Romans 8:14-17

Pentecost - Year C

Again and again it must be asked, "Who is not a child of G*D?" because, again and again, for one reason and then another, we keep dividing ourselves by subtracting one one Child of G*D after another from the whole of creation.

 

We can be very rational and persuasive in determining discriminatory criteria. Whether by a single characteristic or through a more sophisticated multivalent set of characteristics we formalize our areas of uncomfortableness and fear by projecting them on to someone else. This dynamic seem to arise with no second thoughts while it takes a number of intentional thoughts to begin to counteract them and include back in what was never really excluded.

 

Discrimination is reverse idolatry — it constrains an expansive love. Where run-of-the-mill idolatry simply covers up G*D through addition of an easier to deal with overlay, discrimination audaciously refutes G*D's basic intention to create multiple images, each legitimately whole.

 

Pentecost is yet another nonviolent civil and spirit rights movement. It is hard to battle when we are telling the best we know and, through the witness of others, hearing additional bests with wonder and thanksgiving.

 

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/05/pentecost-year-c-romans-814-17-again.html

 

 

Here is a new paraphrase from Jim Taylor:

"[8.14] We call Christ the Son of God. If you live by God's spirit, then you too are a child of God. Children do not need to fear loving parents. So having Christ's spirit in you will not incite fear, or guilt, or self-loathing. Rather, it is like being welcomed into a winning team, a joyful home, a great performance.

"In our prayers, we address God as a loving parent. The words we use shape our thoughts and images. So when we speak of Christ as God's son, we affirm that when we are adopted as God's children, we too are God's heirs, just like him. In God's family, there are no favorites. All God's children are equal. As we share Christ's sufferings, we will also share his glory."

If you are interested in more, here is Jim's promo and how to get your free study copy:

"In a study group, I found that the only way I could grasp some of Paul's convoluted reasoning was to rewrite the text in my own words. I'm not really sure that my words are any clearer than, say, Eugene Peterson's paraphrase in The Message, but they are different in two specific ways.

Peterson and others stay with Paul's historical struggle over the reluctance of the Jews, his own people, to accept Jesus as the Messiah. That emphasis, it seems to me, perpetuates the possibility of anti-Semitism. It's also not what Paul would be arguing today. Today, the distinction between Jews and Gentiles would probably be replaced by a distinction between nominal Christians inside the church, and "seekers" out side it. So I have rephrased in those terms.

I also believe that if Paul were writing today, he would make use of quotations from the Gospels -- which of course were written down after he wrote his letters -- rather than using quotations only from the only Scriptures he had available, which we call the Old Testament.

If you would like a copy of my paraphrase of Romans for your own use, just send an e-mail request, to jimt@quixotic.ca. I will send you back an electronic attachment, in either Word 2000 format, or Rich Text Format if you prefer.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/may2004.html

 

 

What else besides "Abba! Father!" might signify our relationship with G*O*D?

Would "Partner!" do it sometimes?

How about "Beloved!"?

Where would "Friend! Advocate! Helper! Interpreter!" fit into things?

And those five big cries of "Who? What? Where? When? How?"??

Where might "Estranged! Enemy! Accuser! Tester!" fit into our perceptions of our relationship?

Is there any cry or acclamation or affirmation or whatever that we can make that won't witness to our relationship with G*O*D? It tells us where we are and where we have come from and begins to suggest where we might proceed. This is important information as we learn how to speak "the expansive love of G*O*D". The same may be true here as is true in our learning to speak any other language. Every attempt can be helpful in learning to speak the language of those around us whether they are dear to us yet or not.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/may2004.html

 

 

A bowed head can indicate either prayer or fear. Either way, Lift up your head!

Hopefully our prayers can deal with our fears and we do not remain with bowed heads. We can talk about the dynamics needed to move beyond fear and to move forward in prayer in many different ways. Sometimes it is helpful to visualize this head-raising.

Here is an exercise from one of the listserves I monitor regarding the lectionary to see what can happen when we are honored to be connected with G*D and Neighbor: "A few years ago I made a "Pentecost Person"--a small salad-dressing bottle with a balloon over the opening, and vinegar in the bottle, and baking soda in the balloon, so that when I lifted up his head, the baking soda fell into the vinegar, there was a chemical reaction and it filled his head, so he was no longer despondent, but full of purpose (the Spirit) [honor]. I had drawn a face on the balloon before installing it; I put a 'robe' of white paper on her, even had a little red ribbon like a stole over her shoulders, and it was cute and effective. I can't remember how much baking soda in proportion to the vinegar--perhaps someone can help out here--but it sure made a good children's story."

Try it.

- - -

a heritage back to creation
an anticipation forward to paradise
we find ourselves in good position
honored by both
honorably living both

when in a good position
we can afford good posture
lift up your head
arise fearful one
arise prayerful one

in grace we find connection
backward and forward
move on
in common cause
deeper and wider

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html

 

 

The Message translates verse 14: "God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!"

This beckoning is compared with adoption or coming into an unexpected inheritance. There is a new set of relationships that are opened. A new relationship with G*D and Neighbor is a Pentecost Experience. In particular a new relationship with a Neighbor is a Pentecost Experience. One might say that there is no Pentecostal Experience without there being a new or renewed relationship with a Neighbor (from had-been-stranger to long-term-partner).

This is the unimaginable inheritance that comes with Pentecost - at least one new relationship.

And so - "G*D's Spirit beckons. There are Neighbors to meet."

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/05/romans-814-17.html