As promised, some church-related thoughts. Profound and otherwise.
~Being "Baptist" is way more complicated than it sounds (although technically I have not joined anywhere...so can I still call myself non-denominational? It is becoming more and more important to me...). I am having a hard time understanding why certain things are important(i.e. "the Invitation," the wooden "look at our numbers" board, the inevitable exchange: "We had some visitors today!" "Oh really? Are they Baptist?" etc.). I prefer to explain it by saying that I am incredibly open-minded and ecumenical. Stephen says it's more like I'm just stuck on my own traditions, which happen to be different than those at the HOP. Either way, it's reinforcing my appreciation of McLaren's proposal of becoming "post-denominational," meaning that we recognize that every Christian tradition is seeking after the same goal, which is to understand and know God and to seek after his kingdom. The logical thing to do is to pull the best from each tradition rather than being stuck with both the pros and cons of one particiular flavor of Christianity. McLaren's book A Generous Orthodoxy is a great, thought-provoking book about the good in various Christian traditions, plus some traditions, such as environmentalism/social justice causes, etc. where Christians have not really been involved but maybe should be.
~I keep getting asked the question, "As the pastor's wife, what roles are you going to take on right away?" I don't really know how to answer that...I'm kind of feeling things out like I think anyone would do when they join a new church. The only thing I have said forcefully so far is that I do not want to do children's Sunday School. Is that just rebellious of me? I am much more interested in becoming involved with other young couples, hosting Bible studies in my home, and discussing possible advancements in the music and missions aspects to church life. I've been cautioned on a couple of different occasions not to let my own preferences keep me from listening to God's leading. But, I kind of feel like my preferences can be a way that God leads...to say that Sunday School must be where I am supposed to serve because it's what I have the least interest in seems like a pretty cynical view of God. I want to counter that maybe I am interested in young families/music/missions because those are the areas where God wants me to serve. Any comments?
~Both of those previous posts have run long (English Major Syndrome at work) so I'll stop for today. Tune in next time for "Why Do We Only Sing About Heaven?," alternatively titled "Does Obsession with Eternal Rewards Make Us a Little Like GoldDiggers?"
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4 comments:
I think God gives us desires and interests that lead us to certain areas of service. And not all our interests are the same... so we work together as the Body of Christ to do His work. There is a person out there who desires to teach children's Sunday School. But that person may not be interested in leading music. That's not to say that we should be limited by our interests. God can certainly use a disinterest to teach us, shape us, and use us. You would probably be blessed by teaching children's SS. But follow your passion and see where God takes you... all the while, praying that He will align your desires with His own.
Lots of interesting thoughts here. I think that tradition is the key word in what you are talking about in your first paragraph. Tradition is the very reason those things are important to some people, not that I am saying they should be important. I grew up in a fellowship that held some things to be such a strict tradition that tradition was confused with theology. That is where the danger lies, yet those in greatest danger of confusing the two usually do not see the difference. It takes time to overcome people's views of tradition, so patience to let God's spirit move in their minds will be a key. As to the to teach ss or not to teach topic... a friend of mine just became a pastor's wife in a small rural church and feels the same pressure and got the same questions. She too is a teacher and does not want to teach kids on sunday morning too. You just need a break sometimes! Stick to your guns and they will see God use you in other areas and stop asking. Right now, all they probably know is that a pastor's wife should sing in the choir and teach kids ss. You will have to show them otherwise :) I agree with Karen, as long as you are in prayer about what role God would have you do, you will be fine. Maybe you could tell them that..."I'm still praying about it!" :)
I support what you want to do, and say do that because that is where your heart is.
I agree for the most part, but you've got the watch that guy...he's sneaky, one thing leads to another and then we're all blind, just touching part of an elephant...
:)
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