SENSITIZE 108
You really have a wonderful family
An elder step-brother can be very helpful
Every morning, Mr. Cring takes a personal moment with his friends
Jesonian … February 10th, 2018
Jonathots Daily Blog
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There are two distinct types of abuse.
There is physical abuse, punctuated by an attack against body, heart or mind. It leaves cuts, bruises and scars. It is nasty, evil and inexcusable.
The other form of abuse is neglect. Being commissioned to perform a responsibility, someone decides to set it aside in favor of other pursuits, leaving that which was meant to be cared for destitute.
Although a case could be made that the religious system continues to physically abuse Jesus of Nazareth by crucifying him weekly in sermons, attempting to stimulate some sort of passion from the congregation, I shall step aside from such discussion in favor of presenting the true abuse.
We preach a Gospel of salvation which includes emphasis on “one time only, better do it today, this could be your last chance, hell is hot, Jesus loved you so much that he bled, and don’t you want to go to heaven” rhetoric in an attempt to frighten hearers who have already heard this many times before.
Meanwhile the real message of Jesus–the one that makes him our intimate, elder brother, and also affords the planet an opportunity for peaceful cohabitation–is often read aloud with the energy of reciting last week’s grocery list.
If you’re going to be Jesonian, you need to love Jesus. If you’re going to love Jesus, you’re going to get to know what’s close to his heart. And when you get to know what’s close to his heart, you will no longer be satisfied with a crucified Savior, but instead will become a disciple, pursuing a dynamic lifestyle.
You don’t have to go any further than the first three beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount to see what Jesus was all about. Matter of fact, I could spend the rest of my life elaborating on that trio and never run out of material.
It begins with the reality, follows with a challenge and culminates with wisdom.
The reality: we are happy because we are poor in spirit.
The reason that makes us happy is because we can stop trying to be spiritual instead of human. Once you find your classification, it’s so much easier to compete. Not an angel, not a saint, not a theologian, but rather, a human who is impoverished in the realm of spirit.
First realization: I am human and it is good.
God said so when He got done creating us. I don’t think He lied. Sure, we’re unpredictable, but since He’s not afraid of that, why should I apologize?
This is followed with a challenge. “Blessed are those who mourn.”
I have emotions and this is good.
Although we try to suppress them, these feelings continue to pop to the forefront, churn up our throats and waggle our tongues. Rather than deny them, we should use them to feel, to laugh, and most certainly, to mourn–to escape being uncaring bastards and instead, weep over the loss and pain in the world around us.
This climaxes with a bit of eternal, precious wisdom. “Blessed are the meek.”
Although there is a campaign to promote the notion that the more we brag, the stronger we are, the human race actually has a tendency to cut the stilts out from under those who try to walk too tall.
We honor humility. We are geared to destroy pride, even when it dwells within us.
Humble: “I am weak and it is good.”
In these three statements Jesus establishes a Gospel which is not only able to be mastered by humans, but can also be passed along as the living bread of truth that we all desperately need before we starve to death emotionally and spiritually.
I am human and it is good.
I have emotion, and it is good.
I am weak, and damn straight–it is good.
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Jesonian … November 11th, 2017
Jonathots Daily Blog
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Throughout the history of Christianity, a debate has raged over Jesus’ humanity and divinity.
Early in the 20th Century, a doctrine arose which found favor with many people because it stressed that Jesus was 100% human and 100% divine. The fact that this blending is ridiculous didn’t come to anybody’s mind at the time, and so the concept endures. If you study heresy and false teachings, you will find that most of the error centers in on trying to make Jesus too heavenly, instead of focusing on his humanity.
I think the clarifying statements are found in the Book of Hebrews. Allow me to give you three which center my mind on the fact that Jesus of Nazareth lived a completely human life, while filled with the Spirit:
1. “He was tempted in all ways like we are yet found without sin.”
2. “He was touched by our infirmities.”
3. “He learned obedience through the things he suffered.”
That list just describes a typical human life. After all, nobody talks about how grumpy Uncle Ed was after he’s dead; likewise, the notion that “Jesus was perfect” was not touted during his lifetime.
The truth is, Jesus’ actions were found to be perfect. In other words, after the passage of time and working out of circumstances, we can say that he lived a perfect life.
Needless to say, when we’re told he “learned obedience,” it is perfectly understandable that he did nor arrive with it. Like all of us, instruction was in order.
But if you go to the statement, “touched by our infirmities,” a definition is in order. What are the infirmities of all human beings?
A. We get physically sick.
B. We get emotionally depressed.
C. We get spiritually misguided.
D. We get mentally confused.
These are our infirmities.
And since Jesus was touched by them, if we would take the time to more carefully study his life instead of working so desperately to discover a new twist on communion, we might just welcome in a new generation that would be blessed and astounded by His choices.
Now, I will not bore you with my many rambling examples of how Jesus suffered under these infirmities. To me, that’s what church and your search should be about.
Christianity could advance its cause by studying Jesus.
