MHGS Paradigm Shifts

Last night, my reading group met for an extended time to "synthesize" all that we have been learning in each of our classes since reading groups usually meet to discuss one specific class. We started our time by individually jotting down different paradigm shifts that we have encountered since starting at Mars Hill. By paradigm shifts, I mean ideas that we have been confronted with that are contrary to the way we have been taught or accustomed to. It was really interesting what everyone had to say and so I took notes on what all was said last night. I wanted to share some of these ideas for you to get a glimpse of what I've been experiencing.

Journey vs. destination

Jesus did not come to earth solely to save our sins. If that were the case, then why are we all still here? If that were the case, wouldn't it be a lot easier for God just to give us all one-way tickets to heaven and be done with it? Jesus came to also allow us to journey and process here. He gave us a model by which to follow in order to live more fully.

The Trinity

God is one but, more so, God is three beings in one. He is equally the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is, by definition, a relationship. Therefore, we are called to be in relationship and to live in community as part of our worship. We aren't fully human without genuinely relating to one another; Eve was created after Adam because humanity was not complete.

Doubt is inevitable

God doubts/betrays himself: The Son cries out, "My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?" Doubt is actually a part of worship. Those who do not doubt live in paranoia and dogmatism - living with such certainty they are right, they are terrified of encountering something that tells them otherwise.

Salvation

Can people be "saved" without actually accepting Christ? The body of Christ lives because of the Holy Spirit - because God is in them. Therefore, does God give us the power to save others? If the Body forgives and loves someone out of Christ's forgiveness and love, does that count?

Seeing everything through the lens of "story"

We live out of our stories, our narratives. Every person, text, experience that we face is affected by our past stories; the interactions are shaped by what we have already experienced and bring to the table. The Bible is, in fact, many stories that make up one larger narrative - the narrative of God's relationship with his people.

Heightened awareness of how we treat other people

Realizing a sense of communal suffering - we are all truly in this together. We all share similar feelings of inadequacy, doubt, fear, loneliness, and shame.

These are some of the new things that we've been talking through and thinking about. Most of these ideas are new for all of us, so it's been nice to struggle through them together.