For example, I can't even tell you how good it is for my heart to read a post by a guy who supports a certain presidential candidate, but makes sure to blog about how much his heart is grieved by the lies and exaggerations this candidate says - because he believes that truth and honesty and love are more important than his chosen candidate winning an election. It stands out to me in a time when so many people (including heaps of Christians, who should have a Christ-allegiance, not political-allegiance) seemed to have switched to a "my candidate must win at all costs" mode of operation.
Or about the pastor from Seattle who decided to go off topic at a Southern Baptist Convention and criticize / name-call a bunch of emerging church leaders. But instead of defending themselves or fighting back, those "emergent heretics" actually took Jesus seriously and turned the other cheek, even when those comments got them booted from future SBC conferences they'd already been chosen to speak at. This kind of action (and not a defensive re-action) makes me believe (again) that Jesus was right, that love really can win, that good really can overcome evil, and that I can leave behind my automatic responses and become a person who loves first.
And I always intend to write about these things that encourage me and excite me so my friends can be encouraged as well, but I never do. So this time I will.
First, check out this video on missional church planting. It's 7 minutes long, but it hits on some keys that pastors should focus on. I thought it was really good, especially the discussion on how to pastor people through being hurt by the church. It's important that it is a one on one pastoral discussion, not a community-wide, weekly complaint session that puts the focus on what you are against instead of on what you are for.
You'll notice after watching it that he uses the term "refugee" to describe Christians who are often attracted to missional or simple or emerging churches. I've never heard this term used in this way before, and I was struck by how it really seems to describe how I, and I think a lot of my close friends, often feel when we talk about church and God.
Another blogger picked up on the word, and wrote about it here. It's a short read, so check it out, but here is one quote that stood out to me.
What is interesting about the concept of refugees is that it suggest displacement from the homeland. Refugees are forced to wander, and disconnected from community they have no roots to plant. Forces have appeared to work against them leaving them with no place to settle. Their heart is with their homeland, yet where is that? Is it back where they left? Is it somewhere right next to them?
I don't want to belittle people who are actual refugees by using the term for myself and pretending that I have some sort of solidarity with them now. Like, "yeah, you lost your home and possessions and family and friends and history and are living in a foreign land where the government doesn't recognize you and the natives dislike you and you can't work or care for your family, but I totally feel the same way!" Obviously it is a completely different thing, and I don't want to take that lightly.
But there is a real resonance to that "stranger in a strange land" feeling in my heart. I have felt spiritually homeless for a while. I've had to leave behind some of the things that used to be familiar and comforting to follow where I think Jesus is leading me. I've even been physically wandering from city to city because I just haven't felt at home in a long time. It's unsettling and confusing at times, but I keep finding reason for hope. I don't know where I'm going, but when it's the most difficult and lonely, God quietly reminds me that he is walking with me, and I guess that is enough.
And maybe I can learn to see the others all around (and far away) who are also stumbling through life. Maybe I can help them get back up.
