Do You Believe?

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I belong to a faith tradition that highly values action. Drawing on the broad witness of Scripture, Quakers are convinced that the sign of true faith is that it is lived out in daily life. Reciting a creed, affirming a statement of faith, or even reading the Bible, is no guarantee of faithfulness. We can say, “Lord, Lord,” all we want – but if our lives do not demonstrate the content of our faith, our words ring hollow.

For many of us, this begs the question: What is the point of having shared beliefs at all? If the whole point of the gospel is right action, could it be that intellectual beliefs are superfluous at best – and, at worst, even harmful? In a world with numerous competing belief systems, holding firmly to a particular set of beliefs – for example, about who Jesus is – might seem exclusive or narrow-minded. In this environment, why not just focus on loving others as best we can, without all the barriers that belief often seems to present?

This is a fair question. For far too long, most of the Christian community has put overwhelming emphasis on intellectual assent to propositional statements. We have often cared more about whether members of our community believe in Jesus’ virgin birth, or have prayed the Sinner’s Prayer, than about ensuring that our lives demonstrate the radiant character of our holy, loving and just God. Too often, our theological systems and narrow definitions become more important than practical efforts for justice, mercy and reconciliation.

In spite of all this, I am convinced that shared beliefs are important, both for the individual disciple and for our communities. While we have often over-emphasized the intellectual component of our faith, having a shared set of understandings about who God is, and who we are called to be, is deeply important. As we come together as one body, it is vital that we have a shared understanding of the shared mission that the Holy Spirit is calling us to.

Speaking of one body, let’s consider the role of belief in a marriage relationship. A married couple does not have to share identical beliefs on every subject. For example, one spouse may have different ideas about aesthetics for their home, the best way to spend money, or the food they like to eat. In all of these things, communication is required and compromise is often necessary, but these differences in belief are not necessarily deal-breakers. A major part of deciding whether or not to get married in the first place is to determine if there are any differences in belief or lifestyle that would make the marriage simply unworkable!

There are matters of belief that are so important that the marriage simply cannot function without agreement. For example, a shared understanding about what constitutes marital fidelity is crucial for the success of the relationship. If both partners believe that their only romantic involvement should be with their spouse, things are much more likely to go well for the couple. But if one does believe this and the other one doesn’t – watch out!

Our life as a community gathered in Jesus shares a similar dynamic. When it comes to the core assumptions of the community, shared belief can make the difference between united action and muddled confusion – or even division. What is the content and character of the gospel that we have experienced and are called to share? Who are we called to serve? What is our mission and mandate as a community, and how does each individual’s unique gifts fit in? The process of faithfully answering – and acting upon – these questions builds a shared understanding of our faith.

For those of us who are a part of the Friends of Jesus Fellowship, we have agreed to a small set of shared commitments that help us to frame our life together as friends and disciples of Jesus Christ. This brief document contains elements of both belief and action, each informing the other as we grow together and listen for God’s living teaching. We accept that this short statement of commitment is not perfect; words are incapable of entirely capturing our experience of God’s love. Nevertheless, it helps us stay centered on the life that Jesus calls us to live, and on the work that he calls us to do.

What is your experience of the dynamic between belief and action? How does one inform the other? What impact does it make on our shared life when both are brought together?

Eyes To See

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Human beings are amazingly imaginative, inventive creatures, and nowhere do we demonstrate more creativity than in our quest to impose a sense of meaning, order and control over our lives. We eagerly develop worldviews that help us understand our existence, seeing the world through our assumptions and systems of meaning.

Some of our ways of perceiving the world are helpful; others are harmful. But all of our worldviews have the potential to become destructive when we make the mistake of placing them at the center, in the place of God. Rather than allowing our worldviews serve as a lens that makes it easier for us to see what the Spirit is doing the world, we often begin to worship the lens itself. We begin to assign ultimate meaning to the eye rather than to the light that allows us to see.

One of the most powerful worldviews we find ourselves enmeshed in today is that of the money economy. Even 2,000 years ago, Jesus taught of the dangers of pursuing and accumulating wealth. The lure of wealth, power and security is immense, yet Jesus warns: No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

At another time, Jesus declares: It is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. Quite understandably, his disciples were greatly astonished and asked Jesus:Who then can be saved?

