seethrough

before apartheid, there came the idea of separate development. in essence, it’s the idea that people will do better if left to develop within their own groupings.

The architects of apartheid used this philosophy to justify the separate development of tribes and peoples within the country of South Africa.

what became abhorrent was the systematic oppression of some peoples and tribes, while others were given special benefits. This systematic separation for the purpose of ensuring the control of power and resources is what made apartheid so unjust, hurtful and ultimately violent - because the majority was not happy to continue to be controlled and restricted, allowing a minority to benefit from the wealth and resources of the country.

That system has been dismantled. People are no longer restricted in the way that they were under Apartheid laws.
But what has not changed - and this is to me far more significant! - is the idea of separate development.

I had naively thought that the “liberation movement” would deconstruct both the systems AND ideology of apartheid. But it seems that only the systems have been addressed. Further, it seems to me that very few are actually even interested in addressing the ideology of separate development.

An example.

When apartheid determined where people lived, church life was defined by apartheid boundaries. development happened separately. Now that those boundaries have been taken away, church life still resembles the separation that apartheid enforced. It seems that even church people are not sure about whether they want to deconstruct separate development - only the systems that enslaved. so the result is two distinct communities, worshipping in the same building on a Sunday, but having almost not contact with each other at all.

As we think about the future, few are imagining a time when this will change. The personal cost would be too high. For a new, united community to be formed, one would need both communities to relinquish some of their much-loved traditions and ways of doing things, for the sake of being together. Compromise would be required. Most communities would much rather continue to meet apart for the sake of comfort and familiarity.

Another example.

When contemporary Christian music began to get the attention of younger people, some churches acknowledged the need to make space for this music. So many churches allowed their evening services to become “contemporary” with bands leading music with drums and guitars. The rationale was that we needed to make a place for “both”. But the method was not to encourage the worshippers at existing services to compromise and embrace other traditions or ways. rather, the ideology of “separate development” was employed to avoid conflict.

the result is that we are a church that has embraced separate development to such an extent that we have multiple communities meeting in the same building on a Sunday who have very little to do with each other.

I want to question the ideology behind these expressions of community that avoid conflict by adopting an ideology that is not biblical. the biblical witness is a journey, painful sometimes, always costly, that leads to one faith, one baptism, one father of all, one people, one nation, one Lord!

I feel we have forsaken our prophetic witness and conformed ourselves to the world (Romans 12:2) - it’s fears and ideologies - and I wonder when we will stop.

i was talking with some young people about what it might mean to choose community.

i suggested a distinction could be drawn between individualism and individuality.  Richard Rohr, in one of his presentations, helped me to recognise the way that Christian Faith encourages and celebrates individuality. But it never encourages individualism.

I think that individualism is encouraged by comparison.  When we make negative comparisons we are setting ourselves up in competition with others.  We make value judgements of others and of ourselves.

We are all unique.  Individuality can be celebrated, when each person’s uniqueness is valued, their strenghts are appreciated and affirmed, and their weakensses supported by the strengths of othes.

Individualism is - exactly as it name suggests - committed to a future of separation.  Comparing and Competition - if it succeeds - will set us apart from the crowd…  But when individuality is celebrated, our sense of connectedness with others is strenghtened.  Who does the celebrating?  Individuality is celebrated in community!  We are not drifting apart, but rather forging strong bonds with others.  Bonds of helpfullness and reliance on others.

Who does the comparing?  I do. You do.  and the result is a growing separation.

Who does the celebrating?  We do… and we find ourselves building an affirming, healing community.

(*the title of this post comes from the title of a recent book by Brian McClaren.)

One of the reasons I think I enjoy reading Brian McClaren is the resonance I experience as I read.  For some time I have ventured into the realm of the ancient practices and spiritual disciplines of our shared Christian tradition.  I have some people calling me New Age when I teach people about Centering Prayer.  Two years back, during Lent we gave out prayer beads (resembling a rosary. but with only six beads reflecting 6 spiritual values which we focused on through the 6 weeks of Lent).  There was a great risk that people would reject the concept due to the prejudicial aversion to anything “Catholic”.

This latest book is such an encouragement to me to continue in this direction I have been exploring.  One, for my own growth, to explore deeply in the ancient wisdom.  and two, for our shared life in Christian community - to trust that we do indeed need to rediscover our lost heritage.

In the first few pages of the book, McClaren recalls a conversation with a scientist relating to why books on spirituality - esp. books on Buddhism - are so much more popular than books on Christianity.  The scientist suggests that perhaps this is because Buddhism presents itself as a way of life and Christianity as a system of belief.

The challenge for us followers of Christ is to rediscover our faith as a way of life.

So much energy has been expended on trying to establish orthodox (correct) belief.  But scripture is plainly clear about only one thing.  A life will be measured by the fruit it bears.  A life of love, generosity and compassion will get Yahweh’s attention.  “Whatever you did to the least of these brothers and sisters of mine…”  The fruit of the Spirit - qualities or values that will shape and be reflected in a good person’s life - are things that do not need to be debated because “there is no law against such things”.

