A church member with whom I was visiting the other day in his nursing home was explaining to me how he didn't like to go hear many of the preachers who rotated through their facility. He told me that at his age that he'd had enough hellfire and brimstone and didn't need that any more. He told me that people at that stage in life didn't need to hear any of that anyway.
I think he was right on both counts.
He then started to talk to me about the fact that so many in the free church tradition could become preachers and pastors with no formal education. He asked if someone would go to see a surgeon who had never been to med school. He then made a comment that I thought was hilarious - "Some are called, some just came."
Preachers in my tradition talk a lot about being called, about this overt experience where God comes down and taps you on the rear and tells you to get in the game. That is a great experience, an amazing phenomenon, but it negates the fact that there are no bench warmers in life. Everyone is either playing defense or offense for the kingdom, and both teams come from the same bench.
All are called to bear the image of God to the world, to be connected to the Creator.
The problem is that when some of us experience "call" we misinterpret that to mean a call to condemnation and the perpetuation of our own message of differentiation using the Word and ideas of God.
If we could only allow ourselves to feel called to be with God, then we would really learn how to be with each other. I think that most of the time that Jesus spends talking about hell he's referring to those who never really learn what it means to be with each other, what it means to be human.
The eternal butt pat from God is telling us all to get in the game, to live the godward life, to be connected and centered and whole. It is the constant assurance that the one who has created us desires us and loves us. We all fulfill our calling when we operate out of that love, and we all fail our calling when we do not.
It is no simpler nor more complex than that.
All are called to bear the image of God to the world, to be connected to the Creator.
The problem is that when some of us experience "call" we misinterpret that to mean a call to condemnation and the perpetuation of our own message of differentiation using the Word and ideas of God.
If we could only allow ourselves to feel called to be with God, then we would really learn how to be with each other. I think that most of the time that Jesus spends talking about hell he's referring to those who never really learn what it means to be with each other, what it means to be human.
The eternal butt pat from God is telling us all to get in the game, to live the godward life, to be connected and centered and whole. It is the constant assurance that the one who has created us desires us and loves us. We all fulfill our calling when we operate out of that love, and we all fail our calling when we do not.
It is no simpler nor more complex than that.
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