What in the world does that mean? I think it is true, in that I don't "do" most of the things a "religious" person "does." But my whole life is about faith, God/god, spirituality. I definitely spend much more of my time talking to people about their faith and their spiritual experiences than most people- religious or not.
Reasons why I'm not a religious person?
I don't go to church.
I don't evangelize.
I don't talk to people about my "relationship with God."
I think most of religion is myth. (Which is not the same as "made-up" or "fiction.")
But at my core, I believe that our spirits, our souls, are the most important life-giving part of who we are.
As many of my friends know, this is a conversation/struggle I have had with myself for a while now. What does this mean for me? Should I renounce my ordination? Can a chaplain be non-religious?
I strive to be authentic with everyone. If I present myself as a "Rev." or as a "chaplain," is that inauthentic? Do people assume that means I am religiously affiliated, or is the fact that I am a spiritual person "enough?"
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1 comment:
Beth,
I ordinarily would not respond to something I read in a blog but I couldn't help but write. You see, there was a time in my life when I came to a similar realization -- I'm not religious. But before I can get to that, I have to give you some history.
I grew up in a "Christian Home". My family attended church on a regular basis. We were religious in attendance, faithfully on time every time the doors were open. When I was twelve years old my family attended revival at my home church. My brother and I both felt a lot of pressure to walk the aisle and make a "profession of faith". I'll never forget sitting of the front pew scared to death. At the end of the service the pastor called us to the front so our church family could congratulate us. I told my mother that I had to go to the bathroom and I proceeded outside and hid in the backseat of our car and cried. I had no idea what I what I had done or committed myself to. Long story made short, I lived my life from the time I was twelve until I was twenty-five trying to live a "christian" or "religious" life. One night after attending a Wednesday night church service I told my wife for the very first time about my "conversion" experience. I knew I was a Christian only in name but not in my heart. After all, John 15:5 says "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." My life was not producing fruit. I was not making disciples nor was I interested in making disciples. There was little to no prayer and no answers to prayer. I was never content and experienced very little joy. I did not love others like Jesus did. I did not involve myself in the lives of others. Ultimately, I wanted to experience the Christian life without committing to the relationship that God wants to have with me.
Once I realized this, I made a decision to follow Christ (this time for the right reasons). God has a purpose for my life. I have no idea how he will use me in the future but this one thing I know for sure -- I want to live in the center of God's will. Living in the center of God's will will require a few things of me. I will have to pray, read my Bible, fellowship and worship with believer's and be vocal about my faith. All of these things can be perceived as "religious" if they are taken out of context. I can only tell you that I do them out of the delight of my heart. I just want to draw closer to God. I hope I haven't confused you and I'm certainly not trying to preach at you. I just read your blog and felt led to share a brief testimony.
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