I have finally graduated from seminary! Yesterday about 50 students st Saint Paul School of Theology received our Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry, Master of Divinity (my degree), and Doctor of Ministry degrees. Congratulations everyone!
I take my cue of what it means to be an inclusive church and to have an inclusive ministry by looking at the life, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus’ life and ministry we see that Jesus spent most of his time with people that lived on the margins of society. He loved those that were unloved.[1] He brought in those who were shut out.[2] He touched those who were considered “untouchable.”[3] He fed those who had no food and he spoke out against the oppressive groups that maintained a life so that margins could exist.[4] From these examples that Christ sets before us is how I understand what it means to have an inclusive church and ministry.
When thinking about the Reign of God,[1] the first thing that comes to my mind is the description of the New Jerusalem and the account of Eden’s restoration that is found in the New Testament book of Revelation.[2] It is in the midst of this account that I find that the Reign of God means a restoration of hope and inclusion of all peoples: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! [God’s] dwelling place is among the people, and God will dwell with them. They will be [God’s] people, and God will be with them and be their God. [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’”[3] From this example of God’s Reign I understand that the existence of the Reign is not something that can stand alone as a creation of humanity; rather, the Reign of God is something that God has created and is establishing through our cooperation with the Holy Spirit as disciples of Jesus Christ – the One who shows us the Way to God’s Reign through teachings found in his life and death. I understand the Reign of God to be about transformation.
That being said, I also understand the Reign of God to be the realized manifestation of God’s passion and justice in the world, which is the opposite of humanity’s injustice. This passion and justice of God’s is both personal (for us) and political (for the world in which we live), as it is seen as the center of Jesus’ message. Marcus Borg points out that,
“…the [Reign] of God has more than one meaning in the message of Jesus. Sometimes it points to the power of God active in Jesus’ work as a healer and exorcist; sometimes it has a mystical meaning, referring to the presence of God. In other texts, it refers to a community, and it can refer to the [reign] at the end of history or beyond history in which ‘many from east and west’ will eat ‘with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the [Reign] of God.’”[4]
Here, Borg shows the multi-dimensional understanding of the “[Reign] of God,” which is important to many Christians (including myself) who understand the Reign of God to be broad in its meaning. When we look at the multi-dimensionalness of God’s Reign through the lens of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures we see that the [Reign] of God is not about heaven; rather, the Reign of God is about earth. As made evident in The Lord’s Prayer,[5] Jesus teaches us to pray for bread (something that was of dire importance for the marginalized in his time - and I would argue that it is for many in our time as well), and he teaches us to pray for forgiveness from our debts (yet, another thing that was important for the poor in Jesus’ time – and our, too). And so, when we look at the example set forth by Jesus we see that Jesus is invoking the realities that are of God’s Reign to become realities here on earth – that sustenance be made available for those who could not afford it (because it was being consumed by the elite class) and that indebtedness be dissolved; as being indebted to another would result in the loss of land, ending in indentured servanthood or even death. I understand the Reign of God to be about God’s justice overcoming human injustice.
In the same manner, I understand Jesus’ resurrection to be about transformation as well. The transformation comes through following in the Way of Jesus – even to the cross[6] – where we learn that through death comes new life. And that is the heart of Jesus’ message: that whoever follows Christ risks losing their life for the sake of God’s Reign. This message of transformation is a common theme that is found in both kingdom/reign theology and atonement theology. The cross and the resurrection give us the understanding that people rejected Jesus, that people misunderstood Jesus, that even though following in Jesus’ Way will lead to a great transformation it might also (most likely) lead to death, and it shows us the depths of God’s love for humanity. I understand the resurrection to mean transformation at the risk of rejection, but for the sake of love.
When contemplating the meaning of eternal life, I must be honest and say that this is an area in which I find great struggle. In fact, sometimes I think that Jacob may have had an easier time wrestling in the desert sands than I do wrestling with the question of eternal life. I read in the New Testament that the gift of God is eternal life,[7] and that while I was still a sinner Christ died for me.[8] And I do believe these things – not merely as a cognitive assent to reason; but rather, I feel it in the depths of my heart that God loves me and wants me to be in God’s presence. I have the assurance of God that I have been freed from the bondage of sin.
Like the Reign of God and the resurrection, I understand eternal life to be about transformation. While many people consider eternal life to deal with what happens after they cease to exist, I consider eternal life to be an aspect of God’s Reign that we enter into as God’s grace is made known to us. As eternal life is an aspect of the Reign of God, so, too, is it an aspect of the resurrection. It is through the resurrection that the transformation of eternal life becomes a reality. Because of the resurrection of Christ we become partakers in the resurrection and are transformed to share in Christ’s eternal life. Eternal life allows us to be participants in the Reign of God in the here and now. And being a follower of Jesus’ Way, I have resolved to be a part of the inbreaking of the Reign of God, in that I will do what I can – as the Spirit empowers me to do through the participation of the resurrection – to share God’s love by loving my neighbor and working with the community of Christian believers to make disciples and followers of the Way of Jesus.
