Are you saved...?

I found this spiritual reflection by Bill Green of the United Church of Christ (USA) particularly wise. It is grounded in this passage: “God rescued us from dead-end alleys.” (The Message)

Am I saved? These days the question may be put more smoothly. In whatever guise, it lingers. And it does get to the heart of faith.

“Salvation” comes from a Hebrew root meaning “removal of constriction” and “breathing space.” For Christians, we grow into this under the influence of Jesus. The new life he inspires gradually frees us from what has gotten in our way—doubt, arrogance, excessive modesty, guilt or shame, anger including what the church itself can stir up. “Frees us” is not the same as “makes go away.” It means that trouble no longer locks us in. We’re no longer facing dead ends. The problems that remain, however serious, are no longer shackles.

Jesus did not constrain people all over again, this time in the name of God. He did not insist that people see things his way. Many didn’t. He didn’t argue. He simply states what he knows to be true and embodies it in his way of living. He shows that God’s love runs deeper than anything that gets in the way.

For us this may mean listening as closely to others as we wish we could be listened to ourselves. Amid all we think it’s important to say and do, we can remember that we’re in God’s business, just like Jesus, not our own. It doesn’t all depend on us.

Prayer: Gracious God, rescue me from doubt and hard feeling that become dead ends. In your spirit may I breathe more freely, and help others do the same. Amen.

I know one reason I was moved by Bill's words has to do with two articles I read today in the Sunday NY Times about young Jews conducting their bar/bat mitzvah preparations on-line. Don't get me wrong, I am all for using technology to advance compassion and integrity, but where is God's name is the community aspect of such an endeavor? Seems to me this simply encourages MORE privitized religion and spirituality and that is a dead-end, yes? Another high tech religious hoop to jump through that doesn't build up the common good.

Oh well, I also know I was responding to decorating the Sanctuary today after worship for Advent - another thing you can't do all by yourself with any integrity - and how joyful it was for a bunch of folks to just get together to help one another. As one little girl said afterwards, "Pastor James, I like this church. (It was her first visit.) I feel like I'm needed." Amen little chica, amen. (Thanks to Ben for the pix.)

Seems like old Sarah gets it in her foundation work and this John Lennon song made new...