I used to avoid Thomas Merton because I thought he had evolved out of Christianity and Christ by his explorations and experimentation with Eastern religious and philosophical thought. Consequently, I've read very little of what he wrote. In the final analysis I think what he did was confuse a lot of people, and blur the distinction between following Christ and merely believing in Him.Now, I don't avoid Merton for any such reasons, but just because our paths are not probably going to cross. I have found Christ sleeping in the boats of the non-Christian religions and cultures, and all I want to do for the crews of those boats is awaken Him for them, and let Him awaken them to the Truth.
Now, I also find myself written off by some people because I am not afraid to go among the non-Christians and learn of them and from them. It startles people that I should know about the gods of India, for example, and that I don't think it is blasphemous to visit their temples or even to sing or hear their songs.
But there is only One Divine Nature, One God, to whom all paths do not lead from our end, but by Whom all things are possible from His end. And there is only One Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God from before the ages who came to us as a little child, and as a young man died for us, and not only for us, but for the whole world.
And not the gates of Hades or its captors could keep Him down, or out, or defeat Him in any measure, for He takes it captive, and releases all who seek Him from its darkness, all without asking our leave. And where I walk, following Him, takes me on many journeys 'where angels fear to tread,' and yet I trust Him. As I often say, there is no loss with Jesus.
3 comments:
Once again, you've nailed it. Growing up as I did, and I still see it within the very evangelical and Baptist communities, is a formulaic way of reaching out to people with a one size fits all mentality. Very often, the evangelist does all the talking and the listener nods his head, hoping to get rid of him by agreeing with him, and in the end, there must always be a 'decision for Christ' at the end of the conversation. In fact, if you don't wish to decide right then and there, it can become downright intimidating.
The older I get, the more I think that the sinner in Matthew's Gospel, hiding away from his brethren and praying so quietly only God can hear him as he confesses his sins is how it is and should be.
These organized altar calls with the hymn, Just as I am, playing in the background, while people flow to the stage, seems to me to be at odds with the nature of how God works.
One man plants a seed, another tills and waters the plant, and another harvests.
We lost sight of that with the revival tent movement.
Yes, dear sister, yes, and your testimony also rings true, especially when you write, 'seems to me to be at odds with the nature of how God works.'
Some people never learn, and they are still out to get their share of glory with the 'gospel plow,' promoting not Christ, but themselves, proudly making such pronouncements as these: 'Preaching Christ to the Japanese, building His Church in Japan,' as if they could do any such thing.
Christ builds His Church when we forget ourselves and follow Him, loving as He loves, not watching for results or taking charge of affairs, or trumpeting our own horns, speaking of our paltry, boastful selves using the royal and divine plural 'we.'
Not medicines heal, but love. The same is true of salvation. We think to apply the poultices of our accomplishments to the wounds of others, hopping from one patient to another with astonishing detachment and speed.
Christ alone saves, and especially without our help. He never received any volunteers, only those whom He called, and He never accepted anyone's program, only doing what He saw His Father doing.
That's what discipleship means. Nothing more than saying 'Yes' when He calls. 'Meanwhile, life goes on all around you,' as Bob Dylan chants in It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding).
Here is a link to a blogsite written by "Robin" of Berkeley. A former leftist, a Jew, and now a believer in Jesus Christ, her story is amazing. She writes anonymously, for professional reasons, but I've been following her transformation since shortly after 9/11/01.
http://www.robinofberkeley.com/2011/09/01/the-real-revolution/
It was a part of Oakland under siege: with no businesses to speak of; where drive-bys are common, and drugs, gangs, and thugs rule the streets. As I drove down the busy avenue, I (as well as everyone around me) shut my windows tightly, locked the doors, and made no eye contact with absolutely anyone.
But when I stopped at a red light, I saw an unusual sight: a black man on the corner, bellowing something at the top of his lungs. Actually, this isn’t all that strange a sighting since the crazed and drug-addled will often start yelling, both in Oakland and Berkeley.
But this man was well-dressed, and he also had something rarely seen around here: a light in his eyes. Curious, I took the risk to lower my windows and listen to what he was saying.
Standing amidst the druggies and the passersby averting their eyes, he yelled, “I am different than you. I have God in me. I am a changed person, and you can be too. You can have all your sins washed away right now, just like that.”
Excited, I looked at him and smiled. Though there were hordes of people and cars around, we locked eyes. Although we were strangers, I recognized him, and he recognized me.
Speaking even more forcefully he shouted, “Don’t you want to be forgiven? Don’t you want the love and the hope that can only come from God? Come to God right now. Let Him deliver you.”
We locked eyes again, and I gave him a big thumbs up. Looking pleased, he returned with his own thumb’s up, and continued his message even stronger and louder.
When the red light changed to green, I slowly made my way up next to him. Now I had both my side windows wide open. I waved and he waved back; and he shouted to me with great warmth, “I love you!” My eyes filled with tears.
Where in the world could you see such a sight, of a black and a white stranger communing in a dark, foreboding part of town? And where else would you hear a black man tell an unknown, white woman that he loves her?
There’s only one place — and that’s in God’s grace. There’s only one avenue for true unity and love, and that is God’s mercy. No other vehicle or channel exists.
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