Tag Archives: The Word

The Word Dwells Among Us

diversityLiving in the Spirit
October 6, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. –2 Timothy 2:8-10

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14)

In our digital world during an election year, we parse words to leech out truth while the writers or speakers shun absolutes directing their positions toward saying what they think we want to hear. If it were not so important, it might be a fun game. The proof, of course, is in the resulting actions that occur too late to change course. It is ironic that a whole system of fact checking has developed where lying is ranked by flagrancy.

We followers of Christ have been parsing Biblical words going all the way back to its compilation. Multiple sects of Christianity resulted grouped around words and their significance to the group’s members. Honestly, portraying the acts of an infinite and sovereign being lends itself to a diversity of descriptors particularly in relation to God who is unique to each of us and common to all.

How do we attain oneness in diversity? How does our love of God through Jesus Christ, the Word, direct and define our oneness? How do we answer the call of the Word to include all in our oneness while celebrating our diversity? How do we love as Jesus loves?

Prayer: God of Mercy, flood us with your love to enable our loving each other just as each of us is. Help us grow together in becoming the individuals you created us to be working together toward making your vision of wholeness our reality. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Right or Wrong

words2Living in the Spirit
June 2, 2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 1:11-24

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. –Galatians 1:13-17

It is really hard to admit when one is wrong, particularly when it relates to one of the, if not the most important thing in your life. Back in the early 1980’s the church I was attending decided to deal with the question of whether women should be elders or deacons. This was an interesting question when one considers that my denomination had female ministers since the 1800’s. Even with that history, it was no less controversial. The glass ceiling was first broken with the decision to elect a female elder. The next year consideration was given to regarding female deacons. It was approved after heated discussion. The next year I was elected as a deacon. Sometime during my first year of service, one of the most outspoken men against female deacons approached me and apologized saying, “I was wrong.” I know it was hard and it meant a lot.

I have always thought that Paul was so thunderstruck by the experience he had on the road to Damascus that he had to withdraw from the world for a while to glean from the scriptures as he knew them so well through the eyes of the Word of God he met on the road that day. Thus, was born probably the greatest Christian evangelist in history.

There are a lot of positions being taken and negative speak being spilled out in this election year that is at least hurtful and in some cases harmful to the targets of these vocal bullets. Our world is changing as it has been changing since it was created and we must adjust to new rightness as we live into the justice of the gospels—the Word for this time and this place.

Prayer: God give us both the wisdom to discern what is the rightness according to the Word and the courage to admit when long held cultural ways may not be. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.