[1] I understand that God is a God of love. I feel that the term “Reign of God” properly and positively reflects that all-encompassing love that God offers to all people.[2] Revelation 21:9-22:5[3] Revelation 21:3-4 (TNIV [Inclusive])[4] Borg, 132.[5] Matthew 6:9-13[6] Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24[7] John 3:16[8] Romans 5:8
Yeah, so I've been away for a bit. Cranking out final papers, packing to move, and doing other general wrap-up stuff really takes time. But have no fear! There will be post material to read!
I just finished watching, via streaming video, the first ever "Young People's Address" to the United Methodist General Conference. There were some great, compelling things said and some heart-moving images projected up on the screen. But upon the conclusion of the address I found myself thinking, "Why is it that the 'young people' are always made to be the token voices of change?"
Their message was simple, "Get off your [old] butts, stop calling us the future of the church, and realize that there is work to be done now!" (my paraphrase)
Jason Rathod, one of the young people adressors from the Nebraska Annual Conference, made a very moving statement. He said that General Conference has moved away from upholding its purpose of unification to becoming something that shows our divisiveness to the rest of the world. This has happened so much that the only thing that we become comfortable and confident in doing in the local church is holding potluck dinners in our church basements. Then he said that we (The United Methodist Church) are moving dangerously close to becoming what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called, "an irrelevant social club," that, "hides behind the anesthetizing security of stained glass windows."
It resonated within me. And then I noticed sitting behind him, what my youth might call, a really old guy - he really wasn't as he was probably no more than in his late 50's or early 60's - shaking his head in disagreement and squirming in his seat. Now maybe the guy's breakfast wasn't sitting well and he realized that he was trapped on the dais, or maybe he didn't agree with what Mr. Rathod had to say - but it hit me - why do we always seem to find the young people (under 35-ers in the UMC) as the ones who kick-up dust in the face of the institution?
Trying to resist the urge of becoming indignant for the rest of the address, I listened and watched. And what I heard was the same old, stereotypical young adult thing: We want vibrant, relevant, authentic worship. We want to reach the world now, not sit back and wait for the future church to do something. We want to live as real disciples of Jesus.
I don't disagree - being an under 35-er myself. But what I found interesting is that this was labeled as the needs of "the young people." Doesn't the rest of the church want this, too? Isn't the rest of the church moved to create experiences in which a relationship with God can be felt. Doesn't the church realize that we are God's conduits of love to the world, now?
I guess that I was hoping for more than the stereotypical, "We are young adults, hear us roar!" comments that were shared this morning.
In light of all of these things, my concern/question is still the same: if we keep splintering ourselves into smaller and smaller groups that give voice (and sometimes add dissolution) to the differences in the church, will we be able to come back together and form one solid piece of wood?
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There were moments to be praised: the constant reminder that we are the church now - not just the under-35-ers, but the over-35-ers, too. And that means that we have been trusted with a message of love that must be shared with the world.
The address also shared the diversity of opinions that make up The United Methodist Church. From the self-acclaimed conservative, to the proud liberal, to the finding-hope-in-the-new-found-love-of-the-Gospel-in-Russia pastor, to the minority youth that stood up proudly and quoted Gandhi by saying that, "The only God that some may ever know will be through a piece of bread," the church was present.
And heart of the message is what I am most grateful for: As follwers of Christ we are to realize that in order for God's saving love to be made known in the world for the future of the word, we must interact with all of God's children in the present. If we wait for the future generations of the church to act, then there is no reason for us to exist today. Are you going to wait? Because we are not! The future of the church is in good hands. The time is now! Let us begin!
My prayer for General Conference is still the same: that God's love will be experienced and kept at the center of all that we do. And I think that God's love was experienced in the address this morning.
Dear God,
I know that we don't talk like this enough, but I really need to talk to you. This week is General Conference for the United Methodist Church, and there's some really heavy stuff that's sure to be talked about that will probably change our church. I'm kind of nervous, but I'm not sure why. But why am I telling you this? You already know, right?
Anyway, God, I'm hopeful that we will remember that we all have been created by You and that we are all loved equally by You. Please continue to live in us as we continue seek guidance from Your Spirit on what it means to better reflect Your image in which we have been created.
Help us to stay seated at the Table and enjoy the rich conversation even when we think that we've finished eating. We really do want to do the best we can to love the world as you have taught us; we just mess it up sometimes...sorry...can You help us to do that better, too?
I really want this to be a good thing - for this part of Your church and for Your world. I want
Your love for us to be the focus of all of our conversations. I don't want what You've given us to be something that we use to hurt others. Inspire our hearts, guide our words, make us understand what it means to be better stewards of Your love, and continue to draw us closer to You.
You are an amazing God, God, and we do love you dearly. Thank you for all that You have done for us and for all of the things that You will continue to do for us - just because You love us. You rock, God.
Amen.
Brian McLaren, Tim Keel, and Mike King will be leading two conferences this week in Kansas City. The conferences overlap, beginning this Wednesday night with Tim Keel's Intuitive Leadership Conference (April 23-25) and finishing with Brian McLaren's Everything Must Change Tour (April 25-26).
