Dear Kim,

Dear Kim, This is what This is what I believe.... I believe....

Explaining Christian Faith Today by Bill Loader

Explaining Christian Faith Today by Bill Loader Dear Kim, so. It has worried me that too few people write like this and that many This is what I believe . . . who do so produce not something Explaining that is simple and straightforward Christian Faith Today but something that is simplistic. I have tried instead to share openly by Bill Loader what I think. I am not wanting to

imply that others should think as I I wrote this book because people do. Some people like to be told what in my family and among my friends they should believe because some have often asked me: "Bill, what do high authority declares it to be right you believe?" about so many as- or 'because the Bible says so' or be- pects of Christian faith. My niece, cause they believe themselves to be Formatted as a booklet by Peter Ellis Kim, now a woman in her 30's was the authority. This book is not for for study at: one of many of all ages. As a biblical them. It is for people who want to Kippax Uniting Church, Canberra, Australia scholar and theologian it would have think critically about their faith and http://www.kippax.org.au been easy for me to take a deep want to find a way of making sense breath, survey all the complexities of it so they can live from it in to- Cnr Luke Street & Hardwick Crescent, HOLT ACT 2615 and begin a long explanation which day's world. PO Box 35, KIPPAX ACT 2615 Ph: 62541733 email: [email protected] would have covered all the bases, shown fine academic balance, An earlier form of the book ap- earned respect as profound exposi- peared in hard copy as Dear Kim, tion from my peers, but which would this is what I believe. Explaining have left Kim and others yawning. Christian faith today, published by Uniting Ed., Melbourne. It has now So I decided it would be a good sold out, so I have taken the oppor- idea if I wrote simply what I be- tunity to revise it and put it on the lieved about some of the key as- web to make it accessible to a wider pects of Christian belief without try- range of readers. Over the next two months, Sept/Oct, 2001, each of the ing to meet all those other worthy goals. Can I say it plainly and sim- chapters will appear. They are set ply? I have tried in this book to do out below.

Dear Kim, This is what I believe....

What about God? 3

What about Jesus? 13 Body Type: Verdana 10pt What about the Bible? 27 Headings: Lucida Handwriting What about the Church? 37 ©September 2001 What about right and wrong? 51 Format Version: March 2004 What about being Christian? 65 Sacred Space 75

2 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 79 Some people call that con- science, but for me it’s bigger

than that. It’s life; it’s being in touch with the spirit and life of the universe. So it’s much more than knowing what is right and wrong. It’s a sense of oneness with other people, with nature, with myself. It is like knowing that they all draw on the same What about God? life energy - or they can. We all Chapter one of drink from the same stream. Revd Professor William R. G. Loader Dear Kim, God is like the stream of life and love that flows through all BA (Auckl) BD (Otago) this is what I believe . . . things. I can let that flow in my Dr theol (Mainz, Germany) FAHA by Bill Loader life or I can block it. I can help it flow in the world or I can dam it Professor of New Testament at Murdoch University Dear Kim, up. I can think of myself as a tree and New Testament Lecturer and Principal of the You asked me about God. I think about God in a number of with my roots deep in the Perth Theological Hall of the Uniting Church in Australia, different ways. ground drawing up the moisture of that stream. The life moisture teaching in the Theology Programme. Sometimes I think of God as comes up into my being. Even to being like the life energy that is contemplate it can be very in everything, that joins us all physically relaxing and renewing. together. God is in everything. I find it important to make time http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader God is also in me and in you. I every now and again to get in can be in tune with this life en- [email protected] touch with my roots and to ergy or out of tune with it. For sense the sap flowing up into my me as an individual it has a lot to body. It also helps me be aware do with being at one with my Uniting Church in Australia of where I block that flow so I true self. You know how some- http://www.uca.org.au can decide to change things. times you feel at odds with your- self or you know you’re not It’s also a bit similar to that when I think of those around me really being true to yourself? Well, for me, that’s the same as and of the world of human be- being true to God or it can be. I ings. The life energy is about need to try to live in harmony bringing harmony and whole- with God and, if I do, then I’ll ness. So, when I am in touch live in harmony with my true self with it, I become more aware and with the world around me. where there is disharmony, where the life stream is being Conscience?

78 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 3 blocked - in others, by others, by but it has its roots in a sense of there for all to enter and for all me, by us. So this is all con- wonder. There is the wonder at to share. It is the invitation of nected with concern for justice the minute, the beauty of a tiny God. This is what I believe. and equality among people, with flower. There is the wonder at concern for , peace in that the immense: looking out into (C) September 2001 sense, because the same spirit the universe of stars. If you have energy which wants to make me sat and gazed into the night sky whole and healthy wants this away from the city lights, you also for the world of human be- will know the experience. How ings. It’s not just all about me vast it all is: an endless array of Would you like to copy and use and it’s not about peace or har- worlds, stars, solar systems - this material in this electronic mony at the expense of justice. and we see only a fraction of publication? You are welcome to Sometimes the sense of oneness what there is! I find it hard to do so. I ask only that you ac- is a sense of shared pain as believe that there is not some in- knowledge its source, let me much as it is of shared joy. telligence behind it all. Some- know ([email protected].

I feel that also for the world of thing is behind all of this. I call edu.au) how you are doing so nature. I am connected with that ‘something’ God. and where, and, if you think it every other person and I am also The simplest way of expressing would be of interest to me, send connected with the world of na- this is to say: ‘God made the me a copy of what you produce. ture. There’s a sense in which universe’, but I’m not always what happens to them and to it sure that is so helpful. Immedi- happens to me. When I see na- ately some people will think ture savaged I feel a bit violated about the stories of creation in inside myself. When I see people the Bible and take them literally. treated like dirt, I feel dragged One of them says God created down too. We all belong to- everything in six days. The other gether. So I’m not talking about one says that humans were me and my navel and how to es- made like clay models and then cape this troubled world onto an breathed on and they came to isle of inner bliss now or in the life. These are ancient myths, future, but about how to live in which Israel shared with other the world in a way that is con- cultures of its day and which it nected and engaged with what is retold in distinctive ways. As going on. such they are full of deep mean- As well as thinking of God as ing, but I don’t treat them as lit- being like the life energy in all eral descriptions of what hap- things, I also think of God as be- pened. I don’t believe creation hind everything. It’s like saying: took place in six days. I’m not if it weren’t for God, there even sure that it makes a lot of wouldn’t be anything; nothing sense to try to pin-point a begin- would exist. That is not simple, ning of time. But I do believe

4 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 77 company. There I am never for preservation. that God is the ultimate reason God, he is told that God should alone. There I find many people. Sometimes the sacred space is why there is not just nothing. So be called: ‘I am who I am’. Jesus is there; so are men and filled with silence, wonder at all when I am close to the world Shut up about God? women from history. It is Jesus that is, a kind of still enjoyment around me, I feel close to God - If we can’t define or describe who helps me make sense of of God’s presence. At other times and when I am close to God, I God, we should perhaps simply what the space is all about. there are voices of concern, con- feel close to the world around shut up - and that is not a bad When I listen for God, it is his flicting voices, uncertain sounds me! idea at times, especially when voice I hear, sometimes in clear as people confront new deci- God as a person people have been talking about tones, sometimes muffled sions. Some decisions are made When I talk about or think God as if they know everything. through the cries of human be- in the dark, resolutions worked about God, I still prefer to speak If rabbits could think about God, ings in need. through on scant evidence, ven- of God as a person, not an ‘it’. they would probably think about The temple is decorated with tures undertaken without the ad- For me, being a person is more God as a rabbit. Human persons panels of faith, the rich traditions vantage of precedent. The sa- than being a thing. So, I can think about God as a person. To of the Bible, the stories of love cred space has room for aban- speak of God as the life energy do so is quite inadequate, but at and courage. The sacred space is doned experiments, discarded of the universe, but I soon find least it is saying there is some- filled with all kinds of people, models, broken constructs. myself speaking of God in much thing in God I can relate to. It is some like me, some very unlike Being in touch with all of this is more personal terms. I’ve always better to say something than to me, some with whom I feel awk- being in touch with love. It is been used to speaking of God as say nothing about God. If I tried ward, some comfortable to be love which is the sacred energy, a person; it comes naturally; and to remain silent, I would soon with. Yet there is room for them the sacred space, the place I also want to keep doing it. But find myself inventing something. all. The space is not crowded. which makes room for life to go when I speak of God as a per- I would find myself inventing Like a dream, the picture is not on and which ultimately made son, I am aware of how easily something, because out of my constant. Sometimes the holy room for life to come into being that can be misunderstood. inner self I find myself wanting space is not within a temple at in the beginning. Love was there The main thing is: God must be to respond at a very deep level all; it is in someone’s living room in the beginning and will be greater than things and greater to God. There’s a kind of primi- or on a street or in a prison. there in the end. It is this love, than persons. God must be quite tive cry of thank you inside. Or Sometimes I am right there in which is the life of God and different from things or people. sometimes there’s a sense of what is happening; other times I which shone through Jesus, Even to think of God as a being awe and wonder at the magnifi- am observing from far away. The which is also there for us in the seems not quite right. It might cence of the universe. Or some- holiness has nothing to do with present. be better to think of God as Be- times there’s a sense of pain and being stuck up and proud. It is There is nothing greater that I ing itself, Life itself. Yet that all anger which I feel God shares, there when Jesus touches the can wish for, for myself or for sounds too abstract. We know too, at what goes on in the leper, sits down with Mary, takes you or for anyone else, than to what we are driving at, but any world. And some people with a meal with the rogue, Zac- discover that love and be discov- attempt to define God seems much harder life experiences chaeus, lifts the children to his ered by it. Finding this is finding doomed to failure. That seems than I have had would say: also lap, confronts the chief priests. ourselves and finding one an- inevitable because of what or a sense of pain and anger at The holy space is there even other and, ultimately, it is finding who God is. When the Old Testa- what is happening to me. It is without people: in the hills, the God. This is not a single moment ment says people should not like there’s a ‘God frequency’ in- forests, the oceans. It is there in time, but a sacred space in make images of God, it seems to side along which the human when they are replenished and which to live. It is the sacred be aware of this point. When heart expresses its deepest joy cared for and when they cry out space of love and compassion, Moses asks what he should call and pain.

76 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 5 Problems about God as a per- prayers, why doesn’t God inter- your own reflections. son vene in major famine and disas- There is more than enthusiasm There are a number of prob- ter areas? Is this ‘God’ unwilling, behind what I have written. lems in thinking of God in per- uncaring, needing more persua- There are people. I have learned sonal terms and some of them sion? This idea of God makes lit- so much through my relation- are big enough to turn people off tle sense to me and I am not ships with my fellow human be- religion altogether. Some people comforted by the explanation ings. People are full of mystery. believe that God has plans for that it is all part of a plan which I Human beings are extraordinary. people’s lives and sets those shall finally understand in the Beyond all the words, the ap- plans into action, like a puppet- next world. I find it hard there- pearances, the movements, and eer pulling strings. I don’t think fore to make sense of people Sacred Space yet connected with them, is a of God like that. Not that I think saying God saved them from a thinking, feeling, reflecting being we are completely free to shape motor accident or ‘took someone’ Chapter seven of in each person. I can approach, our own destiny; we are much through a motor accident or can- Dear Kim, meet, encounter another human more shaped by what has gone cer or the like. It might help peo- this is what I believe . . . being, yet, beyond all I can ple to accept and come to terms on around us and by hereditary by Bill Loader meet, there is so much more factors than we think. But that is with what has happened by say- which I don’t know. There is a very different from believing God ing it was ‘meant to be’, but it sacredness, a holy space of inner has a detailed blueprint or that does not fit my understanding of Dear Kim, being which I can sense only at a our fate is locked up in the stars. God. I am not being irreverent I have written all this because I distance. For the same reason I also about God; I am being irrever- want you to know what I really It is as though each person is a have difficulty with the idea that ent, perhaps, about some peo- believe. I have tried to be as sacred temple and we meet there is a God who pulls strings ple’s ideas of God. clear and direct as possible and mostly only in the outer courts. only sometimes, though I know Love: making room and staying to set aside thoughts of what There are special moments when that many people think this way. in touch people might expect me to say being with someone is more than Some people understand prayer I prefer to think of God as hav- or believe. I know you will sense this. And then there are also mo- in this way: if I pray enough or ing set the universe free to my enthusiasm; some areas ments when, by entering within rightly, God will alter the scheme evolve and develop in its own about which I have written are my own deep inner sense of sa- of things for me (or for others): way and that the magic of the closely connected to what I teach credness, I find myself at one, send the right weather, fix the universe is that forms of intelli- in my work. But some are simply not only with myself, but also car, find me a job, make me rich. gence have evolved which can my reflections about faith at this with others and with God. That It is easy (and probably a good have an active part in shaping stage of my life journey. I think I has little to do with how I feel thing) to poke fun at the self in- that development. To picture it in can say that most of what I have and a lot to do with what I be- dulgence of many such prayers, a mythical way, God has chosen written here has been my belief lieve or, better, with what I allow but I don’t want to overlook that not to take up the whole space, for at least the last thirty-five to be. many of these are prayers for but has made room for others years. Yet there are some areas This deep mystery I share with others made out of love and con- and made room for them to de- where my views and attitudes all other human beings, for I be- cern. velop and evolve in their own have changed and doubtless will lieve that this sacred space is The difficulty is that if we be- way. God gives the world this change. I am sharing what I be- within each of us. When I picture lieve God intervenes in weather freedom. Love means making lieve in the hope that you and this sacred space as a holy tem- and the like in response to room for others to be, giving others may find it a stimulus for ple, I am aware of entering it in

6 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 75 destructive of the created world, rent issues; reading poetry, them space and staying in touch. means deliberately seeking out blocks that light. And whoever drama, novels; finding insights God stays in touch with the uni- this connection with God, taking lives by the light which affirms through film and theatre; enjoy- verse. time and making space in our what I see God affirming in Jesus ing and expressing oneself But how does God stay in touch lives to open our lives to God, is my spiritual companion. And through various forms of art or with the universe? At one level I soaking up the love energy from when I don’t know where my fel- music; enjoying nature and want to answer: I do not know the roots up. God is in there with low human being in another re- beauty; meeting with other hu- and cannot know. Maybe we are us - in joy, in struggle, in pain, in ligion is going, I will want to lis- man beings who challenge us or encountering God not only in en- adventure, in creativity. ten and not judge. simply bring us love and joy; joying the universe, but also It also makes sense to me to The world needs you meditating, perhaps using re- when we suffer the backlash of think of praying for others as be- The world needs men and laxation strategies of thought treating it badly, like it is a giant ing a channel of God’s love and women who can live with sensi- and body movement; praying, organism capable of repelling energy for others. I think of this tivity to God in their lives. We using written prepared ordered danger. Is that God or is that less as my trying to persuade don’t need any more people material or in spontaneous self simply reaping the fruit of our God to do something and more claiming to have all the answers expression - thinking out loud own actions? as my opening myself to God’s or claiming to be better than before God, writing down per- On the other hand, I find it ab- persuasion, to be part of God’s everyone else. We need people sonal reflections and challenges. surd to think of God as just a loving to others. I’m not really who will decide to live at one Ultimately being Christian has kind of spectator, sitting in a sure how this works, but some- with God, the loving God we little to do with labels or status. heavenly grandstand, as it were, times there seems to be a con- learn of in Jesus. This is more It is not about guarantees or biting his or her nails in anxiety nection between a praying per- than an internal private commit- special spiritual favours. It is not and compassion, hoping good son and the person or persons ment; it is a decision to live with even particularly religious. It is wins on the playing field of life. prayed for which is beneficial and others and to be in community. sometimes most real where the God might as well not exist, if I find this a way of understand- It is to join up with others walk- term, ‘Christian’, isn’t even men- God is only to be thought of as ing what happens when we pray. ing the same road. It means tioned. It is about a way of being the one who started the ball roll- Underlying everything I have standing in the stream, being human, of being what we were ing and then left it to its fate. said so far is an important as- within the life of the Church, made to be. And that means liv- So it makes sense to me to sumption: that God (whatever it sharing its great resources, ing at one with God, in love and think of God as deeply involved or he or she is) is good and not struggling sometimes where its compassion towards other hu- with the universe, but not as bad. It is possible to imagine a channels are blocked and living man beings and ourselves, and someone looking on from outside bad god, like one of those evil out its hope in the world. with care for the universe in and occasionally switching the monsters of science fiction: Christian living also includes which we live. controls when the right message some hoary evil genius on a dis- developing private habits which comes in. Rather God is inside, tant planet having fun with hu- mans, kidding them there is stimulate our sensitivity to God’s within us, among us, seeking to love in ourselves and our world bring life, love and peace to us hope when there is no hope. Life and being quite deliberate about and our world. We can know our- is just one big, bad joke. Many it. Here, there are no rules. We selves to be sharing in that life people’s experience of life is not must find what works for us. and love. We are partners with far from that. People find a number of things God in the ongoing development But nor is God an old doting helpful: guided Bible reading; of the universe - in our own min- grandpa or grandma sitting on a reading to keep informed of cur- ute but significant way. Praying golden throne up in the sky.

