"We Christians have a bad habit of making Christ a static thing." I absolutely agree -- we are predisposed to prefer the predictable. What's more, those of us of the evangelical persuasion seem to get really uneasy around the idea of "mystery." We of the Western mindset tend to want everything, especially our faith, tidy and well-organized, and there's no room for "mystery" -- the idea just seems too unclear, too dangerous. But mystery is everywhere in the Jesus Story. The power of rebirth is just too vast for our puny vocabulary. "Behold, I make all things new!"
Very true indeed. Even now we are still learning about an expanding universe and the mysteries of Dark Matter. And at the same time those videos that show how the Earth 🌏 compares next to giants like Arcturus and Aldebaran and on and on it goes till one’s mind just turns into a soggy mess at the size of it all. And God being kind in relating to us while remembering we are still dust meets us where we are when His Word simply says those five words, “He also made the stars.” For us to assume and then live as if there is no mystery beyond what we can fit into nice neat boxes, textbooks, sound bites and sermons is like to experience the wetness of a raindrop and assume we understand every square inch of the Mariana Trench.
Something that I have been realizing this Easter is that Adam and Eve could have had everlasting life. Death is *our fault*.
When I was a kid, I was stubborn and grumpy as kids can be sometimes, and one day my Dad wanted me to mow the lawn and I refused, so he went out and did it himself. It was the ultimate shame and embarrassment for me. He had other things to do but he interrupted his day to do the chore that I refused to do, for my childish and short-sighted reasons.
That's kind of what happened on Easter. Christ--God Incarnate--descended from his heavenly throne to assume a mortal life, and suffered the consequences of our own sin on his sinless person. But when he rose again he showed us not only that all of our sins could be forgiven, but that the consequences of our first sin could even be set aside. That's why your comment that "The Tomb is a Womb" hits so close to home--there in that tomb, the new, everlasting life was born. All we need to do is to pick up our cross and follow Christ--all the way to the tomb, too.
Thank you as always for the shout out and kind words. God bless you this Eastertide!
I feel that what you have written is deeply true. Thank you!
Every country and group has a unique history, but it's noteworthy that Ireland is the only White country to have been enslaved, just as Ethiopia is the only Black country to have never been enslaved, as if God was showing this is not about race. It's really about geography.
Hi Laura, thank you for commenting! I'm not entirely sure what part of my meditation led you to that conclusion, but I think it's important to go deeper than that. At WP we like to allow the past to inspire the present and take us into the future. In this case, how does Christ's story lead us to rebirth TODAY?
Again, I'm not really sure what history you're referencing here. We tend to keep this space as a place to safely discuss the topic at hand, but if those historical references are something you would like to discuss in more detail, I would happily do that privately with you, over email. Blessings! 🌿
"We Christians have a bad habit of making Christ a static thing." I absolutely agree -- we are predisposed to prefer the predictable. What's more, those of us of the evangelical persuasion seem to get really uneasy around the idea of "mystery." We of the Western mindset tend to want everything, especially our faith, tidy and well-organized, and there's no room for "mystery" -- the idea just seems too unclear, too dangerous. But mystery is everywhere in the Jesus Story. The power of rebirth is just too vast for our puny vocabulary. "Behold, I make all things new!"
Very true indeed. Even now we are still learning about an expanding universe and the mysteries of Dark Matter. And at the same time those videos that show how the Earth 🌏 compares next to giants like Arcturus and Aldebaran and on and on it goes till one’s mind just turns into a soggy mess at the size of it all. And God being kind in relating to us while remembering we are still dust meets us where we are when His Word simply says those five words, “He also made the stars.” For us to assume and then live as if there is no mystery beyond what we can fit into nice neat boxes, textbooks, sound bites and sermons is like to experience the wetness of a raindrop and assume we understand every square inch of the Mariana Trench.
Yes, there is so much misunderstanding regarding Easter and the Resurrection. It can be exhausting on all ends. I eventually took to Instagram last night with my own thoughts: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq1d-T2MLNa/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Thanks so much for sharing this post, Sarah!! I really enjoyed reading it, and I hope others take the time to do so, too! 🌿
Thanks! I took notes during church 😂
Something that I have been realizing this Easter is that Adam and Eve could have had everlasting life. Death is *our fault*.
When I was a kid, I was stubborn and grumpy as kids can be sometimes, and one day my Dad wanted me to mow the lawn and I refused, so he went out and did it himself. It was the ultimate shame and embarrassment for me. He had other things to do but he interrupted his day to do the chore that I refused to do, for my childish and short-sighted reasons.
That's kind of what happened on Easter. Christ--God Incarnate--descended from his heavenly throne to assume a mortal life, and suffered the consequences of our own sin on his sinless person. But when he rose again he showed us not only that all of our sins could be forgiven, but that the consequences of our first sin could even be set aside. That's why your comment that "The Tomb is a Womb" hits so close to home--there in that tomb, the new, everlasting life was born. All we need to do is to pick up our cross and follow Christ--all the way to the tomb, too.
Thank you as always for the shout out and kind words. God bless you this Eastertide!
I always appreciate your reflections, Scoot! Thanks as always for sharing, and Eastertide blessings to you, too! 🌿
This is a profound meditation - thank you! Easter is not over 👏
"The tomb was a womb, not a grave." Goosebumps.
I feel that what you have written is deeply true. Thank you!
Every country and group has a unique history, but it's noteworthy that Ireland is the only White country to have been enslaved, just as Ethiopia is the only Black country to have never been enslaved, as if God was showing this is not about race. It's really about geography.
Hi Laura, thank you for commenting! I'm not entirely sure what part of my meditation led you to that conclusion, but I think it's important to go deeper than that. At WP we like to allow the past to inspire the present and take us into the future. In this case, how does Christ's story lead us to rebirth TODAY?
Again, I'm not really sure what history you're referencing here. We tend to keep this space as a place to safely discuss the topic at hand, but if those historical references are something you would like to discuss in more detail, I would happily do that privately with you, over email. Blessings! 🌿
Thanks for extending the invitation. Will do.