Tabitha, I am a new reader here--so glad I found this post! I'm a Jesus people person whose faith was formed in the 70's and over the last 50 years, framed by a man-centered theology--how can I bring God's kingdom to bear in my life--vs. a God-centered theology--thank you, Jesus for your presence and your power and what you've already done. The change in focus is huge.
There has been a lot of shifting in my thought lately and the freedom and joy is palpable. Thank you for this. Keep up the good work.
Welcome, Jody, so glad to have you here! While I experienced a particularly egregious form of this theology in 90s fundamentalism it does seem to be a tale as old as time, doesn’t it?
Good work in Ephesians! And I grew up in the same time frame in the 90s, so we have that in common!
My experience was different though. I don't remember thinking we would change the world, but that "God had big plans for me." I think perhaps if was a similar sentiment that resonated with my individualistic prideful self, rather than the collectivized way the same sentiment seems to have impacted you. Now I understand God's plan for me as much simpler, but probably just as impactful - though in a different way. Anyway, just my thoughts 😀
I heard the “God has big plans for you” messaging too, it was just that those big plans almost always involved changing the culture or overseas missions work or (for men) running for elected office. And yes, all these messages appealed to our pride much more than we were willing to acknowledge at the time. It takes a lot of humility to measure our “impact” by God’s standards rather than humans’.
Tabitha, Thank you for sharing your journey and your heart. Jody's comment resonated with me. I too, was a spiritual babe in the 70's, and a first generation Jesus follower raising my children in the 90's. Every time I read your blog I am encouraged to see God's faithfulness in your life and how you are realizing the freedom for which Jesus died. The freedom to be your beautiful self. I pray your blog will reach many others who have traveled a similar path.
Both of your insights are making me wonder if the 70s might be where this thread started. I’m so thankful for more mature believers who are willing to ask these hard questions as we seek God’s beauty and freedom together.
What a pleasing essay! As an aging Baby Boomer retiree, I am coming to grips that I will never change the world. A few people may benefit from my life, or what I say or write. Faithfulness to God, family and some friends, and whatever measure of fruitfulness God gives should be enough. Ephesians is rather surprising in the turn that it takes, isn’t it?
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
Tabitha, This was a terrific post. I, too, like Sandy and Jody grew up in the 70’s and then raised my kids in the 90’s. My church growing up was not as conservative as some other SBC churches and my dad did not attend church with us. But when I got married, I determined that we were going to be The Great Christian Parents that I had always wanted my parents to be. The church we joined after we married and moved was much more conservative and at the time I embraced it but it also caused me to question a lot of things about what following Jesus really was. Teaching Sunday school to children, then teens, going on mission trips to “bring the gospel” to the poor and serve,serve, serve. It wasn’t until my 50’s that I began to see a different way. I wrote about it in a post-When I’m 64. Now in my 60’s, I am finally much more relaxed about what following Christ looks like and your post just confirms it again. I have loved being on Substack and reading and learning from the younger generations. Each of you teach me so much. Thanks!
Thank you for reading, Janet. Isn’t it beautiful when the body of Christ works together that way, all of us learning from one another and growing up into the image of Jesus?
Such a relatable and beautiful post - I'm reading through Ephesians on my own time right now so this was a great addition to my thinking. I love how you shared that this didn't lead to apathy, but more freedom. Isn't that the way of following Christ? We experience more freedom when our external circumstances make it seem like we won't. I love the upside-down-ness of the Kingdom!
Yes, upside-down-ness is exactly right! God is often working in the ways we least expect and asking us to loosen our grip on those worldly strategies for success.
It grieves me to see people (on both sides) put so much pressure on themselves to achieve something they’ll never be able to do. But praise God that Jesus is King and we are free!
In captivity, elephants are bound by sometimes a simple rope that they could snap whenever they desired by the sheer force of their strength. However, they have been psychologically broken by their captors from an early age to believe that the rope is impossible to break. Those who are aware of this mourn for the slavery of the elephant. This is akin to the bondage that some believers face. Their chains are gossamer compared to the power of the cross of Christ.
Tabitha, I am a new reader here--so glad I found this post! I'm a Jesus people person whose faith was formed in the 70's and over the last 50 years, framed by a man-centered theology--how can I bring God's kingdom to bear in my life--vs. a God-centered theology--thank you, Jesus for your presence and your power and what you've already done. The change in focus is huge.
