Christianity is not about getting to heaven
Most of us like music and singing. I’ve discovered in the churches I’ve served that people love to sing the songs they know. As I travel from church to church on Sundays, or hear students on campus, I pick up right away on that. Whether traditional or contemporary, high liturgy or praise services, the songs people sing best are the ones they know the best.
One of the traditional song hits I know best is “Love Divine All Loves Excelling”, where in line two, we read, “Joy of heaven to earth come down.” The model is that God came to earth in Jesus. The model is that heaven has come to earth. The theological point is not that we die and go to heaven—the point is that heaven comes to earth while we are alive!
In the modern hymn, “Sanctuary” we hear about being “pure and holy”—not there, but here.
In the Lord’s prayer, we hear the ancient story: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Again, it’s not about getting to heaven, but acknowledging that God is remaking earth into heaven.
Our God-talk today is that God is the great recycler—not making something brand new, but something that is re-newed, changed, recycled.
A friend and colleague of mine, Rev. Ebb Munden, recently preached a sermon on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of a church. In the sermon he said:
Too often I revert to trusting in myself or the powers of this world rather than God alone. And I worry about the fact that much of what I have attempted to do in my ministry to achieve peace with justice in our church and in our world has not met with the success I wanted. I still grieve at the pain, the injustice, the violence in our church and our world, and I am impatient with my own unfaithfulness. Nevertheless, I discover that an amazing thing has happened. I find myself filled with a persistent hope for the future even when I see little evidence to justify it.
Hope is different from optimism. Optimism believes that things will always turn out the way we want . Hope knows that things often do not turn out the way we want but trusts that God rules; God’s will, will be done. To say that God rules is not to say that God wants whatever happens, or that God is the cause of whatever happens, or that God controls all that happens. It is to live in the resurrection faith that in everything that does happen God is acting to raise up new possibilities for the future to serve God’s will that there be life, new life, fulfilling life, eternal life for all.
I believe Christianity is not about going to heaven, but about realizing heaven comes to earth, and is recognizable in following God and trusting God. Heaven is God’s will coming being reborn on earth. The earth is being remade—recycled before our eyes. Does not that make us earth keepers?
--fred
Matthew 6:7-13
7“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
Saturday, September 1
Friday, August 31
Meditation on tents
Tent Pitching
After college graduation, a group of us went to upper New York State to canoe and camp. We pitched tents in the wilderness of the islands and lakes around us. Our celebration was to get away from the tensions of exams, wrestling with life goals (“what are you going to do after you graduate?”) and life as we knew it. The desire to get away from it all is still around, and probably will be as long as there are houses and weekends—especially national holiday weekends. People are taking their tents and driving to all points of the compass to get away to something different.
God appreciates that, but God also does it differently when it comes to tents. Tents are a well-known commodity in scripture. Abraham entertained there, Jacob moved too meet his brother with them, the Hebrews marched through the desert with them, and Paul was known to be a tent-maker. These temporary structures were built for travel as well as a place away from the elements, even while being in the midst of them.
In the Gospel of John, what was translated “dwelt” (v. 14) also means, “pitched a tent.” Verse 14 could be read this way: “And the word became flesh and God pitched a tent among us.” That God chose to be with the people makes where that happened a sacred place. God is with us, pitching a tent with us wherever we go.
Besides the sacredness of the space, there also is the idea of the temporariness of the structure. No footings were dug and filled to keep the tent from shifting. When the tent was packed, the earth was once again revealed. Sacredness did not move with the tent, it stayed with the earth. The earth was sacred. It still is.
If God cared for the earth in revelatory acts of pitching a tent, are we not also called to care for the earth—because it is sacred? What can you do today to demonstrate you honor the sacredness of the earth?
John 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, _ and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. _
10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, _ and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and pitched a tent among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, _ full of grace and truth.
Wednesday, August 29
No Rapture, just an earthy party
No Rapture, just a party;
based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Bible is full of stories on banquets and invitations as if to proclaim God’s life among us is all about sumptuous feasts and happy gatherings. Look at the stories of the prodigal son (Luke 15), the groom and the bridal party (Matthew 25.6), even Joseph and his reuniting with his brothers and father (Genesis 42). There are stories of Jesus eating and drinking with short people, taxing people, lazy people, frantic people, wise people, possessed people and more. I recall, as well, the big entrance into Jerusalem just before the last supper (Matthew 21). In fact, Jesus spent a lot of time with a wide variety of folks who, presumably, knew how to party! This leads me to an easy conclusion: The biblical indicators are that, out of thanksgiving, we can all be about celebrating God’s love for all creation.
When we break into the letters ascribed to Paul, we find an additional nuance: these festive meetings involve going out to meet the dignitary and bringing the dignitary to the event. Paul was brought from the house of Simon by the sea to the house of the soldier, Cornelius in Acts 10; and in Acts 28:15, the Christians in Rome journeyed journey out to meet Paul and become part of his entourage as he entered the capital city.
