[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #537, Epiphany 1, Jan. 7, 2007

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Epiphany 1, January 7, 2007

Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17,21-22

Christological Confusion?

Luke either didn’t have the theological resources or the theological 
interest to link the miraculous conception of Jesus with the miraculous 
event following his baptism.  We are left to wonder if the incarnation 
of God in Jesus was a two stage process or a single event described 
twice.  We are left to wonder what “my Son” means, what “descended upon 
him in bodily form” means; indeed, what “Holy Spirit” means.  The early 
church fought its way to precious conclusions, balanced like a 
beautiful sculpture.  To this day no one has improved on their 
formulas; although one doesn’t have to be clever to find fault with 
them.

It took three centuries to learn to call Jesus, God, and another two to 
remember how to call him man.  Now, another fifteen have passed, and we 
are reduced to almost total confusion.

Try an exit interview this Sunday asking Christological questions of 
your congregation:
Q “Do you believe Jesus was God in any sense?”
 A “Yes, well, I mean don’t we all have a little bit of God in  us?”
 A “Absolutely not, how could he pray to God if he were God?”

Q “Luke says that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus bodily. Does that 
mean God descended on him?”
  A  “Like, I think of it more like an aura, like the Christ Light which 
is God in a way but more like radiation.”
  A  “Absolutely not, Luke knew how to say ‘God’.  If he had wanted to 
say ‘God’, he would have.” Is this the richness of theological 
diversity or confusion that confounds the Gospel message?

“Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I 
give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.”  
(Isaiah 43:4) And, just who has the power to make good on such a 
promise?   “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is 
full of majesty.”  (Psalm 29:4) Exactly, the voice of God, not the 
voice of any man or woman, has saving power.  So, what happens to your 
salvation if your savior is just another poor devil caught in the web 
of life, even if he handled it well, even if he is a good example, even 
if there was a picture of him by Solmon lighted and hanging in the 
hallway of the Unitarian Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?  (What kind 
of plaque would you put beneath that picture in a Unitarian Church?  
“NICE GUY”?)

We can loosen up on our Christology all right.  We can ungird our 
loins, but we shouldn’t expect to be ready for the coming battle.  What 
battle?  The one that is coming from somewhere, from an old religion 
rejuvenated or from a new one.  How do I know it is coming?  The same 
way a doctor knows that there will be pneumonia in January.  Because 
the weaker among us will provide all the opportunity the bacteria 
needs.  The same way a business analyst knew El Paso Natural Gas would 
get taken over.  Because its fat resources and comfortable organization 
provided all the opportunity Burlington Northern needed.  It doesn’t 
take a genius.

You loosen up Christology and you loosen up the claim of salvation 
through Christ.  Was it Athanasius that said whatever of human nature 
God didn’t assume in Jesus, God didn’t redeem for us?  Conversely, 
whatever is not God about Jesus has no power to redeem us.

Why do people keep coming to church if the rationale for salvation has 
come apart at the seams?  Because people want salvation so badly, they 
come even when it is badly claimed.  But, they are going to leave in 
droves when another salvation can be offered and solidly claimed on the 
basis of what they already accept as true.  Islamic fundamentalism has 
this potential, a clear, simple salvation from the social and 
philosophical chaos around us.  Watch out!

Don’t miss an opportunity to ground salvation in Jesus Christ, the very 
foundation of the universe; so that the salvation of God is as real and 
obvious as the sunrise, and everyone knows the logical steps to the 
window.

May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
 (an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

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      --Copyright 2007, Roland McGregor, all rights reserved—
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