So disorientated at the moment and this is helpful. I'm recognising I am changing but I'm lacking grace for others. There is much here for me to ponder and pray about.
Yes. As we grow at different paces and stages, there is fear (sometimes founded) that differences will result in rejection. This points hopefully to the grace to remain in fellowship.
Pastor Jay Kim once used the phrase “generous assumption” in regard to how we posture ourselves amidst the unknowns and missteps in relationships, and those words stuck with me. I think we could all use a little more generosity--with ourselves and others.
“It takes mental, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional flexibility to live lives that don’t remain in a constant state of orientation (where we know where we’re headed and how long it will take to get there), but to sometimes willingly engage in disorientation to see what we might discover there.”
— I feel so seen and as always appreciate your thoughts. This is helpful.
Methinks I need some Walter Brueggeman on my bookshelf!
These are very good words and reminders. It reminds me a lot of the idea of a centered-set church... we will be at different points at different times of our walk, but always towards Jesus. And in that, we are reminded of the posture that Jesus has towards each of us and allow us to give others (and ourselves!) much more grace.
This reminds me so so much of Romans 14. After reading it for forever, this past year it exploded into my consciousness in a new way. The phrases there are radical - let each one be fully convinced in their own mind?!; if someone regards something as unclean then for that person it is unclean!!; blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves?! - completely radical.
And for myself I never saw the application because the issues Paul is dealing with (what to eat or what day to worship) are settled in our day. But then? They were key issues. Substitute how you vote (let each one be convinced in his own mind), if you get the vaccine (if you regard as unclean, it's unclean), theology (do not condemn yourself by what you approve) or any other issues we tear each other apart over and it becomes utterly unthinkable. You mean God could lead one person to vote one way based on experience and conviction and another person to vote differently? Wild stuff.
And the instruction throughout - grace, grace and more grace. We too often are warships arrayed against each other instead of sailing ships sending out lights to one another.
*Noting here that certainly there are things that are black and white/right and wrong (murder, adultery etc) but will also say that many contemporaries of Paul would have seen dietary laws and sabbath worship the same way.
So disorientated at the moment and this is helpful. I'm recognising I am changing but I'm lacking grace for others. There is much here for me to ponder and pray about.
Yes. As we grow at different paces and stages, there is fear (sometimes founded) that differences will result in rejection. This points hopefully to the grace to remain in fellowship.
Pastor Jay Kim once used the phrase “generous assumption” in regard to how we posture ourselves amidst the unknowns and missteps in relationships, and those words stuck with me. I think we could all use a little more generosity--with ourselves and others.
“It takes mental, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional flexibility to live lives that don’t remain in a constant state of orientation (where we know where we’re headed and how long it will take to get there), but to sometimes willingly engage in disorientation to see what we might discover there.”
— I feel so seen and as always appreciate your thoughts. This is helpful.
Methinks I need some Walter Brueggeman on my bookshelf!
These are very good words and reminders. It reminds me a lot of the idea of a centered-set church... we will be at different points at different times of our walk, but always towards Jesus. And in that, we are reminded of the posture that Jesus has towards each of us and allow us to give others (and ourselves!) much more grace.
I’m entering my 7th year of disorientation, and I still am not used to it. Feel like I’m fighting it. Your words are helpful, as always.
This reminds me so so much of Romans 14. After reading it for forever, this past year it exploded into my consciousness in a new way. The phrases there are radical - let each one be fully convinced in their own mind?!; if someone regards something as unclean then for that person it is unclean!!; blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves?! - completely radical.
And for myself I never saw the application because the issues Paul is dealing with (what to eat or what day to worship) are settled in our day. But then? They were key issues. Substitute how you vote (let each one be convinced in his own mind), if you get the vaccine (if you regard as unclean, it's unclean), theology (do not condemn yourself by what you approve) or any other issues we tear each other apart over and it becomes utterly unthinkable. You mean God could lead one person to vote one way based on experience and conviction and another person to vote differently? Wild stuff.
And the instruction throughout - grace, grace and more grace. We too often are warships arrayed against each other instead of sailing ships sending out lights to one another.
*Noting here that certainly there are things that are black and white/right and wrong (murder, adultery etc) but will also say that many contemporaries of Paul would have seen dietary laws and sabbath worship the same way.