Marriage Equality Bill (NZ)

I trust that in this post I am not adding to the noisy clatter that has followed the recent passing of the marriage equality bill here in New Zealand. Social media has been inundated with banging and clanging and shouting and pouting; much of which has been nonsensical.

Walter Brueggemann has a brilliant book, Cadences of Home;Preaching Among Exiles. The general premise of the book is that our contemporary cultural context (from a Christian perspective) is best understood using the metaphor of ‘exile.’ In other words, while perhaps society might have once been considered (inverted commas) “Christian”; we now live in a post-Christian context. The Christian therefore finds them self living as an ‘exile.’ Not in the sense of geography but rather socially, culturally and morally. In many ways treasured symbols, values and ethics central to Christian belief have been rejected within our larger cultural context. To quote Brueggemann; “Serious reflective Christians find themselves increasingly at odds with the dominant values of consumer capitalism and its supportive military patriotism; there is no easy or obvious way to hold together core faith claims and the social realities around us.”  We thus increasingly find ourselves as “resident aliens.” This is not unfamiliar territory for the Christ follower. Peter addresses his first letter to “God’s elect, exiles scattered” and urges them as “foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires” and to live “such good lives” that those who do not live according to the Way of Jesus would “see your good deeds and glorify God.” I don’t actually think our society has ever been “Christian” but I’ll grant that society once held somewhat more of a traditional Judeo-Christian worldview than it does today. For many (perhaps specifically in North America though certainly not limited to North America) this Judeo-Christian ethic (as good as it was) has led to wrongly equating a Western worldview with a Christian worldview. This misunderstanding massively distorts what it is to be a Christ follower and live the way of Jesus in the world.

Every now and then some social, cultural, moral or spiritual awakening or crisis challenges ones worldview.  In regards to crisis (or perceived crisis) it seems to me that there are two sorts of Christian response. Firstly there is the response of those who either have an over-realised sense of triumphalism or underwhelming sense of God’s ability to continually work out his purposes in the world despite the ways of our world. This group bemoans the fact that their ‘Christian’ nation is falling apart and makes a whole lot of noise about slippery slopes, moral erosion, compromise and social breakdown. Then there seems to be a second group, Christians who understand themselves to be exiles living in a strange land. This group is simply reminded afresh that their nation is not ‘Christian.’ For them the ship of ‘Christendom’ has well and truly sailed, they recognise the reality our post-Christian world and are not trying to hold onto yesteryear. They do not expect secular government, media or general culture to reflect the way of Christ. Rather than protest, bemoan and argue, their response and commitment is to faithfully live the life of Christ in their spheres of influence. As Brueggemann puts it, “Exile did not lead the Jews in the Old Testament to abandon faith or to settle for abdicating despair, nor to retreat to privatistic religion. On the contrary, exile evoked the most brilliant literature and the most daring theological articulation in the Old Testament.” The truth is, if Christians might together ‘catch up’ to our profoundly changed social circumstance, we might proceed with a different set of presuppositions in regards to culture and also a very different sense of urgencies. This will in turn lead to more meaningful engagement with our contemporary culture than bemoaning “moral erosion,” or the breakdown of society and family,” or declaring today as a “sad day for our country,” or a day where one is “not proud to be a Kiwi.” These being simply the kinds of comments some have made in regards to the passing of the recent marriage equality bill. Many have said these sorts of things. Many have said a lot worse.

So what about the marriage equality bill?

I hold what would be considered a “traditional” or “conservative” Christian position in regards to marriage and in regards to homosexuality. I think coming to this position is a fairly straight forward procedure, however, outworking its implications pastorally is an incredibly complicated challenge. I don’t think the Church has done particularly well in this area. This is a discussion for another time however. Now, when it comes to the marriage equality bill. Firstly, I’m of the position that we now live in a post-Christian society. Secondly then, to oppose something in a public forum based on the Bible and using biblical texts as proof for or against an argument is ludicrous. With this in mind, for me the debate on changing or not changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples comes down to genuine issues of equality, human rights, oppression and any form of genuine peer-reviewed  scientific evidence of how sociologically such a change could somehow be damaging for society. Considering this I was left largely sitting on the fence. I’m not convinced of any good reason to change the definition of marriage based on the above, and at the same time, I am not convinced of any good reason not to change the definition of marriage. If I had to lean one way based on the above argument it would be towards allowing the amendment to go through. As it just has. I wouldn’t find it contradictory to support the government's decision to affirm same-sex marriage while at the same time holding to the position that this is not a theologically valid option for Christians. This too is a discussion for another time.

So what then for Christians going forward?

Continuing with the metaphor or exiles the challenge becomes twofold. Firstly not to assimilate into the culture that surrounds, and secondly, not to become so pre-occupied with self that one cannot see outside of one’s self to re-think, re-imagine and re-describe larger reality. As Brueggemann says, “Self-preoccupation seldom yields energy, courage, or freedom. In ancient Israel, one of the strategies for coping shrewdly and responsibly beyond self were the narratives of defiance and cunning that [challenged] exiles not to confront their harsh overlords directly, but to negotiate knowingly between faith and the pressures of ‘reality.’” Think of Joseph, Easter and Daniel and the requirement of an endlessly cunning, risky process of negotiation.

