between evangelicals is that the traditionalists see the more progressives as selling out and compromising truth. And vice versa is the idea that progressives see the traditionalists as holding on to traditions that are not necessarily scriptural and that get in the way of reaching people. The progressives see the expectation of dressing up for the church service, the over use of Christianese (Christian words that non-believers don't understand), among other traditions, as alienating the very people who need to be reached. And from real people's testimonies sometimes this is exactly what happens. In other words, people have been reached at my more progressive church that would have never stepped foot in a traditional church or given a traditionalist the time of day.
The bottom line of the traditionalists is that they see the progressives as spending so much energy on trying to please those that they are trying to reach and sell God to, that these progressives sell out and don't acknowledge or speak some of the difficult truths that God so clearly communicates in the scriptures. The bottom line idea for the progressives is that they believe that among God's top priorities for the church is to leave the 99 found sheep for the one lost sheep (Luke 15). And that loving your neighbor as yourself is not some low place suggestion, but that it is up there with "love the LORD with all of your heart, soul and mind" (Matt. 22:36-40). And so how the non-believer perceives us and God is very important and by the way, "God is love." (1 John 4:7-9)
So that brings us back to "the LORD." Ok you progressives out there. I think that we should refer to Him as "the LORD." Why? Because that translates authority in a traditional sense. And we've lost that tradition. You see not all traditions are bad and some need to be kept. He is the LORD of the earth! LORD over my life! I am subject to Him. The LORD can giveth and taketh away, blessed be the name of the LORD! He is the LORD because His agenda trumps our agenda. His plan is more important than our individual, independent minded plans are. But even if we feel pain because of the triumphant will of "the LORD", we know that "the LORD" still loves us and will work all things out for even our good (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11). I see too many progressives get mad at God or lose faith, when things are not going there way. I've even been there myself. But this is because we don't understand and have lost the biblical meaning of "the LORD".
A 1950's Church tradition of church going men wearing three piece suits might prevent people from knowing the LORD these days because the non-believer may avoid people who seem over dressed and pretentious or they may feel too lowly (in an economic/class sense) to relate. While the concept of "the LORD" may turn away the non-believer because well, certain non-believers don't want to follow that kind of God, we can not lose this concept. Well, because HE is the LORD! And to call HIM and choose to follow something contrary to "the LORD" would be speaking of a different god and not following "the LORD" of the bible. The three piece suit tradition is simply man's tradition, which might or might not be good for bring people to know "the LORD". The older more traditional english usage of biblical word "the LORD" is quite important for bringing people to know "the LORD." Oh hey, and if it is too Christianese for the non-believer to understand for you progressive teachers out there, then teach it to them in a gentle healthy way. Besides understanding and following "the LORD" is one of the most healthy ways to live, grow and know HIM.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." (Psalms 34:8)
"...But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Deuteronomy 24:15)
Scott
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| | Posted 6/30/2009 4:24 PM - 23 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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