⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

COMMENTARY:

From time to time each and everyone of us falls victim to oppression from evil.  Sometimes this oppression manifests itself in the form of anger caused by fear of the unknown future in these unsteady times, sometimes the oppression comes from a society that has grown increasingly oriented to secular pursuits such as consumptionism and materialism.  In the case of the latter, the jealously and greed of others oft times places us in situations that are out of our control, but how we respond or interact with these situations is at our discretion – we can choose to or choose not to allow these forms of oppression influence our thinking and personal actions or reactions.

Remember these words of the apostle Peter; Be self-controlled and alert. ….. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings (that you are)

In the process of self-denial, many traditions require one to “give up something” — to abstain at least during the Lenten season from taking part of or using that particular vice. I was thinking today how wonderful it would be if everyone resolved to give up hate, animosity, and the desire to control the lives of others.

“But Wait,” you say, “the Lenten custom of ‘giving up’ or abstaining is traditionally seen as doing without something you like, and not the negative attitudes and lifestyles such as the need to control others!”

To those of you that would suggest that fact to this balding, portly, Priest, —- I reply to you with a heavy sigh and troubled heart, and humbly point out that there are many in this world that thrive on hate, animosity, and the mind control of others, those that savor these negative attitudes just as you and I might savor a thick juicy steak, a glass of a fine aperitif, or even a mug of one’s favorite brew.

Sadly, our diverse media, on a daily basis reports headlines detailing the suffering and in some cases death that innocents have experienced at the hands of these troubled souls. Consider the number of accounts we have heard of children that have been enslaved, in some cases for years by adults for the purpose of satisfaction of the desires of the flesh. Consider the cases wherein people have recounted the suffering they have experienced at the hands of false prophets that were so controlling that the lay person had to go to the minister to receive his/her permission for such simple things as the choice of cell phone vendors.

And many of us have heard of or know matriarchs and patriarchs that thrive on maintaining hate and animosity within their own family groups — dividing the family and in effect conquering so as to control the family, people who do not seem happy unless turmoil is constantly boiling in their lives and the lives of their spouses, children or siblings. To all of these that thrive on hate, animosity and control, would it not be nice if they discovered self denial – at least during Lent – by giving up these habits? Would not it be wonderful if they abstained from their desires that hurt and deny others, by denying themselves of these negative vices?

“…..Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

Usually, little children are not full of hate and animosity, until they have learned these undesirable attributes from adults or older children. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all followed the golden rule, treating others as we would want to be treated, and I ask how many actually want to be the receivers of hate and animosity or to be controlled by others? Why can we not be as little children in the symbolic sense and cast off hate, greed, etc.

And one of the lawyers answering saith unto him, Teacher, in saying this thou reproachest us also. And Jesus said, Woe unto you lawyers also! for ye load men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Luke 11:45,46,52

We might ask how often people place the burdens of hate, animosity, control, greed, and even false guilt and never lift a finger to help their victims bear these loads? How many would not enter into the light of God’s grace and strive to prevent others from doing so?

As we go through Lenten season reflect upon these thoughts that are offered for contemplation, and perhaps even pray that we as the followers of Christ can through our good example lead those we refer to in this editorial away from the darkness that prevails over their hearts and souls, so that someday innocents will no longer suffer at the hands of troubled individuals or cults.

Police officers were dispatched to the area with instructions to go door to door and ask residents to leave for the sake of safety, but the old man choose to ignore their pleas telling the officers when they came to his door that the Lord would provide for his safety.

The floodwaters continued to rise, getting deeper and deeper.

The old man started praying to the Lord asking that God would spare him from the impending flood and shortly after he started praying he was distracted from his prayers by a noise outside of his house, he looked out the door and noticed that the water flooding down his street was at least knee deep and the noise that had distracted him was coming from a military truck, the National Guard having been called out to aid in the disaster. The soldiers pleaded with the old man to accompany them to higher ground and safety, but as before with the Police, he rejected their assistance telling them that the Lord would provide.

The floodwaters continued to rise, getting deeper and deeper and now the first floor of the old man’s house was completely inundated by the waters and he was forced to seek safety on the upper level of his home. Continuing to pray, asking the Lord to save him from the flood, he was again disturbed during his prayers by a noise. It was the local fire department emergency workers in a boat just outside his window who also pleaded with the old man to let them take him to safety but as before he told them to go away that the Lord would provide.

Well the waters continued to rise and he was forced to climb out the second floor window onto the roof of the house and perched there he continued to pray when out of the blue  a Coast Guard helicopter whose crew once again tries to reason with the old man and rescue him from the flood, but once again refused citing his faith in the Lord.

