Progressive Christianity: Vol 6
September 30, 2005
6. By calling ourselves progressive, we mean that we are Christians who find more grace in the search for understanding than we do in dogmatic certainty - more value in questioning than in absolutes…
There is a cliché phrase that I still believe is very true and important; I just almost laugh now at how much I hear it: It’s about the journey, not the destination. Yah, I’ve heard way too many people use that phrase, but…while that makes it a cliché (and thus, not something I necessarily want to use myself), it’s still true. For so many things in life, it’s not about the destination - it is about the journey.
This kind of reminds me of the fact that Emergent [and don't read any implied connection between Emergent and The Center for Progressive Christianity] is not really interested in laying out a very intricate statement of beliefs; a doctrinal statement. From my understanding, they are much more interested in the conversation, the community, the relationality of joining others on the journey of theological understanding.
I think in this age, many would acknowledge the fact that these ideals (searching, questioning, etc) are where many people are at, and in fact, where I would hope that everyone would remain in their lives. We should always be constantly searching, constantly questioning our assumptions, what we have been taught, etc. I always feel a bit leery about those who come across like they are done with any searching and questioning, that they have all the answers, etc.
Let us be Christians who are content with being on the journey, with asking questions and not receiving answers, with living in the truth tensions of paradoxes and the ambiguity of following a God of mystery.
Tags: Journey, Progressive Theology
Posted in 
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
September 30th, 2005 at 11:41 am
No. Rather it is about both the journey and the destination and must be thus. The destination always characterizes the journey and the journeying. However, the difference between a journey/quest and a trip is precisely the clarity one has about both the destination and the means toward that perceived end. The journeying itself provides the habituation needed to rightly ascertain the end toward which one is headed and the experience, the formation, to learn to choose rightly along the way.
There are some things related to this unapologetic circularity here:
http://americasyoungtheologian.blogspot.com/2005/09/walking-to-emmaus.html
September 30th, 2005 at 11:47 am
I don’t think I said the destination is NOT important - but I just think it’s the wrong focus of so many people. The destination definitely plays into it - of course.
September 30th, 2005 at 5:30 pm
I would suggest that the desired destination is important, however i would suggest the mystery of God is such that often we are surprised at what shape the journey there takes, let alone how surprised we will be at how different the destination is then we imagined it to be.
October 2nd, 2005 at 8:26 am
here’s my question then: do we trust that we are led rightly on the journey, and not attempt to keep in view where we are led? or to whom we are led? Scripture talks of keeping the cross before us and of fixing our eyes upon Jesus as our example and goal: are the two exclusive?
my fear is this: in our talk about the journey that we forget that the destination has already been revealed. far be it from us to say that we know what will and will not take us to the destination, but let us as those called Christians remember that the destination has already been revealed and that say that it has not is not humility. the journey from here to there will lead to many wonderful and unexpected places, and we will be called ridiculous by those of and not-yet-of the church, but let us always remember that the goal precedes whatever steps are taken towards Him.
October 2nd, 2005 at 3:42 pm
I would contend that there are certain truths that we must at some point in our lives embrace, accept, claim, and believe - that to continue “searching, questioning our assumptions, what we have been taught, etc.” only causes us to detour from our journey and distract us from our destination. We should always discern “answers” that come from man, but welcome those that God breathes into the experience of our lives.
October 3rd, 2005 at 5:51 pm
What if you could have both? What if there was a way of believing that was both a destination and a journey?
It’s called orthodoxy - where infinite apophatic mystery is contained within the kataphatic revelation of God.
October 3rd, 2005 at 10:05 pm
Haha; good luck getting the word “orthodoxy” thrown around with reverence in these parts, Matt! ;)
October 4th, 2005 at 10:20 pm
Myles, excellent summary. A lot of people so dilute the Word of God with man’s philosophy that they forget our “journey” through life is not a complete unknown.
We know:
- Christ triumphs over Satan. His death and resurrection solidified that.
- We (Christians) are called to holiness. Paul teaches that we will become more conformed to the image of God. You can’t become more Christ-like if you’re simply wandering through life willy-nilly!
- Scripture is ABSOLUTE TRUTH. Therefore, we have confidence to make decisions in life based on an unwavering worldview.
October 5th, 2005 at 3:41 pm
Journey - Destination. Destination - Journey. First of all, we need to be mindful that a Journey PRE-SUPOSSES a Destation. If not, it is called WANDERING. (I’m not shouting… I’m just emphasizing).
I think it’s just silly to pretend that we’re just going to spend our lives as “little Christ’s” wandering around, being led by Jesus, to where - we don’t know and never really gaining any insight. I don’t think that’s what we’re CALLED to do. In fact, as “Christians” those CALLED by Christ, we are to go and PROCLAIM the gospel.
If we’re all about our own little journey, we’re not being humble, we’re being foolish and SELFISH. We were not called for ourselves but for Christ, to give witness, to be a part of God’s salvific work. And if we have no message, if we are MERELY spending our days moving around “learning” never really grounded in anything, blown by the wind… well, we have nothing to proclaim.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe wholeheartedly that we need to proclaim a message to people that invites them into relationship with the risen Lord and not simply promote propositions and fill their heads with human-made propoganda.
Humility is a necessity. But false humility is just backdoor arrogance. (Please don’t read me criticizing anyone with this statement). If we’re truly called, let’s proclaim the message, proclaim the gospel with boldness. Let’s be willing at all times to give an account for our HOPE - doing so with love and humility. I think something like that’s in the Bible somewhere… I’ve seemed to forget after being in seminary for over a year now…
October 5th, 2005 at 3:44 pm
Man, after reading that comment, I sound like some kind of Fundamentalist-Evangelical-Bible Thumping-Battle Axe… oh well *grin*…