Ron Cole : unplugged, unorthodox, sacrilegious

redemptive imagination...in a climate crisis

In my previous post " profit and progress...the co$t of selling your soul ", I mused on creation and on the redemptive imagination of Jesus...the resurrection of a new creation. Does christianity lack the imagination to speak into what humanity is doing to creation, and what it's responsibility is. Some one whom has challenged my thinking for years is Jarrod McKenna, in a great article in Sojourners Magazine; God's Politics...he wrestled with the reality now.

( St.Francis:Creation )

 

What our response to the ecological crisis reveals is how ill equipped our Western imagination is to understand the Gospel as good news for all of creation. Much like in the 60s, the issue was not that the Gospel wasn’t good news for the oppressed seeking racial justice and reconciliation – it’s that too many Christians were blind to see it. They were blind to the reality that the Gospel meant not only personal transformation but social transformation, just as many of us are blind to the Gospel being more than just personal and social, but ecological and cosmological as well.

Polite talk of “creation care” or “stewardship” as a kind of appendix to the Christian faith is completely inadequate. The Gospel is not that Jesus came to redeem individuals. The Gospel is that Jesus came to redeem all of creation by grace, and we as individuals, together, can be a witness to that. Our ecological crisis calls us to rediscover the earth-affirming beauty of the kingdom of God. As Nicolas Berdyaev put it, “The kingdom of God is the transfiguration of the world, universal resurrection, a new heaven and a new earth.” Or, in the words of Karl Barth, the Christian hope is that “we wait for Easter to become a universal reality.”

( Jarrod McKenna...the National Adviser for Youth, Faith and Activism for World Vision Australia. He is the founder of EPYC and co-founder of the Peace Tree Intentional Community in Perth. You can follow him on Twitter here. This article originally appeared via ABC Religion & Ethics. )

Read...the whole article...HERE.

 

profit and progress...the co$t of selling your soul

The difference, Joe Oliver ( Canada's Natural Resource Minister ) says, is that Canada needs the foreign capital.

"They’re helping us build infrastructure to help us diversify our market. Other groups are trying to impede … the economic progress; they’re trying to block development; they’re trying to block projects which will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in government revenue and trillions of dollars in economic development. That’s the fundamental difference." ( Read more from CBC News...Here )

Suddenly a neuron sparks, and ignites deep within the grey matter of my brain, and suddenly an image floods across the screen of my mind, it's Jesus talking to his followers a conversation about profit margins...the danger of risk management, Suddenly the audio kicks in, " What kind of deal is it to get everything you want, even the whole world...anything you can sell, but to loose the soul of humanity? What could you ever trade for the soul of humanity ? ( my paraphrase Matthew 16:24-26 )

Canada's Natural Resource Minster feels there is a lot to sell off...and a lot of money to be made. But at what cost...a what risk?

As humanity we need a " Big Bang " moment, to be dragged back to the moment before there was even a thought, before there was light, before there was even a heart beat...before there was even this earthy stage on which humanity would live out the drama of life.

The bible calls it God, but I am consumed by the mystery and the power of such an entity that I know even naming it does not give it the reverence, and the absolute awe that it;he;she deserves. But there was a time when this infinite cosmic being...through eternal and divine imagination ( God ), through voice ( Word ) speaking creation into being, and through power ( Spirit ) made it happen. Existence, reality, creation...this stage in which we daily act our lives on...evolved into being, and still unfolds.

It's as if today, christians have lost the profound beauty of the cosmic interconnected relationship in which we were formed. A creator digging has hands into the earth scooping dirt, shaping molding and breathing life into us...making us living beings. I wonder how many times we read Genesis, and skip the first part because we want to get to " US." After all isn't that what creation is all about, us, the pinnacle of creation. Do we see the " Creator " as a novice scientist, initially just tinkering with creative ideas and working his way towards the perfection of " Us ." I mean after all...he did rest after us.

I am amused that christians can't see the evolutionary process in Genesis. This embryonic soup of nothingness; light; water; earth; plants; seasons; ocean born life; land born life and lastly human beings. It is this evolutionary relationship of creation, a divine unfolding mystery. One wonders if Darwin didn't get glimpses of this divine mysterious unfolding of life reading between the lines.

