This is a post dedicated to Aaron Padgett. Mostly because we had a quality chat last evening and there are a few things worth noting. Conversation is fluid and random so most of these thoughts are only connected by a small common thread. A short outline may be worthwhile.
I. Is Ghandi going to Hell?
II. What does it mean to worship?
III. Community?
IV. Ministering to a college campus?
I. This issue is not problematic for a certain kind of Christian believer. That is the product of a certain kind of background in a certain kind of church. Many people think that an argument over this issue is mere nonsense (of course Ghandi will go to Hell, he did not profess Christ as his Saviour). This is the case for anyone who believes (a) scripture is absolute truth in every instance and (b) that it is possible for any one individual to understand the scripture. For the purposes of argument it is quite nice to suppose neither (a) nor (b); scripture is flawed to a degree and there are some things outside of our understanding. If this is the case then the Ghandi talk is worthwhile. One important assumption is still presupposed here: Christ's divinity was necessary for humans. This is because as humans we only understand things in a worldly context. We understand ourselves given our past, what we hope for the future and how both interact with the present. It is impossible to not understand ourselves in relation to worldly relations, world events, material things and our own conception of time. God, as a Creator existing eternally and outside of time, took on human characteristics, through Christ, so a limited Creation could have interaction with the eternal. This does not explain how He interacts (as when He commands Abraham to kill Isaac) with humans in other specific instances. It also does not explain whether or not God may have ALSO revealed Himself to the world through an individual like Ghandi. Peaceful revolution, saving of millions of lives, justice and equality. A lot of Jesus in a tiny man from India. Christians can be right and Ghandi can go to heaven; the two do not have to be mutually exclusive. However, we are fortunate that God, in the end, will make the decision. Blasphemy, anyone?
II. It is hard to say what it really means to worship. But it seems to be the case that many people have a very closed idea of what worship means. For these people worship means going to church services, singing, listening to a sermon and leaving as scheduled. People find emotional connection in certain songs and a certain context; God feels immediately present when surrounded by believers in front of a band playing songs to which everyone knows the words. But being stuck in this context cheapens and dissolves the value of such an experience because worship itself is a much more massive concept. Aaron and I theorize that perhaps worship happens when two people sit down and ask each other questions. Perhaps worship happens when someone opens the door for somebody else. Perhaps worship happens when you go on a mission trip to Africa or when you pick up a piece of trash on the sidewalk. If a connection with God is only found in a comfort zone then a faith founded on such a basis can be easily taken away. Worship is something that must, for a Christian, permeate all things. This is also the most troubling part about being a Christian because tendencies of most people are not 100% worship oriented all the time. Or 50% of the time. Or 20% of the time. But it is only by understanding that worship cannot be confined to activity within the walls of a church or chapel that an awareness of the true nature of worship can begin. It is within this context, the all inclusive context, and not the exclusive worship in church context, from which truly inspired living begins.
III. Quite similarly to these ideas about worship, community is something Christians both swear they are founded upon and simultaneously refuse to engage. It a tragic and damaging mistake to build a community exclusively made up of Christian individuals. Being trapped inside such a community throws a cloud over the truth that is the world outside of church and thus warped ideologies are formed. It is also important to consider perhaps that there is a clear distinction between going out with the intent to convert and the mere act of building community. Preach the gospel, when necessary use words. It is an old thought that is seldom applied. Maybe it is the case that in some instances the homeless addict does not immediately need to hear scripture or a profession of faith. Rather, he needs a cup of coffee and someone to hear his story, maybe a sandwich also. When Christians go out with the intent to convert it is easy to miss out on the intent to love. If a community is to be built there must be something more than tolerance because tolerance suggests that a barrier still exists. Acceptance, cooperation and understanding. The conversation. Building a Christian community is more than important. But there is more community evident and available in the world than that. Interfaith community, community built between different classes, social groups and races. All of these things are precluded by an operating assumption that immediate Christian community is the most important thing. Kierkegaard points us towards a love that is directed neither at flaws nor positive attributes. Loving simply for the sake of the beloved; the mother equally to the drug addict and the pastor equally to the convict. Loving like this requires a bit of a sacrifice of personal goals or gain. It is in this way community must be built. Maintaining a closed off Christian community will eventually have disastrous consequences. So the point is to get out there with all people and act in such a way that they wonder where such a person is coming from.
IV. Understanding that there is a multiplicity of types of community available to be built it is very difficult to think of how it is possible to successfully minister to a college campus. Again, Aaron and I theorize that so adjustment is needed in this particular department (not that our thoughts are identical but similar enough to start a sentence like this). The easy, safe route is to create a campus ministry that is a safe haven for young Christian people. A worship service that all the same involved people will attend, projects and trips and events organized for the same group of people. Sermons heard by the convinced and vindication for those who do not need it. If truly oriented towards being a ministry such an organization has to actually minister. Given the secular state of things both on campus and in the world this means some adjustments have to be made. It is well intended but a bit misguided to go room to room praying for people not involved with the Christian community on campus. That is an outwardly abrasive and condescending gesture that in itself creates a barrier between the Christian and secular communities. Perhaps the Christian community should do things like have a volleyball tournament, cookout, basketball game, movie night or something to show that Christians are normal people too. Sometimes the Christian agenda must be subverted, though only for a moment, so that the Christian community successfully achieves the message that it wants to be inclusive and loving. Failure to understand that a closed Christian community is woefully unattractive and intimidating to the outsider is simply put, embarrassing. So questions must be asked about how it is others may be reached. Preach the gospel, when necessary use words. Simple and not so simple all at once.
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