Living into the biblical story

"Grace & Peace in the name of Jesus Christ" is how I concluded a Facebook message to a Kenyan friend today. I was honored to be able to use those words in the closing of the message.

A handful of years ago I was introduced to several people who then became friends, and they are Catholics. As we conversed, the idea of the biblical text being an open document --- that the story continues to live on and we embody it --- really intrigued me.

Fast forward a few years... sitting on a dock while in Glorietta, New Mexico... I mentioned to Doug Pagitt that we should be able to take the upper hand with the biblical text. By this I meant: For all of those who stand opposed to new things (new for our generation - I am aware that 'nothing is new under the sun.') that are happening within the Church of Jesus Christ in 2009 & beyond, there is no doubt that the biblical text supports our efforts as we are led by the Spirit.

So, the biblical text is not our weapon. It is not something we defend in our attempt to protect God. It is a living and breathing document that calls us into the biblical story. The Apostle Paul writes that the Spirit of God lives within those who find themselves within this story.

And for those who find ourselves within this story as well as within the emerging church happenings, we have no qualms with the biblical text. We live and breathe and have our being with the belief and hope that this story is the story of God among us, the story of Jesus Christ, and we are but a small part of the continuing story of God with his people.

Our qualms are few actually. The viral responses to how the Spirit has led us are not often coming from us. I have yet to find a co-conspirator who will call another follower of Jesus a heretic or even heretical. While we may not agree with our critics, we believe the biblical text: It is not our place to judge the eternal salvation of another. Jesus was plenty clear on this matter. We can choose to submit to Jesus on this issue or not. It is really that simple. Either we ask Jesus to be seated on his left and right, or we allow the Father to determine these matters. Jesus had plenty to say on this sort of questioning.

Perhaps our biggest qualm is that the kingdom message is forgotten or in some cases simply an afterthought within much of American Christianity. When Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God is at hand (aka kingdom of heaven), he wasn't suggesting that we simply follow him to the cross so that our sins would be forgiven as long as we continue to pray for such. When we follow Christ to the cross, we are doing more than having a hope for a life after this one.

If we simply settle on salvation as some esoteric thing that will happen after we get old, get cancer, or get in a terrible accident, we are missing much of the point of the gospel. When we follow Jesus to the cross, we are not simply kneeling in the shadow of the cross; we are acknowledging that Jesus hanging on the cross IS humanity as it is intended to be.

Jesus on the cross is the embodiment of what it means to fully surrender oneself to the ways of God -- to give everything -- to do what the Creator of all things calls us to do. Jesus on the cross followed what was expected of him. This is not to suggest that there is not some sort of atonement also happening with the cross, but that is only part of what is taking place on the cross.

While the disciples did not fully understand what was taking place with the death of Jesus, the moment we take the cross as only a symbol of our salvation that destines us to another future reality, we miss so much. We miss the hope for today, for tomorrow, for messed up drug addicts, people living in tent cities across America because they have no home, and we miss the hope for those who can't call a doctor when necessary.

With the death and resurrection of Jesus, we must realize that something significant has happened... something more significant than simply Jesus Christ again having breath in his lungs. We need to realize the words of Jesus - that the kingdom of God is at hand. While we can talk about and acknowledge that the kingdom is not fully at hand at this time, it is perhaps the gauntlet of the gospel.

Without Jesus proclaiming that a new reality is at hand, we are simply left with a gospel message that offers little hope to the brokenness, emptiness, and pain among God's creation -- pain that lives in the hearts, minds, and bellies of billions of people who populate this planet.

So, let us get to the task at hand and proclaim the gospel with our lives, with our minds, with all that we are and do. Let us speak and write to one another using such language as "grace & peace to you." Let also expect it in return... probably not from our critics, but for this we can also hope; for the kingdom of God is at hand.

Hangin with Karen Ward on Friday...

starting the weekend right... time with Karen, Nate, Thom, and a handful of other good friends...

Jimmy Carter - the constant voice of wisdom post-presidency

Carter had some strong, honest, and undoubtedly spot-on thoughts worthy of hearing. It's a two minute read, but it will take much more time to digest if you are so inclined.

Conversation with a heretic & friend

Thursday, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m.

~Doug Pagitt & Mike Stavlund & friends~

I couldn't help myself with that title since Doug has been labeled such over the past year. Still, he is a good friend, follower of Jesus, and passionate about the kingdom regardless of what others write or say. For those of you who don't know Doug, he can be found all over the web... google.

Mike Stavlund is from the D.C. area. He has helped start several churches; he's an active voice around emergent village, and he is an accomplished writer as well as an amazing father of two great little girls. His blog can be found at http://comingtolife.blogspot.com/

Thoughtful theology

Interesting how Mitch Albom, one of our planet's greatest sports writers, captures significance for us to ponder:

http://www.freep.com/article/20090913/COL01/909130431/1319/Yell-at-Obama-a-new-low-but-not-the-last

Health Care: A follow up.

A bunch of new faces/voices showed up on the comments section of my last post. I am honestly honored that you read my blog. I have no idea who you are, but thanks for reading. I recognize that a lot of you don't necessarily agree with me. That's fine, but let me try to clarify at bit as well as push regarding the health care debate.

First, we need change. At the current rate of change of health care costs, it will cost an American family with a $100,000 income $30,000 for health care within the next ten years. Less than 40% of Americans make more than$100,000. Our costs are out of control for health care.

Secondly, as followers of Jesus, let us agree that we should care for our neighbors. We should care for their tooth aches, their stomach pains, and their pre-natal care regardless if they are married or not. We care for life; we care for people; we are followers of Jesus Christ; we honor the God of the creation.

Thirdly, we do not bow down to a political bent. Although all political parties, are interested, our concern is not for either a free-market of a socialist agenda. We are committed to our neighbors; we are committed to Yahweh. Thus, free market nor government sponsored heath care are our primary concern. This is secondary stuff. Both the free market and the government have failed our neighbors.

Fourth, we need a new way of thinking as well as living. For those who are against health care reform, I can only say, "really?" Do we really want to get to a point where 50% of our income goes to our heath care providers? We're already paying nearly as much for heath care as we pay in taxes. For a nation that prides itself on new ideas, invention, creativity, and leading the world, we are either in a coma or parallelized when it comes to fixing this mess. Nobody is willing to lead. AND I suspect it's because way tooo many people are making way too much money to really care.

Some people have suggested that the profit margins of hospitals are small. They are correct, but the infra-structures being built around the hospitals are gigantic. The health care profession is loaded with money and very wealthy health care professionals. There are plenty of people making a million bucks a year in this profession. There are not too many places that you can make the kind of money that the heath care profession provides.

At the end of the day, I am not denying that a lot of these health care providers work hard. So does our President and so does the migrant who is picking your dinner for next week. The President makes less than $200,000, and your veggie picker makes $7 bucks an hour without any benefits. Dont' tell me that the doctor with a second house in the mountains is more deserving. That's bunk. It's also a failure to recognize Jesus question, "Who is my neighbor?"

I'm not saying this is an easy issue, but I am saying this: As followers of Jesus, we should necessarily expect reform of some sort. The health care profession could have chosen to lead the way, but they chose not to do so. Stockholders were happy, or for whatever reason, the idea of re-creating how we think about heath care, was not a priority. Our President has pushed this issue, and it is now a priority. As followers of Jesus, let us lead the way forward. Let us think creatively while also embracing the thought that everyone in this nation is, indeed, my neighbor.