Staley lecture brings radical theologian Shane Claiborne

On Monday, theologian Shane Claiborne delivered Davidson's annual Staley Lecture, speaking on "Radical Community: Celebrating Jesus' Prophetic Imagination." Campus chaplain Rob Spach welcomed the audience to the event, explaining that the Staley Lecture Series was endowed in 1970 by Thomas Staley '24, who wanted to use his resources to create opportunities "to further the evangelical witness of the Christian church." Jessica Degelhausen '11, one of the organizers of the lecture, then introduced Claiborne.
The best-selling author of five books, including "Follow Me To Freedom: Leading and Following as an Ordinary Radical," which was published by Regal Books in 2009, Claiborne is also the founder of the Simple Way, an intentional faith community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Claiborne began his talk with an anecdote from his recent travels, when a fellow airplane passenger asked what he did for a living. Claiborne explained that when he said he was a preacher, his neighbor joked, "They must not make preachers like they used to." Claiborne said that the man then began to talk about a current apocalypse, and Claiborne commented that although he "may have been reading too many Tim LaHay books," "I do think these are interesting times we are living in."
"People are saying, ‘Maybe there's a different dream other than the American dream," he continued. "We're invited to have a new imagination about the world we live in."
Claiborne's suggestion of imagination echoes his emphasis on creativity in the Christian faith and way of life. He said that Jesus' creativity allowed him to "transcend the questions" of his detractors.
Demonstrating his point with a reading from Luke chapter seven, Claiborne said, "Jesus is always fascinating people with his love," adding that Jesus was "rarely forcing that down their throat."
Next, Claiborne contrasted this gentle approach with a recent study in which non-Christians were asked to name their impressions of Christians. The top three answers were that Christians were anti-homosexual, judgmental and hypocritical. "We have a little bit of an image crisis, and much of it is very well deserved," he said. "We want a Christianity that reminds the world of Jesus again."
Turning his attention to the widespread emphasis many religious leaders place on doctrine, Claiborne said, "I think the things we believe are important," but what is more important is "the way our beliefs work themselves out in love and action."
Claiborne then cited Matthew chapter 25, in which Jesus asks his disciples a series of questions about their good deeds on earth. Claiborne pointed out that these questions are not issues of doctrine, but of action. "What are these peculiar marks of God's holy counter-culture?" Claiborne asked.
He compared this radicalism with the lifestyle practiced by the Amish. "Their seeming irrelevance is seeming more and more relevant to our world, he said, reminding the audience of the Amish community's response to the school shooting in 2006. "It fascinated the world with grace," he said.
Claiborne then began a discussion about the attitudes that have proven to be core values in his community, The Simple Way. "We are the move ourselves closer to suffering, rather than away from it," he said, explaining their decision to settle in a dangerous neighborhood of Philadelphia.
He explained that the community shares their economic resources according to the model of the early church. "They ended poverty because they had this reckless vision that they were born again," he said. "We're not talking about an ‘ism' but an economy that is rooted radically in love." In a world of love, Claiborne said, "Marxism won't be necessary and capitalism as we know it won't be possible."
He then stressed the importance of diversity and racial reconciliation for the Christian faith, citing an example of Mexican and American Christians who meet at a border wall to worship together, tossing communion over the boundary.
Claiborne then elaborated on the Christian responsibility of environmental stability, warning the audience to resist theologies that do not value caring for creation. "Bringing dead things to life and making ugly things beautiful is part of what God is," he said.
The lecture concluded with Claiborne's vision of Christianity's future place in the world. When people are asked what they think of Christians, "they will say justice, grace, peace and compassion. May it be so."