I love that incredibly intimate scene in Genesis 2:18-20...can you imagine God and man, a hot summer day maybe reclining leaning up against a tree, the wind of the spirit gently blowing rustling the leaves on the tree. God pointing at the animals of the field, the birds of the air...chuckling under his breath. He pats man on the back and says, " what in the heck are we going to call that strange looking thing?"

There is something amazingly profound in naming something. I know as an artist when I'm done painting something, I will spend hours maybe days before I give it a name. In the creation of the art, a relationship has unfolded...I have been lost in the countless hours of creating. Part of me has been poured into...it has mysteriously become part of me...it tells something about me. Seeing your child being born...and naming him of her, or him. It is a deeply deeply relational experience.

As humanity do we really fathom the profoundly intimate relationship we have with all creation...that we need each other. Not some, but all of creation.

And at the end, when the creator had finished this incredible stage...a landscape filled with deserts, mountains, seas, oceans, lakes, rivers, plains, islands...filled with cast of characters beyond imagination he says to man, " Be responsible for the fish in the sea, and the birds in the air, and everything that moves on the face of the earth. God looked over everything he had made, it was good, so very good.

How as so called christians have we become so disconnected, so separated from our relationship with " ALL " creation? We read in Colossians...

So spacious is he, so roomy is he, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe...people and things, animals and atoms...get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his redemptive life poured out on the cross ( paraphrase Colossians 18:20 )

Sadly the church, and most christians have made the cross about personal salvation...the idea that Jesus only cares about people.  I believe on the cross something so profound, so absolutely mind blowing, earth shattering, life changing...with the redemptive power and imagination that brought creation into being was there. It was an atomic explosion of cosmic proportion, the reality of the new creation...and as us to be co=creators.

Jesus is intimately connected with all creation, him saying to his followers, " Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving."

It's amazing the divine wisdom that is enfused in creation...it truly does glorify the creator. It's this wisdom that we sell, this profound relationship that we can't ignore...when we rape mother earth. When we have taken everything we can, sold anything and everything of value...what is left? When as humanity do we say, " we have no soul." 

And we hear Canada's Canada's Natural Resource Minister, Joe Oliver, " They’re helping us build infrastructure to help us diversify our market. Other groups are trying to impede … the economic progress; they’re trying to block development; they’re trying to block projects which will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in government revenue and trillions of dollars in economic development. That’s the fundamental difference."

Progress and profit...at what cost.

This is not unique only to Canada, this is happening all over the world. Where we are destroying our realitionship with creation. And for the most part the church sits silent, looking the other direction ignoring the injustice that is happening to creation. Did we forget we have a responsibility, or are we consumed with that idea of retirement real estate...purchased and reserved accomodation in heaven? Will there be any prophetic voice coming from the church challenging the status quo... or will it be another series on how much God loves " us " and our kind, perhaps another series on Spiritual warfare...it's better to fight the devil you don't know, than the evil you do know.

" What kind of deal is it to get everything you want, even the whole world...anything you can sell, but lose to loose the soul of humanity? What could you ever trade for the soul of humanity ? ( my paraphrase Matthew 16:24-26 ) 

Before the church completely looses it's soul...read Genesis, the Psalms, the gospels. Think of creation, this web of profound relationship with all creation...every speck. Think of the animals names, land, sea and air, our names every race, nation and tribe...this cosmic family. Think of the landscape we live our lives on...that supports and sustains all of us. And lastly think of the profound redemptive imagination of Jesus...and our role in this unfolding new creation. Redemption is about " ALL " creation.

And most of all think, " On Earth...as in Heaven." Do we really grasp the reality of those words.

 

aspiring to believe in God...

