|
I came up an exclusionist fundamentalist. Finally, in my thirties, after years of arrogating my exclusionist interpretation of Christ, I began to have a deep longing and intent to be Christlike. For me, Christlike became and is only one matter. That is Love. What is not of Love, whether it goes under the name Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, democrat, republican, independent, socialist, capitalist, … is not godly. Where Love is, there is that of God, and that Love calls for recognition and gratitude, as well as support. How dare we as humans withhold such support in our narrow views!
Most of all, I call you to Love. What is in our view of God that is not of Love needs to be repented of. We must, thereby, and in true humility, repent of the tribal consciousness that predominates in much Christianity. This tribal consciousness turns the Cosmic Christ into a tribal savior of one tribe.
With Love, a person has everything. Without Love, even a so-called religion or spirituality is ungodly, selfish, and harmful. To me, this compassionate, universal, cosmic Love is what Jesus Christ taught and teaches, and we do not need to complicate this clear Gospel. Such complication is likely denial of the radical and revolutionary claim of Love on our lives, our faiths, and the peoples of the world. It means saying, essentially, “Since I cannot accept the universal radicalism of Christ, then, I’ll just whittle the Living Christ into being a Christ I can live with and without having to change much at all.” Pitiable!
|
|
The movement of the world toward compassionate embrace is now to begin with one person. That person is you. You can change the world by following the simple Gospel of Love, taught by the world embracing, cosmic Christ Jesus.
No, I am not urging toleration. Let me say this again: Love. Love transcends toleration in an embrace of compassion. Toleration alone is simply permissiveness. Love is not permissive; Love is demanding and holds us to the highest standards of kindness, strength, courage, and vision. We will never have peace among nations through toleration. Peace is possible, however, through Love, a Love that is clear in expectations and demands upon us, as we live together for the good of all, not just this group or that group.
|
