1 John 1:1 - 2:2
Easter 2 - Year B
Compare and contrast the image of advocate with that of atoning sacrifice in 2:1-2.
A part of the comparison has to do with present and future energy and action for the advocate while the atoning sacrifice has a static past orientation that is just rippling on.
Another way to compare is with the advocate being related to our lives and the sacrifice demanding we measure up to its action.
It would be interesting to intentionally retranslate atonement language into advocacy language. Who would get angry at that? Who would be invited in where they were previously not welcome?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/april2003.html
So why do you share with others where you have found meaning in life and why do you listen to others where they have found meaning? Is it that your joy may be more present?
Meaning and joy seem to be bound up with reclaiming the future from the past. This is another way of talking about forgiveness. No longer are we going to be bound by the events of the past. Whether individual or global affronts have been given, the atonement of forgiveness (beyond a mere shedding of blood) transforms life.
Forgive and be forgiven -- transform and be transformed. Ahh, what joy!
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/april2003.html
1 John 1:1-2:2
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133
John 20:19-31
"Now the whole group" - "when kindred live together" - "that you also will have fellowship with us". These phrases set a tone of what it means to be joined in joy.
A test comes someone is not part of our gathering when a very specific and important event happens. Regardless of the reason they are not present, they are not present. In their absence comes a revelation that could very well drive a wedge between the true experiencers and those without that experience. And so Thomas' story is an important witness of continued openness. Thomas was still welcome even without a corroborating experience. Fortunately he received one. That helps a lot in binding a community together. But, and this is significant, unanimity is not foundational to community.
The downside is that there are expectations set up that folks will be required to come to believe in the same dramatic way as did those who experienced a risen Christ Jesus in this cell. We, to this day, separate folks out according to their experience of faith and their differences from the majority or the powerful. If they measure up, they're welcome. So Thomas' story is used to convince people that they cannot be different (doubt) because that would bar them from fellowship in an already together group.
Thomas is laughed at rather than revealing how laughable are our restrictive standards.
Remember that Thomas was with those who had already experienced a resurrection. Use this as an inclusive evangelistic witness for inviting "others" to be present. This will offset the temptation to have the un-experienced set aside until they measure up. If a community is not focused on key words in the opening phrases: "whole", "live", and "also" it has learned the smaller lesson and missed the larger.
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revelation is not theory
it is experience-able
with eye and hand
with kindred and enemies
with ancestors and descendants
with light and dark
with male and female
with all orientations
with slave and free
with all economies
with self and othersrevelation is not unique
revelation is not eternal
revelation is not ownedrevelation is invitational
revelation is expansive
revelation is prophetic
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived. ~Oscar Wilde, writer (1854-1900)
Don't you wish your experience of G*D had come much earlier – earlier enough to have made the political cut of what was in and out of that called scripture? Being in that genre casts a special glow on each and every one of your declarations.
"G*D is light and in him (sic) there is no darkness." I take it that G*D's previously reported repentance and placing all responsibility in an image to take the rap for any darkness doesn't count. It is quite an opinion.
"If we walk in the light as he (sic) himself (sic) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another." It sounds as if Jesus came for the light-bearing, not "sinners". It sounds as if fellowship, friendship, community must hide any non-light from one another.
Thank you John, whichever you might be, for writing in order to keep me from sin. So far that hasn't happened, but maybe today. In the meantime I need less a juridical advocate than a companion encouraging us both to do the best we can, to be courageous enough to take the results of so living, and to continue toward wholeness rather than stop and claim perfection in our current condition or opinion.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html
God is light.
Let's be sure to change those light fixtures to keep us from stumbling. Have you considered the church to be a custodian? We are to spruce the place up and part of that is changing bulbs that light might shine.
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Q: HOW MANY METHODISTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?
A: Undetermined.
Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved -- you can be a lightbulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. A church-wide lighting service is planned for Sunday, August 19. Bring bulb of your choice and a covered dish.
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Q: HOW MANY JEWISH RENEWAL RABBIS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?
