My column for the February 13 – February 19, 2011 edition of The Tahlequah Christian.
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This last Sunday I used the privilege of the pulpit to share with you what I would call a “confessional” sermon. In it, I bared a piece of my soul on the question of atonement (salvation is another word for the same idea), and I shared with you my questions about the way it’s been traditionally understood. I’m troubled by the commonly held idea that “Jesus died for our sins,” and don’t really think our God of love and compassion would work to bring about salvation (life) through the act of execution (death). That, and the fact that an atoning death completely ignores the wonder of the resurrection that we celebrate every Easter!
But the purpose of this opening isn’t to introduce a discussion on atonement theory – a discussion that would take far more words than I can squeeze into this weekly column – but to make what I hope will be a simple proposition: I’d like to hear from you. Is there something that you do not believe? Is there something that you do believe, but don’t hear us talking about it as part of our Christian faith? These are all valid and legitimate questions a person encounters when on the faith journey, and I’d like to start a conversation about some of these questions and ideas.
So in our Sunday bulletins for the next couple of weeks, we will include a simple form that you may fill out if you desire, that will let me know the questions and thoughts that we have as a congregation. It will be straightforward – a line stating “This I believe” with space for you to fill in your thoughts and another entitled “This I do not believe” with space for you to write in your thoughts on that as well. Finally, I will ask you if I have permission to use any of these thoughts in a newsletter or sermon, and an optional space to leave your name. You do not have to sign your name if you’d like to give me permission to engage in your questions, and you may sign your name but not give me permission to use them in a public manner. It’s all up to you! Your participation is, of course, optional, but I hope you will consider filling one out and placing it in the offering when it is collected. I look forward to hearing from all you about your questions, ideas, and beliefs when it comes to our faith!
Seeking God’s justice in a new year,
Clint