being adopted in seminary

A friend recently wrote this as a comment to a blog post of mine- "I find it fascinating how many seminary students adopt the philosophy of pacifism. I wonder if I will be so impacted during my three years coming up soon."

To my dear friend,
Several years ago I felt called into ministry. Part of me felt compelled to pastor a church... part of me felt (and continues to feel called) to be a youth pastor... and even still part of me wants to discern an alternative community that bridges the way we do worship and mission in our neighborhood. All this to say that I have no idea what God's wanting of me, I simply know that I am called to ministry (as are ALL God's children).

While in the process of this, pastor and friends urged me to look into graduate school- Vanderbilt Divinity to be exact. I had lunch with several professors and the head of the United Methodist studies group. He was very up front that he thought I'd be a great addition to the student body at Vandy. I considered it. I was accepted. But then some other friends told me to check out Trevecca Nazarene. So I did. I enrolled, I was accepted and began classes there.

This all happened a year and a half ago. The first day I pulled into Trevecca's parking lot, I thought I had landed in another world. Almost EVERY car in the parking lot had BUSH stickers on it. I thought to myself- wow, this is going to be interesting. It was especially interesting when we began serious ecclessial discussions and many of the authors/scholars are wesleyan but heavily influenced by anabaptist theology and practice. It was also interesting to hear many people including our professors who do not agree with all the positions of anabaptist theology- such as stances on war.

BUT I DO.

Not because of graduate school (not seminary, my friend, I attend a small liberal arts Christian College that offers graduate level degree in theology)

Not because I go to a liberal institution- it is actually an evangelical college that is open to conversations and committed to Wesleyan theology.

Not because I used to believe that Christians are like everyone else in America and ought to take up arms when his/her country calls- I NEVER HAVE... SORRY THAT'S NOT ME, YOU'VE MISTAKEN ME FOR ANOTHER WET AROUND THE .... YOUNG EVANGELICAL TURNED LIBERAL SEMINARY STUDENT.... (THANKS FOR YOUR CRITIQUE THOUGH FRIEND)

Not because I read the Bible and wresteled with Jesus' words and listened to how the early church dealt with Christians and war (not compatible if you read about it)- oh wait- I did do that... maybe others ought to as well.

I AM A PACIFIST...
I AM A CHRISTIAN...
I AM AN AMERICAN...
BUT NOT BEFORE I'M A CHRISTIAN....
MY FAITH INFORMS MY ACTIONS (usually) (correction- sometimes)...
SCRIPTURE INFORMS MY FAITH...
TRADITION INFORMS MY NARRATIVE AND PERSPECTIVE....
I AM A CHRISTIAN...
I AM A PACIFIST...
AND I BELIEVE THE KINGDOM MUST BE LIVED OUT NOW... BY CHRISTIANS
OR THE WORLD WILL NEVER KNOW HOW TO DO IT...
I AM A CHRISTIAN... TRYING TO EMBODY THE TEACHINGS AND WAY OF JESUS....
I AM A PACIFIST...
NOT BECAUSE OF SCHOOL... EDUCATION... HE TOLD ME TO DO IT.... IT SOUNDS LIKE A COOL TRENDY ELITIST WAY TO THINK... IT'S EASY... IT HAS ALL THE RIGHT ANSWERS...

BUT BECAUSE...

Jesus said love your enemies and i take it seriously

Jesus EMBODIED not through words but ALL his actions (including temple) that he was nonviolent

I have been shaped by scripture, yoder, the early christians witness, tolstoy, hauerwas, benedict, wesley, and others. guess who i didn't know until grad school? none of them!

God calls us to be faithful to God's way to live, even when it doesn't make sense, or creates "a winning side".

BUT FRIEND- I DO HOPE THAT WHEN YOU GO TO SEMINARY- IT'S AS GOOD AS THE GRADUATE DEPARTMENT OF REL. AT TREVECCA IS.

SHALOM