talisman

So first off I wanted to say sorry for being so late in posting this week!  Sticky fingers, my 17month old daughter decided to get involved with my laptop and only one survived the encounter.  Although I am pleased it was her, I am saddened for my laptop and my ticket to the internet.

I have been thinking a lot lately of the symbol of the cross and of course the triquetra.  Two symbols of the church and of the trinity.  Two symbols that even those who don't attend church tend to like.  Especially the triquetra which can be scene tattooed on many people who feel spiritual but not religious.  So what is it about these symbols that makes us want to wear them, tattoo them and enjoy them? 

I entitled this "Talisman," because a talisman is an object that is given special powers - like a lucky rabbits foot or in many cases the cross.  But does the trinity symbol or the cross hold special powers for the person in possession of it? Should it? 

I believe that we are getting close to misusing these Christian symbols to be more then just reminders of our faith or of the sacrifice of Christ.  They are becoming talisman and are believed to hold a special power for those wearing it.  Either we believe they ward off super natural beings - of course vampires are afraid of those possessing a cross! Or they bring you protection from our God. 

My clear rant this week is this: we are as a society reducing Christianity to a God who if on your side will grant your every wish and who if not on your side will show you hellish wrath.  We are reducing our faith to a faith that gives to us everything we ask and have reduced the very images of the empty cross to a power symbol for God's favor.  This is just crazy!  The only power the cross yields is the reminder of the amazing power of FORGIVENESS a gift given by Christ.

So, let us rethink our imagery and what it is saying about how and what we believe.  Let us be reminded this week that the Cross is more then a lucky rabbits foot and that God does not grant every one's wish.  That God isn't living into our every will but instead we are living into GOD's will!

Let us realize that no life - even that life lived by a Christian, is perfect.  For life is MESSY.  God isn't there to grant wishes or make a fairy tale ending for us.  Heck, even the Good News of Jesus Christ isn't a fairy tale is it?  But instead, we have a God who cared so much about us that he sent his son - the HOLY has offered forgiveness and grace instead of fear and anger.  The Holy has offered us life over death.  The Holy has offered a constant loving presence in our times of trouble and someone to walk along life's messy road with.  God is not offering the fairy tale or giving over special protection or power to those who believe.  God is offering MUCH more then that - the Sustainer is offering a NEW LIFE. 

So let the cross, the triquetra or whatever Christian symbol you want bring to you reminder of new life - bring to you transformation in the sight of forgiveness and love where there is none.  Let the special power not come from the idolatry of a wish-giving God but from the power of grace!

a bit more about the supernatural

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!