Pastor Brian's Weekly Ruminations

May 18, 2007

Greetings, fellow sojourners—I have a friend who is a theological scholar in the realm of metaphor and analogy.  We’ve been talking lately about how important it is that any metaphors we use for God in our worship and preaching and learning together in the church point toward the reality of God, and not be just “guesses.”  You know, I really try not to guess when I talk about God.  I try to base what I say (and live, for faith that is not lived out is not fully Christian) on the helpful Wesleyan quadrilateral of Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience (all are important!).  But my friend’s deep learning is a great filter for me as I examine my words as a pastor. 

There’s an “is-ness” to God, you see.  The God who is real.  That’s what you and I get to experience—and witness to—at times in our lives.  “You shall be my witnesses,” Jesus told his disciples just before Pentecost (Acts 1:8).  Witnesses.  We get to share with others how we have seen God in our lives.  It’s not that we don’t learn from how others experience God; it’s not that we act like we are religious know-it-alls or absolutists.  But we can share what we have seen and heard and known with our feet on the ground in the rough-and-tumble—and the joys—of our lives.  And then we get to keep learning and listening to others, to Scripture, to the still small voice of God that Elijah knew.

That’s the “good stuff.”  That’s what Life’s about.  Experiencing God.  Living out in our everyday lives the kingdom, the kin-dom, the reign of God out that Jesus talked about—kindness, justice, truth.  By the grace of God.

Thankfully getting to do this with you,

Brian

P.S. Wear red to church on Pentecost Sunday, May 27!  It’s the color of Pentecost, of the flames of the Spirit, as we move into our summer worship schedule of one service each Sunday at 9:30.