A: Depends.
One if it's an eco-kosher bulb that isn't going to be lit by electricity from nuclear power. Two, as long as a man and a woman rabbi have equal turns putting in the bulb. Three, one to change it, one to do a Buddhist mindfulness practice during the change, and one to document the paradigm shift in a best-selling book called "The Jew in the Lightbulb." Four, same as above plus an additional rabbi to study the psycho-halachic implications of such a change and then lead a retreat weekend on the experience.
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Q: HOW MANY ZEN BUDDHISTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?
A: Three.
One to change the lightbulb, one NOT to change the lightbulb, and one to neither change nor not change the lightbulb.
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Q: HOW MANY EPISCOPALIANS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?
What? Change the lightbulb? My grandmother donated that lightbulb.
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Q: HOW MANY EXISTENTIALISTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?
A: Two.
One to screw it in and one to observe how the lightbulb itself symbolizes a single incandescent beacon of subjective reality in a netherworld of endless absurdity reaching out toward a cosmos of nothingness.
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Q: HOW MANY QUAKERS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?
A: None.
Who needs a lightbulb when you have an inner light?
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Q: HOW MANY SOUTHERN BAPTISTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?
A: One hundred and nine.
Seven on the Lightbulb Task Force Sub-committee, who report to the twelve on the Lightbulb Task Force, appointed by the fifteen on the Trustee Board. Their recommendation is reviewed by the Finance Executive Committee of five, who place it on the agenda of the eighteen-member Finance Committee. If they approve, they bring a motion to the twenty-seven Member church Board, who appoint another twelve-member review committee. If they recommend that the Church Board proceed, a resolution is brought to the Congregational Business Meeting. They appoint another eight-member review committee. If their report to the next Congregational Business Meeting supports the changing of a lightbulb, and the Congregation votes in favor, the responsibility to carry out the lightbulb change is passed on to the Trustee Board, who in turn appoint a seven-member committee to find the best price in new lightbulbs. Their recommendation of which hardware is the best buy must then be reviewed by the twenty-three-member Ethics Committee to make certain that this hardware store has no connection to Disneyland. They report back to the Trustee Board who then commissions the Trustee in charge of the Janitor to ask him to make the change. By then the janitor discovers that one more lightbulb has burned out.
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How many times does it take for a pastor to change a light bulb?
We don't know, everyone fell asleep while he was giving a sermon on it.
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How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
None. If God wants the light bulb to be changed, He will do it Himself.
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How many in the "Church of Christ" does it take to change a light bulb?
Where is the scriptural authority for a light bulb?
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How many Southern Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?
One to change the bulb, and 16 million to boycott the maker of the old bulb for bringing darkness into the Church.
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How many Anglicans does it take to change a lightbulb?
None. The old one is complete and sufficient unto itself, and should not be changed according to the world's whims.
Four. One to call the electrician, one to clear it with the vestry, and two to argue about how much better candles were.
Five. One to screw in the new bulb and four to found an organization for the preservation of the old bulb.
A whole synod. One to move that the bulb be changed while the others debate until the room spins.
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How many United Church members (in Canada) does it take to change a light bulb?
How dare you be so intolerant! So what if the light bulb HAS chosen an alternative light style?
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How many Assmbly of God church members does it take to change a light bulb?
Just one, he already has his hands in the air.
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How many post-modernists does it take to change a lightbulb?
Each and every one of us.
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How many Bishops does it take to change a light bulb in the Lutheran church?
It depends on whether or not the light bulb is already in historic succession.
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How many Amish does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
What is a lightbulb?
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How many Mennonites does it take to change a light bulb?
10. One to change the bulb, five to cook and four to talk about how good the old light bulb is.
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How many Catholics does it take to change a light bulb?
Nun
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How many pentecostals does it take to change a light bulb?
1 and 99 to cast out the spirit of darkness!!
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Official United Methodist responses to the question,
"How many United methodists does it take to change a light bulb?"
"Change?!?"
