Instead of thinking in terms of opposites and enemies maybe we can think more paradoxically like peanutbutter and jelly, chocolate and peanutbutter, needle and thread, love and marriage, cardinals and superbowl.
APOPHATIC AND CATAPHATIC
CONTEMPLATION AND ACTION
TRUTH AND LOVE
EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP
TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY
LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE
ATTRACTIONAL AND MISSIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL AND SMALL GROUPS
WORD AND SPIRIT
BODY AND SOUL
SCHEDULED AND SPONTANEOUS
Can you think of others???
Thursday, August 13, 2009
To Do or Not To Do?
An emergence or resurgence of social justice is being awakened in the church. There is a renewed emphasis on the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged. This is being led by Bragelina, Bono and Emerging Church leaders.
This could be a reaction to the spirituality of not doing. The aim of not doing was focused on the Big 5: NO drinking, smoking, dancing, movies or playing cards.
The spirituality of doing could be rooted in Matthew 25 when Jesus said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me”. The list could be called the Big 6: hunger, thirst, hospitality, nakedness, sickness, and the imprisoned.
The problem is that we can be the source of our not doing or the source of our doing. We use our energy so we get the credit for not doing harm or doing good. Most of us run out of energy and experience moral failure or burnout. Matthew 7 reminds us that Jesus desires for us to know him, not just prophecy, drive out demons or perform many miracles. The parable of the Good Samaritan is an example of loving God and neighbor not just being a do-gooder. And back to Matthew 25, neither the sheep nor goats had a self consciousness of their doing or not doing when they both said, “When did we see you and help you? When did we see you and not help you?”
The good news is that Jesus sends His Spirit to live in us and be our energy. It seems the pendulum of doing vs. not doing swings every 50 years. The church can chase the culture and try to stay relevant or live in the energy of God and lead the cultural change. It is not about doing or not doing but about allowing God to do or not to do through us. This is the simple definition of holiness = Holy in us. Think of how much more good we would do if the Spirit of Jesus lives through us.
This could be a reaction to the spirituality of not doing. The aim of not doing was focused on the Big 5: NO drinking, smoking, dancing, movies or playing cards.
The spirituality of doing could be rooted in Matthew 25 when Jesus said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me”. The list could be called the Big 6: hunger, thirst, hospitality, nakedness, sickness, and the imprisoned.
The problem is that we can be the source of our not doing or the source of our doing. We use our energy so we get the credit for not doing harm or doing good. Most of us run out of energy and experience moral failure or burnout. Matthew 7 reminds us that Jesus desires for us to know him, not just prophecy, drive out demons or perform many miracles. The parable of the Good Samaritan is an example of loving God and neighbor not just being a do-gooder. And back to Matthew 25, neither the sheep nor goats had a self consciousness of their doing or not doing when they both said, “When did we see you and help you? When did we see you and not help you?”
The good news is that Jesus sends His Spirit to live in us and be our energy. It seems the pendulum of doing vs. not doing swings every 50 years. The church can chase the culture and try to stay relevant or live in the energy of God and lead the cultural change. It is not about doing or not doing but about allowing God to do or not to do through us. This is the simple definition of holiness = Holy in us. Think of how much more good we would do if the Spirit of Jesus lives through us.
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