So as the waters continued to rise eventually covering the house, the old man was swept away and he perished in the flood.

The next thing he knew he was in heaven before almighty God, and he fell down on his knees and cried out “Oh God, why did you forsake me and let me drown in that flood?”

God replied, “My dear child, I didn’t forsake you, I sent the Police to warn you of the danger, I sent the military to evacuate you, I sent a boat load of firemen to take you to safety, and I even sent a helicopter to rescue you off of that roof, what more did you expect?”

Although fictional and somewhat of an example sophomoric humor, this story is one that I have often used as illustrative metaphor, a parable of sorts, so as to teach that at times, God works through mysterious ways to help us.  Sometimes God send others into our lives to teach, to listen, or as in the case of the old man, rescue us from impending disaster.

Sometimes instead of sending others into our lives, God speaks to us through the voice of the Holy Spirit.  That small inner voice of sound reason and counsel.  But some of us are so misled by worldly concerns that we at times confuse that voice of the spirit with other voices, a state of lack of personal communion with the Spirit.

While the story of the old man and the flood was fictional, please allow me to share a tale that I know to be true, as I was there when it happened.

Today, even in most parts of rural America, when you call an ambulance a team of highly trained professionals will arrive at your location with all sorts of advanced medical and communications equipment.  The philosophy of treatment is that of to stabilize the victim before transport through the use of radio communications with a doctor at a trauma center, the doctor using the medical technicians or paramedics as his eyes and hands so as to administer the appropriate care to the patient.  However in years past, rural Americans did not have this life saving luxury.

Years ago, state laws allowed for ambulance attendants to be licensed with only training in advanced first aid, often this training was received through a few hours of classes at the Red Cross.  Being a volunteer with a fire and rescue unit, I took the Red Cross course, mailed a copy of the certificate of completion to the state, and within a few days I received this small wallet card stating I was licensed by the state as an ambulance attendant, a procedure that in no way begins to compare to the rigorous training and examination by state boards that is required of emergency medical technicians today.

The monitoring and communications equipment used by modern day paramedics was available but due to the costs involved was seldom used by the ambulance services that often were privately owned businesses.  In those days the philosophy of emergency treatment was to quite literally scrape up the victim, load him or her into the ambulance and run like the wind to the nearest emergency room.  Being young and adventurous, I often would work nights as a volunteer at an ambulance service owned by a “friend of a friend,” usually as a dispatcher answering the phone and operating the radio, but sometimes getting to ride along as an attendant.  It was on one of these nights, that I experienced the following.

In those days, with the exception of the interstate, most of the highways leading into or out of town were narrow two lane affairs, choked with commuter traffic as well as eighteen wheeled semi trucks hauling freight from here to there.  On this one particular night we received the call from the Highway Patrol that a semi truck had run over a pedestrian that had been walking along a highway north of town.  Upon arrival at the accident scene we learned that the pedestrian had for no apparent reason, stepped in front of the truck so suddenly that the driver was helpless and not able to respond in time so as to avoid striking the victim.

Like I said earlier, the conventional wisdom of the time was to get the victim into the ambulance and transport as quickly as possible to the hospital, so we loaded this guy into the back of the ambulance and headed toward the local ER.  During transport we started to do everything possible to control the bleeding and stabilize the patients legs which had suffered multiple compound fractures from just below the hips to the ankles.  We noted that although the patient had suffered such extreme injuries, he was remarkably aware and communicative, as if he felt no pain.  Due to extraneous circumstances and the patient’s reactions it was easy to conclude that he was “high” on some sort of illicit drug, this “high” contributing to his state of not feeling pain.

We arrived at the ER and gave our report to the Doctor who after examination agreed with our speculation that the patient was probably strung out on some drug.  The doctor and staff having stabilized the patient and ordered immediate surgery, stepped out of the room while a nurse was getting this guy ready for further treatment.  I was at a sink washing the poor man’s blood off of my hands when I heard the nurse ask him, “Why did you walk out in front of that 18 wheeler?”  The man lying on the hospital bed, still fully responsive replied, “Why the LORD, told me to walk out in front of that big truck!”  This lady, one of those proverbial saints in a nurse’s uniform, with sadness in her voice corrected the man by saying “No, no, I don’t think it was the Lord that told you to step in front of the truck, I think it was those drugs you are on.”

Now keep in mind, I was just a punk kid, 18 or 19 years old, washing my hands and watching this conversation transpire.  After the nurse had gave him her opinion that the voice that instructed him was not of divine origin, the man raised his head off of the pillow and with a look of startled disbelief on his face, questioned the nurse, “WHAT, you mean I did all of this for nothing?”

