MarcAlanSchelske.com

Life at the intersection of Grace and Growth.

500 years ago Ignatius suggested we make decisions this way.

7 minutes

I’ve been weighing a big decision. The details aren’t important. It’s like many big decisions you’ve faced. It’s complex, with many moving parts. There are pros and cons, which make it hard to know the right path.

You’ve been there, I’m sure. Having an unresolved decision on your mind can be stressful. But how do you finally make the decision?

Is it just about what feels right? Is the right choice the one that pleases the most people? Is the right decision the one that feels most comfortable or avoids the most conflict? Is the right thing the Godly thing, and is the Godly thing even that clear in this particular case?

Not only is the decision itself stressful, but the process of making the decision can become stressful too! So, how can we make these decisions and get on with living?

[Read more…]

The Well-Worn Path in Your Heart That Leads You Away from God’s Love.

6 minutes

Shortly after turning in my final manuscript for The Wisdom of Your Heart, I received an email. My stomach dropped as I read the words. My chest tightened.

The email was from my publisher. In the last round of editing, some theological questions had been raised, and the publisher decided to send my book through something they called a “theological review.”

I didn’t know that this is not uncommon. I didn’t know this is part of a Christian publisher doing their due diligence. I didn’t know that this would be an opportunity to improve my manuscript. None of those things occurred to me.

Why? Because when I read those words, I immediately felt fear. Fear of being told I don’t belong. Fear that some gatekeeper would judge the message of my book and (by extension) me as unwanted.

Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar, maybe not with a publisher, but perhaps with your boss or spouse or someone at church. That anxiety rising in your gut carries an important message if you’re willing to listen.

[Read more…]

I’m sorry for how the church has sidelined women.

I am really enjoying writing for the Oregonian website OregonLive. It’s giving me a space to think and wrestle with issues that are not the main topic around here. I just posted my 7th post over there, the 6th in a series. This series, I’m calling it my Apology Series, is addressing ways that the church has really blown it in our mission and witness in the world.

Why would I write a series like that? Do I hate the church. Not at all.  I love the church and I want us to do better.  I’m writing this series because the average Portlander where I live thinks pretty poorly of the church, and the only way I can think of to start a conversation is by admitting the truth about some of the ways we’ve blown it. My hope is that this kind of conversation can open doors and even change futures.

My most recent post is about the way the church has sidelined and hurt women.

Here’s a excerpt.

I’ve been a church kid since the day I was born, deeply steeped in the culture of this community of people who follow Jesus. My belt is well-notched with church services, church camps, retreats, alter calls, Bible studies, church volunteer roles and years of Christian education.

As I reflect on all those years and all the associated people who have shaped my life, I’m surprised at one thing. My life, as a Christian, has been shaped more than anything else by women.

Yes. In spite of everything.

It’s a surprise, I think, because of how often the language, policy and even doctrine of the church downplay the contribution of women. Those outside the church think of Christianity as a tribe that marginalizes women. They’re not wrong. While there are local congregations, even denominations, where women are invited to use their gifts and even participate at all levels of leadership, the sad truth is that in many, many churches, the opposite is true.

Many churches teach that women occupy their God-given role when they raise children, tend the home, and quietly submit to the wisdom of their husbands (and, of course, their male pastors). Even today.

Click through to read the rest.

How We Grow Spiritually (A Parable)

7 minutes

The thing I like most about our yard and the thing I like least are related.

Between our yard and the neighbor, there are five towering evergreens. There’s a massive Oak. In the middle of the front yard is a giant, ancient, Japanese Maple. It’s beautiful. Surrounded by all these trees, our home feels like it’s in the country–private and quiet. I love having all those trees.

The thing I like least about our yard is that it is incredibly difficult to grow grass. About half of our front yard is mostly mud and moss. With kids and a dog, that means mud and moss migrate into the house.

Here’s my tension: Big, beautiful trees block the sun, and you can’t have a lawn without sun.

A couple of years ago, I decided to try to work on this problem. My goal is to get more grass to grow in our lawn. This is a difficult goal, though. I can’t force grass to grow. If I lay sod, the sod won’t take because there’s not enough sun. If I plant seeds, the seeds won’t sprout, because there’s not enough sun. So, what can I do?

[Read more…]

I’m sorry for the Racist past (and present) of the Church.

Most of you already know that I write in two places.  Here, I write about spiritual growth for followers of Jesus. But over at the Oregonian / OregonLive I write to a wider community, here in Portland. I’m in a series that starts with apologies, but is really about a more positive vision for the church’s impact in society.

In this 5th post in that series, I highlight one of the biggest shames of the church–our racist past (and sometimes present.) This is much different material than you’ll find here, but I share it in the hopes that it might be helpful.

Here’s a excerpt.

In a recent Facebook post, I shared sadness and shock at a flagrantly racist statement made by a public official. I commented that I didn’t think any Christian could support such a thing.

An old acquaintance took issue. She wrote back, “I appreciate your rejection of this opinion. However, I don’t think you can honestly be shocked…” She continued, “Christianity has been used to justify genocide, slavery and systemic oppression of the poor since this country began. It’s disappointing and heartbreaking but hardly shocking…”

Reading her words, I felt defensiveness rising in me, but nothing she said was untrue. Christians of all stripes have too often used scripture and cultural authority to oppress, even harm people of color.

The commenter’s closing words were sharp. “…we might be better off dealing with the fact that racism is part of the lifeblood of the white Christian experience rather than lamenting the overt nature of the reveal.” Ouch.

Many Christians are not racists. There are congregations who have built bridges toward racial healing. There have almost always been Christian voices raised up in the face of exploitation and prejudice. And yet…

She wasn’t Wrong.

Click through to read the rest.

 

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