I had an assignment.....i was supposed to be looking for local outreach strategies from emergent church perspectives, so i went to the wealth of information that most of us would start our searches at.....the Internet. Through my searches i came across an evangelism web site (which at this time will remain nameless to "hopefully" keep this conversation unbiased) whose main tag line was "Helping Christians Be Normal." This immediately brought about a bazillion questions into my head, which in reflection i think was the point, but i thought i would get some feed back from our blogging community..... here's three...
Question #1 - What is "Normal"?
-perhaps this is why the statement sparks so many questions. Normal is a very broad statement, and i think it is categorized differently by almost everyone. Normal to me might be a burger & fries for lunch, but that is totally NOT normal for someone in say the Amazon (just so you know lunch in the amazon is usually fish & rice....gross). SO, in my mind the statement helping Christians be normal, kinda just means helping Christians be whatever is easiest for them, maybe i am way off....help me understand.
Question #2- Would "Normal" Help me reach others for Christ?
-i suppose i should also share the context of this web site. they are wanting to help Christians be normal so that they might be more effective in sharing Christ/witnessing to others. The problem that they state is Christians have so much trouble doing this because the majority of non-Christians view us as wingnuts or wackjobs (that's not a direct quote from them, just a personal summary) and if we were more "normal" we would be more effective. Granted there are those out there whose presentation of the gospel comes off as lunacy or something that you might hear from a guy who also doesn't drink milk because that's where the clown's swim or something, BUT for the most part the gospel is the gospel and by making it more normal seems to just leave out offensive parts, thus dumbing it down & detracting from the truth of it, i dunno maybe i am way off....help me understand.
Question #3- Should Christians be "Normal"?
-finally, the biggest question i have with this is if we, as Christians, should even BE normal. Doesn't that kinda fly in the face of what Scripture calls us to be? For instance this Scripture about Christ in John 1- "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." OR perhaps Christ's words about us in John 15- "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world." It seems to say that we are not normal to the world....more support from Paul in his letter to the Romans in the 12th chapter "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Seems to me that normalcy is not something typical of a Christian, i kinda like it that way but maybe i am way off....help me understand.
So here's the point where you come in, pick a question and leave a comment, maybe you'll do two, or all three....let's grow together as we interact on these points.
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7 comments:
I would tend to agree with you on all three accounts. When you take a gander at Hebrews 11 you'll read about a number of people who are commended for their faith and the "abnormal" action they took because of it. But I think a valid point to rememebr is that these heros of the faith were not being abnormal just for "abnormalsy" sake. They were taking very purposeful steps of faith that in turn the world viewed as abnormal. If we are weird for the purpose of being weird then we can fall into a dangerous place of legalism; following man made rules just to be differant from the world. And in that case we become ineffective. In the book of I Timothy 2 Pauls implores Timothy to pray for a "peaceful and quite life in all godliness and holiness". Basically, don't be a nut-job just to say you are being "persecuted for righteousness sake". Instead, pray for a peaceful life; however, if that peace comes at the cost of godliness or holiness then "abnormalsy" is required. Basically, focus more on being like Christ (WWJD?) and less on being differant from the world. The prior will take care of the latter and the prior is not a moving target. We know exactly what Christ expects from us!!
Guild,
Great insight on the topic. I think your words hold weight for those stiving to live holy & godly lives. thanks so much for your comments.
Thoughtful entry, Joe. It seems like the term 'normal Christian' is in some ways an oxymoron.
If 'normal' in this context is used as an antonym for weird, backwards, unstylish, out-of-touch, and freakish, then I can buy it.
However, didn't Jesus prescribe a life (read: ethic) for his followers that was decidedly abnormal? If I may paraphrase his Sermon on the Mount message: "You've heard that the normal way to do things (i.e., respond to enemies, love your spouse, remain pure) is this, but I say..."
Thanks for the provocation.
