Do we claim to have ALL the answers?

Some random thoughts swirling in my head as I clean the kitchen (my regular Saturday/Mindless Task rundown)...

Does Evergreen claim to have "all the answers"? 

No- not by a long shot. 

These thoughts are stirred maybe in part by my recent posts on Video Venues and such- I probably need to point out every once in awhile that we don't feel we have stumbled on the One True Model™ for doing church. 

But mainly I'm thinking through various conversations, some facebook posts, some comments... just some things I feel like I want to say at this point. 

No- we don't have all the answers. And that means some things and it doesn't mean some other things. 

What does it mean?

It means we have a sense of epistemological humility (epistemology: a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge. humility: the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.). It means that even when we do make claims about truth, we are careful, humble and respectful as we do so, knowing that we are subjective humans who quite often misunderstand things. It means we do our best to make room for questions, for those who are doubting or unsure and to truly journey beside them as they ask. It means we show patience and love to those who aren't where we are at and do our best to continue to learn alongside them. It means we make room in every gathering for multiple voices to be heard alongside the one leading the discussion, for questions to be asked and even for people to disagree. I feel in that, we are somewhat rare...

What doesn't it mean?

It doesn't mean that we can't know, assert or have varying degrees of confidence in anything. It doesn't mean we never make declarative statements about anything. It means we wrestle with questions, take joy in the journey, but don't actively avoid answers when they are there. 

And the fact is, NO ONE lives in a declarative, truth-free zone. No one. I think anyone who claims to have "only questions" and no answers is either willfully deceptive or naively deceived. 

Just twice today I have had someone bring up to me the Unitarian Universalist Church, that stalwart institution of openness and "tolerance." 

Is that really an answer-free zone where no one tells anyone else what to think or believe? 

Of course not- there is no place like that. Just look at the name- what does "Unitarian" mean? It's a theological assertion that there is no Trinity- that while Jesus may have been in some sense "divine", He certainly wasn't "God"- at least no more or no less than anyone else. And "Universalist"? It's a positive assertion about what happens after we die. In other words, it's an answer. A truth claim. 

And my question is: Why is the assertion that Jesus is not God any more "open", "tolerant" or anything else than the assertion that He is? How are the two qualitatively different? They are both answers. 

I have a feeling that those who seek out those churches like this who fly that flag of relativism will eventually find that like with a blind date whom your friend swears is your perfect soulmate, the reality doesn't (and couldn't) match the build-up. I mean, if answers are off-limits, if everyone is right, then how in the world do we find any justification to tell the greedy materialist he "ought" to care for the poor? How is racial segregation wrong? Isn't it just another way of doing culture? And who are we to judge anyone's culture? 

Of course, just try advocating a more traditional view of sexuality in your average UU congregation and see how "open" they are. 

Relativism of this sort is ultimately self-defeating.

I had a friend who was recently patronized in the worst possible way by someone pushing the relativism line. My friend was trying to explain that he couldn't feel comfortable in worshipping alongside a Muslim. 

The response? "That's so sad. I feel sorry for you."

What the...?

Man- I think had I been standing there, I would have had a hard time managing my bulging neck veins and not opening up a major can of snark on the guy. I mean, really? Really? To attempt to advance your ideas of tolerance through shame and condescension? Really? (And yes, that would have been pretty condescending on my part too :)

I have another Christian friend who prays in private with some Muslim friends, but he does so carefully, and I doubt even he would feel comfortable attending a Muslim worship service as anything but a respectful observer. I also doubt any of his Muslim friends would feel comfortable participating in a Christian worship service, being asked to pray, to worship, to be taught...

And there's the rub. 

What relativism really does, in the process of championing tolerance, is to promote the worst kind of intolerance- that says to the faithful Muslim, Christian and Jew (and "Misc."!) alike: You are all wrong. Only those who espouse the most liberal versions of your faith are right, and even they are on shaky ground. Best to be a "nothing" that's (allegedly) open to "everything"...

