(no subject)
In America, there is a saying - "I come from Missouri, you're going to have to show me."
This alludes to a senator for those parts, who apparently refused to be taken in by gossip, rumour and wild allegations he wanted to see proof before he would accept anyone's claims. A bit like 'doubting Thomas', maybe.
For me, one of the most striking things about Jesus Christ's ministry was that he did not just preach - he *showed* people what it was to serve God. On the last night he spent on Earth, he called His few closest friends together for the passover meal, and there was no one willing to wash their feet. You have to understand that people wore open sandals back then, and the roads were dusty, often dung splattered tracks. Washing a guest's feet was a common act of simple courtesy in those days, but usually a task delegated to the lowest servant in the household. No one wanted to do the job if they could help it. So, who was gonna wash everyone's feet tonight? Jesus Himself took up a bowl and towel and did what everyone else thought was beneath them. He didn't just *talk* about 'service to others' - he showed them such service - doing it Himself.
I don't know about anyone else here, but I have been to a few different Churches in my time. Some claim that *their* church is founded upon the Apostles and goes right back to that time. Others claim that their members can speak in tongues and so miracles , or that they have a formal preaching and teaching programme. Others still proclaim the strictest adherence to Biblical standards. and all thse are used as evidence of the fact that *their* church is special, the One True Faith. And yet Christ said "By this, all shall know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another". John 13:35. The idea that Love for each other was to be an identifying mark is perhaps not implied, but that is how I see it.
For me, Jesus was someone who met people where they were. When Lazurus died, Mary and Martha, his two sisters, reacted very differently to their brother's death. Mary demands to know why, she wants answers. Martha, on the other hand, is simply overcome with grief. Yet Jesus does not rebuke either woman for how they behaved. he is not anti intellectual in his approach, nor does he pour scorn on tears. He weeps himself, in fact. Mary can accept the words of hope, but for Martha, a lecture on theology will not do - He does not tell her that He is the resurrection and the life - he *shows* her.
And that is the Jesus *I* believe in. One who meets us where we are and loves us unconditionally. I have read books that talk of Jesus being a legend, a myth, but not a historical character. John Allegro wrote one some time back, and although he is a scholar of Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and other biblical languages, I am not convinced that he is right. I understand his arguments, but I don't see any definitive proof.
To me, the most wonderful parable in the whole of the Gospels is The Prodigal Son. A Father who simply longs for his son's return. Even though it was the son who left and took everything.
You cannot possibly imagine how much it means to me to have a Father like that in heaven, since I never had one anything like that on earth...
Yet I also recall Jesus saying that there would be many who would come to Him on the last day and say "Lord - didn't we cast out demons and do great things in your name?" and yet He would tell them to depart from Him and say He never knew them.
Not all those who call Him "Lord" will he call His people, it would seem. And I don't know - sometimes, I don't feel so sure. Oh, I don't deserve God's love, I know that. But do I still live within God's love? how can I know - or how can anyone? In my own church, I feel the comfort of His presence - even though it is not a really ancient church going back centuries. In the Gospels, I am drawn to the way that this man Jesus was. Someone who showed from His heart that although He was a king, he was also someone who served His people. There are those who like the honour and prestige that goes with the title 'minister' - political or religious. so, should I stick with a church I like, and that has been welcoming me these past ten years and more, or should I need to move on again?
For me, it seems like Christian faith is a work in progress. It is a living thing, like a tree. it is either growing - or it is dying. Right now I have come to feel that I can go no further, and somehow I don't feel this is quite how someone is supposed to feel I they really are in Christ... i shall shut down for a bit. I need to pray. If anyone else wishes to, I would appreciate your prayers also.
This alludes to a senator for those parts, who apparently refused to be taken in by gossip, rumour and wild allegations he wanted to see proof before he would accept anyone's claims. A bit like 'doubting Thomas', maybe.
For me, one of the most striking things about Jesus Christ's ministry was that he did not just preach - he *showed* people what it was to serve God. On the last night he spent on Earth, he called His few closest friends together for the passover meal, and there was no one willing to wash their feet. You have to understand that people wore open sandals back then, and the roads were dusty, often dung splattered tracks. Washing a guest's feet was a common act of simple courtesy in those days, but usually a task delegated to the lowest servant in the household. No one wanted to do the job if they could help it. So, who was gonna wash everyone's feet tonight? Jesus Himself took up a bowl and towel and did what everyone else thought was beneath them. He didn't just *talk* about 'service to others' - he showed them such service - doing it Himself.
I don't know about anyone else here, but I have been to a few different Churches in my time. Some claim that *their* church is founded upon the Apostles and goes right back to that time. Others claim that their members can speak in tongues and so miracles , or that they have a formal preaching and teaching programme. Others still proclaim the strictest adherence to Biblical standards. and all thse are used as evidence of the fact that *their* church is special, the One True Faith. And yet Christ said "By this, all shall know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another". John 13:35. The idea that Love for each other was to be an identifying mark is perhaps not implied, but that is how I see it.
For me, Jesus was someone who met people where they were. When Lazurus died, Mary and Martha, his two sisters, reacted very differently to their brother's death. Mary demands to know why, she wants answers. Martha, on the other hand, is simply overcome with grief. Yet Jesus does not rebuke either woman for how they behaved. he is not anti intellectual in his approach, nor does he pour scorn on tears. He weeps himself, in fact. Mary can accept the words of hope, but for Martha, a lecture on theology will not do - He does not tell her that He is the resurrection and the life - he *shows* her.
And that is the Jesus *I* believe in. One who meets us where we are and loves us unconditionally. I have read books that talk of Jesus being a legend, a myth, but not a historical character. John Allegro wrote one some time back, and although he is a scholar of Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and other biblical languages, I am not convinced that he is right. I understand his arguments, but I don't see any definitive proof.
To me, the most wonderful parable in the whole of the Gospels is The Prodigal Son. A Father who simply longs for his son's return. Even though it was the son who left and took everything.
You cannot possibly imagine how much it means to me to have a Father like that in heaven, since I never had one anything like that on earth...
Yet I also recall Jesus saying that there would be many who would come to Him on the last day and say "Lord - didn't we cast out demons and do great things in your name?" and yet He would tell them to depart from Him and say He never knew them.
Not all those who call Him "Lord" will he call His people, it would seem. And I don't know - sometimes, I don't feel so sure. Oh, I don't deserve God's love, I know that. But do I still live within God's love? how can I know - or how can anyone? In my own church, I feel the comfort of His presence - even though it is not a really ancient church going back centuries. In the Gospels, I am drawn to the way that this man Jesus was. Someone who showed from His heart that although He was a king, he was also someone who served His people. There are those who like the honour and prestige that goes with the title 'minister' - political or religious. so, should I stick with a church I like, and that has been welcoming me these past ten years and more, or should I need to move on again?
For me, it seems like Christian faith is a work in progress. It is a living thing, like a tree. it is either growing - or it is dying. Right now I have come to feel that I can go no further, and somehow I don't feel this is quite how someone is supposed to feel I they really are in Christ... i shall shut down for a bit. I need to pray. If anyone else wishes to, I would appreciate your prayers also.