Sacramental Living

In part 1 of this post, I discussed this question from the perspective of religion.

Now, let’s look at it from the world’s perspective. By world, I mean those not actively engaged with the system of the Christian religion.

A person in this context expects the minister to be optimistic, unobtrusive, and a sanctioner of faith in a progressive world.

This person will also be underwhelmed with me as a minister. However, I will come closer to meeting these types of expectations than I will the expectations of the religious person.

In Part 3, I’ll spell out my understanding of what is a minister to be. For now, I’ll say that I do see a progressive world … but not a world that faith must ask permission to enter. Instead, the world is defined by faith as expressed through the orthodox creeds.

The “religious” person’s expectations of the minister will reject the death required in God’s search for humanity. The person of the “world” will reject the life offered in God’s search for humanity.

Death must happen when we realize all our false notions of reality in the light of God’s great love for us. Life beyond our wildest imaginations can be embraced when we allow ourselves to be defined by our Creator.

SO TELL ME:
Is it easier for you to suffer death or embrace life?

SO TELL ME SOMETHING ELSE:
Has your idea of what a minister should be changed at all?

——-

Brian Niece
www.brianniece.com

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Related Posts:

• What Is a Minister? – Part 1
• What Is a Minister? – Part 3
• Being Postmodern and Biblical
• Stirring Up the Hornet’s Nest
• A Lenten Exercise: Analyzing Exile – Conclusion

Tags: religion, perspective, Christian, minister, faith, progressive, orthodox, creeds, humanity