I actually believe you HAVE TO abandon relativism of this sort if you are to be truly tolerant. The only people who are truly tolerant are those who 1. allow others to make truth claims, even exclusive ones (as ALL religions do) and 2. appreciate the open and robust comparison of and dialogue between those truth claims. The pseudo-tolerance of denying that anyone can or should make exclusive truth claims (a logical contradiction since that is in itself an exclusive truth claim), which is really what we're saying when we say "everyone is right" or "all religions teach the same thing," is about the most un-tolerant thing you can do, and leads to the kind of hyper-condescending, arrogant behavior my friend was subjected to. Being tolerant and open to questions also means allowing people to suggest possibilities, express doubt, and even find answers they feel comfortable and secure in without saying ridiculous things like "That's so sad. I feel sorry for you." Sheesh.

We all live in both the questions and the answers we find. This should be true especially of followers of Jesus. To attempt to live in only answers (even the very dogmatic answers of pseudo-tolerance/relativism) dooms us to rigid fundamentalism of the worst kind. To attempt to live in only questions though dooms us to a bloodless pseudo-religion where with every statement we make, we saw off a bit more of the very branch on which we sit.

When we talk about being "saved" (which isn't vocabulary we actually use very often) do we mean to say that we are saved from wondering? From doubting? From thinking? Again- no- not by a long shot. 

In fact, I think we are "saved" into a way of following Jesus that is FILLED with wonder, with doubt and with thoughtful contemplation from many angles. Following Jesus isn't the end of a quest for truth, it's just the beginning. And we do that in community with a whole group of people who are themselves at varying places on the journey.

Our confidence is NOT that we have "all the answers." But rather, it is that we have thrown ourselves on the mercy of and rest in the love of the One who is Himself the answer, Jesus. 

Comments

[greg]

it is He who is the answer, then he sure loves to ask alot of questions to those who had thought to know the answers or were seeking some:) appreciate your thoughtful process

[Matybigfro]

Is Jesus the answer, the question or the very source that fuels all our questioning

[thom @ DC/AC]

Wow Bob and I mean a really big WOW...
This is kind of Bob Hyatt post I've missed for quite a while!!!
As a long time, faithful reader and sometime commenter, there's just so much here to comment on. So I have more than a few thoughts to share...
Not a lot of action here, so I figured you wouldn't mind.

First let me confess that I'm a follower of Christ and I know what you mean.
But I don't know if a leader of ANY church should START with the premise...
Does____________ claim to have all of the answers?

Then FINISH with...
"Our confidence is NOT that we have "all the answers." But rather, it is that we have thrown ourselves on the mercy of and rest in the love of the One who is Himself the answer, Jesus." I mean REALLY, that's such a cliche... REALLY!!! lol

All I know is, try answering "Jesus" to someone asking why the organized church appears to be incapable of graciously giving away the free gift unconditional love & forgiveness... Their answer will be... No Thanks!
In all fairness and like I said earlier, I do know what you mean and give kudos to your... What does it mean/what doesn't it mean explanation!

The reality like you stated is, all that anyone has at any given point in their journey, is THEIR "truth/answers". And that "truth" has to either work or not. But faith still plays the biggest part (whether in God or Chance)! It just seems fair to me that if Christians can take their sweet time to figure out God, then EVERYONE should be given the same opportunity. Beside that, if God really NEEDED the church to get the right answers, go out and persuade those with different beliefs AND in the process save them from eternal damnation & hellfire... The church is screwed and God should be very concerned at this point in history! If Jesus is waiting on us, it's no wonder why the second coming is taking so long!!! lol...

In defense of the UU Church and as a believer that attends a UU church.
I can't begin to share the freedom from the doctrinal baggage that I've seen choke the life out of ALL the Christian Churches I've been a part of for the last thirty years.

