The Cost of Authenticity
I love Margery Williams’ book, The Velveteen Rabbit. It’s the story of a stuffed nursery rabbit who, over time, becomes real. But the process of becoming real was a costly one. It required a willingness to endure criticism, rejection, even ostracism, as well as a host of painful snubs from those toys who preferred illusion to reality and comfort instead of authenticity.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the cost of authenticity lately. A lot. After serving thirty-six years as a pastor, I made the decision to begin a new ministry, “Church on the Edge.” I’m not opposed to the institutional church, but I believe it is severely limited in its ability to reach many people in our world today.
I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a bit apprehensive about the response of some Christians to “Church on the Edge.” The reason for this apprehension is because I feel compelled to share some concerns I have about evangelicals. I’ve already received some harsh criticism for my book, “Prophets or Patriots.” But I believe I am sharing what many Christian pastors believe but are afraid to come out and say. Based on numerous conversations with other pastors, I know I am. The truth is, I refrained from teaching and preaching about these issues when I served as a pastor.
But here’s the thing — I don’t want to come to the end of my days with regrets because I decided to play it safe and live my final years as comfortably as possible. I guess it comes down to how real, how genuinely honest and transparent I am willing to be.
Here are some things that bother me as an evangelical Christian -
The exclusiveness of evangelical churches.
Yes, we should proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, but it is the other issues we pressure members to support that bother me. Whatever people’s stance on gun control, politics, immigration, and other issues, we need to cease and desist from championing these things in our churches. It’s okay to agree to disagree while focusing our energy and efforts on the Good News of God’s Kingdom that comes to us through Jesus.
The militancy of evangelicals, and our image among non-believers.
Jesus was called a “friend of sinners.” It was a term of derision used by the religious leaders of his day who despised his relationships with those outside their religious camp. How many non-Christian “sinners” today consider evangelicals their friends? Research shows that non-Christians don’t have a problem with Jesus; it’s the church they can’t seem to stomach. Why?
Could it be that we are less like the “friend of sinners” and more like the Borg from Star Trek: The Next Generation — “Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.”?
The refusal of evangelicals to acknowledge and wrestle with the struggles of those seeking to understand the Christian faith.
Honest, thoughtful, intelligent questions about God and the Bible are discouraged, downplayed, or dismissed. This is because doctrinal conformity trumps relationships in so many evangelical churches. Never mind that Jesus taught that loving God and loving others is the fulfillment of everything scripture teaches.
The skepticism and downplaying of important social justice issues.
Christ taught that feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting those sick and imprisoned was the evidence of following and serving him. When I am with a group of doctrine obsessed evangelicals, I feel like shouting, “It’s relationships, stupid!” And no, I am not saying that doctrine doesn’t matter. I am saying that relationships matter more.
The tendency of many evangelical Christians to be promoters of controversy rather than ambassadors for peace.
Jesus taught that peacemakers would be called the children of God. The New Testament describes godly wisdom as “peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17, ESV) These traits are non-existent among far too many evangelicals? Check out Facebook if you don’t believe me.
The emphasis of evangelicals on worldly ways to establish God’s kingdom in our nations.
The message of the cross is that God’s power is demonstrated in what looks weak to the world. And yet, evangelicals pour large amounts of energy and resources into establishing and consolidating power to effect social change. This completely contradicts the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus described the change God’s kingdom would bring as that of a tiny seed planted in the earth or a bit of leaven mixed in with the loaf of bread. Jesus wisely taught that we should give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. Sadly, it appears that many of today’s evangelicals are giving to Caesar what belongs to God.
There is so much more I could say, but let me end by sharing that some of my closest and dearest friends are evangelicals, like me. They have a relationship with God that is rich and deep.
I know some, if not many, will be offended by what I say. I also will be the first to admit that there are mountains to climb and issues with which we must wrestle in today’s rapidly changing culture. But it is time to seek to remove some of the logs in our own eyes before we can claim with any degree of integrity to remove even the tiniest speck in the eyes of others.
That, I believe, is the cost of authenticity.