My life goes a lot better when I manage to remember three little words: act as if.
This can be an especially difficult idea for Presbyterians.
I have only officially been Presbyterian for a handful of weeks now, but I have been unofficially Presbyterian (Presbyterian adjacent? Presbyterian-ish?) for most of my adult life. I attended a Presbyterian seminary, made many Presbyterian friends and was married to a Presbyterian minister in a Presbyterian church followed by a wedding reception at which we were toasted with good Presbyterian scotch. I may have only recently made it official, but I have been hanging around for a while now.
Do you know what I love about Presbyterians? We are the thinkers in the Christian family tree. We value in-depth study of the Bible; we make time and space for rigorous theological reflection; we like to love God with all of our intellect. That makes me feel right at home.
But that also makes me more apt to forget the three little words. And there are many times when I do a lot better by acting as if.
Because here is the truth: despite years of study at really good schools with really good teachers, I still do not entirely understand what Paul is getting at when he tells the Corinthian Christians that “in Christ God was reconciling the world t himself.” And I am still not sure what it means to say that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. And I still don’t know how exactly the cross of Christ can save me or save our world.
But I can act as if I know. And that is what changes me.
When it comes to human transformation, Presbyterians can get a little confused about cause and effect. We so often start with our intellects. We prioritize our ideas. First figure it out; then we will be changed. But in my experience, the relationship between understanding and doing—between acting and believing—runs in the exact opposite direction.
Do you want to feel grateful? Give thanks and the feeling will follow. Do you want to feel generous? Give and the feeling will follow. Do you want to stop resenting that person who hurt you? Pray for them. The feeling of forgiveness will, eventually, follow.
And: if you want to get God—if you want a little more understanding of what it means to say that God saves us through Jesus Christ--do Holy Week. Act as if. During Holy Week, and maybe especially on Easter Sunday, we are not invited to understand; we are invited to act. Jesus does not ask us to comprehend; Jesus asks us to follow.
So I hope you will join me and join the people of College Hill Presbyterian Church in entering into the mystery of these days. Pick up a palm branch and cry, “Hosanna!” on Sunday March 28. Join us for Tuesday Bible Study (11 a.m. on Zoom), for Wednesday evening prayer (on Facebook at 5:30). Share the bread and cup on Thursday night. Keep watch with Jesus as his closest friends abandon him and flee. Ponder his agony on Friday; sit in Saturday’s silence. And then join us on Easter Sunday (April 4) as we celebrate Christ’s triumph over death.
I don’t understand it. But I can experience it. I can act as if. And if we do that together...we will be changed.
This can be an especially difficult idea for Presbyterians.
I have only officially been Presbyterian for a handful of weeks now, but I have been unofficially Presbyterian (Presbyterian adjacent? Presbyterian-ish?) for most of my adult life. I attended a Presbyterian seminary, made many Presbyterian friends and was married to a Presbyterian minister in a Presbyterian church followed by a wedding reception at which we were toasted with good Presbyterian scotch. I may have only recently made it official, but I have been hanging around for a while now.
Do you know what I love about Presbyterians? We are the thinkers in the Christian family tree. We value in-depth study of the Bible; we make time and space for rigorous theological reflection; we like to love God with all of our intellect. That makes me feel right at home.
But that also makes me more apt to forget the three little words. And there are many times when I do a lot better by acting as if.
Because here is the truth: despite years of study at really good schools with really good teachers, I still do not entirely understand what Paul is getting at when he tells the Corinthian Christians that “in Christ God was reconciling the world t himself.” And I am still not sure what it means to say that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. And I still don’t know how exactly the cross of Christ can save me or save our world.
But I can act as if I know. And that is what changes me.
When it comes to human transformation, Presbyterians can get a little confused about cause and effect. We so often start with our intellects. We prioritize our ideas. First figure it out; then we will be changed. But in my experience, the relationship between understanding and doing—between acting and believing—runs in the exact opposite direction.
Do you want to feel grateful? Give thanks and the feeling will follow. Do you want to feel generous? Give and the feeling will follow. Do you want to stop resenting that person who hurt you? Pray for them. The feeling of forgiveness will, eventually, follow.
And: if you want to get God—if you want a little more understanding of what it means to say that God saves us through Jesus Christ--do Holy Week. Act as if. During Holy Week, and maybe especially on Easter Sunday, we are not invited to understand; we are invited to act. Jesus does not ask us to comprehend; Jesus asks us to follow.
So I hope you will join me and join the people of College Hill Presbyterian Church in entering into the mystery of these days. Pick up a palm branch and cry, “Hosanna!” on Sunday March 28. Join us for Tuesday Bible Study (11 a.m. on Zoom), for Wednesday evening prayer (on Facebook at 5:30). Share the bread and cup on Thursday night. Keep watch with Jesus as his closest friends abandon him and flee. Ponder his agony on Friday; sit in Saturday’s silence. And then join us on Easter Sunday (April 4) as we celebrate Christ’s triumph over death.
I don’t understand it. But I can experience it. I can act as if. And if we do that together...we will be changed.