Did God Go Silent?

"Prophetic imagination breaks out of the closed system and says, 'That's not God's last word'".- Walter Bruggeman

When I went on a YouTube theology binge yesterday, I admit that this phrase hit home for me. I think this phrase struck me so hard because I entered into an interesting dialogue with my pastors this week about affirmations of faith and why we like some and dislike others. It seems the overriding idea was this: we like the sound of some because they appear to be alive- they use present-tense words like 'making' instead of 'made'. For me, this is quickly becoming a foundation of my personal theology: that God did not stop talking when the Council of Nicea formed the Bible as we know it.

Therefore,  I have some problems with some theology that is floating around in the world right now. In fact, one of the phrases I cringe to hear is, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." Let's just ignore the fact that is often used in ways that are exclusionary and hurtful (which should be red flag #1 that something is not right in how that phrase is used; because, in my admittedly limited understanding of God, I do not think that God is in the business of intentionally hurting people just because they do not believe the "right" way). But, like I said, we are ignoring this for now.

Why I have a problem with that phrase is this: let's say that God really did say whatever you believe God said. How do we know that God has given the final world on the matter for all time and eternity? For example, let's look at how Paul says women should be treated in Corinth.There were scholars who, for many years, said that women should be silent in the church. Well, last time I checked, all but a few churches have agreed that this was not "God's" final word on the matter (and I am so very, very thankful).

Actually, in my view of Scripture, I see a God who is constantly evolving with the culture. I see God who is willing to save Sodom and Gomorrah for a few righteous souls at Abraham's request. I see God who gives second chances to King David for all of his nonsensical acts instead of killing him (but the wages of sin is death, right?). I see God move from the God of the law to the God who encourages us to love one another so that we can fulfill the law.

So, if in this thing we call Scripture, God is constantly evolving, why is it that we, as the church, have created this closed system where we will only hear Scripture and then be so bold as to say that God has nothing else to say on the matter? In doing so, we close our ears to further instruction that God may have for us- and, okay, I'll be so bold as to say, that does not sound like a good thing to do.

All that being said, I love Scripture. I love the way the writers have imagined God throughout the generations and presented God to us. I also tend to think I have the prophetic imagination that Bruggeman describes when talking about the prophet Jeremiah: I know that we have yet to hear God's last word.

Never place a period where God has placed a comma. God is still speaking.

Love is the Letter of the Law

So......

I decided to do my weekly post on a Thursday night instead of a Friday morning this week. I've got a midterm and other stuff to do with my Friday morning this week.

Anyway, I've been reflecting a lot on love in all forms this week. Admittedly, romantic love has been my main focus as Sekani and I have been working through some tension about how we relate to the people around us and how that effects how we relate to each other. I sense that we are just about through that- we had some time to talk and just be together without distraction this past Saturday which helped us to more clearly understand the heart of our tension, which made us alright again. That, of course, makes me a happy Krystle.

I will freely admit that a lot of the blame for the tension between us rests squarely on my shoulders. I take the blame because I allowed myself to live in a romantic dream world for too long. What I mean is this: it took me a while to realize that it takes more than just Sekani and Krystle being headstrong to make our relationship work. It takes takes family and friends being fully present in our lives- cheering us on when we are doing well, reminding us to take space when we are irritated with each other, reminding us of why we love each other, giving us new reasons to love as we learn more about each other......long term romance is not just about the two people in a relationship. Long term romance requires community.

So, how I live in the community I have been placed in has been on my mind more and more lately. How do I relate to my closest friends who are like family? How do I relate to my church family (who is also new to me)? How do I relate to Sekani's family and friends?

The answer is in the title of my blog post: love is the letter of the law.

And oh, that sounds easier than it really is.

As I observe the culture, I realize that I have learned love all wrong. I look at people who claim to love me (and who I claim to love) and I seem to always ask a question that I'm learning can be poisonous: What has this relationship done for me lately? When is the last time this person did something for me? When is the last time this person helped me when I needed them? While it is healthy to have balance and boundaries, I think it's time to start asking myself a different question: What have I done for this relationship lately? Have I been there for my friend when she needed me? When is the last time I prayed for this person? When is the last time I showed care just because I wanted to?

