Refuge

Justice and Spirituality

2006-11-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

Wright's first four chapters deal with common human "longings" in any culture: justice, spirituality, relationships, and beauty. All people were created with the capacity to recognize and desire all four.
The first chapter is about justice, described as "the world being put to rights". Throughout history Christians have a record of being both just and unjust. Yet, all of us have heard deep within ourselves a voice that calls us to live justly. Yet, we talk about justice in different ways. Some think of justice in terms of punishment (retributive justice). A person breaks the law and thus is punished by the law. Others think of justice in terms of restoration (restorative justice). A person breaks the law but justice happens not when he gets what he deserves, but when he is reconciled with those he offended. We can talk more about it later, but I welcome your thoughts about these different ways of looking at justice.
The second chapter seems to have more to converse upon. First, Wright mentions a period of time from roughly the 1780s to the 1980s in which religion became a "subdepartment" of ordinary life. Thus, we tend to say things like "God is a part of my life" rather than "God is my life". Do you see the difference? Second, the rise of spirituality in the past 20+ years shows that there are relatively few atheists in our culture anymore. People are more spiritual, though not necessarily Christian. I would add that in Abilene there are many who would call themselves "Christian" but are hardly connected to Christ and His Church. These are a few of my thoughts. I welcome your thoughts and questions as we wrestle with this material.

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense

2006-11-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the conversation around the book, Simply Christian, by N.T. Wright. My hope is that we will utilize this blog together for conversation that will lead to conversion of our hearts and minds.

This blog is a place to share our questions and thoughts about the content of the book. Please be free to share. If you need clarification, then be free to ask. If you don't like something you read, then please share. If you have an "a-haaaaa" moment, then offer that moment to the rest of us.

I will be placing my thoughts on each chapter and invite you to enter into the conversation. Let us journey together!

What is a pastor?

2006-09-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

I will "make no bones" about who I am up front. I am a pastor. What is a pastor? Good question. I understand a pastor to be a person who will "walk" with others out of darkness and into light together. Most if not all of us live in some form of darkness. Yet, we are created to live not in darkness, but in the fullness of light. Furthermore, we do not know the way from darkness to light alone -- for we must travel together. A pastor is someone who has seen enough of the light to at least vaguely recognize its presence, and a pastor is willing to walk with others toward that light. Thus, I am a pastor. If we have never seen the light, then we might be afraid of it (as we are often afraid of what we do not or have not known in previous experience). However, the Source of all light longs to be known, and to offer us not a place to be afraid, but a place to be safe -- a refuge.

The Kingdom

2006-08-14T22:24:00.000-07:00

One of Jesus' most talked about images was that of the "kingdom". Sometimes he would say "kingdom of heaven", and sometimes "kingdom of God". His first words in his ministry were about proclaiming good news-news about God's kingdom.

So what is this kingdom? I believe that the kingdom of God is not primarily described as a “place”, but as an order of right relationships among God, humanity, and the rest of creation.

In orders of right relationships, people realize that God loves them more than they love themselves, and people in turn love each other.

In orders of right relationships, marriage success rates are 100%, child abuse does not exist, harmony abounds.

In orders of right relationships, war does not exist, people do not kill, hate, slander, or harm one another, terrorism is inconceivable.

In orders of right relationships, resources are shared equally among all, there are no poor, hungry, homeless, or sick.

Sounds like a great place, huh? This is the world that God is building. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that world?

Welcome to the refuge!

2006-08-04T23:46:00.000-07:00

What is refuge? Refuge is a safe place. Whether we are courageous enough to admit it or not, we all need refuge -- a place of protection, rest, safety. It is a place where we can consider the deepest and most challenging of journeys -- a journey that will liberate us from all that hinders us from being who we were created to be. I want to continue on that journey, and I invite you alongside for conversation. You may just want to listen. You may want to respond. You are free to do either (or neither).

I will "make no bones" about who I am up front. I am a pastor. What is a pastor? Good question. I understand a pastor to be a person who will "walk" with others out of darkness and into light together. Most if not all of us live in some form of darkness. Yet, we are created to live not in darkness, but in the fullness of light. Furthermore, we do not know the way from darkness to light alone -- for we must travel together. A pastor is someone who has seen enough of the light to at least vaguely recognize its presence, and a pastor is willing to walk with others toward that light. Thus, I am a pastor.

If we have never seen the light, then we might be afraid of it (as we are often afraid of what we do not or have not known in previous experience). However, the Source of all light longs to be known, and to offer us not a place to be afraid, but a place to be safe -- a refuge. So welcome to the refuge -- may we find in this safe place the courage to face the Light together.