Joe,
Answering your question #3; I don't think that we as Christians should be "normal". I think we should leave the people we meet in our lives saying to themselves 'there is something different about that guy'. Besides the Bible is full of people that would not be considered 'normal', i.e. Noah, John the Baptist, and just about any one of the prophets.
That's just my thought.
I understand the rational behind the premise for the article, but more normal by wordly definition? No thanks!
How about, Helping Christians Be More Loving! I can't speak for my brothers and sisters, but I need to be more loving and less prideful in the living out of my faith. I want my relationship with my savior to spill over into being set apart from the world, not this judgemental or critical persona that I struggle with.
I reject the notion of normal, but embrace empathy and love for the lost world. Too often, I find myself stuggling to love, normal would seem much easier. As Paul writes, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do" Romans 7:15
Great comments so far on a great question. Hard to pick just one to answer so I will take a stab at all 3.
1) Normal is something that I think is rapidly disappearing from our culture at least. This may be an overstatement as I have no real proof to back it up, but I do know that we now have more options for almost everything. People still fit into molds but as our society continues to change it becomes increasingly difficult to stick people in a sub category. Throw in your point about normal being a completely subjective term that is heavily influenced by personal beliefs and defining it becomes next to impossible.
2 & 3) As for questions 2& 3, being "normal" I feel would have a negative effect on evangelism. Realizing I just said that little if anything is normal anymore, one thing that does seem constant is the general self-interest that is running rampant in society now. The teachings of Jesus were just as radical 2000 years ago as they are today. As believers we are different, we live differently, and we process things differently. A normal approach in today's society leaves out love which is an integral part of the Gospel message. Anon nailed it on the head when he said that as Christians we need to be more loving, not more "normal." I've seen a lot of crazy street preachers in my day and I've yet to see anyone accept Christ as a result of the encounter. People need to see we're not crazy but that doesn't mean we have to be normal.
Wow my first visitation to the site as a curious member and your discussion blog is on normalcy. :) Can I just say that this word has always intrigued me. So my response is this.
I truely wonder what people are searching for when they use the term "normal"? Are they implying what is normal in society or a state of being or a way of interacting?
I can almost hear and feel this guys cry in wanting to be normal so we can evanagalize or engage with others, since I was once there. Earlier in my life I wished with all my heart that I could be "bad" just so I would be normal and not be seen differently. What I did not understand then was that my longing was more for realism and truth. Being real with myself and others, disposing of perfectionism and following the law to the "T" with no room for error. From experience as a christian it left me feeling condemned and wanting and needing more.
And just think...if all people hear from christians is an overly spiritualized, legal interpretation or showing of religion, with all its rules, regulations, and thou shall nots; Who do you think will listen? If that is what "normal" in our christian circle is and what is preached, what hope have we given?
Maybe normal, should be associated with real. When you engage the person right where there at whether they are a homosexual, a drug addict, or just a plain sinner, then you meet them where they need you the most. Not abandoning the standards of Christ but emphasizing his character through love, understanding, grace and TRUTH. Or have we forgoten who we were and where we came from before we came to know Christ?
By the way if the dictonary describes normal as; serving to establish a standard or conforming to a standard, then who's standards are we following God's or our societies?
And if God's standards are proclaimed through Christ, then should we give pat religious answers before strapping on a pair of sandals and walking in the shoes of those arouond us sharing their struggles, pains and joys, so that through the relationship we can providing grace, love and hope along with affirming truth. Christ being the unchanging standard we must follow.
Do I want to be normal? - No, can't be especially not in our societies raging sees.
Do I want to be real? - Yes
Sharing the real love of Christ to those around me and bringing His "normal" unchanging standards to the world I live in; knowing full well I am different and an outcast from society but knowing even more deeply that as an outcast in one I am made as a bride and an heir of the kingdom of God. For He came into the world to seek and save the lost and bring the widows and outcasts into his fold.
Sorry this is a little long I tried to condense it, and if you think I'm wrong please share :)
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