UU Christian Practices

August 5, 2007 on 10:03 pm | In Theological Reflection, Unitarian Universalism | Mama G has asked a really excellent question of Unitarian Universalist Christians that very rarely gets put to us: what do UU Christians do? I find this question refreshing because I’m getting a bit tired of the old, “How can you be a UU and be a Christian?” that constantly comes my way. So, Mama G, thanks for asking. Christianity is for me a religion of practice, not just of thought and reflection. One of the key reasons I became a Christian is because Unitarian Universalism offers no clear direction about what a good UU “does” beside the same kind of thing that all good people do, namely works of mercy, justice and compassion. For spiritual practices we’re all over the place: you can jog, garden, quilt, write poetry, play the piano or make out checks to the ASPCA. Those are all worthy and good things, but they do not invite me into a disciplined transformation of my life (in a word, discipleship). Even more problematic for me, I have found that it is nearly impossible to create a compelling common language and sacred narrative for a community whose spiritual practices are so various and sundry. So what do (UU) Christians do? Here is my own personal list. 1. Christians worship together in community. The Christian movement is all about the community of the faithful. It is not about kinship ties but spiritual ties. Christians need to be together to praise God according to Jesus’ model. Christians do not do this alone. This means that I need to make a commitment to worship in a Christian church or with UU Christians on a regular basis, and I do. This was a commitment I made when I was baptized, as I believe that one cannot be a Christian “solitary.”
I have learned the stories and the songs that bond me to Christians all over the world, and this has brought immeasurable depth and meaning to my life. That said, Mama G, I like SC Universalists idea for your group. 2. Christians read and preach from the Bible when they are together. The Bible contains the sacred story for Christians and should be read and studied and marveled at and delved into by those who seek to know, and to live by, the spirit of Jesus. 3. Christians read and study the Bible when they are alone. I encourage all UU Christians to read the Bible (OT and NT) daily and to study the commentaries, both Jewish and Christian. I think that UU Christians have a special responsibility to affirm the sibling relationship that exists between Judaism and Christianity, and to acknowledge the latter’s debt to the former. UU Christians have a unique ability to keep reminding the Christian world that Jesus was a Jewish man ministering within a Jewish community. We can, and should be, bridge-builders between the two communities. 3. Pray as a Christian.
To pray as a Christian means to name God as the One who hears our prayers, who is actively involved in the world, and who loves us. To pray as a Christian means to ask for healing in the name of Christ, the healer. It means to learn the Lord’s Prayer and to develop a personal understanding and relationship with each of the phrases. To pray as a Christian means to pray for others and to assume that doing so is never an empty gesture. Christian UUs should be praying people and offer to pray for anyone who asks, including agnostics, skeptics, and anyone who thinks that maybe a prayer “couldn’t hurt.” We are not required to believe that prayer “works” but I think we are required to keep faith that prayer matters. 3. Christians share table fellowship.
Eat! Break bread together! 4. Christians should feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, clothe the naked, etc., as per Jesus’ instructions. UU Christian groups will want to consider doing something along these lines together. 5. Christian UUs should become friends with the communion of saints from our tradition, and consider it their privilege and responsibility to know the religious teachings of our great Christian ministers (and lay men and women as you can find them). SO, what DON’T UU Christians do? 1. UU Christians don’t proselytize or make claims that theirs is the one true faith. They just choose this path for themselves. 2. UU Christians don’t exclude people from fellowship for expressing doubts or irreverent thoughts about the Bible, Jesus or God. 3. UU Christians don’t worry about who’s going to hell and they don’t engage in competetive spiritual development. 4. UU Christians assume that all are capable of taking on leadership, and they share the responsibility of planning, setting up and cleaning up. I’m sure my readers will have other ideas. Have at it, gang.

http://www.peacebang.com/2007/08/05/uu-christian-practices/