My Reformation

I am experiencing a spiritual reformation of sorts. In this reformation I’m finding myself laying down some things that I once considered very important. And I’m picking up some things that I once either had no interest in or was reluctant to pick them up.

I’m laying down the need for my faith and my ministry to be categorized. We Christians tend to do that. We’re broken up into two main categories; Catholic or Protestant. But then we categorize even further. If you use a band and Powerpoint on Sunday morning, then we categorize your church as “contemporary.” If you use an organ and sing out of hymnals, then we categorize your church as “traditional.” If you strip away everything that looks and feels religious and replace it with secular music, drama, and sermonettes then we categorize you as “seeker-sensitive.”

I’m even laying down the need to label myself “Christian.” What does that term mean anyway? Ask most non-Christian people what a Christian is and they’ll tell you that a Christian is someone goes to church, reads the Bible, is a narrow-minded, hypocritical bigot who spends more time talking about what they’re against than they do talking about what they are for. When the term was coined it was a derogatory label then too pinned on the radical followers of Christ by the pagans of Antioch. But then the label was truly a badge of honor because it meant that the Christians looked and acted like “little Christs.” And today, there are so many (myself at times) who wear the label "Christian" yet look very little like "Little Christs." If someone asks me about my faith, I’m becoming less-inclined to say that I’m a “Christian” and more inclined to say that I’m a “disciple of Jesus Christ.”

I’m finding less and less of a need in my life to be categorized. There was a time when I would turn on Christian television and see a praise and worship service with a Hillsong team or the team from Lakeland and be spiritually moved. Now, I am moved to tears when I close my eyes and meditate along with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy; a totally Catholic liturgy that wraps our minds and hearts with the truth of God’s overwhelming mercy toward us. I remember my first spiritual retreat to the Hermitage in Rushville, IL. Every morning and every evening I would spend an hour in the little chapel silently meditating along with the liturgical morning and evening prayers sung and read by Catholic monks. Then I would spend several hours surrounded by miles and miles of forest, trees, streams, and wildlife…and I’d sense God’s presence and voice all around me. For me those were profound times of touching God’s heart in a new way.

I’m also picking up some things. I’m picking up an appreciation for the spiritual heritage we have in ancient Christianity. There was a time when I would immediately think of horrible things like church corruption, the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc. when I would think of the Medieval church. But if you look deeper you see a spiritual passion and devotion and radical sense of mission that far outweighs what I often see today.

I particularly am drawn to the spirituality of the Celts who came to Christ and led the barbarians of Western Europe into becoming communities of faith. St. Patrick has recently found his place among my spiritual heroes. Everything they did was a violation of the “church code” of the day, yet it was revolutionary…bringing an entire continent into radical relationship with Christ.

I believe God will one day allow me to lead another congregation. And my prayer is that it will be such that if someone were to ask the question, “Are you contemporary or traditional?” I’ll be able to answer with a simple “yes.” “Are you seeker-sensitive or believer-centered?” “Yes.” “Are you Catholic or Protestant?” “Yes.”

I don’t know why God chose to begin this reformation in me. I don’t remember asking for it specifically. Perhaps, like any good Father would, He is responding to the cry of a heart that desires deeper places of intimacy with Him than I’ve experienced thus far.