In this entry, I am continuing to explore Christian masculinity with a reflection on the power of faith to guide and sustain man for a lifetime. We all need something to believe in, and I have witnessed (and experienced!) the power of something breaking into one's mortal existence in a transformative manner to change the course of a life. I am convinced that we need an understanding of connection to a greater reality to give life meaning: simply turning oxygen into CO2, seeking to avoid pain and experience pleasure, and accumulating stuff with the goal of winning by "dying with the most toys" is a pointless existence. Faith gives a target to aim the trajectory of one's lifetime at a purpose and goal (utilizing "telos," in Aristotle's terminology). In my life and work, I have encountered various definitions of faith. My favorite conception remains based on the work of James Fowler, depicting an overall understanding of faith as one's way of leaning into and making sense of life, and composed of an overarching system of images, commitments and values guiding one's life. On a more personal and religious level, faith is to me a commitment of my life into the hand of a God who loves me and calls me to live out His will in my mortal existence. I trust that the teachings and experiences guiding my daily choices are grounded in true wisdom from One who knows me and is working to bring me along a pathway to abundant life today, and into eternity. A verse which has been personally meaningful to me when seeking to live with a "long" view of daily choices is found in Hebrews 11:27b, "for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen (NASB)."
Perhaps it can be seen as arrogance, living a life convinced that God sees and cares about the actions and thoughts of one individual among billions of people living on planet Earth. Does God even exist? And how do we know that He is an intelligent, caring and active being? These are deep and abiding questions, and very difficult to answer to the satisfaction of the modern mind exposed to a sophisticated dependence on technology, science and "provable" statements. One one level, these questions cannot be adequately answered. God does not appear for interviews on network TV shows to answer questions about His existence and being, or submit to laboratory analysis and experimentation. By definition, "supernatural" events necessarily defy the laws of nature and orderly expectations of cause and effect. How then can we place our trust into God when choosing how to live on a daily basis?
I remain convinced that faith is a personal choice and spiritual experience, buttressed by tradition and the testimony of countless witness throughout the ages. Much is made of differences within scripture (for example, the different perspectives offered on similar events by authors of various Gospels) but in my opinion too little credit is given to the remarkable consistency among biblical accounts. Other writers have researched the topic thoroughly, but my understanding is that the volume and agreement among various existing ancient manuscripts of Scripture is unparalleled in historical documentary accounts. For me, however, faith is ultimately a question of what I believe and have experienced. I think this was also true for Joseph, who I am using as a model of faith in this series of blog posts.
Matthew 1-2 describes his experiences when preparing for marriage to Mary. For today's reflection, 1:20 highlights a personal experience which demonstrates the impact faith had on his life. When he had determined to end his engagement to Mary after learning of her pregnancy, an angel appeared to him in a dream and challenged his decision. The angel told him not to be afraid, to move ahead with the wedding, and reassured him that Jesus was part of God's will (for his own life as well as humanity's salvation). Joseph lived out his faith, and Joseph became part of the story of God's redemptive plan.
My own life has obviously not been as dramatically impacted, and will never have the kind of far-reaching implications depicted here. However, on the smaller scale of one Appalachian farmboy's life, I am also convinced that the supernatural has crowded into my life choices at times as well. One event which changed the trajectory of my life came at a typical crossroads. I was attending NCSU as a freshman when I felt called into ministry, and my life has taken a far different (and more rewarding) direction since accepting this call. I will always remember attending an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship meeting, where the speakers were talking about missions, ministry and faith. They were emphasizing the missionary "Caleb project" at this meeting, and while I did not sense a calling into missions work I did get an overwhelming sense that God was calling me into vocational ministry. Through a series of discussions, encouragement from my pastor in Raleigh, and information from my denominational school (Lee University), I made the decision to transfer for my sophomore year. This experience in the spring of 1990 led to a change in location, college and career. Other events and experiences have also helped shape my life's path and reinforced my faith at important points of my faith journey (experiencing anger at God for some losses in my life, while coming to Job 38-39 in my daily devotional reading, was quite the humbling experience). I am convinced that God cares for and directs human lives, if we will commit our ways in trust to him. The paths He leads us along are much more rewarding (though usually involving sacrifice) than we can devise in our own limited understanding. Faith is an essential part of becoming a better man.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Review of "Growing up Amish"
I have recently been exploring the topic of Christian masculinity on this blog, and intend to continue addressing faith, courage and wisdom in future posts. However, I recently read a book which I would like to share a few thoughts about, and am interjecting this review for this week's post.
