the Church is for us… not for God?

i was having a conversation yesterday in Gent with an old friend from Black Forest Academy. We haven’t seen each other in over 6 years, and not surprisingly we have both changed somewhat. we talked about Faith and the Church… (in the shadows of 4 Massive cathedrals.)  

he told me that he would rather know the ‘Truth,’ even if it took away his happiness. i disagreed. i am convinced that the Church is for us, for humanity… not for God (at least not directly). The church has always been evolving despite having the same foundation it had almost 2,000 years ago. it adapts for it’s people. great. it should – because it is precisely for that purpose. as was discussed in a previous post, i believe structure is a necessary aid for human happiness. ‘do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.’ there is a resounding call for happiness throughout scripture (God’s Glory is man fully alive! – St. Ignatius, Happiness is possession of all things considered good/godly – Gregory of Nyssa). The word in the Bible often translated as ‘blessed’ could just as easily, if not more accurately be translated as ‘happy.’ “Happy is the man who…” “Happy are the poor in spirit…” “Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” etc. 

So in the same line of thought; the church – it is a vessel for that purpose. it is a vessel for community, relationships, and ultimately love and happiness. the whole truth and nothing but the truth shouldn’t be THE goal of a church. the fields of Biblical Studies and Theology are ENORMOUS and also descriptive not explanatory (Dr. Tim Perry) -”Provisional articulations of truth… derived and therefore open to revision.” … getting back to the topic. 

The whole truth doesn’t exist, and nothing but the truth is the opposite of Faith. This reality, along with the Word of God acquired from scripture, should be understood as the foundation of the Church. Upon this, we progress, learn, and of course never stop loving. A pastor should have no problem ‘correcting’ a mistake or misunderstanding in a previous sermon. He or she is a shepherd doing his or her best to teach and lead a community of HOPEFULLY seekers (not in the post-modern christian sense). Not people who used to be seekers but people who will always be seekers (simply because we are called to have an everlasting neediness in regard to Truth). 

So, pastors in seminaries are often taught to preach in absolutes. Even if it (the topic of the sermon) isn’t really that absolute. Great Church Fathers and men of God have disagreed through the ages… and to this day. There won’t suddenly be answers, and yet many pastors are taught to preach in absolutes. why? I don’t have a problem with this. but many do. Structure is necessary and as long as people realize the fused foundation of the church (mentioned above) since the beginning of time then i don’t mind tentative truths that structure and create somewhat of a framework for happiness (for the majority of people, maybe not those reading this post). That is the purpose of the Church… to be a framework upon which people find happiness/love (sorry i don’t differentiate these two in this context). Truth (big T) isn’t necessary in this realm… but happiness is. (God’s glory is man fully alive). that is the purpose of the Church… for me.

It’s just a Feeling!

Questioning structure, whether it be religious or cultural, is an inquiry that perhaps has no gain. i don’t think humanity functions well anarchially or structurelessly. what we believe to be real becomes real in its consequence (that sums up mankind) – being birthed into a system is simple because belief is pure (unquestioned… at least for a while) people start to panic if or when their framework is messed with – usually it gets shaken and the quality of the work is checked. The more it can take, the better…? BUT – does more reasonable design necessarily constitute better life? 

i like to believe that reason reigns my mind and spirit – this is by no means a proud proclamation – Chesterton says that a madman is someone who has lost everything except his reason. more and more i wish i wasn’t so – for reasonability ultimately leads to irresolution, hesitancy, and unsureness… or one could say ‘lack of structure’… i think structure works best

i was happiest in my life when christianity superintended everything. every beam and support was poured and laid for me. i didn’t care, i didn’t know, AND i was happy… because life was simple and all i needed was a christian to get answers. The way that society today (especially in the West) is turning away from customs/traditions and questioning ancient practices may not be as enlightened as we think. I believe we will all yearn for “back in the day” one day – when things were set, when things were clear, when structure was relatively standardized within communities/societies. because only then did we have understanding for and with each other.

Is change really something humans were designed for? do animals enjoy change?? a good structure does not require change… even an okay structure doesn’t require change. Actually anything that does not increase happiness is completely unnecessary. many theologians claim that happiness is what it is all about… everything. I like to think of God as Happiness more than as Love or Grace.

I think that marriage is happy because it does create a comfort zone… a place where masks are hopefully unnecessary, a place where 2 are stronger than one, a sense of acceptance where you are appreciated and needed. This is certainly part of the equation to Happiness. Origen says that we were the bride of Moses (aka ‘the law’) but in order not to commit adultery Moses (the law) had to die so that we could then be united with Christ. If Moses is still alive, then being with Christ is adultery. I found it to be a funny and maybe profound bit of allegorical interpretation.

But that is exactly it – the law is for fools… BUT Christ does not abolish the law, he fulfills the law. I really hate christian jargon such as; Sin, Hell, Fire, Judgement, Forgiveness (not human realm), conscience, condemnation, etc. This is adulterous talk (even though i am aware that it is throughout the new testament – but i have no problem thinking that just like the rest of us, they, the disciples, also had never seen the Big Picture). So Christ broke the old Structure – but certainly created a new one… one that is beyond obedience. One that, in actuality, is impossible to abide by.

BUT christians think it is possible! Christians are taught that it is possible… they pull out verses like, “be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect” and still don’t realize… and therefore deal with failure and guilt all the time. Yes, Christ wants all his believers to feel pathetic, worthless, lame, and evil.

The fulfillment of the law is that which requires no law. Bonhoeffer says that you can never claim a principle (this is wrong, this is right). Why – because of Christ, the fulfillment of the law. the alive and therefore relevant One who understands/loves us through the perplexity of it all. 
 
In regards to things as marriage or structure as such – i believe people constantly miss the point… and that is exactly it. the point isn’t a point at all – it’s a Feeling! ha, that just came out and i realize that maybe that is what Schleirmacher meant by Feeling.