The Secret Message of Jesus

I'm currently reading The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren. I know that, as an LCMS Lutheran, I'm not supposed to like him very much. But I do. I find McLaren's writing to be compelling and insightful. I don't always agree with him, but that doesn't mean he has nothing of value to say to all of us. We can learn a thing or two by listening to him.

In the book I'm currently reading, McLaren offers a picture of the Kingdom of God that many of us aren't used to, yet it somehow rings true. He presents a pursuasive Scriptural case for his reasoning.

One of the salient points of this book is a stark criticism of what people normally think of when they hear the phrase "Kingdom of God" or "Kingdom of Heaven"-- two ways of saying the same thing. Most Christians, when asked, will say that the Kingdom of God is "the place we go to when we die". This is patently false, as the Kingdom of God is never presented that way in Scripture. The post-mortem understanding has led to a mentality of individualist escapism and disengagement among many Christians.

Actually, the Kingdom of God is a reality which gently invades and pervades our existence in the here and now. Its citizens engage the society as God's ambassadors by lifting up the societal rejects and losers. McLaren uses the Biblical images of yeast in a batch of dough and seeds planted in the ground very effectively. They work quietly, covertly, and productively, producing a loaf or a crop, never seeking the limelight but always working to bring the grace of God to everyday situations through their given vocations.

This sounds correct to me. We have some rethinking to do.

Hymenaeus and Philetus

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.-- 2 Timothy 2:16-18

Remembering that 2 Timothy was written in the 1st century, and not the 21st century, why would Hymenaeus and Philetus say that the resurrection had already happened? I think this is weird, not to mention the fact that I see none of these people who were supposedly resurrected walking around today. I know it's because they really weren't resurrected, but that doesn't answer my main question: Why would Hymenaeus and Philetus say that the resurrection had already occured when it obviously hadn't? Were they blind? Were they stupid? Were they tabloid columnists?

If resurrection meant "the physical rescusitation of dead bodies that would live forever", then they were obviously a couple of buffoons. All people had to do was look around and see that it wasn't true. Did Hymenaeus and Philetus really believe that they could fool people into believing that the resurrection already had taken place as defined above? If that's the case, then the jokes on them. But I have a hard time believing that these guys were that dumb. If they were just fooling around, then Paul wouldn't have made such a big deal of it. It almost sounds conspiratorial on their part.

I don't know. What do you think is happening in this text? I'm being led to believe that something else was meant by "resurrection" than what we normally believe it to mean.

Funeral Today, Confirmation Tomorrow

What a weekend I have planned!

Today I attend a memorial service up in Berwyn for a fellow pastor. He passed away back in March. He was creamated, but the funeral was delayed until today because he wanted Martin Marty to speak at his funeral and Marty wasn't available until today. Interesting. Marty couldn't clear his calendar for the funeral of a friend? Well, I don't know the ins and outs of Marty's schedule. I know he's in demand in many circles and is lecturing somewhere just about every day. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Not that he needs it, mind you. It's strictly for my benefit alone.

Tomorrow is Confirmation Sunday. Trinity has 24 confirmands this year (I think that's the most Trinity has ever had, but I'm not sure. It's certainly the most I've ever confirmed in one service). Most of these kids I'll never see again, except I might bump into them every once in a while. I don't know what to do about that, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Perhaps instead of expecting them to keep in touch with me I should make arrangements to keep in touch with them. I don't know.

Gotta go sign some certificates. I better get the Active-On ready for the writer's cramp I'll inevitably suffer.

Momentary Future Meditation

Here comes the future. See it?

Here it comes... get ready!

Aaaaaaaaaaaannd...there it is!! Get it!!

Aw, you missed it. It's gone!

Wait! Here comes the future again!! See it?

Don't let it slip away this time.

Closer, closer... Grab it!

It got away again.

Boy, this is pretty exhausting, ya think?

Every fleeting moment sends future to past. There is no present except the one right now. And now. And now. And now....

Why I Like Byron Katie

This is a letter that is found on Byron Katie's blog:

Hi,
My name is Jennifer, and I found The Work while online searching for a way to "unstick" my life. I didn't quite understand at first, but then I read the book Loving What Is, and followed the counsel, I found a new person inside me. I have begun applying The Work to many areas of my life, but tonight I hit a most poignant false story that I wanted to share.

As I did The Work tonight, on underlying beliefs that were triggered by frustrations at my sister, I unearthed a powerful story inside me. I had been telling myself that I should not commit sins, when in fact I have and I do. I have been plagued in my life with anxiety and being overly careful about everything, censoring every area of my life. All of my thoughts went to picking over what I'd done and what I could do in the future that was wrong.

When I realized that it's not true that I shouldn't commit sins, my eyes were opened and I can now see. I can see that I keep God's commandments because I love him, and that fear is not necessary for me to be obedient. When I discovered this, I put down my pen and just cried, because I could feel the love that God has for me, and I could feel the love I have for him, free of fear.

I was afraid that the fear in my former story was what was saving me. But when I considered for a brief moment that it wasn't true, I realized that my love for the Savior and his love for me are what really save me each and every moment of every day, and it brought me to tears.

And it's funny because in the moment that I knew that I should commit sins, the very things that have always tempted me seemed to disappear, forever.

God bless you, and thank you,
Jennifer

Couldn't have said it better myself!! Forget about being enlightened by a New Age guru. Most of us just need to wake up!!

The Work of Byron Katie