Continuing yesterday's theme...
And beginning by reiterating that I believe God to be big enough to encompass whatever we humans of limited awareness and understanding need God to be. I am comfortable with the name God. I also pray to the Oneness, the Divine, Holy Spirit, Sophia or Shekhina, Divine Mother or Divine Parent. Please, when reading my posts, substitute whatever names or terms with which you find comfort.
Faith or works. That was the question about salvation. But I don't believe we need to be 'saved' from anything excepting our own egos. I was raised to believe that one could be guaranteed eternal salvation by asking Jesus into one's heart to rule one's life. I no longer believe in salvation from eternal damnation. I believe the reign of God (the kingdom of heaven) is now, 'that which is eternal' is within us and without us and is the source of all life and all we have to do is open our eyes and know it's there. So, faith is simply being aware of the Divine infusing all life and living in harmony with that awareness.
As for works...
The phrase from Peaceable Kingdom keeps coming back to me: "All God has is you". Makes me think of Paul talking about the 'body of Christ'. God has no form. God cannot 'do' for those in need. How can people know God's love except by us exemplifying it to them. I am God's hands. I am God's feet. I am God's voice. We are God's representatives on earth. It is through us that others will know God. God relies on each of us to use our gifts as the 'body of Christ'. I have the gift of organizing people, of creating cohesion and building community. I do not have a gift of caring for the ill but I know several people who do. We bring our gifts together to be the body of Christ. Because we love God, we want to do God's work.
"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians
By our love, by our love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians
By our love, by our love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.
Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians
By our love, by our love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love."
2 comments:
I followed the link to your blog from your comment on mine. How wonderful to be reminded of that beautiful song! I sang it aloud just for the pure pleasure. I was also raised with a more tradtional interpretation of salvation through Christ, and although I've left behind most of the theology, I still miss some of the songs! ;o)
(Though the song you quoted is one I can still fully and joyfully unite with.)
Stephanie
Yeah, I miss the music, too...well, some of it anyway. Not the "Onward Christian Soldiers" kind but, like, the Doxology and "Blest Be the Tie That Binds".
It's nice to meet you Stephanie! I look forward to getting to know you.
Mary
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