cairns

I understand what Bonhoeffer meant, salvation from hell without living out the kingdom is heresy.

But, cheap grace?  We need to return to what grace does to the recipient.

We say it glibly, grace transforms us into the image of Christ.  Easy to say, but the meaning is lost by anyone who believes grace can truly be cheap.

Grace does not transform us into Bill Gates, Oprah, Hughes, Robertson, Dobson, Graham, Hefner, or even the infamous “Joneses.”  It transforms us into the image of a man who owned only the clothes on his back.

Grace does not turn us into the conquering crusader of the west, but the Savior who spent both his lifetime and his death absorbing all the suffering and hatred of humanity into his very being.

Grace does not turn us into attractive charismatic icons, but the man of sorrows — unattractive in appearance, often labeled insane or heretic, harassed, homeless, and finally crucified.

How can a gift of God which turns us into the image of the homeless suffering servant be cheap?  If it is, it simply isn’t grace.

peace,

Greg

4 Comments »

Paraphrased from two songs, over played and under lived:

Pray for the other ones
Who know all life is hard
While we feast, remember

There is a world outside you

A world of dread and fear
Where the only living water is the bitter sting of tears
The only bells that ring, toll the clanging of doom
Thank God it’s them instead of you

Until we learn they are really us

Waiting for the chimes of freedom flashing.

peace

Comments Off

OK, I have a combination of pain and exhaustion plus no idea what we are supposed to do for Mom already playing in my head when R posts about whether today is the beginning of the rest of his life.

How weird is it to think that maybe death is the rest at the beginning of our life?

peace

Comments Off

A friend who loves the Lord posted this on Facebook:
“heard a great message at the Bridge — you haven’t given enough to God until it interrupts your lifestyle!”

Wish I knew the whole context. If God has to interrupt your lifestyle, I would say more is out of line than just your giving!

peace

Comments Off

It is time for us to pray.

Brothers and sisters are being imprisoned, tortured, and killed in many places around the globe.  Some of them go by the name of Christian.  Folks in “safe” countries of the west are being tortured through disease, faithless friends and spouses, temptation in their own lives, and the worship of money and power.

The church is constantly doing the work of its enemies by criticizing, attacking, or refusing to fellowship with any other sect that hears the Word of God in a different key.

War continues rampant around the globe, often in the name of the “good” bringing “justice” to “the evil doers” in the form of death and destruction.  Some of the attackers are us.

We remain alienated from the earth we are made from, polluting and destroying the very stuff and sustenance of our physical being  (and since I am not a dualist, I would add that in ways we do not understand, our very souls).

We have given our minds over to trivial nonsense in entertainment, violent crimes against humanity as entertainment, and simple have-no-fears-you-can-understand-everything (what we do is right, what they do is wrong) theologies.

Our churches serve the same gods as our societies.  It is time to pray; for our neighbors far away and near, for our leaders (yes even from the opposition parties), for our world including the Earth herself, and for our very souls.  It is time to pray.

Thanksgiving week in the States is a good time for prayer.  Our work week is usually reduced.  Our minds are turned somewhat in the direction of gratitude and nostalgic images of people who lived closer to the Earth and to God.  Let us also shut up and sit silent in the presence of the mystery that gives us life and hope.  Let us listen.  Let us be grateful.  Let us realize how many brothers and sisters we have among people who have been labeled our enemies both near and far.  Let us take our eyes off the food, and the rest of our selfish desires, and pray.

May God answer our prayers with strength and wisdom to continue making small moves against the darkness, small steps toward finding ourselves home together.

peace

Comments Off

First, I am not even pretending to be an expert on Jewish thought.

But, several things I have read suggest a greater sense of the permanent now.  Where we read Adam sinned once and all his heirs were condemned –  Jesus died and rose and all his heirs are forgiven and free: I suspect the original text would have been interpreted more in terms of Adam’s race continually facing the choice of life with God, made indisputable in Jesus, or death through deception, hubris, and disobedience.  Where we see one time events of offense, penalty, and justice served.  I suspect those to whom the letter was written would see things more as an ongoing reality confronting each person.

I relate it to the Jewish philosophy that all the universe is perfectly balanced between good and evil and living as if my next act tips the scales.  Not Adam’s sin tipped it forever, or later Calvin’s God created a few to be saved and the rest to be damned, or Jesus broke the scales forever leaving us to pretend that all is now well — but here I stand deciding if my next act will weigh in for truth, love, and beauty or deception, selfishness, and death.

Again, I do not know if this is an accurate cultural read or not.  But, I find it a power filled view — standing in the Garden able to see both the serpent and the risen Christ and knowing the next move is mine.

