Kevin,

I understand your feedback about "Blue like Jazz" -- and your insight about Miller's 'dropping the occassional f-bomb' as evidence of rebellious Christianity was again (in my opinion) spot-on.

But as I look around at other clergy in the ELCiC I wonder sometimes if the heaviness of the institutional church is trained into us.

Because simply, I find -- to use your words -- tremendous joy, passion, and life in calling to serve the church.

But I'm consistently judged because of them. I'm told "I don't take this seriously enough", or that 'I'm trying too hard'(?). I've been told I lack compassion by people who've sort of watched how I am with people and from there extrapolated that I can't offer care to the hurting.

My faith life has been criticized as 'too evangelical' and my theology as 'loose'.

I would rather be a passionate Christian than a good theologian -- though I'm as convinced there's that big a difference between the two as the church seems to be.

It is the nature, I think, of people to be frustrated with Christianity as conveyed by an institution. But I think it's a tragedy when Christianity is confused with the institution.
mick | Homepage | 06.30.09 - 4:49 pm | #