Prof. Doom asks me a lot of good questions and has some concerns about my consumer mentality about religion. He's generally unsettled by free agents like me who have no devotion to a denomination, taking all the hard work of predecessors in faith for granted. I have no huge opinions about communion or baptism or membership. It got me thinking about my origins.
I confessed to the good professor that I'm just an anglican faker with an evanglical upbringing by Baptist parents, a Reformed education, the spiritual gifting of a mellow charismatic, and the literary leanings of a pomo mainliner. Friends-- have you signed with a team? If you moved to another city would you automatically commit to your same denomination? Do we lose something by not steadfastly adhering to one tradition becoming flaky in our biblical illiteracy and appreciation for church history?
P.S. Add mysticism to my shopping cart of religious desires. I decided to pursue spiritual direction over counseling after having a counseling picture drawn for me of a trapeze that instructed to let go of where I'm at hoping God will catch me. This free agent isn't going anywhere God isn't already hanging out.
4 comments:
Hmmm . . . good questions. I feel so at home in the Anglican world, at least in our church, but I wonder if I would feel the same somewhere else. I think that clues me in that it's the people that are more important than a denomination to me. But I was drawn as much by the tradition as by the people. My history would not suggest I'm a loyalist. I didn't grow up anything. I didn't become something other than a believer, but at times I do long for the deepth that living in a tradition can give you. Hmm . . will have to keep contemplating this.
yes. good questions. you have such a succint, concise way with words. i think i go wherever i cry the most. the last two churches have been decided by an abundance of tears in the midst of worship. i have sensed the hs moving among the people and have made my decisions party based on that.
I think its important to know what beliefs and doctrine are associated with the church you go to....
I also am a firm believer that labels can be bad when we identify with a particular denomination...we are followers of Christ, that is the priority...but we need to pray where we worship, pray, learn, teach, etc, is a place where Love, truth, grace, and mercy prevail....
I believe all these are found at IAC.
Well, CG, you know me and my background, and here I end up a Mennonite. I definitely don't have a love of denominations, but I know I need to respect those who do. Just don't become President because what would they say about your "religion"?
Post a Comment