The scene of that night some thirty years ago still haunts my memories, just as the scenes of the many alcohol related accidents wherein we extricated both young and old, sober and drunk, alive and dead victims from cars mangled beyond recognition.  It never ceases to amaze me and to bring me great sorrow when I contemplate on the consequences we bring upon ourselves when we abuse the God given gift of freedom of choice and turn to drugs and alcohol for answers to our problems.  The physical carnage I have personally witnessed, as well as the domestic problems arising from substance abuse are indeed nightmares of our society, somewhat reminiscent of the horror movies produced in Hollywood studios.  While some falsely blame God for these events, I humbly submit that it is not God that tells us to do these things, it is not the voice of the Holy spirit, but rather our lack of connection with the voice of God or failure to establish communion with the Spirit.

Flip Wilson, that great comedian, made popular the phrase, “The Devil Made Me Do It,” however I agree with most secular and sectarian authorities that the Devil doesn’t make us do anything.  There is no little cartoon creature with horns, a long pointed tail and a pitchfork setting on our shoulders whispering into our ears.  But rather we through the freedom of choice, succumb to all sorts of temptation when we fail to heed the voice of reason, the voice of God, and freely choose to listen to that inner voice that rises out of the lower ego, the lower self, that voice that is victim or susceptible to spiritual oppression, a state of being out of communion with the spirit.

While many of us are not under the influence of drugs and alcohol when we make a bad choice or decision in life, we can be failing to accept the grace of God and unintentionally placing ourselves in a position of being susceptible to spiritual oppression.  When we are full of self-doubt, self-depreciation, depression from extraneous outward influences and in the same respect, in other cases, full of false pride, self-aggrandization, we might be under spiritual oppression.  When we succumb to lusts, materialism, greed, hate, anger and even sometimes fear, we might be under spiritual oppression.

As we mentioned earlier, it is a mistake to believe that God causes misfortune in our lives, for at times some of us are like the Old Man and the flood in the story we first looked at.  Let us consider the lessons in the book of Luke describing the temptation of Christ;

And he (Satan) took him (Christ) to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Luke 4:9-12

Satan had taken Christ out of the desert and placed him on the pinnacle or highest point of the temple in the city.  He tempted Christ by telling him to jump off of the top of the building and told him (Christ) that it was written that God had ordered certain angels to always look over Christ so as to make sure that he didn’t even trip over or bruise his foot on a stone, Christ being the son of God and worthy of such a high respect.  But Jesus told Satan, that we should never test or try God to see if he will answer our wishes, whims, or desires.

When we in turn put God to the test, are we not like Satan, testing our Father?  Can we then say that when we do this we are under a state of spiritual oppression?  Is this not a condition of being out of communion with the spirit?  Graceful prayers of gratitude, full of humility are one thing but tests of our Father are another all together.  Jesus refused to test his Father as he knew he was in total communion with his Father and had no need to reaffirm or test God’s care and love for him.

We spoke earlier about self-doubt, self-fears, self-depreciation, and can we not ask if these are signs of a lack of faith?  Consider the story in Matthew 17 when the man brought his tormented son to Jesus to be healed and told our Lord that his disciples had tried to cast the demon from the boy but had been unable to accomplish the task:

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:19&20

We can learn from this scripture that lack of faith or self doubt can be a form of spiritual oppression.  We must always keep in mind that unless we try, we will never know if we can.  Consider this verse;

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:9&10

I can attest to this concept on a personal basis, you see before I accepted the calling into the ministry, my wife suggested that I would make a good minister, but being full of self doubt, lack of self worth, I rejected her suggestion, for a time.  After accepting the calling and looking at the numerous messages and personal reports I have received from men and women all over the nation, telling me of the difference my work has made in their lives, I now know that God intended for me to serve his people.  My previous self doubt causing a lack of faith or a lack of communion with the spirit.

We are called upon in our own generation to develop the disciplines required for loving and open communion with God, the world, others, and ourselves.  We need to recover the art of communion and so recover the universe as God’s, and rediscover our roots in God, in the world, in one another, and in our inner selves.  [1]

This process of rediscovery allows us the knowledge to ascertain the difference between the voice of the spirit and the voice of spiritual oppression.  It reconnects us to God  and gives us the ability to resist temptation as well as the tools necessary to avoid depression from self doubt and lack of faith in self as well as of lack of faith in God.

Just as in the story of the Old man and the flood we learn to look for miracles in the form of others that God sends into our lives and we learn from the story of the man that I helped to scrape up from the highway all those many years ago, to resist the temptation to look to drugs, alcohol, and other dark places for the answers instead of turning to God.

