What makes you part of the Christian " in-crowd ", or what makes you a follower of Jesus? Does it come down to " right answers "
I guess what I struggle with within this recognized and defined boundaries of orthodoxy is the implication of separation...inclusion and exclusion. Jesus and his friends come to the cross roads, "Caesarea Philippi", this would be the cultural intersection of their day. A cross roads plurality...language, cultures, religions. Really not much different from the intersection we find ourselves today. It's here, Jesus poses the questions, " who do the people say I am?", and, " who do you say I am?"
I really have a problem discerning whether this was a mid-term exam in the midst of their journey. And if it was a one question exam, " all or nothing "...there was nothing that acknowledged the inevitable outcome of separation.
Peter did do the class well making the right answer, with Jesus saying, " You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. "
Important to note, there was no comment by Jesus that the other 11 had failed, that they should pack up their school supplies and head home. They were still invited to continue the journey.
Interesting, the disciples had all been attending the same lectures, teaching, all seen the same miracles, but one out of 12 gets the right answer. Put this on a Bell Curve, and it wouldn't be hard to draw the conclusion the teacher is not getting the desired point across...or he's got the top dozen from the Darwin Awards.
It's obvious the Holy Spirit had a huge part to play in Peter's answer...my Father in heaven, God himself let you in on the answer. Peter's orthodox statement was a process, something he grew into...and something which grew into him.
No doubt, it had to be a bit of a let down for Jesus...teaching and wisdom that left people with there mouths open speechless, feeding the 5,000, walking on water while the boys sailed across the lake, giving site to the blind...and they couldn't see who he was.
Orthodoxy, yes we need it, we need anchor points into which to tie our faith into...but to the point of separation, exclusion...those in and those out. I'm not so sure.
I really believe once the disciples decided to follow, dropping their nets, tax account books, medical bag...they were " in ". It's a journey...of wrong answers sometimes; sometimes correct answers; of falling down and getting up; sometimes on the narrow path; sometimes on the highway; sometimes a saint; sometimes a sinner; sometimes like Peter, Jesus is my Lord ; and sometimes like Peter, I deny Jesus...but it's a journey in which I continue stumble on.
Bruxy Cavey, talks about a young woman in his church that had been in the community for a while that had been gravitating towards Jesus. It's like she was orbiting around this profound God-man, Jesus. She wasn't really sure, couldn't really declare belief in alot of the faith statements around Jesus...but there she was orbiting. Even communion, she came to the table, broke bread, drank the wine...she felt she belonged. Bruxy felt comfortable enough to let her lead a home group, wrestling with scripture among friends. There was absolutely no pressure to get her to declare belief, to have answers. Maybe, just maybe there is something far more profound in the " following " and in the coerced belief.
I believe in the context of a faith community, a group of followers...we can grow into far more orthodoxy...and an orthodoxy beyond mere doctrinal statements. But an orthodoxy that comes from relentlessly following of Jesus despite your failures, and whether or not you come up with any answers...when your Father in heaven, God speaks to you, gives you the answer to who Jesus really is.
We can make people declare belief in our religious frame work, our theology, our rules, our doctrine and dogama...to be in our church. But the reality is, even if they have said nothing but are clumsily staggering, following, orbiting around Jesus...they're " in." This, " who do you say I am " is not an exam, pages of religious questions where you have to acheive a certain number of correct answers to pass. This sounds crazy, but we can't give anyone the answer to that question...maybe it is as the Psalmist said, " when deep talks to deep "...a simple and profound all knowing.
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