Did Jesus become physically ill? There are numerous activities that have no explanations–like him slipping into the wilderness for seclusion, or the fact that he waited four days to come and tend to his friend, Lazarus. Was he sick? Under the weather? Fighting off the “Galilee bug?”
We can make a good case for him being depressed. After explaining to 5000 people that he was not going to be their caterer, but that they needed to come to “learn his ways,” the Bible says they all left him–except the twelve. In a moment of true humanity, he turned to those twelve and said, “Will you go away also?”
Was Jesus ever spiritually misguided? I think choosing Judas to be a disciple, and on top of that the treasurer of the troop, was at least spiritually optimistic. And the faith he put into the man at the Pool of Bethsaida, who didn’t really want help–but Jesus healed him anyway and then the fellow turned into a snitch and sided with the Pharisees–shows that he was a bit misguided.
Was he mentally confused? He certainly stayed too long in Nazareth–so long that they resented him and tried to kill him. And I think he was a little confused by his upbringing and prejudice, when he called the Syrophoenician woman “a gentile dog.”
The Gospel writers had no problem including the foibles of the personality of Jesus in their story lines–and he was apparently fully aware of some indiscretions, because he came to John to be baptized. Was it just pretense, or did he have things he regretted?
We are also told by Jesus that we would do greater things than he did–because he was going to the Father to cheer us on.
If the church wants to survive the present dispersion, it needs to bring the focus back onto Jesus–his style, his personality, and his humanity. In doing so, he can become the Elder Brother we so desperately need, and he can truly fulfill his mission … which was to show us the Father.
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PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant … September 14th, 2016
Jonathots Daily Blog
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Invoking
It’s time for a blessing for this place
A smile bursting across each face
We’ve stayed too long in the grip of fear
The spirit is willing–please draw near
To resurrect our amazing grace
The young don’t know about the power
That love can bring to this hour
The older saints who still remain
Conjure the memory of the great refrain
Let the joy begin to shower
Jesus is more than Christ, you see
Our elder brother who came to be
Come and learn about his ways
Fill your life with hopeful days
Then say, “Free, yes me–I’m free.”
I am just a pilgrim voice
Escape the wrath, make a choice
The moment has come to be made whole
Heart, mind, body and soul
Children make a joyful noise
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Jesonian: Reasonable (Part 17) Quietly … March 27th, 2016
Jonathots Daily Blog
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This morning I quietly waded into the deeper end of my thoughts.
Every spring leading up to Easter, I feel abandoned by my faith. I have a sensation of being orphaned from the Christian family.
There is a sharp turn made from the gentleness of Jesus to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. I fail to negotiate it.
It seems we suddenly go from believing in a savior of love to believing in a surrogate who came to fulfill ancient prophesy, to be the final blood sacrifice for the iniquity of us all.
I don’t understand the transition. Oh, don’t get me wrong–I’ve studied all the doctrines on the propitiation of sin and all the angles of blood atonement.
I just miss my friend, Jesus.
I want to rewrite the ending.
And I certainly can’t believe he was part of some cosmic design by an offended God who required plasma to confirm repentance. Not even God can plan without manipulating.
So I sit quietly.
This is the story I believe:
God loves us.
He yearns to be our Father.
As our Father, He is prepared to instruct us, but is careful to grant us free will.
Feeling He had abandoned us in the trap of our own indecision, He came to Earth to be one of us–to discover the sensations and assist in the confusion.
He took a risk.
For after all, there is a little bit of heaven in us, but also insecurities that can manifest treachery.
For thirty-three years, he learned, grew, analyzed obedience and was tempted as we are.
He taught us that we are brothers and sisters, not alienated by culture, but instead, united by a common creation.
Yet there were things he said we did not like.
We enjoyed conjuring enemies instead of acquiring neighbors.
We loved to assess blame instead of shouldering responsibility.
And we deeply revered the compartment of religion, keeping it separate from our daily decisions.
So we decided to kill off our elder brother, Jesus, in order to silence the incessant reminder of our greater potential.
Fortunately, God evolved with our free will.
What was meant for evil became good–because we are now united under one blood shed for our ignorance.
It was Jesus’ blood … and the blood of the Son makes us one.
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Trinity to the Third Power … September 29, 2013
Jonathots Daily Blog
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A Father who loves us.
A son who is our elder brother, to explain things in “people terms.”
And a Holy Spirit, to remind us about good things–and forgive us when we slip-slide away into the bad.
It’s a great system … unless you happen to teach that the father in question is really an abusive step-dad who hates you because you aren’t his kid. Or that the son is a jealous older brother, who constantly reminds you of the sacrifices he’s made for you. Or that Holy Spirit follows you around, critical of your every move, reminding you of only one thing–your inadequacy.
I guess it’s all how you teach it, right? Or maybe it’s how you view it.
I would not be interested in a God who was not my Father. As my Father, I ask Him to take responsibility for His part in creating me.
