Fearless Faith

Christ as metaphor

 


Creating personal space and time away from everyday life has always been an important self-care concept, one that is also recognized scripturally. Nevertheless, the world-wide pandemic is now fully present in society making it more difficult to recognize and reserve sacred moments in one’s daily life. For many, increased sharing and looking out for one another have been a boon to family relationships. But, it has also exacerbated less-than-ideal living situations, especially where domestic abuse is a factor. Even without pandemic concerns, domestic relationships are high on the list of things to pay attention to, for what goes on in the home ultimately translates to the culture.

Some personal space was discovered this week while walking the pastures. Taking time to saunter and observe allowed the discovery of varieties of primrose and cacti that are rarely paid notice. That, in turn, led to an appreciation of a contrail-free blue sky, the call of a red-tail hawk, and numbers of lark buntings who have returned for the summer. Nearby, a couple broods of pheasants dared show themselves, and the killdeer were out in full force feigning injury to draw us away from their nests. Pasture aside, everyone knows of something that rejuvenates and enhances their life. Such are metaphors for God.

Theological writer Justo Gonzalez reminds that all language concerning God is metaphor, and that the power of metaphor is gutted when reduced to literal terms. Literalism is the easy way out when it comes to an expanding faith -- checkbox religion sans foundation. For some, that may be precisely what is needed early in a faith journey. Simple yesses and noes can be quite appropriate for indulgent fresh minds. Still, most of us do not remain children, mentally or spiritually, and thus the hard part begins. What we hold dear may demand serious revision, something not easily reducible to plain terms or to persons without the time or inclination or opportunity to plumb theological depths.

Metaphor is also present in our current national crises. It would seem that we have, in part, confused patriotism with being able to do whatever we want without regard for others. Nationalistic fervor has a way of devolving into a singular selfish focus, and liberty becomes an abstraction. True patriotism manifests itself in many ways beyond the monolithic flag and gun characterizations to which we have grown accustomed. I know many patriotic souls who, without fanfare, attend to the everyday hard work of cultural transformation, the kind that leads to a more just, caring and lasting society rather than one promoting division. They, too, are true patriots in the very best sense. Whether we like it or not, there is much to be done, and we must commit to the long haul in this effort. Otherwise, we can simply elect to return to checklist religion and pretend that whatever is bothersome can somehow be perfected by empty slogans, bluster and uninformed thought.

It is hard to grow in faith in this complex relational world! Know that there are plenty of opportunities to embark on radical revisioning (the very sort that Jesus engaged in during the culture of his time) and to understand our roles through the real and metaphorical presence of Christ.

 

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