REVIEW: The Meaning of Jesus

The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions
Marcus J. Borg and N.T. Wright

Borg and Wright are two friends who happen to be on opposite ends of the theological spectrum. But not as much as you might think. The book is written as a "debate" of the historial Jesus. Each chapter focuses on an aspect of the life of Jesus and the sources of our knowledge of his life, namely, the gospels. His birth, teachings, death, resurrection and return are chapter topics. Each author takes turns "going first," and apparently each read the other's chapters and then rewrote their own chapters in response. Because they are truly friends, the debate is respectful and honest.

Most of you reading this are likely familiar with Borg's theology. For those who aren't, Borg is the "liberal" in this debate. He applies an historical-metaphorical approach to studying the Bible. He believes that the gospels do record actual events and actual sayings of Jesus, but he also argues that the gospels also containg events and sayings that didn't happen, but are conveyors of metaphorical and equally important truths. Wright is the "conservative," who believes in the historicity of the gospels. He argues that the gospel writers recorded these events and sayings because they believed they really happened. Both agree that the Bible contains timeless metaphorical truths, and view the gospels in a 1st century Jewish context.

Borg is easier to read than Wright. Borg's writing is easily understandable, while Wright's style is more "theological." Some of Wright's words just aren't in my vocabulary! But overall the book is fascinating, and a wonderful overview of the historical Jesus debate.

The real gem is the final two chapters. The title of the section is Jesus and the Christian Life. Borg and Wright summarize their positions and how each relates to living a Christian life. Borg includes a summary of the differences in positions in his chapter, and admits "some of the differences between Tom and me concern detail of relatively minor importance. Others might be more apparent than real and might be reconciled through sustained dialogue. Still others are not merely apparent, but real and major. I will comment, respectfully and affectionately, and (I trust) clearly and fairly about how I see the major differences." If only all our conversations about our faith and beliefs be so framed.

I really enjoyed reading this book because it presents different viewpoints. Sometimes I agreed with Borg, and sometimes I agreed with Wright. The "major differences" mentioned by Borg are in the areas of sources, methods, viewpoints, etc. They both agree that Christian living is simply taking Jesus seriously as a revolutionary prophet who challenges the political, social and religious status quo. Here is what each says in their final chapters, as summaries of what it means to live a Christian life.

Wright: "Is it not the ultimate aim that we should come face-to-face - and hope and pray to bring others face-to-face - with the one whose face (wounded yet glorious) we see the face of the creator God, the covenant God, the one who loves us more than we can guess? Is it not that we should be transformed by that meeting, that gaze, so that we can share the same love with the world around?"

Borg: "Being Christian is not about believing, but about a relationship with the God who is sacramentally mediated to us through the Christian tradition in a comprehensive sense of the word: the Bible, the gospels, Jesus himself, and the worship and practices of our life together in Christian community."

We can argue the details, but this is the only conclusion.

God, Jesus, and Kundalini Yoga

Last night I watched a tv show about the life and work of Andy Warhol. He was seeking to capture the new thing that was happening in the art world. He did it better than anyone and led the way. As I watched I tried to capture in my mind what the new thing in the Christian world is that I'm trying to get on board with and perhaps do my part along with others to lead the way. I know the main thing is a renewed focus on the Kingdom of God. I really like that. But as I watched and thought about my part, the words God, Jesus, and Kundalini Yoga came to mind.

I love God. God is everything to me. God is the creator of this marvelous existence. I can understand the nature of God through the beauty of a flower as clearly as through the beauty of scriptures.

I am captured by Jesus. I want to be like him when I grow up. Always going back to the life and teachings of Yeshua informs how I and the churches I'm connected to are to live our lives in his name.

I was and still am being changed by Kundalini Yoga. Through deep breathing and chanting the centers of energy have opened in my inner being. The tightening in the lower area provides courage to live life and the love in the center of my chest is offered each moment to the world and to God. Somehow this energy and the Spirit are one.

One of the new things that I think is happening in the Jesus Movement is honest sharing and acceptance of how we are being shaped by different paths to God...even though we mainly work within the "Jesus neighborhood." I think that through this kind of bold honesty we will attract many people who otherwise dismiss us as irrelevant.