This sounds nice, but the point is this: love, at its core, is sacrificial in nature.

I don't know why we have lost this in "Christian" culture today. I don't understand why we feel that as Christians, we must be self-centered- the church must meet MY needs, fit MY beliefs, look, talk, act, and think like ME.....but here's some reality- this is not the heart of Christ's message. Christ came to seek and save that which was lost- not that which was set in their ways and not looking for their beliefs to be challenged in any way. In fact, if I remember correctly, Christ came and intentionally disrupted religious leaders who were comfortable leaving everything as it was.

So, in my personal dealings, I am learning to do the sacrificial thing more. I am learning to put Sekani first (I do hope to marry him one day, after all), but not just by giving him things. I'm learning to love him in the context of family and friends, who love both of us and want to see us succeed as a couple. And for me, who has always been the independent type, this is indeed a sacrifice and a time of learning.

I'm learning that in loving others, I do not have to lose my own identity. I do not sign away my rights to be Krystle. In loving others, I take on the task of giving of myself- which enriches me and the world around me.

In other words, I believe this is known as changing the world one person at a time.
God, let it always be so.

Sacred Longing

So....in this new phase of my life, I'm doing something new. I'm actually paying attention to how words are used. I've been in church so long (actually, almost all my life) that I have stopped really hearing what's being said. I think  I'm finally realizing that while there is a basic message that I have taken to heart, there is also a deeper message.

And with that, I reflect on something Pastor Sally reflected on at the beginning of her sermon this Sunday: sacred longing. She spoke about what sacred longing is and why it is good to be aware of it. I walked away from her message wondering something: what, exactly, is MY sacred longing?

For me, at this point, this is actually a critical question. Yes, there is a laundry list of things I want to do, but what am I really hungry for? When I thought on this through the week, I found it was almost too easy to simply say: "I want a life that displays my love for God through the way I love others". But, this was the only answer that came to mind.

So, Wednesday rolled around and I finally stopped fighting this answer. I've spent the last two days challenging what I thought was an easy answer. It didn't take long to find out that loving others is not always easy. Quite often, in order to love others, I have to put my own wants away for a while. For example, I've been wanting to spend time playing my Xbox in my spare time this week. Meanwhile, my darling has asked me for a new pair of slippers- the pair I made him in October fell apart because he wears them so much. So, instead of zoning out on the machine, I picked up my cross (I mean, my crochet needle...oops....) and made that man some warm slippers. (I may have made myself a matching pair, but we won't talk about that). I found myself at peace doing something for someone else- and this is not the first time.

While I crocheted, I reflected. I realized that I am at my happiest when I give myself to others- in making slippers, in decorating tables for a community  meal, in giving Christmas gifts, in giving a kidney, in placing children for adoption, in smiling at a stranger, in buying coffee for the guy behind me at Starbucks........in these things, I am deeply happy. When I serve others, I am feeding my sacred longing.

What's yours?

What is holy food?

This past Sunday, I was sitting in the pews with my sweetheart at our new church. Like a true Wesley admirer, I am always happy for Holy Communion, which we celebrated this week. Being new to the United Church of Christ world, I've been listening very closely to the Communion liturgy.

This week, something jumped out at me.

One of our pastors prayed something like this: "As we consume holy food, let us become aware of  Christ's presence in the ordinary things of life"...(I know I have completely botched this).

I have actually been poring over the phrase "holy food" all week. Seems silly, right? But really, what is the point of  consuming this mysterious meal if we don't spend at least a few minutes pondering what we've experienced?

So.....beyond the Communion table, what is holy food? Could it be that it's more than just physical bread and juice? Could it be that it is more than any physical food? Could it be that which feeds our spirits and enables us to be servants to the world around us?

If so, I end this week of reflection on holy food with this conclusion:
Holy food is allowing myself to be nourished and loved by my sweetheart.
Holy food is taking time to rest when I am overworked and driving myself crazy.
Holy food is taking time to be thankful to God - everyday and in every circumstance.
Holy food is taking time to read the Scriptures.
Holy food is engaging in loving community- either my faith community or my neighborhood.
And yes, holy food is the Communion table, where I am reminded in new ways of God's grace.

Come now, for all things are ready.
Amen.