I hope this note finds you in good spirits.
This week I had the privilege of speaking at the Queen’s School of Religion Annual Theology Conference Ontario
The alumni asked me to lecture about preaching. I talked about preaching what we believe, and in particular I addressed two traditional doctrines, sin and regeneration. Sin: truly, everything is not well in our world, our lives, our souls. There is a cure for sin: regeneration. (Isn’t that a marvelous word? Literally it means rebirth.) We are renewed through the Holy Spirit; sin is not the last word.
This may seem a little dry. It’s important, though, isn’t it, to be honest and recognize that all is not well. But it’s critical to acknowledge that God’s intention for us is peace, and that God restores us. We are not left to wallow in the distress of our lives or the unfairness of our world.
Sometimes the church gets a reputation for hammering on people about sin. It’s a terrible thing when people feel diminished, put down or pushed aside. I’d like to see us be able to acknowledge sin without that awful judgment that isolates us from one another and God. After all, we are one another’s keeper, not one another’s jailer!
The lecture was well received. It led to deep conversations about how we make our way in the world, leaving it a more grace-filled place, as individuals and as communities of faith.
You make this world is a better place. Thanks for being you.
Blessings,
The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean
No comments:
Post a Comment