The value of stories

Met last night with a group of people from our church who are reading/studying We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McClaren.    I am finding the group really interesting, the conversation thought-provoking.   A quote from the author explaining the title of the book:
  
The Christian faith is still "in the making" (Dr. John Cobb). It continues to grow, evolve, learn, change, emerge, and mature ... in and through us. What we will be as Christians in the 21st century, for better or worse, will surely change what Christian faith will be in the 22nd century and beyond. So, with that in mind, I wanted to introduce people to a vision of the Christian faith and the biblical narrative not as a box, set in stone, and not as a parking lot (where we await the ferry to heaven), but as a road ... that is extended into the future by all of us, walking forward in the Spirit together.

  Some takeaways from last night?

1) the bible is a library of stories.   Example - There are two different creation stories in the first two chapters and they are very different.  They are each reflections of a community's effort to understand who they are, why they are here . . .  They are stories to be shared, read aloud, pondered.  They are not history.  They are not to be taken literally.  They are considered scripture.  As the author states, two are better than one because they "challenge us to see life from a variety of angles - adding depth, a sense of direction, and wisdom."   Likewise there are 4 different gospels and they are different as well.  Where does this leave us?   Liberated for sure and with some work to do.

2)  McClaren suggests warning against eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (in the second creation story) as a warning against judgment.  Can we discern right and wrong without labeling part of creation as bad or evil?   Can we be clear about what is good and moral while remaining humble and open to dialogue?   This feels very consistent with Pope's message over the past few days.

Pope Francis - Getting Past Sinners and Saints

Quite a lot has changed since people had concerns about John F. Kennedy’s Catholic faith and whether his allegiance to the Pope would interfere with his allegiance to his country and its constitution. Now we have 164 Catholic congressmen and women - and the Pope spoke this week to their joint session.   More than just “spoke,” he was welcomed enthusiastically -  and celebrated.  It was very cool that Congress could embrace this leader in what felt like a rare bipartisan moment.  It is also an historic moment and a hopeful one.  A major takeaway is the Pope’s invitation to dialogue - his invitation to rise above the duality of sinner and saint that dominates, or more accurately, prevents, political discourse.  Can our leaders respond?  Could both sides relax their claim on rightness and righteousness, refrain from demonizing the other and open themselves up to dialogue?

In another sense little has changed, as Ben Carson recently suggested that a Muslim is not fit to be president. He voiced the same fears that Kennedy and Catholicism faced in 1960.  And those fears are not his alone, as his statements have been followed by a surge in his popularity.  But if history is a lesson, in the end fear doesn’t win. (Check out Krauthammer's opinion of Carson's comments here.)

And I do agree with Dr. Carson on this point:  we must guard against the violation of the first amendment. We must not allow the government establishment of religion - any religion - even my religion.  We must work constantly to provide space for people of different religions and differing understandings to exercise their faith - even if their faith conflicts with ours.  Or especially if their faith conflicts with ours!    

No, that does not mean anything goes.  That does not strip away our history.  Our country is founded on fundamental morals and values that will stand the test of time. The Pope spoke of the most  important one yesterday - he referred to it as he advocated for a humane and just approach to immigrants and reminded us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life.   So as Pope Francis suggested to our leaders, let us drop the saints vs sinners partisanship.  “Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated.”   Yes - maybe we can give the Golden Rule another try.