Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent - March 24, 2012
John 7:40 - 43
On hearing his words, some of the people said, Surely this man is the Prophet.
Others said, He is the Christ. Still others asked, How can the Christ come from Galilee?
Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?
Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.
There was a division among the people because of Jesus.
I wonder why Christianity, from its beginnings, has been so beset by divisions, by splinterings?
I imagine there are some folks who would say, in response, that Jesus was a polarizing figure. They might say that with Jesus, you are either in or you are out, that you are with him or against him, and that by his very nature, Jesus sets up this division. I know some of these mental impulses, some of these arguments. I've advocated for them at times in my past.
The history of institutional Christianity has largely been about deciding what the boundaries are or figuring out where to draw the lines of "insiders" and "outsiders." Not only have the divisions been perpetuated, they have also been legitimized and justified.
So some traditions say, "You can only be inside if you believe these doctrinal things . . ."
And others say, "You're only in if you are baptized in this way . . ."
While still others say, "You only in if you are a member of this church or that church . . ."
There are even parts of the Church that say things like, "We lament that there are divisions in the Church, but as long as there are divisions in the Church, we can't let you come to our Table or share in the Bread and the Cup of the Holy Meal." So the divisions are perpetuated, even though they are acknowledged and lamented.
This seems to reflect a part of our humanity that most resists Christ's work in our lives. Jesus brought healing and wholeness to people. He came to bring together the disparate parts of our lives; yet, he finds even among his followers the stubbornness and egocentricity that insists on divisions and separation.
Some part of our humanity seems to seek its happiness in identifying ourselves over and against others.
I said earlier that this seems to be the history of institutional Christianity. On the other hand, through the centuries a slender thread of the Christian tradition has spoken for a more inclusive vision of the faith. This has been a more mystical Christianity that embraces diversity, holds together the tensions of the various parts, and hasn't felt the need to include by excluding others.
Witnesses to this mystical stance have popped up throughout history. Because mystics often speak a language that seems like a foreign tongue to the institution, these voices have often been marginalized or considered heretics. Yet, most often they have spoken for a more wholistic, unified faith that does not insist on the typical categories ("insider/outsider" or "included/excluded") caused by division.
Maybe the divisions are inevitable. But I don't see them as ultimately what Christ came to bring.
For today . . . if you identify with a particular Christian faith tradition, what does that tradition believe about who is included and who is excluded? From your perspective, does that tradition heal divisions or perpetuate divisions among persons?
Do you hear any invitation from God today related to these matters?
On hearing his words, some of the people said, Surely this man is the Prophet.
Others said, He is the Christ. Still others asked, How can the Christ come from Galilee?
Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?
Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.
There was a division among the people because of Jesus.
I wonder why Christianity, from its beginnings, has been so beset by divisions, by splinterings?
I imagine there are some folks who would say, in response, that Jesus was a polarizing figure. They might say that with Jesus, you are either in or you are out, that you are with him or against him, and that by his very nature, Jesus sets up this division. I know some of these mental impulses, some of these arguments. I've advocated for them at times in my past.
The history of institutional Christianity has largely been about deciding what the boundaries are or figuring out where to draw the lines of "insiders" and "outsiders." Not only have the divisions been perpetuated, they have also been legitimized and justified.
So some traditions say, "You can only be inside if you believe these doctrinal things . . ."
And others say, "You're only in if you are baptized in this way . . ."
While still others say, "You only in if you are a member of this church or that church . . ."
There are even parts of the Church that say things like, "We lament that there are divisions in the Church, but as long as there are divisions in the Church, we can't let you come to our Table or share in the Bread and the Cup of the Holy Meal." So the divisions are perpetuated, even though they are acknowledged and lamented.
This seems to reflect a part of our humanity that most resists Christ's work in our lives. Jesus brought healing and wholeness to people. He came to bring together the disparate parts of our lives; yet, he finds even among his followers the stubbornness and egocentricity that insists on divisions and separation.
Some part of our humanity seems to seek its happiness in identifying ourselves over and against others.
I said earlier that this seems to be the history of institutional Christianity. On the other hand, through the centuries a slender thread of the Christian tradition has spoken for a more inclusive vision of the faith. This has been a more mystical Christianity that embraces diversity, holds together the tensions of the various parts, and hasn't felt the need to include by excluding others.
Witnesses to this mystical stance have popped up throughout history. Because mystics often speak a language that seems like a foreign tongue to the institution, these voices have often been marginalized or considered heretics. Yet, most often they have spoken for a more wholistic, unified faith that does not insist on the typical categories ("insider/outsider" or "included/excluded") caused by division.
Maybe the divisions are inevitable. But I don't see them as ultimately what Christ came to bring.
For today . . . if you identify with a particular Christian faith tradition, what does that tradition believe about who is included and who is excluded? From your perspective, does that tradition heal divisions or perpetuate divisions among persons?
Do you hear any invitation from God today related to these matters?
Comments
Post a Comment