Peter Rollin's is his latest book " Insurrection " is asked if he believes in God. His answer...he aspires to believe in God. Resurrection life is a mode of living that embraces and clings to " life " in all it's doubt, complexity, and unknowing...it affirms life, and accepts our responsibility in transforming this world into his Kin-dom. On Earth as in Heaven... its this apocalyptic cosmic divine redemptive collision. Resurrection is violent...it is the relentless violence of an all consuming Love. It's violence of Jesus, of Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr...it's a crazy love that one's life gets lost in. Resurrection confronts systems that seek to oppress, destroy and bring death. It is the battle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world that dares to cast it's shadow across humanity...blinding all imagination and hope.

Resurrection people are not overwhelmed, for once you have seen this new subversive alternative world...nothing in its reality seems to small. No matter how small Resurrection people roam the world, the neighborhood, back alleys, gutters, ditches, corporate board rooms, the empires palace...looking for bits, and pieces, shattered pieces of life. They begin to put in back together in the image of the Kin-dom, the world upside down. 

Peter says, he aspires to believe in God. Because the truth is we only believe in God by how much we love. If love is not tangible, if it is not the gravity that connects me with everything...well, I don't believe. If our faith does not throw us in the arms of the world, if it does not lead to our experience of responsibility, love, compassion, hospitality...our absolute commitment to transformation. Then what ever we call it...it has nothing to do with Jesus, the gospels and the profound redemptive scandalous imagination of his Kin-dom. So I agree with Peter...I aspire to believe in God.

Practicing Resurrection

Practice resurrection
…in a world of quick profits
…and everything ready made.

Practice resurrection
…in a world of obligated consumption
…and generals and politicos.

Practice resurrection against all the odds.
“Be joyful though you have considered all the facts.”

To practice resurrection, my friends,
…we need to be able to see just beyond the range of normal sight,
…we need to expect the end of the world … and laugh,
…we need to do something that will not compute,
…we need to love the Lord,
…love the world,
…work for nothing.

We come together at Practicing Resurrection because we have considered all of the facts,
…or at least enough of them.
We know what real profit is
…and we know enough to abandon that which does not profit.
We know that while sometimes wisdom cries out at the street corners,
…just as often she whispers in the carrion,
…sighs as wind blowing through trees,
…sings in the planting of crops and their harvest,
…rejoices when people break bread together.

We have come to practice resurrection.
…We have come to embrace the new birth,
…we have come to say to the darkness, “we beg to differ,”
…we have come to ask the important questions:
……Will this satisfy 

………a woman satisfied to bear a child?
……Will this disturb the sleep
………of a woman near to giving birth?
…Do you really want to interrupt that ten second nap between contractions?
…Can we live our lives by such standards?
…Are our decisions about dinner up to that kind of life bearing responsibility?

Welcome to Practicing Resurrection, my friends.
Welcome to a community of discernment.
Welcome to a conversation about wholeness.
Welcome to “Urban Agriculture and the Peace of the City.”
Welcome to the party that has already begun.

From the birds and the bees
…to urban forestry and foraging for weeds;
from community gardens and Sabbath economics
…to scripture and solar energy;
we’ve got it all.

But we can only practice resurrection
…if someone rolled away the stone.
We can only practice resurrection
…if the power of death has been broken.
We can only practice resurrection
…if Jesus shows us the way.

Resurrection is new creation.
Resurrection is the restoration of broken relationships.
Resurrection sets the captive free,
…binds up the broken,
…establishes justice and mercy.

We can’t practice resurrection alone.
…Not even Jesus can do that.
…He needs Mary to mistake him for the gardener.
…He needs the women to tell the fearful men.
……So long as women do not go cheap
……for power, please women more than men.

There is no resurrection without a body.
…The body of Jesus,
……bruised, broken, pierced, risen.
…We are called to that body.
…We who have died in Christ have risen in Christ.
…So practice that resurrection.

( Brian Walsh, September 2010 ) 

 

How many calories of the bread of Life are you consuming...

If I hear this once more, " man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord "...I'm going to gag because I know what you mean. 

1. I don't read the Bible enough.
2. I think too much.

That scripture does show up in the Old Testament, I would give reference to where it's found, but I'm sure you already know, and...will tell me. But it makes  me think of Jesus trial in the wilderness. Upon rising out of the waters of the Jordan, and God's spirit hovering over the Son of Man the first born of the new creation...he mysteriously becomes the God-man. This is the emergence of humanity and the divine...the embryonic beginning of the new creation. It's here wet, and saturated with God he wanders into the desert and is tempted by what Paul would say, " For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness...against the empire of illusions.