"You can't change that light bulb! Harry Finnigan's family gave that as a memorial during the big merger."
And or course, my favorite...
This Statement was issued.
"We neither affirm nor reject the use of a lightbulb. If you have found a lightbulb helpful in your journey, that is good. If one would wish, they could submit an original poem or interpretive dance about their lightbulb, or light source, or non-dark resource, for the annual lightbulb celebration, where a variety of light bulb traditions will be explored, including long-life, incandescent, three-way, and tinted, all of which are valid paths to luminescence."
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How many choir directors does it take to change a light bulb?
No one knows. No one ever watches them!
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How many Amish DITTCALB?
"What's a light bulb?"
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How many youth pastors DITTCALB?
Youth pastors aren't around long enought for a light bulb to burn out .
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How many European Roman Catholics does it take to change a light bulb?
The Reverend Mother composes a homiliy for the occasion of the light bulb changing while the rest of the nuns raffle-off the old one.
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Q: How many Southern Baptist does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: The whole congregation. The pastor sits back and does absolutely nothing regarding the work. A light bulb changing committee is formed to check into lightbulbs. Another committee is formed that actually goes about the changing of the bulb. The women of the church bring a potluck supper, and the deacons sit around and discuss how good the old lightbulb used to be.
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How many worship leaders who use guitars does it take to change a light bulb?
One. But soon all those around can warm up to its glowing.
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How many neo-orthodox does it take to change a light bulb?
No one knows. They can't tell the difference between light and darkness.
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How many TV evangelists does it take to change a light bulb?
One. But for the message of light to continue, send in your donation today.
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How many independent fundamentalists does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one, because any more might result in too much cooperation.
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How many liberals does it take to change a light bulb?
At least ten, as they need to hold a debate on whether or not the light bulb exists. Even if they can agree upon the existence of the light bulb, they still might not change it, to keep from alienating those who might use other forms of light.
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How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
None. God has predestined when the light will be on. Calvinists do not change light bulbs. They simply read the instructions and pray the light bulb will be one that has been chosen to be changed.
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Are you tired yet? Finally we come to say that God so loved the world that God sent Jesus as a light for the world. How many churches does it take to change Jesus from challenging prophet to comforting profiteer?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/april2006.html
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.
If we say,
they are greedy, we are honest;
they are lazy, we are hard-working; or
they are alienated, we are authentic;
we deceive ourselves.
We are all of this and more.
If we say we don't make distinctions that make us look good and someone else look bad, we deceive ourselves.
The opportunity for deception of self and another is ever-present. The participation in same is all too tempting.
There used to be a list of different ways of phrasing behavior that said one way would put one in a good light and if phrased differently would cast grave doubts upon another's motivation and action ["I'm careful with money; you're a tightwad"]. If anyone has such a list I would appreciate a reference to it.
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Wesley (Blogger)
Thanks to the one who submitted the following additions to the differences between myself and yourself.
I am assertive; you are aggressive.
I am rigorous (or demanding); you are unreasonable.
I am flexible; you are lax and undisciplined.
I am sensitive; you are overly-emotional.
I am in control of my emotions; you are unfeeling and cold.
There is another form of this that goes:
1st person: I am assertive
2nd person: You are aggressive
3rd person: He/She/It is an asshole
Pooh is not just a silly old bear, we are silly old folk.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/april2006.html
Resurrection is communal and experiential. If one of these is lost or subsumed under the other, new life is snuffed aborning.
Our very joy is tied up with space and time with one another as well as striking off on our own. The rhythm of these keeps both alive.
By the time we get to formalizing either our communal mores or individual experience, there is a temptation to universalize our particular set of circumstances. If we claim only light or only dark or only faith or only sin, we are still a long way from breaking through to a new perspective.
What is asked for is not atoning sacrifice. This is loaded language that rings falser than it does true and is ultimately beside the point. What is asked for coherence between our various communities and selves. What is asked for is having both our common endeavors and our individual gifts move us to be one with grandest desires and common tripping points that they might inform one another.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/04/1-john-11-25.html