74 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 7 That’s all part of the problem in were quite happy to picture God dencies and discourages intellec- imagery of the rug from chapter thinking of God as a person. as king and father of the uni- tual integrity. I want to say to 2. The light shines through the When we think of God as a per- verse. If their understanding of them, that the Church is where rug at many points in human son, we inevitably think of God kings and fathers was cruel and the stream flows; don’t leave the history. I have no interest in de- in human imagery. Thinking of destructive, they happily attrib- heritage of Jesus to the funda- fining boundaries on the rug. If God as a wise old man or woman uted these qualities to God. mentalists and narrow religious light shines in and through an- isn’t too bad an image! But One of the more common mod- people. That is to abandon him other religion or movement, and mostly what has happened is els for thinking about God as a to his opponents. I have no doubt that it does, that people have thought of the king and father, which reflected And I would want to say to then I can only be glad. I will highest and best human being people’s ideals of human kings those who with great dedication join hands with all who live by they can think of and then used and fathers, was that of the be- help maintain the institutional that light. that as the image for God. This nevolent dictator. This king re- structures of the Church: beware But, having said that, what do I can be enlightening or quite mis- tained his power and honour, but of compromising the faith for the mean by light? I mean by light leading. Let me illustrate what I provided ways for his subjects to sake of apparent unity! Lowest the light that is God and my mean. regain favour when they had common denominator Christian- starting point in understanding Human images of God: good wronged him and his rules. If ity will inevitably pander to con- that light is Jesus. It is the light news and bad news they came to him and were truly servative religionists. Hold the as I see it in Jesus that I am wel- In most societies the most hon- sorry and perhaps offered some boundaries wide open for diver- coming. I don’t mean light with a oured person was usually the other guarantees, they could be sity but with integrity! I know in Christian label; light doesn’t ruler, the most powerful, and, in- forgiven. myself the tension between the wear labels. I mean the light that evitably, male. Therefore people If we use the model of God as a will to compromise and not of- shows itself in unconditional, af- thought of God as king. A king benevolent dictator, we can pro- fend and the challenge of faith firming love for people and care sits on a throne; people bow be- duce an account of the gospel integrity. In ecumenical relations and respect for the world around fore a king; a king should be which sounds something like we push our creativity to the lim- us. That is the love I have met in obeyed without question, if he is this. God the king had disobedi- its. I sometimes wonder whether Jesus. I will not shy away from a good king. And in families the ent subjects who had offended in putting some things into ac- meeting it anywhere else and will most honoured person, the head him by transgressing his laws ceptable formulations I have not rejoice wherever I find it. of the house, was the father. and so by his rules ought to face blurred significant edges. The I know from my limited reading Therefore people thought of God punishment, but in his generos- Church needs to be a place that that light shines through at as a father. It is all very male ity he looked for a way of giving where there is room for diversity many points in the great reli- oriented and very power ori- them a second chance. That had and struggle in the search for gious and philosophical traditions ented. to mean finding a way around truth. My picture of God in all of humankind and in many mod- As people thought of God in the rules. Jesus is pictured as this is not of a nail biting deity, ern movements of spirituality. I these ways, two things happened the king’s own son. He offered but of one who is glad human know also that there are many simultaneously. The human mod- the king a way out which didn’t beings are using their minds. points where I would see that els of what was important af- compromise the king’s dignity Other religions? light dimmed or darkened, in- fected people’s understanding of and his laws. In an act of volun- So far I have not said anything cluding within Christian tradi- God and, in turn, people’s under- tary obedience, he allowed him- about other religions or about tions. Whatever dehumanises, standing of God reinforced the self to become a substitute for more recent movements which whatever causes people to be human models of power in soci- others and to take the punish- seek to explore the spiritual treated as of lesser worth than ety and in the family. People ment due to them. This transac- meaning of life. I return to my others, whatever disparages or is

8 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 73 Feeding on life and hope - in time to connect with the heart of tion then freed the king to for- God is not really loving at all. Je- the community the gospel. On the one hand, I give people without compromis- sus figures in this model as an Looking back on all of this, I can get worried about people ing his strict laws of reward and exception in the life of God, not find the simple eating of bread shopping around for a comfort- punishment. This system and its as a revelation of the way God and drinking of wine at Holy able church congregation. Look- benefits applied however only for is. Communion an event which tells ing for people who are just like an interim period. In the long This approach has had a major me without words who I am and me or who fit in with my ideas term the king would subject influence on society with de- what I am about. It connects me may entail surrendering an im- those who crossed him or re- structive outcomes. It is not sur- with the vision of Jesus and with portant aspect of the gospel: jected his system to everlasting prising that where it has held its my life agenda. It feeds me with that there is room for all here. torment. The father would shut sway, many forms of violence what he was and is. Eating and But, on the other hand, when the door on these children for- have flourished: international, drinking becomes a symbolic one gets the message that ever. This king’s violence was institutional, domestic, interper- way of opening myself again to something other than the gospel justified, however, because he sonal. Unfortunately, within the that simple, yet profound love is predominating - such as fun- was ‘god’ and because his laws stream of Christian tradition over that matters most. It also con- damentalism, narrow minded- by which all were judged were the ages this current of thought nects me with all others who ness, mutual comfort of the just. Seen from the perspective has nearly always been present. feed on this food and seek to live comfortable without commitment of the whole, the act of compas- Yet, to me, it is a gross misrep- in this way. to justice, ideology and activism sion in making forgiveness possi- resentation and distortion of I do this with others in commu- without spirituality - then why ble was only a temporary meas- what I understand the gospel to nity, usually in a church. I don’t continue to offer support? ure and an exception to the be. Even on the side of the coin pretend that the others with me Belonging to Christ in the king’s normal behaviour. where it is supposed to be good are saints or that they under- church Images of power and violence news, it remains bad news. In stand things the way I do. And A number of the people to or images of compassion fact, I would claim, that the good sometimes things can go on whom I feel closest are either Many people have drawn up the news is that I can abandon this which make me feel quite of just in or just out of the Church - message of Christianity on the way of thinking about God. There place. But that is what it means at least that is how many see basis of this model. It is meant are two reasons why I say this, to drink at this stream. I am not them. Those ‘many’ would per- to be ‘good news’, but, on the one modern and one ancient. a saint either. I am not always haps see themselves as church other side of the coin, it is really First, our understanding of appropriate. I don’t mean I just stalwarts, whereas I might see bad news: it teaches that human kings and fathers has changed. have to sit back and put up with them as having lost contact with beings are ultimately dispensa- Our understanding of what are things I might not find helpful in what I see as central. I think it is ble; in the long run they can be the best human models has the church; I can say something; a major tragedy that more and written off; it teaches that vio- changed. To begin with, why use so can others. But I am celebrat- more people who are genuinely lence is justified against people if a male image? Why not a fe- ing something which says there on the side of Jesus in what mat- my cause is right, because ‘God’ male? God is not a ‘he’ or a ‘she’. is a place here for every one of ters most find no room in the is like that in the end; and it But, more than that, we are us. Church. They have been encour- teaches that ultimately forgive- learning to see power in a new Yet I also have understanding aged to think that the norm in ness is only a concession without way. No one has the right to do when people sometimes say it is the Church is a naive pietism surrender of power. God’s high- violence to another person. That asking too much to stay with a which treats the Bible as infalli- est priority on this model is not is not because everyone has congregation where we need to ble, has narrow moral views and love, but keeping the integrity of their faults and only a perfect make an enormous effort each largely right wing political ten- his rules intact. In the long run person would have such a right

72 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 9 (like a god). It is the violence it- distracted from ‘his’ own inter- (Aramaic for: Our Lord come!). surviving Jews who did not join self which we have learned is ests and concerns to give atten- The first generations of Chris- the great revolt to reconstitute wrong. The most enlightened le- tion to human beings. When, tians even believed that this Judaism and lay the foundations gal systems penalise only with a however, I start thinking about hope would reach its fulfilment for the Judaism we know today. view to learning, deterrence and God as being always attentive within a short time. Paul seems New twists in the urge for rehabilitation. and loving, I start seeing prayer to have thought it would be in change These days we see government in a different way. It has less to his lifetime! Jesus probably left it Meanwhile Christianity was less in terms of rulers who have do with getting God to tune in to very open, but must have left finding it had a much greater fol- a right to power because of their me and more to do with my tun- behind the impression that fulfil- lowing among non-Jews than strength or their virtue or their ing in to God and being available ment was not far away. among Jews. Visions and images breeding and more as people to be a channel of God’s continu- Urgent hope of hope were becoming progres- elected to act for the interests of ing love and compassion in the This had a lot to do with the sively disentangled from their all. Compassion and caring is world. political and social crises which Jewish nationalist roots. This de- their agenda and we rightly com- Forgiveness a concession or a the Jews were living through at velopment had the potential to plain when it is not there and form of loving? the time. Roman suppression of unleash a movement living for when people seem to be in poli- Similarly, our understanding of their religious movements and justice and peace in every soci- tics just for the sake of power. human relationships has exploitation of their land through ety. It also had the potential to We look on compassion and car- changed significantly. Forgive- heavy taxes meant that many transform Christianity into a ing as the norm to be expected, ness is not a concession on the were reaching the breaking point movement no longer concerned not as some hoped-for conces- basis of sufficient remorse being of desperation. Surely history with such an earthly fulfilment of sion to be bartered from the shown, but something we give could not go on like this! Christi- the kingdom of God, but focused ruler by transaction or special freely. Forgiveness is giving up of anity was born in this atmos- primarily on the individual and pleading. It is the people whose power; it is when we no longer phere and its hopes were not on the spiritual world. In history lives are marked by generosity hold something, ourselves, back easily separable from the cry for both options have at times been and compassion whom we have from someone or hold something religious and political liberation. taken. On the one hand, we see learned to honour, not those with against them. Fathers - and Certainly Jesus’ hope seems to Christians, already in the first claims to self importance on the mothers - who maintain relation- have envisaged the kind of prac- century, transferring God’s reign basis of aristocracy, wealth and ships with their children primarily tical transformation of society into the invisible world of heaven power. on the basis of claiming their which would be good news for or the soul. Hope becomes es- This also affects the way I un- rights to respect and obedience the poor, for his fellow Jews in cape from this world into the derstand prayer. In ancient soci- and not on the basis of continu- Galilee. next by death or during this life ety rulers were largely preoccu- ing love are impoverishing them- Unlike Jesus, some of his fellow by mystical contemplation. But, pied with their own interests. If selves and their children. I would Jews opted for armed rebellion. on the other, at its best, we can you wanted something done for hate to be respected by my chil- They succeeded in instigating a also see Christianity offering a yourself or for someone else you dren on that kind of basis - it is major revolt against Rome in 66- universally valid lifestyle, com- needed to petition the monarch; so distant. 70 CE. The result was a disaster. bining a deep sense of oneness otherwise the monarch is not It is not power and fear, but The temple was destroyed. That with God in prayer and commu- likely to take any interest or un- love that makes relationships kind of Judaism was all but fin- nity with a practical devotion to dertake any initiative. This has work best. The kind of respect I ished and certainly met its end live out the vision of the king- influenced people’s understand- want is the same I want to give half a century later when the city dom in everyday life, the vision ing of prayer: ‘God’ needs to be to everyone else and also want was levelled. It was left for the of a transformed society.

10 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 71 be glad because of the hope it meals into a kind of advance for them: to see other people as find it hard not to be drawn into would bring. They would be fed. statement of how the world was unique individuals, to respect the value systems which they They would find justice and to be. They showed Jesus living their right to their own decisions, traditionally represent. God is peace. The current power struc- out future hope in the present. to honour their boundaries, to not ‘stuck up’, does not need to tures in the world would be As we saw in the chapter on Je- meet them with who I am and be ‘bought’ by our deeds or changed. There would be room sus, Jesus’ last meal was seen as what I need and have to give. Christ’s deeds. God actually ca- for the outcast and despised. The the culmination of such meals I would be shocked into serious res and loves. powers that oppress people and the starting point of the self-examination if someone What I am saying is that on the within themselves and within the Christian practice of Holy Com- thought I needed to be appeased two models which have been wider human community would munion. The earliest believers or persuaded before I would re- most influential for thinking be removed. Jesus picked up the met regularly for such meals. In spond to others in love, as about God, rulers and fathers, imagery of the prophets who them, on the one hand, they re- though I were somehow above we have moved such a long way spoke of men and women from membered Jesus (it became a loving or had a right to withhold from the understanding which all the peoples of the earth com- memorial meal) and, on the love. I would be even more ap- underlies the picture I outlined ing together in peace, beating other hand, they celebrated in palled if in response to my lov- above. I am quite concerned, their swords into plows and their advance the day when the king- ing, people argued I should be however, that many people still spears into pruning hooks. One dom of God would come fully praised because I went beyond operate with a model of God common image he used for this and they would be joined again what is to be expected or the which depends on human models was of a meal in which all would by Jesus. Very quickly they way I am usually. Yet it is pre- which are no longer defensible in share. spoke of sensing Jesus’ being cisely this which I find regularly our world. Jesus taught his disciples to present with them when they ate in expressions of Christian piety. Jesus shows us a better way pray: Your kingdom come! Yet he the meal together. The Lord’s People don’t want to believe that There is a more ancient reason did more than this. He took his Supper, as it came to be called, God actually wants to be loving why we need an alternative image of hope as an agenda for became a holy ‘communion’ or and wants us to expect that love. model of God to the one paro- living here and now. In his life he fellowship with him as well as an At worst it is like they are say- died above. For my plea is only showed God’s generosity; he in- act of thanksgiving (the meaning ing: thank you for loving and for- partly that we update our think- cluded outcasts; he affirmed the of the word ‘Eucharist’) for his giving us, because when you are ing about God. I also want us to worth of people of different race; life. And in celebrating it they your usual self we can only ex- ‘backdate’ it. I mean we need to he showed God’s acceptance and also looked forward to Jesus’ re- pect you to be quite cold and un- backdate it to Jesus, because, love towards the least lovable in turn. caring. despite the strength of the other society. And one of the charac- Thus in the hands of his first When we praise God’s love as model in his context, Jesus teristic ways in which this hap- disciples Jesus’ hope and vision unexpected and exceptional, we shows us a better way of under- pened was by his taking the un- for the future came to include subtly reinforce our dominant standing God. From Jesus I learn usual step of eating meals with also a hope about him. Here is value system, that ultimately that compassion and caring are them. That meant departing where the so called second com- what matters most is power and not exceptions to the norm in the from the normal custom of not ing of Jesus fits in. They hoped dignity not love and we show life of God, but they are the way eating with those considered un- for the kingdom’s coming and that we do not really believe in God is, was and always will be. worthy or unacceptable in soci- continued to pray in the Lord’s love. Our problem, in part, is God doesn’t need a transaction ety. By using meals to show his prayer: your kingdom come! that much of our language in to be able to forgive and stay openness and acceptance to- They also hoped to see Jesus church is drawn from the im- consistent with the law; God’s wards outcasts, Jesus made again and prayed: Marana tha! agery of courts and kings and we being and nature is to want to