I would not be interested in a Jesus who was a son who suffered from a persecution complex and hung around the cross all day, just to punctuate the point about his martyrdom.
And I really cannot be interested in a Holy Spirit that IS more of a ghost sent to scare us away from a devil’s hell.
I go to Trinity Lutheran Church in Circleville, Ohio, tomorrow morning. I’ll be curious to see if they use the trinity to its third power–or if they have drained the juice and merely have a trinity by name.
But I will tell them about a loving Father, a friend who sticks closer than a brother and a Spirit that gives us wisdom in our hour of need.
Who knows? Maybe they’ll be interested.
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A New Trinity… March 22, 2013
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The three men I admire the most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost…
Lyrics from American Pie, written by Don McLean. I doubt if too many people remember it, but every time I hear the tune I get tickled by that passage.
The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit have been really good to me–mainly because I have escaped the futility of looking at them as religious icons and instead, have taken them into my heart.
My Father created me, was there at my conception and promises to stay with me until the end.
Jesus, the Son, is my elder brother, who’s gone before me and knows where all the pitfalls may be, and graciously has taught me how to avoid them and live successfully.
And the Holy Spirit, as promised, is a comfort to my soul, and gently nudges me, reminding me of the beauty of the message which gives me hope.
But as I said, there are those who have taken this Holy Trinity and used it for their own agenda or made it just some sort of repetition of worship that is visited once a week at the great museum of spirituality. Too bad.
You see, I find myself headed this weekend to Trinity, Texas, population 2,712 delightful souls, whose main industry is attempting to stay industrious in this tepid economy. I’ll be sharing over there Sunday morning, at the First United Methodist Church, with Pastor Russ and all the good souls.
I’m sure they believe in the Trinity–but I will be gently informing them that the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost needs to be translated more simply to our generation, which is quite reliant on visual aids to understand great concepts.
Truthfully, placed gently somewhere between Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore is the conscience and spirit of the United States of America. Most folks are not hyper-liberal OR conservative. Honestly, most of us are not righteous Republicans or determined Democrats. We are people, trying to do our best. And if we’re not trying to do our best, we at least are trying to remember what the best looked like when people were actually doing it.
So along with teaching the doctrines of the Bible and the beauty of the original Trinity, we should be aware that the average person is in need of a new Trinity.
Yes, the Father they need to see is a church in the middle of town that is a welcoming center for the children of earth. All of us know there are different types of fathers. There are grumpy fathers, who scream if the children run too loudly through the house. There are cheap fathers, who turn off every light when they walk through the home, frowning at everybody for using too much electricity. And then there are those young fathers, who like to giggle, run and play–and make their children feel loved while they push them in the swing or play a game of tag in the yard. Dare I say, I believe we might err in presenting too grouchy of a God?
So I will tell those good folks in Trinity this weekend that the house they’ve built to welcome the spirit of God should be a friendly place, where the people of the community can come and see their Daddy instead of being on a weekend visitation with their estranged Father who has divorced Mother Earth and reluctantly pays child support. Yes, the church at 131 North Elm Street in Trinity, Texas, needs to be a beautiful home for Daddy, where all of His children are welcome.
And when they get there and they feel comfortable in the presence of the Father, in His house, they should be able to see the Son. Not just hear about him through the parables and tales of the Bible, but they should see Jesus in the eyes of the congregation. It is why Jesus said that “greater things would we do” because he goes to the Father. He said we are “the light of the world”–and we are supposed to grow to “the fullness of the measure of his stature.”
No matter how good you teach the New Testament, people will believe that the Jesus you share is the Jesus you live.
And then, the Holy Spirit, which should fill that house of the Father, should be a warm blanket of mercy. Mercy is easy for me–it’s when I remember how much I am in need of grace before I ever start doling out judgment. The Holy Spirit, to our generation, is mercy. It’s what our people need. They are being bombarded with ideas and emotions from all sides, when what they require is a moment of peace and sanity, so they can hear the still small voice within them talk some sense.
So as I head off to be with Pastor Russ and all the gang in Trinity, I will tell them that they have the opportunity to present a new Trinity:
- a Father who lives in the house they’ve built on Elm Street, who is more of a Daddy than a detached bread-winner;
- a Son who is well-represented by a gathering of believers, who still think it’s important to live out the Golden Rule instead of just storing the gold in a safe somewhere;
- and a Holy Spirit that leads with mercy, because each and every one of us sitting in the pews know that we need mercy ourselves.
If you add onto that a simple message–for instance, I recommend “NoOne is better than anyone else”–you would be surprised at how many folks will be drawn to such a sanctuary of hope.
The Father is God’s house located, in this case, on Elm Street.
The Son is Pastor Russ and all the good members of the church.
The Holy Spirit is the mercy we feel for those around us.
And the message is NoOne is better than anyone else.
We’ll be there on Sunday. We’ll be honoring the original Trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, while also presenting our new “visual aid”–us.
I‘m looking forward to it.
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