Pride and Prejudice:

I am guilty of often exchanging one bad idea for another. This exchange takes place when I have a positive or negative experience that leads me to change how I view the world, God, family, friends, and organizations.

I have underlying assumptions about a lot of things... or .... pretty much everything.
These assumptions are conclusions I've come to regarding things I think are true... but are likely not absolutely true. In other words, regardless of my experience, making absolutes from my past will leave me alienated from God and others. or I'll be absolutely sure i'm right, but be wrong most of the time.

These assumptions inform my behaviour, and my life. How I view my kids, my wife, my dog, my car, my friends, the church, Jesus, God etc...

It goes something like this. I take a piece of information and I look at it from every angle. Then I make the jump to conclusion. There is generally a gap between the facts of my life and the conclusions I come to. The more arrogant I am.. the bigger the gap.

Looking at my assumptions right now here are a few.

There is a dicotomy between the church and the church inc.
(I'm beginning to think this is not true)(but don't get hung up on this one.. keep reading)

I'm finding myself more a pharasee than a christ follower in my critique of the church and the assumptions I make about life.


Is my uninvolvement in a local church is somehow more pleasing to God than going to church.
Does my life reflect my answer?
What does my answer say to understanding the character of God?
How are my generalizations and specific perspectives of the church and church leadership practically helpful? (Do they need to be?)

Are our views and generalization more benefitial to us, or to the people we are writing to?

Assumptions are little more than prejudices built on pride. We all have them.
I wonder if the way of Jesus is giving up our own prejudices and taking a more humble stance on issues, even to the point of submitting to our lack of full understanding on issues regarding the church. I think that's the way of love as well. I'm not saying we submit to just any opinion or prejudice but I am saying that walking with Jesus may mean I deal with burning issues less and love people more. Maybe I'm saying less finger pointing. Maybe I'm somehow judging you by writing this! If so I'm sorry. I am just feeling more and more if I want to live a new expression of church then I must let go of the control the expressions of church I'm prejudice against have over me. I must bless them from a deep place in my soul and wish the best for them and even accept that they may be right more often than I am. THEN. move on my way.

Not to do so is carrying a heavy bag we are not made to carry. It is not freedom to be tied to prejudice in these ways.
I can't help but think the way of Jesus is in some way accepting each others prejudices and assumptions and dipping into the pool of grace.

Of course... these are my assumptions... i could be wrong.. but I am choosing to live in light of these as best as I can.



mark
posted by the fly at 6:35 AM | |