I Lost My Way?
A couple of weeks ago I “liked” the comment a friend left on another friend’s Facebook profile. This led to a rather interesting dialogue, not on the issue, but on me. That “like” led to part of the response to the comment being, “No surprise you get Neil Craigan to give your response a thumbs up.” Hmm, I’ve never seen someone comment on who liked a Facebook post, that was a first.
Later in the conversation I was told I had lost my way, “I wish you the best to find your way back.” When I read this it brought a smile to my face and I started to think about “my way.” What is “my way?” Do I have a way? I suppose I do, we all have a way of seeing the world.
We all live with a certain cultural narrative, a lens or set of lenses through which we try to make sense of the world. For the better part of the last forty years, “my way” has been trying to bring my life in line with the narrative of Jesus, and for the past thirty plus years my vocation has been helping people try and do the same. I suppose this is likely the reason I was told, “You keep pulling your faith into [sic] I have not.” No question about it, my faith in Christ is the central part of the narrative I try to live by. If there is a single lens I try to filter things through it is the person and teaching of Jesus.
Other folks choose different narratives to live by. The friend whose comment I liked says he’s an atheist and socialist, I disagree with him, we’re still friends and have great conversation when we get together. Understanding the narratives of others allows me to better understand why people think the way they do. I can appreciate how someone who believes in American exceptionalism, buys into American civil religion, and highly individualistic thinking would vote for Donald Trump. It makes sense within the context of that narrative. It’s just a not narrative I believe in. In my homeland of Ireland I can appreciate how someone can buy into an Irish Republican narrative, see the British as a violent occupying force, and believe violence is justified against the oppressor. I just believe it’s a poor narrative through which to view the world. The main problem with these and many other narratives are their failure to appreciate the full humanity of those outside their chosen group.
(One of the key elements of the historic Christian narrative, the way of Jesus, is that it validates the humanity of all people. It recognises that all people are created in the image of God and with that comes an inherent dignity.)
I may have lost my way. Actually, I hope I’m losing my way as I’m trying to find the way of Jesus. Trying to find the way of Jesus is no easy task in the modern western world. For the last 1,600 years (why I chose 1,600 is a separate discussion) western culture has been working hard to co-opt Jesus to its own end. Untangling Jesus from those narratives that seek to co-opt Jesus; then rejecting those narratives; then finding the authentic Jesus within a 21st Century cultural context takes a great deal of work and time studying and interpreting Scripture. Even after giving thousands of hours to this task I am willing to say that I hold my theology both confidently and lightly. I hold it with humility, knowing I am only partially right and could be wrong. As the apostle Paul says, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
“My way” is (imperfectly) shaped by Scripture. Which doesn’t mean much unless you understand something about how I translate and interpret Scripture. So for a little clarity, my biggest influence outside of Scripture is probably Dietrich Bonhoeffer, especially The Cost of Discipleship. There are numerous other theological influences including Christopher Wright, Eugene Peterson, John Stott, NT Wright, Miroslav Volf, Alister McGrath, Desmond Tutu, John Calvin … this list could go on and on depending on the area of theology! There are other influences too, sociologists, anthropologists, artists, poets, novelists, musicians, and others.
There’s a reason I have some 2,000 books on my shelves. I’m trying to find my way, I’m trying to find my way by bringing it into alignment with the way of Jesus, for only then (based on my theology) will I be able to say that I’m on the right path, the path I choose to walk through this life.
I’m on my way
I’m not there yet
A pilgrim on a journey
A sojourner through life
Learning from Jesus
Each and every day.
