The Example

"The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life." Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15-16

I am enjoying spending time in Timothy. I haven't read it in a while. It's good advice from a seasoned minister to a newbie. This passage from the first chapter just confirms what God has been communicating to me in so many different ways over the past few weeks. Paul got the whole Christ thing because he had experienced it and, as a result, his goal was to be an example to others of what Jesus Christ can do in a life--an example of Jesus' patience and love.

The Christ-following life is simple but not easy. It's practice is difficult, mainly because we make it difficult. Well, what's this we stuff, I guess. I make it difficult for myself.

Thank you, God, for your patience!

Doxis Vs. Praxis

I have had the privilege of being raised in a conservative, evangelical Protestant tradition, of spending the past 15 years in a progressive mainline Protestant tradition, of marrying into a Roman Catholic family, and of spending the past year at seminary under the tutelage of a Greek Orthodox priest--four vastly different expressions of the Christian faith, almost four different religions. All four, I believe, have a piece of the puzzle that is a whole, complete understanding of our Christian faith. However, the adherents of each have irreconcilable doctrinal differences with one another. In addition, for convenience and practicality's sake, we each only participate in one of these traditions or, at least, one at a time, based on our cultural background or preference.

The question becomes; the question has been for me: "Which one is right?" Who has it right in this theologically, ecclesiologically beautiful mess? I have come to the conclusion that the question is unanswerable. In fact, it is the wrong question, even as it still tugs at me for an answer.

It is a question of doxis vs. praxis. I was raised in a tradition that was concerned with doxis, having our beliefs exactly, precisely correct because then, and only then, were we assured of our salvation. If we could make the intellectual leap, put the pieces of the puzzle together in our minds, then we were OK.

However, that does not seem to be the concern of scripture, or at least most of scripture. God called Abraham to trust and follow. The Israelites under Moses had laws, but those dealt with praxis, with practice, with what they were to do. Yes, they still had the directive of worshipping the one true God, but how that belief worked did not seem to be important. What was important to them was the practice of worship in the tabernacle. The prophets, again, were concerned with praxis, how the people of Israel acted, how they treated one another. Jesus himself was most assuredly not about doctrine and dogma. He boiled down the whole of the law to "love God and love your neighbor" he said "I am the way, follow me."

Of course, the apostles, including Peter and Paul, began to explain and contextualize the gospel for the benefit of their audiences. But, I think they were explaining their experience, not devising a doctrinal obstacle course for one to struggle through in order to get it right.

What difference does it make? I wouldn't waste the effort or bandwidth to work through this unless I thought it made a big difference. I believe our obsession with doxis over praxis is what has rendered the church impotent in the modern age. We have been so concerned with "getting it right" that we continuously argue with one another, obscuring the simple beauty of the Gospel to those on the outside. When we feel that we have gotten it right, we become smug and lazy, believing we have arrived, even as the world around us hungers, fights, and withers from lack of connection with the Divine.

So, the question must be, "What do we do?" In Francis Schaeffer's words "How should we then live?"

"Welcome Home" Lyrics

A few people were curious about the song I sang this past Sunday. It is "Welcome Home" by Shaun Groves. I never get tired of listening to it--or praying it. Here is a video of him performing it. I also included the lyrics below.



Take, me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking

Welcome to this heart of mine
I've buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I've made
Inside of me
Come decorate, Lord
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded

Chorus:
Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own
Welcome home

Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet's filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
I can't make this place all that You can

repeat chorus

I took the space that You placed in me
Redecorated in shades of greed
And I made sure every door stayed locked
Every window blocked, and still You knocked

repeat chorus

Take me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking

Sermon: One Ordinary Day With God

What we can learn from Jesus about the prayer-filled life: the importance of solitude, how to pray, the possibility that God speaks to us, and that we work together with God.

One Oridnary Day With God 7-19-09 from Jason Fairbanks on Vimeo.

Sermon: Freedom

This Sunday's sermon, "Freedom." In Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul STRONGLY encourages his readers to never again submit to the “yoke of slavery,” the law. This week we look at what we, as people of faith, are freed from and what we are freed for.

(We're still working on some quality issues, bear with us!)

Freedom 6-28-09 from Jason Fairbanks on Vimeo.