As theologians move beyond the categories inherited from modern theology, the notion scripture first of all functions as a means of grace has become more popular. Billy Abraham (Canon and Criterion) , Ellen Charry (By the Renewing of Your Mind) encourage us to think this way. Telford Work (Living and Active) seems to be going this way also, but I’m not smart enough to get through the book. In this post, however, instead of dialoging with these folks (or others), I’m just going to think off the top of my head on the subject.
It is insufficient to just say, “Scripture is a means of grace” and think that gets us any where. We’ve marginalized “means of grace” language for so long we need to work on that concept for it to help us.
First, in popular theology, grace has too often been simply understood as what saves us. Following Ephesians 2:8-9 we say that we’re saved by grace, not by works. Surely that’s true, but it doesn’t take us far enough. Grace does much more – just in the book of Ephesians. Grace breaks down the barrier between Jew & Gentile. Grace calls and equips Paul for his ministry. Grace makes us one in Christ. Grace is connected with our remaking in the image of Jesus.
Second, it’s been a long time since “means” language has had a big function in popular language. At the very least, it shows that something is happening. Through X, Y happens. Scripture makes something happen, or, our interaction with Scripture is the occasion for something happening.
What kinds of things happen through Scripture in our lives? Well, those “grace- things” happen. How does it work? is it magic? Is grace some kind of juice that gives us super-spiritual vitamins? (Reading medieval theology has sometimes given me that picture of grace.)
Jeff Stein has a bothersome habit of asking our leaders annoying questions. Earlier in the year he discovered that numerous leaders in congress and intelligence bureaucracies didn’t seem to understand Islam, particularly the nature of the Sunni / Shia split. To too great a degree our leaders didn’t know which country was dominated by which group.
Stein figured that since a new congressional administration was coming to power it was time to try the questions on some new folks. Unfortunately Silvestre Reyes, incoming chair of the House Intelligence Committee didn’t fare any better than his predecessors. Al Qaeda? “Mostly a Shiite organization.” Nope. Not by a long shot. You’d think the people who made it to the top of the heap, who had to make decisions about our national security – and based on national security findings – would at least know the basics.
But perhaps we Americans aren’t the only ones wallowing in ignorance.
Years ago when we attacked Afghanistan, we did so to target Al Qaeda and their Taliban hosts. We knew which country hosted both – a no brainer.
Last summer we heard of the Pakistanis making a deal with Taliban-types in Waziristan. How could they, we said? They defended themselves by saying that at least these guys weren’t Al Qaeda. What some seem to have missed is that the Taliban, a movement we take as Afghani, was actually nurtured in the madrassas of Pakistan. The Wahhabism (a Saudi export) of some of the anti-soviets like bin Laden found a home in those schools and raised up a new generation. And now we’re surprised that something that looks an awful lot like the Taliban is takign deep root in Waziristan.
We surprise far too easily.
Here’s a comment from Tom Peters on how churches ought to think of each other. Except he’s not talking about churches. To put it briefly: if you lead a church it is a good thing for the other churches around you to do well also. Don’t get in their way. In fact, going beyond Peters to the bible, don’t even look at those other churches (even the 800 pound gorillas) as competitors. Look at them as teammates. Cheer them on. Look for ways to help them succeed. And do it even if they insist on thinking of you as a competitor.
It’s nice to see generosity in action. Sunday while I was going around the sanctuary greeting people, a family slipped me a check. “Use it to meet the needs of people.” That’s generosity in action.
Last week when I wrote my newsletter article for this week’s edition I included the comment that we still needed a pile of money for our apportionments (the money United Methodist Churches give to support ministry beyond the local church). But yesterday, before the newsletter even went to press, a family dropped by a check that will cover most of what we owe. That’s generosity in action.
Some people might suggest that I not announce that the need is met. “If you tell people the need is met, they won’t give anymore.” My assumption, to the contrary, is that if I don’t tell the truth people won’t give any more. I also think that generosity can be infectious. As our people see others being generous – which includes holding on to things less tightly – they can learn to do the same.
Today we had our annual ministerial alliance luncheon. Good food and good fellowship. We also conduct a little business at these meetings. Besides electing the new president for the coming year, we also look at the finances, particularly at how much was raised at the community Thanksgiving offering the month before. The offering goes toward meeting the needs of people in the community. We’d just heard that the offering was down from last year. At that point one of the pastors went to visit the salad bar. He came back with a check for $10,000 to add to the fund. Generosity in action.
We see examples of generosity around us. We see God’s great generosity in Christ. What might we learn from these examples?