"In her sermon Anne explains that Lent is not about being sad, not some sort of spiritual penance. Rather, she insists, Lent is about change — the change that God can make in our selves, our faith communities, and the larger world. Lent is a time that opens our hearts to transformation, to becoming God's people and doing that which God calls us to do" (p. 281).1. Is the Reverend Anne Howard right? Is "transformation the promise at the heart of the Christian life"?
2. What are the implications of transformative Christianity in your own life, for the life of your congregation, and for the larger community of which you are part?
6 comments:
1. Anne Howard is so right! Change is the whole point of faith. The change shows the love we feel for God and for God's creation. Genesis tells us that change in faith must be good and that change in human beings must be very good.
2. At this point in my life, I am fine with "hospitality" (WELCOMING strangers), "discernment" (LISTENING for truth), "contemplation" (OPEN for prayer), "worship" (EXPERIENCING God), and "reflection" (THINKING theologically). I am progressing in "testimony" (TALKING the walk), "diversity" (MAKING community), and "beauty" (TOUCHING the divine). I have much work to do for "healing" (ENTERING the powers).
I am skeptical that Ashland Terrace Christian Church can grow in discernment, reflection, healing, and justice to any great degree, I hope we can grow in diversity and beauty.
I agonize so much over how to start to make inroads into transforming the larger communities of which I am a part. My desire to make the world more discerning, more reflective, more worshiping, more just, and much more beautiful makes me restless much of the time. I haven't a clue as to how to start. It is the most time I spend during my talk time and listening space during my prayers.
I need to further explain one of my comments under Chapter 2-Remembering Christianity. I used a term in my parenthesized comment that needs explanation and an apology to anyone, especially allisonwonderland, I offended with "sect." I use this term interchangeably with "denomination," especially when referencing either Disciples of Christ or Latter Day Saints. I have always considered all denominations as sects because we have split from larger groups. I use it mostly with Mormons and Disciples because of our relatively "new" formations. Both were organized in the East, with Disciples settling mostly in the Midwest and Mormons settling further west. It has been pointed out to me recently that "sect" has a negative connotation that I didn't realize. My purpose in my parenthetical sentence was a result of having to often explain that Disciples and Mormons are not the same religious group, even though, we started at the same time and same area of the country. I hope this clears up a faux pas on my part.
I have loved reading all this insightful and inspiring comments and hope to read more as we study the next book. I hope it is Kingsolver's latest because I have it on hold at the library.
Thanks for listening.
AuntyDon: Please know that I took no offense at your use of the word "sect" (as I've not really had a sense of its pejorative connotation)!
1. Is the Reverend Anne Howard right? Is "transformation the promise at the heart of the Christian life"?
I had thought of Lent as being a time of reflection knowing that the death and resurrection celebrated on Good Friday and Easter were the foundation of Christian faith. Looking at Lent as being about change summarized by “transformation is the promise at the heart of the Christian life” gives me a new perspective on this season of the Christian year. This view requires much more internal action on the part of the believer and goes beyond the historical belief in the resurrection to the change that this should encourage in the lives of believers.
2. What are the implications of transformative Christianity in your own life, for the life of your congregation, and for the larger community of which you are part?
Transformative Christianity gives hope that I can change, my church can change (or I can change to a different church), and the community can change. As sort of a part (through various associations and our church) of the right wing movement, I felt outside of their self-righteous, rigid beliefs with the conflicting feelings of different beliefs yet liking most of the people and some of the things that they do. This book made me aware that what I had thought of as the old-fashioned churches (called the mainline churches in this book) probably have what I need to seek. This has given me hope for change. When I think of “give me that old time religion”, I will now think of mainline churches instead of the fundamentalist ones and realize that perhaps that “old time religion” (through a mainline church) does offer the change that is needed for me and for our country.
What are the implications of transformative Christianity in your own life, for the life of your congregation, and for the larger community of which you are part?
Coming into the discussion of this book has been a growth/change experience for me. I have not spent too much time in positive reflection on my personal faith life in the last few years. I have been at a dead end in my spiritual growth because I disagree with the actions of the Catholic hierarchy on quite a few issues.
As I have contemplated the spiritual possibilities presented by Christianity for the Rest of Us, I have worked my way into a new attitude toward my spiritual life.
I agree with AuntyDon: "I am fine with "hospitality" (WELCOMING strangers), "discernment" (LISTENING for truth), "contemplation" (OPEN for prayer), "worship" (EXPERIENCING God), and "reflection" (THINKING theologically). I am progressing in "testimony" (TALKING the walk), "diversity" (MAKING community), and "beauty" (TOUCHING the divine). I have much work to do for "healing" (ENTERING the powers).
We are working together toward tranformation.
Reading the questions has given me an opportunity to look inside myself. Appreciate things in my life. Having positive energy makes me feel healthier. Accepting the fact that I am doing the best I can and so are other people. Not allowing people with negative thoughts fill me up with negativity. Realizing how blessed I truly am and share positive thoughts. For the larger community for which I am a part of I have learned to be patient more understanding, leaving my judgmental statement at home.
Post a Comment