In a previous life (or so it seems) I worked at a wilderness residential treatment center for troubled boys for two years. It was ‘wilderness’ in the sense that we were outside in tents made of mostly raw materials 365 days a year. It was ‘residential’ in the sense that we lived there. Most weeks I’d work a 110 hour shift before I then had 48 hours off. Then I’d go back and do it […]
The beginning of the second chapter of Isaiah is the vision of God’s abiding shalom come to earth, as a gift for all people. It’s the peace of God which not only passes all understanding, but which removes even the instruments of potential conflict from the face of the earth. Weapons of war are beaten into tools of trade. And the ways of warcraft are no longer taught. God’s peace will one day reign, says […]
And, in case you missed it: the new creation has already begun. It began in Christ. It began with Resurrection. In the Resurrection Jesus was made so new that his followers didn't even recognize him. They thought he was the gardener. They thought he was a stranger. He walked through closed, locked doors. He is made new. And, in baptism WE are made new.
No. The gods didn't do anything new. The only thing useful about them was that they were totally consistent. Like the law of thermodynamics. Like gravity. But, Israel's God - oh, He's a bit different. He isn't bound by laws and theorems. In God's world the Red Sea can draw back. The sun can stop dead in the sky. Virgins can give birth to bouncing baby boys. A Christian-hating Pharisee like Paul can become an apostle. Our God can do new things.