Salvation???

A. Unabashed Pacifist:
In moderation, war is a good thing. So says just war theory. But it's only a theory.

B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Your fullness has no expression in theology, despite our efforts.
Your presence extends beyond any and all formalized religions.
A fly-swatter trying to stop an ocean wave has more effect than our tabernacles of worship trying to house your Spirit.
We can only wonder, marvel, and give thanks that you create and sustain our lives.
Amen

C. Unquoting Jesus:
"The only good Samaritan is a dead Samaritan."
[Not in 33 billion years would He say that - about anyone!]

D. Blog/Rant: Saved From What?

Saved From What?

Strolling the sidewalks of DC, I come upon a man who appears to be just another panhandler - a new one to the area, I think. But he surprises me. His question doesn’t deal with a handout. “Are you saved?” he wants to know.

I, sometime minister and lifelong church member, nod and move on with my wife, a pastor for more than 25 years.

But I think about it. Why does this question annoy me? Sometime, I’d like to ask a return question: Saved from what?

- From concern about heaven and hell? Yes.
- From doubt about God’s forgiveness? Absolutely.
- From simplistic religious questions/formulas? Thank God! Yes! How about you?
- From false worship of nation? A long time ago.
- From the cult of accumulation? I’ve made some progress. How about you?
- From the blasphemous claims of divine sanction for war? Well, of course.
- From addiction to TV? I’m in a 12-step program.
- From confusing the imperial USA with the dominion of God? Well, duh!
- From having similarities with a rat in a maze? No ties on me, thank God.
- From fear of change, of diversity, of nature, of scientific or other truth? Have no fear.
- From thinking the Spirit must move in predictable ways? What a contradiction!
- From thinking any priest, minister, imam, guru, Bible scholar or evangelist has any better access to the Divine than my dog does? It’s taken a while, but I’m almost there.
- From falling into the traps set by political propaganda and marketing Machiavellis? Halleluia, yes!
- From literal interpretation of any scripture? Don’t get me started…
- From the irrational belief that God’s spirit has revealed nothing new in 2000 years? I’m smarter than to believe that.
- From the notion that the Bible has an outline of the future and the end of the world? I thought the Millerites’ experience killed that preposterous fantasy.
- From burning in hell? Get real. We have much more important and practical/realistic/this-worldly concerns to deal with. Hell ranks right there with the bogeyman as a device for scaring little children into behaving the way some self-important authority thinks they should.
- From your kind of Christianity? Obviously.
- From what do you think I need saving? Is it my problem or yours?

The related and equally important question never seems to occur: Saved for what?