It's All About Him
The Identity Crisis
You may want to think of this blog as an extended comment to LeeAnn's post. There were a number of issues raised, but I am targeting three main themes:
1. The Question of Apostolic Identity
2. What Does the Question Mean in Terms of Practice?
3. Writing: Formation or Exposition of Identity?
The Question of Apostolic Identity
Everyone wants to know: what does it mean to be Apostolic? This fundamental search for one's identity can be found all the way back in Plato when the oracle of Delphi reveals to Socrates that the fundamental question is "who am I." Perhaps what makes the narratives in Hebrew scripture (Old Testament) so compelling is the constant, underlying refrain of one's identity--Children of Israel has a definite referent. There are traditions, rituals, and laws that continually work to establish an understanding of who one is even in terms of as a people. Who are we Israelites? We are the ones delivered out of Egypt which we celebrate with the Passover. We are the ones who worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and so refrain from many popular practices in our culture connected to idol worship. So identity is established by common practices and worship rituals?
Then my thoughts strayed to the Gospels and the thought that the only identity Jesus seemed concerned with people wondering about was His own. Over and over again he queried, "Who do you say I am?" He quieted the demon possessed from revealing His identity because it seems He wanted His disciples and followers to ponder this question for themselves. Who do you say I am? He told his disciples who they were: fishers of men, "a rock", "beloved disciple", etc. He changed names to reflect who they were even when names seemed contradictory to personality and practice. It just doesn't seem like he cared for them to be on self-discovery mode. He told them who they were, but He asked them who He was/is.
Looking through the writings of Paul you will find that he continually begins with an assertion of his own identity (apostle/slave/disciple of Jesus Christ) and then the substance of his writing is the question of what Jesus' identity means for the church.
What Does This Question Mean in Practice?
So what does it mean if we pursue the question of His identity and simply assert for ourselves the identifiers He's already given us (children of God, disciples who are known by love for one another, body of Christ, bride of Christ, etc.)? I think for one thing it means I would be less concerned about what you are doing or what you look like in terms of ritual and traditions. Rather, it puts the accountability on me alone to see how I reflect His identity in my practice and walk. Am I being who I think He is and who I've discovered Him to be? If He's a God of mercy, why am I so busy condemning? If He's a God of justice, why do I not hold others accountable? If He seems to be a God of contradictions, why am I not studying His word and seeking His face for a clearer revelation? Perhaps most importantly, if He's the Creator of this world that thrives on diversity and interdependence, why don't I want his church to thrive on the same diversity and interdependence? Why would I want everyone to be the same?
Writing: Formation or Exposition of Identity?
So in writing a fictional book, I don't think I need to be that concerned with how people perceive my "Apostolic identity." I think my main concern is how the book helps others understand the identity of my God and Creator. At the end of the story, readers can ask, "Where is God in this account?". I believe it's beneficial to read books by many authors, not just Christian ones, because God is still active in the world and at work in people's lives who don't profess Him as their Lord and Savior. These are His most loved creation. The craft of the author is to convey an experience that is so personal and universal at the same time. What can be more universal than the Creator's imprint in people's lives? I also think that for some writers the process of writing is part of their identity formation while for others it's the exposition of who they've understood themselves to be. As readers, it is our job to differentiate between these kinds of writing...
Cutting It Short
I'm stopping now. I just think we sometimes get so concerned about a God who is so much bigger and more able than any of us. Can an Apostolic write a fictional book that's not overtly Christian? Why not? Do I as a Christian have experiences and stories to tell that are not all about how I prayed 50 times that day? Certainly. Is God diminished in the telling of a story where He is not present? Ask the writer of Esther--God didn't get mentioned once by name and that made it in the Bible. God can take something created for a different purpose and make it all about Him just as easily as we take the things created for His purpose and make it all about us.
