Detroit Pistons and Spiritual Formation

82-83 The Detroit Pistons didn't make the playoffs
83-84 They were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs
84-85 They were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs
85-86 They were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs
86-87 They were knocked out in the Conference Finals (3rd round)
87-88 They lost in the NBA Championship Finals (4th and final round)
88-89 The Detroit Pistons were NBA Champions
89-90 The Detroit Pistons were NBA Champions

If you followed the Pistons during this time frame you remember their progression.  You remember the great victories and the great heartaches.  You remember the subtractions and additions.

The more that I think about their progression it reminds me of how we are spiritually formed.  It doesn't happen overnight.  There are occasional setbacks.  Sometimes we have to tinker with what we are doing.  There are mountain top experiences and there are valleys.

I think the idea of progressing is tough for us in a microwave culture--we want things now, we don't want to give them time to mature.  However spiritual formation takes time, patience and commitment.  I pray we do not become frustrated and give up.

Amish on Amish crime

Amish on Amish crime

The above link takes you to a news story about a splinter group of Amish people who attacked other Amish people in the community by cutting off the men's beards and women's hair.  Amish on Amish crime is quite rare the story says.  Its not like that in the rest of Christianity.  I have been hurt more by those who claim to be Christian than those who do not--as matter of fact I can't recall the last time I was hurt by someone other than a Christian.  I haven't been physically attacked, I haven't even had anyone threaten to cut my beard off, but I've been hurt nonetheless.  I've been called judgmental, I've been called a heretic, I've been called the anti-Christ, I've been snubbed, I've been forgotten about--all by people who claim to be my Christian brothers and sisters.

It is no wonder Bono says: "I'm not often so comfortable in church.  It feels pious and so unlike Christ that I read about in the Scriptures."  It is no wonder Mahatma Gandhi said: "I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."  Yet, the church is the bride of Christ and the church is made up of Christians so what gives?  The solution is simple--love everyone.
Love your enemy.
Love your neighbor.
Love yourself.
Love the person who sits on the other side of the church.
Love the person who disagrees with something you're passionate about.
Love the person who thinks differently than you.
Love the person who has different skin color.
Love the person who makes more or less money than you.
Love the person who seems to be nothing more than a drain on the economy.
Love the person who has a different sexual orientation than you.
Love the person who has shown you nothing but hatred and anger.
Love (I'll just let you finish the list by adding that person or group that you are struggling to love)

Beards

I've been growing my beard for a couple of months now and the other day I seriously considered shaving it off.  However, I thought, I've been growing this for 2-3 months and in less than 5 minutes I can remove it--eh, I'll leave it.  I told this to a friend and he responded "that is just like salvation".  I was taken aback and politely asked him to come again.  He said we can be a Christian for months, years and make one dumb decision and throw away our salvation.  "Really" I said to him.  "Really" I'm saying to you.  Is that orthodox thinking?  I smiled and disagreed but walked away wondering how many people believe that way.  Can you serve Jesus for months, even years and throw it all away by making one poor decision?  I know that happens with humans (yes, I'm speaking from experience!), but I don't think that is the way God thinks.