why “bad christian” vol. II
I got an email yesterday asking me to expound a bit on why, exactly, I started this place. Essentially, the writer–Steve–asked for a mission statement. Immediately, I thought that I should just point him to the sidebar and click on ‘why bad christian dot com is so named‘. Then, as I pondered more deeply his request, I got to thinking. Things change. Purposes change. And, it’s really only fair to discuss not only the history of this community (and that’s really what I see this place as–not mine, not yours, but ours) and how it began. And, in the context of this place’s beginnings, what its direction currently is.
Honestly, badchristian.com started out of frustration. I felt–and still feel–like the contemporary institutional Church is more enamoured with a vision of its present righteousness than it is with encouraging people to be transformed AND then live truly transformational lives. Also, it frustrated me that the contemporary Church isn’t much in the business of allowing questions (and especially not in the business of questioning answers.)
Yet, in my own personal faith, I was–when I created this place–and am a person who found that his personal faith only really TRULY grew when I questioned my faith. Thus, I felt, and still feel like the contemporary institutional Church–in priding itself in its unwavering grasp of all that ‘must be’–was, albeit unintentionally, fostering a community unknowingly intent on spiritual stagnation.
As I began to discover what it was that I believed through scrutiny, it became clear to me that the truths that I’d been finding in scripture (namely, that my understanding of scripture and the good news compels me to be a social progressive.) Now, I think I’ve softened a bit over the year or so I’ve been writing regularly. I don’t think you need to be a progressive to be a ‘bad christian,’ though it probably helps.
What I think defines a bad christian is something in your heart that draws you, instinctively, to questions rather than answers. It’s not that you don’t ever hope to find the ‘answers’, in fact, it’s the quest that drives you.
Perhaps, it’s that view that primarily makes us–bad christians, or Christians on the fringes of faith, or really just people on the edges, or outside the fuzzy edges of faith–a shade different. This difference parallels, I think, the differences in the understanding of Salvation. Many Christians call salvation a one time thing that happens, and then, well, you’re saved, that’s it. I disagree. Salvation, to me, is a process of becoming. Truly submitting oneself to doubt is a key portion, a key step, in the process of becoming. Thus, I embrace questions.
Unfortunately, that makes me a bad christian, to some.
I started off writing this blog as an angry person. I’m less angry now, I think. Though, I certainly don’t think there was anything wrong with that anger. Anger was a part of the journey for me, and uncertainty is a constant companion. For that I thank God. Because through uncertainty, I feel that God has made herself known to me.
I’d describe this blog as a chance for me to search for answers through community. You folks who read and comment about what I write about have become a vital asset in my journey. How have I changed through this little experiment in self-revelation? Well, I think, I’m fueled less by frustration and more by an intense hunger for questions.
Will I ever find answers to all my questions? Probably not. Okay, definately not. And, I’m more okay with that every day. For now, I’ve fallen in love with this uncertain journey, and I’m particularly enamoured with the idea that folks have chosen to come along for the ride from time to time. So, thanks all, for putting up with my ramblings.
So, I suppose, that’s me in a nutshell. That’s why I write: To ask my questions out loud and pray that some of you might just be found by God the way I have in asking some of the same questions as I.
why “bad christian” vol. II
I got an email yesterday asking me to expound a bit on why, exactly, I started this place. Essentially, the writer–Steve–asked for a mission statement. Immediately, I thought that I should just point him to the sidebar and click on ‘why bad christian dot com is so named‘. Then, as I pondered more deeply his request, I got to thinking. Things change. Purposes change. And, it’s really only fair to discuss not only the history of this community (and that’s really what I see this place as–not mine, not yours, but ours) and how it began. And, in the context of this place’s beginnings, what its direction currently is.
Honestly, badchristian.com started out of frustration. I felt–and still feel–like the contemporary institutional Church is more enamoured with a vision of its present righteousness than it is with encouraging people to be transformed AND then live truly transformational lives. Also, it frustrated me that the contemporary Church isn’t much in the business of allowing questions (and especially not in the business of questioning answers.)
Yet, in my own personal faith, I was–when I created this place–and am a person who found that his personal faith only really TRULY grew when I questioned my faith. Thus, I felt, and still feel like the contemporary institutional Church–in priding itself in its unwavering grasp of all that ‘must be’–was, albeit unintentionally, fostering a community unknowingly intent on spiritual stagnation.
As I began to discover what it was that I believed through scrutiny, it became clear to me that the truths that I’d been finding in scripture (namely, that my understanding of scripture and the good news compels me to be a social progressive.) Now, I think I’ve softened a bit over the year or so I’ve been writing regularly. I don’t think you need to be a progressive to be a ‘bad christian,’ though it probably helps.
What I think defines a bad christian is something in your heart that draws you, instinctively, to questions rather than answers. It’s not that you don’t ever hope to find the ‘answers’, in fact, it’s the quest that drives you.
Perhaps, it’s that view that primarily makes us–bad christians, or Christians on the fringes of faith, or really just people on the edges, or outside the fuzzy edges of faith–a shade different. This difference parallels, I think, the differences in the understanding of Salvation. Many Christians call salvation a one time thing that happens, and then, well, you’re saved, that’s it. I disagree. Salvation, to me, is a process of becoming. Truly submitting oneself to doubt is a key portion, a key step, in the process of becoming. Thus, I embrace questions.
Unfortunately, that makes me a bad christian, to some.
I started off writing this blog as an angry person. I’m less angry now, I think. Though, I certainly don’t think there was anything wrong with that anger. Anger was a part of the journey for me, and uncertainty is a constant companion. For that I thank God. Because through uncertainty, I feel that God has made herself known to me.
I’d describe this blog as a chance for me to search for answers through community. You folks who read and comment about what I write about have become a vital asset in my journey. How have I changed through this little experiment in self-revelation? Well, I think, I’m fueled less by frustration and more by an intense hunger for questions.
Will I ever find answers to all my questions? Probably not. Okay, definately not. And, I’m more okay with that every day. For now, I’ve fallen in love with this uncertain journey, and I’m particularly enamoured with the idea that folks have chosen to come along for the ride from time to time. So, thanks all, for putting up with my ramblings.
So, I suppose, that’s me in a nutshell. That’s why I write: To ask my questions out loud and pray that some of you might just be found by God the way I have in asking some of the same questions as I.
