Anything "supernatural" has always been a fascination for us as humans. I believe that currently the "supernatural" has far more followers then the "Church." And in some way this disturbs me - but not the reasons you may think. I find it interesting and some-what telling that the most popular TV shows currently surround this idea of the supernatural - it was like a cult following for the show Heroes. I also found it ironic that on my Facebook feed I read about all these pastors who are equally involved in these shows and this following and YET we hardly discuss anything "supernatural" in church.
Is there not room for the supernatural in church? Is it not appropriate? This is sort-of a follow up on last weeks Demon questions. When did the church stop believing? Perhaps when this is part of the reason the the Church has lost its way.
I am currently not saying that I believe vampires exist and I do hope you realize that too. But what I am saying is that the supernatural in many ways the the quest for knowledge of the unknown. A way in which we can understand evil and why some times bad things happen to GOOD people. For far too long the church has prescribed to teaching and preaching a feel good message. We have for far too long been making a fairy tale life seem possible if only you believe the right way. We have made everyone believe that if you ask you shall receive and that literary God is like a genie of our wills. And this has lead to the church and God "failing" a lot of people. This has lead to a lot of evil being misunderstood and a lot of hurt being turned into anger.
Vampires and other supernatural beings came into our understanding as ways to understand that which was unknown or hard to grasps for people. They help explain how bad things just happen. They are the creatures of the night that control the universe through fear. And since Church has not done enough to preach and teach about the bad, people have left. In fear, in hurt, lost and anger.
I am struck by the miracles that Jesus preforms time and time again in the Bible. It seems like he heals so many and yet! he doesn't heal everyone. Never does it say when the last person was healed Jesus moved on to the next village. In fact, when his disciples tell him in Mark that there are still people that need healing Jesus reminds them that his purpose isn't to heal all and that they need to continue on to the next village and spread his message. WOW. The Good News According to Jesus Christ - isn't a fairy tale store or a prescription to how ours can be. Instead it is a story about salvation, human sufferings and the power of grace.
Life is tough - Jesus experienced that! We don't always know what's best for ourselves - God often answers our prayers in unexpected ways! Bad things happen - That's life (C'est la vie)! But God searches out all those who are lost!
Being a Christian is not about entitlement for the worldly but is instead about acceptance of an amazing gift! As a true Christian we don't need vampires and ware-wolfs to explain how bad things happen to good people because we know and trust that God is not pointing a figure and making theses things happen - instead we realize that God is walking along side us during our troubles and that it is through our faith that we know one day the Kingdom of God will be before us!
