This is a huge moment for me. I have come to the decision that has been in process since 2010. That was when I walked away from the “Institutional” Church. In these ensuing years, I have moved from the Church to the desert, back to the Church, back out into the desert – round and round. Why?
Let’s take a quick stroll back in time. Here is a condensed version of why I’m struggling with “Christianity” as it is today. Jesus shows up and spends three years teaching his followers, by his example, about God’s love for “everyone” – no exceptions.
Fr. Greg Boyle tells us, “In the early years, Christianity was a subversive spiritual movement of equality, emancipation, and peace. It was a way of life, not a set of beliefs.” Jesus’ followers didn’t “go to church”, they were church – the living, breathing essence of God’s love and care for humanity. And for that, they were persecuted, and some were killed.
Then, three hundred years later, along came Constantine, who turned Christianity into an Imperial religion within an Institutional Church and demanded loyalty to him. Rules and dogmas were established along with a long list of things you must believe to get your sorry butt into heaven. Following in Jesus’ footsteps became “religion”, something the early Christians would never have recognized.
Father Boyle, in his beautiful book, “Cherished Belonging”, says, “A great many mystics criticized the Church for losing track of the centrality of love, a failure that indeed seduced the Church to embrace empire and control as its centerpiece. We forgot to do love’s work.”
So, let me ask you, is this the “church” we see today? Is a vengeful, demanding god the one you have bought into? Does a spiteful god make you all warm inside and make you want to emulate him? Does this god make you want to be a better person, love your neighbor, and strive to make the world a better place? Or does this god make you want to kick the dog, curse your obnoxious neighbor, and roll your window up at the stop sign and glare at the homeless guy standing there?
Do you walk out of that confessional all cleansed and forgiven and stare in judgment at the guy standing behind you because you assume his sins are much worse – like mortal – like going-to-hell, mortal?! The same guy who wouldn’t buy one stinkin’ box of Girl Scout cookies from your daughter. Never mind that he’s a diabetic on insulin and had to have four toes amputated last year.
How are we doing so far? Paints a lovely picture, doesn’t it? Sadly, this is the god I learned to fear when I first became a “Christian”.And I thought I was a perfect Christian. But you, on the other hand, well, you were clearly lost and needed correction, which I was willing to offer, lest you end up in hell.
Excuse me a minute while I try to control my laughter. Ok, sorry, I’m back.
Jesus didn’t call us to a “belief”; he called us to awaken to our true selves. An awakening to our very essence, which is where God resides, if we will sit still long enough to feel his presence and follow his precepts: Love God and love your neighbor. That’s it. It’s no more complicated than that. It doesn’t require much brainpower to understand it or willpower to live it.
Perhaps it’s time to recycle Christianity, as Brian McClaren suggests,” Moving from our entrenched dualism to some glorious sense of interbeing.”
As I post this, I have no doubt I will receive raised eyebrows and possibly hate mail. I could have kept these beliefs to myself, but not in good conscience. As we watch the world burning down around us and people suffering because of our indifference, it’s time to get off the fence.
PASSION, PURPOSE & POOPYHEADS 