Here's my confession - last Friday my wife and I cut in front of 7,000 expectant voters and Barack Obama fans to get into Eugene, Oregon's MacArthur Court!
We knew it was wrong. We knew it was a sin. But we can't repent. The truth is, if we had to go through it all again, we would. It was worth it...
When we arrived on the University of Oregon Campus at 6:00pm on Friday, there were already over 10,000 people waiting in two endless lines. We parked several miles away and rushed back to the stadium, undaunted (and not knowing whether we'd make it in or not).
As we approached the building, we noticed the line was just beginning to move. "Quick, start walking alongside it," Jen said. Like Eve with the apple... we did, and casually talked to each other, doing our best to appear intent on a purpose, and unaware of our transgression.
Pretty soon we had sneakily been absorbed in the midst of several groups of people who were naturally unaware of who belonged to each other's party. And in 2o minutes we were inside. In fact, after passing through the metal detectors, we were among the first few thousand to enter. We got great seats on the 2nd floor directly opposite Senator Obama's stage.
The evening was electric. Obama is even more captivating in person than on television - his presence is at once commanding and warm. Yes, I have a little man-crush. Few personalities are able to excite the imagination of millions, especially among jaded and overstimulated Generations X and Y!
We felt a little guilty when we later learned that 3,000 individuals weren't able to get inside. Yes, the blood was on our hands - and it smelled like change I could believe in!
On a side note, I was reading Brian McLaren's blog on Sunday. He has several posts about Senator Obama, celebrating his campaign, leadership and vision. In truth, I'm right there with McLaren, but a little part of my gut remains clenched, wondering if we've sold ourselves too easily - so starved for an attractive alternative to the Christian Right.
I can't answer that yet.
* * *
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at www.EmergingChristian.com
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Wednesday
"I'd Rather Not Be Golfing..."
"If Jesus didn't raise himself from the dead on the third day, I'm off to the golf course."
I've heard the nuts and bolts of that view shared by three different evangelical pastors in the last couple of months. At the heart of it, it sounds pretty faithful and pious, doesn't it?
"Jesus' resurrection is so central to my faith, that if he didn't raise from the dead the way Scripture says he did, then nothing else matters..."
But there are troublesome streams of thought that go along with that. Foremost, it says if my Christianity is historically invalidated, then the life I've lived in faith is a lie, the service I've done for my neighbors is worthless, and I'm off to serve myself [go golf].
Really? Your relationship with Christ is so one-dimensional that a piece of historic evidence would completely crush all of it? Faith in God? Call to service? If Jesus didn't rise from the grave, you'd be at strip clubs and smoking reefer? [my words, here]
I only asked these questions of the first pastor who shared his convictions. He was so upset that I would ask - and suggest a personal relationship with Christ might not be totally shattered [wounded, yes] upon proof of a dead-and-buried Jesus - that I not only lost credibility in the discussion, I lost credibity in his eyes as a Christian.
Now don't get me wrong here: I believe in a resurrected Christ. I believe that resurrection is central to my salvation. It is central to my faith.
But I also believe that the wisdom of God is foolishness to mankind. I believe my wisdom is foolishness to God.
More importantly, I believe I experience, daily, an undeniable relationship with the creator of the universe.
If I live to 126, married to my wife for 100 years, and on our 100th anniversary she looks me in the eye and says, "Peter, I have to confess something. My name isn't Jennifer. But I've loved you my whole life, and everything we've experienced together has been true." I won't suddenly believe my marriage was a lie. Because I know the one I love.
And I know the God I love, and that God knows me.
This is all hypothetical, because I don't believe a historian, archaeologist or geneticist will ever prove that Christ is not risen. I don't think it would even be possible. But if it were possible, then my faith falls back, not to the arguments I've heard or the theologies I've learned and believed, but to the experience I have known and the relationship I have engaged in... to the One I have loved.
If the wisdom of mankind makes Jesus Christ seem a fool, I will follow the fool.
But by all means, the disillusioned faithful can enjoy those 18 holes. Better make them last, and lookout for the sandtrap on number 9.
* * *
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at www.EmergingChristian.com
I've heard the nuts and bolts of that view shared by three different evangelical pastors in the last couple of months. At the heart of it, it sounds pretty faithful and pious, doesn't it?
"Jesus' resurrection is so central to my faith, that if he didn't raise from the dead the way Scripture says he did, then nothing else matters..."
But there are troublesome streams of thought that go along with that. Foremost, it says if my Christianity is historically invalidated, then the life I've lived in faith is a lie, the service I've done for my neighbors is worthless, and I'm off to serve myself [go golf].
Really? Your relationship with Christ is so one-dimensional that a piece of historic evidence would completely crush all of it? Faith in God? Call to service? If Jesus didn't rise from the grave, you'd be at strip clubs and smoking reefer? [my words, here]
I only asked these questions of the first pastor who shared his convictions. He was so upset that I would ask - and suggest a personal relationship with Christ might not be totally shattered [wounded, yes] upon proof of a dead-and-buried Jesus - that I not only lost credibility in the discussion, I lost credibity in his eyes as a Christian.
Now don't get me wrong here: I believe in a resurrected Christ. I believe that resurrection is central to my salvation. It is central to my faith.
But I also believe that the wisdom of God is foolishness to mankind. I believe my wisdom is foolishness to God.
More importantly, I believe I experience, daily, an undeniable relationship with the creator of the universe.
If I live to 126, married to my wife for 100 years, and on our 100th anniversary she looks me in the eye and says, "Peter, I have to confess something. My name isn't Jennifer. But I've loved you my whole life, and everything we've experienced together has been true." I won't suddenly believe my marriage was a lie. Because I know the one I love.
And I know the God I love, and that God knows me.
This is all hypothetical, because I don't believe a historian, archaeologist or geneticist will ever prove that Christ is not risen. I don't think it would even be possible. But if it were possible, then my faith falls back, not to the arguments I've heard or the theologies I've learned and believed, but to the experience I have known and the relationship I have engaged in... to the One I have loved.
If the wisdom of mankind makes Jesus Christ seem a fool, I will follow the fool.
But by all means, the disillusioned faithful can enjoy those 18 holes. Better make them last, and lookout for the sandtrap on number 9.
* * *
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at www.EmergingChristian.com
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