I like what Steven Bouma-Prediger says here:
[The oft quoted passage below] does not describe “the rapture”—believers being whisked off the Earth and the Earth being burned up to nothing. Indeed, contrary to what many Americans believe, there is no “Rapture” in the bible. Paul’s picture here is not about escaping from the Earth but about greeting the King as he returns to establish shalom on Earth. Christian eschatology is not escapist but earthly and earthy. And since our ethics is shaped by our eschatology, our actions in the present ought to reflect this earthly and earthy view of God’s good future.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, _ about those who have died, _ so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. _ 15For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. _ 16For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
What’s biblical is that Christ is coming and his followers will have an ecstatic meeting in the air with him. And right after that—an earthly and earthy party.
based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Bible is full of stories on banquets and invitations as if to proclaim God’s life among us is all about sumptuous feasts and happy gatherings. Look at the stories of the prodigal son (Luke 15), the groom and the bridal party (Matthew 25.6), even Joseph and his reuniting with his brothers and father (Genesis 42). There are stories of Jesus eating and drinking with short people, taxing people, lazy people, frantic people, wise people, possessed people and more. I recall, as well, the big entrance into Jerusalem just before the last supper (Matthew 21). In fact, Jesus spent a lot of time with a wide variety of folks who, presumably, knew how to party! This leads me to an easy conclusion: The biblical indicators are that, out of thanksgiving, we can all be about celebrating God’s love for all creation.
When we break into the letters ascribed to Paul, we find an additional nuance: these festive meetings involve going out to meet the dignitary and bringing the dignitary to the event. Paul was brought from the house of Simon by the sea to the house of the soldier, Cornelius in Acts 10; and in Acts 28:15, the Christians in Rome journeyed journey out to meet Paul and become part of his entourage as he entered the capital city.
I like what Steven Bouma-Prediger says here:
[The oft quoted passage below] does not describe “the rapture”—believers being whisked off the Earth and the Earth being burned up to nothing. Indeed, contrary to what many Americans believe, there is no “Rapture” in the bible. Paul’s picture here is not about escaping from the Earth but about greeting the King as he returns to establish shalom on Earth. Christian eschatology is not escapist but earthly and earthy. And since our ethics is shaped by our eschatology, our actions in the present ought to reflect this earthly and earthy view of God’s good future.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, _ about those who have died, _ so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. _ 15For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. _ 16For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
What’s biblical is that Christ is coming and his followers will have an ecstatic meeting in the air with him. And right after that—an earthly and earthy party.
Tuesday, August 28
A String on God’s Pinky
Genesis 8:1-9:17
The grand story of the flood reminds us that God has made a covenant with all of us. All of us humans and all the animals on the earth, as well: “8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.”
I was reminded in this scripture of life on the ark, of how the family of Noah trusted God for the journey, and how, in the end, God fulfilled a promise of hope to all the animals. We are meant to be a gathering of humans in the midst of the wider gathering of all creation. This is hard to remember.
Yesterday was the first day of the second semester at UNO. We had a difficult assignment—to make friends with all the students as they trudged through the Plaza. Oxygen was playing, free food was available and the intense heat made us grateful for the breeze. Not all students were particularly thinking about God at this moment in their lives. Most were interested in cell phone conversations and relationship building. The last class was a fleeting moment ago. Now it was time for something fresh. A new beginning.
Steven Bouma-Prediger says it this way:
Many read this story as a story about the covenant with Noah, but like a steady drumbeat, eetigh times in ten verses (9:8-17) Sctiputre tells us that God’s covenant is with more than humans. Iondeed, it is with the Earth itself. We tend top think that God is intereted only in us humans, but this covant with creation tells us otherwise. And while we think the rainbow is for us00to remind us of God’s mercy—the text tells us that the rainbow serves as a reminder primarily to God. As Frederick Buechner puts it, “the rainbow is like a string tied around God’s pinky, lest God forget his everlasting covenant. God see the rainbow and remembers his covenant with creation.
Enjoy today’s renewed creation, and tie something on your pinky to help you remember!
--Fred
The grand story of the flood reminds us that God has made a covenant with all of us. All of us humans and all the animals on the earth, as well: “8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.”
I was reminded in this scripture of life on the ark, of how the family of Noah trusted God for the journey, and how, in the end, God fulfilled a promise of hope to all the animals. We are meant to be a gathering of humans in the midst of the wider gathering of all creation. This is hard to remember.
Yesterday was the first day of the second semester at UNO. We had a difficult assignment—to make friends with all the students as they trudged through the Plaza. Oxygen was playing, free food was available and the intense heat made us grateful for the breeze. Not all students were particularly thinking about God at this moment in their lives. Most were interested in cell phone conversations and relationship building. The last class was a fleeting moment ago. Now it was time for something fresh. A new beginning.
Steven Bouma-Prediger says it this way:
Many read this story as a story about the covenant with Noah, but like a steady drumbeat, eetigh times in ten verses (9:8-17) Sctiputre tells us that God’s covenant is with more than humans. Iondeed, it is with the Earth itself. We tend top think that God is intereted only in us humans, but this covant with creation tells us otherwise. And while we think the rainbow is for us00to remind us of God’s mercy—the text tells us that the rainbow serves as a reminder primarily to God. As Frederick Buechner puts it, “the rainbow is like a string tied around God’s pinky, lest God forget his everlasting covenant. God see the rainbow and remembers his covenant with creation.