The problem with the term Spiritual Disciplines (although I still like the word discipline) is that people have the connotation of discipline as it relates to punishment.  McClaren chooses to speak about Spiritual Practices.  It’s a good clarifying revision.  What we need are things we can practice: generosity, kindness, faithfulness.  And we will need a lot of practise to make progress and grow in these new ways of living.\

We have been afraid, and so we have tended to hold on to things very tightly.  It’s going to take courage - and practise - to begin to live with generosity!

We have become (in the west) very individualistic.  It’s going to take practise to rediscover the joy and benefits (for ourselves and others) of choosing to live in community.

We live in a world of fickel consumers.  Faithfulness will be challenge for us who are so accustomed to more choices than we can handle.

We have been trained to ask “What’s in it for me?”  It’s going to take time to learn the way of love, which asks different questions and finds it’s motivation in very different places.

I’m definitely committed to finding my way again: to finding a simple rythym of spiritual practices that help me to feel that I am following - in a tangible way in my daily life - the one who I call Teacher.

And I am gently - but insistently - going to encourage the people who I pastor to commit to some practices in their daily life that give concrete expression to the things they say they believe!

(i wrote this for my column in the church newsletter - but it didn’t fit in with this edition’s theme…  still, it is a reflection on an amazing staff meeting a few weeks ago where we - multi-lingual, multi-cultured, multi-racial and multi-aged team of colleagues - began to reflect together on the call to journey together down the perilous road toward real community, behind the masks, below the surface…)

I don’t believe that going to church can earn you a place in heaven. Church is sometimes not heavenly at all! So why do I pour myself into building Christ-following community?Every spiritual journey may be unique, but no spirituality is complete without the challenge to move from me to we - from a preoccupation with self to a new appreciation of self amongst others. And it’s not a simple or easy journey.

Many of us are involved in groups, but things can be largely superficial. The group has never faced a difficult conflict or ventured beyond the safety of superficial topics and conversations. M. Scott Peck, in his book A different Drum reflects on the stages of community building. He suggests that an event – planned or unplanned – usually throws the group into Chaos. This is potentially painful or frustrating. People are tempted to withdraw from the group. Many people move to other churches when a church community goes through a difficult time. Chaos can be hurtful and disorientating. And yet it is also a necessary stage leading to the next important stage: Emptiness.

Peck uses the word Emptiness to refer to the Jesus call to sacrifice. Before real community can be born, all of us will need to let go of something. Peck invites everyone in the group to ask themselves: “what do I need to empty myself of?” Before real community can be born, we will need to carefully navigate through the difficult waters of Chaos and Emptiness…

The good news for those of us who long for real, safe, healing, generous, meaningful community is… it’s possible. It isn’t just an idealistic dream. Real Community may not be as “pretty” as we hoped… getting there is arduous. But it is real. And in a world of superficial facades and masks and pretence… something real is valuable. Like an old worn pair of jeans: not the smartest pants in the cupboard, but always our favourite! St John’s continues to call people from the safety (and loneliness) of our self-ish ways into the challenges and complexities and joys and benefits of community – from “me” into a real expression of “we”.

[ref. Peck, M.S.  The Different Drum  Touchstone:NewYork, 1987]

i’m struggling with the fact that many of my contemporaries seem to be dreaming their futures in countries other than our own.

there are just so many reasons to go.  i really want to believe that i will stay (no matter what) but hey, you never know.  never say never.

but, if I’m going to stay, then i want to stay well.  i don’t want to stay, but full of cynicism, negativity and pessimism.  I want to stay with hope.  I want to stay, with a confidence that I have something to contribute to the country of my birth.

same with the community of faith of my birth.  i am fast realising that people of my age are not commonly found in churches today.  we are a scarce commodity.  not more valuable for our scarcity unfortunately.  the generation of which I am a part has largely lost faith in organised religion.

there are just so many reasons to leave.  i really want to believe that i will stay (no matter what) but hey, you never know.  never say never.

but, if I’m going to stay, then i want to stay well.  i don’t want to stay, but full of cynicism, negativity and pessimism.  I want to stay with hope.  I want to stay, with a confidence that I have something to contribute to the community of faith i call home.

so here’s to engagement - to growing confidence that will provide the platform from which to reach out - to keep on giving and investing and contributing and venturing…

and here’s to good news - the stories that are so often be neglected in our negative and previously-privileged milleu.

and here’s to faith - that desperately scarce commodity in a world of bad news stories.  faith is to keep on in the face of the barage of reasons not to!

and lastly, here’s to compassion - a distinctive response to bad and painful and disappointing news in a world of pessimism and negativity.  it might sound cliched to say “let’s pray about these situations” but if prayer is primarily about learning the heart of God (and not trying to influence the heart of God) then compassion will always be the marked and distinctive response of the community that bears faith and hope and charity.