It's here much like the earlier exodus, God has led his people out of slavery away from the bonds of injustice and oppression. They are stripped of everything...but God. It's this bread that comes from him that mysteriously shows up each day on earth...it the dirt of humanity, the ground on which we navigate life. They are to take enough to sustain them for the day nothing more...ensuring there is enough for " everyone."

Of course, they complain...because, well...God just isn't enough.

Leap forward to today. If I'm really gut wrenchingly honest, and freeze frame this image in my mind. As a so called " Jesus follower " God is calling me out of the slavery in my life. The bonds of injustice and slavery in my life. I have to really scan my life and see how disconnected and fragmented it really is. What chains am I unknowingly or knowingly still chained to? What in my life am I still chaining people to by my daily living? Honestly, how much I have I really navigated out of " Egypt"? Or am I really a cross border shopper wanting the best of my world and God's?

How much oppression do I see in my neighborhood, in the world around me...without speaking against it. How much do I condone it, and keep it functioning by my silence? When I shop, or should I say consume, do I worry about where it's made? Do I see the life of the workers behind the product I'm buying. And when I wake up each morning do I think about just collecting and hoarding to sustain my life...or am worrying about everyone being sustained?

You see if we really want to feed on the bread of life, this Manna...first we need to pull out our maps and see how far we moved out of Egypt. Or have we just navigated lines across the page in our bibles, and in our minds convinced ourselves we've travelled a long way...when in reality we haven't moved an inch.

And even then...I'll complain. I'll keep looking back over my shoulder, and move one step forward and two steps back, and convince myself I'm moving in the right direction. 

Here is the crux. We'll say Jesus, you are the truth, the way and the life. And he asks us OK, follow me. But, again as true as we convince our self they are...do we, do I embrace them. Still the most shocking image of truth for me comes around the story of the rich man and Jesus. Jesus says, Sell everything you own, and give it to the poor...and follow me." 

You want to feast on the bread of life, let this be your daily bread...then consume that. Every time I read that the hard drive encased in my skull comes to a screeching halt. It's like my whole operating system crashes. Because this just isn't nibbling on bits and pieces of scripture in your Bible...this is about life.

How much of my life, am I willing to sell? Do I really want the bread of life to be my daily diet...or is the biggest portion of my diet going to come from Egypt...while I get take out, manna, when I feel desperate. Maybe I'll feel a twinge of guilt because the wardrobe I've dressed my life in won't fit anymore...and I'll try the God diet for a few weeks just to get them to fit again.

So yes, I do think about the bread of Life everyday...just maybe not the same way you do. And, yes...guilty as charged...I think to much.

I'll just close with these words from Mother Tersa around the bread of life...as a sign of God's life and love. 

“When Jesus came into the world, he loved it so much that he gave his life for it. He wanted to satisfy our hunger for God. And what did he do? He made himself the Bread of Life. He became small, fragile and defenseless for us. Bits of bread can be so small that even a baby can chew it, even a dying person can eat it.”

She says it with mysteriouus beauty...how broken are we willing to be come, will we become broken bits of God's manna for the world to consume. 

 

Selling the illusionary Jesus...

Illusion... the action of deceiving. The state or fact of being intellectually deceived or misled... an instance of such deception. Illusion is the perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual truth. Illusions are patterns capable of reversible perspective.

