Phoenix Affirmations Week 4

Here are the next two Affirmations along with scripture (links are active). We will be reflecting on these during worship this Sunday. Please leave your reactions in comments, particularly if you won't be present on Sunday to share them in person. Comments may be used in worship.

LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR INCLUDES:

Affirmation 7: Preserving religious freedom and the Church's ability to speak prophetically to government by resisting the commingling of Church and State;


Luke 20:25; 1 Peter 2:17

As Christians, we strive to live as responsible citizens of our country, just as we seek to live as Christ's disciples. We celebrate the separation of Church and State as much for the protection of the Church, and other faith communities, as the State.

We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found where Christ's followers honor the role of the State in maintaining justice and peace, so far as human discernment and ability make possible. We affirm the separation of Church and State, even as we endeavor to support the state in as far as Christian conscience allows.

We confess that we have moved away from this Path when we have confused the role of the State with that of the Church. We have moved further from the Path when we have renounced the Church's calling to speak prophetically to the State by suggesting that the Church should or could take on the nature, tasks and dignity which belong to the State, thus becoming itself an organ of the State.

Affirmation 8: Walking humbly with God, acknowledging our own shortcomings while honestly seeking to understand and call forth the best in others, including those who consider us their enemies;

Luke 18:9-14; Luke 6:27-29; Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:18-19

As Christians, we recognize that we are misfits both with respect to God's Realm and the world. We are misfits with respect to God's Realm in that we rarely live up to the principles and ideals we espouse. We are misfits with respect to the world in that the ideals for which we strive frequently do not conform to the ways of the world.

We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found where Christ's followers love those who consider them their enemies as much as they love themselves, striving humbly to embody the "fruits of the Spirit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We confess that we have moved away from this Path when we have promoted a notion that people of faith are morally or ethically superior to those without faith. Further, we have moved away when we have supported any cause, no matter how just or righteous, without reflecting the "fruits of the Spirit" toward all.

Does All Really Mean All?

If “all” means “all” when we say that all are welcome, then are there no limits to whom we will welcome? Would we welcome a child molester? A mass murderer? Is it simply a matter of degree, since we would likely welcome a liar but not necessarily a thief? Or is it a matter of behavior (i.e. we welcome killers but not killing, liars but not lying)? But then do we say that we accept homosexuals but not homosexual behavior (in private, of course)? So perhaps we are talking about judging only that which is a choice. So this week we will take some extra time in the area of Phoenix Affirmation #5 but examine it in the via negativa, that is, we will ask the question, “Whom don't we accept?”

Phoenix Affirmations Week 3

Here are the next two Affirmations along with scripture (links are active). We will be reflecting on these during worship this Sunday. Please leave your reactions in comments, particularly if you won't be present on Sunday to share them in person. Comments may be used in worship.

LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR INCLUDES:
 
Affirmation 5: Engaging people authentically, as Jesus did, treating all as creations made in God's very image, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental ability, nationality, or economic class;

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-5; 1Corinthians 12:3-7

As Christians, we welcome those of every race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical and mental ability, nationality, and economic class into the full life of our community.

We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found where Christ's followers uplift and celebrate the worth and integrity of all people as created in God's very image and likeness. We further affirm that Christ's Path includes treating people authentically rather than as mere categories or classes, challenging and inspiring all people to live according to their high calling.

We confess that we have stepped away from this Path whenever we have failed to recognize the essential goodness of God's Creation by treating some classes of human beings as more godly than others. We have moved further from Christ's Path when we have treated people superficially, as objects to be used rather than human beings with depth and distinction. 
 
Affirmation 6: Standing, as Jesus does, with the outcast and oppressed, the denigrated and afflicted, seeking peace and justice with or without the support of others;

Micah 6:8; Luke 12:48

As Christians, we advocate and care for those who experience oppression and poverty, either physically or spiritually, within our faith communities, our country, and the world. We recognize the local congregation as the primary context for offering such care, even as we seek to extend it beyond our faith communities into the wider world.

We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found where Christ's followers honor the essential unity of spirit and matter by connecting worship and theology with concrete acts of justice and righteousness, kindness and humility, with or without the support of others.

We confess that we have moved away from this Path when we have suggested that Christianity is concerned with only the spiritual in contrast to the material, or vice-versa. We have moved further away when we have celebrated blessings given by God without also acknowledging responsibilities that come with blessing.

Phoenix Affirmations Week 2

Here are the next two Affirmations along with scripture (links are active). We will be reflecting on these during worship this Sunday. Please leave your reactions in comments, particularly if you won't be present on Sunday to share them in person. Comments may be used in worship.
LOVING GOD INCLUDES:
 
Affirmation 3: Celebrating the God whose Spirit pervades and whose glory is reflected in all of God's Creation, including the earth and its ecosystems, the sacred and secular, the Christian and non-Christian, the human and non-human;
Genesis 1:31a; Psalm 96:1,11-12; Acts 17:23
As Christians, we seek to act as righteous stewards of the earth and its ecosystems. We celebrate the reflections of the Creator's glory in both the sacred and secular, human and non-human, Christian and non-Christian.
We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found where Christ's followers act as caring stewards of the earth, and where the presence of the living Christ is celebrated wherever Christ's spirit manifests itself, transcending all preconceived human categories;
We confess that we have stepped away from this Path when we have ignored our role as stewards of the earth, or have interpreted Scripture in a way that fails to account for the sacredness of the earth or the integrity of its ecosystems. We have further moved away whenever we have claimed that that the glorification and praise of God is limited only to that which is consciously and overtly Christian.
Affirmation 4: Expressing our love in worship that is as sincere, vibrant, and artful as it is scriptural.
Genesis 2:7; Exodus 31:2-5; Revelation 18:22
As Christians, we strive to respond to God's artistry in Creation by integrating the arts in worship, education and proclamation. We encourage the reclaiming of artistry and artistic expression in all Christian endeavors, both personal and communal.
We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found where Christ's followers make sincere and vibrant worship of God as central to the life of their community as Jesus did. We further affirm artistic expression as a way of reflecting God's creativity, joy, and prophetic voice in what may be seen, heard, felt, tasted, sung and spoken.
We confess that we have moved away from Christ's Path when we have failed to make worship the product of our best efforts to experience and express love for God, neighbor and self in community with others. We have moved further from this path when we have considered the arts as trivial or merely tangential to the life of a mature Christian community.