Enjoy today’s renewed creation, and tie something on your pinky to help you remember!
--Fred
Monday, August 27
Welcome to the Blog!
Today at UNO campus, a number of us stood/sat in the 93-degree heat to pass out bookmarks to the students who happened across our path. Now statistically speaking, I'm not expecting many students to actually go to this blog to check out what's going on. I mean, hello? College students. They don't tend to be notorious for even saving anything. However, since I am an incurable optimist sometimes, I am writing this post to welcome those of you who have come along and want to know what exactly is going on, namely what will be going on during Tuesday tomorrow at Inclusive Spiritual Searchers.
You might be wondering, "Can I join in if I'm not Christian?" It's for everyone! We really aren't concerned with having a Christian-only discussion on religion, because what good is that? Father Mulcahey on M*A*S*H said it best: "Wonderous and mysterious are the ways of God, and I would have no one shield my eyes from the glory of his works." We are of the same mindset. I'm excited to get as many different perspectives on God as we can manage! That means whatever you bring to the table just makes our feast that much more grand.
If you're thinking about coming to Inclusive Spiritual Searchers, the first meeting is Tuesday, August 28th at 8:00 PM in the Tower Room, 3rd floor of the Milo Bail Student Center. Make no mistake about it, I consider this place (along with others) to be the Church to which I go to explore God. Here are some of the kinds of questions that we ask that you want to keep in mind, though of course any more you have would be absolutely fabulous:
Who is God? : Is God a man or woman? Person or entity? One or many? Did God exist in Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, Muhammad, or anyone else? These are just a few of the many things you might think of when you think of God. The spirit moves everyone in its own way, even those who are part of the same religion. Every perspective on God is as unique as each of the creatures on this Earth.
What does God want? : This question is easier asked than answered! Since humans have been around, they've been trying to figure out what God(s) want. Do you believe it's spelled out in a book, or that it can ever be confined to just words on a page? Can anyone ever really be "right" about it?
What do you want/need from God? : Do you want strength, enlightenment, salvation, companionship, reassurance, love, acceptance, hope? Do you want something I couldn't think of to put in here? And how can God give it to you?
What role does God play in your life? : Do you prey often and draw strength from the divine, or is it something you have passively in your existence? Do you feel the spirit inside of you? Maybe you even feel God hasn't played a big enough role in your life.
What questions do you have for God, and for the others there? : This entire group is based upon the strength of the people within it. Therefore our strength comes from what you bring, and we're all so excited to find out what that is.
I can't think of anything else to add. I'm sure there is something I did forget. That's what the "comments" section is for. Comment away, with your questions, or even some of your answers to what was listed above. I hope to see a lot of new and old faces tomorrow!
You might be wondering, "Can I join in if I'm not Christian?" It's for everyone! We really aren't concerned with having a Christian-only discussion on religion, because what good is that? Father Mulcahey on M*A*S*H said it best: "Wonderous and mysterious are the ways of God, and I would have no one shield my eyes from the glory of his works." We are of the same mindset. I'm excited to get as many different perspectives on God as we can manage! That means whatever you bring to the table just makes our feast that much more grand.
If you're thinking about coming to Inclusive Spiritual Searchers, the first meeting is Tuesday, August 28th at 8:00 PM in the Tower Room, 3rd floor of the Milo Bail Student Center. Make no mistake about it, I consider this place (along with others) to be the Church to which I go to explore God. Here are some of the kinds of questions that we ask that you want to keep in mind, though of course any more you have would be absolutely fabulous:
Who is God? : Is God a man or woman? Person or entity? One or many? Did God exist in Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, Muhammad, or anyone else? These are just a few of the many things you might think of when you think of God. The spirit moves everyone in its own way, even those who are part of the same religion. Every perspective on God is as unique as each of the creatures on this Earth.
What does God want? : This question is easier asked than answered! Since humans have been around, they've been trying to figure out what God(s) want. Do you believe it's spelled out in a book, or that it can ever be confined to just words on a page? Can anyone ever really be "right" about it?
What do you want/need from God? : Do you want strength, enlightenment, salvation, companionship, reassurance, love, acceptance, hope? Do you want something I couldn't think of to put in here? And how can God give it to you?
What role does God play in your life? : Do you prey often and draw strength from the divine, or is it something you have passively in your existence? Do you feel the spirit inside of you? Maybe you even feel God hasn't played a big enough role in your life.
What questions do you have for God, and for the others there? : This entire group is based upon the strength of the people within it. Therefore our strength comes from what you bring, and we're all so excited to find out what that is.
I can't think of anything else to add. I'm sure there is something I did forget. That's what the "comments" section is for. Comment away, with your questions, or even some of your answers to what was listed above. I hope to see a lot of new and old faces tomorrow!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)