We need to tell more dirty stories
Scot McKnight thinks Christians need to quit trying to tell too many clean stories:
I'm afraid I'm one of those who've fallen into the "ruts and routines of middle age," but I think Scot is right. These days I'm so overwhelmed with the blessings of God's grace--giving me purpose and hope and joy--that it's easy to forget who very much I struggled as a young man, and how much those around me are still struggling today.
Scot's been devoting a lot of blog space recently to conversion (here and here and here and here and here). The idea of clean and messy certainly describes that process. When, for example, was I converted? At my infant baptism? Confirmation at age 11? My baptism by immersion at age 18? Leaving an increasingly apostate denomination at 25? Beginning to live a life somewhat resembling Christian discipleship in my early 30s?
As a minister, the temptation is strong to pick one of those events and say that's my point of conversion. But I won't. There's no value in speculating on if I had died at a certain point whether I would have gone to heaven or hell. I'm inclined to believe most if not all the events of my life have been elements of my conversion, from my parent's commitment to rear me as a Christian as best they understood that path through my own efforts to live as befits my calling. I wish my story were cleaner, but it's not. In a very real sense, I'm still being converted--not from lost to saved, but more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. Praise him.
By "clean" I mean that Christians often want to tell conversion stories that are clean: I was a sinner and then I found Jesus and now I'm squeaky clean. This kind of story happens sometimes -- and I know lots of people like this. So this is one kind of story.
But there is another kind of story that is far more normal than the "clean stories" suggest. The fact is that many if not most Christians struggle, especially until they line up into the ruts and routines of middle age (and then some are still struggling). If struggling is far more common than we often hear, why don't we tell more of those stories. Will it, as some have suggested, create a bad model and steer the struggling into thinking that their struggles are OK or that they can sin and it is OK?
I'm afraid I'm one of those who've fallen into the "ruts and routines of middle age," but I think Scot is right. These days I'm so overwhelmed with the blessings of God's grace--giving me purpose and hope and joy--that it's easy to forget who very much I struggled as a young man, and how much those around me are still struggling today.
Scot's been devoting a lot of blog space recently to conversion (here and here and here and here and here). The idea of clean and messy certainly describes that process. When, for example, was I converted? At my infant baptism? Confirmation at age 11? My baptism by immersion at age 18? Leaving an increasingly apostate denomination at 25? Beginning to live a life somewhat resembling Christian discipleship in my early 30s?
As a minister, the temptation is strong to pick one of those events and say that's my point of conversion. But I won't. There's no value in speculating on if I had died at a certain point whether I would have gone to heaven or hell. I'm inclined to believe most if not all the events of my life have been elements of my conversion, from my parent's commitment to rear me as a Christian as best they understood that path through my own efforts to live as befits my calling. I wish my story were cleaner, but it's not. In a very real sense, I'm still being converted--not from lost to saved, but more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. Praise him.
posted by Milton Stanley at 2:55 PM
5 Comments:
Great point! I'm like you. I like to say I was saved at age 7, but God began to powerfully transform me at age 19. I know that's some weak theology, but I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe there's a Baptist around here who can explain to me how it "didn't take" until I was 19. I still don't get that.
I like honest testimonies. Danny Daniels explains he can't tell repeat the salvation prayer he first uttered -- too many cuss words. I think he's probably exaggerating, but I can definitely relate to his testimony.
On the other hand, I have real issues with people who think they have to "beef up" their testimony -- invent drug addictions, sexual relations, literal satan worship -- because drama is a good selling technique. There are plenty of unbelievers out there who aren't living demonstrably evil lives who need to hear the truth of a simple yet equally powerful testimony.
Thanks for sharing this.
I think our journey is just that...a journey. There's a definite beginning...we're born...but as followers of Christ, I'm no so sure that it would be appropriate to say there's an end. Following Christ never stops, not even when our bodies die.
And like any other journey there are twists and turns along the way. I can't tell you how many times I've taken the wrong path or fallen down...but somehow, our amazing Savior has brought me back.
My testimony...well it's all over the place. I was baptized, confirmed, accepted Jesus, got so angry with Jesus I wanted nothing to do with Him, came back, left, came back...Now I'm here to stay, but have my ups, downs, all arounds just like anyone else. Praise to the Father that He is so amazing He stuck with me.
I think that's what people need to hear. That no matter where we are at, or where we've been, God was right there with us. In the heights of the mountains and in the depths of our wretched valleys.
Let's face it...Honesty, is definitely the best policy. We all struggle, we all sin and we are all forgiven and loved. Gosh, God is so good.
Good points, Matt. I know what you mean about beefing up testimonies. There are a few former high-profile types of fell from their positions of authority when their own beefing came to light. You know, if we really look at the darkness of our own hearts our honest testimonies are dramatic enough. Peace.
I cherish your testimony, Dan, and I hope and pray it's very close to the ones my sons tell one day. Peace.
God is so good indeed, Bethany Jo. Thanks for sharing your testimony, and praise him that you're back with God on good footing. Peace.
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