edgy faith

Being a twenty-something, I'm attracted to a more vibrant faith - one that wants to live past the four walls of a church, to not be confined by a to-do list of morality. But more and more, Christians who are looking for more active (and interactive) faith, are throwing morality and even theology, out the window. I just finished an article at wrecked.org. The site proclaims its focus is "social action for spiritual misfits". The idea of social action is something I can get behind. However, the article, Breaking the Lightbulbs: How to Silence Theology, made me stop and go "Really? Are you serious?" The blogger pretty well decries theology as just pointless words that do more harm than good. We need to "unname" God and glory in our unknowing.

I have to say, on the writer's side, I have seen some people use theology as a beating stick. I went to a Christian college and I well remember the Arminianist v. Calvinist fights in the cafeteria that almost came to blows. And the Christian studies students that strutted around with their Bibles tucked under their arms, always eager to ramble on about their own personal theology in class and who turned up their noses at the content that the professors tried to teach. Yes, some people can be jerks when it comes to theology.

But what good is social change when there is no truth? I can feed the poor, clothe the sick but if I don't teach them Christ, they'll be fed and clothed but still lost in their sin. To take the truth, the theology, out of Christian service is to diminish serving Christ to a simple welfare program. And the last time I checked, the United States already had a nice, secular welfare program in place. If that's all that's needed, then the church isn't needed.

simple ministry

Ministry. The word sounds so “official”, evoking images of all of the customary ministries the average church-goer encounters: the pastor's duties, the children's ministry, youth group, etc. Or we think of men or women with websites or blogs that reach hundreds or thousands of readers each day, teaching and encouraging others in Christ.

But ministry isn't just for someone with a seminary degree. How do we expect the body of Christ to work when we expect the minority to do the work of the majority?

All of us are called to minister according to our spiritual gifts (see 1 Cor. 12). It doesn't have to be on a grand scale or impact hundreds at a time.

Some ideas for simple ministry:

* baking something tasty for a friend or family member that's sick or feeling a little down

* sending a quick "thinking of you" card to older relatives that you don't see often (I read a suggestion somewhere of carrying cards with you in your purse so that if you're stuck waiting in an office, you can whip them out and write a quick note)

* providing breakfast (muffins, bagels, orange juice) to your co-workers on a Monday morning

Christ calls us to do what we can, where we are. Ministry is a day by day, moment by moment thing. So what can God do through you today?