how do i deal with somebody with whom i fundamentally disagree BUT we both (claim to) love and serve the same God? i'm not thinking about disagreeing over little things, like which song to sing, but bigger things like what is the purpose of worship? what is our purpose, what were we created for, how do we understand Jesus' words?
helped to serve food at a breakfast ministry this morning. it was difficult for me to know that people don't eat every day.
shane claiborne makes a point that we no longer know the poor. sure, we write big checks to important sounding charities, we serve weekly at a soup kitchen, we go on missions trips, but we don't know the poor people of our own hometown. better than giving money would be befriending and listening to the poor. derek webb puts these words in God's mouth: "more than just your cash and coins, i want your time, i want your voice. i want the things you just can't give me." (actually, that entire song is beautiful. and painful, all at the same time.)
BUT at the same time, i don't know how to serve/deal with the poor. in what ways can i best serve them? how can i be faithful to God and to them? by listening? by sharing in life together? by treating them like another person, worthy of love? one of anne lamott's phrases comes to mind: "hey, i'm human, you're human, let's be human together for awhile." i think this concept is beginning to form the core of my philosophy of ministry.
what is the point of Christianity? to win souls? to persuade (or trick) people to accept Jesus so they can go to heaven? is it simply a free ticket to heaven, as dr. crane would say? or is it about more? equality, peace, service, shalom. i've seen too many churches this week that are preaching about a ticket to heaven, and it makes me kinda furious.
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