How do we understand the presence of God in our life as it relates to a) others who are not us, b) others who are not like us, c) others who name God differently or at all? Throughout my Christian journey I have found myself in dialogue with people 1) who focus their energy 100% on the God they know in particular ways, the way other likeminded people know God in those ways and 2) those who know God in everything and thus are reluctant to create language, norms, and traditions, that express their spirituality. For me, I occupy the spiritual space that uses the language of liberal mainline Christianity but is deeply informed and challenged by the experiences of others who name God differently or not at all.
Let me try to be clear. When we talk about heaven, or justice, or answered prayer, what do we make of people who do not name God as we do? There is a branch of Christian thought who would simply say, “they are outside God’s love” and leave it at that. My push back to them to two-fold, why would God create this diversity if it was not intentional or have some purpose? And, if narrowing the scope of God’s presence works for you, how narrow are you prepared to go? It’s one of the reasons very conservative Christian churches are often splitting, the differences are characterized as so “fundamental” as to warrant breaking apart, after all, if the stakes are heaven and hell, better to leave others behind.
My Christian faith has a language, stories, touchstones, I use them. A few liberal Christian clergy give sermons without referencing God, Jesus, Spirit, or the Bible. Not me. They form the context for our faith communities, they help us reach each other. But that does not mean I speak solely of God in the context of our familiar language and traditions. I know God speaks in people of other faiths and no faith. This does not mean God is in everything, there is evil in the world, hate, and I know this is not God. There are signs of our living God, I try to be attentive.
On Saturday I presided at a wedding in an art gallery. The couple chose to be married in front of the attached rug hooking by artist Deanne Fitzpatrick. Immediately I could see possibilities; the mingling of scripture (1 Corinthians 13) with this piece of art; belonging, lament, grace…The guests leaned in as I shared the couple’s life journey, scripture, art, God’s presence in all. It worked! God is good.