Now We're Cool

We have officially entered the world of pastoral blogging.  Now we're cool.  I say "we" because, like just about everything Justin and I do, we do this together.  I was the fiction writing major in this marriage so that makes me the typing, writing, composing voice of our blog, but Justin's thoughts are equally represented in the writing.  If one of us blogs independently here, we'll let you know.  This week we want to introduce ourselves to you and help you understand a bit about who we are and how we see the world and our role in it . . .

So . . . what is our worldview?  Our worldview is missional.  We believe that the role of the church (which, by the way, is a group of people rather than a building) is to engage every aspect of culture with the ways of the Kingdom of God.  In order to do that, those of us who say we are followers of Christ must constantly choose to live according to the two greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," and "Love your neighbor as yourself," (Matt. 22:37-38).  This is what it means to live the Kingdom.  We encourage people to live the Kingdom at work, at play, at everything in between -- not just at church.


We live the Kingdom by making ourselves available to people.  We try to take Jesus with us wherever we go and love people regardless of where they are in their journey with Jesus.  We are committed to love people who may never choose to follow Jesus, because that's what it means to love your neighbor.  That love also means being honest about what we believe.  Our beliefs may be drastically different than those God has called us to love, but as people called to make disciples, we have to be clear about what we know to be true so that real and relevant conversations can happen.  Pretending to concede to what we don't believe does no good for either person in a relationship.  It is possible to share truth in love  . . . and still love those who don't accept that truth.


We believe in allowing people to ask hard questions without fear of being ridiculed or rejected.  Jesus asked, "Why?"  His disciples asked countless questions.  People today still have questions about the deep issues of life.  The church has to be willing to listen to those questions without offense.  And then, we have to be ready to follow Peter's advice, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," (1 Peter 3:15).


The world is a place of constant change.  It is a place full of tragedy and triumph, fear and faith, love and hate, joy and anger.  It is a place where relationships are not always trustworthy and people are looking for love.  As Christians, we are far from perfect.  But it is God's love in spite of the imperfection of people that makes His story such a beautiful one.  We are part of that story -- imperfections and all. So we simply want to be real and transparent in a way that allows broken, hurting people to feel like our little location in God's Kingdom is a safe place to be imperfect and walk the journey of faith surrounded by love as we all try to be more and more like Jesus each day . . . together.