Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Images of God and Community

Jim:

Deuteronomy 4:15-24
I focused on verses 15-16a: “since you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire, take care and watch yourselves closely, so that you do not act corruptly by making an idol for yourselves in the form of any figure…” I had never noticed that rationale before, that because the people had seen no shape or form of God that they should not try to depict God in any way as an idol. From time to time, of course, scripture does speak of the appearance of God, sometimes even in human terms. But God has used a variety of means by which to speak to people (like the burning bush, for example) and the Westminster Confession says “God is Spirit”. God, then, cannot be contained in a single image or form, cannot be limited to something our minds can easily understand. God does not have a beginning or an end. God does not fit into an easy category. God is challenging and difficult and requires all our focus and attention and even then God’s glorious reality will transcend our ability to comprehend.

2 Corinthians 1:12-22 and
Luke 15:1-10
Each of these readings say something about community and the interrelatedness of the faith. In 2 Corinthians Paul writes of what must have been a contentious relationship that Paul had with the church in Corinth, or if not contentious than certainly strained. But Paul is determined to stay in conversation with the church community and to hold them accountable for their actions and their attitude.

The gospel reading contains two of Jesus’ stories about finding lost things, and in each case he says, “he/she calls together his/her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me…’” (Verses 6 and 9) A life of faith is best lived in community, sharing the ups and downs, the day to day aspects of life, not as an individual. Participation in the church is so important because it gives our faith a corporate dimension and allows us to grow together in our relationship with God.

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