Thursday, March 11, 2010
Institutionalized
The "Shawshank Redemption" is one of my favorite movies. For the past couple of weeks, the character of Brooks has been on my mind. You probably remember how Brooks after decades of incarceration is finally paroled. Despite efforts to re-engage with life on the outside, he eventually commits suicide. 
When news gets back to his buddies in prison, they are all confused as to how this could happen to Brooks. The one seemingly burning desire in all of them is the dream of getting out of the walls of their institution. All of them are confused except Red.
Red waxes philosophically when speaking of Brooks he says, "... these walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, it gets so you depend on 'em. That's institutionalized."
I have some "Brooks" that have passed through my life. There was a time when I was a "Brooks" as in institutionalized by the seemingly impenetrable walls of my denomination. Those walls took various forms such as -
1. Believing the Bible taught freedom in worship but dumbing down my belief for the sake of a denominational view.
2. Believing the Kingdom of God is far larger than our little tribe but only working within our denomination's sectarian framework out of trying to hold the peace and partly out of fear.
Our denomination professes church autonomy but yet some of our para-church organizations will threaten God-fearing / long serving individuals who serve their organizations with removal and the always "popular" "un-invitation" for things said or done at their home churches.
Yet,not all is lost! There are many now that are discovering that if the "brotherhood" ejects you, they eject you into a far larger fellowship of Christ -followers. It has been our experience that there are many in other denominations that are tired of being "institutionalized" and are ready to roll up their sleeves and come together for the cause of Christ!
I guess I'm writing this for two reasons. First, to God be the glory for the journey our church has taken! I love worship at our church because praise just flows from our people as they engage in ministry in our community.
Second, to those of you, church leaders and lay members who are institutionalized, fear not! There is a much larger world out there just beyond your walls! May God give you a spirit of courage as a world around us dies from being lost.
May the spirit of Christ bless you all.
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Amen Donna. For me, when I talk to folks who are still "institutionalized" its hard for me to hold my attention or to communicate anything of worth. They're still inside the "walls" and limited in their potential to dream, minister, and communicate of the institutional rules.
This is possibly one of your best blogs ever! Until you are ejected either by choice or by force, it's very difficult to realize just how institutionalized we are.
I really like your comment about being ejected into a far larger fellowship of Christ-followers. Our "ejection" was voluntary, but the freedom has been wonderful beyond description.
I really like your comment about being ejected into a far larger fellowship of Christ-followers. Our "ejection" was voluntary, but the freedom has been wonderful beyond description.
Most excellent post…Kim and I have discovered true “Freedom” and happiness in Christ Jesus during our 5 ½ years at Central. Thanks again for your leadership and service.
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
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Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
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