Rather than bemoan, belittle, protest, march against and prophesy doom gloom and doubt, (I enjoyed this brief speech in parliament by National MP Maurice Williamson), Christians must subversively write great songs, tell great stories, paint great pictures, make great movies. All of which tell a different story, tell of a different narrative, that of God's hand at work in the world and of the love and grace of Jesus. A story that offers a different way of being in the world. We do this as artists using whatever medium comes most naturally, but most importantly, as artists expressing oneself through the canvas of one’s life. Your covenant of marriage is before God. You standard of ethical living is before God. The way you raise your kids is before God. Therefore, live in such a way that you are a credit to the message of Christ (Philippians 1:27). So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. (Romans 12:1-2)

In other words, nurture your counter-identity. Live out the hope you have in Christ even amidst a season of despair (which is not a reference to the marriage equality bill but rather the reality that we live in the now-but-not-yet in which all has not been redeemed and reconciled as it one day will be). Encourage one another to live free “from the pathologies, coercions, and seductions that govern our society.” Offer to one another the encouragement and support that gives spine, resolve, courage, energy, commitment and freedom to fully embrace and live out your counter-identity in Christ. Live out the way of faith, hope, and love. Divorce yourself from consumerism, materialism, individualism, narcissism and hedonism and embrace grace freely given. Freely offer grace to those around you. Look forward to the “homecoming” of God’s will on earth even as it is in heaven, the eternal hope, and live in the light of that hope today.

In other words, for God’s sake, don’t be so nasty! Let your light shine. You’re marriage isn’t under any more attack or in any more danger than it ever was, nor does it mean anything less. Love your spouse all the more. Love your kids all the more. Love your family all the more. Don’t sigh and despair. Don’t point the finger and judge. Don’t fire of Bible verses as if they somehow have sway in a secular context. Love the world around you all the more. Speak love and grace and peace. There is nothing to bemoan about the marriage equality bill being passed. If you have gay family members that are going to tie the knot and they invite you to their wedding. Go. Buy the best wedding present ever! Your lack of attendance isn’t going to be the key to them finding faith. You’re a Christian, a Christ follower. You are the church, the body of Christ “that lives as God's pardon in the world, with arms wide open ready to spoil any wayward son [or daughter] with royal rings.” (Toby C).

Vibrant Spirituality

Note: when this was published in the local newspaper, the editor added to the title words to the effect of, "Go Hear God's Voice for Yourself." I felt this added to my article a sense of individualism I didn't intend. While we are capable and should believe to hear God's voice for ourselves, this should always outwork itself in the context of the wider Church community and the healthy boundaries this provides to our own subjective experiences.

Have you ever been in church and heard the song leader say, “Let’s sing it from the top again!” Some people leap for joy – some on the inside and some literally. Others though, feel like a part of them has died, “Really? From the top? Again? This song? Again?” The reality is we’re all wired to connect with God in different ways. When we turn worship into a song rather than a song into worship, we reduce worship from being the totality of one’s life lived before God. Not-with-standing that there is something powerful about lyric and melody, it is essential that we make space for people to connect with God in a variety of means.

Throughout Christian history there are nine basic pathways through which people have connected with God. A vibrant Christian spirituality celebrates these and will be naturalistic, traditional, contemplative, celebratory, intellectual, ascetic, sensory, service orientated, and justice orientated. Different pathways maybe more meaningful for one person than they are for another and there is something beautiful about this. For some it is the meaning, mood and melody found in a particular song that points them towards the Divine. For others it is stillness and quiet contemplation or the taste of bread and wine at communion. You may not even call yourself a Christian but have perhaps ‘experienced-something-to-deep-for-words’ when standing drenched in the glow of a sunset or when looking at a piece of art – somehow it seems alive, somehow you feel alive. In this moment you’re sensing God in your world. At the core of vibrant Christian spirituality is the conviction that when we tune into God’s presence we discover God’s voice speaking into our lives; a voice of love, of comfort, of beauty and of wonder.

At St Luke’s we encourage our community to lean into the spiritual pathways most natural and most meaningful to them and occasionally explore pathways that don’t come as naturally. In our Sunday gatherings we try to mix things up. Sometimes we use set prayers, other times interactive stations with reflection questions or art instillations. These are designed to create an opportunity to reflect and to point you towards God. Two out of three Sundays we sing together. In your world, work out how you best tune into God, and listen for God’s voice.

A Down-to-Earth Faith

Some people are very down-to-earth. You’d describe them as grounded or as having their feet on the ground. They are people of common sense, people who are realistic about life and how life works. They don’t necessarily lack ambition, rather, they’ve a keen sense of the hard work needed to make a difference in the world and to make one’s dreams a reality. Other people have their head-in-the-clouds. You might describe them as day dreamers who drift from idea to idea with little understanding of the commitment or initiative required to make something a reality. They live for something off over there, in the future, in another space or place.  