And forget the semantics of the Unitarian Universalist name.
The community I belong to is accepting of all and allows freedom to explore your beliefs and question others. They expect you to live out what you believe and are also more missional and active in the greater community than most of the other churches in town.
Are all UU Churches the same? Just like most Christian Churches... No!
But believe it or not, many are closer to how you describe Evergreen.
For my part, one of the coolest thing about the UU Church is they are extremely (yet secretly) jealous about prayer and worship and it confounds them why their worship is lacking. As you can imagine, that leads to some very interesting and enlightening conversations! Second coolest thing? I am truly in genuine, loving relationships with a diverse group of people that I never got a chance to meet in any Christian Church I attended. Most of my friends that haven't left the church, still have to pretend to be interested in those "sinners". But fortunately, they never have to spend any time with them!... Praise the Lord!

Great post Bob and I plan on visiting Evergreen in September and really look forward to an opportunity to meet you... REALLY!!!

grace, peace & love... t.f.

[Bob Hyatt]

""Our confidence is NOT that we have "all the answers." But rather, it is that we have thrown ourselves on the mercy of and rest in the love of the One who is Himself the answer, Jesus." I mean REALLY, that's such a cliche... REALLY!!! lol
All I know is, try answering "Jesus" to someone asking why the organized church appears to be incapable of graciously giving away the free gift unconditional love & forgiveness... Their answer will be... No Thanks! "

Glad I could make you LOL... but I'll try to answer your non-sequitur anyway. The reason why the "organized" church (what kind of ridiculous modifier is that? It's like saying 'the wet water"- what other kind is there?) appears incapable of graciously giving away the free gift of unconditional love and forgiveness is not "Jesus." But it IS "not enough Jesus" and not enough truly following Him. So yes, Jesus is still the answer, "LOL" or not. And I know a few churches that are very capable (though not perfect) of doing just that, silly generalizations aside...

"It just seems fair to me that if Christians can take their sweet time to figure out God, then EVERYONE should be given the same opportunity."
Hmmm... I think that was a point I was actually making.

"Beside that, if God really NEEDED the church to get the right answers, go out and persuade those with different beliefs AND in the process save them from eternal damnation & hellfire... "

Hey- way to take the beautiful imperative of Jesus to participate in what God is doing in the world through bringing more and more people into relationship with Him and boil it down to a ridiculous caricature! LOL indeed!

"I can't begin to share the freedom from the doctrinal baggage that I've seen choke the life out of ALL the Christian Churches I've been a part of for the last thirty years."

Well, if the goal of the whole thing were freedom from "doctrinal baggage" I would say good on you. Unfortunately, it's not. The goal is relationship with the God who is, not the made-up gods of our buffet-style religion. "Doctrinal baggage" is just short-hand for "people." To be in real truth-seeking relationship with people means occasionally having to deal with how the human heart works out of selfishness and pride, even in the area of knowing God. (And let me suggest that the "That's so sad- I'm so sorry for you" condescension of a UUA person to my friend is the result of exactly the kind of doctrinal baggage you are saying doesn't exist. It does- you just can't see it because you are swimming in it)
The only way to have NO "doctrinal baggage"? Never say anything that might remotely offend anyone. Which also means never saying anything that matters.
Like I say, the UUA has it's own doctrinal baggage- see how "diversity" works itself out in trying to advocate that God created sexuality to be enjoyed by a man and a woman in the context of marriage. Or that Jesus died as a substitutionary atonement for sin and that without Him, we are lost.
Baggage ahoy!

"And forget the semantics of the Unitarian Universalist name. "

Why in the world would I do that? That would imply that names are meaningless, and I know that they never are. Again- baggage ahoy!

"The community I belong to is accepting of all and allows freedom to explore your beliefs and question others."
Except evangelical Christians, maybe?
But seriously- this is NO DIFFERENT than Evergreen. But while you are free to be an atheist, agnostic, buddhist, etc at Evergreen (I can think of a number of those who were at our gathering just last night)- we're still going to point you to Jesus. And that's the difference- we're equally accepting of people. But the direction in which we point is very different. ANd that makes all the difference.

