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What do I believe?

I believe that today there exists a Christianity too bound up with bureaucracy and institutions, and this is the source of my unbelief.

I believe that in our churches we have incorporated the struggles of the minjung* to be our own struggles without fully participating in their reality.

I believe that we are caught within a paradox: we have power and privilege, but act as spokespersons for the powerless and underprivileged.

I believe that the liberating God of the exodus cannot be seen as a panacea, but must be the pivot of experiential living.

I believe that the creation God intended has not been fully realised.

I believe that the church as an institution and we as humans have failed in our mission.

I believe that where our mission has been partly realised, we have obscured it with academic and intellectual language.

I believe that we have not listened to the voiceless of our societies, or have only listened to them from our own perspective.

I believe that, if we are to act for a new creation, we must refrain from imposing our world-views — no matter how "enlightened" — on the truly oppressed people of our lands.

I believe that we have failed to evaluate how our middle-class status affects our ability to transform society for those less well off than ourselves.

I believe in hope.

I believe that we have capabilities beyond our understanding.

I believe in self-criticism and struggle.

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* The Korean word minjung means "the struggling masses".

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I believe in a salvation: not in any other worldly realm, but here and now.

I believe in this for all humanity — men and women.

I believe that a doctrinal faith has value for some, but not for me.

I believe in my own limitations. I believe in my fallibility — and I believe in my idealism. I also believe that the God of the resurrection allows us to be human and to make mistakes.

I believe we do not have all the answers and should not pretend that we do.

I believe that we can only participate fully through personalised struggle.

And I believe that

Ignorance and arrogance

Have I plenty;

Forgiveness and fortitude

Have I need.

Lakshmi Daniel