Jesus for the rest of us.

I have been mediating on the Gospel of Mark this Lenten season and this morning I came to a realization, the people who encountered Jesus, encountered him outside the structures of an institutional religion and outside the walls of the synagogue. For us that would mean that many of those who met Jesus did so outside the context of a church.

I reflected on Peter and the other disciples and later Paul, none of these folks met Jesus in the “church.”

Some people on my journey, mostly heavily institutionalized Christians, have told me that they struggle with some of what I say. Most of the struggles come from where I conflict with their doctrines and not necessarily their personal experiences of God. Truthfully, sometimes the doctrines felt more like the traditions of humans than the commandments of God.

I’ve never been a “theology junkie” nor do I care much about Calvin’s or Aquinas’ take on the Gospel. I'm not addicted to what other's believe or think about God. I encountered a real God and I need no one to define my experience.

I fell in love with God while on my knees praying and meditating on scripture. No one told me what I was supposed to believe or how I was supposed to think; no one except the Holy Spirit.

Like many in 1st Century Palestine, I had the luxury of meeting Jesus outside the walls of an institution. When I entered the stories of Jesus found in scripture I met a God who became very real for me. No one was there to tell me “how to be a disciple” or to “disciple me”. No one was there to point out my “sin” or hold me accountable to some moral teachings of the church. I had Jesus to do that for me. I had the Spirit of God luring me with love, compassion, and devotion helping me to let go of what hurt me.

Questions from those on the outside of the church were about wanting to know why I have hope or faith or joy. Questions from those on the inside were often about what I believed about a certain doctrine or church position. Those questions never seemed to come from a place of genuine love but only to control, trick, and judge me.

I got to know Jesus and fell in love with Jesus by spending time in the desert with him. He became my best friend as a result of our walks along the sea and long conversations at the mountain surrounded by the crisp cool air in the stillness of the night, just the two of us.

When I get down or frustrated by religion and feel like I am not getting it right, I go to the mountain or stand in the water to listen for my friend's voice. I spend time with my best friend who reminds me of who I am but most importantly who God is. This is not the Jesus of the institution, it is the Jesus for the rest of us.

And for this I am blessed.