Balancing Ecumenism and Our Own Beliefs

Please click here for a thoughtful discussion on the Urban Abbey's blog regarding balancing appeal to a "wider" spirituality and openness to those of differing beliefs, versus voicing one's own beliefs.

I particularly appreciated the comment by the blogger George that "The challenge is to continue to be open to seeing God's love in action in the world around us and in spiritual practices of other faith traditions while remaining grounded in who we are as Christians." He also quotes Fr. Don Talafous of St. John's Abbey as saying "I believe with St. Paul that God has not left any part of the world without some witness to God's love for us. For Christians that witness shines out in Jesus Christ. But I don't think that we can say that it is only in Christ that God has revealed something about God's love for all human beings. On the other hand, to ignore Christ in the interest of a wider appeal would be turning our backs on what has formed and nourished us."

In this society that misinterprets the First Amendment against the establishment of an official government religion to excise public religiosity to the extent that someone sued about the Pledge of Allegiance's reference to "one nation under God", it seems that people go out of their ways to avoid causing offence to those of other religions. We don't even call them religions anymore--the news refers to "faith traditions." So people hesitate to talk about God. In a way, I understand this, having had a pretty toxic hell-vs-salvation Baptist parochial school experience early in life. On the other hand, sometimes it's just easier to say "God" than use euphemisms to be all-inclusive like "All That Is" or "The Universe."

I have no problems giving people of other faiths an angel reading, by the way. Or those of no particular faith. But I found it sad the other night when a sixteen year old boy called me the other night after finding my name on the web, asking about developing his intuition. One of my recommendations was prayer, and he said something to the effect of "well, I'm a basically secular person but I'm okay with the idea of angels--I just think of them a little differently." I was a little taken aback, since the idea of messengers of God without God doesn't really resonate with me. On the other hand, if he is able to open up to divine guidance, perhaps he might find a less secular view of the world. I believe that God works with us from where we are (although I have yet to have an avowed atheist to contact me to find out what their angels want them to know.)

But even as I respect others' paths, I will be myself and not apologize for referring to God, Jesus, or Christianity in this blog or elsewhere, as a way of expressing my beliefs and who I am.

I wish to turn now to the sentence "But I don't think that we can say that it is only in Christ that God has revealed something about God's love for all human beings." I agree that God has been experienced by many cultures in many ways, and I believe that there is truth in other religions. I disagree with the Father's use of the word "Christ" here though. I would phrase it differently--that it is not solely through Jesus that God has revealed Himself in the world, but I believe the Christ has been present in many cultures, even if He is incarnate as Jesus only.

The Bible says In the beginning was the Word. In the Nicene creed, we affirm that Jesus Christ is

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.

If Jesus the man was born a little over 2000 years ago, but the Christ, the Word, the Logos is eternal and of one Being with the Father, then the Christ, or Word, has been showing itself to people throughout the ages and through all time, even if the human incarnation of Jesus and the paschal mystery in which I believe as a Christian, is specific to time.

From the Son of Light in ancient Celtic paganism to the Buddha of Infinite Life and Life Amida in Japanese Buddhism, the archetypal symbolism of light seems to transcend time and culture. While I am by no means making all religions "the same" as they are not, I believe strongly that God's Spirit has moved through people and places and times in ways that transcend human knowledge or understanding. So I honor other paths even as I choose to share my own faith in Christ-centric language.

I have asked the angels for a message about the various religions and they said:

God loves all people, all peoples, all beings, all nations, all worlds. God is not the God of Jews or of Christians or of a particular religion. God is the God of all. There is much to existence of which you know nothing. Do you really think that God has revealed Himself only to the authors of the Bible, the Koran, the Upanishads? Even all three?

God reveals Himself through each member of creation in every urge of goodness and kindness in your hearts. God reveals Himself in art, in beauty, in music. God reveals Himself in nature--and in structured modernity.

You cannot limit God, God's love, even God's salvation. You are fond of reading Julian of Norwich. Truly, all SHALL be well, and you need not worry about how God will accomplish this. The world, the universe, and other worlds and universes of which you know nothing, are all places of wellbeing. Allow God to be God. Allow that there are mysteries. Allow God to work through you, through your heart, your mind, your words, your being.

Let go of your own agenda and let God come through. Life is richer if you allow God in. You can never entirely shut an omnipresent God out--but your efforts will be respected. This is truly what Hell is--walling God out. It's not a place but a process, just as Heaven is allowing God into your life and opening up to a larger reality. You are at choice in the matter, as are all beings. You cannot understand limitless God with a limited mind.

Your understandings and the understandings of others are like a diamond--many, many facets. And together, they shine brilliantly.

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