We Are a City on a Hill
Let what we do in here, fill the streets out there – “Madly,” Charlie Hall
A few years ago, the Math+1 forum discussed the movie “The Passion of the Christ,” and I made the off-handed comment that all Christians are called to be evangelical, as the word evangelical simply means “in accordance with the Christian Gospel,” a.k.a. the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that chronicle the life of Christ. In Acts, Luke tells us that following the resurrection, the last thing Jesus said to his disciples was that they would be given the gift of the Holy Spirit and that they were to proclaim His glory to the “ends of the Earth.” It didn’t occur to me that my statement would be controversial. (It rarely does!)
My comment, of course, set off a firestorm of discussion where people vehemently argued that no, no, evangelical means Bible-thumper, crazy-street-person, a Pat Robertson type. That you could be a Christian and have no interest in spreading the Good News; that you could hear the story of Christ, place your faith in Him and leave it at that. How? I asked. HOW? I really wanted to know: at that point in my life I was desperate to figure out a way to continue living my life my own way and still cling to my salvation. I was desperate to remain in myself; to remain unchanged. If someone had strong reasoning, I was ready to jump on it.
But of course, there isn’t any Biblically-based reasoning for such an argument. It doesn’t exist in Scripture. It does exist, however, in the latent American church; in the lifestyle and mindset of the cultural Christian. It’s a problem of definition, I guess, what makes one a Christian. Today’s post on blog.worship.com discusses this very issue, and I immediately e-mailed the link to almost everyone in my address book.
The root problem might be described as a failure to define ‘Christian’ and Christianity in terms that bring into sharper contrast regenerate and unregenerate life, in terms that stress spiritual conversion, faith, grace, love and hope over and against moralism, patriotism, and spiritual relativism.
Distinctive Christianity in a Nominal Christian Culture, Part 1: Definitions
The author, Thabiti Anyabwile, goes on to describe many notions – or myths – that muddy definitions. Ideas such as the one where people believe you are a Christian at birth because your parents are Christians; or that baptizing is something that makes you a Christian; or it’s just about walking the aisle to the alter and repeating a script; or the idea that because you’re an American, or a Southerner or from a small town, you’re a Christian.
Fruitful Christian ministry must supplant these notions with Gospel truth. Faithful Gospel labor must work against these currents to present a joyful, abiding-in-Christ, free, grace-filled, spiritually-minded, heaven-directed, Jesus following, God-loving, observant Christian witness.
It’s an issue I’ve discussed here before and it’s been on my heart for months now: a desire to combat the lies in the American church. The latent energy that persists. The MYTHS that persist in our culture because a silent minority live up to the lies or because people are afraid to speak Truth for fear of alienating themselves or being unliked or being seen as Other.
A few weeks ago Andy Stanley asked us what we were praying for big in 2007. When he asked that question, I was overwhelmed. I often feel overwhelmed by the world, by my role in it, but I believe that’s because God is working to narrow my focus; to hone a vision for my life so that I will not be distracted by the many, many Big Things out there that aren’t for ME to fight.
We are all part of the body, and as such, we all have different roles. Some of us are hands, some feet, some knees and elbows and fingertips. Sometimes I feel like I’m all over the place, trying to do the work of eight different body parts at once; my Big Prayer for 2007 is simply that He continues to focus me in, so that I can fight and serve and struggle and shine light until my last breath escapes my body.
And I have to believe that this blog is one of the gifts he has given me; this knowledge, this ability to transcribe my heart thoughts so that you, who are feeling them too, will know that we are all in this together. That we can change the world because He has already won. Stand Up. Be Light. Speak Truth.
Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nether do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (NIV)
Michael – 5 1/2 months
One of the many, many photographs I took of him at Christmas. Every time I look at this shot, I feel like he is about to tell me something. Maybe he wanted to tell me to put my camera down.
Everything Will Be Okay
Yes, it will.
Cong
I came to Ney’s office straight from a month-long internship program with the at-the-time junior senator from Texas, because I wanted more time in Washington, more time on the Hill, more time to sample a taste of the life I thought I wanted to live.
Ney was a bright star in 1997. It was his sophomore term and he was a stand out from that 1994 class that rocked the Hill when the GOP took control of Congress.
My memories from those few weeks as the sole intern in his office consist mostly of fun times and trips with his other staffers. Of course sorting the mail became an instant duty (actual stamped, addressed, hand-written mail), and I often called constituents in response to their letters and was the first line of communication when the outside phone line rang.
We played softball on the mall against other Congressmans’ offices and Cong, as his staffers affectionately called him, joined us at bat more than once. I couldn’t believe it sometimes – that I was manning second base trying to get the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas out so we could win the game – all the while in the shadow of the Capitol.
It turned out that Ney’s District chief-of-staff was the nephew of the wife of one of my cousin’s, and about a year later, when I was working for the Ohio House of Reps, I drove out to Eastern Ohio and campaiged for him. He lost, and I have no idea if he ran again or even what he is doing now.
Unfortunately, I know what former Rep. Ney is doing now, as he was just sentenced to 30 months in prison for his involvement in the Abramoff lobbying scandal.
Although it’s been almost a decade, it’s still hard to think that the young congressman who represented his district with pride and idealism fell into the snares and scandals of public life. It makes me sad – for him, for his district, for Ohio, for the state of our country’s politics on the whole.
I hold onto those memories of coffee breaks with his just-out-of-college secretary; the crazy Appalachian constituent who wanted the Congressman do to something about the Dollar Store who sold her expired toothpaste; of softball games and lunchtimes sitting in the shadow of a building where much should be accomplished, and where hopefully, idealism still lives.
Where in the world?
River Street Sweets
The Lady & Sons
Tubby’s Tankhouse
“The Book”
Broughton Street
We’ve been here about 24 hours and so far I’ve already eaten at least two pralines, the best green beans I’ve ever had, ever, biscuits and gravy, and tonight we’re going to fill up on Grouper fingers.
Our rooms overlook the river and last night we wrapped ourselves in blankets and stood out on the balcony to watch a giant ship roar toward the ocean. A man on the street shouted up that he would bring us roses. The dank smell of the water wafted in and the wind whipped through our hair.
It’s a city full of mystery, full of possibility. And lots of Grouper fingers.
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Compassion