Chris Hedges in his book Empire of Illusion says this. " The flight to Illusion sweeps away the core values of an open society. It erodes the ability to think for oneself, to draw independent conclusions, to express dissent when judgement and common sense tell you something is wrong, to be self-critical, to challenge authority, to grasp historical facts, to advocate for change, to acknowledge there are other views, different ways, and structures of being that are morally and socially acceptable. A populace deprived of the ability to separate lies from the truth, that has become hostage to the fictional semblance of reality put forth by pseudo-events, is no longer capable of sustaining a free society." ( pg 52 )

And a bit further he talks about institutional hierarchies developing a highly specialized vocabulary. Chris Hedges remarks, " They organize learning around minutely specialized disciplines, narrow answers, and rigid structures designed to produce such answers.This vocabulary is the sign of the " specialist " and, of course, the elitist, thwarts universal understanding, It keeps the uninitiated from asking unpleasant questions. It destroys the search for common good. It dices disciplines, faculty, students and finally experts into tiny, specialized fragments. It allows students and faculty to retreat into these self-imposed fiefdoms and neglect the most pressing moral, political and cultural questions. Those who critique the system itself...are marginalized and shut out of the mainstream debate. They refuses to question a self-justifying system." ( pg 90 ) ( emphasis mine )

Chris Hedges in his book is critiquing secular institutions and the illusions they create which like osmosis slowly cross the barrier in the collective mind of humanity where it becomes the perceived reality...the truth. I don't think Chris Hedges would find issue if I steered his musings into the religion of " Christianity " which in my mind if we follow Hedges line of thinking...is an Illusion.

 

To quote Chris Hedges again, " A populace deprived of the ability to separate lies from the truth, that has become hostage to the fictional semblance of reality put forth by pseudo-events, is no longer capable of sustaining a free society."

Christianity has become hostage to the illusion it created. It has lost the ability to separate lies from the truth...or where there was mystery it made illusion. It created a pseudo-event, an illusion in which to formulate rigid structures to produce narrow answers. A hierarchy that lives in self-imposed " retreat " neglecting the most pressing and urgent questions of our day...socially, economically, environmentally, culturally, militarily, globally, politically...and morally.

Much like in Jesus day, people were being held hostage to a religion of rigid structure that produced narrow answers. It was the religious elite, the moral authority policing the uninitiated creating barriers on every corner of life between everyday folk and God. I mean at this point God hadn't talked to anyone for some 400 years, and yet the religious elite still promote the illusion around the pseudo-event that keeps the structure standing and making them a living. It took Jesus to tear a hole in temple curtain saying, " yoo hoo! nothing behind the curtain...God's not here."

 

I just want to say...I am passionate about Jesus. I believe he was the God-man. I believe on the cross something so profound, so absolutely mind blowing, earth shattering, life changing...with the redemptive power and imagination that brought creation into being was there. It was an atomic explosion of cosmic proportion and we are still feeling the effects of its fall out today. But...do I have to believe the way you do, or to the pseudo-event that the religious elite enforce and protect?

I just think the Illusion of Jesus christianity has created is perhaps more about the structure, it's narrow answers, it's moral authority as religious police than it is about Jesus and what he passionately lived and died for.

In the gospels, Jesus says, " if you've seen me...you've seen the Father." Again, " I only do and say what the Father does." Moses tucked into the cleft of a rock might have caught a passing glimpse of God as he passed. But, we, humanity has seen God in the flesh...he actually moved into the neighborhood for a while.

 

So I mean what's going on, is there the crazy, bi-polar, Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde, bad cop good cop...God as the crazy old man that one day decided to have a child and become a loving parent. I mean if the " God " is unchanging as we project him to be...he's all loving, or hell-bent on revenge. He can't be both.

Is the God of the Old Testament consumed with fueling a human BBQ pit called " Hell?" And heavily invested in retirement real estate, like in my mother in-laws home town, called " Paradise Lodge."

If you look close enough in the old book you'll see a strand and you'll pinch it between your fingers and pull. Keep pulling, it's long really long, and you'll find it entwines itself in the whole story. It is also wraps itself in Jesus, it makes up the very robe that Jesus clothes himself in. Take a close look at these words...