70 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 11 bring life and wholeness; and per-father bent on cowering ‘his’ events above and below. Fre- am confident that in death I am forgiveness and restoration are subjects or children to respect quently God’s presence was pic- not cut off from God. I believe part of that. Jesus illustrated and obedience; God is like Jesus. tured as dazzling, bright light. that, as with Jesus, I go to be that over and over again in the Jesus, by what he said and what People spoke of heaven as a with God. I don’t think I need to way he responded to people. He he did, turned the popular place of great beauty and won- know any more. God is enough; wasn’t waiting around until he power- based image of God up- derful music. These are all im- the rest is imagery. In making had taken the punishment, be- side down. It is significant that ages, such as we might find in this affirmation I am going far fore he would feel free to love when Jesus uses the model of a our dreams. They are ways of beyond what can be proved and people. parent to speak about God, he saying that God is God and to be you may feel I am believing too Am I suggesting we abandon tells of someone who runs down close to God is the most wonder- much. I ought to be able to say worshipping and honouring God? the road to embrace a wayward ful thing imaginable. Heaven is more than I can about how I en- Are we to abandon reverence, son with compassion. Jesus said the language of poetry - so is visage the relationship between the ‘fear of the Lord’? What is that the greatness is not to be hell. the human body and brain and worship and honour? For me, like those rulers who love power, Life after death? such life without body and brain. honouring any person means ac- but to be a humble person who But what about life after death? I certainly envisage a continuity knowledging them for who they loves people. These were his val- Some people try to prove this by of awareness (I will know this is are, respecting that they are dif- ues. He came, he said, not to be recounting so-called contacts me!). I do not mean simply a ferent from me and that I can served but to serve and give his with the dead through spiritual- carry over of life force or imper- never presume to know every- life. God is also such a giver of ism or by noting what people re- sonal soul into some other being thing about them. It means hav- life. The image of king we find in port who have technically died such as in the ideas of reincarna- ing a sense of awe before others the gospels is the image of Jesus for some minutes and then been tion which hold so much fascina- as I realise their mystery, their crowned with thorns on a cross. revived and who speak of out of tion for many, because I don’t distinctiveness, and treating This is a deliberate subversion. the body experiences. It seems really understand that as living. I them as holy. This is the most I For here is a new kind of power, that it is common for such peo- would not know this is me. can give to others and the most I an apparently foolish and power- ple to report strong sensations of A vision to live by want for myself. It is also the less power. Here is the love that well-being, of meeting significant But there is another set of im- most I can be for God and, I be- brought it all into being and people of their past and of see- ages about the future which are lieve, the most God wants. Wor- which never gives up in its ing bright lights. Perhaps this is much more powerful for me. ship is opening myself to what I yearning to bring justice and a form of hallucination. Possibly These belong within the frame- know God to be and letting my- wholeness to the world, even there is more to it. Then there work of thought about a future self sense something of what when it means being poured out are phenomena such as extra kingdom of God and about a sec- that means. My response may be in death. So when you ask me sensory perception or long dis- ond coming of Jesus. Do I be- one of silence, of awe, of praise, about God, I can’t help but go on tance mental communication lieve in the second coming? I of singing, of joy or pain. I am in to talk about Jesus. which seem to suggest other lev- can’t answer that with a simple the presence of the love which els of reality, but at most these yes or no. I need first to say gave birth to the universe, the make me doubt the sufficiency of what I understand these terms love I see poured out in the life current scientific hypotheses. to mean. of Jesus. That is far from the im- Yet in the choice between deny- Jesus spoke of the kingdom of age of a power-obsessed deity ing or affirming life after death, I God or God’s reign as something demanding fear. come down on the side of belief. people could look forward to. He God is not a super-king or su- My starting point is God and I said the poor and hungry could

12 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 69 But this kind of thinking skews human chaos and destruction. any other historical figure. what Christianity is about. It People can create their own hell, So much has been said about puts a far off place in the centre even hell on earth, and can do so Jesus down through the centu- of things and encourages me to for others. In creation God ries that it is often hard to get a think only of myself. It also puts makes room for our reality and picture of what he was really far too much weight on the sin- that includes making room for us like. There is much legend and gle event of making a decision. to destroy ourselves and to make symbol that has grown up

How can a decision once made or hell for ourselves and others. around him, but behind it all an experience of conversion Cutting ourselves off from God’s there is a real human person, Je- function as a kind of guarantee love and wisdom, becoming What about Jesus? sus. like that? Doesn’t life here and alienated from God’s being, es- Light shining through now matter? As I read Jesus, re- tranged from our inner home, is Sometimes I think of human lationships matter most - both in also a hell we can make for our- Chapter two of history as being like a very large the here and now and in the fu- selves. Dear Kim, rug with a light under it in a dark ture. Being a Christian is about Some Christians pretend their this is what I believe . . . room. I’m thinking of the kind of living in touch with God. It is way around the Bible in order to by Bill Loader rug where here and there the about my relationship with God agree with the kind of position I light could actually shine and so with people, with myself, am arguing. They refuse to ac- through - a holey rug! The light and with the world around me. Dear Kim, knowledge the rough parts. I shines through at a number of God is at the centre of it all, not think it is more honest to ac- There are so many questions places. I think God is like that heaven or hell. knowledge that there are biblical you ask about Jesus. Let me be- light in human history. What about heaven and hell passages which espouse the kind gin by saying that Jesus was a The light breaks through at a then? How should we think about of belief in hell which I am re- Jewish man who lived at a par- number of points in human his- them? I find the idea of hell as a jecting. I have no difficulty in ticular time of human history tory where something happens place where God punishes people this because I am not suggesting which we know something about. or someone says some thing and forever and ever a repugnant we treat the Bible as infallible. It was the time of the Roman people say: hey, that really idea. It contradicts the image of Empire and the place where he What about heaven? Heaven opened up something for me; God as loving and caring which I lived was Palestine. In other and hell belong to a complex that was a revelation; I see life find at the centre of Jesus’ words, whatever else I or any cluster of images which people in a new way now; that was a teaching. The idea of God’s lov- other person may say, Jesus was used when they tried to think God-moment; like, I caught a ing as a kind of temporary con- a figure in human history, not a about life with God beyond this glimpse of what really matters in cession in history would give me god nor a legendary or mythical life. The earliest Christians, like life. Or maybe they just sense finally a God who ceases to care. figure. Nor is he someone made the Jews of the time, had a wide something without being able to We would not tolerate any sys- up by religious people; otherwise range of ideas about such life. put it into words. tem of justice which proposed One common image was of it would be too difficult to explain This has happened at many permanent torture. Even our heaven as the invisible realm some of the contradictions which points in history and in many most severe sentences leave where God sat on a throne and exist in the accounts of his life. cultures. And it can happen for room for reform and rehabilita- ruled the universe assisted by And, apart from that, non- each of us. Occasionally it is so tion. This ‘god’ leaves no room. angels. The spirits or souls of Christian sources of the first two significant that we remember it Yet, for all that, the image of good people were also in heaven, centuries (for example, Pliny, as a turning point in our lives, hell can be useful as an image of either asleep or fully aware of Tacitus, Josephus) treat him like

68 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 13 when everything came together, The Jews celebrate the liberation ing yourself to what he was on sus said, that God loves me, when the penny dropped, when of their people from Egypt in the about and joining others who are then that can really turn me we saw the light. It may be annual Passover meal. Islam on about the same thing. You around. We can be transformed prompted by a tragedy, a high celebrates the trials and tri- can seal this by going through inside and out. point, or just some very ordinary umphs of Mohamed. The Old baptism or, for people who have There are famous stories of occurrence or through something Testament of the Bible includes been baptised once before, by people, like Paul, who changed someone else said or did. accounts of such events which reaffirming what your baptism from being someone wanting to When an event like this hap- were significant for the people, symbolised. stamp out the early Christian pens for communities of people, Israel. ‘Born again’ movement to one of its strongest they often celebrate it for years Jesus and the light shining But it is not just around bap- proponents - quite sensational to come. It needn’t always be a through tism that there has been a lot of and dramatic. But for other peo- pleasant experience. Australians When I look over the rug for confusion. I’ve already men- ple the influence of Jesus is just and New Zealanders treat the signs of God shining through in tioned the term ‘born again’. It’s something that grows on them disaster at Gallipoli during the human history, for me the become a hackneyed phrase and until they find they are more First World War as an event like brightest spot is the life of Jesus. can mean almost anything: ‘he’s Christian than anything else. It this. Legends build up around All of the others are important, a born again marketer’; ‘she’s a doesn’t matter how; the impor- such experiences. So do rituals but, for me, it’s at this point born again saleswoman’. In tant thing is choosing to open and ceremonies. And the funny where I see something unique these expressions it seems to ourselves to the kind of God Je- thing is that it is often hard to and special. I use Jesus as my mean: being full of enthusiasm. sus talked about and showed us. put your finger on why the occa- major clue for understanding Unfortunately, it has been Chris- It is not the label ‘Christian’ sion was so important. Why, for God and the universe. When I tians of a strongly fundamental- that matters; it was a nickname instance, make such a big thing say ‘Jesus’, I am really referring ist kind (who treat the Bible al- given to Christians because they of one of the ANZACs’ biggest only to a short period of his life most like a magical book) who talked about Christ. What mat- failures? Is it because people re- just before his death, three years have used ‘born again’ a lot. For ters is not what we are called but alised how much they needed or perhaps even less than a year, many people, ‘born again’ Chris- what we are and what we want each other? Is it because we all the period covered by the gos- tians are those who are espe- to be. Becoming Christian is only feel one with those who are hard pels. And I am referring to the cially fanatical and rigid. For this the beginning of a process of let- up against it? Was that the reve- impression he left on those reason, I am rather reluctant to ting ourselves be more and more lation? around him, especially as it is use the term any more. People shaped by love and concern for Religions often grow up around preserved in what they remem- get the wrong idea. others and by a close relation- such events or stories, especially bered about him. The data base The original idea is linked with ship with God. when the events happened long is fairly small, but big enough to changing life direction, turning Going to heaven or going to ago. In religions, people usually get an overall picture. It is a around and beginning again. It’s hell? try to get back in touch with im- composite picture about remem- more, though, than turning over Often people think the main portant events like this, to try to bered history but painted in the a new leaf, because it means thing about becoming Christian re-live them. They sing about colours and style of people living also something has happened, is making sure you get to heaven them, talk about them, some- two generations later. has been done to me, to make when you die. If you’re a Chris- times even dance them or try to What do I see in Jesus? Before me able to change. When I let go tian, if you’ve made a decision to re-enact them. In many religions I answer that, let me recap: worrying about what people follow Christ, then you’ll be you will find that they celebrate what am I looking for? I am think of me or feeling guilty and saved; if you haven’t, you won’t. a series of major events like this. looking for what God is like, inadequate and believe what Je-

14 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 67 ters, though other springs flow course, our own birth! what life is all about. I am want- ther. This father had a son who into the stream as well. The earliest Christians always ing to get in touch with what lies wheedled out of him the share of I like to think of baptism as an linked coming to believe in the behind the universe, what makes his father’s fortune which he act which represents my joining gospel with this symbolic act, so sense of it, what ultimately mat- would have inherited when his that stream or putting myself (or much so that often it could stand ters. These are all God-type father died. He went off with all my children) in the place where for the whole process of conver- questions. What do I see when I this money, made a right mess it flows. The stream flows where sion. For instance, instead of look at the data we have on Je- of his life and then had the au- you find people gathered to- saying something like, ‘When we sus? dacity to turn up again at his fa- gether enjoying its waters. That opened ourselves to Christ and The first thing that I see is that ther’s homestead. What did the will be in local congregations and his influence, we became part of Jesus taught that God is loving father do? Shut the door on his groups where people come to- him and his influence and we and compassionate towards all son or, at least, make sure first gether to open themselves to the symbolised that by being bap- people. Nothing stands in the that he had mended his ways? kind of life Jesus showed. When tised’, Paul could simply say: we way of that love and respect for No. The father did what any de- parents want their children to be were ‘baptised into Christ.’ That people, not their race, their relig- cent father would do: when he in the place where the stream was shorthand. ion, their sex, their age, not saw his son coming, he was filled flows, then baptising children Shorthand expressions even if they are people who are with compassion, got up, ran down the road and embraced makes a lot of sense. I couldn’t Shorthand expressions like this the worst rogues under the sun. him. That’s how we ought to want anything less for children can be quite useful, but also Nothing indicates that Jesus was think of God, said Jesus. Jesus’ than that they be surrounded quite confusing. One of the most blind to all these differences or portrait of this father is provoca- with the kind of influence which famous sayings attributed to Je- naively pretended everyone was tive, because it broke the cul- comes down from Jesus. How- sus is one about being ‘born good and therefore deserved lov- tural norms according to which ever going through the act of again’: ‘Unless people are born ing. On the contrary his love was fathers should be seen to act baptism where this is not in- again, they cannot see the king- honest and straight. He came with dignity and reserve. For Je- tended makes a mockery of it. dom of God’; or ‘Unless people face to face with an immoral sus, God does not play the Unfortunately baptism as ‘the so- are born of water and the Spirit, swindler, but was not prepared to power games of dignity and re- cial thing to do’ often lost sight they cannot enter the kingdom write him off. He wrote no-one serve. of its deeper meaning. of God.’ Inevitably some people off. Contrary to the attitudes of Being sprinked with water or began to use shorthand like: by many in his day, he treated Jesus used stories of human being immersed in water, which water or baptism we become women as equals, he welcomed love and compassion like this as is more dramatic and the more children of God. If you forget outcasts, he valued people con- his model for God. God is not like ancient form of baptism, is noth- that this is shorthand, it sounds sidered small and insignificant, an offended father or mother ing on its own; but, when we as- like people become children of including children. who says: ‘I never want to see sociate it with these deeper God simply by going through a Jesus lived what he taught you again’; or: ‘I’ll only accept meanings, it can be a wonderful water ceremony, as if it had In other words, Jesus lived out you back if you make amends!’ symbol. That will often entail some magical quality of its own. in his life what he taught and Nor is Jesus’ picture of God one of a king or ruler obsessed with bringing that meaning back to an Properly understood, it means what he believed about God. getting everyone to bow and event which we, ourselves, can- that when you become Without making a big thing of it, scrape before him. Jesus does not remember and which may ‘Christian’, you join yourself to he claimed to be reflecting God’s use the traditional language of have happened without much Jesus and his movement. This is own attitudes in what he said king to refer to God; he even thought. That is like a lot of life’s a new beginning. It means open- and did. You can see that in the experiences - including, of stories he told. One tells of a fa- lives by a vision of a day when

66 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 15 God will reign over all in the uni- murder’, Jesus said: ‘Don’t write water on the heads of small ba- verse. But the picture of this people off at all, not even by bies make, anyway?, we might reign is a picture not of subjuga- your thoughts.’ Similarly instead ask. tion to a tyrant, but of human of talking about adultery, he For some people it made a beings living in a loving commu- taught that any sexual exploita- huge difference and still does: nity, eating and drinking to- tion of women is wrong, whether it’s the difference between being gether in peace, enjoying each it is in your action or just in your pagan and Christian, between other and enjoying oneness with attitude. He attacked the divorce going to hell or going to heaven. God. system of the day which drove For them, baptism is a kind of many women into poverty. He The vision and the reality What about magic which makes you one Jesus appears to have used a called for straight honesty in re- thing or the other. It is hard to common vision of how things lationships and went so far as ar- being Christian? imagine, but for some people it could be when God reigns, as a guing that no situation justifies made all the difference. There is blueprint for his own lifestyle. your writing anyone off, not even often a strange idea of God be- This makes sense because if you if the person is your worst en- Chapter six of hind all this. God will get upset if live by a picture of how it will be emy. The attitude of treating Dear Kim, the person has not been ‘done’ - when God reigns, then that is others as people of worth runs this is what I believe . . . enough to want to punish them through everything he said and for eternity. I see this as a very the same as letting God reign in by Bill Loader your life now. And letting God did. sincere but also very sick idea of reign or rule in your life now is Putting this kind of radical love God. God is not finicky. What just another way of saying: living at the heart of his thinking about Dear Kim, sort of decent parent or human in a way that is in touch with God and at the heart of his prac- There seem to be so many being would want to stand on God. Or we could say: letting tical living brought Jesus into ideas around about what it ceremony in this way? Once God’s energy and spirit have its conflict with many of his contem- means to be Christian. Some again, out-moded ideas of what way in your life. In that sense we poraries. He was a practising people think its means being used to count as appropriate for are also talking about what it Jew, but sat lightly to many of its ‘good’; others speak about being ‘superior’ human beings have means to live fully as a human ritual and cultic rules, especially ‘born again’; others, about be- been foisted onto our idea of being. Being truly human means where human need was con- longing to a Christian country; God and have stuck. letting the love and compassion cerned. He wasn’t anti religious, and others, about being Being sprinkled with water or of God that is within and behind but he saw rites and rituals as an ‘christened’. being dipped in water cannot the universe flow through your aid to what was the central Being ‘christened’? make that kind of difference. But thing: helping people become life. Christenings or baptisms might I like the image of water in one with God and live at one You can see the way this works be a good place to start. It used thinking about God. God is like with others. out when Jesus talks about vari- to be the case that nearly every- the water that brings life to dry ous aspects of human life. People Jesus’ lifestyle and God’s life- one was baptised; it was one of places, the water which were concerned about what was style the things ‘proper’ parents did quenches our thirst, the water right and wrong. He changed the Jesus probably had his own for their kids. It still is in some that washes; and being in touch direction of their thinking. They characteristic rituals and prac- countries. But in Australia and with God is like standing in a looked at the commandments. tices. One of them seems to New Zealand it has become less stream of life which has flowed Jesus looked beyond them. So have been giving meals a special common. What difference does a down through history. The life of instead of just saying, ‘Don’t significance as times of sharing Church ceremony which sprinkles Jesus is like the main head wa-

