Future Event Already Ruined?

Why do we fear? Is it because we are scared of something or someone? Or possibly the wee voice, that never seems to sleep, has just whispered “FEAR = future event already ruined” before we have even started to move.

It seems to me that fear is linked inextricably to awe, when we considered the Bible. Although generally, fear is something we might run away from, whilst awe seems more akin to wonder and amazement, and something we might moving closer towards.

Passage from the Gospel according to Mark

In the Gospel according to Mark, we hear “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased – Listen to him” quite a few times. Prior to Mark Chapter 9 there is a scene told to us about Peter objecting to Jesus dying soon. Jesus responds by telling Peter to ‘get away’. If, as scholars suggest that, this Gospel is a record of many of the sayings of Peter, it is an odd one to recollect, one where Peter is practically told off. Following this correction to Peter, Jesus tells the followers to “take up your cross and follow me“. Perhaps the passage Mark 9:2-10 is a response to that.

The taking up of the cross indicates difficulties along the way. It is not going to be an easy ride as a follower of Jesus. Given the contextual understanding that the Romans would put down any uprising swiftly and severely, we might get an understanding of the phrase. More so, if we accept that the Gospel was written possibly just after the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman forces in a savage and complete manner. It was carnage, with the city laid asunder and many people murdered in the process. We don’t see that today, do we? In the transfiguration story we might possibly see a foretaste of what might be of the future. Following this passage, the disciples and the experts from the synagogue are in dispute again… What the followers of Jesus have just heard, seemingly they ignore…

We have Moses and Elijah appearing in the story, but possibly they are representing the Torah and the Nevi’im (the book of the Prophets). Oddly these two characters of Hebrew Scriptures also die in a mysterious way. Moses is ‘buried by the Lord’ (no grave was found), and Elijah was ‘taken up by chariot’. Both conveyed the message from God to the people but struggled to get their message understood.

The hangers-on

We also have Peter, James and John in attendance. Oh, please don’t forget wee Andrew who was also there but never seems to get the limelight. Where was he?

Peter, the one whom his sayings were possibly recorded in this Gospel, is said to initially respond in fear. I think that in this case, fear is a shock, of being frightened by what he is seeing, hearing and experiencing. Perhaps we have all been there, seen that, got the t-shirt. So, Peter then jumps into automatic leadership mode and sets to building a stall, a building for the 3 characters portrayed.

When a church congregation was recently asked if their building was destroyed what might they build to replace it? Some said the same structure exactly. Some indicated that a cafe would be more appropriate, whilst others considered a large scale tented place for many, many people. What would you want to build?

Static

My concern here is that a building is static. Of course, it remains in the geographic location, whereas society evolves. Our churches exist where the founders felt it was a good place to build a church. However, as society has changed, the focal point for the needs within that society have moved. The elderly may not have sufficient mobility now to access the church, and ‘footfall’, the number of people who pass the front door has diminished rapidly now. Oh, if we could move the church… caravan anyone? just kidding.

Dynamic

What if Peter had elected to build a bridge? I don’t know where the bridge might end up, so let’s consider this as a metaphorical bridge, one which could become dynamically larger if required. In this way, the church could move on certain days to work with another community, perhaps church or local action group, and work as one. On other days, that focus would change. Any thoughts?

Peter, in our story is confused, as what he envisaged hasn’t worked. Perhaps here we also have the t-shirt. The objective we set out to achieve has not worked. I wonder whether if we were to consider the situation again whether we might just have achieved an alternative, as yet, unspecified objective? As with Peter, we live in difficult times, and we will make mistakes.

So, when we believe that God moves in our lives, we may become fearful – but let us see that in terms of awe. The feelings we experience with anxiety are seemingly the same as excitement – choose excitement. Choose to describe our sense of God as one of awe, not fear and let’s run away.

Let’s really not choose to build static structures, like a new building, but setup movements and initiatives that can move with the needs of society – let them be dynamic.

Finally, when confusion reigns – and there will be times when we are confused – let’s accept that this is normal. If Edison had nigh on 1000 attempts to make a light bulb to work, and WD40 is called as such because the previous 39 attempts just didn’t cut the mustard, as it were, then mistakes are merely opportunities to learn, and be thankful that we have over our lifetime.

Be transfigured! 😉