I discovered the book "Growing up Amish" while shopping this past week. I was in Sam's Club to pick up some milk, etc. and as I wandered the aisles for a few moments I decided to browse for a book to read. This particular book appealed to me, as I know very little about the faith and culture of the "simple" lifestyle practiced by some of patients and families I encounter as a hospital chaplain. In my service in Michigan and Indiana, I have met Amish, Mennonite and German Baptist families, and have been intrigued by some of the customs, dress, family and church support structures, etc. As I read a few paragraphs from the book, I thought it might offer a window into the culture and faith represented by the title. I also enjoy biographies, and it quickly became apparent that this was the early life story of a man who was sharing his journey and struggle to develop an individual life and faith incorporating elements of his youthful milieu and "rebellious" elements of a self-chosen path.
"Growing up Amish" is the memoir of Ira Wagler, the son of a widely-known writer within the Amish community. As he grew up in his large family and strict culture, Ira rebelled at various points in his life. He left his Iowa home at 17 to work as a cowboy on a Nebraska ranch, but returned to his home, family and church. Several more episodes of leaving, but being drawn back, occurred before his final breach with the Amish church and culture at the age of 26. He refers to the 20+ years which have passed since that breach in the epilogue, but the book is primarily the story of a young Amish boy who becomes a man with a deep but separate faith from his early influence.
I did find some of the insights into the faith and culture that I had hoped for, and think it will prove useful in my chaplaincy interactions with some of our patients and families. Ira provides a helpful background to the German Anabaptist roots of the Amish tradition, and offers his personal criticisms of some of the dry stoicism balanced with a respect for the strength of tradition and interdependence. He is able to honestly share his frustrations with some of the lengthy, boring services he attended without losing sight of the generosity and care exhibited by the close-knit communities. I learned more about the "Rumspringa," or "running around" time some Amish youth experience after turning 16. I also found the ministerial selection process of the community described here both fascinating and troubling. Additional details were also provided about the tradition of utilizing a horse and buggy for local transportation, but having an openness to hiring "English" drivers to transport people and goods long distances by automobile when necessary. I first encountered this practice in Michigan, when an Amish child came into our ED after a farming accident. The Amish community was a couple of hours' drive from our facility, and the child required inpatient admission. I was vaguely aware of the horse-and-buggy tradition, and decided to ask if transportation would be problematic during the hospital stay. The family politely thanked me for my concern, but informed me that they had hired a driver who would stay with them as needed, and would return if necessary as well. I was hopeful that this apparent contradiction between refusing to own an automobile, but riding in one when needed, would be explained further. I do think I have a better understanding of the principled but pragmatic stance of the community after reading this book. While this was not a doctrinal treatise of the Amish church, the references permeating this account do give me a richer understanding of the traditions and practices, which I think will be useful to me in ministry.
My greatest benefit, however, was the pleasure of reading an enjoyable biographical account of a man coming of age and struggling with his relationships with family, friends and God. His stories of hard work on the farm, family joys and disagreements, and romantic relationships and struggles resonated deeply with my own life experiences. I appreciated the openness and simplicity of the author's voice, and felt that I was being invited into a conversation about his life and faith.
I would recommend the book highly, especially to other readers interested in biography, faith and simple lifestyles.
I discovered the book "Growing up Amish" while shopping this past week. I was in Sam's Club to pick up some milk, etc. and as I wandered the aisles for a few moments I decided to browse for a book to read. This particular book appealed to me, as I know very little about the faith and culture of the "simple" lifestyle practiced by some of patients and families I encounter as a hospital chaplain. In my service in Michigan and Indiana, I have met Amish, Mennonite and German Baptist families, and have been intrigued by some of the customs, dress, family and church support structures, etc. As I read a few paragraphs from the book, I thought it might offer a window into the culture and faith represented by the title. I also enjoy biographies, and it quickly became apparent that this was the early life story of a man who was sharing his journey and struggle to develop an individual life and faith incorporating elements of his youthful milieu and "rebellious" elements of a self-chosen path.
