viewoutsidethepew

Theology risks leading us away from God because theology is the attempt of the human creature to explain, define, describe the Creator. This takes us to the original sin in Eden, that they would be as gods, with power. But no matter what we might think we know it will save no one. “I resolved to know nothing except Christ crucified.”
Whatever satisfaction we may achieve at theological success, it has no meaning in eternity. As James teaches, “I will show you my faith by my works.” The life I live “under the mighty hand of God” is service to the Monarch of the universe, not a carefully designed argument which convinces someone how clever I am.
To serve God I suppress all tendencies to be smart, to feel competent, or to strategize. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…”
One such example of this arrogance is Trinitarian theology. We talk about the work and ministry of each part of the Trinity. But this leads us away from God. God is not separable into bits. What Jesus did is what God does is what Paraclete does.
Since God knows how limited we make ourselves on spiritual matters, God chooses to make it easier for us. At times God works in a way with a single focus. So Jesus came and did what God does, but limited in a human form and in a point in history to make it easier for humans to grasp. But to say that the redemptive work of God only happened in a moment of time, or a three year ministry as humans count time, is absurd. God has worked, and continues to work, to save our souls. That God’s grace was shown through Jesus at a particular place and time does not limit God’s grace to that point.

Icon of the Pentecost (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At other times God wanted to work in broader terms, like at Pentecost. So Paraclete swept over the disciples, giving them all the same experience at the same moment. This was not so much for their benefit, as for those who witnessed it. Paraclete opened the hearts of thousands, who were ready, on that day, to say yes to the invitation of God. It wasn’t just that the disciples spoke in the languages of the witnesses, but that the witnesses heard it and it touched them to their inner souls and they said yes. Those whose hearts were hardened simply diverted the call of God into mockery of the disciples who were serving the Almighty. Some were saved, some were not.
To agree on a theology of Spirit, or ecclesiology about Pentecost is irrelevant. That we live our lives with Pentecost still in force, watching God touch souls and save lives and heal people is the point. Rational or intellectual or academic agreement is a diversion from our call to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel.”
The first disciples spread the Gospel with great effect because they had almost no rules and almost no theology or doctrine. We have been bogged down into thinking that nitpicking about how to word a rule, or going to war over a doctrine, or dividing the body of Christ into pieces based on worship styles or creed means we are doing God’s work. “Where do divisions come from among you?” The answer is too obvious.
So, let’s go at this in a different way. Delight in the Way. Revel at the opportunities. Boldly go where others have already gone before, but which we forgot.

nopew (aka David, Journal, 2009, Part 1)