Geez Pastor's Wife!

Geez, Pastor’s wife!

4-28-13

I’ve been reading Geez Magazine.  It’s sort of a liberal-anti-establishment-hipster-Christian publication.  Their subtitle is “Holy mischief in an age of fast faith.”  The articles range from happily culturally alternative to fury with the Church of which they have held synonymous with intolerance.

I’m really enjoying it.

I feel particularly motivated by the articles that featured ways and attitudes of taking better care of the earth and also ones about “tolerance”. 

I couldn’t help but wonder what Ten or Twenty years ago Shannon would have done with this magazine.  I struggled with liberal views more in those days than now.  Simultaneously I was extremely disappointed with The Church.  I was determined to bring a piece of the puzzle of change.  Partly out of arrogance (feeling that my husband and I could do this church thing better than generations previously) but also an indignant passion for freer expression of deeper truths.

The difference with then and now is happy/sad.  I do think that the years have brought a more balanced and open perspective (definitely a more humble one).  I now see the value of “compromise” which seemed more like a nasty word for a dilluting or watering down at the time.  Sad because frankly, I’m TIRED.  Nowadays, that passionate indignation enjoys it’s daily nap time.

I’m in a place, presently, that I am excited about the freedom of becoming more tolerant of all the beautiful people around me who differ in opinion and lifestyle than I.  This is a challenge I have turned toward and in a strange way, also something I have always WANTED to do.

Ironically, I think the authors of Geez Magazine have a difficult time having tolerance for the, perhaps, most unattractive group of people that I hypocritically have a hard time having compassion for as well:

The Comfortable Religious. 

Most of the “Autonomous Christian Anarchists” I read in Geez would probably put me into this group.  Ironiclaly, this is the group  have actually felt oppressed by; unaccepted by.  but still:  They (or we) are not beyond hope of change or less in need of Mercy.

We Christian Anarchists (can I be in both groups?) must stand in the way of many previously accepted ideas.  However, we must not forget to bring others along both GENTLY AND SLOWLY.  It is Irritating for effortlessly stylish warriors like us to put down our awesome underground swords and look into the eyes of those we disagree with (or even stand against) and:

Listen.

As a Southern Californian I find that extremely challenging after 10 minutes or so.  NOt sure if the smog has given us all ADHD but most of us are very distracted by something shiny...or perhaps simply a MIRROR.   I hate to say it but we tend to share about ourselves much more than we listen.  Then you add the prickle factor that disagreement brings and its like:  “ squeezing blood out of a turnip” (-Grandma Shouse)

So:

Listening

Gentle explanation

Patience

Yielding:

Non-judgemental tolerance

Even for those who I feel judged by.

UGH!  Part of me looks at this list and thinks, “Kill me now.”  So hard.

But I claim to serve someone who asked me to do this and did it Himself.

I even see some mortal people doing this.  One in particular is a pastor friend of mine.  He is pastor of a church in a denomination who openly encourages woman in ministry positions...even supports some women pastors.  (gasp!)  However, he has members of his church and some staff members who were in a bit of an uprise about this issue.  This pastor has chosen the “third way”...he turned the other cheek.  He is gently and slowly taking his congregation through scripture on Sundays and teaching about these “supporting passages” and how our  mentality toward scripture has affected our view on such passages. 

He listens.

He asks questions.

He gently explains

He tolerates

The anarchist inside me heard about this and said, “why don’t those people just go to another church that don’t believe in women pastors.  There’s plenty to choose from!?”  But there’s another voice inside me that reminds my soul that this was me just a couple of decades ago.

Ok, I have more but I need to go....

Stay tuned if you’re reading for more rambling and hopefully a conclusion at some point.