Theological College.

                            

Jesus said that the world did not know God.

How could this be?

How could God's representatives on Earth not know the nature and the will of God?

The answer is that they have all been trained to adhere to a strict orthodoxy.

Theological colleges past and present enforce an image of God which has been handed down from generation to generation.

God is seen as harsh and judgemental.
A dispenser of rewards and punishments.

Spirituality is seen as retribution.

Jesus said: "'Woe to you lawyers!  For you have taken away the key of knowledge, you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.'"  Luke 11:52 (NRSV)

Jesus was talking about Legalism - i.e. the rigid application of rules and regulations.

He contrasted this with his image of God as a loving Father.

"'And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father - the one in heaven.'"  Matthew 23:9 (NRSV)

Was Jesus suggesting that we cut out the middle man and contact God directly?

Many people in our modern world would agree.

Could it be that the men in authority in Jesus' Churches are the descendants of the Pharisees?

It would seem so.

The blind lead the blind.

And they insult God.

So find a progressive Church.

Or go into your room and close the door.

Pray to God with all your heart.

He will answer you.

And deliver you from evil.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Tenants.

                            

God owns the earth.

We are merely tenants.

We enter the world with nothing.
We leave the world with nothing.

All our estates and possessions are nothing to God.

He knows our needs.

He provides.

In the Year of Jubilee everyone was to return to their original plot of land.

Debts and acquisitions were to be cancelled.

Accumulation of wealth and privileges are anathema to God.

Despite modern conventions.

"'the Lord looks on the heart.'"  1 Samuel 16:7 (NRSV)

The heart is kindly and generous.
It gives and receives love freely.

Or it is cold and hard.
Closed by fear.
Broken by experience.

Open your heart to God and to others.

And Live!


(Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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A Living Wage.

                            

In the parable of The Laborers in the Vineyard  workers are all paid "the usual daily wage" no matter how long they have worked.

This seems mysterious to most of us.

But what I believe that God (the landowner) is doing is ensuring that everyone has enough to live on.

"The usual daily wage" was a living wage - enough to live on - and each worker received enough.

This is God providing for us.

Providing enough for us to live.

And everyone receives the same.

This is a different orientation from the landowners of this world.

Most employers will pay according to the amount of work done - reward for effort.

And their motivation is to make bigger and bigger profits for themselves.

But God's orientation is to provide a living for each of His workers no matter how much work they have done.

God provides.

So why do people starve?

The earth produces enough food for everyone to live but because of our fear we hoard it and even destroy it rather than share it with others.

God has provided enough food.

But we will not share it with the hungry.

So people starve.

Business must change its orientation from personal profit to providing a living.

Our workers are our sons and daughters.

And God is our Father.


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History.

                            

There are two versions of history:

The version written and propagated by the powers of this world - The Winners.

And then there's the truth.

The version of history put out by Capitalists after the fall of Communism in Russia - The End of History - lauds the winner, Ronald Reagan, and his allies Generation X and denigrates the Hippies, their political enemies.

But Ronald Reagan was a dark man.
He did not hesitate to use violence in Central America to defeat his political enemies.  And he did not hesitate to use propaganda which demonized his political opponents.

He used Satan to win - i.e. he used the violence and evil in Generation X to intimidate and brainwash the Hippies calling them unamerican and wrongheaded.

So where is the truth?

The truth is that people who use violence and evil to win are not heroes but villains in the mold of Hitler and his thugs.

The victory of the right-wing Capitalists is sustained by media moguls who tell everyone that Reagan is a hero.  Our news, T.V., movies, and sports are controlled by them.

It's 1984.

But in the longrun Ronald Reagan and Generation X will be seen for what they are - violent people who used evil to win. 


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The Gospels.

                              

Mark is the rudimentary Gospel.
(Possibly from the recollections of Peter in Rome.)

Matthew is the Jewish elaboration.
(From Q and other sources.)

Luke is the Gentile elaboration.
(From Q and other sources.)

John is sophisticated Christology.
(Written later by the followers of the disciple John.)


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Church.

                            

Much of what the Church has taught in the past is sophistry.

It is centered in the mind as a set of beliefs or principles.

And it is reinforced by fear.

This leads to a cold, hard atmosphere in church.

And many church people are cold, hard people.

But God is centered in the heart.

His children have warm, loving hearts.

And this can create warmth in church.

To improve the atmosphere in church we must address the specious fears that harden our hearts.

We must give love to those around us.

To improve people's experience of community we must put into practice the words that we express in church.

Only then will people return to the Church.


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Dismantling Fascism.

                                         

Fascism is a cold, hard reaction to life's harshness.

In fact it is a fortress erected to protect a wound.

And what is that wound but a broken heart.

So the solution to fascism is not aggression or violence but love.

To show warmth and consideration to others will help them dismantle their defences and open up to other human beings.

So have a warm and generous heart.

And do not judge others for their shortcomings.

There will always be a good reason for them.


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