Some Thoughts on Being Christian

What does it mean to live in a liberating, transformative faith community today? We need a different linguistic narrative along with a different set of cultural practices to give expression to this task. This means a new understanding of the Eternal Reality—the reality we call God—a new understanding of community and of the personal moral and ethical choices we make in our everyday lives. This also means new approaches to the language and symbols used in public worship for the Christian community (such as the meaning of communion, the response to scriptural texts, and the words used in sermons, hymns, congregational prayers and other forms of Christian liturgy).

Below is a list of discussion points on what Being Christian can mean today. New models for ministry are already being constructed based on this understanding of Christianity.

• On religious humility—no person has all the answers and no religious system can encompass the Eternal. We must recognize that each of us—no matter how different from one another—is a reflection of the divine. As Christians, we should be seeking to emulate the divinely human Jesus.

• On new religious narratives—they are not about the literality of faith or belief. They are about being a good shepherd—to family, friends, community, and to those we dislike or condemn—whatever you imagine your flock can be.

• On scripture—it’s about meaning, not history. Our interpretation of scripture—like our reading of church doctrine and tradition, our personal religious experiences and rational understanding of these experiences—is an ongoing conversation. Nothing is permanent.

• On forgiveness and healing—we need to forgive for our own sake. True forgiveness is a selfish act. It sets us free from the bondage of our past and allows us to get on with our lives. It does not mean that we have to pretend nothing is wrong, but true forgiveness can become real for us when we discover we have already absolved our offender. Thus we begin the healing process by letting go of the hurt.

• On the power of speech—what is crucial is what comes out of our mouth. Since we believe human beings are made in the image of God, not in the image of Caesar, the divine image resides in part in our ability to speak. How we choose to use this divine power is of ultimate importance. Gossip, lies, spreading rumors or even false praise is considered a major sin—the 9th Commandment—in the Jewish tradition.

• On being a good disciple—the essence of discipleship is to let go and walk away from the familiar. Beware of what you’re comfortable with, get outside your comfort zone, live in the present but look always for ways to serve others and help in the repair of the world.

• On empowering the powerless—engaging with those who suffer. We live in a “can do” and “can fix it” culture, and we view negatively a person who is “helpless” or “powerless.” On the other hand, we praise “compassion,” because it is doing something. We can show compassion by giving time and money to causes, and it gives us a sense of power. But the Latin roots of our word “compassion” means “to suffer with,” and it embraces powerlessness. It is not doing or giving anything. It is the willingness to be with and feel with the one who is suffering.

• On prayer—we need to understand prayer ultimately as a personal conversation. This is primarily a nonverbal act—being aware of and open to God in silence, in love, in the natural world. In this sense, then, we should pray without ceasing.

• On living a simple life—living intentionally as if the Kingdom of God is now. You need only what money and possessions you require to live in the kingdom: as one interpretation of how one should live in the kingdom, see Micah 6:8.