Liberation for us is right now
Stormy seas of winter - Bonny Hills
The Christian tradition became so concerned with making Jesus into its God and making sure everybody believed that Jesus was God that it often ignored his very practical and clear teachings. (How many of us love our enemies?) Instead, we made the questions theological and metaphysical ones about the nature of God (which asked almost nothing of us!). Most of our church fights have been on that level, and no one ever really "wins,” so it goes on for centuries.
We created huge theories about how the world was saved by Jesus. I think what Jesus was primarily talking about was the human situation and describing liberation for us right now. Clearly the Kingdom of God is here and now, as Jesus said. However, we turned Jesus' message into a reward or punishment contest that would come later, instead of a transformational experience that was verifiable here and now by the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). For Jesus, rewards and punishments are first of all inherent to the action and in this world. Goodness is its own reward and evil is its own punishment, and then we must leave the future to the mercy and love of God, instead of thinking we are the umpires and judges of who goes where, when, and how.
Fr Richard Rohr
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*smile*
ReplyDeleteThe Way!! :-)
ReplyDeletehope you mind if I cut and paste this for my personal reflection..... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love that photo....
Interesting reflection.... wonderful photo...
ReplyDeleteNice shot of the winter seas.
ReplyDeleteAmen :-).
ReplyDeleteBTW, I'm getting ready to finally write that blog post about "Love your enemy." Thank you for contributing your thoughts!
Thanks Amy - I had intentions of returning to add to what I said but time is a luxury for me at the moment - I always have thoughts haha!
ReplyDeleteHIya Mitch - thanks mate - not really hard to take a good photos of nature and it's work!!
ReplyDeleteobrigado!! obrigado!!
ReplyDeleteHiya Mo - of course - by the way these are words from Fr Richard Rohr - His name was in black so did not come out when I posted. These words though express most definately my own thoughts. So true are the words of Jesus which to me fit those who concentrate on Theology and the 'ins and outs' of the metaphysical - Matthew 23:24 "Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" each to their own, and theology etc does have it's place, but I get so confused with all the disputes as to who is correct!! For me it is about transformation and freedom.
ReplyDeleteI love the words 'The Way' - the name they gave to the Church in it's infancy! To me far better word to describe those of Jesus than Christian!!
ReplyDeleteHiya Ducky - nice smile mate!! :)
ReplyDeleteI need to chew on your words a bit before I really say anything. I see a crack in what you have said, but I want to think a bit on it.
ReplyDeleteyeah that,s really great - I can see where you and others would see the cracks and was aware of them as I posted this, so am really interested and keen to hear what you have to say. I respect and do regard very, very much your understanding of the Word of God. These types of things I post are about provocation of thought, to challenge our(my) beliefs and to envoke a friendly dialoge. Truly, I think too much emphasis is devoted to theology and, if you think about it, this is where Christians are divided - even coming to violence. Where we all agree and have no dispute are in things like Jesus teaches us in Matthew 5 : 43 - 44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, etc etc. These lessons in the art of loving our neighbur, and God too, I do believe were a primary part of his focus - our transformation. I guess you could say that in the process of transforming we come to KNOW if Jesus is God or not and not (and other theological stumbling blocks) and not relying on interpretaion! Thanks and am looking forward to your thoughts!!
ReplyDeleteNice blog Keith - great shot of the winter sea!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Lois - so nice to see you again -it has been a while - I am on one of my 'too busy for Multiply' trips again. So glad youliked the post and the photo - isn't the sea beatiful even when wild. Bit like women - they have a special beauty even when at their angriest!!
ReplyDeletehehehehe at the "Bit like women - they have a special beauty even when at their angriest!! "
ReplyDeleteThanks for the welcome Keith. I have been a bit the same as you, have to reshedule my priorities as I am missing my muliply friends .
Wonderful pic an write :) gm :)
ReplyDeleteYep, agreed, liberation is right here, right Now in this present moment, and that was what was shown...
ReplyDeleteScarce here too as you know, but had to come by and say hello. Awesome shot by the way, looks like a wild day lol.