"The Lord is exalted", proclaims Isaiah. " He dwells on high; he filled Zion with justice and righteousness." ( 33:5 )

" I am the Lord " announces Jeremiah in the name of God. " I act with steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight." ( 9:24 ) 

Again Isaiah, " Is such the fast I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and lie is a sack cloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this fast that I choose; to break the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? ( 58:5-7 )

From Micah, " He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. ( 6:6-8 )

Lastly from Amos, " I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. ( 5:21-24 )

 

 Am I missing something? It appears God is very passionate about justice and righteousness. The illusion christianity has created is that about God as a Judge, laws must be enforced, and sentences against the guilty must be carried out...life sentences, solitary confinement and torture. It makes God so angry that you have to kill something, burn it to create a smoke screen to hide yourself from him...you had to keep feeding his wrath just to keep him happy. The idea of righteousness was the constant battle of keeping your clothes stainless, perfectly white...cleanliness is next to Godliness.

But if we look at that strand again we see the truth, God's justice is about the restoration of justice. It's as Isaiah sees it...It's about breaking the bonds of injustice in the world around us, its about the oppressed, the hungry, the homeless, the poor...its about all humanity. And righteousness is about like living, or lets go with what Micah says...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

You could almost say this is what the fullness of humanity was meant to be.

And then Jesus the God-man moves into our neighborhood, into the midst of humanity. The illusion christianity paints is, again it's all about morality, he's here to clean house...it's about believing, narrowed down to 2 choices...heaven, and hell.

But the reality, the truth is, Jesus starts telling these wild scandalous redemptive parables, mysteries to capture the imagination of humanity...to God's justice. It was not just loving your friends, it was about loving people you can't stand, people you hate...your enemies. It was not just making sure your rights were protected...it was about becoming a voice for the widow, the orphan, the most marginalized people around you. It was about forgiveness, seventy times seventy...it was scandalous. It was about setting the captives free. It was universal health insurance where as humanity we tried to heal everyone...not the ones who could afford to pay. It was the miracle of feeding the masses...to the point of sharing your last scrap of food knowing you'd go hungry.  There was no in crowd; Jesus knocked down all fences, barriers and borders...as humanity we were one, and we were in this all together. And no one had ownership of God...it didn't matter where you worshipped...it was about doing it in a profound sense of truth. And well, right living, righteousness came down to...loving, God with all your heart, mind and soul...and loving your neighbor as yourself, almost echoing Micah's words.

God's Justice and Righteousness are about one thing, the very thing that cries of Jesus passion through out the gospels...that is the Kingdom.

The illusion of Christianity is to make Jesus' life about heaven and hell. The reality is Jesus was consumed with the Kingdom...he lived in the profound mystery of it's redemptive reality constantly. If Jesus came to show us abundant life...living in the profound mystery of his parables, and acting them out as part of everyday life...this was what being human was about.

The pseudo-event is what christianity has created in the midst of the murder of Jesus...rather than sacrifice it as a cold calculated killing that is reflected in a parable Jesus told in Matthew 29...

Could it be  much like the parable where after the vineyard owners have killed all the messengers…the master finally sends his own son.

We hear the story of a ( creator ) owner of a vineyard ( all creation ) who handed it over to tenants ( humanity ) and departed for a far country. When the time arrived for it to bear fruits ( the fullness of the Kingdom ), he sent his servants ( prophets ) to check on them, but the tenants ( humanity, the empire, religion ) beat some and killed others. Finally, the owner ( God ) sent his son ( Jesus ), saying, “Surely they will reverence my son.” But this was not the case. They laid hold of him, cast him out, and killed him.

Could it be God, sends his son as humanity's last chance. At the game of life, God throws in all his chips to send his Son to finally reveal, and show humanity to live out the fullness of humanity in the Kingdom of God ? We see this all through the parables in the gospels. Jesus passion is his Fathers passion...the voice of the prophets passion...the Kingdom of God.

Could it be the same principalities and powers of darkness that have always roamed the earth, corrupted the empire of the day to inflict injustice, oppression...a life void of the abundant and just life that comes from being plugged into God ? Could it be the empire deceived by the principalities and powers of darkness accused Jesus...and murdered Jesus ?

Could it be not so much a sacrifice for sin...but a horrid murder by the principalities and powers of darkness ?

Could it be on the cross, the principalities and powers of darkness were high-fiving each other that they had finally defeated the Kingdom of God. That now they would control the mind and imagination of humanity...this would be the new world order ?

