Merry Christmas, Everybody!

Sometimes, I like to debate things in my head and get worked up over whether the way Americans celebrate Christmas is really all that Christian. But you know what? It's still a chance to spend time with family, and to experience the joy of generous love, kindness, and reconciliation. If you are able to enjoy those things this Christmas, God bless you. May your gratitude multiply your joy. If not, God bless you, too. Jesus sought us while we were still strangers. May God be present with you even now.

From one of my favorite hymns:

Who would think that what was needed
To transform and save the earth
Might not be a plan or army
Proud in purpose, proved in worth?
Who would think despite derision,
That a child would lead the way?
God surprises Earth with heaven,
coming here on Christmas day.

May you be surprised and blessed this Christmas season. Amen.

Dual Salvation

I've been thinking, lately, that salvation means different things to different people. Salvation is from the Latin root salve, which means health, or wholeness. So maybe it seems obvious, now that I'm writing it, but the path to wholeness/shalom/salvation is going to be different for every person, because each of us has our own faults & strengths, our own weak spots and home bases. And, incidentally, it's not only about "the spiritual" or "the physical," but about God loving and healing each whole person. Salvation.

So, having broadly talked about salvation as personal, I'm going to make some generalizations about power and salvation. Salvation/wholeness/shalom looks different depending on your social location. If you are poor and powerless, salvation is about material support and gaining power - accepting your place as God's beloved, and taking responsibility to speak with your own voice. If you are rich and powerful, salvation is about learning to relinquish the power and wealth that might make you think you're in control of your own life. A few quick examples from Scripture:

Mary's Song: Luke 1:39-56

The Rich Young Ruler: Luke 18:18-30

Okay, so those are some Bible examples. But since we're coming up on Christmas, it seems like we could also pull from that Victorian reinvigorator of Christmas - Charles Dickens. In A Christmas Carol, Tiny Tim's salvation from death comes through enough to eat, and medical care. For Scrooge, his salvation comes in learning generosity, giving his money away to his employee and his nephew. Salvation comes by letting go.

P.S. I am enjoying this song right now: In the Sun by Joseph Arthur

Lots of thoughts

I've been thinking about lots of things lately, but thought I'd start up slow with a write-up from Slate on emergent/missional churches:

The New Church Nomenclature

A quote of interest:

The early Christians formed networks of small groups, pooled resources, and established what amounts to an early form of welfare for the poor. In short, they were social activists. Which would seem a contrast to the individualism of numerous mainline Protestant denominations and many of the consumer-driven evangelical organizations. By participating in the popular movement toward stronger community bonds—starting with their names—these younger churches are returning to their roots.