God Is A Process

So many thoughts have been passing through my mind the past few days. One of the most frustrating of which, is trying to bridge the generation gap between my mother and I. The way we both think is so completely opposite. Most people I know, myself and Jeff included, are revolutionizing Christ, the church, and the idea of love. Its about less hate and judgment, and more love and understanding. Its about thinking outside the box. So many of us (even non-Christians) are tired of the superficial pseudo-Christians, the "Read-your-Bible-and-pray" answers, the God-in-a-box theory, and the belief that "big" sinners don't belong in the church. Something tells me this is not what Christ would have been like. He hung out with the poor, the prositutes, and the tax collectors. The only problem is that the church doesn't accept these kind of people anymore. Homeless people are kicked out for not being dressed appropriately. Prostitutes are shunned and stared at for being for whores. Homosexuality has become the "Number One Sin" and most are not accepted in the church, and if they are, it is only unless they change. But the proud easily walk through the doors, the judgmental sit front row, and the greedy sit in the back to dodge the offering plate. Now, I am not professing that all Christians and all churches are like this, or that I have it right and they are wrong. I am simply saying that, personally, I couldn't be the Christian I was before and still feel close to God. It was so superficial, so unpersonal, so "quick and easy" religion.

So I started talking to my mom. The topic came up when we were talking about the latest happenings between Walmart and Christians. That some want to sue and make Walmart make their employees say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays." She agreed that it was taken too far by the Christians, but that maybe it needs to be done. She claims that these "New Christians" are becoming too tolerable. That Satan is getting a hold by having people from the church think and act this way. That we are doing his work instead of Christ's. That love is not understanding people and meeting them where they're at, but it is a "swift kick in the butt."

Needless to say, I am left frustrated and confused and silent. We have had too many fights over this that we've just agreed to disagree. I guess the confusion and frustration is over how so many can be stuck in this mindset. To me, its such a shallow way of thinking about Christ. Its sunday school answers. Its barely scratching the surface. Its putting God in a box. I don't understand how people can stay thinking one way their whole life. Life, as well as knowing God, is a process; meaning, things are always changing. If we are never changing, never learning new things, never rediscovering, or digging deeper, then we are dead in our tracks. Our faith is not developing, it is not progressing. It is getting nowhere. Thoughts, anybody?