16 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 65 and wholeness still lurk, not least actions must be seen as part of a and belonging together. The way God wants us to be. It was in smoking, but hardly in danc- longer process which reflects church’s practice of Holy Com- precisely because Jesus was ing, movies and sport on Sun- something being wrong in soci- munion stems ultimately from truly human in this sense that days! ety itself. When we see kids Jesus’ own practice. He seems to we say he was truly God. He There are bigger issues of right sniffing petrol and adults abusing have openly shared meals with never said anything like: I am and wrong which have less to do themselves with alcohol, we all sorts of people, from the pi- God. But it is not wide of the with keeping petty rules and need also to ask what has been ous and respectable to the rogue mark when people said that to regulations and more to do with going wrong in society that peo- and outcast. These were occa- meet him was like meeting God. compassion for fellow human be- ple make self destructive choices sions of acceptance and celebra- After all, he was a window on ings and care for the environ- like these. When we do, we will tion flowing from his strong be- what God is like. That is what ment. It is the compassion I see often find a whole history of vio- lief in God’s love for all. Another they believed and what I believe. lived out in the life of Jesus that lence and abuse which has of his characteristics was his The earliest Christian writer, is my starting point for thinking robbed communities and people simple lifestyle: he had a small Paul, said: ‘God was in Christ’; about right and wrong. Inspired of their self respect. Ask any band of women and men who and later Church shorthand sim- by Jesus’ approach, I like to Aboriginal Australian! travelled around with him and ply said: he was God. But they think of God sometimes as being Ultimately discussion of right they all shared a common purse never meant for one moment like a wise old woman or man, and wrong, whether in relation for daily needs. Jesus declared that he was not an ordinary hu- full of understanding and also of to individuals or to communities, that when God’s reign comes it man being like you and me. no-nonsense caring. Such a one needs to consider much more will be good news for the poor. Jesus’ public execution looks upon our struggles in deci- than what people do. It needs to People who were poor would Jesus stuck with his conviction sion making with eager compas- consider how things are. This is have found acceptance and sup- about God. His life ended in a sion, understands our mistakes, why being Christian is more than port in his company. His vision gruesome public execution. The stays with us in new ventures, being concerned with doing right was of a changed society with no Romans killed him by their usual has all the patience in the world or wrong. It is about a way of discards; what he hoped was method: crucifixion. They nailed as we learn to love and the sad- being, both as individuals and as also what he lived. him up on a wooden cross along ness and anger when we don’t a community, as I hope to show He appears also to have had with others they considered and shut ourselves off; but is al- in the final chapter. the ability to heal people. Miracle criminals, with the charges ways there, ready to listen, to stories are often legendary and it against them hung over their comfort and to challenge. is always hard to tell fact from heads for all to see. It was a There are, however, many pious fiction. Some stories, like common method of deterring situations in life, where we do those about Jesus walking on crime. For them he was probably not have time to think over our water and stilling storms, proba- just another statistic. Crucifix- decisions and weigh our alterna- bly reflect pictures people drew ions were common. tives. And many of the things we of Jesus after the event rather The Romans had probably been do are determined not by what than actual occurrences. They fed information by the temple we think but by what we feel and are powerfully symbolic. But authorities in Jerusalem that Je- what we are. So the kind of per- there is probably a kernel of sto- sus should be considered dan- son we are is an important com- ries that go back to Jesus’ activ- gerous. The present accounts of ponent in our thinking about ity as a successful faith healer. Jesus’ trial and death in the gos- right and wrong. In the same The primary thing about Jesus pels are so much shaped by the way in our society many wrong was his claim to be living out the Christians’ own later encounter

64 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 17 with Jewish and Roman courts his killers while he hung on the believe, because of the long tra- to check our perceptions with that it is almost impossible to re- cross; he kept true to loving to dition of wisdom and love it others; but often we do not construct what really happened the end. This was a revelation of represents. know, and to pretend to know on in Jesus’ last days. Maybe the love. The cross became a symbol Many of the issues noted above the basis of misguided piety is Romans considered any move- of this love. It became a symbol belong to the so-called ‘grey ar- delusory and can be very dan- ment that was growing in mo- of God. eas’ facing our community, gerous. Religions which have set mentum as suspicious. The Jews In a fascinating way it turned where dogmatic assertions sim- answers of rights and wrongs had been producing a number of traditional values upside down. ply do not help. These issues have plenty of customers. But popular movements, many of The Roman soldiers ridiculed Je- need full discussion with ade- they are often, to my mind, an which were directly anti-Roman. sus by dressing him up as a quate information and the will- escape from reality. At the very Perhaps Jesus’ rather confronta- king. The charge against him ingness to take risks. Strong personal level of individual living tional approach to the hierarchi- was that he was wanting to be a controversy aids the process if it we often face ‘grey areas’ on de- cal temple system in Jerusalem, king of the Jews. That charge means all angles and details are cisions such as which job we where the rich and powerful held hung above him on the cross. It carefully explored. At its best our should apply for, where we sway, tipped the scales against was false. Yet people soon real- parliamentary system of Govern- should live and with whom. We him. The Romans would have ised that at another level it was ment and Opposition parties need to trust ourselves to make seen any destabilising of the true; Jesus had shown what be- serves the process of exploration decisions and be caring and tol- temple as an action against their ing a king or leader really well. At worst we find decisions erant of our mistakes. We don’t own interests. means. He showed what kind of being made not in the long term need to walk around full of fears It was a mixture of political and king God is: not a king of power, interest but to gain votes to re- and surrounded by guilt. religious concerns that removed but a king of love. This chal- tain or regain power. The prefer- Disappearing ‘don’ts’ Jesus. Jesus and his message of lenges all prevailing systems of able process of decision making I can only welcome the disap- love had the capacity to trans- power which think ‘might is is one where every person is pearance of so many of the form people’s attitudes, to offer right’. The powerful powerless- heard and respected and where ‘don’t’s that characterised Chris- individuals new hope and to set ness of the cross has been an people share a concern to work tianity and smile at them now: the agenda for a just and peace- amazing symbol. together for the good of all. don’t gamble, don’t drink, don’t ful world. But he was snuffed The cross, a symbol of evil Fear of facing complex issues dance, don’t go to the movies, out - almost by accident, a vic- The other side of the coin is Some people find such proc- don’t smoke, don’t play sport on tim of the political and religious that the event of Jesus’ death esses difficult and want someone Sundays. It now seems all so fears of his day. It is hardly fair has become a symbol of what is to tell them simply what is right trivial, especially since I could to say the Jews as a people killed evil: the killing of love, wherever and what is wrong. In the wider take all that so seriously and yet him; it was the political and reli- it occurs and whatever justifica- community they want a heavy have no idea what the bigger is- gious authorities tion people use to excuse it. The handed government or a ‘right sues of life, like justice and The cross, a symbol of love justification in Jesus’ case was thinking’ dictatorship. In a Chris- peace and poverty, were about. But when we look back, we see the need to keep law and order, tian context they claim the Bible It was just like the people of that the killing of Jesus becomes to maintain stability on the east- has all the answers or that the whom Jesus said that they one of those big events where ern flank of the Roman empire. person who prays will know strained out a small fly only to lots of things come together. Sadly, people always seem to God’s will. I believe this is simply swallow a camel. I don’t mean to Here was love which kept loving find a way of justifying the de- not true. Occasionally we may be imply that none of those ‘don’t’ right to the end. One account of struction of love and justice. The fairly confident of God’s will for areas is relevant. There are quite his death even has him pray for cry for law and order is fre- us, although even then it is wise a few where dangers to health

18 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 63 should medical treatment cease the long term interest of the quently the impulse for actions Finding our way into the story in the case of terminally ill pa- world and its people? Is an ade- which lead to the violation of hu- If we keep coming back to this tients? Should such patients quate data base being consid- man rights. event, we can keep in touch bet- have the right to terminate their ered? Have the possible effects Jesus’ suffering was not greater ter with what is happening in our own lives? What about animal on people and their environment than that of other human beings. own lives and in our world. When experimentation? How far should been considered? Are the voices Many have suffered far worse. they function well, Christian the community sacrifice its for- of those directly affected being But it is the fact that human be- communities help us feel our ests and natural flora and fauna heard clearly? Are the questions ings conspired together to kill way back into the story - for the sake of exploiting new re- being asked in a way which ig- someone so unique as Jesus that whether we are on the side of sources for the community’s nores or excludes other relevant is the horror of the event. People the crucifiers or the crucified. needs? Can we afford to allow issues? snuffed out the brightest and That alerts us to what is going our cities to grow as they have? The Church, at its best, ad- clearest expression of love that on around us and within us and What limits should we impose on dresses some of these issues and world had ever seen. It was a we can get in touch again with industries to curtail polluting sometimes risks, for the sake of crime not only against him, but what that love is all about. gases in the environment? What love, its own solutions, which against all humanity, and ulti- A uniquely powerful event like role should our community have may or may not prove appropri- mately against God. So, as well this explodes into the world with in arms manufacture? Is nuclear ate. Safe silence in so many of as being a revelation of the best so much energy that no human energy a responsible energy al- these would be a betrayal of in humankind, love, it is also a imagery of explanation can really ternative? Should uranium be care. Often people, including revelation of the worst in hu- sum it up. Little wonder that one exported when there is only a many Church people, resent the mankind, a symbol of evil. of the earliest Christian re- limited assurance that it will not Church’s having its say. In reality The death of Jesus, therefore, sponses was to say: Christ died one day be used in nuclear in most cases it is an elected is one of those events which for us, for our sins. The wrong weapons? Should pure heroin be body or a representative who is- makes waves. It continues to we do, our lovelessness, has made available to users to coun- sues a statement. It ought to be make an impact across history been foisted onto this human be- teract the dangers which arise seen as only that and not more right into the present day. In one ing. They experienced this event from use of impure heroin and than that, as though the person way it sums up what Jesus’ life as a source of enormous healing the criminality and exploitation or elected body were claiming to was all about because it shows for their own lives. The goodness rampant in the illicit drug trade? be able to express the view of he loved to the end. It is a sym- concentrated in this event over- How far should the community every member, let alone, with bol of his life. Paul, later, could flows to the benefit of all. It was restrict sale and advertising of absolute certainty the view of sum up all that Christianity was like he died as a representative cigarettes? Should marijuana be God! Yet the often fierce resis- about by speaking simply of ‘the of all human beings. legalised? tance which we encounter seems cross’; he preached ‘the cross’. In a world where temples and I cannot discuss these ques- to hark back to just such an un- It has become a symbol of the sacrifices were common it is not tions here, but they belong to derstanding of the Church (that central issues in all human life: surprising that people began to the wide range of issues of right it speaks for God and so claims do I kill the love which wants to speak of Jesus’ death as being and wrong with which we must infallibility). In most of these is- be alive in me? Each of us knows like a sacrifice which removed grapple. In approaching them sues the Church as such has no how to crucify love in ourselves guilt and impurity. They spoke of our guidelines are few. They all particular expertise and joins the and in our world. So the words of the healing power of his sacrifi- flow from concern for people and conversation primarily because the spiritual ask: ‘Were you there cial blood. It is strange to our include some of the following of its concern for people and the when they crucified my Lord?’ ears. They understood them- questions: Are the solutions in world. It deserves to be heard, I selves to have been cleansed by

62 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 19 the blood of Jesus. This was their somewhat vague, but they form against selfishness and greed. international community. Without way of talking about the impact the backdrop for the earliest You can’t legislate to make peo- controls greed will exploit the of Jesus’ death, or better of his Christians’ first great claim about ple loving. You also shouldn’t try vulnerable in the name of its life and death. It has been off- Jesus. to. People need freedom to make shareholders and then recoil in putting for many that some Our earliest Christian sources their decisions. naïve surprise when the ex- Christians have persisted in us- speak of Peter, one of Jesus’ dis- Trying to force people to be a ploited sometimes respond in to- ing such language in modern so- ciples, coming to a new startling sharing and caring society was tally unacceptable ways, includ- ciety where temples and sacri- belief: instead of remaining in the ideal of communism and it ing organised terror. We need a fices are no longer part of our the sleep of death like other hu- failed. People do things best if commitment to find ways of common way of life. There are man beings who had died, Jesus they do them because they want dealing with both kinds of vio- lots of other ways of talking had been resurrected and Peter to. That is why the western capi- lence: the exploitation and the about the impact of Jesus than had glimpsed him in this new talist society, based on letting desperate responses it evokes. to speak in the language of blood state. Unfortunately there is no people pursue their own inter- The so called free world carries and sacrifices, but we can know description anywhere in earliest ests, works better: they have little respect when it abandons a what they meant and share their writings of what exactly Peter more room to do what they want sense of responsibility to control faith. saw, but apparently others had to do and so to do things with those of its members who are Resurrection similar visual experiences, energy and enthusiasm and sucking the life blood from weak It is possible to think of Jesus women and men. Some accounts therefore with efficiency. But that economies. There must be limits. and his impact as simply an even have women as the first to means, of course, leaving room Within such limits I want to event in history of enormous, have had the experience. The for people to be simply selfish protect people’s right to make even unique, significance. The conviction that God had raised and greedy. That is the negative their choices, but that makes it first Christians went further than Jesus to the new level of exis- risk of granting so much free- all the more urgent that I am that. Their understanding of life tence became fundamental for dom. This means that society aware that it is quite another included life after death, and es- Christian faith and turned de- must also act responsibly to question how I as a Christian use pecially resurrection. By resur- jected men and women, disap- counter exploitation by the self- that free space. To follow Jesus rection they meant that a person pointed at his death, into enthu- ish and greedy and to support means also to use the space be- begins a new form of existence siastic propagators of Jesus and the disadvantaged and the poor. tween the boundaries to live for at a different level of reality. his message. Left to its own devices the free love and that is quite opposite to Usually they envisaged this Inevitably this belief called out market economy will inevitably how our western system of eco- transformed life as entailing a for further elaboration. The pic- widen the gap between the rich nomics assumes people will use transformation of the dead tures drawn for us in the New and the poor. It is no real answer it and to why the system works corpse into a new spiritual real- Testament vary considerably. to declare that as the rich get as such. ity. This belief went along with Sometimes we read of Jesus richer the poor become a little Complex ethical issues the hope that ultimately every- walking about and talking as less poor, because the gap is not Back at the boundaries, today thing would be transformed to though an actual resuscitation diminishing. we are facing many very difficult the new level of existence. Some had taken place and he had a Therefore enlightened and car- new decisions on right and saw it all happening at a set time normal body of flesh and blood. ing governments will establish wrong. How free, for instance, in the future. Others saw it as Others are more careful and structures which combine con- should scientists be to experi- something which could start hap- speak of appearances and reve- trol, on the one hand, with room ment with human embryos, to pening already in the present. lations. In all four gospels there for initiative and reward, on the clone human species, to culture The details of such beliefs are is an account of Jesus’ tomb be- other. The same applies to the human tissue for repair? When

20 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 61 or when should it be considered which enforces these society lim- ing empty. The assumption here a message that had something a human being? What constitutes its and a system for dealing with is that the corpse of Jesus had extra. They still preached and danger to the life of the mother: those who transgress them, a been transformed into the new taught what Jesus had said and death? psychological trauma? so- system which deters by punish- reality. It is difficult to be sure done; but, added to that, they cial deprivation? I respect those ment and which seeks reform whether this story grew out of had the message of his death who hold to absolutes here: life and protects society from wilful the conviction that Jesus was and his resurrection. In the years must not be taken under any cir- harm. alive or whether it represents that followed they went out and cumstances. Yet I am unhappy Setting these outer boundaries memory of finding the tomb ac- about through their native Judea with it as a fixed rule. I have the goes a long way towards shaping tually empty. I’m inclined to the and Galilee, then spread north to deepest respect for people who the way we live together as a former view; but on the central Syria, across to Greece, over to grapple with the issue at a prac- community. Caring about people issue I want to affirm: I believe Rome, south to Egypt, and finally tical level. I want to support peo- means caring about these. This that Jesus is more than a figure throughout the Mediterranean ple making decisions in full in- means having a lively interest in of past history. I believe he be- world and also towards the east. tegrity, seeking the most caring what is going on in the wider longed to God in his life and I They met many different cul- way forward and I think that, community. Are the limits being find it hard to believe that he tures. They were safe most of given the complexities of many set in ways that allow some to does not belong to God now. the time speaking the common cases, I would not help the situa- exploit others? Is everyone being Using very personal language Greek language, but, even then, tion with foregone conclusions. I given a fair go? In his day Jesus of God, we could say that God cultures differed considerably. would certainly want our legisla- focused especially on those who raised Jesus from the dead and How could they speak about Je- tion to leave some flexibility for had little voice or power in com- took him home. He is with God. sus to people with very different personal decision, but that also munity decision making and One of the earliest claims was backgrounds from their own means setting some limit beyond called his followers to be a voice that God had given Jesus a seat without losing the central thrust which society must say no. for them and with them. This is on God’s right hand side in of what were Jesus’ concerns? Setting boundaries and pre- why the Church, where it has its heaven. He was to reign as king. This continues to be a major serving individual freedom act together, is out front on is- If we try to translate these im- task for people who are part of At many points society must sues of justice, poverty, protec- ages into other language we the continuing Jesus movement; say no and restrict the freedom tion of minority groups, respect could say: Jesus is alive with otherwise the message of Jesus of individuals in the interests of for human rights. God and God has identified him gets lost in a ghetto community the whole. We need such rules In setting the outer boundaries as key spokesperson and repre- with its own in-group language as well as guidelines. They are of society we are defining right sentative, who embodies God’s and strange ceremonies and in- there to protect people’s inter- and wrong only in the broadest will and God’s being. God has stitutions and loses relevance for ests, to set outer limits against sense. True, if you cheat the rest said ‘yes’ to all that Jesus said the world around it. One of the actions which cause harm to so- of the community by holding and did. This is a way of saying reasons I’m writing this book is ciety as a whole or to people not back your contribution to the that Jesus truly is what he that I fear this has been happen- otherwise able to protect them- common purse (your tax), you claimed to be. What he said ing too much in recent years. selves. These are the outer can be caught and punished, but about God and what he lived out How could people convey the boundaries. We need them. We mostly the boundaries are set so in his life is true. He is the place magic of what Jesus was on need speed limits on our roads, wide that some levels of cheat- where the light shines through. about? The disciples tried almost acceptable blood alcohol levels, ing, lying, deceit, exploitation, Jesus as good news everything. Many Christians be- laws to regulate commercial life are all possible with little check You can imagine that now the came obsessed with Jesus as an and so on. We need a system on them. You can’t legislate earliest Christian community had authority and lost sight of his

