“For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt”
I believe that the god that lives is a wonderful creator and is good. He is mystery and the hope of all things seen and unseen. We are part of the good creation. We are loved. We somehow carry his image in the seen and unseen.
We are not always very good at reflecting our maker. We have much difficulty in our relationships with the maker, each other and creation. We sometimes have fractured those relationships or have had the same done to us. The pain comes with the de-humanization of one another and leaves us un-actualized (Jesus represents the fully actualized). De-humanization of fellow creations brings destruction to our relationship with the creator as well as with creation.
Instead of describing the kingdom of god, I think it is better to understand that phrase is a descriptor itself. I see the “kingdom of god” as a descriptor for the continual evolution of the expression of god. Continual in that it is without ending. Evolving in the sense that it is fluid and changing – it is now AND not yet. It is an expression of god as it is not god but all about god. It is what he has done and what is to come. It is his hopes and dreams for us and it is his personality. His expression is good!
As church we try to glimpse god though the expressions he has revealed to us. We see it in our religious history and practices. Our feeding of the hungry and clothing of the naked. Our seeking of justice and peace.
As humans we see it in our creative pursuits, our communities and relationship, and our self-realization and actualization.
The course we have charted seems dark and hopeless sometimes. We will not get far from where we stand if we do not seek goodness and hope. These things are in short supply and are only gathered when we seek after god. His supplies are endless! I believe god is calling us to him. With him is the new heading we need on our maps. I can’t say I know what this will look like in the end, but how can it be anything but good?
