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The great Jewish philosopher, Abraham J. Heschel taught that, “Transcendence can never be an object of possession or of comprehension.” Rather, “the experience of meaning is an experience of vital involvement, not having an idea in the mind, but living within the spirit surpassing the mind; not an experience of private reference of meaning, but sharing a dimension open to all human beings.” (John C. Merkle, The Genesis of Faith: The Depth Theology of Abraham Joshua Heschel)
Once a church member visited her departing pastor. She asked him, “Pastor, why are you leaving?” “Because,” he replied, “this is not a Christian church?” “But why would you say that, Pastor?” “Simple,” he replied, “because these people think they have Christianity. You can never have Christianity. For you to have something means the ‘you’ has not died into Christ, and dying into Christ is the only way to Life.”
Once an angry parishioner spoke to her priest, “Father, I’m really upset at what you are doing to our church!” “Well,” said the priest, “that is part of the problem: so many of you think it is your church.”
True Christianity, to the extent it exists in earthy churches and in all other places, is not a matter of having or possessing anything. To follow the Spirit of Christ means to repent of all ownership of faith. We give up all rights to have or possess in regard to faith or the Church. To live in the mystical Christ means to give up all claims even to the right to understand what it means to be in Christ. Then, one can live by faith, by hope, by love, and become a person of faith and hope and love. Otherwise, one can not enjoy the sublime depths of the Sea of Bliss, for no sense of a self owning anything can at the same time enjoy such Bliss.
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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