Tuesday 16 June 2009

As I said yesterday, more from Willimon on the 'gospel of salvation."

...Karl Barth said, "God is the God of the eternal election of His grace." Scripture tells us that which we could never know on our own, namely that God has elected to be our God not only at the beginning but also at the end. God has decided, in grace, to be for us. This is not only something that God sometimes does, or once did; this is who God is now, God pro nobis. The whole doctrine of the Trinity is our attempt to name the God who has met us in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was not just an aspect of God or a good indicator of God; he was God. In him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, all of the glory of God in him.
And our reaction to such close-quartered glory? In unison we cried, "Crucify him!"

"This is who God is...now." "God has decided, in grace, to be for us." This is not a conditional statement. This comes with no conditions or qualifiers. PRO NOBIS...in and through all times...with all and alongside all...for us even when we have done only that which would make someone want to be against us. It is not easy to let go of our desire to have a God we can place far away - a God we can make into the kind of God we want - a God whose task among us is to judge us and evaluate us and weed us out. What is tough for us too often is to be aware of the God who draws close and abide with us and despite who we may try to be...still embraces us and loves us and shapes us into the beloved that we are. Jesus - as the living God in our reality - brings God a bit close...makes us have to come to grips with the Reign of God and the life we really are invited to share - here and now. Wow.

Connection: It is tempting to say in one way or another "crucify him." That's when we would rather go our way and have things go our way - which is most of the time. Our God stands with us and for us so that we can begin to take on that character that is really at the core of our humanity.

Continue to be for us and with us, O God. Even when we walk away again and again, continue to be the only God you can be...for us. Your character is the power that opens up our future and lets hope Reign among us. Blessed are you, O God. Amen.