"Growing up Amish" is the memoir of Ira Wagler, the son of a widely-known writer within the Amish community. As he grew up in his large family and strict culture, Ira rebelled at various points in his life. He left his Iowa home at 17 to work as a cowboy on a Nebraska ranch, but returned to his home, family and church. Several more episodes of leaving, but being drawn back, occurred before his final breach with the Amish church and culture at the age of 26. He refers to the 20+ years which have passed since that breach in the epilogue, but the book is primarily the story of a young Amish boy who becomes a man with a deep but separate faith from his early influence.
I did find some of the insights into the faith and culture that I had hoped for, and think it will prove useful in my chaplaincy interactions with some of our patients and families. Ira provides a helpful background to the German Anabaptist roots of the Amish tradition, and offers his personal criticisms of some of the dry stoicism balanced with a respect for the strength of tradition and interdependence. He is able to honestly share his frustrations with some of the lengthy, boring services he attended without losing sight of the generosity and care exhibited by the close-knit communities. I learned more about the "Rumspringa," or "running around" time some Amish youth experience after turning 16. I also found the ministerial selection process of the community described here both fascinating and troubling. Additional details were also provided about the tradition of utilizing a horse and buggy for local transportation, but having an openness to hiring "English" drivers to transport people and goods long distances by automobile when necessary. I first encountered this practice in Michigan, when an Amish child came into our ED after a farming accident. The Amish community was a couple of hours' drive from our facility, and the child required inpatient admission. I was vaguely aware of the horse-and-buggy tradition, and decided to ask if transportation would be problematic during the hospital stay. The family politely thanked me for my concern, but informed me that they had hired a driver who would stay with them as needed, and would return if necessary as well. I was hopeful that this apparent contradiction between refusing to own an automobile, but riding in one when needed, would be explained further. I do think I have a better understanding of the principled but pragmatic stance of the community after reading this book. While this was not a doctrinal treatise of the Amish church, the references permeating this account do give me a richer understanding of the traditions and practices, which I think will be useful to me in ministry.
My greatest benefit, however, was the pleasure of reading an enjoyable biographical account of a man coming of age and struggling with his relationships with family, friends and God. His stories of hard work on the farm, family joys and disagreements, and romantic relationships and struggles resonated deeply with my own life experiences. I appreciated the openness and simplicity of the author's voice, and felt that I was being invited into a conversation about his life and faith.
I would recommend the book highly, especially to other readers interested in biography, faith and simple lifestyles.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Christian Masculinity: Compassion
In my last post, I asked "What is a man?" and referred to 4 characteristics that I think are essential for Christian masculinity. In this entry, I intend to explore the first one more thoroughly, "Compassion."
The example of Joseph in Matthew 1-2 provides insight into what a man can and should be. My faith leads me to believe that God was quite particular about the man who would be primarily responsible for modeling human masculinity to the incarnate Christ, and we can learn from the hints we are given in the few passages of Scripture which refer to Joseph's character. Early in Jesus' story, we learn that Joseph was betrothed to Mary. As they were preparing for the wedding, Joseph learned that his beloved was pregnant.
How would you respond? Joseph may have been hurt, angry and could have sought revenge or to publicly shame her. However, Mt. 1:19 states that he was "a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, (he) planned to send her away secretly." My interpretation is that Joseph was capable of understanding the implications of publicly revealing her apparent unfaithfulness, and cared for her safety and needs even while refusing to continue the process of joining as a family. In short, it appears to me that Joseph was neither a weakling who would place himself in a position of continuing to be wronged, nor was he a vengeful man who required public satisfaction for an apparent wrong suffered.
I am convinced that living as a man in relationship with God provides peace and strength to endure difficult circumstances, but is not a promise that we will never experience pain. We can choose to care for those around us, and extend our hands and hearts without a guarantee of reciprocity or safety. As C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying,
The example of Joseph in Matthew 1-2 provides insight into what a man can and should be. My faith leads me to believe that God was quite particular about the man who would be primarily responsible for modeling human masculinity to the incarnate Christ, and we can learn from the hints we are given in the few passages of Scripture which refer to Joseph's character. Early in Jesus' story, we learn that Joseph was betrothed to Mary. As they were preparing for the wedding, Joseph learned that his beloved was pregnant.