There has been a lot of shifting in my thought lately and the freedom and joy is palpable. Thank you for this. Keep up the good work.
Welcome, Jody, so glad to have you here! While I experienced a particularly egregious form of this theology in 90s fundamentalism it does seem to be a tale as old as time, doesn’t it?
Good work in Ephesians! And I grew up in the same time frame in the 90s, so we have that in common!
My experience was different though. I don't remember thinking we would change the world, but that "God had big plans for me." I think perhaps if was a similar sentiment that resonated with my individualistic prideful self, rather than the collectivized way the same sentiment seems to have impacted you. Now I understand God's plan for me as much simpler, but probably just as impactful - though in a different way. Anyway, just my thoughts 😀
I heard the “God has big plans for you” messaging too, it was just that those big plans almost always involved changing the culture or overseas missions work or (for men) running for elected office. And yes, all these messages appealed to our pride much more than we were willing to acknowledge at the time. It takes a lot of humility to measure our “impact” by God’s standards rather than humans’.
Tabitha, Thank you for sharing your journey and your heart. Jody's comment resonated with me. I too, was a spiritual babe in the 70's, and a first generation Jesus follower raising my children in the 90's. Every time I read your blog I am encouraged to see God's faithfulness in your life and how you are realizing the freedom for which Jesus died. The freedom to be your beautiful self. I pray your blog will reach many others who have traveled a similar path.
Both of your insights are making me wonder if the 70s might be where this thread started. I’m so thankful for more mature believers who are willing to ask these hard questions as we seek God’s beauty and freedom together.
What a pleasing essay! As an aging Baby Boomer retiree, I am coming to grips that I will never change the world. A few people may benefit from my life, or what I say or write. Faithfulness to God, family and some friends, and whatever measure of fruitfulness God gives should be enough. Ephesians is rather surprising in the turn that it takes, isn’t it?
It is! It’s been such a blessing to me. So glad you are finding it encouraging as well.
1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
Amen.
When we finally understand our freedom in Christ, it is the most beautiful thing 💕 Thank you for these words, I really enjoyed reading!
Thank you for reading, Sara. Honored to be chasing freedom with you.
Tabitha, This was a terrific post. I, too, like Sandy and Jody grew up in the 70’s and then raised my kids in the 90’s. My church growing up was not as conservative as some other SBC churches and my dad did not attend church with us. But when I got married, I determined that we were going to be The Great Christian Parents that I had always wanted my parents to be. The church we joined after we married and moved was much more conservative and at the time I embraced it but it also caused me to question a lot of things about what following Jesus really was. Teaching Sunday school to children, then teens, going on mission trips to “bring the gospel” to the poor and serve,serve, serve. It wasn’t until my 50’s that I began to see a different way. I wrote about it in a post-When I’m 64. Now in my 60’s, I am finally much more relaxed about what following Christ looks like and your post just confirms it again. I have loved being on Substack and reading and learning from the younger generations. Each of you teach me so much. Thanks!
Thank you for reading, Janet. Isn’t it beautiful when the body of Christ works together that way, all of us learning from one another and growing up into the image of Jesus?
Such a relatable and beautiful post - I'm reading through Ephesians on my own time right now so this was a great addition to my thinking. I love how you shared that this didn't lead to apathy, but more freedom. Isn't that the way of following Christ? We experience more freedom when our external circumstances make it seem like we won't. I love the upside-down-ness of the Kingdom!
Yes, upside-down-ness is exactly right! God is often working in the ways we least expect and asking us to loosen our grip on those worldly strategies for success.
So well said, and so extremely relatable!
I wish it wasn’t so relatable, but I see it everywhere!
I can’t amen hard enough for this post. Thank you 🙏🏼😇
It grieves me to see people (on both sides) put so much pressure on themselves to achieve something they’ll never be able to do. But praise God that Jesus is King and we are free!
In captivity, elephants are bound by sometimes a simple rope that they could snap whenever they desired by the sheer force of their strength. However, they have been psychologically broken by their captors from an early age to believe that the rope is impossible to break. Those who are aware of this mourn for the slavery of the elephant. This is akin to the bondage that some believers face. Their chains are gossamer compared to the power of the cross of Christ.