The term originates from the Greek words theos (meaning God) and logos (meaning word, reason, or study). Therefore, it is the human effort to understand and articulate the meaning of faith, spirituality, and existence.
Even if you don't possess a faith, it's only by trying to studying the effects of the Christian faith on human history, ethics and culture that you will start to understand our contemporary world.
Julian was a medieval English Catholic mystic, who lived in the 14th Century. Her writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works ever attributed to a woman.
Her birth name isn't known. Her recorded name is taken from St. Julian's Church in Norwich where she lived as an anchoress for most of her life (a woman who locks herself away to be closer to God).
Christian optimism, as Julian expressed it, is the conviction that divine love has the final word. Do you believe that?
Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’
Matthew 19:26 NIV
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Perhaps the words of God don't make any sense to you? Yeah, I get it. Because that's what scripture tells us in the above verse. Oh, you didn't know the bible spoke directly about those who don't believe the gospel...
To one group of people - Paul calls these 'the perishing' because it means they are heading for death - the sacrifice of Christ makes no sense. The original Greek term used here is mōria, from which we get the English word moron. Consequently, those who don't know God think believers, and their faith, are stupid.
However, those of us who do believe, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is a powerful act. Without that powerful act, we would be lost and without hope.
Which group are you in?
I did a lot of those silly little jobs yesterday. Today is a sitting and blogging day. Tomorrow looks like it'll be another running around day. Oh well...
However, today is for blogging. Serious blogging. Spending an hour or two to put my thoughts down onto a computer screen.
And, as I like to do when I blog, I take stock of where I am personally. Not just to upload the odd graphic, to keep the feed running. Something a lot deeper.
I've done a lot of deconstructing recently. And stocktaking. Instead of mourning the activities I had to give up after lockdown, I've been re-prioritising. Adding certain things back into my calendar, keeping other things out. Stripping my life back to basics.
And those basics, spiritually, I've got down to two things. Two Most Important Things.
The two most important things Jesus asked us to do was
It sounds so simple, because it is - but it’s actually very difficult.
Point 1 is Loving God with all of my heart, soul, and mind. This means letting go of my way of doing things. In many ways it has meant re-reading familiar readings and asking myself if I have truly understood what is being said. And in many cases it has meant asking Jesus for a fresh understanding of His teaching.
Point 2 is Loving people - which means loving them exactly as they are. It’s particularly easy to love lovely people. God asks us to love all kinds of people. Which means I have to constantly check my motivations, my thoughts, my words.
36 ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’37 Jesus replied: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’
Matthew 22:36-40, New International Version - UK
Who else?
King of kings, Majesty
God of Heaven living in me
Gentle Saviour, closest friend
Strong Deliverer, beginning and end
All within me falls at Your throne
Your Majesty, I can but bow
I lay my all before You now
In royal robes I don't deserve
I live to serve Your Majesty.
Lyrics: Jarrod Cooper
Mark 11:24 (CEV)
