#Rethink - October 2021

#Rethink - October 2021

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Welcome to the end of my favorite month! Let's talk about faithfulness, spiritual disillusionment, and writing a book.

What does it look like to live in faithful obscurity?

I have a thing for cemeteries. I love to wander them -- especially the old sections -- and wonder about the people who used to be alive. I am always struck by the vast number of humans who lived and died without being particularly well known. For the most part, we don't remember the generations who lived before us, and yet, there were plenty of people who just faithfully lived. 

Our digital world is a crazy place where it is increasingly possible to achieve some sort of "fame." We can collect virtual followers who will never meet us in real life just because we take pretty pictures, or make silly videos, or post witty sentences. And yet research shows that we are less connected to actual friends/family and feel more lonely than at any other time in human history. Something is wrong with this picture.

I'm being continually challenged to just live my real life. I mentioned it last month and I've talked about it on social media and my podcast lately too. As I pull back virtually and embrace the reality around me I've noticed some things.

• I feel less stressed and anxious but also more satisfied.

• My mind is quicker at coming up with creative ideas, pondering information, and connecting dots.

• I'm not missing anything.

What about you? Maybe you are someone who already stays out of the virtual craziness. Well done, friend! But maybe the lure of online "community" has also sucked you in and, like me, you are recognizing the destruction it can cause to your soul. How do we step back? How do we embrace our real lives? How do we become content with faithful obscurity? I'm not entirely sure, but I'm working on finding out.

"Let's not mistake hurt for rebellion, trauma for infidelity, or a broken heart for an empty soul."
Russell Moore
 

I came across this article in Christianity Today and it resonated. Russell Moore digs into another buzz word -- ex-evangelical -- and encourages the church to listen and try to understand rather than judge and assume.

Like deconstruction, ex-evangelical is a word with many definitions depending on individual experiences. But every ex-evangelical has a couple  of  things in common: they used to identify as evangelical, and they've been disillusioned spiritually. As I've said before, the Christianese bubble world is a beautiful place until it's not. Religious Christianity seems great while it's working for you. But when facades fall apart, leaders fail, and spiritual abuse is revealed for what it is, we are left with doubts, questions, and pain. 

The buzz words might be new, but the experiences are not. Russell Moore looks back on his father's life as a pastor's son. He recognizes the hurts his dad carried that affected his spiritual walk and ponders the ways his father taught him to love those broken by Christians and church experiences. This is a message that is vital to our modern messy church if we are going to be restored and reformed. 

"Let’s believe in Jesus enough to bear patiently with those who are hurt, especially those hurt by the church. Let’s not assume that, in every case, those disappointed or angry or at the verge of walking away are doing so because they hold a deficient worldview or because they want to chase immorality."

The Very Long Journey of Writing a Book

Some of you don't even know I've been writing a book. It hasn't been something I've discussed a whole lot lately. When I redid my website last year, I scrubbed any mention of it because it seemed so out of reach. 

But, I've been writing a book for the past eight years, well actively writing for the past four years I guess. I've been to writers conferences, worked with agents, editors, and coaches, pitched to publishers, and been rejected more times that I'd like to admit. I've given up, picked it back up, and given up again. It's been a journey.

The book is called Impostor Jesus: Rejecting Religion in a Search for the Real God. It tells pieces of my story combined with questions that many of us are asking as we deconstruct and reconstruct our Christian experiences and beliefs. It's theologically orthodox like everything I produce, but at the same time isn't afraid to question religious tradition. I haven't even opened my book  proposal let alone the actual book itself since a year ago when I got stuck on chapter thirteen. Until last Sunday.

On Saturday I recorded my podcast -- talking about living my real life and instead of collecting a following on the Internet. Sunday morning I woke up knowing exactly how to finish my book. The responses to my posts on social media that day confirmed my message and the fact that an audience exists. Someone in my Facebook writers group (that I never visit) gave me the name of a medium sized publisher who was currently accepting submissions. By that evening I'd submitted my proposal for the first time in about a year. So, who knows? I guess I'm writing again. It's a strange feeling and the timing seems terrible with a brand new teaching job and all, but I've learned to let go and let God do His thing.

I really don't care if I get published or not, but I do care that I follow Jesus and walk through any doors He opens. I'll keep you posted on what happens next.

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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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