I went to a local coffee shop to sit with the scripture passage for this Sunday. I am focusing on Matthew. I like this Gospel a great deal. I don't know if it is my favorite, but I dig it. Anyway, Matthew's passage speaks of change and Jesus' ministry. How we hold on to or renew the old while moving into the future with Christ is a worthwhile line of thought. It's about change.
That caused me to think of Obama and some of his rhetoric. "CHANGE" is such a powerful notion to many. And I think that Obama is brilliantly unspecific about many of the changes thus allowing his fans/supporters to define change for themselves. Then I remembered this critical piece about Obama's recent decision to leave Trinity UCC. Beth Newman is the author.
What we need to remember is that the gospel is offensive. Aside from whether the antics of certain preachers upset the world, the message of the gospel will upset many when faithfully preached. The wisdom of the Cross is foolishness to the world. If this cruciform folly is not embraced, “the Cross of Christ [will] be emptied of its power” (I Corinthians 1:17).It's pretty harsh, but I am not sure she's off the mark. Interesting stuff... Posted by tripp at June 5, 2008 11:28 AMSen. Obama says that he and his wife will choose a new church after the election. In other words, after the real work has been done. Such a decision makes quite clear where his hope for the future lies.
The first line of your Newman quote made me smile, since no one really has a way of knowing what will offend any given other person.
But my smile widened a lot when I recast the word "offensive" in its sports meaning. The offense tries to do something, the defense tries to prevent something else from being done.
So if the gospel of Christianity is trying to do something, that's cause for a smile.
Regarding Sen. Obama's and his family's choice to leave Trinity, I'd love to hear your elucidation of what Newman thinks it "makes quite clear."
I believe church membership/attendance is entirely optional to the practice of Christianity.
Posted by: Megan at June 5, 2008 01:58 PMClarity? You want me to elucidate for clarity?! Dear God.
;-)
Well, I think she would agree with you that one can be Christian without membership in a congregation. Obama did say, however, that the congregation did not need the burden of his candidacy and it is clear to most that he does not want the burden of having to apologize for what comes from the pulpit at Trinity UCC every third Sunday. Perhaps Newman thinks he's selling out for the ease of it all.
I dunno. What do you think?
Posted by: Tripp at June 5, 2008 02:53 PMI don't know. I haven't read the context from which you drew that quote, and I haven't been following Sen. Obama's religious decisions.
So in the absence of actual information, I know better than to opine. :)
Posted by: Megan at June 5, 2008 02:55 PMWell, that makes one of us. ;-)
Posted by: Tripp at June 5, 2008 03:37 PM