Philosopher Bernard Lonergan once noted: "All religious experience at its roots is an experience of an unconditional and unrestricted being in love" (Quoted in Robert Wicks' "Touching the Holy"). Every authentic religious experience is an encounter with infinite Love. Brennan Manning notes that the recovery of passion begins with the recovery of our true self as the beloved (Abba's Child, 125). In discovering the infinite Love of Christ for us, we will also find our true self. If John, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:20) were to be asked, "What is your primary identity, your most coherent sense of yourself?" he would not reply, "I am a disciple, an apostle, an evangelist," but "I am the one Jesus loves."
When I read the gospels, it seems clear that the disciples were truly crazy about Jesus. Theologian Raymond Brown utilizes more restrained prose: "Jesus was remembered as one who exhibited love in what he did and was loved deeply by those who followed him." As followers of Christ today, the love of Christ impels us. Our love for him grows out of the knowledge of his love for us. Living in this love relationship with Christ nurtures in us a growing passionate awareness. We are learning to release regrets, stunted emotions, passivity, and the random or haphazard dissipation of precious life energy that we've been pouring into fruitless relationships and projects. We can release the unproductive, life-draining ways as we begin to trust God more fully. When we live in a fearful mistrust of God, the world, and our self, we have little ability to make a passionate commitment to anyone or anything.
It's nearly impossible to grow and mature when we allow endless rational analysis to keep us from decisive commitment. According to Victor Frankl, a person finds identity only to the extent that "he commits himself to something beyond himself, to a cause greater than himself" (Frankl: Psychotherapy and Existentialism, 9). It seems paradoxical, but we gain a healthy self-awareness, not through self-analysis, but by courageously taking the leap of faith that leads to commitment. The meaning of our lives emerges in the surrender of ourselves to an ADVENTURE OF BECOMING who we are not yet.
In the glorious adventure of becoming we learn that the promised peace that the world cannot give is located in right relationship with God. Self-acceptance (the refusal to be at war with myself) and inner peace become possible only through radical trust in Jesus' acceptance of me as I am. The answer to the question, "Who am I becoming?" is discovered through personal commitment of our heart and life to the loving Christ. He says we can trust in the Father and also in Him (John 14:1), and He reminds us: "Behold, I make ALL things new" (Revelation 21:5).
Will you join me in surrendering to the love-based adventure of becoming who we are not yet--who God's love will grow us to be?
Duff Gorle
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2 comments:
Christianity surely died on the cross.
Today it was announced that bush jr has received 100 million for his library.
To be built of all places at a Methodist university.
A president that started two wars and advocated torture has his library built at a religious university. A Methodist university????????
Methodists hide your heads in shame.
Christianity truly died on the cross.
In this life I could not be a Christian but I have the deepest respect for the teachings of Jesus, which it looks like the Methodist’s little understand.
How sad the Christian religion has become in America.
Even the Christians in a new poll supported torture more than the general population. How sad. Please please explain how that can be. Do they not read what Jesus taught? Do you preachers not teach what Jesus taught? Caught up in the spiritual warrior thing.
Jesus taught love and compassion and turn the other check and give unto Rome what is Rome’s. Love your enemies. The man was about love not wars for profits.
I am not a Christian nor do I go to church much except with my friend but I do read the words of Jesus and they are spiritual and inspiring beyond belief. I know I am not following Jesus teachings and I am now judging but how can Christians read Jesus words and advocate torture and a Christian university build a library for a man that did advocate torture and proud of it.
A country that claims to be built on Christian principles and has the largest military budget in the world with 700 military bases around the world. That is the very definition of imperialism. How sad.
Anyone that believes that our mega industrial military complex and 600 billion military budget with 700 bases around the world is for defense and not offense lives on a different planet. Patriotism and nationalism can warp the rational mind. Even Jesus teachings.
We killed one million Vietnamese in that other illegal war and never asked for forgiveness. How sad how very sad. We bombed whole villages men women and children with napalm firebombs and did not bat an eye at our atrocities. Not an eye.
Thanks for letting me get this off my mind. I know what we sow we reap and I don’t have to get upset. But watch when we reap we will play the victim role and not look back at our atrocities. Wait and see.
Now I will work on my forgive 70 times 7 thing.
Anonymous friend, thanks for taking the time to respond and write your thoughts and feelings on this blog.
Like you, I have the deepest respect for the person and teachings of Jesus. I (and most Christian ministers I know) work to passionately live and teach these beautiful realities to our parishioners. In this congregation there is some degree of political diversity with some folk supporting what they perceive as a necessary war against evil, and others preferring a path of total pacifism. In spite of differences, we see Christ and his love as the glue that holds our community together relationally.
I am asking you, in the spirit of Christ, to remain open hearted toward others who may have a conviction that differs from your own. Jesus loved to say, "You have heard it said...but I say to you...." There is always the potential to see things in a new and better way, if we are seeking the enlightenment of head and heart that comes from following Christ! He wasn't in any way threatened by interacting with Essenes, Pharisees, Saducees, Greeks, Romans, Samaritans...he seemed to seek out the opportunities such encounters would present.
I'm wondering what Christ would think of our propensity to stand in (demeaning) judgment of our leaders as though they are not wholeheartedly seeking to do what they perceive to be the best for our nation in the context of the challenges and opportunities that present themselves "on their watch?" For many it was necessary to personally villify President Bush, and for others it is now their purpose to similarly relate to President Obama. I think we must be vigorous in our personal convictions while still assigning respect and good will to those who see things differently. Christ said, "I have other sheep that are not of this fold; them also I will bring...." I take comfort in the belief that God is loving working everywhere and with everyone who might be open to his love.
As you must know, the decision to place GWB's library at SMU has been and continues to be highly controversial and the source of much unrest among Methodists and academics at that university and beyond. Some are for it while many--perhaps most--are against it. Within all significant decisions lies ground for struggle and a search for clarity on what is the best choice in a world of imperfect options.
I like your fire and passion for your positions! Please keep in touch with us.
With blessings, peace and respect,
Duff
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