Continuing the Conversation

Our conversation Sunday was framed around the question, “why this – why now?”  In other words, Paul has just written one of his longest letters (1 Corinthians) which whole-heartedly concentrates on the issue of congregational behavior.  His entire letter has been grounded in a “thesis” statement of sorts found in 1:10 when Paul urges the church to “get rid of divisions and be united in mind and thought”.  At first glance, it seems rather odd that Paul would end this letter with an extensive dissertation on the importance of Jesus’ resurrection.  Wouldn’t it make more sense to end this letter in chapter 13 with an exhortation to “love one another”?  Why not write a separate letter about the resurrection and its significance?  

It almost seems as if Paul is suggesting that our faith in the resurrection is intimately linked with our communal behavior.  Hmmmmm………

Fun and encouraging conversation Sunday.  Thanks everyone!  And a special “thank you” to those of you who reassured me that I’m not the only one who has grown somewhat hesitant to use the phrase “saved” in its various evangelical shapes (i.e. Jesus Saves, We’ve been Saved, etc.).

Continuing the Conversation

What a posture our faith places us in!  We recognize the reality of evil, and we don’t deny the presence of suffering, grief, and pain.  Yet we are also a people characterized by hope.  Sunday we reflected on the question, where does this hope come from?  The answer to this question is the core of the Easter message…

Contrary to Western Enlightenment thinking, our hope does not lie in the “Myth of Progress”.  We aren’t hopeful because we believe in humanity’s power to achieve and move the human experience forward.

Our hope also does not lie in Platonic dualism.  In other words, we aren’t hopeful because Jesus Christ has promised to simply save us from this evil world.  We don’t cling to a doctrine of “escapism”.  

Our hope lies in the resurrection of Jesus.  We believe and hope that God will do for us and all creation what he did for Jesus on Easter morning – make a whole new creation.

Royals Opening Day ‘09

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!