I've wondered what we are most afraid of as believers and disciples. At times I think we're most afraid of other people's beliefs. But, during an interesting post-worship discussion last Sunday, I think some of us got a bit closer at deconstructing some of the primary fears that plague us in our highly-partisan society - especially when it comes to diverse belief systems and faith expressions. It's not other people's beliefs that scare us the most - extremist or otherwise. I think what scares most of us the most is to be discovered as inadequate to express what we ourselves deeply believe...or NOT believe.
What emerged for us was three different dominant perspectives regarding belief:
Perspective #1: The people who know what they believe firmly and fundamentally. There is really little or no desire to talk or dialogue with others except for the purpose of prostelytizing for their own beliefs...because of course, they are the truth. If others disagree, they are wrong, and maybe even a dangerous threat.
Perspective #2: The people who know what they believe - some very firmly and fundamentally, others perhaps in a more general way. They are interested in dialogue with others. In some cases, dialogue can be clarifying, often it is enriching, sometimes it might even result in some creative and productive compliment or compromise. But, generally it is clear that the two or more sides will not give up their beliefs to come over the others.
Perspective #3: The people who either do not have a strong set of core beliefs, or simply have a belief in inclusivity for inclusivity's sake. They not only want dialogue with other beliefs, they want to become whatever the other wants and needs, so as not to be found guilty of exclusion. There are very few boundaries or definitions.
It seems that #1s view all others as either completely wrong and misguided...or that they are #3s, wishy-washy and superficial.
It seems that those who hold to #3 perspective fear that everyone who attempts to define or create boundaries and clarity in belief are #1s.
Most of the people that are drawn to mainline Protestant churches probably fall in the #2 perspective. But where we find our conflicts and fears are that some of us fear the #1 perspecives more, and some of us fear the #3 perspectives more. We most fear we will be compromised in our beliefs, and find ourselves in one or the other extremes.
But...the issue is NOT really about other people's beliefs. It is about our own. Our own core. I'm not talking doctrinal language here. I'm not talking what you said during confirmation, or even new members' vows. I'm talking about the beliefs you hold in the deepest hours of the dark night when you lie awake wondering -- the deepest beliefs you hold when you hear the preacher say something in the sermon that makes your stomach flip over or your heart beat faster -- Those deepest beliefs we hold, but so often can't articulate.
Ironically - It's these very beliefs that the author to the Hebrews pointed to in his litany of the people who endured all things for faith (chapter 11). These are the beliefs that allow people to stand firm in the lion's dens, and in the fiery furnaces, or hanging on the crosses they may find themselves on. Yet - it's these beliefs we as clergy and churches have neglected to help people to identify and articulate...particularly because of the passion they incite. We much prefer the tried and true doctrinal statements, that have had their jagged edges of revolution dulled by centuries of acceptability. We prefer the statements that have become so general and universal, that they make great hiding places for doubt and disagreement.
So, I say - let's get down to nitty-gritty and jaggedly honest discussions about what we really believe... as individuals, and as congregations. Our world is yearning for something authentic, something that is true to somebody. They are finding it on the extreme polarities...and they are gravitating to those extremes. To those of us holding the middle ground - let's find our core and stand on it. Let's let our roots, our peace, our integrity, and our character sink deep so that we might be able to bend and sway in the winds of extremism - yet not splinter or break. Let's strengthen our core.
