In our religious traditions we believe in certain truths. Some of these concepts come from the bible, others from tradition, still others are based in what we dub as "theology". Which, as I understand it, is our human understanding of scripture. Theology differs among denominations, obviously religions, but even more often - individuals. Here are some basic truths, do you agree?
God created the heavens and the earth.
God loves all of his creation.
Jesus lived and taught how God desires us to live out our lives. Prophets try to share God's love and warnings to people.
Would you agree with me that these are generally accepted truths among Christians? What about some of the less "warm and fuzzy" beliefs.
God desires a relationship with his beloved children, but can not be in relationship with anyone who sins.
God hates sin.
Jesus died to fulfill our (mine and yours) debt to God, for we are sinners and deserve to die as he did.
Because of Jesus's sacrifice, God offers us his grace which we must accept to gain eternal life.
For those who do not accept God's grace through believing in Jesus, they will not gain eternal life - they will spend eternity in hell.
This includes those who have never heard the message of the gospel.
Now here is where it gets interesting. Those who say "it does not effect me" are wrong. Even if you are a believer in Christ, I am sure that you know of others who aren't. We are also called by Jesus to go out and spread the good news to those who have not heard. Our compassionate hearts ask, can our God of Love really condem to Hell those who have died as infants? Or those who have never heard the gospel?
Well... the bible is pretty clear - there is no other way to the father except through me (Jesus). John 14:6 However many theologians believe (and teach) that there is a certain age we must reach before God expects us to make that decision. Or all children that are baptized are accepted by God. So what do we believe?
I do have to admit - I don't know. Now I'm not trying to ignore this issue because it is important. It is easy to say, well God is a God of mystery and I am not capable of understanding his ways. But how would my actions change if I really truly believed that all nonbelievers went to hell? Would I try harder to evangelize?
There is a new book out entitled "Love Wins" by Rob Bell. It presents this very issue. Today among my generation we have a difficult time accepting a God so willing to condemn those we know are good and love so much. We are in a culture of acceptance - but is our God? Are we simply trying to soften the gospel? Do we really believe that we need to accept Christ into our life? Will everyone go to heaven?
A couple years ago I read another book on this subject entitled "If God is Love". The authors point was that if God is truly a God of Love then he would accept all of his children into heaven no matter what. Interesting theological point. In many ways I love the idea, but it's not what I have been taught by my faith tradition or in the bible. It is very dangerous to make God into what we would like God to be... instead of accepting God and following the path laid out for us. I learned that the view of God accepting all people to heaven is called Universalism. One can also be an exclusivist, or on the other side believe in inclusivism (that God saves through Christ but includes others on the basis of what work, and that inclusion is based on response to truth) and accessibilism (that God somehow reveals his saving truth to all humans who have ever lived, and has done so at least one time in the life of each person, and judges on that basis but salvation is only through Christ). Taken from Scott McKight and his great conversation about Rob Bell's new book.
I enjoyed reading C.S. Lewis's Narnia series. In "The Final Battle" there is a beautiful description of a sort of heaven. Some who were there didn't realize it - they were still in the dark, but still there. One was of a different faith and baffled to be there, but chosen by God and loved. Does it cheapen our grace if others who are not like us are "allowed" in? Doesn't Jesus teach us not to worry about it in the parable of the Vineyard owner (paying all his workers the same no matter how long they worked?) Matthew 20:1-16
So here is the rock and the hard place. Will we know for sure who gets into heaven or how? If we truly believe the only answer is Jesus, how does that change our actions?
Praying for direction,
your sister in Christ~ Erin Michelle
Showing posts with label courage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label courage. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Grayscale
What a world we live in. Or so we often say.
Simple
Complicated
Connected
Lonley
Beautiful
Impoverished
Diverse
Unjust
We look at the big picture.
And we see our own little problems, getting the fridge fixed, finding time to get the dishes done, making a grocery list. And our own little things vary greatly based on where we live in the world, our economic status, our family status... etc.
It's not an easy concept, and one can easily get lost in contemplating the world and your place in it. So often we focus on what we can. Providing for our families, giving to groups when they ask and we can, trying to better ourselves with education and saving. Thinking about (in detail, not cliche) what is happening to others around the world is not generally one of those warm fuzzy things for most of us here in the US. Because we are on the extreme high end of the world (even those of us who are poor!).
The "heavy" issues of human rights, religion, politics, even basic right and wrong - not your typical best conversation starters, but to me they are incredibly important.
Yet the only thing I know, is that I don't know enough. My highest spiritual gift is Servanthood. (those of you who know me are shaking your head in understanding) God has gifted me with the desire to make others lives easier and just a little brighter. I'm torn on where and even often why.
There is no "right" answer. There are loving caring moral people who are on both sides of the Wisconsin budget issue. There are loving caring people moral on both sides of the abortion issue. There are loving caring moral people fighting poverty and homelessness and ignoring it.
Do I love talking about these issues... YES. I do. Others don't. (Sorry friends). I also love learning more about... well everything. And you learn more from those who think different and even disagree with you than those who think just like you. But at the same time we must always remember to love. To honestly listen, respect, and care about the individuals on the other side of the issue from you. To think of them as part of the same human family that you belong to and not as your enemy.
I know being open and loving to people you disagree with is difficult. But it is a widely accepted way of life (or endorsed more than lived) by millions around the world of many cultures and religions. What kills me is that we don't LIVE it. WHY??? Why do we insist on hurting each other? With words, with weapons, manipulating relationships... over and over again we deliberately cause others pain.
But it's not black and white. Nothing is. It's all grayscale. Only when we can really begin to show true love can we begin to see the color beyond the gray.
One person at a time. Me first. (Thanks Ghandi) Then hopefully others (that's you). Someday the world.
