#Rethink - June 2021

#Rethink - June 2021

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June is almost over! This month we are questioning goodness, pondering the mess of the American church, and rethinking the ways we use social media.

What if God Doesn't Want Good People?

I hate how common it has become for pastors and Christian leaders to be exposed for their hidden sins. The recent leaked emails and recordings from within the SBC are just one more revelation in a troublingly long list. Why are Christians so good at covering things up, keeping scandals hushed, and pushing dirty truth under the rug? 

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." Ephesians 5:11

I think that much of the reason these corrupt leaders are able to keep their scandals and abuses quiet is because so many in the church believe that God wants good people. Or at least that once people are saved, they should try to be good. Rather than exposing darkness, too many people are content to just pretend it away in order to "protect the name of Christ."

But what if God doesn't want good people? What if He's never wanted them? What if that's just a convenient lie? What if He can protect His own name?

Friends, no matter how hard we try, or fake it, or hide the truth, we will never be good. We humans were made in the image of God yet we are broken by sin at our very core. Because of this we exist with a strange combination of beauty and corruption in our hearts. We hold the capacity for intense greatness and the potential for unspeakable evil. 

Yet we are loved by an Amazing Being who longs to draw us into a relationship with Himself and make us whole. We are pursued by a God who did everything necessary to make our redemption possible. That's what God wants. That's the gospel. What if we believed that?

"But increasingly, my hope for the church is found in words that I recite each Sunday in the Nicene Creed: We believe in the Holy Spirit."
Tish Harrison Warren
 

Speaking of the messy church stuff, this article at Christianity Today by writer and priest Tish Harrison Warren just spoke to my soul. She acknowledged the broken mess that is the current American church, and yet she held out hope based on who God is and what He has been known to do.
 

Whatever the future of the American church holds, we must simply continue to seek the way of Jesus. Amid broken institutions, we attempt to become truth tellers and work for reform in the imperfect and incomplete ways we can. Though this work is often slow and sometimes quiet, it isn’t merely quietism. We participate in the Spirit’s work. But we believe that the whole will be greater than the sum of our efforts or ability. We believe this because the Holy Spirit is redeeming the church in ways we deeply need and cannot yet imagine.

We aren't going to fix the problems in our world with more government, or programs, or social justice, or institutions, or anything. There is only one Savior. And until we come face to face with Him we will not be changed.

Rethinking My Use of Social Media

When someone is trying to write a book (like me) one of the first things they tell you to do is build a platform on social media. Basically that means gather a bunch of followers. Some people are really good at this, so good in fact that we had to come up with a new name for them. We call them influencers.

I've decided that I don't want to be an influencer. And I'm not sure I even want to build a platform. If that means that I don't ever publish a book then I guess that's okay too. It's not worth sacrificing my real life. What do I mean by that?

I recently made a decision to cut back on my social media use. Rather than trying to come up with something catchy, helpful, or funny every day to try and capture followers, I just stopped. I've started posting when I want to instead of when I think I should. I'm taking the time to think deep thoughts and read books before coming to share something that spoke to me. I'm no loner pressuring myself to create. And I cannot even explain what this has done for my mental health!

I'm way more focused and also increasingly content with my real life, My brain has actual thoughts in it instead of scattered pieces of information. I read a novel for the first time in over a year and loved the way it made me feel. It's a beautiful thing and so very worth it!

How about you? What do you think you need to let go of when it comes to technology or social media?
 

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Thanks for taking a moment to #Rethink some of our religious traditions and beliefs. I know that it can be scary to deconstruct and reconstruct our faith, but finding the Real Jesus is absolutely worth it. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or comments.

If you know someone who would love to #rethink, please share!
 
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