Muttism: The Next Big Thing in Christianity, Part I

This post (and the next) might be a little self-indulgent. However, I have good reason for writing them. Since I have been on sabbatical, I have been prodded gingerly several times by various people about my theological beliefs. Others never say it out loud but there’s this look in their eyes like, “What’s going on up there in that head of yours? Do you still believe in the virgin birth? How about the resurrection?”

This uncertainty partially derives from the fact that my previous religious tradition (I’m presently a Methodist) generally sees too much education as a bad idea. The questions started with my pursuit of a doctorate in theology. I grew up believing that Mr. Wendel was right: “you spend all of that money on big colleges/still most of ya’ll come out confused.” Well, sometimes that’s true and other times it’s not. If anything I have gained clarity about my religious beliefs. They are more pronounced and definitive than ever before. At the same time, I have read a lot of books by authors who believe differently than me. It hasn’t corrupted my soul (for the record); it’s helped me define where I stand. On most things, I have come back to adopt a moderated position to the one I held before. Another reason for this uncertainty is my choice to remain ministerially unaffiliated with a particular denomination. This makes me impervious to labelling and that makes people nervous (not for me, but for them).

I am a spiritual mutt for two reasons. First, since childhood, I have been a member of Baptist, Methodist, and independent charismatic churches. I have served as a paid youth worker, worship leader, and pastor within all three of those same denominations. Do you know how much work it takes to balance a theology that ministers to those different groups! Geez! It’s almost impossible. BUT it also creates the chance to blend those religious doctrines into an ecumenical approach that can meet the needs of various people groups.

This is the second reason. I received Christ at age 5 and was baptized in the Spirit at age 8. Luckily, no one had told me at that age I shouldn’t have expected God to manifest himself in an experiential way. I’m sure (at age eight) if someone had taken the time to tell me that spiritual gifts had passed away, or given me Warfield’s book on Counterfeit Miracles, or that you get all the “Spirit” you need at salvation, or told me that the baptism in the Spirit makes others feel like second class Christians, I’m sure in my impressionable state I would have declined the experience. Luckily, my parents were generous enough to share that experience with their children before someone told them it was a bad idea. I can’t imagine the Christian life without it. My wife and I plan to do the same for our children. Sadly though, with many of the people I’ve talked to about it, their response is not “When can I get it?” but rather “Why do I need it?” That just kills the pastor in me.

As I have grown up and continued to study, I began to notice something. Although I am tremendously thankful for my upbringing, I adhered to a very strict set of doctrinal principles for a long time, yet never fully understood why I believed them. What I had inherited was some seriously conservative Southern Baptist doctrine (yep, I hear those “yee haws!” out there). But the more I explored, I realized that not only was that doctrinal tradition rather inconsistent and limited in its approach to Christianity (and if you’re into it, that’s fine - just know that it’s limited).  More importantly, I also realized that Baptist doctrine agressively rejects the spiritual experience I received at age eight. Yet, as I looked around, most charismatic believers were okay with this overly conservative theology – one that did not even acknowledge their own charismatic experiences. I began to look for something else.

So, I set about over the last ten years or so to develop a theological system for myself that is consistent - one that alleviates all philosophical and theological antinomies within my faith. That may sound grievously boorish to you, but when you take a decade to do it rather slowly, it’s enjoyable. So, what has developed is very much an orthodox Christianity, but one that also borrows various concepts from various systems. I wanted to arrive at an experientially-oriented theology that fit my personal experiences without contradicting basic evangelical beliefs. One theologian calls this approach ”pilgrim theology” – letting your theology develop as life informs it. I call it “muttism.” It’s a good way to do things, less stressful…kind of a “we’ll worry about it when we get there” approach. Mutts can be good dogs, too, you know. Since I’m not done living, I suppose it may evolve some more. Many contemporary groups – like the emerging tradition and Third Wave charismatics have adopted this approach. That whole idea may scare you a little. If it does, you might be more attached to your dogma than to the God behind it. Remember, God is a relational being – not a system of beliefs. Or you might be scared that you’re wrong. Well, if you’re like me, you’ll never get some things right. And that’s okay. But to stay comfortable with what you “know” never helps anyone.

You may have noticed all the book links I have added on the right side of my blog. They are some of the books that have helped shape my approach to God in a significant way.  Next post, I’ll describe what I’ve come up with in detail. Until then…