"They expect you to live out what you believe and are also more missional and active in the greater community than most of the other churches in town. "
Well- if your definition of "missional" is "do good things" I would say you might be right. But if your definition of missional is "co-operating with the movement of God in the world" which includes doing much good, but also seeking to bring more and more people into relationship with God through Jesus, to make disciples of Him, teaching them what life in His way looks like... then no- the UUA is the farthest thing from missional.

I hope this doesn't sound overly snarky- I don't often respond to folks this way, especially in real life, but I feel strongly that the UUA is a counterfeit church that has co-opted the name "Jesus" in the cause of some things Jesus Himself hates (and I choose that word carefully). The kind of stuff He calls "evil" (John 7:7).

[thom @ DC/AC]

Howdy Bob...
I have the day off and have some spare time...
So I'm checking in as I always do and imagine my surprise by your "overly snarky" reply. Now I'll be the first to admit I have a twisted sense of humor. So please... Forgive my laughter (and sorry for not capping my lol's, now I know better). LOL
I guess I'm used to the community I belong to, they just laugh and let me be!

I hope you don't mind me throwing a little snarky back.
But at least I"ll apologize... ;>) Sorry.

I want you to know I had no intention of trying to start a fight.
In fact, anyone that reads your blog would know you're opinionated and a celebrity of sorts (although that word probably makes you cringe). But I recognize you that way and have always held the deepest respect for your thoughts about the "organized church". As far as that being a "ridiculous modifier", I think you know what I mean:
You know, the handicapped Body of Christ with a multitude of names and conflicting doctrines that separate the members from head, to use an anatomy analogy.
At least the UU Church has a legitimate excuse for their "evil" ways!

I began my comment by saying I'm a believer and I GET your point.
I was just humbly offering "my experience". And my experience is every bit as worthy of being heard as yours. But maybe you're just used to holding the microphone...
Isn't that what blogs & churches often are, someone's microphone?

And now I'd venture to say, just because you don't often "respond to folks this way" it appears you're thinking it and quite often I'd bet. And that, is the kind of "Christian behavior" that keeps people from sharing and drives them from organized Christianity. Oops, there's that word again. I feel ya, but I'm just sayin'...

Now if all is Paradise In Portland: I would say good on you & yours!
It just hasn't been that way for me. And really not for me personally, but just observing abusive leadership that caused unhealthy relationships of friends that have left the church or still suffer by staying.

I'll attempt to be serious and rip a few quote's and TRY not to insensitively throw them at back at you... First, I'm sorry about my feeling about the "Jesus is still the answer" cliche: Sure, I offered a "silly generalization" but you answered honestly... The are a FEW capable churches "giving away Gods unconditional love & forgiveness" A FEW and by the stats I've read, fewer every year...
Hmmm... I think that was THE point I was actually making.

"Well, if the goal of the whole thing were freedom from "doctrinal baggage" I would say good on you. Unfortunately, it's not. The goal is relationship with the God who is, not the made-up gods of our buffet-style religion. "Doctrinal baggage" is just short-hand for "people." ..."

I never said "goal of the whole thing..."
I said...
"For my part, one of the coolest thing about the UU Church is they are extremely (yet secretly) jealous about prayer and worship and it confounds them why their worship is lacking. As you can imagine, that leads to some very interesting and enlightening conversations! Second coolest thing? I am truly in genuine, loving relationships with a diverse group of people that I never got a chance to meet in any Christian Church I attended."

I guess I should have used all caps on the "genuine, loving relationships" part.
Your point about "Doctrinal baggage" is just short-hand for "people." is well taken and I believe you are correct: I am swimming in it.
So what does that make you: Wet or just wading in it? All the while telling people how much you like to swim... Okay, that was overly snarky! Sorry.

I gotta run Buddy, but I'll leave you with this: I believe at least 80% of the members of my particular UU "Community" (I won't taint the word church again) are former Christians and I do point them back to Jesus...
So technically, I am missional, right? LOL

grace, peace & love... t.f.

[Stephen Grant]

Bob, very cool post... did you hear about the UU KKK group...?

... They came and burned a question mark in my lawn... :op