[1]from Living In The Spirit by Rachel Hosmer and Alan Jones a part of the teaching series of the Episcopal Church. copyright 1979 by the Seabury Press

• For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other………. Galatians 5:17

Obviously the words of the Apostle Paul bespeak of the necessity to refrain from the sinful nature and turn to the sprit.  While other religious paths may mix carnal intimacy and liturgy, Christianity simply does not, and while most ministers and lay people realize this and question the reason or necessity to make such a distinction, there are those that seize any doctrine or precept as a means to justify their carnal desires, sinful nature, and spiritual immaturity.

To state that we should embrace love regardless of the manner in which love manifests itself is absolutely a noble contention, however we must be aware of those that are so spiritually immature as to seize upon this noble virtue to justify their own sinful nature, that nature of lust and fornication, even adultery when they are in fact bound by the sacrament of holy matrimony.  Those of us that wear the collar denoting our calling as shepherds of God’s people, must set exemplary standards for ourselves, remaining faithful to God and our partner if married, ever monogamous in our relationship.

Adultery and polygamous affairs must never be a part of the minister’s lifestyle, else wise we betray the confidence our flocks have in us, not to see their wives, husbands, sons or daughters as objects of our carnal lusts.  We must never advocate or use the noble concepts of unconditional love or embracing love regardless of how love manifests itself as a tool to surreptitiously lure innocents into our flocks for the purpose of soliciting or establishing polyamourous affairs or relationships.

Some in my community have taken exception at my outspokenness against polygamy, reminding me that scripture “appears” to justify multiple wives.  Those who contend that the Bible never negatively treats polygamy are wrong. Consider the warning given to prospective and actual kings of Israel:

• “But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold” (Deut. 16&17).

Notice the three “shall nots,” multiply horses, multiply wives, multiply silver and gold. Solomon is often sited as proof for the practice of polygamy being right, but Solomon was wrong in all three areas. Solomon had a vast number of horses; he had riches unparalleled; and seven hundred wives (I Kgs. 4: 26; Eccl. 1-10; I Kgs. 11: 3). Hence, to use the example of Solomon and his seven hundred wives to argue for polygamy is an example of how simplistically a subject can be approached and dialectically presented. [1]

Some say that polygamy is a victimless crime, spouses that participate in so called open marriages doing so with their partner’s implied consent.  But studies indicate that in most such cases, resentment and pain, broken hearts, and divorce eventually occur when one spouse realizes that his or her partner is using them, his or her partner taking advantage of them so as to satisfy illicit carnal desires.  With most plural marriages being that of one man and multiple women, the male demanding fidelity from the females but the male never considering how his infidelity hurts the women, the women wind up being the victims of mind controlling spousal abuse.

In these troubled times I am fairly confident the reader has perused newspaper or, television reports of ministers or even entire churches that have abused the confidence reposed in them.  In this region, an hour or so away, an atrocity gained national media coverage last year when it came to light that parents in a so called church were trading or swapping their own children to other adults in the church for the purpose of pedophilia.  I humbly ask is this a form of love that we as Christians should embrace?  Is this what Christ meant when he said to love thy neighbor as you love yourself?  I think not.  I ask should not we advocate the concept of embracing Love regardless of how it manifests itself, but within certain limits?

Some ask, “Preacher!  Where is your Christian compassion for those clerics that misuse their office?”  To them I humbly ask, where is your compassion for the victims of these infractions of social morality and core Christian doctrine?  Why do people cry out for compassion for the fallen cleric while being oblivious to the pain of the wives, husbands, and children caught up in these sordid affairs?  Where is the outcry for compassion for the congregations destroyed when they discover their shepherd has allowed his or her carnal lusts to betray the confidence of the flock?

• A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;  1 Timothy 3:2

In this day and age, it is hard enough for those of us who wear the collar, to be without any sin, but if we are bound by the sacrament of holy Matrimony, the least we can do is to remain monogamous.  If we are spiritually mature we can at least avoid the lure of lust and avoid the sin outlined in the seventh commandment “You shall not commit adultery.”

In conclusion, let us extend unconditional brotherly love to those who are so spiritually immature, so psychologically immature that they confuse carnal love with spiritual love. But let us also be advocates for the victims of their infractions.  Let us extend unconditional brotherly love to our fallen clerics but in the same respect recognize secular as well as sectarian laws that call for just recompense in these cases.  Let us be spiritually mature enough to see through the facades — that these who use God’s name in vain — who hide behind facades and lies so as to perpetuate their insatiable lusts and out of control libidos.  Let us be as Christ admonished his disciples, “Be ye wise as serpents and innocent as doves” in our associations with these fallen prophets, innocent as doves in our ministrations, intentions and dealings but wise as the serpents who have the uncanny ability to protect themselves from attack,  for surely those clerics that remain unrepentant are not just spiritually immature, but spiritually possessed by demonic forces and apt to try to take as many innocents with them as possible as they journey to the darkness of Satan’s dominions, let us not allow ourselves to accompany them to the darkness so far removed from the light of God’s grace.

