Orthopraxydoxy
Saturday, March 29th, 2008
I hear through the grapevine every now and then that my friends are worried about my theology. I think I am a bit worried about that myself of course, but sometimes I am more worried about our “practice.”
I once had a conversation with someone in a coffee shop who found out I had become friends with Brian McLaren. He was asked what he thought of Brian McLaren, and he stated that “Brian is a just a practitioner, not a theologian.” Point taken, I don’t think Brian would argue it. I would argue however, that it may be the time for practitioners who hope to stumble back to orthodoxy by doing the scriptures. Theologians have lead the way - it may be time to pass the baton. Maybe we could make it like a relay and pass it back and forth so everyone gets a shot.
If the bottom line of our orthodoxy is the simple statement that “Jesus is Lord,” then perhaps we had better start acting like it. As Alan Hirsch would say, perhaps we think Jesus is “nice, but not that smart.” What Alan means by the statement is that we feel the freedom to not do as He says precisely because we see it as good advice from the nice guy we know. I have a tough time seeing Matthew 5, Isaiah 58, etc… as good advice.
This post may seem a bit of a defense, or an apologetic. I feel it is more of a desparate cry - a call out “is anyone listening?”
When we practice our faith, like simply feeding, being with, sheltering, clothing the poor - we find out things about ourselves. We learn we are not really that compassionate, we aren’t really good listeners, we are at our wits end with resources - we cling to God.
I met with someone today in a family crisis. This person is making crazy decisions that are leading to isolation. But she told me know that she understands what people who are lonely and nuts feel now. She has become in one moment both less and more human, both closer and further from God - but has learned how the lonely feel.
I went down State Street the other day before one of meal sharings at Pershing Park. I stopped and talked with friends on the streets and invited them. I tried to learn and remember names. At least now I notice lonely friends who to many are “sub-human.” I still am not sure what to do, but I can gracefully baby step.
I saw a bumper sticker one time that said, “Orthodox since 33ad.” I won’t share the denomination, but I wonder how that statement can be made. I will stay with the simplicity of Jesus is Lord, and aim toward orthopraxydoxy - I believe we can find a good foundation of who God is by the practice of loving God and others. I believe love is complicated, but it is surely orthodox.