Monday, July 14, 2008

A Christianity...and Quakerism...Worth Believing and Embracing

Right now, I'm working my way through Doug Pagitt's recent book, A Christianity Worth Believing. In it, he has some great thoughts worth mulling over. Early on, he describes the kind of Christianity that is his desire and vision. Pagitt longs for a Christianity that:

"...makes sense in the world in which we live, a Christianity that is not afraid of questions and will not resist answers, regardless of where they lead. It is my attempt to embrace a faith that is expansive, growing, and beautiful on in which God is active and alive involved in all of life. Because I believe in a Christianity where nothing is left out and no one is left behind, where humanity participates with God in the redemption of the world; where sin is more than a legal problem to be judged but a relational problem that can be healed; where we pursue harmony, centered on Jesus the Messiah, the Jew, whose life, death, and resurrection allow us to live well with God; there the Bible draws us into a story of life and healing; where we find hope for this life and life ever after; where love is alive, where love drives out fear, where love propels us towards lives lived for the betterment of the world."

I guess when I read this, it is very easy for me to also plug in the identification of "Quakerism" when I see the name "Christianity." For not only do I long for this type of Chrisianity, I long for this kind of expression of Christianity..a Quakerism that is not afraid to ask questions or resist answers regardless of where they lead...a Quakerism that is expansive, growing, and beautiful and one where God is active and alive and involved in all of life...a Quakerism where nothing or no one is left behind and all of humanity participates with God in the redemption and mending of the world...a Quakerism where love is alive, love drives out fear, and love propels us towards lives lived for the betterment of our world...and our communities!

No comments: