I remember listening to a sermon (shocker, I know) and the pastor was commenting on how uneasy people get when you start talking about different members of the Trinity. Most people are fine with talking about God- I mean, a lot of people want to believe that there is a higher power of some kind and it's easy to say that God is the same as Allah and is the creator that other faiths look to. It's easy to be poetic about God- he's in the wind that makes me smile and the stars that light our nights. His love made a good world for us and He cares for us. Sure, there's that whole wrath of God problem, but most of that can be explained away, as can many other problems with an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving Deity. God is a kind of common ground, I guess you could say, that makes Christians tolerant of others. We all believe in God and that's not too terribly hard. Admittedly, that's the first thing atheists attack because if there is no God, there's no reason to believe in a Son of God or a Spirit of God. Still, if you're convinced of anything, you'll be convinced of God first.
Then comes this Jesus person. People start to get a bit more uptight when you start talking about a man claiming to be God. It's a bit harder to be tolerant when you talk about someone who said that He was the truth and no one could get to the Father except through Him. For a person trying to sit on the fence and make peace with the world, Jesus is a problem. He's a minor prophet in Islam and a false Messiah in traditional Judaism. He's just another moral teacher to most of the world. For some, He's a banner to fight under, a reason to be exclusive, a reason to start a crusade. And for yet others, he's this peaceful, loving lamb. I have wished so many times that I could have been there to see three years of ministry, to meet Jesus of Nazareth face-to-face, to get to know the disciples and to understand what He was truly all about. I want to see the miracles, hear the parables, listen to the people around Him. I'd write a Gospel for myself and state it as the truth seen by a 21st century person so that everyone would know and understand and there would be no more conflict about who He was or what He meant, this man who is God. I'd love to get to know Him more.
It's all so confusing. On the one hand, I have a religion professor who was much more focused on the history of the church than on any actual divine authorization of the church who talks about Jesus like He's any other revolutionary leader, like He's just some other man. I believe I developed an eye twitch while watching Jesus Christ Superstar because they kept on using that phrase- He's just a man.
In my infinite amount of diversity (please tell me you hear the sarcasm), I have a Muslim friend. The only time we disagreed about anything was when we disagreed about Jesus. She said He seemed like a great guy, with tons of solid moral teachings. I said that the only thing we disagree on is that Jesus was God and from then on we agreed to disagree. I was surprised to hear that Muslims are also waiting for a day when the universal scales of justice will be righted. I kinda want to delve into other religions more, just to see what the common ground is. But, then again, at the end of the day, there's Jesus, willing to accept all who come to Him but not forcing anyone. I love the cry to Jerusalem- Long have I wanted to gather you under my wings as a hen gathers her brood but you would not let me. Now, somewhere along the way I get angry because, when it comes to the good of all humanity, there shouldn't be any 'letting' involved, there should just be saving. Angry face, but there's problems in everyone else's plans except for God's and someday I'll learn that. I believe that God's plans involve Jesus who died (historical fact) and who rose again (faith necessity) in a bigger way than can be compatible with other religions. I love the soldier in The Last Battle by CS Lewis who thought he had been serving Tash by doing the good things he had done all his life, when really, all of his aspirations really led him to Aslan. I love The Shack's Jesus who says that He'll travel down any road to find you. I don't know what's right. I have a lot more learning to do before I'll present a firm opinion on that. But as I read through Acts, it doesn't much matter about other people- I'll know what to say when it needs to be said. What does matter is the change that I can already see and the growth of a church that isn't reasonable unless something truly great had happened. God died- long live God. And it's this Man that I want to get to know more.
How many songs have I listened to that talk about wanting to get closer to Jesus, getting to know Him more and more? And I've sung along and pretended but like the Hebrews in front of Sinai, I'm not sure that I really want to meet God. He's a bit scary, you know? I'm so excited to have this thirst for knowledge back- it's been a long time since I cared to think about anything other than me and my problems. I have whole Person to get to know better, beyond what's been written and what's been guessed and what's been insinuated. This is going to be wonderful.
And then there's this third person, the Holy Spirit. You get a lot of weird looks when you start hanging out with the Holy Ghost- look what happened at Pentecost. For an added laugh, if you've seen Charlie the Unicorn 3, replace the image of tongues of fire resting on everyone at Pentecost with the image of the unicorn tongues pulling Charlie into the boat. Quite amusing, though not assistful in your daily walk, I fear. There's a lot more to learn with and about this last person. All I know is the Spirit could talk a little louder when I convince myself that all I'm doing is talking to the ceiling. I need to be reminded not only of the bigness of God but also of the nearness of God.
Ah Silly Trinity. What a day You've given me.
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