[1]http://www.bibletruths.net/Archives/BTAR324.htm

Without a doubt sometime this holiday season we have once again viewed the story of the birth of Christ, child born in a manger of a virgin Mother, and attended by Magi, shepherds and hosts on high.  But let us take a moment to reflect and be cognizant of the meaning of this story, which while veiled in allegory is a lesson that admonishes hope, joy, and peace among all mankind.  A lesson that becomes so poignant as we near the end of the year and the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

Here in the US, to my knowledge we have never known a decade when we as a people were so divided by anger and hate, when even the church itself has become divided along lines — not Catholic versus Protestant – but liberal versus conservative, inclusive versus exclusive, traditional versus progressive.

Let us celebrate the birth of Christ with faith and works in an attempt to make the new year and new decade far more improved than the one we are bidding farewell too, let us resolve to make the new year/decade one dedicated to the word, the words of Christ.  Let us resolve to bridge the gaps and overcome the fear that has prevailed among our own people, the fear that leads to anger and hate.  Let us look at the story that a small child offered so much hope that he changed the world.  And let us metaphorically give birth once again to that child and the joy and hope that his birth brought into the world.

With that thought in mind, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and New Year.  May the God of peace and love continue to delight to dwell with and bless each and everyone one of you.

The above paragraph opens the book “A New Reformation” by Father Mathew Fox, and more or less sums up his belief that a “New Reformation” is currently or has been afoot over the last several years. But unlike the revolution that became known as the Protestant Reformation, the current revolution in the Christian faith is more subliminal, less noticeable, possibly due to the lack of media attention that has been given to the movement. Which, in my opinion raises two questions (1) Why does the media fail to notice this modern day great historical event, that might deemed as a silent revolution and (2) what are the combined forces that have resulted in this modern day Reformation?

In his book “Stealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity,” Bruce Bawer notes how that at the dawn of the 20th century, major news papers at time gave front page space to the sermons delivered by various members of the clergy, but as secularism became more and more prominent in the United States these reports were relegated to back pages and eventually dropped altogether. Bawer explains that while a century ago, most reporters and editors were spiritual people. But a century later, their post modern counterparts are more likely to be more secular minded and even isolated by culture from the vast majority of the faithful that live beyond the cities in the heart land. Attacks by Christian fundamentalists or legalists against a perceived liberal media being so frequent, these contemporary writers and editors, quite possibly, are reluctant to pen anything that might incite vocal elements of the Christian right, including critical evaluations of moderate, Interfaith or Christian Universalism movements that are silently growing exponentially.

Proponents of the so called Church Growth Movement, along with the accompanying but inadvertent commercialization of the church have caused the post modern church to focus on that which provides a more comfortable environment, one unfortunately devoid of the traditional mysticism and spiritualism. Traditional liturgical forms, such as crosses and other icons of faith have been replaced by big screen TV monitors and the church experience in many cases reduced to a media event, a hour of entertainment every Sunday morning. With the traditional elements removed and the establishment of rhetoric equating salvation with earthly financial prosperity, all the while promoting legalistic institutions that inculcate fear, guilt, hate and intolerance, the faith has become simply “religion”, a strict set of rules that might be compared to the rules necessary to belong to some social or country club. A consumer product that can be sold each week to willing customers. But in some of the faithful, this leaves a great void where the love of God and the universal teachings of Christ are noticeably absent. A void that they crave to fill and therefore seek substance that relates to spiritual mysticism.

What Americans are doing today is separating spirituality from religion, with many people disavowing organized practice altogether while privately maintaining some form of worship. The old terms—“atheist” and “agnostic”—are no longer catch-alls for everyone outside traditional belief. In fact, 24% of respondents put themselves into a whole new category: “spiritual but not religious.” That phrase means different things to different people. Some may be members of traditional religions but want to signal that they aren’t legalistic or rigid. At the other end of the spectrum, “spiritual but not religious” can apply to someone who has combined diverse beliefs and practices into a personal faith that fits no standard definition. [2]

