Does anyone else worry about the way in which liberal minded Christians, of which I count myself, seem to be throwing out emotion and the possibility of God actually directing and moving in our lives, in exchange for cerebral gymnastics?
Anyone?
It's just that it might be nice to feel like I could cry in church, every now and then, (I promise, I'll do it quietly) or maybe actually expect God to answer my prayers, instead of being embarrassed by these outrageously demonstrative expressions of a vulnerable heart.
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I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying? Liberal Christians frown upon feelings (when it comes to God) and crisis of faith?
I actually find the exact opposite. I guess because I consider myself a liberal christian -- and it's all feelings based for me.
But, maybe I'm totally misunderstanding what you wrote?
Cry away my dear friend. Expect away. It's so fucking understandable.
really? see, it's such an opposite experience for me. maybe it's only my church, probably it's my own hang-ups, conveniently shackled to someone else. but it feels like there's this shift in the young, educated, obscure novel reading, indie music consuming, film fest commenting, european shoe wearing, wal-mart hating christian, that is embarrassed with the ideas/expressing of emotion and God's moving and sin? we're all properly cynical and controlled and sterile...
but, really, i think my feelings about this probably say more about the state of my own heart and its fears, than an honest and (helpful) evaluation of the/my church.
i recant! i recant! sort of...
a blah, blah, blah.
why am i still awake?
aaaaand, a good night, my dear.
I am sorry to say that I am one of those... you know, the ones who have tossed away some of the good stuff because there was so much bad in what I had experienced. Instead of taking the time to sift through the wreckage, I have/had ditched all the emotions and prayers, and I clung to the intellectual stuff... and I find myself very unhappy with it all. So here I go, sifting away.
cristina,
ya. it's so tricky, hey? i have been witness/victim to, on more than one account, of people's emotions causing a lot of harm - especially when god "tells" them something in a highly emotional state. but, at the same time, an emotionless, purely intellectualized faith is dissatisfying and just as unhealthy. not to jump whole-hearted into stereotypes here, but especially, as a woman, i feel as if i have traded a large part of my identity to fit in with the wisdom of the day, and the wisdom of the day tells me, that my emotions are valueless because they are unquantifiable. for me the difficulty becomes not only valuing emotions, but then, allowing myself to express them freely, find healthy outlets, define what all this looks like, AND not be ashamed.
...man (woman!), I wish I could sit down and have a cuppa coffee with you. You have some great wisdom to share. Thanks.
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