I have been reading "The Sins of Scripture" by John Shelby Spong as part of a women's study group at my church. There are lots of interesting ideas, some I agree with and some I do not. The last section is titled "Reading Scripture as Epic History" and he talks about the creation of the Old Testament through 4 sources (remember that from Andy Dearman?). The last chapter is about Jesus beyond religion. It is about moving away from the tribal deity to a bigger concept of God.
"Jesus commissioned his disciples to go into all the world (Matt 28:16-20). They were to go beyond the boundaries of their nation, their tribe, and most specifically their religion. When they would finally escape all of these boundaries inside their expanded and open humanity, they were to proclaim the gospel - that is, the infinite love of God for all that God has made,a love that recognizes no barriers. Boundless love will even love those who have sought to crucify the Love of God...All becomes God's chosen. No one is an alien. No one is separate from God. We live in God; God lives in us."
Have we in our denominations become tribal once again? Do we cling to the God of our tribe and refuse to accept any other God or to let our God be sovereign over more than our tribe? If the love we encounter in the gospel through the life of Christ is a love that knows no boundaries, have we been truly transformed if we do not live that love out? What does that then mean for our denominations that vehemently defend one way of thinking? What does it mean then for all of us to be chosen by God? What does it mean to live in God and have God live in us?
Just some thoughts.
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