The New Reformation will not be naively of the powers and principalities of this world. Instead, it may take these on directly at times, for it knows that the powers and principalities that gather around a punitive Father ideology – fundamentalism and fascism – are always with us. This new church, while looking to many spiritual traditions of the past, will trust the spirit to lead us in new ways for the third millennium. [1]

“Spiritual but not religious” has come to represent the concept of seeking God and the hidden allegory in the timeless words and teachings of Christ. And at times seeking similar teachings in other paths or elements of faith outside of Christianity. For those that discover the plausibility of Interfaith or Universalism, this becomes a divinely inspired epiphany. A sudden awakening or mystical experience that has profound implications for the participant. One that might be compared to the experience that become cliché in the old vegetable drink commercials in which the actor slaps himself on the head and exclaims, “Wow I could have had a V-8!” This sudden realization is extremely prominent in those who have spent a life time in legalistic and fundamentalism Christianity, never before realizing that God’s love, grace and salvation is inclusive and not exclusive.

Nearly half of the public (49%) says they have had a religious or mystical experience, defined as a “moment of sudden religious insight or awakening.” This is similar to a survey conducted in 2006 but much higher than in surveys conducted in 1976 and 1994 and more than twice as high as a 1962 Gallup survey (22%). In fact, this year’s survey finds that religious and mystical experiences are more common today among those who are unaffiliated with any particular religion (30%) than they were in the 1960s among the public as whole (22%). [3]

A majority of all American Christians (52%) think that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life. Indeed, among Christians who believe many religions can lead to eternal life, 80% name at least one non-Christian faith that can do so. These are among the key findings of a national survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life from July 31-Aug. 10, 2008, among 2,905 adults. [4]

Of the Five solas or five Latin phrases that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and summarize the Reformers’ basic theological beliefs, Sola scriptura (Latin ablative, “by scripture alone”) is the doctrine that the Bible is the only infallible or inerrant authority for Christian faith, and that it contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, Sola Scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid deductive reasoning from Scripture. However, Sola Scriptura is not a denial of other authorities governing Christian life and devotion. Rather, it simply demands that all other authorities are subordinate to, and are to be corrected by, the written word of God.[5] Ironically this doctrine has been subjugated and scripture meaning, has taken a back seat to doctrines authored by man due to lack of critical thought, study, and valid logical deduction and reasoning.

Father Matthew Fox writes; “Just as five hundred years ago new scholarship was unleashed to buttress a deeper understanding of scripture and early church history, so today significant scholarship has gifted us with new and substantive information about the words, the people, and the teachings of Jesus, Paul, and individuals in the early Christian community. Mixing these findings with our awareness of the origins of Christianity is part of this study.” [1]

Sola scriptura fails when lack of critical thought, deductive reasoning, and ignorance of the significant scholarship that has been published since the time of Martin Luther through today, becomes pandemic in a laity and at times clergy that refuses to consider that exclusive Christianity is an anti thesis to the teachings of Christ which are undeniably universal. But those that find themselves awakened to alternatives to legalistic as well as original sin/fall redemption theology, often themselves becomeing a part of the great commission and in turn give witness to the virtues of this new revolution or Reformation first referenced above. They share with others the great joy they themselves experienced upon the realization that Christianity is not exclusive but inclusive. Therefore we might conclude that the combined forces of the phenomena of some realizing that there is more to region than (a) legalistic entertainment, (b)perpetuation of the belief that all outside of fundamentalistic Christianity are somehow less than human and unworthy of the considerations of “true believers” (c ) a renewed interest in critical thought and scholarship (d) renewed interest in Christian mysticism, liturgical expression, (e) a general turning away from doctrines that espouse consumerism, materialism, fear, hate, and isolationism, all these things and others that will be the catalyst that ushers in an age of true interfaith relations.

[1]A new Reformation; Creation Spirituality And The Transformation of Christianity, by The Reverend Matthew Fox, 2006 Inner Traditions ISBN 1-59477-123-5

[2]Surprising results from an exclusive PARADE (magazine) poll: How Spiritual Are We? by Christine Wicker, published: 10/04/2009

[3]The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths: Eastern, New Age Beliefs Widespread, Dec. 9, 2009

http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=490

[4]The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Many Americans Say Other Faiths Can Lead to Eternal Life: Most Christians Say Non-Christian Faiths Can Lead to Salvation,Dec. 18, 2008

http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=380

[5] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_scriptura

One who has read books, magazine articles or watched wood working videos has learned that “Measure Twice, Cut Once” is the mantra of the consummate wood worker or craftsman. Simply put, this adage inculcates the necessity of careful planning and attention to detail that separates the true craftsman from the inexperienced. Exotic woods and expensive mill work can be rendered useless if the wood worker fails to plan and measure carefully, a cut made too short can be disastrous, and result in waste of material and time. Therefore craftsmen, authors and others involved in the operative aspect of wood working or carpentry constantly repeat this “mantra” in the hopes of ingraining it into the psyche of the novice, helping them to be the better enabled to perform the tasks required of the craftsman. But can we use this adage in a speculative sense?

