Polarities

On two separate occasions in the past two weeks I was called upon to lead a discussion concerning Christology. Specifically the issue is how we understand Jesus. This is one of many issues on which there is certainly a polarity of understanding. At one pole is the understanding of Jesus as fully divine, and at the other is an understanding of Jesus as fully human. The official position of the church is that Jesus is, at the same time, fully human and fully divine. You may think this is something of an impossible contradiction, however it may help you if you read the Statement on Christology on the world church website.

Polarity is not a word we use every day, nor is Christology a subject I regularly teach. I was surprised therefore (Why am I still surprised?) to open a new book entitled Scattering Seeds: Cultivating Church Vitality, turn to the forward and read the following words.

I think it was the Danish theologian Kierkegaard who said faith is, “Holding the tension of polarity.”

The Christian faith is rich in polarities to be held in tension. A core one is the paradoxical claim that Jesus Christ is “fully human” and “fully God.” How can anyone be fully this and fully that? Because its tough to hold these two together, different traditions and preachers tend to come down on one side or the other. They emphasize Christ’s humanity or Christ’s divinity. But the trick, so to speak, is holding the two together. Looking at a baby born in a manger out back and seeing the Lord of history and eternity. Its like a battery. Without poles, there’s no charge. - Anthony B. Robinson in the Foreword to Scattering Seeds

Robinson then goes on to discuss the polarity inherent in church life between “going and doing” versus “being”, which is another way of expressing that age old tension between faith and works. Of course the two need to be held together. It is not one or the other, it is both.

Scattering Seeds is not specifically about polarity, nor is it directly about Christology. It is the testimony of the authors, Stephen Chapin Garner, the pastor of the United Church of Christ in Norwell, Massachusetts, and Jerry Thornell, a 30 year member and the church’s financial administrator. It is the story of the Norwell church’s journey. (I may reflect on the book’s ideas further assuming I ever get time to actually read it!)

In the meantime, this post is dedicated to the participants of the two classes: the Seventy of Canada East Mission and our CPI Pastors. May these additional thought help you continue thinking, bless your understanding and help you faithfully "hold the tension" inherent in differing ideas.

Posted by Carman

Poets

The announcement concerning the 2011 Giller Prize Shortlist happened at the same time that I began spending more time with the poems of the prophet Jeremiah. Then almost immediately after came news that another poet, Tomas Transtroemer of Sweden, has won the Nobel prize for Literature. The juxtaposition of these three events has had me thinking about the role of poets and other artists in society.

It is probably clear to anyone reading the Book of Jeremiah that the book is largely poetry. Even though the text was originally written in Hebrew, the modern English translations still retain the unmistakable imprint of skilled, creative and careful crafting of words expressing ideas. For the reader, ingesting this text has the effect of savoring a delicious and sweet use of language applied to a very bitter subject matter; the conquest of the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel and the enslavement of its people. The central question is, if we are God’s chosen people, how could God let this happen? The author quickly posits an answer to this question, although not one the average person would have been likely to readily welcome. He certainly did not win a Nobel Prize, nor a popularity contest either!

Great writers; poets, novelists and other artists, always have something they wish to (or need to) say. In this sense, they perform something of a prophetic function. Their work often provides us with a new lens for looking at a given subject or situation. That lens often brings a different perspective than that which is upheld in the public media or the court of public opinion. Sometime we find their observations uncomfortable. Often we may disagree with their point of view. Whether we agree or not, however, we generally recognize that what such persons have to say matters, just as Jeremiah's words matter.

Sadly, I have not read any of the current list of work by the Giller nominees. Some are new young-adult authors who are being welcomed to the Canadian literary table, and that is a very good thing. They will no doubt bring a new perspective to whatever it is they are thinking and writing about, either now or in some future work. Even without having read these authors, I am pleased at their inclusion.

And so here we are, back to the subject of books in this blog. What a surprise! So let me ask you, read any good poets lately?

Posted by Carman

Surprise

One of the words we talked about for a bit in the Fired Up! mission statement conversation was surprise. In the final version, this word didn't make the cut. But this is not to say that the concept isn't still very much alive and well, there and elsewhere!

The word the Fired Up! folk went with was "open." They want to remain open to whatever way God wants to speak to them, or to experiences and opportunities and to people who come their way. I applaud them. But I hope they are ready to be surprised. Because that's what I see happening all around. And I'm beginning to be convinced that the Spirit they're open to works by surprise.

People and congregations who try to stay in control, or on top of things, wary of moving too far out of the box, leery of spontenaity or unpredictability are most likely to speak of being weary or over-busy or stressed-out. But folks who are open to being surprised tend to feel more hope, to expect things to work out, to roll with the punches more easily.

Here's a link to a sermon about just this idea. Remember that sheet God surprised Peter with in Acts 11? That was just a small part of the surprises he and the new church had to deal with! History is filled with just such surprises; so why would we not expect the same?

Open your eyes; expect to be surprised! Then send us a note about what you're seeing that is surprising you today. Let's share our stories. I'm betting there are a ton of them. Can't wait to read yours!

Posted by Marion

Gestation

We normally think of gestation as related to pregnancy; the period of development in the uterus from conception until birth. One interesting aspect of this process is that the period of gestation seems to be directly related to the size of the species, with smaller animals having a shorter gestation period than larger ones. A mouse, for instance, takes only about 21 days from conception to birth, whereas an elephant takes 645 days.

Gestation, however, can also relate to the conception and development of an idea or a plan. How long does it take for an idea to grow and develop in the mind? Interestingly, it often seems that the size of the idea or plan also affect the gestation period here as well.

When I was in the book business, calling on retail stores and wholesalers, it could take me from a few minutes to several hours to complete a sale. If I spent an hour and came out with an order for $2,000, that was an hour well spent. A bigger order of $5,000 or $10,000 would take longer. Later, when I became a National Account manager, I would often develop a plan, present it to a buyer, develop a prototype, get it approved and then turn it over to the sales reps to execute. The gestation period of that idea might take a year from conception to completion, and another year before we knew how much business it would produce, but the value of business generated might be several million dollars. Bigger ideas just seem to take longer.

So let me ask you, had any big ideas lately?

Posted by Carman

Cooking

Things are starting to cook!

I just had a great newsy chat with Cheryl Brooks over at the Corinth congregation and things are cranking into action there. Of course they have that great new kitchen, so you could just watch for any opportunity to share in the literal "cooking" that goes on in there. You'll never be disappointed!

But things are cooking in other ways as well. Watch for a collaboration with a group of community United Church folks about a recent world mission trip to Congo. Check the Weekly Announcements here: http://communityofchrist.ca/east/missioncentre/news/sharedministry.htm

New ideas and ways to spiff up the bulletins, the Christian ed area are in place; new workshops in the planning. It was great to hear that this is one congregation where lots of good things are in the planning stages and getting ready to unfold over the coming season.

What's cooking where you are?