The ONLY only

I have written in the past about my issues with "solo" talk. As I  have said, it is fine depending on how you define the terms. "Only faith" or "only grace" or "only the Bible" or "only Jesus" are wonderful chapter headings to summarize much more nuanced and complex theological reflection on reality. And Americans are often bereft of sufficient reflection on exactly what they mean when they say such things.

We were studying Luke 4:16ff last night in Bible study. The famous synagogue scene where Jesus reads from Isaiah and announces the text is fulfilled "today" brings chills to my spine. However, the focus of that sermon was on Jubilee. It is primarilly directed to the poor ("dirt eaters" i.e. people whose faces are on the ground "eating dust" figuratively and hungry people who literally eat other people's refuse and garbage as they starve) and has huge economic ramifications. It is about forgiving debts (see the Lord's prayer for that one, too) and setting those in debtor prison free. This theological principle is tricky and can simplistically be co-opted by politicians. [A rule of thumb, be consistent in applying Bible to politics] Whatever else Jesus means (figurative and spiritual readings of Biblical text are appropriate and very common in the early church) the primary reference (though not only) is to bringing poor people good news--and announcing a salvation which addresses body as well as soul, belly as well as spirit.  As we discussed Luke's version of Jesus and His affinity for the poor I was reminded, "only faith" is not advocated here. Service of the poor is, very much.

By opening our mind and heart to Jesus, we are challenged to expand our understanding of God on a daily basis. A minister friend of mine was telling me how hard it is for middle class people to hear the Gospel. I agree with him. When you baptize a middle class white American, you end up with a middle class white American Christian. Now, that is not all bad. It is, in part, the real world. [Our ideal world thinking tends to ignore that.] Academics tend to be academic in approaching Jesus. Simple folks get simple. Emptional (or unemotional) folks express their faith consistently with their personality. That is how it goes. Baptize Frank warriors in the Middle Ages and you get a combative church. Baptize nature mytics in the celtic regions and you end up with an earthy spirituality. Real live people make up the church in every day and time. The spirituality of African Christians has all the strengths and weaknesses of their culture. So, there in not one "only" way to be Christian (although there are parameters and limits) and no one culture is the "only" one to get it right.

Today we read Isaiah 45. We heard that  "I am the Lord and there is no other." In fact, we heard it again and again. I am clear that is a place where the word "only" is appropriate. There is only one God and GOD is GOD. There is no other. But as we construct our boxes for God we must recall that He is GOD (not us). And our vision and understanding of God, even if we read the Bible, is always too small and always inaccurate in places. This leads some people to declare it is "all a mystery" as they flush orthodoxy down the toilet and recreate God (with all the stuff they don't like clipped away) in the image they prefer. Isaiah calls that idolatry. He says idol worshippers are basically idiots. I agree with him. Any god I create is not worthy of praise. And the only God I can create is a false one. [so that 'only' is also accurate]

My minister friend said that the only way forward is for the conservative and liberal church to fold up. Statistics indicate that may be happening. A new gerneration has come of age. There is lots perculating among us. God is also among us (Emmanuel) so there is hope. ONLY in God will my soul find its rest. So we continue the journey. Tomorrow I want to reflect on the surprise God who does not match up with our expectations sometimes. More on Luke 4, Numbers 22 and Isaiah tomorrow.