Measure once in a speculative sense might mean to think, to meditate on the task before committing to the “cut” — the implementation of what ever the task might be. All far too often we fail to think, to apply critical thought as to what the far reaching implications of our actions can have. We never plan to fail but we fail to plan. We fail to consider the possibilities that our actions might have undesirable effects later, both on us and those around us. Sometimes we fail to consider even the little things such as unintentional ambiguity in our spoken and written words that can be misinterpreted by those we care for causing them pain through their misunderstanding of our intent. Through rashness that results from lack of meditation we fail consider how our actions might influence others, we simply fail to consider their viewpoint, we fail to place ourselves in their shoes, so to speak. We must learn to apply critical thought, thoroughly analyzing situations and then listen to that small inner-voice for inspiration.

Measuring twice might be turning to prayer before attempting implementation of the plan. Any great undertaking worthy of our attentions is worthy of prayer. Through prayer we open our minds to that small inner voice in each of us that originates from God. Prayer can reveal to us aspects of our undertakings that we might not note otherwise, sometimes preventing us from regrettable mistakes. Through prayer we should learn to place everything in the hands of God, letting him lead us to a successful implementation of our tasks and undertakings.

The act of measuring once then measuring twice before making the cut, can give us the time to reach a point of calm and level headiness, which is preferable to achieve before reacting harshly and doing that which we will regret later. Many times we react to a given situation with great emotion, and many time it would be preferable to pray and meditate, (Measure Twice) before reacting in such a manner that we might regret our actions afterward, perhaps even regretting those actions for a lifetime. Just as in the act of cutting a board for a woodworking project, once cut, we can not undo what we have done, and just as a board cut too short might be disastrous, an act done in anger or without forethought also might come up short.

• Redemption comes to us followers of Creation Spirituality,) not as a power alien to our natures, but as an “aha” experience that puts us back in touch with our authentic natures. Redemption also reconnects us with our relational nexus. We reconnect with the relationship of reason and intuition, consciousness and embodiment, ourselves and others-humans, animals, plants.[1]

To those that practice Creation Spirituality, this “aha” experience, this personal moment of awakening or epiphany in which we realize that this paradigm offers so much more than the narrow fear based system we grew up with, (and) leaves us in the position of walking away from the experience muttering to ourselves, “Gee, I never knew Christianity could be like this!” We learn of the beauty, the glory, and the mystical experience of the original blessing. We learn that God is not a God of wrath and destruction.

In one of his daily e-mails wherein Bishop John Shelby Spong responds to letters sent to him, he responded to a reader that still yet holds on to the concept of the original sin and a jealous wrathful God. Bishop Spong wrote;

• (Your thinking) transforms God into a parent figure who delights in rewarding goodness and punishing sinfulness. This portrays God as a supernatural, judging figure and it violates everything I believe about both God and human life.[2]

Fall, original sin, redemption theology tends to use fear of eternal punishment as a motivational factor to encourage the faithful to accept Christ, after all who wants to die and burn in hell for eternity? Whereas Creation Spirituality celebrates God’s blessing and grace, allowing the practitioner to experience God’s love. The practitioner then can walk a path of righteousness here on Earth in the hopes of a glorious immortality after death without fear of final judgment and eternal damnation. It allows for a path of personal soul ascension, the repression of the lower self in favor of elevating the inner soul. A path of walking as Christ outlined versus following the convoluted doctrines and dogmas of mankind.

It is generous, mutually affirming of diversity, and non-competitive. Unlike fall-redemption spirituality, it does not set up competitive dualisms between males and females, celibate and married, heterosexual and homosexual, white and black, Christian and non-Christian, us and them.

Creation Spirituality teaches that God permeates all things and that humanity is created blessed, not tainted by original sin. In this paradigm we embody God’s love, we become the Creation that God intends. Creation Spirituality becomes an experience in which the practitioner, seeks redemption through the acceptance of Christ, not out of fear of burning in hell but from a burning desire to experience the light of his teachings and the blessing of a loving God.

The critics of Creation spirituality routinely try to discredit the concept by falsely claiming that Creation spirituality is Pagan in nature as (they claim) it leads the follower to worshiping creation itself. However Creation spirituality seeks to revitalize religion and culture through honoring all of God’s creation as part of the original blessing. It seeks to bring about the end of theism and reestablish of panentheism, (not to be confused with pantheism) which says the image of God or divinity is immanent in all things but that God transcends or is greater than, the created order. The hand of God and his blessing is apparent in all of creation but creation is not in itself God.

