In a fit of panicked work overload, I asked Brad to write this week’s #HearItUseIt post, and he graciously agreed (with a little begging on my part!). Thanks, Bradster!
When I was about sixteen years old, a friend and I attended an event at a local non-denominational church. The event may have been a concert or a talk by a well-known athlete. I don’t recall. What I do remember is that it was all a bit of a set up.
At some point, counselors came through the rows asking about the state of our souls. My designated evangelist chatted a bit before staring seriously at me and asking “Are you a Christian?” That kind of personal question was strange to me, but I knew this was one I could get right.
“Yeah, I’m a Lutheran,” I responded.
He looked at me and said, with just a touch of sadness in his voice, “I used to be a Lutheran before I became a Christian.”
He then turned to my friend and asked the same question, to which my friend responded, “I’m a Catholic.” The counselor had no response, suggesting that my popish friend might require intervention beyond mere evangelism.
It’s a real temptation to feel like we have all the answers, to think that the ones in some other group are a bit naive or downright wrong. After all, when Jesus describes himself as the bread of life, he uses some exclusive sounding language. In verse 44 he says that “no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws them to me” (NLT). This seems to suggest that God selects some to be brought to Jesus, while others are, by implication, rejected before they get a shot.
Fortunately, the central metaphor of the story is bread — “Anyone who eats this bread will not die . . . ” (v. 58, NLT) If God offers Jesus as the bread of life, he brings people to that bread through hunger. It’s hard to imagine a more universal image since we are all programmed to get hungry and thirsty, just as we are all programmed to seek meaning in our lives.
Jesus did not proclaim, “I am the obscure password of life. If you can produce the secret knock, the door shall be opened to you.” Instead, he offers himself as the most basic fulfillment of the most basic need.
Questions for Reflection:
Have you ever felt spiritually excluded? How can we be welcoming of people who hold different beliefs while still remaining true to our own?
: :
Welcome to the Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday community, a place where we share what we are hearing from God and his Word each week. If you’re here for the first time, click here for more information.
Please include the Hear It, Use It button (grab the code below) or a link in your post, so your readers know where to find the community if they want to join in — thank you!
Please also try to visit and leave some friendly encouragement in the comment box of at least one other #HearItUseIt participant. And if you want to tweet about the community, please use the #HearItUseIt hashtag.
Thank you — I am so grateful that you are here!
<a border=”0″ href=”http://michellederusha.com/” target=”_blank”> <img src=”http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/mderusha/HearItUseItImage-1.jpg”/></a>
Dear Michelle
I don’t even want to comment on this, but want to share what Pappa taught me this weekend about the bread. The blood (wine) we drink, is for salvation, but His Resurrected Life (the bread) saves us from the one moment to the next through His grace as we receive Him ( eating the bread ) through grace ( Rom 5:10).
Blessings XX
Mia
This is a great post! I have definitely felt excluded, by the most interesting groups of people. As a pentecostal person (you know, Holy Roller?), I have often felt looked down upon by Catholics and Lutherans, in particular ~ the very opposite of the experience you relate in your post. Because I am one of *those* Christians, I must dislike gay people, vote Republican and wear dowdy clothes. Oh yeah, and I must be pushy about my faith! I would love to laugh these experiences off, but I’ve felt hurt when people from more “liberal” churches view me with suspicion, like I’m standing around waiting to cast out some demons ~ lol.
Our perceptions of who is “saved” and who isn’t are so messed up much of the time. I really feel the discomfort you must have felt when these people were asking you these silly questions. I’ve often thought if we could see evangelism as simply visiting about Jesus, like sitting around the kitchen table with a cup of coffee or a glass of good wine and lively discussion, what a different world it would be. You are so right ~ He is not an obscure password. So someday, may we lay down the exclusivity (from all corners of the Body), so that we can enjoy Jesus, and one another, without barriers.
I admit, Leigh, I have been guilty of assuming that all Pentecostals and Evangelicals are conservative, Republican, anti-gay, etc. I appreciate that you’ve brought up the fact that judging takes place on all sounds – we’ve all got a plank in our eye at one time or another!
All points received and agreed upon Leigh. I’ve shared your experience, especially from Christian “intellectuals”.
Spiritually excluded. Yes, indeed. Both victim and perpetrator. And I don’t get it. I truly don’t. In fact, this has been our own spiritual exercise this year. As practicing protestants for our entire adult lives, we’ve accepted an invitation to attend a series of classes at our local Catholic church and have found them to be the most challenging of our Christian lives. By marginalizing one another, we are losing so much. Our tradition, handed down from a common Savior, is rich and there is lots of room in there for everyone. I’m convinced that we are plagued by a one-upsmanship that is straight from hell. What we have learned from our Catholic believing brothers and sisters (and they, by the way, call us their non-Catholic believing brothers and sisters) has enriched our faith in more ways than we can count.
This is great, JoAnne – what a beautiful experience for you all! Thanks for sharing a bit of here, friend.
