April 16, 2023
I’m sitting out back, reading a good book and sipping on fortified coffee. (Bolivar coffee liqueur is the ‘additive’). I’m whistling, echoing a bird who’s above me, singing his/her heart out. Maybe in anger or fear, but it sounds like joy to me. Ain’t life wonderful? And, as far as we know, we’re the only place in the whole of existence that can experience it like this. What can be better than to be a part of an impossibility called Life.
Last week I attended an Easter Service at a familiar church. It’s part of my tradition and belief. I know that something happened that day that turned things on their heads for the followers of Jesus, who had just witnessed his death. They experienced new life and knew that his Way was the Way of the Holy. Nothing else mattered, in comparison. Life and Love really did win out over death, fear and evil. After that experience, they were changed. I know this is true and I have also based my life on this truth. I attended church to publicly share it.
I wasn’t surprised by the service itself. The attendance was half of the pre-covid. There were three children, enough to warrant the expected ‘children’s story’. Glad to have been there.
Today I was invited to catch a ride again to that church. This caught me off guard and I declined, with thanks. This blog is a reaction to my reaction and the accompanying awareness.
If I attend, I know that I will be saddened and even angered by the traditional message. I know there will be the words and concepts of savior, redeemer, sin and sacrifice. Words that are completely foreign to what happened as far as Jesus’ followers were concerned. But concepts and doctrine that were meaningful to the Greek-thinking People-of-the-Way of a few generations after, and to/for whom the New Testament was written. They could not envision a belief that was not rooted in sacrifice. When Paul was ‘translating’ the ‘Jesus Event’ for them, he logically used Jesus’ death to show that sacrifices were no longer needed, that Jesus had ‘taken care’ of that for all time.
But in the process, Paul made God out to be One who demands purity and sinlessness for us all, something that only has a chance, it was reasoned, if we believe in the death of Jesus to be a sacrifice that is big enough to encompass all time and space. In that explanation, New Life comes only at the price of the ultimate death. This demanding God is a far cry from the Abba of Jesus of Nazareth, a parent-God who accepts and offers hope and life to all humanity for all time, no matter what. My parents, in reality, were far more loving than how Christian dogma sees God. What loving parent would demand the death of the best of the children before welcoming the others back home? Just think about it.
For me, most Christian worship services are far removed from the ideals, life and hopes of Jesus. That’s why I stay away. I’m definitely not a Christian in that I’m merely a follower of Jesus, not a Believer. So, according to many Christians, I’m going to Hell. I’m not worried, though. Using that same standard of measure, Jesus will be there ahead of me.
Anthony, just trying to make the most sense out of this world and to grow in love
anthonygifford42@gmail.com
