Eternal Life.

St. Paul called his body "this body of death"  Romans 7:24b (NRSV)

This is because the body dies but the spirit lives on.

And he assumed that all physical pleasures were sinful and brought about death to God.  This is abstract thinking extrapolated from the material.

"For the wages of sin is death."  Romans 6:23a (NRSV)

But eternity, eternal life is now.

My body is alive now.

Death is no place, no state, no kingdom.

I am never separated from God.

And I experience His Life in my body which is Love.


[Scripture quotations ( marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.]

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Blessing.

What does it mean to be a pure blessing to humankind?

It means to give unconditional love to everyone.

It means to encourage:
Philanthropy, altruism, generosity, charity.
Forgiveness, compassion, mercy, trust.
Gentleness, non-violence, humility, peace.
Self-esteem, hope, consideration, faith.

But most of all:
Love.


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Sunday Christians.

Why do people sit in church every Sunday and nod piously during the sermon, even espouse hospitality during prayers, but you never see them during the week?

Church people only associate with others during official Church functions.  They never invite you into their homes let alone provide a meal.

We are constantly reminded that Jesus attended and spoke about meals, using this as a metaphor for God's hospitality.

Hospitality is one of the principles of Messy Church but not one of them has ever invited me into their home for a meal.

So they sit there and the sermon goes in one ear and out the other, or over their heads completely.

No wonder the Church is dying.


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Church Leaders.

"The shepherds also have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, to their own gain, one and all."  Isaiah 56:11 (NRSV)

We may wonder why those in positions of authority in the Church teach things which seem so contradictory of Jesus and our intuitive understanding of God.

But in ancient Israel the prophets were often critical of the shepherds - i.e. the religious leaders of Israel.

They were called blind and deaf and Jesus called them hypocrites.

So we should not be surprised when the Church appears to be wrong.
It has been wrong before.

So why doesn't God tell them?

The answer is that He does.

He sends prophets and messengers to tell them.

But as Jesus said, "'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to it!  How often have I desired to gather my children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!'"  Luke 13:34 (NRSV)

This is the meaning of Jesus saying, "'And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord."'"  Luke 13: 35 (NRSV)


{Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division Of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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No Claim.

"And the devil claimed his soul."

Thus ends the story of Faust.

But there is no devil in reality, no hell.

So he cannot claim you.

He cannot claim gay people.

He cannot claim anyone.


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No Devil.

Not only is there no hell but there is no devil either.

After many long and heartfelt prayers I received the answer that the devil is an explanation for questions regarding evil in a world created by a good God.

Why do we suffer?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

One of the explanations is that there is a devil who is constantly working against the good works of God.

But there are other explanations.

I believe that evil in our world can be totally explained by the ignorant actions of people with free will, mostly because of fear.

These ideas challenge our dualistic thinking.

Progressive Christianity puts forward the concept that God is holistic - there is no duality at all.

This is new.

And it may be the next leap forward.


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No Hell.

A quick look at the history of religion will tell you that hell is not so much about the nature or the will of God as about earthly power.

Heaven and hell are the carrot ans stick in our earthly religions.

And the carrot and stick approach is typical of institutionalized authority.
It is the weapon of earthly kings and dictators.

Napoleon said that if the Catholic Church had not existed he would have to have invented it.

But my experience of God has taught me that God punishes no one.
Therefore hell cannot exist.

How are we to cope with a religion that has no hell?

This is good news indeed.


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