Phoenix Affirmations Week 1

  Here are the first two Affirmations along with scripture (links are active).  We will be reflecting on these during worship this Sunday.  Please leave your reactions in comments, particularly if you won't be present on Sunday to share them in person.  Comments may be used in worship.


LOVING GOD INCLUDES:
Affirmation 1: Walking fully in the path of Jesus, without denying the legitimacy of other paths God may provide humanity;

Matthew 11:28-29; John 8:12; John 10:16; Mark 9:40

As Christians, we find spiritual awakening, challenge, growth, and fulfillment in Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection. While we have accepted the Path of Jesus as our Path, we do not deny the legitimacy of other paths God may provide humanity. Where possible, we seek lively dialog with those of other faiths for mutual benefit and fellowship.

We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found wherever love of God, neighbor, and self are practiced together. Whether or not the path bears the name of Jesus, such paths bear the identity of Christ.

We confess that we have stepped away from Christ's Path whenever we have failed to practice love of God, neighbor, and self, or have claimed Christianity is the only way, even as we claim it to be our way.

Affirmation 2: Listening for God's Word which comes through daily prayer and meditation, through studying the ancient testimonies which we call Scripture, and through attending to God's present activity in the world;

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:12

As Christians, we listen for Gods Word in the living presence of the Holy Spirit, praying every day, and discerning God's present activity in our world. We also study and revere the ancient records which we call Scripture, recognizing that they have been formed within distinct historical and cultural contexts, yet have been informed by God's Spirit, which transcends all ages and times. Most of all we seek the meaning of salvation, of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as it is presented in the Scriptures and discerned in daily life.

We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found where Christ's followers engage in daily prayer and meditation, as well as personal and community study and interpretation of Scripture, as central ways God's continuing voice is discerned in everyday life.

We confess that we have moved away from Christ's Path when we have claimed that God's Word is restricted to that which may be contained in a written document, or that either the recording of God's Word in Scripture, or our interpretation of it, are infallible. Further, we have moved away from the Path when we have allowed the mere fact of Scripture's fallibility, or our own, to dissuade us from seeking God's Word in Scripture, prayer, and reflection on daily life.

Convergence

Why did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed cross the road? According to Brian McLaren (who uses that question as the title of his new book) it was to get to the other. His vision of Christian identity in a multifaith world begins with relationship, particularly with the one who is different. We are in a time of great change in the institutional church which challenges us to face what we choose to use to create identity. For too long we have tied our identity to how closely we resembled those who are like us and proudly wore the labels: Congregational, Presbyterian, Catholic, Evangelical, Conservative, Liberal, Charismatic, on and on... Now the time has come when even terms like Progressive and Emergent are attempting to capture an elusive thing that seems to change the moment it is named. We may find ourselves better served, albeit less clear, by hyphenated terms that begin with post, such as Post-denominational, Post-liberal, Post-conservative, even Post-religious. We may not know where we are going but we can see where we are leaving. All of that can be very unsettling if we find our comfort and meaning in the familiar. Although my recent experience at the Wild Goose Festival proved to me that sometimes it is even more troubling to visit the places you have already been.

The Wild Goose Festival is a wild collection of Christians (and a sprinkling of other seekers, some even agnostic) who are committed to justice and Jesus. Too often a passion for one has led to a reduction in passion for the other. My own journey reflects that. As I left Evangelicalism in part because it lacked a passion for justice I found fewer people in my new circles who had a passion for scripture and following Jesus. This was OK since it felt more comfortable leaving the old ways behind. But at the Wild Goose Festival I kept finding myself in conversation with Evangelicals and Charismatics who helped to remind me of the gifts of the paths I once shared with them. Now, I have become very accustomed to the quarrels that break out when I share my views with Evangelicals. Sometimes I've been up for a rousing debate and other times I've stayed silent to keep the peace. But at the Wild Goose I was able to casually mention that I had performed a number of same-sex weddings without being put on the defensive. There were conversations everywhere about restorative justice and combating poverty and none of it was specific to a theological perspective. It kind of felt like a bit of heaven on earth. The gift in it for me was the insight that my desire to discover the church beyond walls is also an inner journey. I had built walls across the path behind me as I have journeyed in life. The Wild Goose helped me to start tearing them down so that I can reclaim the church in its fulness.

Eric Elnes, host of DarkwoodBrew and pastor of Countryside Community Church in Omaha, Nebraska likes to talk about this new thing that is happening as convergence. He has sold me on the concept. For all those spiritually homeless people who are tired of the way judgmental religion divides us, we now can converge in shared beliefs and passions leaving behind divisive dogma and forced judgments. There are Evangelicals who are embracing justice they way Liberals have.  And there are Liberals finding a passion for following Jesus akin to the way Evangelicals have always done it. Maybe you are ready to migrate to a position that is hyphenated that begins with "post".  I know that I am. Maybe together we can be the Convergent Church.

Peace,

Ian