How would you respond? Joseph may have been hurt, angry and could have sought revenge or to publicly shame her. However, Mt. 1:19 states that he was "a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, (he) planned to send her away secretly." My interpretation is that Joseph was capable of understanding the implications of publicly revealing her apparent unfaithfulness, and cared for her safety and needs even while refusing to continue the process of joining as a family. In short, it appears to me that Joseph was neither a weakling who would place himself in a position of continuing to be wronged, nor was he a vengeful man who required public satisfaction for an apparent wrong suffered.
I am convinced that living as a man in relationship with God provides peace and strength to endure difficult circumstances, but is not a promise that we will never experience pain. We can choose to care for those around us, and extend our hands and hearts without a guarantee of reciprocity or safety. As C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying,
"Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.
If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one,
not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries;
avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe
in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.
But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change.
It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable,
impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."
There is a powerful temptation for men, especially independent men in the Western world, to be the "strong, silent type." We watch movies about John Wayne, Dirty Harry or John McClane and think a "real man" should be a lone cowboy or a tough cop, capable of taking care of himself and those around him without needing assistance from anyone or anything. However, this view directly contradicts the clear teaching and doctrine of the Christian faith.
I Corinthians 12 refers to the church as the "body of Christ," and clearly teaches the interdependence on one another we must have to accurately reflect the love of Christ in our daily lives. V. 14 states that "the body is not one member, but many" and subsequent verses use examples from the human body to state that we need one another just as surely as the eye needs the ear to function to maximum potential. V. 26 indicates that "if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; and if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."
What would happen in our churches, our places of work, our families and our individual lives if we lived closer to this ideal of interdependence? Of course some people will let us down at times, and we will also find ourselves failing to live up to the needs of those around us frequently. Humanity is flawed. Nevertheless, I am convinced that seeking to live according to the principle of accepting our interdependence, and reaching out with compassion, will lead us on the path to a more abundant life. Risking greatly, and living with vulnerability, can help us to discover the truth expressed in Matthew 16:25- "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."
Compassion enables a man to love boldly, serving as a living witness of God's sacrificial love. In future posts, I will share additional thoughts about faith, courage and wisdom as essential attributes of Christian masculinity.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
What is a man? Thoughts on Christian masculinity
In an ever-changing world, definitions and roles of many types continue to shift. Technology and economic progress (and regression/economic hardship!) impact how we all live and interact with one another. Changing patterns of human interaction, new questions about relationships and status, and increasing communication and mobility can make it very difficult to predict what the future holds- and how to successfully navigate a rapidly changing society. This challenge is true for people of all economic classes, professional roles, and family relationships.
As a professional, evangelical male (and minister) I have been reading various books on the subject of Christian masculinity since my sister gave me a copy of "Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul," and I have subsequently read 2 additional books by this author (Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive, and Love & War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed of). I have also participated in Men's Fraternity groups at my local church, and read some books by Robert Lewis in that setting. Part of what drives me to explore this subject is my personal journey to understanding Christian masculinity in the 21st century, and my previous role in parish ministry and current chaplaincy career also inform my belief that many current churches fail to speak effectively to men. Some churches and ministries do an excellent job of reaching out to all people, but too many (in my opinion) present the Christian faith as a "soft" exercise of being nice, gentle and kind in this life, or emphasize eternity and making sure we "get to heaven" and avoid hell. It is relatively rare (in my opinion) to find a faith community which offers resources and teachings that invite contemporary men to explore the adventure of discipleship, following God in becoming witnesses of a bold love and challenging faith.
In short, too few churches and ministers today offer a compelling answer to the question Robert Lewis asks via a poem in one of his books- "What is a Man?"
