the journey

as a youth minister i fill out lots of recommendations for teens and college students. they come from employment applications, scholarships, student government organizations, CHRiSTian camps, and various other things. it's just a normal part of life as a youth minister. the photo above comes from a recommendation for a CHRISTian camp that i filled out this week. i found it disturbing because i believe it points out that too many believers in CHRIST treat their faith as though it is a destination rather than a journey.

there are two questions that say this to me (or more appropriately their answers point it out to me).

• "overall reputation on campus"
  
• aaplicant's relationship with CHRIST appears to be..."
  

the questions disturb me because of their answers. the first question's answers in highest and second highest order are: 1)"CHRIST-centered" and 2)"striving." the second question's answer in highest and second highest order are: 1)"intimate" and 2)"growing." both of these sets of answers make it sound like "striving" and "growing" are somehow less than "CHRIST-centered" and "intimate." it's as though you'll reach a point as a follower of JESUS CHRIST where you will not be "growing" and "striving" because you are finally "there." to me, "growing" and "striving" speak of faith as a journey and to reduce such terms to a second class station is to convey what i consider a dangerous message concerning CHRISTian faith.

when we view CHRISTianity as a destination rather than a journey it becomes very easy for us to judge others "who haven't made it yet." it's constant movement and adaptation when we view faith as a journey. that's not true when faith is a destination it's stagnate. when we view faith as a journey our understanding of GOD may change, though HE never does. when we view faith as a destination we begin to believe that we know everything there is to know about GOD and there is nothing new we can learn.

i much prefer faith as a journey.