Perspectives: Flexible?

Why is the tree bent over? Did it fall? Did it stretch? Was it flexible enough for what it needed to do? Or was it brittle and unbending?

When has God last changed your mind?

Doubt

Still thinking about Terry's sermon (I posted about it yesterday)....

I wonder if Nicodemus understood Jesus during their nighttime conversation that was reflected in John 3?  Does bringing the spices to the tomb after the crucifixion reflect the possibility that his faith was not changed?  Or that he had questions about what Jesus had told him?

It's important to remember that part of the reason for the converstion in John 3 was to allow John the place for us to hear the questions Nicodemus had - and that we, as readers, might have.  And to hear Jesus' answer for them.

And then we have Nicodemus, coming with Barnabas to the tomb, bringing spices to prepare the body after death.  A body that we know - from this side of the Bible - won't be there.  Should Nicodemus have known that?

And what does it matter?  

My thoughts around this question dance with the idea that it doesn't matter.  Nicodemus went to the tomb.  Whether he completely believed or understood Jesus or not, he went to the tomb.

Whether we understand or not - whether we fully believe or not - the action of coming to Jesus is what is important. The truth is that we will never fully understand God - if you think you do, you are kidding yourself.  The truth is that doubt is OK. Prevenient grace was made for doubt, don't you think? 

 Doubt should never be a barrier to God.  

Changing our Minds

In worship last Sunday, Terry asked us what God had changed our mind about.  The sermon was based on John 3:1-17. - Nicodemus meets with Jesus at night to ask questions.  Terry's assumption had always been that Nicodemus' mind had been changed by the conversation, but a source she read in preparation for the sermon suggested that we don't know that for certain.

Nicodemus goes to prepare Jesus' body after the crucifixion with many spices and plans.  The writer of the source said that if Nicodemus' mind had been changed by his conversation with Jesus, maybe he wouldn't have taken the spices to the tomb.

Interesting thought.

But what interested me more was the idea and possibilities of allowing God to change our minds. We talk often about God changing our hearts, but do we ever open our minds enough to allow God to change them?  

Or are out minds made up, no matter what - even concerning matters of faith.  It seems to me that allow God to change our minds about those things is often the hardest - and yet God would be the authority, right?

When has God last changed your mind?

Tricky

I've been thinking about the post from last week called Stop.  Just stop.  The premise of the poem was that our ability to stop seeing  people with whom we disagree as people - but instead as objects to ridicule is a barrier other people (and to ourselves if we are honest) in seeing God.

I read yesterday that meanness (or a similar word) is never a fruit of the spirit.

But, although I believe all of that to be true, what I didn't mean to assert was that we shouldn't struggle with what we disagree about.  I think we should engage our brothers and sisters - we should stand up for what we believe is right.

It's just that I think we should stand up with open minds and loving hearts, knowing that the person with whom we disagree is a child of God.

I believe that God wants the church to be inclusive.  Of all.  Of everyone.  And I think efforts to bring that about should be pursued.

The problem is that everyone means everyone - all of the children of God - even those with whom I vehemently disagree.

I believe we should love everyone - all of the children of God - even those with whom I vehemently disagree.

Faith is a tricky thing, don't you think?

One Minute Message: Salt and Light

Notes from a One Minute Message I did at church a few weeks ago.  These are targeted to children in the congregation, but we deliver them to the whole congregation.

Part of today’s gospel according to me:  You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?  You are the light of the world.  Do people light a lamp and put it under a basket? Or do they set it on stand so that it gives light to the whole house?  (From Matthew 5)

I need a volunteer.  Will someone help me? You don’t need to sing or dance, just eat a cracker? (ask person to taste a salt-less saltine)

Does the cracker taste OK? Or is it missing something? It’s a saltine but it is missing salt.  It doesn’t really live up to its name, does it?

Steve’s grandmother always said that all recipes need salt.  Without salt, any food is going to taste flat.

So, now, look around the room.  When the sun is out and it shines through our windows, they are beautiful.  When it is gloomy or dark outside, the windows lose their beauty.

I think salt and light are analogies for love.  We are love in the world. We sang a few weeks ago that the world will know we are Christians by our love.

But when we fail to be salt, and when we fail to shine, we don’t live up to our name.

Just like in the old Wendy’s commercial where the older woman would say, “Where’s the beef!” when we don’t live up to our name, the world will say “Where is the love?”

Because we are it.  Where will you be salty today? Where will you shine?

Stop. Just stop.

Listen.  Listen to what I am saying.

You are my sisters and brothers in Christ.

We are family because of what Christ has done.

But we don't act like it.

Brothers and sisters,

we don't always have to have the same opinion.

In fact, we won't.

We were created to be different,

and yet, 

we were saved to be family.

Family that has the same purpose.

Family that has the same mission.

In ancient times, Chloe told Paul of arguements.

Divisions.

We don't need anyone else to point out

how much we disagree.

How much we argue.

How much we stop seeing the sister

The brother.

The child of God.

And see the object of hate.

If we are the church,

members of the body of Christ,

is there not a way to love each other

even if we disagree?

To stop calling each other names?

To stop spreading hate-filled lies?

To stop.  Just stop.

How can we be the light

if all we do is walk in darkness?

And if we, who are called to be the light,

share only darkness with each other,

then how will others come to know?

To see?

To love?

Inspired by 1 Corinthians 1:10-11