Day 12, Tuesday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey
For obvious reasons the question the author asks about our faith community gets my attention. “Which dimensions of the kingdom – the “now” or the “not yet” – gets the most attention in your faith community?” I think this question is closely related to the question about immanence and transcendence. Those that tend to give more attention to the “now” will probably tend to emphasize the immanence of God. Those that tend to give more attention to the “not yet” will probably tend to emphasize the transcendence of God. I say “probably tend” because even as I write this I can think of a few exceptions.
I think I tend to give more attention to the “now.” That’s were my passion lays, certainly. I know “the sweet by and by” is going to be wonderful beyond my imagination. And I know that our visions of that future can and do shape our vision of what God’s kingdom should look like here and now. I think I give more attention to the “now” of the kingdom because too many people only think of the kingdom as something that is coming and ignore its presence among us now. It is the mindset that produce songs such as “From a Distance;” that God doesn’t get God’s hands dirty slogging it out with us. I like to give more attention to the “now” because I think this is the wonder and miracle of the incarnation. God joins us fully and even dies with us as well as for us. I think the incarnation has much to say about how we engage in the mission we have been called and gifted to do.
So, what do you think? Does the “now” get more attention or does the “not yet” in our faith community? I look forward to reading your responses.
When I read that question I said absolutely positively for me the “now” gets my attention more. Yes, I’m absolutely looking forward to “not yet” but I feel God has given me and yes, all of us, a lot to do before the “not yet” gets here. I believe it is our “duty” if you will, to further the kingdom of God here on earth by being kind and loving, caring, sharing, serving rather than being served, praying and worshiping. These are all things that Jesus did when he was physically walking on this earth and they are things that he wants all of his disciples to be doing now as they wait for the “not yet” to come. Every trip we take requires preparation; why should this one be any different?
To “keep myself honest”, I don’t check in here until I have read and commented in my journal. I’m going to backtrack a little to the last section. My image had a great deal to do with our family reunions, which unfortunately have become a thing of the past. But, they were a marvelous time of love and joy and sharing, comradery and bounty! And today I thought of the musicians coming together to re-record “We are the World” and the sense of brotherhood it presents.
Today, when I came to the question “now or not yet?”, my first thought was to say “now”, but before I could write it down I thought to myself – “is it? Is it really?” I asked myself. “How much do I do to make it a kingdom of God on earth?” Or, do I think and act more in generalities – thinking in a larger sense – “If I believe and live the right way, I’ll go to heaven. ” ?
I’d like to think I know the answer, but, if I don’t, then there must be more to do……
I like your family reunion image. It is similar to the Biblical image of the wedding feast, and surely for similar reasons.