Out of the None-Zone

In Seattle, a huge percentage of the population, when asked to identify their religion, select the box marked "None." I may be misquoting here, but I seem to recall it was approaching 75%. (If you know the correct number, please let me know.) Anyway, Seattle has come to be known as the None-Zone. If you aren't reading it, and someone says this phrase, you are likely to think that they're talking about a convent, but really it's quite the opposite. As a Christian in the None-Zone, you can feel pretty alien. It is almost never one of the first things you mention to a new acquaintance. More likely, you save it for a later date, once your new friend has come to view you as "alright," someone who they will like. Then, like a trap, you spring it on them! You might do it subtly, dropping it into the conversation about your favorite coffee shop - "Oh, there's this great coffee shop across the street from my church. They have the best chocolate chip cookies!" (By the way, that's Irwin's, if you didn't know!) That way, you're letting them know that you are a Christian, but you're not being in-your-face, have-you-accepted-Jesus-Christ-as-your-personal-savior. Because to go there in the None-Zone is to go for the immediate shut down, especially early in an acquaintance. Often I have found myself identifying as a "Christian but." "I'm a Christian, but not crazy, but not trying to judge you, but not trying to get you to vote my way, but not trying to change who you are, not who you think Christians are." In Seattle, to be a Christian is to be counter-cultural in the counter-cultural capital of the US.

Now Minnesota is a whole different ball of wax! Christians here are a dime a dozen! We are out of the closet here - we're here, we're saved, get used to it! Here, it is something you learn about the casual acquaintance right away. And I'm not just talking about here at the seminary. I mean everywhere. At the state fair, at the playground, in the Apple Store where we bought our computer, outside the restaurant where we'd just had lunch. Even if you're talking to someone who is not a Christian, they are likely to be a person of faith. And even if they are not, they have a friend, neighbor, relative, someone who is a pastor, was a missionary, went to seminary, etc.

One of the great things that I hope I will take from this time at seminary is a shift in that desire to qualify my faith. Perhaps I will be able to stop being a "Christian but," and begin to allow my faith to speak for itself, allow God to speak through me and not through my labels. Already I am amazed at the freedom with which some people are able to casually mention, "We're praying for you," as if they were doing what comes naturally to them! For me, to tell someone I'm praying for them brings tears to my eyes, a lump in my throat, and fear of rejection to the front of my mind. What a blessing to spend time in a community that prays for one another as if it were a natural act! "Toto, I don't think we're in the None-Zone anymore!"