My last two posts have created a small bit of controversy. How delightful.
I’m going to take this opportunity to clarify what I believe to be the intent of Anne Lamott in the brief quote I posted yesterday, (and for which I have been taken to task both on this blog and on my Facebook profile.)
In both cases, the postees are intent on making it quite clear that being a Christian is hard. I agree. I think Anne Lamott would agree. However, there are three important elements of this quote that need to be taken into consideration:
1. Humor. Like many good writers, Anne Lamott has a sense of humor and employees it well. Come on, folks, she is clearly overstating something to make a point.
There isn’t any reason to get all uppity about her assertion that God has “low standards.” That’s what those of us in the writing community like to call “irony,” (please follow the link for a definition.)
2. The specific things Lamott lists are difficult to do. She’s clearly aware that being a Christian can be challenging. Only by fixating on the a couple of isolated phrases and overlooking the intent of the entire quote would someone come to the conclusion that she’s saying being a Christian is a breeze.
3. Lamott’s point has to do with being on God’s good side, or being in God’s favor, not with living the life of discipleship. Being a Christian can be hard. Warranting the love of the Father is not. Pleasing God isn’t really that hard. He’s looking for effort, even meager, pathetic effort. As long as it’s genuine, as long as it’s real, that’s all he cares about. He’s not looking for perfection because he is all too aware he won’t find it among the likes of us.
Yes, living for God can be hard. Being loved by, even liked by God is not. I think that’s her point. And really, many of the things we’re called to do aren’t rocket science, so in that sense, too, even though these behaviors may take effort, they aren’t hard. (I know—it’s annoying having to think and all when you read something.)
Finally, one of my friends (and he truly is a friend of mine, even though I’m challenging his objections to my posts) has inferred that my newly voiced opinions may be rooted in a deep bitterness and pain from past experiences. It’s true, I have lived through some tough stuff, but that’s not why I think what I think. Being run out of town will put you through the emotional wringer, and eventually, you either get over it or you don’t. I chose to get over it. I prayed for those who were mean to me, daily for a while, and I found peace. Or rather, peace was given to me.
No, ironically (there’s that word again), it has been my life since then, a life outside of professional ministry and past the pain of being ejected from it, that has helped me to see more of who God is.
I love the community of the saints. I love the church. But the church is messed up. It isn’t deeply hidden anger or pain that leads me to this conclusion. It’s the fact that I can see. Evidence is all around us.
Oh, so much to say. I could write more, but it’s late and someone will want to poke holes in what I’ve written so far. Let’s call it a night, shall we? More to come…
I think the “irony” here is more apparent if you know more about he author and the book. I would submit that, if that is what is being employed here, it is not so easy to see taking that quote completely on its own.
left by jebbarr on 02.14.2007 at 10:41 am