This psalm epitomizes O.T. religion, what Marcus Borg referred to as a 'purity' faith. In contrast Jesus was very unclean: talking with women! gentile women!, not washing his hands to eat. He said not one jot of the law should pass away. However the Sermon on the Mount shows the ways that Jesus transcended the law of Moses.
Speaking of Jesus Blake said he broke every one of the ten commandments and acted from pure virtue. So we're talking about two different kinds of purity: a religion of purity and a spirit of purity; the two are vastly different. You might say that the O.T. focuses on the first and Jesus the second. You might even say that the first is emphasized by (too) much of the conventional church, while the diaspora emphasizes the second.
December 20, 2005
December 19, 2005
God in all Things
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,
the world and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
This psalm seems to be speaking of panentheism. My blogging friend Jon writes, “One of the wildest aspects of mystical Christian thought lies in the simple truth that God is everywhere. And if God is in fact everywhere, then God is in all things, and all things are in God”. Mystical theologian Matthew Fox writes: "As the ocean is in the fish and the fish are in God, so God is in everything and everything is in God."
the world and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
This psalm seems to be speaking of panentheism. My blogging friend Jon writes, “One of the wildest aspects of mystical Christian thought lies in the simple truth that God is everywhere. And if God is in fact everywhere, then God is in all things, and all things are in God”. Mystical theologian Matthew Fox writes: "As the ocean is in the fish and the fish are in God, so God is in everything and everything is in God."
This concept is so fundamental, yet how difficult it is to wrap our minds around this. We tend to separate things into good and bad, of God and not of God, in fact we tend to even separate ourselves as not being of God. However, this psalm clearly suggests otherwise: God is in all things.
Psalm 24 / C
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
I guess this sounds reasonable and right ... only the worthy shall be allowed to ascend the hill of the Lord, to stand in his holy place. But I think the interesting thing is how this reasonable logic has been obviatedby the gospel message ... now everyone is welcome. A homily I read recently speaks of this - link - and says, in part ...
... God the doorkeeper. Part of me would be very happy knowing that God has standards—high standards too—it’s the part of me that would look down on any club that would have me as a member …... I guess I want standards too. I guess I find it hard to believe that I don’t have to try and try and likely fail. I guess I’d rather fail than lay down the burden and let myself be loved. Because I guess it does come down to love and loving and being loved.
I guess this sounds reasonable and right ... only the worthy shall be allowed to ascend the hill of the Lord, to stand in his holy place. But I think the interesting thing is how this reasonable logic has been obviatedby the gospel message ... now everyone is welcome. A homily I read recently speaks of this - link - and says, in part ...
... God the doorkeeper. Part of me would be very happy knowing that God has standards—high standards too—it’s the part of me that would look down on any club that would have me as a member …... I guess I want standards too. I guess I find it hard to believe that I don’t have to try and try and likely fail. I guess I’d rather fail than lay down the burden and let myself be loved. Because I guess it does come down to love and loving and being loved.
Psalm 23
The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Selah
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Selah
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Selah
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Selah
December 17, 2005
a skripture study member moves on
Joe -- aka Beppe -- has asked his name be removed from membership. Joe introduced us -- or remidned us -- of the possibilities in the Friendly Bible Study approach of Joanne and Larry Spears and he introduced the Quaker blogging world to podcasting.
His energies are elsewhere. He is welcome to return when he feels so moved.
His energies are elsewhere. He is welcome to return when he feels so moved.
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