60 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 21 message. At worst they were in was and had a hand in it from always be tied to the effort to re- There is also the related ques- danger of heaping onto Jesus all the beginning. produce, a view which lies be- tion of what stand to take in the the honourable titles they could Other Christians soon used hind some opposition even to issue of legalisation of prostitu- lay hands on. But such devotion popular mythology as a way of contraception. We also know now tion. Let me take this point as an easily produced a Jesus looking expressing the truth about Jesus. that waste is not an issue; males opportunity to comment on the quite the opposite of the Jesus of Some circles used to speak of are hugely oversupplied. The ar- major difference between what the earliest records: a stern royal Wisdom (Greek: Sophia) as gument is in any case irrelevant people might do, themselves, ruler rather than a humble caring God’s partner and assistant in for females. and what they consider should human being. This is just an- the creation and ordering of the Sexual pleasure, like the pleas- be legally forbidden. It is impor- other version of people foisting universe. It is not always clear ure of taste, is God given pleas- tant not to confuse the two. I onto God (Jesus, in this case) whether they were thinking of an ure. Pleasure does not make can see that there is a case in their own value systems. It is too actual being, like an angel, or anything good or bad. It is all a our society for allowing legalised easily forgotten that the earliest just using personal imagery. Wis- matter of attitude towards others prostitution on the grounds that setting of royal imagery for Jesus dom is often pictured as a and ourselves. Affirming my own it may be a more caring way to is the imagery of irony: the woman. Some linked the figure sexuality means being in touch look after all concerned than to crowned crucified Jesus. with God’s Law or God’s Word, with where it is going, where it is have a system where it is prac- Terms like Son of God and Lord the Jewish scriptures. Others de- suppressed, where it needs di- tised illegally in secret locations became popular. They can carry fined it in such a way that it rep- rection and control, where and without proper supervision and positive and negative connota- resented what humans could how it needs expression. We medical care and where the po- tions depending of how much of grasp of God: the image or like- need to be responsible about lice cope with it by turning a the story of the real Jesus is re- ness of God. It was also seen as what gives us pleasure. blind eye. Which is the greater membered. Son of God came to something like the meaning that Prostitution is another matter, evil? Or, better, which way are be a way of saying that Jesus holds all of reality together. For largely because it seems to be- we going to care more effectively belongs to God’s family. That is Christians Jesus was now the long to a system of exploitation for the people concerned? The an image which tries to grasp meaning that held the universe of women (sometimes, men) of answers to such questions are the intimate link between Jesus together. He was the image and which I don’t want to be a part, often not simple. Sometimes we and God. If any human being is likeness of God. He was God’s even though prostitutes will of- have to live with the fact that we son of God, Jesus is and more. Word. As such they also found it ten deny exploitation. It is not a are not sure which is the appro- This fits well with his tender lan- easy to say that the one we see system I want to support or en- priate action. In such borderline guage about God being like a in Jesus was in the universe from courage. It also can take the decisions we need a maximum of caring father and with his special the beginning. In the historical form of sexual slavery and ex- knowledge, tolerance and care. closeness to God. On the other Jesus we see this one taking on ploitation of the worst kind. Yet I Dogmatic authoritarian asser- hand, it is quite misleading to human flesh and blood. also have no interest in declaring tions are least helpful when deal- take the language literally as if When words and explanations them bad people. There are ing with matters of such sensitiv- we must insert God into Jesus’ fail many stories of very caring pros- ity. family tree. The wonderful leg- In all these attempts categories titutes - some made it into the Another complex issue is abor- ends of Jesus’ birth to a virgin failed to grasp adequately what lists of the Bible’s heroes like Ra- tion. Here differing concerns should not be used in this way. had happened and what people hab. compete. What is more impor- They represent in a fabled way believed. The event was larger Individual moral choices and tant: the life of the foetus or the an attempt to say that God and more significant than could laws to protect people life of the mother? When does meant Jesus to be the way he simply be put into words. In the the child’s life begin in the womb

22 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 59 demned homosexual actions probably try to get them re- long run the Church fixed certain this reality in the world of his from early days, other reasons versed to save all the hassles of pegs of belief in the ground and time and as a person of his time. for its rejection were the pairing living like that in today’s society left the rest to flap, so to speak, He was genuinely human. I be- of two of the same sex as being in the face of so much prejudice. but the tent of faith it erected lieve this also with regard to unnatural and the exploitation of If I found myself at some stage was enough to shelter what peo- what he was able and not able to minors. in my life developing stronger ple cherished. Those pegs in- do. I cannot think of him as a Has anything changed? Few preferences in that direction, I cluded: Jesus was a real human human being carrying around would dispute that the argument would probably feel more confi- being, not just one on the out- with him, as it were, a divine against exploitation still stands. dent about succeeding in such a side. He really did live and die at power pack of cosmic propor- Some would dispute that homo- reversal - I might just have sup- a particular time and place in hu- tions. He was not a superman. sexual practice is unnatural. pressed my heterosexual ener- man history. It really was God Sinless? Generally our society is much gies for some reason. But who whom people encountered in Je- Another motif commonly linked less accepting of homosexuals knows? For me, love means sus, not a second god, not an with the picture of Jesus is that and homosexual practice than making room for people to make angel or some other kind of be- of his sinlessness. People who was the ancient non-Jewish their own responsible decisions, ing. preferred the language of sacri- world at the time of Jesus. My not condemning them or ha- For me, to say Jesus is human fice to speak of Jesus’ death own thinking in this field has ranguing them. I know some means I believe that he was not highlighted this. A sacrifice had taught me to be cautious. who have done just what I said I a walking encyclopedia, knowing to be spotless and perfect. He What if there really are people would do and have gone through everything from his birth on- was spotless and perfect. Others whose natural sexual preference hell in the process. They are wards. He was a human being of hailed Jesus as the righteous one is different from their outward committed followers of Christ, his time, living under usual hu- as a way of declaring their belief physical reality? The ancient loving and caring people, and are man limitations of knowledge that Jesus was truly speaking world of the biblical writers gen- now practising homosexuals. and education. He doubtless be- and acting in harmony with God. erally ignored such a possibility. Masturbation, prostitution lieved in a world populated by Unfortunately, later centuries ex- What happens if we don’t ignore On other areas of sexuality like demons like his contemporaries trapolated from this that Jesus it? Who am I to say they should masturbation and prostitution I and probably believed the world was sinless in a statistical sense try to live contrary to their na- apply the same guidelines. The was more or less flat, with the and even had to be - from the tures or that they should see guilt that has been engendered sky as a dome in which the stars cradle. This gave rise to legends themselves as unfortunate acci- because of the former has, to my and moon shone by night and of his childhood where he acts in dents of nature and withhold mind, been largely a sad reflec- the sun by day, the common Old total maturity. Later, artists were themselves from acting out their tion of an unhealthy attitude to- Testament picture. His expecta- even inclined to portray the baby sexual preferences with others? wards sexual pleasure which has tions about history were those of Jesus with a grown up’s face. The issue is what is most caring affected large parts of Christian- his time. He lived in a commu- To my mind nothing in the early for such people, not adherence ity over the centuries. Orgasm in nity which thought history was tradition demands that we to rules. How can I condemn itself is a natural and healthy life soon coming to an end. His heal- should believe Jesus was any- when I - and many others who experience. I am not persuaded ing practices reflect the methods thing other than a normal child venture an opinion (including an- that self engendered orgasm of his world. and adolescent. I find it quite cient biblical writers) - know so harms either the person or any- In his particular time and place compatible with my faith to be- little? one else. Older arguments about and culture, however, I believe lieve that Jesus, too, will have If I found myself having such wasted semen belong to the he was in touch with God like no had to learn by his mistakes and natural preferences, I would wider view that ejaculation must one else I know. He expressed will have had the usual ups and

58 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 23 downs characteristic of being hu- The one we meet in all is the one its full place within our living and ment in declaring the man the man in this world. Certainly, the God, yet the language allows for our loving. head of the house has contrib- gospels do not shy away from three figures to be spoken of. Sexual Exploitation uted strongly to such attitudes. picturing him as having experi- In many ways the problem The last two decades have also Such attitudes are deeply in- ences of human sadness and seems easier to solve with the brought a greater awareness of grained. They colour our lan- anxiety. The portrait of Jesus Spirit which is perhaps best sexual exploitation, especially of guage about God, our styles of bent in agony in Gethsemane taken as just another way of women by men, both outside of decision making, our structures and of crying out words of de- speaking of God in a particular and within marriage, not to for decision making in the spair on the cross should hold mode of relating. The word, speak of child abuse and incest. Church and the community. It the peg firm against any at- Spirit (old English used ‘Ghost’), Much of this is the product of has been liberating in recent tempts to make a superman out goes back to Greek and Hebrew people not making the journey to years to recover Christianity’s of him. Jesus struggled. And words which mean spirit, breath where sexuality assumes its earlier radical traditions which there, too, he opens a window and wind. Spirit can be a more natural role. Sexuality cut off re- set women and men equally side for us. Yet, I still hear Christians intimate way of speaking of God, emerges as a force of its own by side. The benefits of such de- saying (and singing) that if like God’s breath. Traditionally it and with a mind of its own. velopments are as much for men you’re on God’s side your life will is also a way of describing God’s Some of it reflects traditional as they are for women, both be trouble free! creative power bringing about patterns of behaviour. We are generally and at the level of their The Trinity new possibilities and realising fu- still emerging from age old sexuality. One of the structures linking ture hopes and visions. prejudices which have subordi- Homosexuality and homosexual some of these pegs, which the With Jesus things are consid- nated and often subjugated practice Church hammered in to hold to- erably more complicated. Is he a women to the whims of men. One of the more turbulent ar- gether its belief, is the doctrine combination of a human being There have been codes of silence eas in modern thought about of the Trinity. It says God is and something else, namely, which have hidden abusive be- sexuality is homosexuality and three: the Father, the Son and God? Did he have two personali- haviours. Male aggression in homosexual practice. The biblical the Holy Spirit; and these three ties? I find most of this rather sexuality, whether overt or cov- writings reflect strong abhor- are one. On the surface it is a meaningless speculation. Per- ert, is still rarely questioned in rence of homosexual practice. In contradiction: how can three be haps we shall never be able to our society and lies at the base the world of Jesus’ day homosex- one! Yet it is an attempt to hold offer an adequate explanation. I of many forms of sexual abuse. ual love between men and young together some essential ideas prefer to understand Jesus’ rela- Exploitation belongs also to a boys was a common feature of which don’t fit together well and tionship to God, exemplified by much wider system which is re- non-Jewish society; but the other yet which seem to belong. On his praying to God, primarily as flected in many women holding forms of inter-male sexual activ- the one side, all our talk about one of total human devotion and down two jobs, one in the com- ity were also well known and God in Jesus must never lead to to avoid theories which demand munity and one at home, and in roundly condemned. One of the the idea that there is more than some kind of shared combination much more subtle attitudes, en- terms for anal intercourse, sod- one God. On the other side, Je- of beings in the human Jesus. It shrined in our very language, omy, derives from the biblical sus cannot be described just was precisely because he was which discounts women and story of Sodom and Gomorrah, simply as God; otherwise he is such an in-touch human being women’s contributions. although originally it is a story hardly a human being. The third that God shone through his life Christianity’s adaptation, al- about male rape, not about non figure, the Spirit, is also some- so brightly. ready by the later New Testa- violent male sexual relations. times spoken of separately: for Yet in general people make no ment writings, of the prevailing Apart from the fact that the tra- example, God sent the Spirit. difference between Jesus and patterns of household manage- ditional laws of Israel had con-

24 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 57 given up; perhaps it is well- can survive adultery and rela- God when they think about the but I’m convinced that events of founded; we can learn from our tionships can be renewed and present living Jesus. One person deep meaning, like the event of intuitive fears. The best decisions developed in ways that were prays to Jesus, another to God, Jesus, need to be left intact. are often those made in consul- once thought to be out of the the Father. Really both are pray- They need to be left in their his- tation with others who can help question. ing to God. This has made it eas- torical and cultural setting, be- us keep our feet on the ground. Re-inventing the wheel? ier for people to say simply, Je- cause it is only there that we can I have very great respect for It is naive to impose on people sus is God. To be in touch with encounter them in anything like what many in the present gen- the expectation that they rein- Jesus is to be in touch with God. their full depth. When you try to eration have to grapple with in vent the wheel, let alone keep it Thinking of Jesus in history leads crystallise out from them a few the area of sexuality. In many well balanced, without drawing us to stress his humanity, while central ideas, you lose some- ways I believe we could be mov- on the wisdom of experience and thinking of Jesus in the present thing. This is so for many of our ing to a much healthier attitude reflection. This is especially so leads to a stronger emphasis on own personal life experiences. to this area of our lives. I respect for those facing the ups and his divinity. The creeds of the There are things we cannot put that some will want to remain on downs of puberty. Here guidance church seek to hold onto both into words; the nearest thing we the conservative side of decision is appropriate, as are guidelines, aspects. can do is say what happened, tell making. I have the same respect boundaries, even legal statutes Some people get excited by ab- a story, try to re-present the for others who in care and open- (for instance, on marriageable stract models of God as a single event in some way. ness explore new boundaries. age). The key thing, however, is community of beings, but I must Events are more than ideas. Sex belongs within the context of having a relationship with some- say I find this too abstruse. I’m They have flesh and blood. We human intimacy and caring. It is one more experienced in life, happier with what some of the can read of events or see them part of enjoying the way God whom we can trust and with traditional structures are meant on film or in theatre and feel made us. Like any other gift we whom we can share the ups and to affirm than I am with what caught up into them in a way can use it for good or ill, for downs and weigh the decisions. people think they affirm when that never happens with ideas on wholeness or destruction in oth- Parents can sometimes fulfil that they work with them in a more their own. They have a way of ers and ourselves. Jesus’ own role, but sometimes it has to be literal way. A lot of the problems entering our experience; we can teaching shifts our focus from someone else. Adolescence can which have arisen in such specu- find ourselves entering them and concern with acts to concern be turbulent as well as exciting, lative discussions have come becoming part of theirs. This is with attitudes, which is more but it is a wonderful gift to be about because of the popularity what I meant before in quoting radical. He shifted the focus from experienced and an important of one particular model of the words of the spiritual: ‘Were murder and adultery to the atti- stretch of the jjourney through thought about Jesus in the time you there when they crucified tudes which led to such actions. which to make our way. Unfortu- leading up to when the creeds my Lord?’ When people think This is more radical. Whereas in nately, in the area of sexuality, were written, especially from the about that event, they often find the ancient world adultery auto- some people remain adolescents second century of Christianity that they are represented there matically destroyed a marriage for decades, perhaps under the onwards. in what happened. and any reconciliation was con- misconception that they will Just a set of good ideas? For many, the story of how Je- sidered impossible and often ille- never be able to marry growing I am also unhappy with at- sus openly faced suffering, pain gal, today we recognise that up with sexual fulfilment. The tempts to reduce Christianity to and death and then found life in many things can destroy a mar- contrary is true: adult sexual ful- just a set of good ideas like ‘love’ the resurrection, has become a riage relationship, whether ac- filment can only really blossom if or ‘justice and peace’. I’m not model for their own lives. Many tual adultery is entailed or not we allow ourselves to continue to against trying to abstract and would say it was only when they and, conversely, that marriages grow and let our sexuality take summarise - I’m doing it here - faced up to their own pain (or