Jesus’ answer is worth chewing on: With humans this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. When left to our own devices, our eyes are inevitably darkened by the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, by all the ways in which we seek to protect ourselves and make sure that we come out on top. Self-preservation and self-centeredness are hard-wired into us at the deepest levels. Our vision is often darkened by short-sighted, selfish motivations – whether consciously acknowledged or not.

Jesus teaches us that the eye is the lamp of the body. If our eyes are healthy our whole body will be full of light. Unhealthy eyes, though, fill the body with darkness! The only way for us to see anything clearly is to look past the eye of our own understanding and see the light of what he is doing in the world. When our eyes look up at him, rather than down at all the conflicting demands of our lives, Christ will fill our whole bodies with light and set us on a straight path.

It is by watching Jesus, keeping our eyes set on his living presence and activity in the world, that we are able to walk with confidence through the many challenges of life. And when our sight is focused on him, our lives will grow to bless those around us, reflecting his radiance to fill the eyes of others.

We live in a world that works 24/7 to devise distractions to capture our attention, drawing us away from the light that Christ shines on us. How can we awaken from this gloomy way of life, instead making the self-giving love of Jesus our reference point? In a world that is obsessed with consumption, social status and financial advancement, how can we keep our eyes fixed on the one who created everything for a greater purpose? What kind of power would be released if we could truly perceive the power of him who provides for the birds of the air, the flowers of the field, and all living things? What will it take to open our eyes?

Are You Lonely?

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I recently read a post by Suzannah Paul, in which she reflects on her own experience of living in a culture of isolation. She describes the present era as one in which our common experience is intense loneliness, where genuine community seems always out of reach. Of course, most of us have become quite adept at hiding our anguish. Judging by photos on Facebook, one would imagine that almost everyone has dazzling social lives! The illusion that everyone else is doing great only intensifies the alienation we feel. Paul writes:

I suspect that there’s more of us [lonely, isolated folks] than we realize. Digital connection bridges some divides while camouflaging–and widening–others. Is loneliness the ironic, invisible thread connecting so many?

In my city, we are constantly surrounded by people, and yet the social emptiness can be almost palpable. Most of us self-medicate, in one way or another – typically with a burnout-enducing cycle of overwork and substance abuse. It doesn’t help that many DC residents are transient professionals who expect to be in the region for only a few years. Why bother putting down roots if they’ll all be ripped up the next time you switch jobs?

Suzannah Paul’s description of kids in her youth group sounds pretty familiar:

Getting [them] to come to stuff is harder than it used to be… They keep their options open, never committing; they’re averse to taking social risks.

In our city, social interactions are often transactional; even our friendships can come to feel like thinly veiled commerce. At the end of the day, what does it matter whether we are trading in money, influence, pleasure, or even the illusion of genuine care and friendship? Business is business. There will be time for real friends after the next move – right?

In a society where so often we are judged by our résumés, productivity, and reputation, unconditional love is unspeakably precious. Our hearts yearn for an experience of the economy of love that real community makes possible. Yet, this kind of love is impossible as long as we stay locked into the race for personal excellence. So long as we are held captive to the fear of missing out – of being left behind – we will never be able to truly meet one another. Real friendship is impossible as long as we relate to others as obstacles to be overcome or resources to be marshaled on the way to success. Could we discover a way life that is less about winning and more about giving?

I believe that answering this question – not just with words, but with lives of love, presence and generosity – lies at the heart of our mission as a community gathered in Jesus. How can we be truly present to those around us? What would it look like to step off of the success treadmill and embrace a life of service to others? How can we become agents of the kingdom where loneliness will be no more?

If we are to live fully into these questions, we will be forced to accept that we can no longer keep our options open. To live in love means to embrace limitation, to be made vulnerable, to take risks. Suzannah Paul writes that everyone long[s] for someone to reach back. Rather than waiting for others to reach out first, what if God is calling us to preemptively engage others with love and presence? What if, instead of looking to have our own loneliness cured, we focused on speaking to that same loneliness in the heart of another?

When we live into this kind of love and presence for others, we can be sure that we will no longer be alone: Christ will be in the midst with us.