The Christian faith is intended to be very down-to-earth. The overarching trajectory of the biblical story is down to earth; God always seeking to bring heaven to earth. In the Garden of Eden God walked with man, God dwelt with Israel in the tabernacle and the Temple, Jesus came from heaven to earth, Jesus’ prayer was that God’s will would be done on earth as in heaven, Jesus is coming back to earth, heaven and earth will one day be reunited. The Christian faith isn’t about escaping from here to there, from earth to heaven. It’s about partnering in God’s great mission of bringing heaven to earth. It’s a sleeves rolled up, hands dirty, get stuck in, feet on the ground faith. A faith that lives out of restored relationship and seeks to help restore people to right relationship with God, self, each other and the rest of our creation.

The final destination is this earth; renewed, restored, reconfigured and reunited with heaven. Not a golden city in the clouds. If you’ve got your head-in-the-clouds you’ll live this life, subconsciously assuming that ultimately it counts for nothing as long as you get ‘there.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. Life is a precious gift. It is to be engaged in, enjoyed, savored and celebrated. It is the opportunity to live out a down-to-earth faith, a heaven on earth faith, which in practical ways loves, serves, gives, encourages and reflects the love of Christ to the world around as a taste of how things will one day be. 

Slow Bible - Part 3 of 3

We’ve been looking at the concept of ‘Slow Bible’ over the last few weeks. Firstly, rather than attempting to read through the Bible in a year, tackle 2 to 4 books of the Bible and read them in conversation with some friends. Secondly, invite an expert into the conversation. The expert won’t actually be there in the room or cafe, but you can invite someone like N.T. Wright into the conversation by taking on one of his For Everyone commentaries. The goal is better comprehension and application to life. Another good series is the NIV Application Commentary, like Wright’s For Everyone series, the biblical text is offered and then followed up with explanation and potential application to life. This of course involves a little more reading, hence ‘slow Bible’ rather than Bible-in-a-year but will lead to great discussions with your friends. Two more thoughts...

 

Thirdly, sometimes it’s helpful to step back and take a ‘bird’s eye view’ at things. This can be helpful when it comes to the bible. The Drama of Scripture by C.G. Bartholomew and M.W. Goheen is a fantastic introduction to the big story of the Bible. It breaks the big story of the bible into six acts with an interlude between acts 3 and 4 and will really help you to understand what the Biblical narrative is all about. Scot McKnight also has a book called The King Jesus Gospel. This book offers a bird’s eye view of the life of Jesus and the significance of Jesus for humanity. A must read.

 

Fourthly and finally, Christians believe that the Bible is a unique revelation of God to humankind. It’s a book like no other and is understood to be inspired by God (the various authors wrote in their own cultural context and language but they wrote under the inspiration of God); infallible (the Bible is not liable to deceive - when understood and interpreted correctly is trustworthy); and authoritative (the teaching, instruction and big story of the Bible is intended to inform and shape how we live our lives). We believe that even as the authors were inspired by God to write, God can inspire the readers as they read. This doesn’t mean the Bible says whatever we want it to say, but rather, when we engage in due diligence as readers it is amazing how God will speak into our hearts and lives today.

 

Make 2013 the year when you engage in some ‘slow’ Bible reading and be inspired as God speaks into your world.

Slow Bible - Part 2 of 3

I’m advocating ‘slow’ bible reading. Rather than a Bible-in-a-year plan I’m for a slower reading of the biblical narrative. Reading the Bible can be a daunting task and, to their credit, Bible-in-a-year plans attempt to make it less daunting. Slow reading however, is intended not only to make the Bible less daunting, but to also aid with the comprehension and application of God’s Word in the day to day of life’s journey. What might ‘slowreading’ that leads to ‘Bible living’ look like then?

 

Firstly, it is helpful to remember that the Bible was always intended to be read in ‘conversation’. Most of the books of the Bible are addressed to a community of people who would have engaged with the content in a discussion with each other, both the young and the old, the immature and the wise. Reading it in a ‘community’, with the benefit of the input of others, makes it much easier to make sense of. But to do this you need to slow down. Trying to read with a friend (or a group of friends)as well as inviting an expert into the discussion means 3.2 chapters every day for 365 days will simply be impossible. Don’t even worry about this. Aim instead to tackle a couple of books of the bible in a year, perhaps between 2 and 4. Relax with this as a goal, read and converse. 

 

Secondly, you might be wondering where can you find an expert to join your discussion? They’re not that hard to find, the experts write books!  N.T. Wright, one of the world’s leading Bible scholars, has a series of books called For Everyone in which he explains in simple terms what’s going on in the various books of the New Testament. Just Google John for Everyone or Romans for Everyone. Get a couple of friends working through a For Everyone book and meet up to discuss from time to time. Your comprehension and of course with it, the challenge to apply the Bible to your daily life will go through the roof. You’ll also be able to encourage, provoke and challenge each other along the way. As well as enjoying each other’s company.

 

Make a start – it’ll be worth the effort.