I pray that along with Warhol, we might create the paintings the Master Artist desires to place in The Exhibition he hopes the world to see.

Believing that God is good

This is Joy- I couldn't figure out how to do my own post, so I'm doing it through Craig. As I said on my "9 ways"post, "believing God is good" has been one of the most powerful "ways" inmy faith journey. When I decided I wanted to develop and clarify what all that meant to me this is what I came up with:

Faith
The self forgetfulness of faith.
I matter, but I'm not all that matters.
Being present in the moment
With the self forgetfulness of faith.
I give myself fully
for the sake of
A Vision larger than myself
becoming larger in that moment-though becoming larger matters not.
Worries and doubts of the future cannot consume me
when I am present in the moment
with the self forgetfulness of faith
giving myself fully for a Vision larger than myself.

The Atmosphere is lifegiving, nurturing
Sometimes within a lush forest
sometimes within a storm
Giving me a way to see my world
As lifegiving, nurturing.
Giving me a choice-
at every turn-
of seeing opportunity-
another open door.

I believe in htat which is infinite
which is yes.
I believe.
Help my unbelief, You Creator in which I live and breathe and have my being.
Create in me
and through me.

with thanks to Marcus Borg and ee cummings

I Can Give My Heart To This

Some things:

* I have finished my book of collected poems. If you're interested, I'll send you one. What a joy for me to have about 7 years of my life captured in 78 poems. Fun.

* Tim and I are hosting an event on Wednesday Nov. 8th in Indy. We are wanting to bring together about 25 people to discuss McLaren's latest book The Secret Message of Jesus. It will take place during the day. If you're interested, let us know.

* Lastly, I have not been in the Bible at all lately. (Confession feels so good!) Being a District Superintendent does not force you to preach and teach scripture like being a local pastor does. But, I've been reading The Desire of the Everlasting Hills by Thomas Cahill. He wrote The Gift of the Jews and How the Irish Saved Civilization. Anyway, in the book he was talking about Luke's take on Jesus and he came to the scripture that you all know so well...and it goes like this.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me
Because he has annointed me
To preach the good news to the poor
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind
To set at liberty those who are oppressed
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

This makes me cry. For I don't know what all religion and the church is about, but I can give my heart and life to this understading of the Jesus Movement.

I love you all.

some thoughts and feelings before david turned on football and the three of us eat

death?
life with one another!

chakras broken free in the gut, heart, and mind.
yeshua spirit filling those same cathedrals.

son playing guitar on porch.
wife upstairs.
daughter in muncie.
dog next to me on the couch.

filling the need to give to missions work.
sister n law hands me collection box for World Communion Sunday.

wedding coming for michael and yi.
gibran reading on love included in the service.

spent the day with parents loving then looking at "retirement home."
my parents have lived in the flesh gibran's understanding of love.

tired of christianity
more in love than ever with the radical rabbi.

breathing in the presence of God.
breathing out that same presence to the world.

forgetting to do one or the other
causes one to die.

Images of God

Joy and I had the following discussion in the car.

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.” Even though we still like the thought in this prayer, it reminds us of the image of God we had at the time which was an older white man with a beard sitting on a throne. Let’s talk briefly about our more current images.

We like Acts 17 which says “In God, we live, and move, and have our being.” God is therefore not out there somewhere, but we are within the God reality. God is our Atmosphere. Borg says God is "What Is".

The 9 Ways of Jesus previously discussed on this blog speak well to us about God’s image. God is "Servant", " Forgiver", " Confronter of darkness", "Healer", "One who both goes after and teaches The Way", "One who invites Trust", "Powerful", and " Creator of Jesus Community".

Jesus called God his Papa. I like that image and it can lead to others like a Mother or Grandmother who comforts the child. I think the feminine metaphor for God feels like a good change. Jesus confronted Jesrusalem and then he said he desired to gather her children together like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.

Jesus tried to give us a new sense of God by describing God’s nature to be like a little seed growing into a big tree, a little yeast permeating and making to rise the dough, light, and salt.

Are there current images of God that you are being invited to embrace?