Those Questions

There are a number of questions that I continue to ask, that still drive me.  Some of you will wonder what is wrong with me.  You ask - Why are you still asking questions?  Don’t you have things figured out yet?  Well, I keep asking because the given answers just don’t fit or are no longer clear.  For example …

What is conversion? … What does it look like when one steps across the line to be a committed follower of Jesus?  When does this happen?  Is it at a point in time? Through a long process?  Is it continual?  Does it ever end?

What is the gospel? … What part of religion (my religion) is Christian and what is culture?  I ask this because I am afraid that extras I have added to the Jesus message confuse those who do not know Christ and create pseudo-barriers.

What is community? … Community has become the new cool word and thus co-opted to mean whatever one wishes.  I want to know and experience real community.

Who are the people of God? … What is the essence and purpose and mission of the local church? What marks as being God’s people in the world?

How are we to do missions? … Structures, means, and pathways that we once used for mission involvement are quickly fading.  What is the new mission paradigm?  What does it mean for the church to encounter the world?

Am I authentic? … What does authentic living look like?  How do I get there?  Am I willing to do what it will take to be there?  What does transformation look like in my life?  Why am I so afraid of living an open life?

Am I still living? … Not am I still alive, but am I living?  Am I on cruise control, asleep at the wheel?  Am I passionate about something (someone)?

These are some of my questions … not all.  I remind myself often that the questions are not my enemies but necessary friends. It is only through asking, owning, and living into these questions that I can grow and hope.