I’ve been reading a history book entitled, A People’s History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story by Diana Butler Bass. It’s been a good read so far. The basic idea is to share a history of the Christian faith using examples and stories of some of our less-known brothers and sisters in the faith. So far, she hasn’t used any less-known for me (granted I’ve studied a little bit more history than your average church attendee).
I’ve enjoyed and been challenged by Early Christianity’s display of hospitality and what that means for me today. I’ve enjoyed and been challenged by Medieval Christianity’s display of commitment and neighborly love and serve. So I want to share just a little bit of what I’ve been enjoying and being challenged by.
She writes that “Throughout the first five centuries people understood Christianity primarily as a way of life in the present, not as a doctrinal system” The big glaring challenge for me and the Church today is – is this a way of life for us? Growing up in the church and in my small Christian bubble I was taught doctrine and I know doctrine; but since I’ve entered maturing adulthood, it for sure became a way of life. Do I need improvement? Heck, yes…but it’s not about who’s right and who’s wrong or which way is better or more true. It’s about a way of life, displayed in my devotion (love for God) and my ethics (love for neighbor).
I fear Christianity isn’t seen this way by outsiders to religion. I fear too often we are seen with wagging fingers and tongues along with a spirit of division. I want my life and the lives of those I am surrounded with to break this view. I pray we can have lives that show a way of life.
Next thought-provoking item for me while reading. - hospitality and love of neighbor. Bass shared stories of early and medieval Christians who stayed behind in plague-ridden cities to care for the sick and the dying. They endangered themselves and their families, including their children to the disease. I knew that many had done this but I really hadn’t thought much about it. But it hit me this time. Would I, would you stay behind to care for the sick and dying? It seem today in modern times when AIDS shows up, or even the flu we get the “you-know-what” outta Dodge. I’m not saying we have to endanger ourselves or our families but am I willing, if called? Am I called? Personally, I have struggled and still at times do, with people with body odor. If it’s too strong I can’t seem to serve you. I for sure can’t hug you. Could I care for you while sick and dying? How much more if I was risking my life or my child’s life in serving you?
I live with a church family that does a lot of hospitable “things”. We aren’t nearly as close off and individualized as some other church I’ve attended or served in the past. BUT….there is still room for improvement. It seems our world is so dynamically opposed to the Christian ideals of hospitality, simply living, and care of the poor and disenfranchised. Semi-well know is a man named John Chrysostom he lived and believed these ideals and was banished back in the day for this. His world was similar to ours. Our world is full of greed, money, power silencing Christian hospitality. How do we combat that? How do we show Christ’s full love and hold on to an American Dream? Can we?
Finally, and I won’t speak much about this because it is so charged….is the ideal of non-violence. We are called to be peacemakers as Christian. Scriptures we read show Jesus forbid violence or vengeance again another. With that knowledge, it is so very hard for me to marry Christianity with the military or any violence. It must be very hard to be a Christian in the military. There are countless stories of solider who seek release from military service because of a changed heart regarding their actions as a person of faith. There are even groups who help these men and women gain release or provide resources to help them “cope”. I am proud to say I am a pacifist. I am not saying to be a Christian you must hold this belief, but I have a hard time reading Jesus’ words and seeing any other way. Jesus was a pacifist I do believe. I have a good friend who is in the reserves and has been deployed many times, he and I have good, healthy discussion about this. He is a Christian but on the other side of the fence from me regarding non-violence. It’s good to have these conversation, it’s good to be challenged and think deeply on heavy issues.
So, there’s what I have been chewing on the past few days and weeks. What do you think? What are you chewing on?
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