Well, it has been over two weeks since I posted my vision on this blog. I guess it is high time to satisfy all of you who are sitting on the edges of your seats waiting to find out what the vision is all about, eh?!!!
I offer four reflections, indicated by underlined words.
The overall message to me is that the Church has taken the place that Law/scriptures had for the Jewish people prior to Jesus' coming. As it says in Galatians 3.24: ". . . the Law was our custodian until Christ came . . ." I think in a very similar, parallel way, the Church has been a custodian, a guardian if you will, of God's people. I see this as having begun, of course, in first-century Palestine, with Jesus' followers, in the aftermath of his time on Earth. It has lasted until the present day.
Another strong message in this vision is that the Church is a human institution. Granted, the Law as originally given by God was not, at least not in the same way that the Church is human-made. The Law originated with the commandments given to Moses at Mount Sinai. But, the people had made of it a human institution. The Law had taken on so many extra constructions and provisions, that it needed a specialized body of teachers (the scribes and pharisees of Jesus' day) to understand, interpret, and teach. And I think it was this, the human additions, that Jesus reacted to so strongly during his time on Earth.
In the same way, the Church has taken on much more than certainly Jesus intended while with his disciples. It has taken on a life and character of its own, to be defended, promulgated, expanded, built-upon, etc.
Now this is not all bad. I think the vision I received is saying this. The Church has played a role through history of caring for peoples' lives. And we should not be too quick to jump to judgement over this role. Everyone knows that the Church has not been perfect; there have been many faults in its makeup. Much evil has been done in the name of the Church throughout history. But even so, it has had a role to play in human society.
This role for the Church is time-limited; it will not last forever. In fact, some see the Church's role as all but irrelevant already, perhaps having come to an end mid-twentieth century or thereabouts. And in response many have abandoned ship; they have left the Church and are pursuing spirituality and religion outside of organized Religion. I see nothing wrong with this, and strongly encourage people to seek the Divine, to seek God, in whatever way is meaningful to them.
As I said in an earlier post, I myself continue to be amazed that I am still participating in this fading institution we call Church. I have been very critical of it all my life, and usually outspoken in this criticism! My vision cautions me to be a bit more careful with this criticism. The Church has played an important part in western society throughout history and is not all bad!
But, Church is human. It has never been, and certainly is not now, perfect. It has made many mistakes. It has left many damaged and injured people in its wake.
One other reflection: Since the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the people in 70AD, there have been no sacrifices offered in the Temple in Jerusalem. And sacrifices were the center of the Law. It was in the offering of sacrifices that people encountered God. It was in the blood that YHWH spoke to his people. And all of this came to an end in 70AD. We still have the Law written, but it is not fully practiced.
If my interpretation of the vision is accurate that Church plays a parallel role to Law, what does this say? That the Church's time is limited? There is an end-point toward which we are moving? That there will come a day when Church will cease to exist?
I am not sure about all this. I do feel that history is moving toward some sort of culmination, that our time is limited on this planet. Is this part of the message of the vision?
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