56 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 25 fear or guilt or hurt) that they the Jesus behind it all. I want to for stability of society. Marriage formal rites. I suspect we are came through to a new start in say more about that in the next and the family were seen as an moving more and more away life. Jesus’ death and resurrec- chapter about the Bible. It is our important context for bringing up from understanding marriage as tion becomes a model of what major source book for the pic- children and for protecting conferring rights and on to see- works for their own lives. In the ture of Jesus we have. women, especially, against sex- ing it much more as a voluntary same way others have found ual exploitation. Then there was partnership of respect of equals. that it was as they gave up the feeling that sexuality was a Sex is powerful and connects hanging onto their lives selfishly sacred area where taboos were us with life and vitality. It links and let themselves love that they especially appropriate. Sex con- us with creativity and God, not moved from being dead to being nected them with very deep just when it leads to the creation alive. Jesus’ death becomes a parts of their own being and the of new human beings. It is a way model and also a stimulus which being of the universe. of being intimate and close to changes people’s life-patterns. If biblical laws were based another human being and out of The impact of Jesus’ life left an largely on fear of unwanted that shared love many other impression on those around him. pregnancy, we could suggest things are born and created, too. That impression has been pre- that in the age of safe contracep- Love and life reproduces love served for us in the Church’s tra- tion all we really need is for peo- and life. The joy of sex is very ditions. This is the only picture of ple to make contracts to give close to the joy of being one with Jesus we have, but it is one still stable parenting to children dur- God. But what does that mean capable of transforming people’s ing their formative stages; we about the decisons we make lives and attitudes. The lofty wouldn’t need anything like mar- about sex in an age of safe con- doctrines and elaborate imagery riage. But if we didn’t have mar- traception? which arose over the course of riage, my hunch is that it would People often say today that the time around this picture are im- soon be invented. People would most important sexual organ is portant, but they should, to my find some way of making public the brain. In redefining our sex- mind, be seen as secondary to that they wanted to be a perma- ual practices there is one over- the picture itself. nent couple and of asking others ruling guideline: care and re- Even that picture is a mixture to recognise and respect the fact spect for persons. Anything of historical information and in- and not to interfere. The chal- which depersonalises others, ex- terpreting reflection. Already by lenge of making it permanent, ploits them or treats them as the end of the first century, when secure and fulfilling would be a things runs contrary to such lov- most of the New Testament had matter for the people concerned ing. Whatever decisions we been written, there was much and the ground rules would make, we need to make them in which went far beyond what one probably end up looking much a context of openness and hon- could claim for the historical Je- like the traditional values we as- esty and concern both for our sus. And some claims have be- sociate with marriage. The best own good and the good of oth- come very misleading. Yet care- marriages, to my mind, are the ers. If fear is in our thoughts we ful examination of the earliest ones which operate something need to ask why; perhaps it is traditions about Jesus reveal like this and are not the ones groundless and based on an ir- enough information for us to be which give highest priority to relevant disapproval we feared able to identify the contours of claiming obligations based on once and should long since have

26 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 55 respond to each other's sexual about boundary setting and do One of the reasons why people needs. His view was obviously so, as far as possible, without wrote the gospels was that those not as narrow as many of the the guilt and fear which has so who knew Jesus directly were moral teachers of his time, even often accompanied sex in our dying out and there was a real though it still remains bound by western society. Our understand- need to preserve an account of common values and assump- ing of sacredness has also what Jesus said and did. But tions. changed and the notion of male they were written quite late in

On most questions of sexual rights over women in matters of the piece, after the Church had morality the Bible is quite unam- sexuality have rightly been chal- been in existence already for 40 biguous. For some, especially lenged. or 50 years. This means they are fundamentalists, that settles the We now have another major as- What about a mixture of what Jesus may issue once and for all. People are pect to our caring in the area of have originally said or done, the Bible? mostly in the form of helpful an- still the same; the rules are still sexuality. The arrival of AIDS has ecdotes, and what people the same. But, quite apart from curbed the sexual euphoria of Chapter three of not wanting to treat the Bible in the seventies and early eighties. thought he might have said or Dear Kim, this way, I also believe that there People have rightly become more done. People seem at many have been some changes which cautious again. A healthy fear this is what I believe . . . points to have added detail or mean we must look at many of has its place here, but so does by Bill Loader occasionally trimmed it, in order these issues in a new way. care and compassion. Both in to make things clearer or to

Has anything changed? our own personal interests and in bring out what they saw was the Dear Kim, important point. One major change is that hu- the interests of the community You have probably heard all man beings have discovered far as a whole we need to prevent The gospels kinds of things said about the Bi- more effective means of contra- the spread of AIDS and to show Three of the gospels, Matthew, ble. What is it really? Let me be- ception. There need be no fear of compassion to those who have Mark and Luke, are very similar gin by picking up where I left off unwanted pregnancies where contracted it, however that may in detail. It looks as though Mark in talking about Jesus. contraceptives are available and have happened. was written first, around 70 CE. effective. If such contraceptive Are there any guidelines? The Bible is our major source of Matthew and Luke independently capacity had been available in But apart from the obvious con- information about Jesus. This is reworked Mark’s version of the these ancient cultures, would cern about protecting ourselves because it contains, in the New events about 10 to 15 years their rules about sex before mar- from the AIDS virus and the be- Testament, a collection of writ- later, adding in more material riage have been different? I sus- haviour which should flow from ings from the first hundred years that had come to hand and rear- pect they would have been. We that, are we otherwise now all at of Christianity. They were written ranging the material. By the way are in a different situation and I sea without any directions to in Greek. Among these writings they reworked Mark’s story we no longer consider it appropriate help us in relation to sexual be- are the four gospels which pre- can see the kinds of changes and to carry over into our own time haviour? I don’t think so. It was, serve for us many of the teach- additions which were probably without question such rules de- after all, not only fear of preg- ings of Jesus and tell us much made over the 40 years before veloped for a largely non- nancy that concerned the ancient about the kinds of things he did. Mark was written. It is not hard contraceptive society. We are the world and determined the biblical Mostly they concentrate on the to imagine how, during this pe- first generations living in a con- teachings. There were some fac- period in Jesus’ life when he riod, people shortened stories or traceptive society and I think we tors which remain just as rele- went about as a teacher, the last collected sayings with similar must make our own discoveries vant today. One was the concern year or so of his life. themes or added brief comments

54 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 27 to help people understand what reason, people have often found What about sex? show that it was not uncommon was said. it the most powerful gospel in What about sex before mar- for men to have more than one So that is what the gospels are: putting in a nutshell who Jesus riage and sex among people not wife (not vice versa!) and to collections of memories about is. If people have a deep hunger or no longer married? The his- sleep with their slave women. Jesus made by the second and for life’s meaning, Jesus is ‘the tory of human thinking about sex Later we find having one wife third generations of Christians. bread of life’; if people thirst for is very complex. Most ancient re- was becoming the norm. On the They don’t claim to be anything life, Jesus gives ‘the water of ligions have special rules about negative side, they came to draw more than that. That was life’. These are typical of the way sex. Partly these are to prevent the line strictly at prostitution enough, because the material the fourth gospel sets before us unwanted pregancies and to and at the use of sex as a reli- they contain gives us a good im- Jesus as the answer to our big keep society stable by having gious rite. They were strict in pression of the kind of thing Je- questions about life and God. children born into families where forbidding sexual intercourse be- sus taught and what he did. These were not the only gos- they can be cared for. Partly they fore and outside of marriage. Even when we sometimes cannot pels to be written. The others we are about protecting male prop- And they also rejected all forms be really sure whether Jesus said know of stem from much later erty rights over women against of homosexual practice, sex with this or that, or whether it was and are highly legendary and of other males. Partly they have to animals, incest and male and fe- something the Church thought little use for reconstructing his- do with ancient taboos relating male rape. he said, it doesn’t really matter, tory. The exception is a collection to sex and the sacred. Sex By the time of Jesus and the because it has all been produced of Jesus’ sayings, called the Gos- brings people into close connec- New Testament the norm and under the impact of Jesus’ influ- pel of Thomas. Some sayings in tion with major life and death is- rule was that sex belonged in ence. His impression has left its the collection may well be au- sues. Menstruation, childbirth, marriage. In the world of New mark on the material and from thentic. Most are variations of male ejaculation, marriage were Testament times there was even that impression we can get a what we find in the first three all seen to be connected in some a tendency among popular moral fairly good idea of what Jesus gospels. Thomas does not offer way with holy things and there teachers, both Jewish and non was like. That is why I have been anything radically different were usually special rituals asso- Jewish, to play down sexual quite confident in the last chap- among its older material. It looks ciated with each. There were pleasure as an unworthy concern ter in drawing the picture I have very much like a laterversions of many taboos connected with and to argue that sex should be drawn. the kind of collection which Mat- sex; probably Paul’s concern engaged in primarily for the pur- We can find this impression of thew and Luke had access to about women’s head covering in pose of bringing children into the Jesus also in the other writings. when they expanded Mark. Church goes back to an estab- world. This was the noble way to The fourth gospel, John, is differ- These days most who try to re- lished taboo. In some ancient re- live. In this respect it is, there- ent from the others in being search the historical Jesus also ligions, at the same time, sexual fore, interesting that Paul did not written more like a drama, with a look at Thomas, even though it intercourse, itself, was used as a conform to this trend. Although lot of freedom in describing remains a matter of dispute sacred rite, a way to be in con- not married and also sharing events and creating the conver- whether it is really an independ- tact with the gods. some of this reluctance about sation pieces. Jesus speaks in ent source of evidence. The Bible and sex sexuality, Paul is happy to sup- the language of the Church and The evidence has led the vast The people of Israel, whose at- port those who, as he puts it, makes direct claims for himself, majority of researchers over the titudes are preserved in the Old were ‘burning’ with sexual pas- which are really the claims which past century to conclude that Testament and strongly reflected sion. He says that for them to go the Church of the time was mak- Matthew and Luke began with in the New Testament, shared ahead and find fulfilment in mar- ing for him rather than anything Mark’s account, added in sayings many of these understandings. riage is a good thing. He affirms he actually said. But, for that which they both knew from a In their earlier traditions they that marriage partners need to

28 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 53 ers. The second way shows far that I may skew my own reason- collection like Thomas, and con- in adding to our impression of more respect for the person. ing and neglect important things. structed the rest from other in- what Jesus must have been like. Love before laws, people before This is also where the wisdom dependent information and from Other New Testament writings rules and the rules of previous genera- their own creativity. The common include further letters of this kind Ultimately, it is respect for peo- tions become very helpful. But sayings source which Matthew from later times, some of them ple, caring about others and one- they need to be weighed up and Luke share is commonly looking more like sermons sent self, in short, love, which lies at carefully. called, "Q" (the first letter of the to be read out to the congrega- the heart of Jesus’ picture of Take a matter like divorce. German word for source: tion with a few greetings at- God. Everything, even creation There’s little doubt that Jesus "Quelle"). A small minority be- tached. Some letters were writ- itself, stems from God’s good- took a very strict line on divorce lieve it was the other way round: ten in the name of one of the im- ness. I don’t mind saying that and forbad it. He may have felt Mark abbreviated Matthew and portant leaders of the early there is one demand I do feel this was really important in his Luke or Luke knew Matthew as church, like Peter or Paul, though and that is God’s demand of social situation because divorce well as Mark. These theories not directly written by these love. But, even so, to speak of was being used against women have generally failed to explain leaders, themselves. Apart from love in this way, as God’s de- and driving many of them to why the latest writer would have the letters and the gospels the mand, still makes it feel too nar- poverty. Perhaps he saw no other left out so much of the material New Testament collection also row. It robs it of its life. Love is way. of major importance. contains Luke’s second volume to much more than a demand. It is It would be quite logical to ap- The letters his gospel, the Acts of the Apos- wanting what is good. It is caring ply the same law today and say The earliest Christian writings tles, which tells the history of the about others and the world. that at least people wanting to we have are the letters which early church in its first 40 years, So when I think about right and be followers of Jesus should not Paul wrote. He had founded and the Book of Revelation. wrong, I don’t start with a set of divorce. How can you change a Christian communities in many The Book of Revelation is a col- rules, not even a set of com- law laid down by Jesus? Yet of the major cities of Asia Minor lection of visions, full of symbols mandments, but with this central many Christians and many (modern day Turkey) and and codes which have fascinated theme of love. But, as soon as I Churches today have come to Greece. He couldn’t be every- people for centuries. We now start looking at specific situa- accept divorce as the more lov- where at once and so took to know that the strange codes and tions, I grasp for every bit of as- ing and creative solution to some writing letters to keep in touch symbols relate to the Roman sistance I can get. Not that I marriage situations. Are they with them and to deal with local Empire in the first century and don’t trust my own ability to turning their back on Jesus? It problems as they arose. Fortu- were a way that one Christian make a decision. But I know my- depends how you see it. At one nately we have a number of writer tried to help local Christian self well enough to know that I level they are; but at another these letters. They are all fairly communities cope with Roman can usually only see things in a level they are putting Jesus’ practical, dealing with issues as oppression. Some of the images limited way. I’m not God. Others message of love at the centre they came up, although they are it uses are quite strange. Unfor- will see things I don’t see. This is and acting on that basis. In framed in a rather formal style. tunately, people who do not one of the reasons why the more many situations to abide by Je- They allow us to see how he un- know its historical background we can make decisions about sus’ divorce instruction would be derstood the Christian faith in treat it as though it is a prophecy right and wrong in discussion to contradict the thrust of his the 50s, only some 20 years af- of world events of their own with others, the better. Also, if I central message. In such situa- ter Jesus’ death. They are there- times. It has become the happy am deciding on something where tions we follow Jesus more truly fore particularly valuable in pre- hunting ground of fanatical reli- I am emotionally involved, by being loving than we would serving how people thought gious groups. It is not referring there’s an even greater chance by staying with rules. about Jesus in earlier times and to Russia or China or Iraq or the

52 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 29 Pope or the modern banking sys- truth, often in the face of great answers. Jesus had his fair share tem, as various of these groups personal danger. of conflict with religious people have suggested! Reading it in its There are also collections of of this kind. As we have seen, for own terms and its own time, you proverbs, poetry and shorter him people mattered most and can see how inappropriate all popular stories and the large rules or guidelines were there to this is. Yet its stark images still psalm collection used in Israel’s help people; people were not have something to say wherever worship. Right at the beginning made to be fitted into someone political powers act oppressively of the Bible we find a series of else’s rules and regulations - not against minorities and flout well known stories: the making even God’s. God is much more God’s priorities. of the world and of people (two generous than that! The New Testament is the pre- different versions); Adam and What about But all the same we do face de- cious collection of early Christian Eve; Cain and Abel; Noah’s ark; right and wrong? cisions and the Church carries writings. They came together and the Tower of Babel. These with it nearly 3000 years of wis- partly because people valued are similar to many of the an- Chapter five of dom on a wide range of issues. them and made many copies of cient myths of the peoples of the It’s worth listening to what peo- Dear Kim, them and partly because later region. They belonged to the ple found to be right in the past. Church Councils set them apart wider culture. They are not his- this is what I believe . . . But, for many people, that is as the authoritative selection for torical, let alone scientific de- by Bill Loader only half the story; there is not purposes of defining authentic scriptions. Yet they have a spe- only wisdom; there are absolute

Christianity. This had happened cial quality, for they have been commandments given by God by the beginning of the fifth cen- retold with significant modifica- Dear Kim, which must be obeyed. They are tury. tions to bring out deep insights Sex before marriage, abortion, not to be questioned; they are The Old Testament into human life and God. masturbation, prostitution, gam- only to be obeyed. bling, alcohol, smoking, playing The larger collection of writings Take the story of the tower of I have some problems with sport on Sundays, homosexual- in the Bible is the Old Testament, Babel, for example. It tells of this, especially if it means that I ity, mercy killing, profiteering, written in Hebrew. It consists of people wanting to make a tower am doing things in a kind of embryo experimentation, writings of old Israel preserved which would reach up into the blind obedience. I may choose drugs.... there are many areas by the Jewish people. It contains heavens. Those in the heavens quite freely to obey a command- where we need to know what is the major stories from their his- reply by destroying the tower ment given me in this way, but I right and wrong. tory which they looked to for and from that day people were would much prefer to choose to their identity and where they en- scattered all over the earth with The Church has often been a do it also because it seems right countered God. It also has much different languages. We can just place where people have ex- and good. Do I do it because I’m legal material, including detailed imagine a little child asking, pected answers. And often, es- told to or do I do it because I be- instructions of how the temple ‘Why do people speak so many pecially in the past, some in the lieve it is right and good? I much system was to run. Some of its different languages?’ and a par- Church have given answers even prefer the latter; it is also how I most exciting material is in the ent telling the story. Yet at a when people weren’t asking see good parenting. There’s a lot writings of the prophets, who deeper level this ancient myth questions. Worse still, they have of difference between telling were kind of freelance preachers alerts us to the tragedy which been often quick to condemn someone to do something who used to challenge political occurs when people overreach people. Nobody appreciates ‘because I say so!’ and getting and religious leaders of the com- themselves in the endeavour to ‘holier than thou’ people or those them to do it because it is right munity on matters of justice and assert their importance, how it who seem to have to have all the and good for them and for oth-

