More on the series Conversations with Bob! My turn....
Hi Bob!
I have had a pretty full day, so I don't have time for a long post. Your concerns about progressivism are well-founded. Let me say a bit more how I understand progressive Christianity.
1) I think of progressive in the sense that God is intimately involved in all Creation. God is not separate from us, but immanently connected with all of life. This does not mean that God is not transcendent, but God is immanent as well. Therefore, I don't see a big distinction between it is up to us or up to God. God is active within us, inviting us to aspire to that which is good, beautiful, and just.
My spouse and I saw the film, Evan Almighty. It was a commentary on the story of Noah. Anyway, in one scene, the character God speaks to Evan's wife. God says:
"When you pray for patience. God does not give you patience. God gives you the opportunity to be patient. When you pray for your family to be close, God does not make your family close. God gives you the opportunity to make your family close."
I found that quite insightful. The issues we are facing as human beings on Earth that I elaborated in my last post are opportunities to aspire to our higher nature. It isn't that God is not active, nor that God controls events, but God is active in all events offering us the invitation to participate--to choose the better path.
I think God is calling us to awaken. God is inviting us to awaken to the crises facing us and to awaken to who we are as human beings, as part of nature, and as intimately connected with God. It is really a spiritual matter. The crises are symptoms of our unwillingness to recognize that we own nothing. The Earth is God's and it belongs to all.
2) Also, being a progressive Christian means that I am open to wisdom where ever it may be found. This includes the wisdom from other faith traditions, science, the humanities, where ever. You said that we might disagree with the following statement:
Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm, and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us. (link)
I don't think that statement is quite strong enough. I would say not only do we recognize the the faithfulness of others but we honor, cherish, embrace, and incorporate wisdom from others in our own awakening. I am curious what you think about it.
3) Finally, being progressive in terms of life after life, means to me, that it is not my business. This is actually the radical nature of Reformed insights. Because I am embraced by the love of God, whatever happens after my physical death is not up to me. Nothing I can do can make God love me more. Nothing I can do can make God love me less. That is freeing! I freely let God take care of all of that. In the meantime, I am elected (another Reformed phrase) to serve, to enjoy, to live this life, which regardless of whatever happens after I die, will never happen again.
Blessings,
John
**Also, being a progressive Christian means that I am open to wisdom where ever it may be found. This includes the wisdom from other faith traditions, science, the humanities, where ever. You said that we might disagree with the following statement**
ReplyDeleteI think this is an important distinction: you're not saying that all paths are equally valid. For instance, those who flew planes into buildings on 9/11 had no doubts they were on God's side. But no one would say their viewpoint is as equal as Christianity.
Rather, how I view Progressive Christianity is that it considers the Christian elements as valid. Take a Muslim who is devout, loves God, has a relationship with God, and clearly demonstrates the fruits of the Spirit and by all accounts, lives a Christ-like life. Now, if I didn't know the Muslim part, I would easily assume this person is a follower of Jesus, because the person demonstrates all the right actions.
That is what Progessive Christianity does: it recognizes that man's experiences as valid, that he does demonstrate a relationship with God, and that he does have wisdom and things to offer. He does have access to the Truth. Does he have the whole truth? No. None of us do. We're too finite and subjective.