I wrote the other day on Facebook some thoughts for contemplation coming into the new year. Its subject was on being willing to be open to God's movement on our hearts against the stubbornness that persists against His will. It will precede the postmodernism and pyrotheology online courses I hope to study since I'm laid up for the next week or two (I had foot surgery last week before Christmas).
What I wish to get away from is the religiosity of Christianity in order to find the Spirit of God within our worship. Being symbolic human beings I realize we will always need constructs and earthly reminders to help us with our daily commitments and beliefs. But what is hoped is that the latter does not control the former. We see this a lot in Jesus' ministries when he accused the Pharisees of putting God's altar before God's people; God's service ahead of His Spirit; and their religious duties above God's grace and mercy. Jesus hated religion and wished to teach a deeper discernment in His followers that goes beyond what we see or think into His very Spirit that flows and moves beyond our symbolic realms into the heavenly.
Of course my one concern here is to not become either so cultic, or so mystical, as to create yet another Gnostic Christian group, but to see people over-and-above our "spiritualized" or "religious" commitments of doctrines and beliefs. That is what Jesus taught. That if one "loves God" it'll be seen in one's "love for one another." Where religion can blind us to the needs of the other, God's love and Spirit opens those blinded eyes to see, hear, and touch again the visible held invisible before us when bound by our own spirits of pride and strife.
R.E. Slater
December 27, 2016
Here was yesterday's post:
Before dropping into the routines of this coming year I always like to remember the possibilities for godly peace and goodwill that attempts to precede this time of year in the Spirit of Christmas. That we are as responsible for its continuation as is the "other troubling us" in listening to each other without shouting over the victim of our rants or treating the other as objects of our vilification and disdain. This can be especially difficult during this time of year when reevaluating who or what we wish to be in relationship to our families, friends, co-workers, and responsibilities looming before us.
This personal-social net of entanglement echoes back to us its possibilities for positive Spirit-born disruption but in doing so will most certainly create tension between us and our social contacts. To be both bold and brave against the stream of public perception wishing to maintain and enforce a perceived status quo is quite unnatural. But for vision to be heard or seen requires forward movement if reconciliation is to be found when no one else is willing to lead.
In looking forward to a new year it these acts may thus require personal change where necessary; and should it not come - or we fail to remain true to that inner voice of enlightenment - than we delay or quit its affect not only upon ourselves but upon those standing in the path of Spirit-led de-construction.
R.E. Slater
December 26, 2016