30 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 51 can bring division and lead to ings allow us to sense something breakdown of communication of the impact of who he was and

and relationships. This is its what he did. message in the scriptures, not a With the Old Testament it is theory about languages. Often similar. It is the body of writings we get the truth about life best belonging to a particular culture, from stories that are not neces- Jewish culture, but Christians

sarily true in the literal or histori- have always seen in these writ- cal sense. ings and in the history which Written by human hands they recount a place where the God-light has shone through in All of these writings were writ- ten by human beings in particu- human affairs. In this regard its lar circumstances. They reflect writings are quite mixed. There those circumstances and the are awful stories of cruelty and massacre which their authors world view of their time. Natu- rally there is a lot of variety thought were willed by God. But within the collections in quality there are also moments of ten- and style. Some accounts of his- derness and human love, chal- lenges about social injustice and tory are more valuable than oth- ers. Some preserve deeper in- profoundly sensitive descriptions sights than others. This is only to of what it means to live with be expected of a collection of pain. There is something of God writings coming from almost a captured or reflected in these thousand year time span. writings which rings true to the

Even within the New Testa- picture we get of God through ment, where the time span is Jesus. But it is there in the mix less than 100 years, there is typical of such a collection. To try to cut out the offensive national- considerable variety. With four different account of Jesus’ life, ism of some parts or to try to there are inevitably quite differ- distil only the purist thoughts ent slants on some events and would be an impossible task. The same is true, ultimately, of some contradictions in detail. Overall such things did not mat- the Bible as a whole. It is a hu- ter; what mattered, as far as the man book by human authors New Testament was concerned, written in very human situations in very human ways. Yet it is was that this collection was the major resource for what Jesus precisely as it is, that it has been was like and the kind of impres- a source of inspiration to so sion he made on his followers. many down through the ages. It Who and what Jesus was, rubbed is a place where people have off on these people. Their writ- seen the light shining, have

50 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 31 heard God speaking, have found counter with Jesus and so with through. At times as I stand in their lives opened up in a new God. But for me it can do that the stream I notice an awful lot way. without my having to pretend it of sludge and rubbish passing For me, reading the Bible or is free of contradiction or offen- me by; but the same stream also hearing it discussed is like walk- sive parts. channels life giving nutrient. It is ing in a familiar garden. As a One of the most unfortunate worth being there. biblical scholar, I know most of things which has happened in I believe the Church still has the plants quite well. Some parts many parts of Christianity is that good water to offer. In parts it I don’t find attractive. Here and people have gone overboard in urgently needs to clean up its there, there has been too much their enthusiasm for the Bible banks and to make its waters hacking about, when people and have ended up making false more accessible. But the water is have tried to straighten things claims about it which do more there, the same water that has out. Some of the garden beds harm than good to what it is on quenched people’s deep inner look too much like they have about. I say: it is the garden thirst for two thousand years and been fitted into the going fash- where I encounter God; I could brought parched desert places of ions. But at other points I just use other words like: God speaks humanity to the miracles of stand in wonder and it’s as through it. When some people peace and love. I believe, too, though I see things for the first use the shorthand expression, that that good water also helps time. It is always deeply reward- ‘the Word of God’ for the Bible, us face issues of Right and ing to be in one of those ‘God they mean what I mean here, Wrong to which we address our- moments’ that the Bible can though I think the term has be- selves in the following chapter. make possible. come so misleading I would pre- fer not to use it. The holy Bible and fundamen- talism But if, instead of staying with

You will see from what I have revering God, I then go on and said that I am quite comfortable start revering the book, I could with seeing the Bible as it is and very easily end up claiming the Bible is somehow not human but that I don’t feel I have to pre- tend it is something else. I used divine. I would be more inclined to believe that Christians should to do this, the less I knew of its see the Bible as absolutely per- origin. So I could easily find my- self claiming this is ‘the Word of fect, without error, as God’s own words and that to be critical of God’ and mean something like: any part of it would be a terrible God controlled what the people sin. Having come to know it in its wrote; it is completely without error and contradiction; it is per- historical setting and to see it as it is, I think I have a deeper, manently valid in every thought more profound reverence for it and rule it utters, quite inde- than I had before. It is holy be- pendent of when the rule was written, by whom and for whom. cause it has a unique role in pre- serving and opening up an en- This approach is commonly

32 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 49 abilities find in church groups or cells for change and conversion called fundamentalism and the be so convinced. the shelter found by the home- throughout society, living from same sort of thing is to be found When I reflect on it now, I can less kids do not make headlines, the heritage of liberated and lib- in most religions, when people see that I held so intensely to except in the occasional excesses erating communities of the past declare old traditions to be final, such views not only because I of some parachurch groups seek- and Christ, the liberator, and unchangeable, infallible author- thought they were right, but also ing public funds. seeking to remain faithful to that ity. because I was afraid of the alter- Newspapers prefer to report heritage. I used to believe in the Bible in natives. It seemed to me at the problems and the lashings out by A holy place built of people this way. People taught me that time that anything other than oppressed cultural and ethnic The church continues to be for this was the only way to read the believing every word of the Bible groups than to focus on their so many a place where they find Bible and I believed them. For a was an offence to God and would creative forms of Christian com- inner stillness and peace, a holy while I tried to persuade every- destroy my faith. I can remem- munity which are bringing hope place or a gathering of people one else this was so. In many ber that the thing that changed and new vision to so many. Oc- which treasures and fosters the ways it was simpler to ask peo- my mind was not so much some- casionally the Church makes its sense of awe and wonder that is ple to believe everything the Bi- one’s arguments as someone’s official voice heard on matters of the essence of worship. I like the ble said than to suggest it was example. I began to see that poverty, discrimination and injus- image of the church as a com- complicated, with some things to there were people who believed tice; but its more progressive munity of people being like a be believed and some not. It also differently from me whose lives forms have constantly been out building put together from rocks gave me a good feeling to be- were full of love and caring, who front in challenging the dehu- and stones of all various shapes lieve I had the answers to every- were clearly in touch with God. manising forces of exploitation and sizes, some smooth and thing, right there in the Bible. I Underneath I began to realise which frequently hide behind hard, some weathered and bro- shudder now at how arrogant that I need not fear exploring Christian respectability. From the ken, some beautiful, some very and foolish I was, though I was other ways. There were real car- church have come many of the plain, some soft or brittle, some very sincere and serious about it ing Christian who were not fun- courageous heroes of commu- very old, some very young, but all. damentalists. I did not have to nism’s collapse in the east, of all together creating a place It produced in me a narrow and stay rigid and closed on the is- apartheid’s dismantling, of where people can sense and en- inflexible attitude about what sue. movements for justice within our joy the presence of God. There’s was right and wrong and about Freedom from fundamentalism own countries, of the growth of room for everyone and for all what people should believe. And Later I realised that it was just the peace movement and of the sorts. I firmly believed I was right. this kind of rigid attitude towards establishment in public con- It is, therefore, out of the When people believe like this and religion and the Bible that Jesus sciousness of the need to con- Church, this mixed bag of hu- as long as they remain fixed in and, later, Paul had to confront. serve the environment. manity, with all its warts and dis- their attitude to the Bible, it can Without realising it, I had been Good, ‘honest John’ values, figurements, that, nevertheless, be like beating your head against more on the side of Jesus’ oppo- which win popular community something beautiful has been a brick wall if you try to suggest nents than on the side of Jesus. support, can be far wide of possible that goes beyond the alternative ways of looking at The Bible, the Old Testament, as where a commitment to Christian ugliness of which it has also things. Many of the groups that it was in Jesus’ day, was quite compassion for all would lead. been capable. I have this faith in go knocking on street doors are unambiguous in much of what it The struggle continues. The the Church that the stream still like this and so are many Chris- asked people to do. For instance, Church is big, bigger than the lo- flows and that, as long as it tian groups today. I think I have it had clear instructions about cal group, bigger than the local does, the life will be there and a good understanding of what it the sabbath which made it clear congregation. It is a network of the love that matters will break is like to believe like this and to that people should do no work.

48 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 33 Jesus was prepared to override What emerged therefore was noted by outsiders, was its hos- knows the comfort, help and these with other biblical concerns that some people were more pitality. healing given by so many clergy when it came to healing people. concerned with rules and laws In my imagining I still see a and lay visitors to families facing Fundamentalists among the than they were with people. And, role for the local congregation, grief. Few hear of the hours of Pharisees could not see past the what is more, they represented groups for the children, youth support of people in crisis in the sabbath law and found Jesus' be- God as more concerned with and adults, and occasions of their relationships or within haviour outrageous. Jesus re- rules than with people. There is worship and celebration. I hope themselves. Ministers and priests sponded: 'The sabbath was no doubt about their sincerity the churches will continue to be are still among the few helpers made for people, not people for and devotion, but I see it as centres of vibrant life for young who feel comfortable, or for the sabbath.' He argued that grossly misguided. Behind the families in the new suburbs. whom it is socially acceptable, to compassion for people was the two approaches are two different Coming to a friendly congrega- make initiating house calls. Much key biblical value, not keeping understandings of God. One pic- tion where the children have of the front line caring in this every law. tures God as almost obsessed something for them and you find way goes unnoticed as people In Paul’s day the Church had to with getting people to do things something for yourself can be an are helped to stand on their own decide whether it was going to ‘his’ way, like an egotistical per- enrichment and inspiration for feet again or are referred to admit non-Jews into the Chris- son, pathetically self-preoccupied the week. Appropriate worship helping agencies. tian community. The first Chris- with his own power - a ‘god’ in- and fellowship for seniors in the In some congregations there tian were Jews. The Jewish scrip- deed! The other pictures God as older centres of population must are elaborate networks of mutual ture, the Old Testament, lays compassionately reaching out to continue to be a strong feature. caring and support which spill down procedures which non-Jews people making space for them, It’s everyone in between that over into the surrounding should follow if they want to join encouraging them and challeng- worries me and where I think we neighbourhood; few notice the the community of God’s people. ing them, wanting, above all, need greater flexibility and more delivered casserole on the door- It entailed going through a ritual their wholeness. This picture of imagination. The worsening fi- step; and the conversation over which included circumcision of God also has room for guidelines nancial state of the Church is morning tea at breaking point males, the cutting of loose skin and rules, but they exist for the forcing the Church to consider remains confidential. There is of- from the end of the penis. In the sake of people and can be some of these options, but it is ten a privacy about the visit on name of openness and compas- changed where a more compas- far better if they are looked at the anniversary of the death of a sion Paul and his colleagues gave sionate option opens for us. with a view to being more effec- spouse or loved one and only the up the scripture command. The danger of fundamentalism tive than only with a view to sav- proud and patronising will want Clearly they were operating on a This is the real danger of fun- ing money. to report to all and sundry about different basis from the Bible- damentalism. It operates with a The extraordinary achieve- relief and assistance brought to believing fundamentalists of the self obsessive image of God. ments of local churches the unemployed family or new day. They were operating and Love takes second place to law; For someone like myself, in- immigrants. living on the basis of the com- people take second place to volved personally and profes- Church knockers are frequently passion that is at the heart of rules. Taken to extremes it gen- sionally in the Church, it is easy ignorant of the life given lonely the biblical writings, not on the erates sectarian hate and fanati- to touch on the sore spots in the youth in the local church club or basis of the letter of its rules and cism which produces suicide Church and also to have blind by the parents of one teenager regulations. Already then there bombers and communities which spots. I also need to remind my- to others who just had to spill it were Christian fundamentalists sefl destruct. By contrast, Jesus self of the extraordinary achieve- all out, because they couldn’t ap- who could only see such flexibil- shows the opposite stance. Peo- ments of the Church in so many proach their own parents. The ity as an offence against God. ple matter. God cares. That is unsung ways. Often no one fellowship which many with dis-

34 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 47 by our persistence in pandering had special value worth recover- the overriding concern, not keep- other rules, like abstention from to more staid and conservative ing. I sometimes have a vision of ing laws. alcohol, or, in earlier days, from movements in the Church and Christians returning to make the The fundamentalist approach, dancing, gambling, card playing, the fear they engender, espe- local house group their main including its common mildly cinema. When I consider the way cially among clergy wanting to gathering and feeding centre mannered forms, has to take I used to think as a fundamen- feel accepted. In the smaller again and meeting only, say, over into the modern era all the talist, I can see now that it was more intimate group there would once a month in the wider group. rules it finds in the biblical writ- really a mixture of fundamental- be a place for such people. The As I’ve said above, I think the ings without modification. There ism with particular cultural val- last decade has seen a signifi- wider connection with other can be no allowances made for ues thrown in which had, in fact, cant swing towards establishing Christians is essential and I change of culture or growth in very little to do with the Bible. such groups. sometimes find it very uplifting, understanding. In the later chap- I often see fundamentalists I often find it strange that few but I wonder if making Christian- ter on ‘Right and Wrong’ you will caught between their loyalty to people reflect on the major ity’s main activity a weekly Sun- see how the fundamentalist ap- the Bible as they understand it changes which came about in day meeting in a large hall or proach tends to present a rigidly and compassion for people; but Christianity when, after flourish- specially constructed building cruel response to a wide range of they are not free to choose love ing successfully for two hundred has not robbed Christianity of issues, from divorce and remar- as long as they bind themselves years, it finally received author- something vital. I hope we will riage to homosexuality and the to their understanding of the Bi- ity to build churches, that is, see more experiments in this di- role of women. ble. Or their compassion can op- church buildings. Before that rection. They are beginning to The issue is confused, however, erate only within certain set lim- Christians met in houses. Groups happen. It has immediate impli- because most fundamentalists its. That is very sad and the op- must have been smaller than cations for our traditional under- are not consistent, nor extreme. posite of what the Bible is ulti- most of our congregations. The standing of ordained ministry The same arguments they use to mately about. house would add greater inti- and administration of the sacra- oppose equality of women I shall return to some of the macy and informality. Commun- ments, but that is a refreshing should, strictly speaking, also above issues in the chapter on ion would probably have been change. It also calls for ministers lead them to oppose the aboli- ‘Right and Wrong,’ The main served from the meal table and to play a major support role for tion of slavery, to oppose women point I am making here is that I usually after or in connection local group leaders and for lead- attending worship with heads think it is essential that we free with a normal meal. They still ership teams. uncovered, to oppose a banking ourselves from the kind of funda- had sermons, at least, according The danger I would see in such system based on charging inter- mentalism which I have de- to Acts, because there is the groups, apart from the possibility est, because Bible texts can be scribed, in order to be free to be celebrated incident of someone of poor resourcing and oversight, found which oppose each of in line with what the Bible is all going to sleep and falling out a is potential exclusiveness. We these. Yet among fundamental- about: becoming part of God’s window! need to make all sorts welcome ists there is rarely a thoroughgo- loving in the world. This is an up- In some cities there were a in our homes and learn to live ing consistency. On some ques- hill battle, because so many peo- number of such house churches. with much greater openness, tions, for instance, people will ple fear that to depart from this We don’t know whether, or how abandoning the ‘my little castle’ have no qualms dropping some attitude to the Bible is a terrible often, they would have all approach to own homes. Maybe scripture requirements, such as sin. If only they could see that it crammed together for a common that, in itself, would make us those which calls for slaves to is a far greater sin to stay with it celebration or service. Probably more Christian where it counts - obey masters or those forbidding and cut oneself and others off they did from time to time. It in the neighbourhood! A feature divorce. from the freedom to respond seems to me that such a system of earliest Christianity, soon But frequently they also add with love and compassion to