Feels to me like an application of the Truth that would lead us to think twice before defaming our brother or sister, adding to their burden for our gain, or destroying their soul by failing to notice them at all.  I don’t see how we are able to even consider the serpent when the risen Christ is present.  But, both the story and my life remind me that we do — over and over again.  Then we look up and we are back in the only time we ever know, the moment.  And the snake and the savior are there inviting us again to choose.

peace

4 Comments »

Made it through.  Glad today’s Saturday class was with a solid group.  Sad to hear another person with a gut punched life interruption asking for prayer, but honored to join her in seeking real grace and power.  I guess my mother went back to her house today, but I was working and did not check or hear from anyone.

All in all one of those weeks that takes me back to memories of my old 40cc Austrian motorbike, riding it as fast as it would go (40mph max downhill or about 5 straight up a tree) and jumping dirt ramps and tree roots.  Crashing, tumbling, going again as fast as before.  That was on purpose, fun for a kid.  This week wasn’t, and I feel old.

But, I noticed a strange thing this week.  After several weeks away from our old mega-church home, I no longer tear up at the slightest provocation.  Old and tired, but not defeated, stretched and bruised, but not distraught, more and more aware of pain all around, and more and more determined to keep others lifted up with and to love and grace for the glory of God.

peace

Comments Off

Waiting on hospital to discharge Mom and my sister to call saying she is at rehab to go visit. So far hospital care has been less than exemplary and finishing things for on-time discharge is following right with the pattern — not happening.

Waiting for Tuesday to see if a CT scan will explain the spot on my hip X Ray shows but not well enough to identify.  Already know something is wrong.  Nothing hurts this bad for a month without a cause.

Waiting on some sanity in schedule to set up time to meet and be with friends.

Waiting.

And it is OK.  I know who is in charge, and it isn’t me.  For the next several minutes, a chance to sit back, pull back, breathe deep, and just wait.

peace

Comments Off

I have been discussing the possibility of universalism, somehow, someway, God’s way, probably beyond our understanding with people who will listen.  But, most have been thoroughly indoctrinated in American fundamentalist evangelical dogma as the one and only read of scripture.  It is hard for some to even consider.  I get the furthest when I quote veteran missionary Marjorie Foyle’s assertion that a God who would knowingly create most of humanity to be punished forever for the crime of never hearing of Jesus just does not match the God she has known all these years.  I’m with Marjorie; I do not know that God.  Like her, I am willing to accept that there are things beyond what we know and trust the God I do know with the future, all of it.

But, my sister got the wheels turning when she asked me about Jesus’ teaching about separating the sheep and goats.  I will have to look to some experts for how others have interpreted this passage outside of the tradition I was raised to believe was the only one.  But, part of it hit me immediately and I had to come home and look it up.  First it seems to me that Mathew 7 and 25 must be read as parallel passages.  Chapter 25 defines the life that Jesus labels as “evildoers” or “goats” — all of us who fail to care for those in need and in prison.  It is not new.  The theme of God’s love for the widow and orphan runs through the entire Bible.  Those who fail to do it, are not living within the will of God.

And, here is what hit me.  I have heard those passages used so many times to proclaim that Jesus declared people are going to hell, even many who thought they were saved.  Funny thing is (and by funny I mean nauseating), is how many times I heard sermons on the “literal” interpretation of these passages from people who never lived the life Jesus says you must live in the passage (my sister is not one of them, she just asked an honest question).  If it is literally proclaiming who will make it to heaven and who will not, then why aren’t they following the teaching beyond a once or twice a year feel good trip to the food pantry, Salvation Army, or Rescue Mission?  They simply cannot actually believe what they are saying or they would realize that the passage condemns the very people who preach it without living it to hell!

The way I read it my staff at Christa, whether they claim to “believe” or not, are more acceptable to Jesus than the people who claim to be His, judge others (also condemned in the same chapters), and blame the least of these for their own troubles from the comfort of their suburban isolation.  Ew, that became a bit of a rant for a guy trying to grasp how wide is a love that truly offers grace to all.

As for me, I cast my lot with those who care and act rather than those who pretend to know it all (the very act condemned as the motive for original sin in Genesis!).

peace

Comments Off

Reconnected with another old friend tonight, a young man I am very proud of — overcame mistakes of youth to build a life and serve others.

Conversation quickly revealed that his early success in life led to some bad decisions, worse results, and (I wish this part was surprising) rejection by his church.  Another group claiming to represent the God who would die to be with us, by refusing to affiliate with somebody honest enough to admit they are not perfect.  The “we” I have been part of most of my life makes me want to puke.  How do we mess the good news of God’s love up so badly and so often?  Do we really understand it in our own lives?

I am playing with a new idea.  I would like to start getting together on some regular basis with this young man, my “red path” friend, maybe the slightly older friend who has so often told me what is around the next bend in the road, anybody honest enough to be themselves!  Instead of a being a “church,” we would just be us.  Instead of trying to “save” each other we would support each other.  Instead of “applying the Bible with love” in order to pass judgment on each other, we would accept each other as we all stumble homeward.

If this sounds interesting to anybody else who lives near Evansville, think about it and let me know.  I am serious about just getting together with some other people who are ready to be real, to be human and humane, to be together.

peace,

Greg

Comments Off