Spirituality is...A Builder

"The religious leaders say that God desires a world that is pure and empty of sin, like a desert. They talk like a man's role isn't ever to be a builder, but always only an insanely jealous protector."
                 Aaron and Ahmed, by Jay Cantor

What's the difference between a mob and a community?  They are both groups of people with like-minded thinking, a specific purpose, a call to action, and committed followers. They are both groups of people who will sacrifice for what they believe in. They are both groups of people who want to change the world around them.  So what makes one group a terrorist cell, and another group a church?

The difference comes from the purpose and the product of the group at hand:

A mob is usually created out of powerlessness.  Powerlessness makes people sad or afraid; sad or fearful people became angry protective people; angry, protective people grouped together become a mob. The currency of a mob is force, and the product it buys is oppression.

Communities are created out of empowerment.  People who believe they are called to a purpose or idea become happy or secure people, which makes them a committed, focused people. The currency of a community is togetherness, and the product it buys is change.

Communities seek justice;  Mobs want vengeance
Communities try to listen; Mobs tend to shout
Communities want to heal; Mobs want to punish.
Communities tend to build; Mobs are desperate to protect


In faith life we have seen some of both groups through our history.  The communities of Iona and Skye sought to build a place of contemplation and spirit. The mobs of crusaders sought to punish those they considered "infidel" and protect their lands from diversity of faith.  The community of Taize seeks to build a type of peace through through prayer, song and inclusion. The mob of many churches seeks to protect their traditions through politics, dogma and exclusivity.  Over and over we realize - having a cross on your building, your car or your necklace doesn't show us whether you are part of a community or a mob. Only your actions can do that.

I don't think they are here for a bake sale.

Spirituality is a builder. Spirituality is the part of us that takes risks and recognizes that the space between us as people doesn't need a guard gate as much as a bridge. Spirituality values traditions but also seeks to reach out through them to new people in a new way.  Spirituality is the building, hopeful part of who we are as beings.

In Acts 28, the Apostle Paul has just gone through a time of trial and terror. Tossed by a storm, starved and shipwrecked he and the survivors wind up on the coast of Malta. What's the first thing the people of Malta do? Run find some arrows or weapons?  Draw a line in the sand and prohibit the castaways from going further until they have a chance to question them? No - the first thing they do is build a fire because the survivors are wet and cold. Spirituality builds.

Spirituality doesn't build unwisely. It takes effort to build something. You have to know the design and how to build, make sure you have the proper tools and proceed with care as well as hope. Spiritual people have all come in contact with someone whose goal is to knock down your construction or use your good nature for their own harmful purposes. Construction workers who reach in peace get burned many times. Yet, still, we build.

As you encounter new people, old people, new ideas, old prejudices or anything in between - remember to listen and pray and not just look for things that offend you or you might need to defend against - but look for the tools, materials and pathways to build something new, warm, or good.

Don't Be Driven

Lectionay Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10

Five years ago a phenomenon in Christian publishing changed the way many people see faith and life. That phenomenon was “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Published in 2002, it became an international best seller for people looking for some meaning and purpose in their existing by teaching that God has a purpose for each person and the things that happen. However, the book has garnered as much criticism as acclaim. From its lack of the gospel message, to its “new age-like” feel for devotional but not missional understanding the book has some folks wondering what people are really seeking that drives them to this work.

Although I find some parts of the book quite helpful, I am one of the critics in general, not because of the main idea – but of the way that idea is presented. (I am also not too happy with the mass merchandising of faith – but I’ll write that in the “Purpose Driven Journal” with my “Purpose Driven Pen” after I drink from my “Purpose Driven coffee cup”). My concern is expressed in the very title of the book – the word “Driven”.

According to the dictionary, driven means, “being propelled or pushed forward. Having a compulsive or urgent nature”. Mature Christianity isn’t about God pushing us along or a compulsive need requiring us to participate. Christianity is about our willingness to go, because of our love for and relationship with our creator. People who are “driven” are often singularly visioned, inflexible, and uninvolved with the people or places around them. Think of a work addict – someone so consumed or driven by work that they take work on vacation, ignore their family and soon lose perspective of the rest of the world. We are not created to be driven – even by an idea like our divine purpose – we as God’s children are instructed to be called.

We are to be called, not driven.

The lectionary scripture in FirstPeter reveals a treatise on what we are called to be – living stones building the body of faith as temple of the Christ by our actions and behaviors. But in that treatise is a list of who we are called to be.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Identity - A Chosen People

One of the things that the converts from Judaism to Christianity were missing was their status as “chosen”. As the Hebrew people they had been raised for generations with the fact they were God’s own people – chosen and called to proclaim the name of God. When they converted to Christianity, there was a sense of confusion and loss in some early communities. They asked, “we were once God’s chosen people. Now who are we?” This book goes to remind them that they are still chosen of God and still were a people proclaiming the name of God.
It is a humbling and beautiful thing to realize we are not Christians because we chose God, or were driven to God. We are Christians because God chose us – humanity – to create, relate to and reveal the relationship to. We are a chosen people called to relationship.

Service - A Royal Priesthood

There are two services offered to God in the Old Testament: those done by prophets, and those done by priests. A prophet is someone who brings the message of God to the people. A priest is someone who brings the people to God. That’s our role – we are part of a royal priesthood – we are not called to speak for God. We are called to bring the people to God. Imagine how embracing and powerful the church would be if we remembered that we are a priesthood – called to serve and to connect.

Community – A Holy Nation

A nation is a collective of people, with different traits, backgrounds and gifts, who live within the some territory and hold a common bond. We as Christians are called to be God’s nation – not defined by our country – but by our citizenship is heaven. A nation is not made of people who are the same, but by people with the same foundational contract. To the age old question “well, can’t I just worship God at home alone?” the answer is Yes – but the call is for us to be together – to be a nation of Christ on earth.

So that’s who we are – living stones. We are not people meant to be driven by internal goals or external faith precepts. We are people meant to be called by the clear voice of God, forgiven by the grace of Christ and gathered into one people.