As a professional, evangelical male (and minister) I have been reading various books on the subject of Christian masculinity since my sister gave me a copy of "Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul," and I have subsequently read 2 additional books by this author (Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive, and Love & War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed of). I have also participated in Men's Fraternity groups at my local church, and read some books by Robert Lewis in that setting. Part of what drives me to explore this subject is my personal journey to understanding Christian masculinity in the 21st century, and my previous role in parish ministry and current chaplaincy career also inform my belief that many current churches fail to speak effectively to men. Some churches and ministries do an excellent job of reaching out to all people, but too many (in my opinion) present the Christian faith as a "soft" exercise of being nice, gentle and kind in this life, or emphasize eternity and making sure we "get to heaven" and avoid hell. It is relatively rare (in my opinion) to find a faith community which offers resources and teachings that invite contemporary men to explore the adventure of discipleship, following God in becoming witnesses of a bold love and challenging faith.
In short, too few churches and ministers today offer a compelling answer to the question Robert Lewis asks via a poem in one of his books- "What is a Man?"
What is a man?
Is he someone who is strong and tall?
Or is he taut and talented as he plays ball?
Is he someone who is hardened and rough,
Who smoke and drinks and swears enough?
Is he someone who chases women hard,
With a quest to conquer, but never dropping his guard?
Is he someone with a good business mind,
Who gets ahead of the others with his nose to the grind?
Or is he someone who tries his best,
Not really caring about any of the rest?
What is a man? Does anyone really know?
TELL ME!
Who is the prototype? To whom shall I go?
In short, what does it mean to be a man of faith today? With changing circumstances of recent decades in areas of family relationships, typical careers etc. the questions can be as simple as whether holding the door for a female colleague is polite or offensive, or as complicated as how to solve discipline problems with a child who lives with an ex-spouse. Where can we turn for answers and principled guidance?
I remain convinced that basic principles can be timeless, and can be discerned carefully from examples in Scripture. For this discussion, I intend to highlight four principles from the life of Joseph (Mt. 1-2). I believe that Joseph was (and we can be today) men of integrity who demonstrate compassion, faith, courage and wisdom.
I will develop each of these principles more fully in additional blog posts in coming weeks.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
John Witherspoon: Forgotten Founder, Clergyman, Educator... Reese Witherspoon's Ancestor?
As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, I have been thinking of one of the often-ignored influential signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. John Witherspoon influenced the direction of early American history deeply, in his multiple roles as minister, educator, and statesman as the colonies transitioned into a sovereign nation.
The "Reese Witherspoon" connection is mentioned as a historical curiousity, and because my daughter is a huge "Legally Blonde" fan (I prefer her portrayal of June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line," personally). Multiple sources do indicate that these two Witherspoons are in fact related.
John Witherspoon was a Scottish Presbyterian minister, who moved to the colonies in 1768 to serve as the president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). This school, as with many other early educational institutions in America, had a primary goal of training of ministers for the expanding population. (Princeton had an early connection to Presbyterians, Harvard and Yale trained many Congregational ministers, Dartmouth's founder was a Congregational minister, and Columbia was originally Anglican). Many of these institutions continue to have active programs of theological instruction, but are better known today for excellence in other academic areas. Witherspoon served as a force for growth and stability for this institution until his death in 1794.
Witherspoon also influenced the direction of the emerging country in multiple ways. One of his primary roles grew directly from his position as an educator- dozens of his students were central characters in America's founding. The most prominent example is James Madison, who studied under Witherspoon from 1769-1772. He is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" as well as serving in various political roles (including President from 1809-1817). Multiple other students served as cabinet officers, senators, congressmen and state governors. Perhaps his greatest influence on America was indirectly, by shaping the education and political philosophy of many early leaders.
However, his direct influence is often unrecognized. John Witherspoon was active in the New Jersey political scene, and was selected as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He served alongside more famous figures in this role from June 1776-November 1782, serving on many committees and speaking frequently to the formational issues of the young nation. As delegates debated whether the time was ripe to declare Independence, one famous quote attributed to Witherspoon is that we were "not only ripe for the measure, but in danger of rotting for the want of it." John Witherspoon was the only active clergyman and only college president to sign the Declaration of Independence.
As we celebrate Independence on this Fourth of July weekend, my hope is that we will offer thanks for the many known and unknown individuals who invested time and effort in our exceptional nation.
May God continue to bless America!
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