Today’s Word from Pastor Katrina…
Pastor Jim has TLC staff write SMART goals every year (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based), so to help me with this task, I’ve dusted off a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. I’m finding that when I read books like this, I am often inserting God into the ideas that the author is presenting. I had read Atomic Habits long ago, and I am finding it to be a different, deeper experience this time around as I peer more closely at the author’s ideas with theological lenses. The lenses in my goggles are plastered with God- they are my Godgles.
The second chapter of this book is titled “How your habits shape your identity (and vice versa).” Clear says, “Identity is about what you believe… Behind every system of actions are a system of beliefs… When your behavior and your identity are fully aligned, you are no longer pursuing behavior change. You are simply acting like the type of person you already believe yourself to be.”
Reading with my Godgles on, this made me ponder how our Christian system of beliefs shape our identity, both as Christian individuals, and as a Christian community. It makes me think more critically about how my behavior may or may not reflect what I believe about being a Christian. It makes me want to be more curious about messaging I have received from school and different churches– messaging that impacts my beliefs, and whether those messages are helpful or hindering. There’s a growing movement in some circles of Christianity that aims to heal one’s beliefs that have been damaged by messaging from churches that emphasized a punishing, wrathful, judging God. Many went to church out of guilt rather than gratitude; many felt internal conflict rather than reconciliation; many felt more harm rather than healing, and then felt confused when harm was considered holy. The author addresses this when he says that “progress requires unlearning.” If we are to continue to grow in our faith- in our identity as Christians- we need to remain curious, willing to learn new things that help us grow, and willing to unlearn and let go of that which doesn’t.
Lutheran theology is very clear that Christianity is not a “works- based” religion. Martin Luther understood that practicing perfect habits does not pave the way to heaven. The focus of this missive is not about developing perfect habits. Rather the focus is more an encouragement to stay aware-of and curious-about how our habits shape our Christian identity (and vice versa– how our Christian identity shapes our habits), and to lovingly address areas of dissonance. The journey is ongoing, and I’m grateful to be on it with you!
Your humble servant,
Pastor Katrina
pastorkat@trinityfreeland.org