here’s to this planet and this body, this town and this country, this place and this space…

right now,

and forever.

communion* releases a gift

it’s just like discovering a person’s hidden talent

my talent, uncovered, offered, can be a gift to others

communion is the blessing of a God who is Unity

a God who is One. One Lord, one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of us all, who is over all and through all and in all. [1]

a God who says “Let us make humanity in our image” [2]

communion is a celebration. it honours the God of all nations, all peoples,

all cultures and languages, all ages, all genders…

in our God everyone, everything, belongs

being together is a sign of things to come

communion loves diversity because it reflects the God of all creation

diversity is like gift-wrap. at first the gift is hidden.  the gift must be unwrapped

easter eggs hidden in the garden have to be discovered

communion is a delicate balancing act

being together is managing the tensions that arise when difference wants to divide

difference is what makes relationship, or just conversation, even possible

(more…)

       let us try to imagine what it would

           be   like   to    be

   a part of   

       a community that reflects the

radical hospitality      

of jesus

what would it

be like

            to   belong  to   a    large  

       diverse and colourful  

family?

              what   sign   would   that  kind of   

      togetherness   b e    i n    a world of

violence ,    rejection ,    hatred

and

 separation¿

how do we face a tragedy?  I say we need to engage our hearts - allow ourselves to feel the tragedy and weep before the bodies lying in the streets - or hanging from a cross…  (see tragedy part 1 below)

So how do we survive a tragedy?

Our natural survival instinct suggests run - run away from any danger, threat or potential difficulty.  We assume hope is found at the top of the mountain - where the outlook is great and the view inspiring.  But experience - painful experience - teaches that hope is born in the valley.

In the valley of the shadow of death we learn how to trust.  “Into your hands I commit my spirit”.  It’s in the darkest place that we learn to surrender and we start the most profound season of our faith-life journey.  Perhaps that what is meant when U2 sing:

“midnight is where the day begins” (from Lemon)

Rather than running from the place of our pain, we may find we have to return there - not to be retraumatised - but so that we can begin the journey of hope, which begins in the valley.

a friend and I were speaking yesterday about money and generosity - and we concluded that the practice of generosity has to be learned when you have very little.  Somehow having a lot, more than enough, makes it more difficult to learn generosity!  is it the same with hope?

[One caution: some people are so overwhelmed by their pain or trauma that to “return” or to face the pain and acknowledge the grief will be too much.  perhaps it is important to recognise that sometimes our survival may require a period of “numb-ness” - a time of denial - just to survive the overwhelming emotions that threaten to wash over and drown us.]

Cate was baptised yesterday as my family gathered to celebrate her life. Cate is an easy going, contented child who laughs easily and watches what goes on arround her with great interest.

I baptised my daughter, a sign of God’s single, unrelenting attitude toward us - that we are loved, that our lives are a gift, and that there is nothing we can do to earn Life - it’s given.

I found a phrase from a poem by Meister Eckhart which begins “all beings are words of God”. I used that phrase as a starting point for a prayer, which i read at the Baptism yesterday…

If all beings are words of God
Then, once again you have spoken

If all of creation is part of The Song
Then God, this majestic music invites us
to join in the singing

If every moment is a touch of Your brush
on canvas
Then God, you enthral us with the beauty
of the masterpiece you are working on

We celebrate the life of Cate:

a gentle word
the first movement of a magnificent symphony
an artwork that claims our attention

We anticipate

thrilling conversation
tears and joy as the song is heard
moments that humble
when we see
when we really see the gift

a friend emailed the following message through this morning:

Hi all,
A great theologian, Tom Torrance passed away last week Sunday. We thank God for his tremendous gifts.

which raised the question in my mind… what is a “great theologian”.
some of the questions I would ask of a theologian who wants to be remembered as “great” are

• did you participate in a local community of faith? (and how did that participation contribute to your work as “theologian”?)
• how did ordinary people - ordinary readers of scripture - respond to your communication of things theological? how accessible would you say your writings (or communications) are to the ordinary reader/listener?
• who gets most excited when your theology is presented? (and who most benefits from the theological position or perspective you have chosen to adopt or hold?)

I am not familiar with the work of Tom Torrance, so my questions are no reflection on his greatness. what is becoming increasingly clear for me is that the work of theology is most clearly the work of the faith community in vital conversation with other knowledges, and not the other way around. (i.e. theology being done in the academy with occasional reference to the faith community…)

so often i read ideas in books that really excite me. i feel such a sense of ordinariness when compared to these amazing men and women who write books and are often quoted and regarded as “authorities” in their fields. and yet, so often they never pastored a local church - and that makes me wonder about how viable their theory is - how authorative their teaching is when it’s never been tested.

theologians who are able to integrate theory into a living community of faith (the church), are the ones who really get my admiration…