In my profession, I observe high technology happenings as they relate to manufacturing. There is a committee currently attempting to write a standard for a new method of digital communication between sensing devices in a process plant and computers. There is a phrase about not watching them make sausage if you want to eat it. Watching a committee work is something like watching sausage being made as I wrote in a recent post in my professional blog. Well, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church is something like that. It is political in the sense of a large number of people gathering to establish policy, but many of them have greatly differing points of view.
Darcy and I talked about her post Sunday and a little about her experience at the Conference. She was taken aback by the protesters. Well, I earned my old Jackson Center nickname as “the protester” in the late 1960s. I saw the FBI agents (you knew them, they had dark suits, white shirts, narrow ties) taking pictures at anti-war rallies. I was stupid enough to drive through Mississippi into Louisiana in 1970 with an equal rights decal on my car. Can’t believe I’m still alive. On the other hand, I learned something about protesting–the only person that feels good about it is the protester.
I have been at a worship service led by homosexual people, with the greater part of the audience also homosexual people. It was a fantastic Christian worship experience. I’m willing to bet that I’m the only one reading this post that isn’t offended. That’s part of the “sausage making” of a big conference when there are truly differing views on a topic–each convinced that God, Scripture and whatever else is on “our side.” Except, I don’t do sides anymore. You’ll never move people forward through spectacle. People’s hearts change over time by personal experience with “the others.” If I had my way, I’d strike out every adjective that modifies the description “Christian.” We’re just people trying to journey on the path set before us by Jesus. That’s hard enough to do let alone trying to saddle other people with guilt and hard feelings.
I began this blog thinking about a book “The Congruent Life,” by C. Michael Thompson. The congruent life lets Jesus shine through me in everything I do. Although it may be trite, the phrase “what would Jesus do” does have meaning. As the writer of Hebrews says at the beginning of Chapter 12, let us fasten our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. So, when Darcy wrote about kindness–that’s part of the equation. Empathy, understanding, listening, sharing–they all fit, too. I think just as soon as I’m perfect, then I’ll start telling others they need to be perfect, too. Until then, we’re just journeying on…
Gary
Tags: Christianity, Ethics
Faith Venture 
Leave a comment