I recently stumbled via Google and uncertain search terms upon a 2012 article in the Austin American-Statesman reporting on a sermon by the Rev. John Elford of University United Methodist Church in Austin.
The title of the sermon was “God is Not a Christian,” and the Rev Elford reportedly “called for a more humble form of Christianity that stands in engaged relationship with the astonishing religious diversity of 21st century America.” As a Christian and pastor, I was fascinated to recognize that this is the title of several books, including one by Desmond Tutu, and that the idea had traction among a number of writers 10 years ago but not so much today.
Elford called for Christians to “take our seat alongside people of other faiths” and he called for a “radical pluralism.” This radical pluralism is “one that ‘sees beneath the differences’ in our faith traditions and recognizes ‘that in each stream, there is a deep call for communion with the divine and for the transformation of life toward a richer, kaleidoscopic community.’”
That is not to say that every religion is saying the same thing or that every religion is equal. But, it suggests that when I open my eyes to learn and understand not only other Christian denominations but other faith traditions, including Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam, it becomes apparent that the “deep call for communion with the divine” is not a peculiarly Christian calling.
If God is not a Christian, what is God? I live my spiritual life planted and practicing in the Christian trinitarian tradition of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But, the deeper answer that my life and tradition have taught me is that God is love. I hear that in the Hebrew Bible in Leviticus as “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” and repeated in the Christian Gospel of Matthew in the same words.
Particularly in these times in this country, recognizing that, though our beliefs and opinions may differ in many ways, we share a deep call for communion with the divine that could help us begin transformation towards a richer, more diverse and more loving community.
A NEW COLUMN
Deliberately Diverse is a new column that represents the individual thoughts and opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never completely agree about anything but are gratified by the opportunity to stimulate deliberately diverse discussions in our beloved community. Today’s column represents the thoughts and opinions of The Reverend Terry Pierce.