You may want to think of this blog as an extended comment to LeeAnn's post. There were a number of issues raised, but I am targeting three main themes:
1. The Question of Apostolic Identity
2. What Does the Question Mean in Terms of Practice?
3. Writing: Formation or Exposition of Identity?
The Question of Apostolic Identity
Everyone wants to know: what does it mean to be Apostolic? This fundamental search for one's identity can be found all the way back in Plato when the oracle of Delphi reveals to Socrates that the fundamental question is "who am I." Perhaps what makes the narratives in Hebrew scripture (Old Testament) so compelling is the constant, underlying refrain of one's identity--Children of Israel has a definite referent. There are traditions, rituals, and laws that continually work to establish an understanding of who one is even in terms of as a people. Who are we Israelites? We are the ones delivered out of Egypt which we celebrate with the Passover. We are the ones who worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and so refrain from many popular practices in our culture connected to idol worship. So identity is established by common practices and worship rituals?
Then my thoughts strayed to the Gospels and the thought that the only identity Jesus seemed concerned with people wondering about was His own. Over and over again he queried, "Who do you say I am?" He quieted the demon possessed from revealing His identity because it seems He wanted His disciples and followers to ponder this question for themselves. Who do you say I am? He told his disciples who they were: fishers of men, "a rock", "beloved disciple", etc. He changed names to reflect who they were even when names seemed contradictory to personality and practice. It just doesn't seem like he cared for them to be on self-discovery mode. He told them who they were, but He asked them who He was/is.
Looking through the writings of Paul you will find that he continually begins with an assertion of his own identity (apostle/slave/disciple of Jesus Christ) and then the substance of his writing is the question of what Jesus' identity means for the church.
What Does This Question Mean in Practice?
So what does it mean if we pursue the question of His identity and simply assert for ourselves the identifiers He's already given us (children of God, disciples who are known by love for one another, body of Christ, bride of Christ, etc.)? I think for one thing it means I would be less concerned about what you are doing or what you look like in terms of ritual and traditions. Rather, it puts the accountability on me alone to see how I reflect His identity in my practice and walk. Am I being who I think He is and who I've discovered Him to be? If He's a God of mercy, why am I so busy condemning? If He's a God of justice, why do I not hold others accountable? If He seems to be a God of contradictions, why am I not studying His word and seeking His face for a clearer revelation? Perhaps most importantly, if He's the Creator of this world that thrives on diversity and interdependence, why don't I want his church to thrive on the same diversity and interdependence? Why would I want everyone to be the same?
Writing: Formation or Exposition of Identity?
So in writing a fictional book, I don't think I need to be that concerned with how people perceive my "Apostolic identity." I think my main concern is how the book helps others understand the identity of my God and Creator. At the end of the story, readers can ask, "Where is God in this account?". I believe it's beneficial to read books by many authors, not just Christian ones, because God is still active in the world and at work in people's lives who don't profess Him as their Lord and Savior. These are His most loved creation. The craft of the author is to convey an experience that is so personal and universal at the same time. What can be more universal than the Creator's imprint in people's lives? I also think that for some writers the process of writing is part of their identity formation while for others it's the exposition of who they've understood themselves to be. As readers, it is our job to differentiate between these kinds of writing...
Cutting It Short
I'm stopping now. I just think we sometimes get so concerned about a God who is so much bigger and more able than any of us. Can an Apostolic write a fictional book that's not overtly Christian? Why not? Do I as a Christian have experiences and stories to tell that are not all about how I prayed 50 times that day? Certainly. Is God diminished in the telling of a story where He is not present? Ask the writer of Esther--God didn't get mentioned once by name and that made it in the Bible. God can take something created for a different purpose and make it all about Him just as easily as we take the things created for His purpose and make it all about us.
posted by Marjorie at
12/07/2007 11:38:00 AM
3 Comments:
Well said! I completely agree--we should be more focused on pointing to God when others look at us rather than trying to live up to an image concocted by human beings. And as a writer, I don't want to feel limited to writing overtly Christian, much less Apostolic, books. Of course, my belief system will inform my writing--I think as long as you write authentically, you are being true to the gift God gave you and thus you are glorifying God.
Alison
This is good, Marjorie.
Maybe I'll follow-up in a week or 2...
To Alison I say: AMEN!
To Kent: Thank you and I look forward to reading what you have to say...as always!
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