An Inkling
A couple of weeks ago I was visiting with another Presbyterian Minister, and in the course of conversation I referred to St. Giles Church as “evangelical.” He responded, “And we’re not?” Granted, it’s not the first word that comes to mind as I think about the church he serves. But his readiness to claim the term made me think. The modifiers with which we nuance our identity frequently obscure as much as they clarify. That’s because these words pick up baggage along the way. Wisdom would suggest that we use fewer such adjectives, and let the proper nouns carry their own freight. “Christian” says quite a lot on its own.
But sometimes we need to specify our beliefs and commitments with modifiers. If we’re to do so, then we must also have periodic conversations about what we mean by our modifiers, and that’s to the good, for we are thereby forced to clarify both our thinking and our vocabulary.
So with that in mind, let me clarify some modifiers that I use for myself these days. I’m a liberal, conservative, evangelical, charismatic, feminist, Presbyterian – which might lead you to add one more modifier: schizophrenic! But here’s what I mean:
I’m liberal. Some use the word to describe those who discredit the scripture. That’s not me. By it I mean that I try to be open to diverse opinions.
I’m conservative. It’s not that I’m opposed to change. I just want to conserve what’s true and best.
I’m evangelical. Though some use the word politically, I don’t. Rather I mean that I’m confident in the good news of Jesus, and I welcome others to follow him too. (And in conversation with my pastor friend, I was also using the word to mean a full trust in the scripture’s teaching – one of the great divides in our denomination.)
I’m charismatic. It’s not that I roll in the aisles, but I’m open to all that the Spirit would do to enliven us and equip us for ministry. (We need all of the help we can get!)
I’m a feminist. Some would cast women and men as just alike and ready for all the same roles. I don’t. But I do support the long overdue efforts to recognize the full range of women’s gifts, and to see that they are treated fairly in every setting.
I’m a Presbyterian. Of all the modifiers I bear, this is the one that causes me the most angst, due to the current dysfunction of our denomination. But for centuries it has been an effective arrangement for serving Christ, and it remains the one to which I’m called.
I’m sure you have your own modifiers for me! Let’s continue to talk and clarify who we are, what we believe, and what we want to do as “modified Christians.”
No mere Christianity,
Keith
