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<\/p>\nNot long ago, author Ann Rice said she has decided to “quit being a Christian.” Her decision prompted many to ponder the current state of Christianity and the church.<\/p>\n
I’ve been thinking lately about these issues too. I can understand why Rice would say she’s “committed to Christ” but “it’s simply impossible for me to ‘belong’ to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group.”<\/p>\n
Christians have sometimes not acted lovingly. They have sometimes seemed more intent on settling petty disputes than following God’s loving leadership.<\/p>\n
I don’t know if Christians personally attack Rice. But I know from personal experience such attack can be demoralizing. It tempts one to paint all Christians and Christianity itself, as she puts it, “quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous.” Christians can be so cruel to fellow Christians.<\/p>\n
In contrast to Rice, I recently reaffirmed my commitment to the group known as Christians and the beliefs of Christianity. I cast my lot with this sometimes ragged crowd of fellow adventurers.<\/p>\n
I don’t deny that some Christians display the negative traits she lists. But I think there are good reasons to remain part of the Christian community.<\/p>\n
I remain in the church partly because I think it’s important to affirm beliefs in common. For instance, I believe what Christians call “the Apostle’s creed.” I believe the articles of faith from my own denomination, the Church of the Nazarene.<\/p>\n
Of course, were ten Christians to sit down and write a list of statements they each believed, we’d find ten different lists. Even though Christians share much in common, they also think and believe differently. Both unity and diversity exist.<\/p>\n
For instance, I teach theology with some great university colleagues. We agree on many things. But we also disagree amongst ourselves. On some issues, we agree to disagree … peacefully.<\/p>\n
I can’t imagine what it would be like to be “locked in” to believing the exact same things throughout a lifetime. I don’t agree with everything I once believed … even everything I only recently believed!<\/p>\n
There is great power, however, in believing statements in common. There is great power in working as a community to reshape those beliefs in language that makes sense to each generation. Theology is dynamic, not static. When done well, it’s a community project.<\/p>\n
At its best, the church is a loving household of faith. Family relationships themselves sometimes need to be the glue that keeps together those who don’t believe everything in common. Common worship and shared Eucharist are also important for maintaining unity.<\/p>\n
At their bes![](\"https:\/\/thomasjayoord.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/one_moasaic_small1.jpg\")
t, Christians build one another up. They support one another, even when they disagree. They act as saints who care for their brothers and sisters and for those outside the community of believers. Christians express mutual affection, and they act for the common good.<\/p>\n
Christians don’t always act their best, however. Instead of building up, they tear one another down. Instead of standing for the way of love, they fearfully defend ideas and practices that were once helpful but are less so today. They sin instead of live lives of love.<\/p>\n
One of my favorite professors as a graduate student compared the church to Noah’s ark. “So many different animals could generate a lot of manure,” he said. “But it’s better floating in a boat with animals than drowning in the ocean alone.”<\/p>\n
I choose to remain in the church, even though it and its members have very real problems. After all, I too have problems. My choice to remain sometimes causes my family and me great heartache. Sometimes people say things that literally make me cry. Sometimes I feel ill when I’m around people who have hurt me or say things I think are foolish and I cannot believe.<\/p>\n
But the church and her people are also the ones who have taught me most about God and about living abundant life. Christians have been the most positive role models for me. They have loved me despite my sin and ignorance. Saints have worked with God to influence me in profoundly positive ways.<\/p>\n
I love the church, so I reaffirm my commitment to contribute to her well-being.<\/p>\n
I also like the church – most of the time, at least.<\/p>\n
I enjoy traveling with others on the road of life, seeking to imitate the way of love expressed by our community’s leader: Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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