The wonderful greys … From a comment under yesterday’s post:
Br Francis-Clare: “Remember the greys, the wonderful grey’s which allow us to be all at once and nothing at all.”
I wonder if Christianity has become the very essence of “right and wrong” with a growing denial of “grey”. Motivated by an institutional fear of “grey” … a now-embedded and “genetic fear” of letting in darkness (black). This “darkness of sin” (as we are taught).
For haven’t we been saved from “the darkness” and so must never let it back in to our hearts … our speech … our thoughts … into our very beings? But as we live in a sinful world (as taught) and cannot be anything but sinners saved by grace (as taught) … then the darkness is the Enemy … and the Enemy is constantly seeking ways to draw us into the darkness (as taught) … so we must seek the light (white) and resist the dark (black) … and any backsliding (grey) is bad (“sin” – as taught) – which means doubt (backsliding aka “sin” – as taught) is to be feared and curiosity to be discouraged. So we all learn to pretend (as taught).
Hello Jesus!
Who walked in the darkest of places, who accepted grey in all he met, who healed without need for preconditions or membership. Who talked and tarried with any who called his name, who had no institution of buildings and creeds and hierarchies, who never once (that I can find) held committee meetings about anything, who walked in complete safety and self-assurance – and who did nothing more than offer others that same universal healing of our own fears and doubts.
Jesus who allowed each to be who they are, who meets each where they are, and who simply invites a different way – a healing way – a safe way: a way for each to be who they are in complete safety.
I see a circle.
What is “being saved” if not another description for healing … and what is healing if not another description for accepting what and who I am? Because only in accepting that can I become who I really am. But to become that I need to be safe … and to be safe I need to be healed … and that “circle of healing” (physically and intellectually and emotionally) keeps spinning my whole life.
Being “saved” is not where it’s at for me.
So why sweat the small stuff of religion … when religion is just an attempt to keep us all safe… but in trying to keep us all safe causes many to be unsafe. And that is maybe where religion goes wrong: religion has always needed to make religion “safe” – or else it wouldn’t exist as “religion”. Except religion is not “religion” – it is people – people seeking consensus (through committee) – which is where the pretending creeps in and where the greys are forced out. Because how can things keep going unless through an understanding of what is black and what is white? But without greys of difference and diversity then fear creeps back in. And pretending becomes how things must be for the greater good (as taught).
So instead of healing … religion pretends … and people pretend … because that is how we have been taught to feel safe … by pretending to be something I am not. Except that stops me becoming who I am – because that “circle of healing” is broken – and then “being saved” so often becomes part of the pretense.
So I say again … Hello Jesus!
No fear of greys. No fear of pretending. No fear of changing. No fear of healing. No fear of not fitting in. So no need to pretend and no need to be the same. And might that ever become “religion” itself?
Because isn’t that the “essence” we all seek?
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Just me being curious 
“What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Jesus had no fear of darkness and we don’t have to fear it either because its what comes out of a person that makes them unclean.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
With His blood, the washing away of sin, by His stripes we have been healed.
I guess you could pretend to be saved. But you are either saved are or your not. When we recieve Jesus as our Lord and savior there can be no gray because our rightousness is found in Him not ourselves.
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
I think we often run in circles trying to get what we have already received. If we believe that the redemptive work of Christ was not enough, that grace was not enough, then what is left to save us? Nothing! but the running around in circles living in fear trying to save ourselves.
Freedom comes from knowing we have been saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We have the freedom to make mistakes, to question, to explore the difference aspects of ourselves and others. To grow in faith and knowledge without fear Because we are no longer under the law of sin and death. And we were not pretending because it is our new identity in Christ. Even when we get it wrong, because our rightousness comes from Him.
It is important what we believe. Because it is our faith in Him that changed everything. And if we don’t submitt to the Truth, than we are submitting to lies.
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
“But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
I have to disagree with you on this one.
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Maybe it’s in — as taught – ???
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Sorry! Your so deep I had misunderstood. It is a confusing cross road. I think we talk about grace but end -up teaching the law and walking living like we are under the law. (Fear) For me, it feels like I am seeking to walking in the freedom He has givin to us, but at the same time cling to the cross, grace, and salvation. Maybe like the walking on water, but at this point I’m still very clingy.
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Denine, you truly are a wonderful creation. That I am wrong I find beautiful. Because to be told by you is a gift of your strength and relationship with your Lord and Father. Then a maybe – and another gift. The gift of fellowship. And then sorry – and a third gift. Your strength and compassion – your willingness to give without fear.
In our family we have similarities and differences. None of us are the same. Yet that is our strength. And none fear to be different. We celebrate each for who they were, who they are, and who they become.
Maybe that is the closest I have to painting a picture of healing.
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I love it. I’ll take it. I just figured I looked crazy..LOL
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🙂
((hugs))
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