I think the culture of my church neutralizes the members.
I've been pondering this topic for years. It's the bulk of a lot of my conversation with my closest friends.
As I sit here trying to think of how to explain it, I can't help but think, "share what you have learned."
Lately I've been extremely drawn to the parables Christ taught.
The 10 Virgins
The 5, 2 and 1 talent story
The Good Samaritan
Clean the inner vessel
The 10 lepers
Lets take the 10 virgins. The 5 wise and the 5 foolish. Guess what? There's hardly a difference between them. They all show faith (watching for the bridegroom). They all show obedience (all being where they're supposed to be). They all show preparedness (dressed accordingly). They all have what they need (lamps, even oil). They all have the same goal even (to be a part of the festivities). Yet in the end, 5 are not recognized by the bridegroom. And they were shocked.
There's another scripture. Matthew 7:22-23. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in they name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Then 23, "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you..."
These stories have always ... I don't know ... set up camp in my heart and soul. What's the oil? What did these people do wrong?
Because my desire is to be one of the 5 wise. I want to be the servant that turns the 5 talents into 10. Ultimately, I hope to hear these words (Matthew 25:21) "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make the ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of they Lord."
If you read just a bit more, Christ actually teaches, I feel, what the oil is. He illustrates what those He will recognize as His will do:
"I was an hungred and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger and ye took me in. Naked and ye clothed me. Sick and ye visited me... in prison and ye came unto me."
I don't think His teachings are limited to soup kitchens or Peace Corp trips or visiting prisons or nursing homes (by all means, do this too! Hello!!!)
There are so many levels of hunger. Spiritual. Social. Mental.
There are so many levels of thirst. A thirst for friendship. A thirst for understanding. A thirst for being validated.
There are so many types of strangers. Basically, anything that I am not! LOL!! How do I respond to people who have different ideals than my own? Do I still make them feel welcomed in my life?
Naked. If you're naked, you feel vulnerable. Exposed. If I'm interacting with someone how feels vulnerable, I sure hope I have empowered them. I really do.
Sick.
In prison.
This is what we're supposed to do. To everyone. Not just those we visit teach. Not just those we see as "hey! I bet I can reactivate that family and be the humble braggy smiler at their baptism!"
How do we treat our kid when they say, "hey Mom, I don't want to serve a mission."
Or when we find out that a family member identifies as bisexual.
Or find yourself filing for divorce?
This is why I say, the culture of this church can actually neutralize it's members. I don't want to make a list of what the culture is. That'd be a long ass list. What that list does, however, is it makes those who concentrate on those boxes to check distracted from what's around them. From what really we SHOULD be doing. It gives clearer meaning to the phrase "all is well in Zion"!
Instead, I want to focus on what the GOSPEL is.
Wow, as I type this, I can't help but think, "the Gospel wants us to empower others. To uplift and strengthen others. Our friends. Our spouse. Our children. Our SELVES."
I'm getting really tired. There's so much more I want to write. I'll keep writing. It sure does help me figure this whole culture vs Gospel phenomenon thing out.
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ReplyDelete"Watch yourself out there. Utah can ruin a good mormon."
ReplyDeleteA good friend of mine from back here in Virginia reminded me what I had once said to him as he was settling in Utah.
I find it to be easier to be a part of small minority of faithful members here in Virginia than I think it would be to live in the predominate land of Latter-day Saints.
I like to use the allegory of the olive tree where good trees are brought into good soil from the bad soils of the vineyard. On one side of family we have deep pioneer roots. On the other, deep Virginia roots.
My Utah grandparents came to Virginia and raised their family. My father married my mother who is a convert to the church from her college days. And thus a good tree from the bad soils of Utah were grafted into the good soils of Virginia. And if you know the difference between the dirt in Virginia and the dirt in Utah you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
Here in Virginia when someone moves here from Utah and enthusiastically announces in Elders Quorum he needs help installing a sprinkler system in his yard we all laugh and ask the obvious question of why would you waste your time duty such a thing?
I find Utah to be a wonderful place to visit. The grass and landscaping are pretty and well cared for. But at times it's clear that it is artificial, and if the sprinklers are turned off the grass dies and goes back to desert like conditions.
Here in Virginia there's no need for artificial sprinkler systems. You're either a Latter-day Saint or you're not. It's easier to fall away into the foilage of society than the barren desert of the LDS dominated west.
So maybe it's not a worldwide culture issue of the church culture and more a geographic issue. Imagine going to a small branch in Ghana Africa. You know you'd find an incredible group of people just trying to live the best life they can with what they got. And the church culture makes all the difference.
And wouldn't you know it the dirt in Africa is more like Utah than it is in Virginia....at least from my unfamiliar Lion King perspective of the African landscape.
What I often say is the two best wards I've ever been in was the one I left and the one I went to. My attitude makes all the difference and hopefully I can be a positive contributor to our part of the garden.
Lava Rock could be an even more difficult soil than the dry desert dirt of Utah, but I'm not familiar with the dirt in North West Idaho. What I do know is that a beautiful paradise can grow on an island made out of lavarock...so work with what you got and go be a vibrant gardener.
God speed