46 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 35 one’s fellow human beings. throws light both on what the become special to people. How- How, then, do I, as an individ- Walking in the garden writings of the Bible meant and ever I think that this can all hap- ual, relate to the Church? I go If we are to approach the Bible how they may throw light on pen without losing sight of the along to Church and to wider as the precious collection of writ- questions and issues today. first priority, living out the good Church gatherings and I meet all ings that it is and walk in its gar- In fact, meeting with people news about God we find in Jesus the things I have just described. den, how do we do this? One who are also sharing the same in the present. I am not advocat- I feel I belong there, even when simple way is to pick up the Bible journey, trying to live in the light ing that the Church abandon its I feel frustrated and it is hard. I and read it, starting from the be- of what Jesus was saying about tradition. Jesus was not advocat- will continue to go. But I know I ginning or starting with a gospel. God, can be one of the most en- ing that to the religious leaders also need more than that. I also Using a good flowing English riching experiences of life. That of his day; but he was calling value the support, encourage- translation you can read large brings me to the Church which them back to what really mat- ment and friendship from others chunks at a time. Another way is can sometimes be just that, but tered and he sat lightly, when who are on the same path of to read it in small segments, us- all too often is not. necessary, to the rest. I think the faith. I value plain talking and di- ing an aid to understanding like Church needs to live by that rect personal encounter, meeting principle. people and being enriched by ‘With Love to the World’, which gives half a page comment for You and me and the church sharing issues and experiences each day’s reading. I think Where does that leave you and with them. Therefore I need to something like this is better, be- me, as individuals, in relation- be able to get closer to people than is usually possible in a large cause many parts of the Bible ship to the Church? As I said, I are obscure and need further ex- think each of us as individuals (or small) Sunday congregation. planation to help us make a con- faces similar issues in our own I would not want to give up the nection with what they are say- lives to those faced by the rest and stay only with a close or ing. It is also valuable because Church. We need to show the closed group, though I know a the selection of daily readings Church community the same tol- lot of people who have chosen matches those set to be read on erance and love. For instance, this path and I have a lot of the following Sunday in many of there are plenty of people who, sympathy with them. In fact, my the major Churches. in a similar way to the Church, hunch is that many people are get stuck with doing things the outside the Church today be- Probably the most natural way to enjoy the garden is to go way they have always done them cause nothing like the small there with other people. Most of and who do not seem to have group existed for them within the writings were written to be the flexibility to make changes the Christian community. It is that would be so good for them asking a lot of people to expect read aloud in a group of people where they could be appreciated and for those around them. That them to come each Sunday to a and discussed and reflected doesn’t mean forgetting every- traditional service and there de- upon. That can be even better thing we were. We can’t do that; code, demythologise, and trans- late what is going on before they than having a commentary. They but being alive means being are writings that come from a awake to doing things in new can gain any benefit from it - it community and are best under- ways as new situations arise and can be hard work! I sometimes stood in a community. In the to following old patterns only find it so. We are losing, or have already lost, many of our more community you can find re- when they are still relevant. sources and information which A way of being together? thinking and more feeling souls

36 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 45 it ought to be. It was because mous. Would any of us, at our Church think that Christianity is Jesus shortcut the established best, behave the way God is, at all about rules, or when they fail procedures for ordering commu- times, alleged to behave? Par- to look critically at what they are nity life to meet the immediate ents, at their best, encourage doing and saying, or when they needs of people that he came children to experiment, to ask make faith sound like mumbo into conflict with his religious questions and to explore and jumbo or superstition or when contemporaries. More than once they stay with them even when the aim seems to be to make I have felt myself on the wrong they have their doubts. I can’t comfortable people feel more side of this conflict. It seems to believe any less of God; yet so comfortable. me, for instance, that anything often the picture I get is of a Yet some of the most exciting other than an open table at Holy very insecure God, with little What about people I have met have been in Communion where all may feed trust and full of oppressive fear. the Church. They challenge me. puts us on the side of Jesus’ crit- This is not the God I find in Je- the Church? They wake up my ideas. They ics. Yet most churches still im- sus. Chapter four of seem to be in touch with life. pose limitations. Setting boundaries and keeping They open up new ways of look- Dear Kim, Obsessions of religious people our identity ing at things. They are generous, It is my view that what we see To stay with the image of par- this is what I believe . . . loving people, who illustrate by as the obsessions of the religious enting, parents also need to by Bill Loader their lives everything I have been saying about Jesus. They people of Jesus’ day are not so know the importance of setting different from what have become boundaries. Many of the Church’s are real saints. You probably Dear Kim, the obsessions of many in the traditions have arisen from just know some people like that, too. Church. They mostly touch situa- such a need. The need contin- "Church is boring!" That’s what They’re not necessarily people in tions where allegedly divinely ues. Within the community of I often hear people say and official Church positions; often sanctioned law and ordinance faith we need to recognise that sometimes I feel like that, too. they are not; some of them are. are given higher priority than hu- we are not perfect; there are Yet it is not always what I feel, in They are just people getting on man need. The Church too often things we do not see; we make fact increasingly less so. I feel with life, but with an abundance finds itself not on the side of mistakes. We need each other proud to be identified with the of love to give to others. flexibility. There is a quasi funda- and we need the voices of the Church, when it stands up for At times, being in Church is like mentalism often operating in dis- past. They are brought to us human rights, when it gets in- being in a health care centre, a cussions of such matters as through tradition, especially in volved in helping people who healthy place to be, but you are church order, ordination of its earliest form, the scriptures. have real need, when it is a there in a community of people women, divorce and remarriage, We also need to listen to the place which helps people get in who care and need caring. Some and who may receive or cele- skilled interpreters of Bible and touch with God in their lives, sit there in the congregation, brate Holy Communion. tradition and to those in the pre- when it is prepared to ask critical carrying recent memories of questions about itself and its At worst, we find ourselves sent whom we recognise as es- someone close to them who has heritage and about what is going back with a puny understanding pecially wise. died. Others come, full of worry on in the world.. of God, who is liable to get terri- I am all for our having a very and fear about their job or their bly upset if things are not done positive, appreciative attitude to- Part of me can feel very impa- health or what is happening to in exactly the right way, the way wards what has gone before us tient with the Church and with their children or their marriage. they have always been done. in the stream and a respect for what happens in it. I get quite Some seem to be regularly de- Such images of God are blasphe- the various practices which have exasperated when people in the pressed people; and others are a

44 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 37 bit odd and seem to feel at home we are there when it’s out of evitably resulted in magnificent But the question is, when is it a here and few places else. And fashion. art and music and a myriad of matter of choice and when does the line between wellness and Then I wonder what it would traditional practices and rites it become a matter of obligation? unwellness is frequently blurred, have been like around Jesus in which came to carry special When is it a matter of recognis- because here it is Ok to acknowl- his day. There would probably meaning for people. People of ing people’s rights to different edge that we all need care and have been a similar assortment one culture or one Church de- cultural expressions of the gospel we can all give care. of different people. Perhaps a nomination developed their own and when is it a matter of hold- When the minister and those number who presently go to particular traits. The Church in ing onto something without leading the worship are tuned in church would be more comfort- its history has given the world which Christianity ceases to be to where people are at, the able with Jesus’ opponents; but, wonderful treasures, magnificent Christianity? Putting it in this whole event can seem like an act all the same, you’d be in an un- architecture, beautiful music. way makes us face the issue: of healing. The whole room fills comfortable crowd of people at Each Church and each culture what is it in Christianity that we with compassion and you feel a all different stages of life’s jour- has found its own way of being want to preserve? close sense of belonging to- ney. It is tempting to think: the Church and of seeking to I myself would want to put the gether - limping along with the wouldn’t it be better if we could serve as a channel of the impact ancient formats of Holy Com- those who struggle, holding the find a lot of people who think of Jesus. munion and of Church organiza- hand of the elderly, putting your and behaviour more or less the If you stand in the stream of tion, including ordination to a arm round the shoulders of way we do? But that is like ask- the Christian gospel today, you threefold ministry as commonly someone going through rough ing Jesus to be selective about stand in a stream which has defined, in the optional category. times. And sometimes this can his company, a contradiction of flowed through many of these To me the rite of the shared happen quite literally, especially all that he was about. channels. It is in many ways a meal, Holy Communion, is cen- where what matters most is peo- In moments of truth I also real- beautiful heritage. We cannot tral, though I do not want to ple in the presence of God and ise that we’re all people who are change that even if we wanted deny the validity of other forms not performance of a fixed and on a journey and I’m no excep- to. It is given to us. But how do of Christianity without it (as in formal order of proceedings. tion. In some ways the progress we live as a body of Christians the Salvation Army). Further, I An odd mixture Christianity has made in the today? Some will want to enter believe we need order and or- The Church - any congrega- world or in the Church is about fully into the marvels of that in- ganization in structuring the tion - and the Church as a whole the same as it has made in my heritance and will find it inspires Church’s life. At least we need to is an odd mixture, a strange as- own life - otherwise I’m kidding them for living out the gospel in be exercising the functions rep- sortment of people. Some of us myself. And I’m not about to fresh ways today. Others will resented in the so-called historic are in the Church out of habit abandon myself; so I’m not go- know little of it and not find it patterns of ministry. But even in and tradition, without much ing to abandon the Church just greatly inspiring. That is our saying this I am aware I am be- commitment to what it is all because it’s as human as I am. choice. People are different and ing very traditional and adapting about - in fact, often blocking That sounds simpler than it to some extent different denomi- myself to what is familiar. any initiatives to be relevant to really is. At least I can make nations reflect such options I suspect the Church is still too the world around us. Others of some changes in myself; with much more than they do pro- ‘hung up’ in many of these mat- us are there by habit and tradi- the Church that’s more difficult; found differences in belief. There ters and too much concerned tion because we have always will anyone listen? Part of loving is surely room also for different with preserving what has been tried to walk the way of Jesus in myself as God loves me means kinds of congregations even deemed authoritative and is less their lives. We were there when looking at my faults and deciding within denominations to cater for free for celebration and service it was what everyone used to do; to do something about them. I these differences. appropriate to current need than

38 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 43 the earliest days of the Christian biblical and heritage. We neglect need to love the Church like first Christian leaders. Church. But there are other im- the compost of tradition at our that, too - I am also part of it! In tune with yesterday - and portant links. These include the peril. What I want to say about the today? service of Holy Communion The more ancient branches of Church comes from this ap- Treasuring the connection with which in most churches still re- the Church argue that we should proach. Let me begin with the all those who have been Chris- tains ancient prayers like: ‘Holy, preserve not only the ordained great treasure that the Church tians in the Church over the cen- holy, holy Lord..’ or ‘Lamb of ministry but also the way the is. turies is why I’m comfortable God, you take away the sin of Church has structured its or- The wider church about using ancient prayers or the world,..’ and a number of dained ministry from the second The Church is the local congre- creeds and hymns at times in others. The basic forms of the century onwards. That structure gation; but it is also bigger than church. But they shouldn’t, to Holy Communion Service and of has three kinds of minister: bish- that. It is worldwide and it my mind, dominate and leave no Baptism, including Baptism of in- ops, priests and deacons. reaches back across nearly 2000 room for saying and doing things fants, reach right back to the ‘Bishops’ originally meant years. We can think of the in today’s ways as well. That’s a time even before the Bible re- ‘overseers’. ‘Priests’ replaced the Church lying across the land- problem in Church services. It is ceived its final stamp of ap- term ‘elders’ in the second cen- scape of history in the shape of a like having the cross without the proval. tury and means the minister of cross: it reaches out across the cross bar. Some use only tradi- Ministries the local congregation. ‘Deacons’ world and it reaches back across tional sources. That can be fine Another important link which was, and still is, a rather loose history and also forward into the for those who are in the in- people include is having people term which can range from future. The vertical aspect is the group. But I think too many set aside (ordained) as ministers meaning ministers with a special one which makes me feel one churches have got stuck with to help the Church to keep a focus on social justice and caring with Christians down through the only one kind of tradition in good hold on its connections with functions through to little more ages, right back to the first disci- words and in music. They don’t the ancient Church, especially than apprentice priests. Most ples and Jesus himself. At times I seem to realise that they are the Bible, and to reflect on the Churches recognise that these can sense this link quite strongly, giving people the message that impact these can have on pre- forms of ministry cover some of especially when people leading what they are about can’t really sent day living. These have a vi- the key functions every church worship help to engender it by be celebrated or lived in today’s tal role to play. We should be re- must have in its ministry, but pointing it out or using it in some world. Museums can be inspiring minding them that this is so and some continue to insist, more lit- way. The horizontal aspect is the and nostalgia is not to be de- telling them to get a sound erally, on having precisely these Church across all the peoples spised, but Churches which stay grounding, to keep themselves forms of ministry and using pre- and cultures of today’s world. We in that mode are missing some- informed and focused on the cisely these words, bishops, sense this when we pray or talk thing vital. At worst they are en- task. We do not want them to be priests and deacons, even about people outside our own lo- gaging in a form of community full time paid Christians, but to though, in reality, they are now cal congregation and don’t just depression and need help. help us with the connections. We very different from what they focus always on ourselves. The Sometimes the opposite hap- need to tell each other that this were in the second century. traditional way of saying what I pens and I find it very odd. Peo- must be a fundamental priority Standing in the stream am treasuring here is that the ple go for modern sounds and for the Church in a time of tight There is much more that some Church is the one, holy, catholic systems with little thought for budgets when some see only the would add to the list of what and apostolic Church. ‘Catholic’, what is being sung or said. They horizontal aspects of the Church should be preserved unchanged. here, is used in its archaic sense can easily lose the connection and neglect the vertical, the link- The power and wonder of the of ‘universal’. ‘Apostolic’ means it with the treasure of tradition and age across history to the rich message of the gospel of love in- goes back to the apostles, the with its wisdom and instead pro-

42 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 39 duce sloppy and sentimental the monoculturalism which has the bread and wine quite literally How much do we hold onto? songs which seem designed to tended to dominate decisions the physical body and blood of But there is another side to the make people feel good. Fre- about music in the Church and Jesus. Or, I believe God speaks coin and it explains why the quently when they do try to con- the words and style of its written through the Pope and jump to Church has often found itself nect to the tradition they use orders of service. This, too, has the conclusion that everything he stuck and not able to move. It ideas and concepts uncritically been changing in recent years. says must be infallible. More in- relates to what I was saying and inappropriately. For a long But there is still a kind of stuck- formed Catholics would explain about a sense of belonging with time this was true of many so ness here which belongs to a to us that neither of these views those who have gone before us. called choruses which people wider problem in the Churches. truly represents Catholic doc- Saying the creeds, using parts of used in churches. In recent years Fundamentalism also about the trine. But they are typical of a the ancient liturgy of Holy Com- however we have seen exciting church tendency we have already noted munion and singing ancient new developments which have The general stuck-ness in the with regard to the Bible and hymns all help us sense that we been able to combine good con- Church is almost a kind of funda- which, we have seen, also affects belong to that great historic temporary music with words that mentalism; only, instead of some people’s attitude to the in- community of faith. The question do make sense without watering treating the Bible as divine and stitutions of the Church. is: how much do we hold onto in down the gospel. infallible, people have treated These more extreme positions order to retain that connection? It is also possible for congrega- the Church and its institutions as about the Church become all the Congregations where all such tions to be so focused on what is infallible. We treasure the Bible more absurd when people justify links with the past have been ig- going on in the world and what as our earliest witness to God in them by claiming that Jesus set nored (except the Bible) seem to needs to be done, that mutual history, but some couldn’t help the Church up in this way, me to be greatly impoverished. exhortation to action and moral going on to make the Bible, it- whereas we now know quite well They can easily degenerate into demand dominates with insuffi- self, divine. At its worst, we have that the organisation of the popular ‘feel good’ religions with- cient attention to nurturing peo- a similar phenomenon in the Church evolved in response to out much substance or they can ple for the task. It is difficult to Church, where some people treat pragmatic concerns over a long become service clubs for social sustain the fruit if we do not at- the way the Church has been or- period of time. The pragmatic action, at worst a fellowship of tend to the tree itself and its ganised from the second century concerns of the Church’s mission ‘oughts’. roots. onwards as somehow sacrosanct, of love still need to be the ulti- We need to stay connected with Church communities need to as divine. That means: nothing is mate criterion for deciding how the historic community of faith work at the connections with the to be changed! we should organise our lives in and to ensure that its sources of historical treasure of the gospel This rather odd tendency to go the Church. spiritual nourishment can flow up and with the style and issues of too far in devotion also explains In its less extreme form we find into the tree in a way that will the day, if they are escape being how some Catholics came to this kind of fundamentalism sustain a deeper awareness of a cultural ghetto or just another treat Mass (Holy Communion) as about the Church in the great goodness and an ongoing com- service club. Music is only one something almost magical and to fear and reluctance which peo- mitment to social and other ac- example of the need for cultural revere the Pope as infallible. We ple, including many clergy, have, tion which will live the good flexibility, but a good one. We can almost see the same steps about doing different, more news in the world. The Church need more church musicians occurring: I have a profound imaginative things in the areas has put in place some structures with a sensitive tolerance to a sense of Jesus’ presence at Com- of music, worship activity and which are designed to help this wide range of musical style. I’m munion and jump to the conclu- about finding more imaginative to happen when they are made a classical music fan, myself, but sion that Communion must en- and effective ways of being the to work well. I can’t, for the life of me, justify shrine a magical act that makes Church in the world. The Bible is our key link with

40 Bill Loader Dear Kim, This is what I believe.... 41