Wishing you peace and love,
your sister in Christ~Erin
Simple
Complicated
Connected
Lonley
Beautiful
Impoverished
Diverse
Unjust
We look at the big picture.
And we see our own little problems, getting the fridge fixed, finding time to get the dishes done, making a grocery list. And our own little things vary greatly based on where we live in the world, our economic status, our family status... etc.
It's not an easy concept, and one can easily get lost in contemplating the world and your place in it. So often we focus on what we can. Providing for our families, giving to groups when they ask and we can, trying to better ourselves with education and saving. Thinking about (in detail, not cliche) what is happening to others around the world is not generally one of those warm fuzzy things for most of us here in the US. Because we are on the extreme high end of the world (even those of us who are poor!).
The "heavy" issues of human rights, religion, politics, even basic right and wrong - not your typical best conversation starters, but to me they are incredibly important.
Yet the only thing I know, is that I don't know enough. My highest spiritual gift is Servanthood. (those of you who know me are shaking your head in understanding) God has gifted me with the desire to make others lives easier and just a little brighter. I'm torn on where and even often why.
There is no "right" answer. There are loving caring moral people who are on both sides of the Wisconsin budget issue. There are loving caring people moral on both sides of the abortion issue. There are loving caring moral people fighting poverty and homelessness and ignoring it.
Do I love talking about these issues... YES. I do. Others don't. (Sorry friends). I also love learning more about... well everything. And you learn more from those who think different and even disagree with you than those who think just like you. But at the same time we must always remember to love. To honestly listen, respect, and care about the individuals on the other side of the issue from you. To think of them as part of the same human family that you belong to and not as your enemy.
I know being open and loving to people you disagree with is difficult. But it is a widely accepted way of life (or endorsed more than lived) by millions around the world of many cultures and religions. What kills me is that we don't LIVE it. WHY??? Why do we insist on hurting each other? With words, with weapons, manipulating relationships... over and over again we deliberately cause others pain.
But it's not black and white. Nothing is. It's all grayscale. Only when we can really begin to show true love can we begin to see the color beyond the gray.
One person at a time. Me first. (Thanks Ghandi) Then hopefully others (that's you). Someday the world.
Wishing you peace and love,
your sister in Christ~Erin
Monday, February 15, 2010
Courage
Today I go into my meditation with concerns and seeking specific wisdom.
I want to have courage.
Courage to stand up for myself.
But I AM afraid
Afraid of what people will think
We all want to liked. I have this issue - I would really like to be loved. But I have this little hunch that part of this year is God teaching me that the only love I need is his. I took this year off. I took time to go teach kids and play outdoors. I made the choice against some of my better judgement. But there are many lessons I'm being taught as well. I only have to look out to the wonder and beauty outside to be reminded of God's hand in my life.
I have expressed to some of my close friends that I am feeling very isolated. It is not like me at all to sit alone or leave a group to go read a book or take a walk. I LOVE people. It is not that the staff where I work are not caring individuals, they are wonderful people. I have seen many really reach people with they way they teach and the way they care. But I don't fit in. Often I remove myself from the situation if possible because I am uncomfortable. I'm searching for the strength to stand up for myself and say something.
I have been reading a book about Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Saints and Villians. It's wonderful. And while I am reading it I find I am loving his character. I'm not sure if it's because of the way this author is portraying him or if that's really how he was, but I love him. I can completely relate to the way that he (his character in the book) goes through moods and takes to himself. Sometimes he makes comments that make him seem arrogant, but soon you learn he is just trying his best to be honest.
He is famous for his courage to stand up against Hitler, from the church, and speak out for the Jews. Many Christians at this time didn't have the courage. They were worried about themselves. Many ideas and ideologies as well as sterotypes and prejudice played into the situation, but the church of Germany actually split. The Reich church held the belief that the church existed to serve the state. Not humanity.
Bonhoeffer spoke out against this. I'm looking forward to delving into his work "The Cost of Discipleship." I hope it will give me courage as well as direction.
Philippians 1:20
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
I pray for the strength and the courage of my brothers and sisters in Christ to stand up against the ideas of the world and the words to speak to do so in love. Even in the small places in my own life.
In peace with love,
your sister in Christ~Erin
I want to have courage.
Courage to stand up for myself.
But I AM afraid
Afraid of what people will think
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
I have expressed to some of my close friends that I am feeling very isolated. It is not like me at all to sit alone or leave a group to go read a book or take a walk. I LOVE people. It is not that the staff where I work are not caring individuals, they are wonderful people. I have seen many really reach people with they way they teach and the way they care. But I don't fit in. Often I remove myself from the situation if possible because I am uncomfortable. I'm searching for the strength to stand up for myself and say something.
I have been reading a book about Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Saints and Villians. It's wonderful. And while I am reading it I find I am loving his character. I'm not sure if it's because of the way this author is portraying him or if that's really how he was, but I love him. I can completely relate to the way that he (his character in the book) goes through moods and takes to himself. Sometimes he makes comments that make him seem arrogant, but soon you learn he is just trying his best to be honest.
He is famous for his courage to stand up against Hitler, from the church, and speak out for the Jews. Many Christians at this time didn't have the courage. They were worried about themselves. Many ideas and ideologies as well as sterotypes and prejudice played into the situation, but the church of Germany actually split. The Reich church held the belief that the church existed to serve the state. Not humanity.
Bonhoeffer spoke out against this. I'm looking forward to delving into his work "The Cost of Discipleship." I hope it will give me courage as well as direction.
Philippians 1:20
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
I pray for the strength and the courage of my brothers and sisters in Christ to stand up against the ideas of the world and the words to speak to do so in love. Even in the small places in my own life.
In peace with love,
your sister in Christ~Erin
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