Thursday 18 June 2009

More from Willimon on Creation.

The most important decision in Christian theology is to decide whether you will speak of God as a person or as a concept, as a name or as an idea.... Name God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and God will enlist you in God's move upon the world. That's one of the things we mean when we say that "Jesus is Lord" or "Jesus is God's only Son." This God is shockingly personal, available, and present. It's also what we mean when we say that "Jesus is Savior." This is in no way detraction from the Father's immense deity. There are gods who could not risk getting close. We are killers who tend to resent our would-be saviors. Anybody who would love me risks great pain because of me. So most "gods" are careful to keep their distance through abstraction and idealization.

(I must first say that we must suspend our criticism of the traditional Trinitarian patriarchal images in this name. For today, use whatever words you need to name our God - the use of name is the important point in Willimon's words.)
This takes us back to the importance of relationship within the story of our God with us. It is not only a story of relationship between people, it is also the story of God available and present and insisting on being a part of all that we do and all that we become. That is not a safe place to be. We all know what pain comes from being in relationship. When we love and then face the loss of those we love - pain. When we love and then face the wounds of others and begin to see our own wound more clearly - pain. When we love and and in that coming close we are pushed away - pain. And yet, we are told again and again that God comes close and does not let us separate ourselves from the love of God. Love like this is not abstract - it is courageously creative and sustaining and is able to resurrect new life in the midst of certain death.

Connection: So, is there a way we will step out of our abstraction and idealization and become truly real with the people who are around us within this day!?!

Present and Eternal God, there is no time that is not within your hands. Therefore, even now as we contemplate the day in which we begin to move, we are really within reach of your loving presence that is the power to shape us into your image. What a wonderful act of creation you bring to us. Amen.