“Jesus did not proclaim, ‘I am the obscure password of life. If you can produce the secret knock, the door shall be opened to you.'”
Very good stuff, Brad! I spent the first part of my spiritual journey being one of those who excluded others. I’m so grateful that the Lord pulled me up higher and showed me grace instead. It’s much freer breathing and much richer food to eat on this side of exclusivism. The feast is set for all who want a place at the table.
Oh I love that, Lisa: “The feast is set for all who want a place at the table.” Amen, sister.
I’ve been excluded by Catholics but I also think it’s wrong how evangelical Christians exclude Catholics. You’re not going to win anyone over by attacking their faith. I was in a Christian bookstore and a man came in and asked for something that a priest uses. The cashier very coldly replied that this was a Christian store. This Catholic gentleman thinks of himself as a Christian, too. We have to build relationships with people and love them first before we can hope to convert them. This is why so many Catholics leave their man-made system but do not find the relationship with Christ. This is a thought-provoking post.
Wow, that bookstore story is ugly. The whole thing makes me sad, Laura. And you are right – there is judgment and exclusion on both sides of the fence.
Brad, thanks for sharing your story here in Michelle’s space. It’s always nice to hear from you!
I am so sorry that you had this experience — I think we can be over zealous in our sharing Christ & that is a turn off to a lot of people. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what church you attend (or don’t attend). What matters is if you you know Him and have surrendered your all to follow Him. Only God really sees our heart.
We are called to go into the whole world and tell His story. I pray for God to help me to tell it with grace and wisdom so that hungry people find bread.
Thanks for this reminder.
I am curious what your thoughts are about people who don’t share about Christ at all because they are worried that people will be offended and turned off. That’s the other end of the spectrum.
Brad, great post! I love how you pointed out that the Lord makes us hungry, and therefore each one of us is afforded the opportunity to seek the Bread that fulfills. And, I might further add, that no one enjoys having a slice of bread shoved down their throats. May we be bold in offering the Bread, and yet, sensitive to the timing of hearts – so that, like Jesus, what is offered feels like the much-needed, life-saving nourishment that it is.
GOD BLESS!
oh Michelle, what this has done to my heart. this thing of being excluded, I feel like I have lived the better portion of my life in this place. I am going to try to keep this comment short, though 😛
I grew up “conservative traditional,” in a church laden with legalism and Pharisaical mindsets. I was raised anti-gay, raised to despise Democrats, and steer clear of sinners who drank alcohol or engaged in premarital or extramarital sex. I was told how to dress, how to act, what to say, where I belonged. And then I went on a Christian missions trip where we were lectured about purity, and then ten minutes later, they showed a slideshow from their mother-daughter cruise trip with women in bikinis to a mixed-gender room. I spoke up, I was ostracized and basically called a mouthpiece of Satan. I was sixteen years old, and that was the complete change of my life. Everything moved forward for me after that, everything started to shift, and I have not stopped feeling on the outside, but I’m starting to realize that there is an inside FOR me. That I belong behind the ripped veil in the Holy Place, because that’s where HE is. and where He is, that’s where I want to be.
(whew. that was long. I’m sorry! 😛 )
Oooh, good ask, Michelle. And good job, Brad. This one right here needs to be on a needlepoint pillow or somethin’ : “Jesus did not proclaim, “I am the obscure password of life. If you can produce the secret knock, the door shall be opened to you.” The obscure password of life. . . like a special handshake or a magic decoder ring. Yeah. . . not gonna happen. Thanks be to God.
Great focus on the bread metaphor….I think we can be welcoming if we can all remember we are all hungry for the Bread of Life, found in Christ….we all have a need for forgiveness and unconditional love.
The saddest act we do as Christians is to exclude or look down upon those who worship in a manner which differs from ours. This opens the dangerous door to pride and judgment. Would that everyone act so others knew we were Christians by our love.
Great post, Brad!
I am reminded of the traditional picture of Jesus knocking at a door. As a child I was so comforted by the fact that it was Jesus knocking. So thankful that our only needed response is to open the door. And so thankful I did… Thank you for a devotional that reminded me of the joy of Jesus entering my heart home!
Thanks, everyone, for the wonderful comments and for taking it easy on me. Now back to the main act!
Yes, I have felt excluded at times…but not marginalized. His love is big — plenty big. Big enough for those of us who admit our failings and falterings and for those of us who think we have it all together, too. I’m sure I’ve had a foot in both camps at one time or another. I try to remind myself, it’s about Him and His love, not my feelings.
May we speak the truth in love, sharing the Gospel without excluding anyone. Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless,
Laurie
When we think we have found the truth, we get terribly protective of it. When God changes us, we tend to think that’s THE way. Many of our denominations and traditions didnt come out of some sort of angry division (well, Luther a little :)) but many of them came out of people groups, historical gatherings, and national churches. I’m not a Lutheran and I don’t understand the way that Brad worships, but I’m thrilled that he is seeking God, seeking truth.