• Creation Spirituality, while exemplified in one line of Christianity, is truly as old as creation. It is found in all the great mystical traditions of Hasidic Judaism, Sufism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. It is even more fully expressed in the nature religions of Native peoples that have been conquered and almost exterminated by patriarchal dualistic religions: the spirituality of ancient Celts, Africans, Australian Aborigines, and Native Americans. Creation Spirituality calls for a “deep ecumenism” which brings together these traditions of Creation Spirituality from every culture. Creation Spirituality seeks a wholistic spirituality that overcomes the dualism between religion and science, between spirituality and social justice and between psyche and society. It is a justice-seeking spirituality. It is fundamentally feminist and anti-patriarchal. The affirmation of women’s power in religion and society is central, but not simply in order to integrate a few individual women into a male-defined world. Rather, to reclaim feminine values for men as well, in order to create a new culture rooted in “right-brain” capacities for intuition and relationality. The tragedies of abusive relations in our own society:the abuse of the young, of women and of the poor, the gross expenditure of wealth, of militarism: all this is part of the story of a patriarchal alienation of human and planetary life. [1]

Defining Creation Spirituality adequately could possibly require voluminous works, however in conclusion of this essay, let us take note of how since time immemorial humans have had to search at finding their true self, their inner self. This search for the proverbial Holy Grail in itself is an act of translating an idea into action (spiritual praxis) through prayer, study, meditation and involvement with the community. If we do not seek change or spiritual praxis we live superficial lives, lives of individualistic anarchy, in fear, often succumbing to greed for the material that supplants or replaces the spiritual, and often focusing on false propositions or programming from a society, both sectarian and secular that implants false ideals of performing to their expectations rather than the expectations of God.

[1]Internet Theological Seminary

http://www.theoblogical.org/dlature/itseminary/creaspir/whatis1.html

[2]From Bishop Spong’s daily newsletter; If anyone pursues goodness in the hope of gaining rewards or avoiding punishment, that person has not escaped the basic self-centeredness of human life and it becomes obvious that such a person is motivated primarily by self-interest.

For years, at least since I became active in the various on line religious groups, I have listened to my friends and associates lament the behind the scene attacks of their critics and detractors, those that we refer to as “fans” with whimsical exaggeration. These “fans” are noted by their unsolicited opinions delivered through anonymous e mails (aka nasty grams), or by their attempts at character assassination when they contact other associates and deliver untruths and innuendos.

What amazed me is that as long as I have had a presence on the Internet, until recently, I never had such a “fan club” and I wondered what am I doing wrong? Am I not controversial enough? Is my writer’s voice not harsh enough? I know from examining the statistics from my hosting service, the web pages I have authored are being read by numerous visitors a day, so why is there no hate mail coming in? Surely, like my peers I must be “offending” someone, and seemingly deserving of their “attentions.”

Well I can now say that I have a “fan club.” Over the last few weeks my “fans” have made their presence known, through “nasty grams” – anonymous e-mails that track back to non existent accounts, or the phenomena that several associates have reported in which multiple individuals have contacted them and told of how bad a person I am. Wow! Golly gee!

It is small, no more than a half a dozen members, but it is a start! A foundation upon which to build, as I guarantee all, friend and foe alike, that I am not going silently into the night. I will continue to write editorials and inspirational material designed to make people think, or do so to best of my literary abilities. I will continue with plans to build a local ministry reaching out to those disenfranchised by others (others not too dissimilar of those in my “fan club”) who expect 99% world to walk in lockstep with doctrines espoused by 1%, (percentages purposefully exaggerated for making a point, not quoting fact). And like a personality in contemporary media, I will remain elite and aloof to this particular fan base and instead continue to focus my attentions on those that appreciate my work.

Humm, perhaps I could raise a buck or two by having some T-shirts printed with the phrase “I hate Rev Ed” and offering them for sale to my “adoring fans!”

Jus’ kidding

Rev Ed

Reverend Steadman was a great man, loved by many and respected by all. A… man of vision dedicated to the service of God and his fellow man.

Always an outspoken supporter of the downtrodden and the disenfranchised, however through his editorials and writings he never wavered in his admonitions of those who oppressed mankind through the power of their secular or sectarian office.

Any wishing to send cards or love donations to his survivors, may contact The Church Of Interfaith Christians at church_of_interfaith_christians@crabtreeinternet.com for mailing address.