Hugs!
Goodness is its own reward , thanks for the reminder .
ReplyDeleteThank you Marcia!!
ReplyDeleteHiya Mia - real nice you have come by to say hello. Like I have said above somewhere nature is very kind when it comes to photography!! Glad too that you agree with what is written - maybe I can find something more argueable for next time :) we must catch up soon - will look out for you! Much Love!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and yes goodness is its own reward
ReplyDeleteLove the picture. Enjoyed the blog. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteSally
I needed this today , thanks Keith
ReplyDeletethanks Lynda - nice you come by !!
ReplyDeletehiya Sally - love that you came by and t that you enjoyed the blog and photo i Thank you! Also, having a good weekend is my main focus!!!! You too!!
ReplyDeleteThats fantastic - I love it when what I need just comes along at the right time! God is Good shows us by these small things how He Loves us eh!! (thought i would throw i the Canadian 'eh' - eh!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy Pleasure!
ReplyDeleteeh EH !
ReplyDeleteWhen I learn about Jesus, I also know more about Gods nature. They are one unit. Through Jesus, God came closer to us so we learn about His will, which is all about love.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Keith, I always read and appreciate it, though I dont always comment. Sometimes I see minor things that I disagree with, but what does it really matter as long as we both have a friend in Jesus.
Thanks Amalie and nice to hear from you. My posts, like this one, are to invite comment as well as to provoce thought and not to preach what I see as truth, so please if you wish to, express your opinion. This is why I post these things - not to say this is how it is, but how I see things and am grateful for another's thoughts and experience. To me this is what fellowship is about. I am interested in what you do not agree on and value so very much your advice and opinions!! There is much diversity in our unity in Christ and this diversity of understanding and experience is for the sharing and benefit to all of us in who choose Him.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amalie and nice to hear from you. My posts, like this one, are to invite comment as well as to provoce thought and not to preach what I see as truth, so please if you wish to, express your opinion. This is why I post these things - not to say this is how it is, but how I see things and am grateful for another's thoughts and experience. To me this is what fellowship is about. I am interested in what you do not agree on and value so very much your advice and opinions!! There is much diversity in our unity in Christ and this diversity of understanding and experience is for the sharing and benefit to all of us in who choose Him.
ReplyDeleteJesus makes our victory possible and indeedfrees us. I get what you are saying about how goodness is it's own reward. I think you are saying that we need not concern ourselves with evil being punished. God is fair. Evil will lose.
ReplyDeleteOur existence in the here and now as well as for eternity really swings on one simple choice -- whose side are you on?
I see a lot of people who want to criticize Christians for saying what they believe and for standing for what they believe is right. Standing for what we believe, not condoning what we believe is evil, is not judgement. It is recognizing the spirtual battle. We are in a fight.
awesome!
ReplyDeleteI regard you as one of my best and dearest online friends, Keith. I have, and will continue telling about my view and thoughts, also if we should have differeint opinions. But sometmes, like now, I wil just enjoy the fact that we, as christians are one in Christ. That is what matters, not debating about minor details ;-)
ReplyDeleteAs you so beautifully explain judgement is exactly as I, too, hope to be a judge. It is discerning between the fruits or what is of God and what is of the world. The judgements refered to are more to do with what is beyond this 'not condoning' someones actions or ways of behaviour. Such as where people are excluded or attacked or held up for ridicule for what they do. A good example from the Bible is where the woman was about to be stoned for her adultry and Jesus in this case asked each to examine their own conscience first. Yes the woman committed adultry but then are we to then punish?? Her accuser is satan, her advocate is Jesus and only God is the Judge who will then, determine her future! I believe we are to be the advocate for Jesus - this is our job, whatever that means, as difficult to understand and very much so to do. Sometimes we are the victim, as well as the advocate, where we are asked to forgive thse who do us harm. My Gosh what ever was Jesus thinking when He asked this of us?? :)))))
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ReplyDeletegreat photo and post Keith
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