Could it be Miraculously, God smashed his fist on the " reset " button of evolving creation and said " Hell No!" and in the pursuing after shocks the stone rolled away...and God resurrected Jesus and the Kingdom. The principalities and powers of darkness were finally conquered ?

So, I think belief for me, moves me into the profound mystery of the cross, that Jesus did conquer death and evil ( the principalities and powers of darkness ) , and by faith, I move into the resurrection, I move into the radical scandalous life and teaching of Jesus found in the gospels. Through the spirit of God, that profound mystery is embedded in my DNA. It is no longer I that lives, but Jesus with in me.

 
Here plugged into this new life, the new creation, the kingdom of God...he calls me, and humanity to be collaborators with him building his Kingdom now...and at the same time pointing to when the fullness of his Kingdom will come into being.

It's almost as if it is that answering of those profound words in Jesus prayer, " Father, may your Kingdom come, on earth as in heaven." It is the profound redemptive mystery of God and humanity emerging into one.

The Illusion of christianity's Jesus is sacrificing belief for heaven or Hell...the real Jesus is about living into the reality of the Kingdom.  

Peter Rollins, " Insurrection "...exploring the outer limits

I just finished the copy of Pete Rollins latest book " Insurrection " that was sent to me. I have all of Peter Rollins books in my library, so Pete's musing are not new to me. But his latest book will challenge your perception of everything...absolutely everything. Rob Bell, says, " In this book, Pete takes you to the edge of a cliff. And, just when most writers would pull you back, he pushes you off. But after your initial panic, you realize that your fall is a form of flying. And it's thrilling." I can only say when Peter Rollins opens his mind up to re-imaging faith...well, I think this sums it up. It might actually be Pete at the dial...

 

I can only say, " Insurrection " takes you on a journey to the outer limits of faith. Slowly as you navigate your way through the opening pages of " Insurrection " you begin to loose grip of every dimension of faith. Every dial you begin to grasp and turn you realize you are not in control...vertical gone, horizontal gone, depth gone, clarity gone. Initially...it is frightening.

Peter Rollin's knows the power of the parable, of mystery. Every chapter, Rollin's cleverly opens the door a crack and draws you in and suddenly you hear the door close behind you. There on the outer limits Pete takes you to the liminal place where you left to wrestle with the deepest mysteries of faith...Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection. For most " christians " there is doctrine, and dogma that neatly packages these mysteries that we tuck away in an empty closet in our minds. I was almost getting the sense that these mysteries were never meant to be confined by the parameters and boundaries of doctrine. But only when they are lived to we come close to their truth.

For Rollins, as christians we are never to believe in God, but that we are supposed to live into God. To live a life of mercy, faithfulness, self-control. But we are not truly living Christian lives unless we are dying to ourselves—participating in the death and resurrection of Christ. We only believe in God, by how much we love...people see " what " we believe in by how much we " love."

“I believe in the insurrection.” What is it about? It’s about being invited to transformation. Rollins thinks the apostle Paul had it right. Paul doesn’t talk about who Jesus hung out with. Or about Jesus’ miracles. He says that being a Christian is participating in the death and resurrection of Christ. You die, and you are reborn. You can say, “I believe x, y, and z” but if you don’t think about where you live, and the work you do, and how your consumerism affects others, then that is the truth of your life, not what you SAY you believe. And so the resurrection, the insurrection is about dying, being reborn, transformed, so we are no long the same.

The only part of the book I really struggled with and maybe Peter can help me out was the chapter, " Neither Christian or Non- Christian." That when we get this point of insurrection, living the " Resurrection " that we are beyond all identities yet embrace all identities. Yet almost fence sitting there is this wavering back and forth between being Christian and Non-Christian. He talks about the mystery of worship and liturgy taking us to that liminal space where we deal with the reality of suffering, pain, loss, death and life. But again as far as he has taken us to the outer limits he brings us back to the church...the very structure that controls life and death. I wonder if in a future faith Peter Rollins envisions something other than church...maybe something much more insurrectional.

Anyway, I can not recommend " Insurrection " enough. If you're really ready to die, to explore the outer limits of faith give Peter Rollins control of the dial and join the insurrection.