I just read this from "Generous Orthodoxy" and I was wondering what your thoughts are on it and what your thoughts are on my thoughts
"In this light, although I don't hope all Buddhists will become (cultural) Christians, I do hope all who feel called will become Buddhist followers of Jesus; I believe they should be given that opportunity and invitation. I don't hope all Jews or Hindus will become members of the Christian religion. But I do hope all who feel so called will become Jewish or Hindu followers of Jesus." p.297
I've only quoted one paragraph from a chapter on "Incarnational" so please feel free to read it because it is most likely out of context if you just read this.
Anyways, before you guys turn me into the church heretic, here are my thoughts:
This passage brought up a few older thoughts of mine which I shall mention as we go along but I find myself agreeing with this paragraph to some and most degrees. The first thought of mine it brought up was from a sermon. In the middle, the pastor mentioned that there are a number of Jews in Israel that acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. When the person who met them asked if they consider themselves as 'Christians', they said no and said that they were Messianic Jews or Jews who had found their Messiah. With this in mind, I don't think all people should have to convert to Christianity AND abandon everything they use to know.
My thought on this came from me thinking about why I like studying religious studies in the bathroom yesterday before class. I find studying religions interesting because you can see how people live when they consider something to be true. Some questions for myself that arose from this included: What if Christianity was false, would I still have all these changes in my life? What if say, Islam was true, would I convert? What if I saw changes in a Buddhist's life that I did not see in my own life, would I see what they have that I do not have?
These made me think of if I converted, would I toss everything that was good about Christianity out the window. Say if I became a Muslim, would I use similar techniques in prayer as I did in Christianity. I think it has to do with human nature. When we get older, it's harder to change habits and it's like uprooting a tree and planting it somewhere else, it becomes increasingly difficult as the tree gets older.
My final thought comes from C.S. Lewis who said religions are like doing math. There is only one correct answer but some are closer to the right answer than others. Maybe it is not wise to throw out everything Buddhists know about meditation and abstaining from worldly things. Maybe we should take a page from the Muslim playbook about praying often (as they often pray more in a day than we do).
So if you feel like it, read the chapter, it's pretty good (I haven't finished it though, I just wanted to write this down before I forgot). Builds on what Bell says in Velvet Elvis about how all people are saved but how they have not all yet accpeted salvation.
One final thing I forgot to write down is a quote from Bono.
"And I learned that religion is often the enemy of God, actually. And religion is this sort of -- religion is the artifice, you know, the building, after God has left it sometimes, like Elvis has left the building. You hold onto religion, you know, rules, regulations, traditions. I think what God is interested in is people's hearts, and that's hard enough."
Perhaps religions as we know them are more man made than we want to acknowledge and maybe we don't need everyone to be Christian in the sense of doctrines and church buildings but maybe just to believe in Christ and to be saved. And perhaps just holding onto the two greatest commandments, they won't need all the unneccessary junk we have (i'll let you decide what you think junk is as we all have a different opinion). But let us not wipe out complete cultures without sensitivity and replace it with the North American version of Christianity that may not work in their communities. (not everyone has bread and wine to spare ;-) )
But my thoughts end here and they are incomplete. Please continue with them.
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2 comments:
I haven't read Generous Orthodoxy, nor have I finished Velvet Elvis for that matter. Although I do think I can out do you on the whole 'church heretic' thingy. So here goes.
I'm an agnostic, semi-secular, Christian with an ever growing interest in Buddhism.
In terms of whether that's "OK" or not, who knows? If you're a typical Christian: I doubt it. If you're a typical secularist: who gives a crap since religion is all rubbish anyways.
But really, how would you decide if that's okay or not? Is it okay to mix Judaism and Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity, Christianity and Buddhism. It all comes down to what framework of thinking--what worldview--you're working from.
I have no idea what "cultural Christian" means - although I think I know what he's getting at. I hope that Buddhist, Jews, and Hindus don't get up and convert to Christianity. By converting I refer to taking on the whole Western, Christian culture including it's values, language, forms of art, etc...
My question would be what he means by being a "follower of Jesus". If he's going by the textbook liberal definition, it's one who lives life according to the principles and values that Jesus taught and/or lived by. If following Jesus is just code for living a moral life/being a good person, then sure - a Buddhist/Jew/Hindu could do it.
However, I suspect that those who follow other religions already have their own means of providing principles and values in life, not to mention exemplary role models.
But hey, if there's no right or wrong answer to the question: pick whatever works for you (and generally, doesn't mess around with the life/freedom of others).
So go ahead and do the Budd-ianity - it's better than strapping a bomb to your chest.
Cultural Christianity. Finally I have a chance to make my opinions known. Thanks Dan, that was a good post. Perhaps the idea which Mclaren is stating here whether our approach to Christianity as become too much like all the other religion as has it self become like a culture. Not to bash Islam or Judaism, both in itself is a culture and a religion.
Although I don't know how the Christian religion would embody itself as a culture. But I guess there are many ways in which it could come out.
But I agree with Mclaren on this one point, but perhaps take it farther, on regards to other religions and their practices as a way to getting to Jesus.
But perhaps the bigger question is Christianity the only way? I find it more intriging that we get more concerned as Christians, and even to the point defensive, when it comes down to the answer, "well I'm sorry, Jesus is the only way". While the world is concerned about everyone else asking, well what about millions of Buddhist, or Muslims that have never heard of Jesus. Why is God so narrow? Didn't he say he loved the world etc etc etc.
Perhaps this leads to the biggest question, do we care more about people then God?
Sporatic thoughts...
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