The Season of Easter, which consists of Easter Sunday and the six Sundays that follow, is a time when we consider what the resurrection means, and the nature of the Church that has been formed arising out of the empty tomb and its significance in evidencing God's salvific plan for us.
One of the greatest misconceptions of discipleship is the notion that we enter into covenant relationship with God in Christ in order to be comforted and protected. In this light, we interpret Jesus' parable of the good shepherd and the sheepfold as God's protection over us.
God has not called us into covenant relationship to protect us from harm and bring us comfort, but to make us holy so that we can live according to the example of Christ and give ourselves for others. As the good shepherd, Jesus gave his life to effect reconciliation between God and the world. As the Church, we are called to mirror Christ's activity in the world by sacrificing ourselves.
Supporting the work and mission of Caney Spring United Methodist Church and Berlin United Methodist Church, two churches partnered in the ministry of making disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world, located in Marshall County, Tennessee.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Don't Be Afraid
Don't be afraid. Jesus repeats this phrase over and over in the canonized gospels. Most importantly, he doesn't qualify the phrase by confirming the things that we don't have to be afraid of. He tells us not to be afraid, period.
As always, what Jesus doesn't say is just as important as what he does say. He doesn't explain what it is that we don't have to be afraid of when he tells us not to be afraid because he doesn't have to. There is, simply, nothing to be afraid of in this world.
This is evident in the post-resurrection narratives. What the human race fears the most, on a fundamental level, is death. All of the ancillary fears result from this most fundamental fear. It logically follows, then, that if there is no reason to fear death, there is no reason to fear anything else.
Jesus revealed, through the resurrection, that not only is there no reason to fear death; death, as it was conceived in both ancient and modern human culture, is an illusion. We literally cannot die in the sense of ceasing to exist. We simply take on different forms. So there is nothing that death can do to harm us, and there is therefore no reason to fear passing on to a new form of existence.
This is the nature of Christian salvation; not being protected from death, but by Christ, through the resurrection, revealing that death itself is illusory. And this is what it means to be Easter People; we are freed from fear
As always, what Jesus doesn't say is just as important as what he does say. He doesn't explain what it is that we don't have to be afraid of when he tells us not to be afraid because he doesn't have to. There is, simply, nothing to be afraid of in this world.
This is evident in the post-resurrection narratives. What the human race fears the most, on a fundamental level, is death. All of the ancillary fears result from this most fundamental fear. It logically follows, then, that if there is no reason to fear death, there is no reason to fear anything else.
Jesus revealed, through the resurrection, that not only is there no reason to fear death; death, as it was conceived in both ancient and modern human culture, is an illusion. We literally cannot die in the sense of ceasing to exist. We simply take on different forms. So there is nothing that death can do to harm us, and there is therefore no reason to fear passing on to a new form of existence.
This is the nature of Christian salvation; not being protected from death, but by Christ, through the resurrection, revealing that death itself is illusory. And this is what it means to be Easter People; we are freed from fear
Sunday, April 8, 2018
The Perception of the Disciples
The Church has developed a high opinion of the original disciples. They are pictured with halos in medieval and modern art. They have been sainted in the Roman Catholic and a number of orthodox traditions. They are contrasted with Judas, who betrayed Jesus.
This high opinion of the disciples is erroneous, and it prevents us from understanding the wonder of God's grace. Like Judas, all the disciples betrayed Jesus. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. And after the crucifixion, they are huddled in a little room, terrified of the Roman and Jewish establishments. In all four canonized gospels, the disciples are consistently portrayed as clueless, self-interested, and vindictive.
And yet when these disciples were huddled in that little room, in John's gospel, Christ shows up in their midst. At that point, the disciples had not sought reconciliation or forgiveness with Christ. Christ, without asking for forgiveness, simply continues to be in relationship with them, as if their betrayal never happened.
This is the foundation of the Church; God entered into relationship with us before we could speak God's name. God continues to be in relationship with us when we mirror the behavior of the disciples. And so as those who are called to live according to the example of Christ, we are called to treat others as Christ has treated us. To show unmerited grace. This is what will bring peace and salvation to the world.
This high opinion of the disciples is erroneous, and it prevents us from understanding the wonder of God's grace. Like Judas, all the disciples betrayed Jesus. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. And after the crucifixion, they are huddled in a little room, terrified of the Roman and Jewish establishments. In all four canonized gospels, the disciples are consistently portrayed as clueless, self-interested, and vindictive.
And yet when these disciples were huddled in that little room, in John's gospel, Christ shows up in their midst. At that point, the disciples had not sought reconciliation or forgiveness with Christ. Christ, without asking for forgiveness, simply continues to be in relationship with them, as if their betrayal never happened.
This is the foundation of the Church; God entered into relationship with us before we could speak God's name. God continues to be in relationship with us when we mirror the behavior of the disciples. And so as those who are called to live according to the example of Christ, we are called to treat others as Christ has treated us. To show unmerited grace. This is what will bring peace and salvation to the world.
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