They Might Not Notice!

It's true! I didn't mention race or ethnicity for about 2 years of my preaching ministry for fear that the predominantly white congregation that I minister to might notice that I was black! And the thinking was literally this: If I don't mention it they might not notice. As if that would work. And as crazy as that sounds we do it all the time with the sin in our lives. If I don't say anything they might not notice. As if people, if they took the time to look, could not see the signs and markings of sin in a persons life. I mean I'm not a sin monitoring machine and I certainly don't go around looking intently in order to spot the signs of sin in people's lives. But it isn't all that hard to spot. Inconsistency in speech and action, distance and distraction, an inability to be authentic; its all there if you look for it. But you don't have to even do that because we all fall short and that "all" stacks the deck in favor of everyone having some sort of sin in their lives. So it can't be hidden. And instead of confronting the sin head on we, "just won't speak of it". But scripture counter intuitively says speak of it, say it, confess it, own it. For only then can you eradicate it. Confession is a launching pad for redemption and forgiveness. I've become more authentic in front of people now that I speak of race and heritage and culture. And I think the same can be said of sins, shortcomings, and struggles. Get real with it. Find someone, not a bunch of people, but someone who is a safe place and let that stuff go! If the story stays inside of you it controls you but once released you control it. You have contained it in language. God has something to work with when you are authentic and available. Confession places you on the Potter's wheel.

Being, Becoming, and Heavy Stuff I'm Trying to Figure Out

One of the truths of spiritual formation is this: We all have a desire to be as well as to become. Keith Anderson in a lecture on the topic shared that we want self definition and self transcendence. And we move from this place of being to the place of becoming. We have a longing to be transformed. This is why the motif of pilgrimage or journey is seen throughout the Bible and in books that attempt to embody our faith. We have a deep longing to define our identity and to determine our destiny. As Christians it is important to own our identity as the beloved of God. We have to embrace the fact that we are the children of God. We have to take hold of the fact that we are followers of Christ. This is the essential step that must proceeds action. We can't determine how to act, how to proceed toward becoming until we truly embrace our being. If we don't, we end up doing seemingly good things and sometimes end up with wrong results; because the action did not proceed from the right place of being. But once we own the being God determined for us; that identity becomes the launching pad for action. And conversely the more we act from that God determined place the act itself solidifies our identity as the beloved follower of Christ. The being determines the action and the action further defines the being.