After Evensong last night, we had our first Alpha meeting. We're using the "Alpha Express", which, I presume, is the shorter version The course is pretty basic but not scary. Nicky Gumbel talked about how he used to be before he was a Christian, that he wanted to prove that God didn't exist. He talked about the emptiness inside that only God can fill. I don't know that everyone experiences the emptiness. I have had non-believing folks tell me that they don't have that emptiness. However, if you're attending the course, then you must be seeking something in your life. Unless you're like me, and going to see what it's all about.
He talked about the head - heart thing, that faith is not purely working it out intellectually, that It must be experiential also, and I do agree with that. There was no talk of hellfire or punishment, and I can see how it might work for some who have very little knowledge of the faith.
At the end was the, "Jesus, come into my heart," prayer, without the altar call. Gumbel's manner was much gentler and less pressuring than the pushy style of the Billy Graham and TV evangelist types. It was more, "If you'd like to do this...."
In the discussion afterward, we talked about how some evangelists teach that once you've said the prayer, it's all done, except for the, "Come to my church and give me money," part, when it's really a journey.
I have tried to go with an open mind and heart, but so far, the series seems so very much for beginners in the faith. Not that I'm a scholar, or that I know it all, but I've been doing this faith thing for a while, and I was hoping for something a bit more challenging.
Your experience still leaves me wondering if faith begins there.
ReplyDeleteThe "God-shaped hole" is an idea that goes back to Augustine, and is peculiar to a certain line of Christian thinking which ties in neatly with the evangelicals (for reason I won't bore you with), or at least with their theology (yes, Virginia, there is an evangelical theology). I'm not too sanguine about it myself, as it tends to feed into what I call "vulture theology," which, essentially, is the idea that if the church just waits long enough, sooner or later everyone experiences a despair which (as with Augustine) drives them to seek God.
So all we have to do is wait.
Not accusing Alpha of that, by the way, or even trying to be critical of Alpha, since I've not experienced it. I'm just dubious about any claim to "beginniers in faith" theology. Not that we should start with Aquinas or even Kierkegaard, but the assumption just rubs me the wrong way. I am not superior in my "faith" simply because I've been a Christian my whole life, or been to seminary, or am ordained. I really don't understand this model of "increasing" in faith, since it rests on some idea of "upward progression".
And the whole "let Jesus into your heart" thing really runs against my grain. In high school people used to ask me (earnest Southern Baptists that they were): "Do you have Jesus in your heart?" I usually replied with either Luther's answer: "I hope so, but I have no certain knowledge, only my belief;" or I'd get nasty, and say it was too small for him to fit in, or he'd block up a chamber and I'd have a heart attack, or some similar response.
The whole idea of that is based, not on scripture or the necessary condition of belief, but on Pietism. Nothing wrong with Pietism, but to reduce Christianity to an "either/or" such as "You must have Jesus 'in your heart' in order to be faithful/believe/saved," is, IMHO, idolatry. When you can boild it down to a simple assertable claim which you also assert can be empirically verified ("Well, you just know!"), that's an idol.
And I'll have none of it.
Sorry this experience didn't give you the fulfillment you needed, and I don't mean to say you're mind should "close" based on what I've said here. But it seems to me there are reasons to be less than impressed with this program. Which is too bad; but there you are.
Or I am, anyway.
I'm jealous, by the way, that you have Evensong.
ReplyDeleteMust be lovely.
I'm just dubious about any claim to "beginniers in faith" theology. Not that we should start with Aquinas or even Kierkegaard, but the assumption just rubs me the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteBy all means, start with Kierkegaard and Aquinas, and run everyone away after the first meeting! Well, I would have liked that better.
It's hard for me to imagine what would draw someone to the faith if that person had little or no experience of a life of faith, because my introduction came so early in my life.
The fervor of my faith has waxed and waned over the years, but the basics were there, and I never walked away completely, even in my most alienated momments.
I'll have more to say when I have completed the series.
Evensong is lovely. This rector is the first during my time in the parish to use it during Lent.
This strikes me as being very like a 12 step program, which if followed, will lead you to a relationship with God. Works for some, not for others. If you've hit the bottom, then letting Jesus into your heart is a good second step. Recognizing your need is the first one. The third one is turning your life over to the care of God. It will be very interesting to see how this progresses. Thanks for sharing, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteShare Cropper, thanks for that info. The direction of the series seems to be toward evangelical-type Christianity, and I do not lean towards the evangelical side. But I'll wait and see.
ReplyDeleteIt only gets better from there... wait for the videos about how to live as a Christian.
ReplyDeletethat first video gave me the creeps. having been around evangelical types and seeing the Episcopal Church as a haven away from this stuff, I was most disturbed by finding this stuff in our church.
I'm not sure if the whole "close your eyes and say this prayer and you will be in good with God" works with catholic (small c) theology.
Oh, Dennis, don't tell me that. I'm going to try to stick it out, so I can speak about it from experience. I think it's going to be a long Lent.
ReplyDeleteWell, all Christianity should be evangelical (telling the good news) in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, yes, Mimi, the poem is autobiographical. Don't have your email address or I would have responded there. Mine is marsmoore at suddenlink dot net.
Well, all Christianity should be evangelical (telling the good news) in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and the only question is how you tell it:
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
--St Francis of Assissi
Rmj, I'm with Francis of Assisi. I'm waiting for the section of the Alpha Series that will instruct me how to evangelize.
ReplyDeleteWell, Grandmére, as long as you're entering the experience with an open mind. ;-)
ReplyDeleteGod bless the Alpha folk (I've never partaken, so I'm just saying that from my gracious, Christ-like heart, as we all know of my legenday niceness.), but I truly believe that different ministries speak to different people's needs. The "proof of the pudding", in this case, red beans and rice, will likely be if it helps others along their spiritual journey.
That, of course, does not mean that your Lenten journey will be any shorter, dear Grandmére.
KJ, I'm laughing out loud at your comment about my "open mind". I'm trying, I'm trying. "Open, mind, open." You know, like, "Open, Sesame."
ReplyDeleteFor all your niceness, you have a way of getting in little digs, but they're usually very funny, so that's OK.
That's OK Mimi, you have a way of getting your little digs in, too!
ReplyDeleteYes, if it's like the Alpha I took, there will be a session on Evangelization.
It looks like a long Lent.
Pat, that's the program that brought you into the fold, right? There's got to be good in it.
ReplyDeleteA cheer for Alpha for bringing us Pat!
ReplyDeleteI've "done" Alpha.
ReplyDeleteI continue to be fascinated by the phenomenon.
Please do let us know, at the end of the series, what you think.
Elizabeth, when I'm done "doing" Alpha, I will let everyone know.
ReplyDelete