Today’s Readings: Psalm 136; Jonah 3:10-4:11; John 4:1-15; 1 Corinthians 4:6-13; Psalm 124
One of my friends taught me a saying that has stayed with me for many years. It’s a saying that lends good insight into human nature. The saying is this: “The only change people like is the change in their pockets.” While this is certainly true of human beings when it comes to our interactions with one another and with institutions, it seems doubly true when it comes to the way many people think of God. That’s because many people have come to see God as the epitome of stability. That’s why they’ve created catchy sayings like: “God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” But is that true? Is the only way to think about God – in terms of stability? The answer is no. There is a whole field of theology called Process Theology that approaches God with the assumption God is an evolving entity as well. So where do ideas for this kind of God come from? From places like today’s reading from Jonah where we are told: “God saw what they had done, that they had turned away from their evil lives. [God] did change [God’s] mind about them. What [God] said [God] would do to them [God] didn’t” (Jonah 3:10 from The Message). Some folks who would read the passage would find the notion of a God that can change God’s mind scary and unsettling since it would undermine their belief that God is the one rock-solid thing in their life. Other folks would see a God who is open to change as being exciting since such a notion would be a natural extension of the vital, dynamic energy found in the world God created. My question for you to consider today is this: how do you view God – as the pillar of stability or as an entity open to change? Even more important than my original question would be a follow up question: why do you view God that way? Til next time…
One of my friends taught me a saying that has stayed with me for many years. It’s a saying that lends good insight into human nature. The saying is this: “The only change people like is the change in their pockets.” While this is certainly true of human beings when it comes to our interactions with one another and with institutions, it seems doubly true when it comes to the way many people think of God. That’s because many people have come to see God as the epitome of stability. That’s why they’ve created catchy sayings like: “God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” But is that true? Is the only way to think about God – in terms of stability? The answer is no. There is a whole field of theology called Process Theology that approaches God with the assumption God is an evolving entity as well. So where do ideas for this kind of God come from? From places like today’s reading from Jonah where we are told: “God saw what they had done, that they had turned away from their evil lives. [God] did change [God’s] mind about them. What [God] said [God] would do to them [God] didn’t” (Jonah 3:10 from The Message). Some folks who would read the passage would find the notion of a God that can change God’s mind scary and unsettling since it would undermine their belief that God is the one rock-solid thing in their life. Other folks would see a God who is open to change as being exciting since such a notion would be a natural extension of the vital, dynamic energy found in the world God created. My question for you to consider today is this: how do you view God – as the pillar of stability or as an entity open to change? Even more important than my original question would be a follow up question: why do you view God that way? Til next time…
2 comments:
This was a great reading. It really got the hamsters turning!
Thanks Craig.
Regards,
Chris
I must admit, the idea of a G-d that changes, who can say something and then later change His mind is.. a little unsettling. Admittedly, though, if we are truly made in His image then it shouldn't surprise me - we are constantly changing (or trying to change). I will have to give this some good thought.
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