Friday, September 10, 2004
Upon this rock?
I just started to read Phillip Newells "Listening for the Heartbeat of God". He describes the Celtic tradition that the apostle John leaning against Jesus' chest during the last supper and listened to Jesus' heart. I guess symbolically meaning that he listened for the Truth of Jesus' teachings. The Roman church insisted that their authority was based on Peter and the succession of Bishops that was true, because Jesus said "upon this rock (Peter) I will build my church."
It's the phrase "Upon this rock" that caught me. I've heard it several thousand times in my life. Roman Catholics believe that the Grace of God comes only through the Bishop of Rome and then through his agents. I know from reading Elaine Pagel's "The Gnostic Gospels" that in the years following Jesus' death there was fighting among early Christian communities as to who had the "one true faith" and who was a heretic.
The four gospels of the Bible are four interpretation of events that happened around 2000 years ago, give or take a few decades. I always had a general understanding that Jesus' teachings included the idea that we don't need any organization to tell us what to believe, and yet most sects and denominations rely on that very principle: The organization tells you what to beleive. Some denominations are less intrusive than others in this respect, but they all have "rules of admission" into the faith.
Did Jesus teach against Papal Authority? Perhaps. He did say "No one can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24) This could have been a commentary on how to treat slaves or how to handle money. Jesus could have been saying that it is important to keep or priorities straight and we may apply that lesson to all walks of life. If this is so, then we cannot serve the Pope and serve God. We can't even serve Jesus and serve God unless we believe that Jesus is God. That's a topic I leave up for debate.
So what is the Rock? Was it not Peter himself but Peter's moment of faith when he said "You are the messiah"? Was Jesus refering to Peter or to the act? Jesus builds on the moment when, like Peter, you say 'yes' to God. Peter screwed up a lot, but at just one moment he didn't even hesitate, didn't think about it. He said 'yes.' That's the Rock I will try to keep with me each day. That Rock that says 'Yes!' to God in joyful praise. ¶ 3:35 PM
It's the phrase "Upon this rock" that caught me. I've heard it several thousand times in my life. Roman Catholics believe that the Grace of God comes only through the Bishop of Rome and then through his agents. I know from reading Elaine Pagel's "The Gnostic Gospels" that in the years following Jesus' death there was fighting among early Christian communities as to who had the "one true faith" and who was a heretic.
The four gospels of the Bible are four interpretation of events that happened around 2000 years ago, give or take a few decades. I always had a general understanding that Jesus' teachings included the idea that we don't need any organization to tell us what to believe, and yet most sects and denominations rely on that very principle: The organization tells you what to beleive. Some denominations are less intrusive than others in this respect, but they all have "rules of admission" into the faith.
Did Jesus teach against Papal Authority? Perhaps. He did say "No one can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24) This could have been a commentary on how to treat slaves or how to handle money. Jesus could have been saying that it is important to keep or priorities straight and we may apply that lesson to all walks of life. If this is so, then we cannot serve the Pope and serve God. We can't even serve Jesus and serve God unless we believe that Jesus is God. That's a topic I leave up for debate.
So what is the Rock? Was it not Peter himself but Peter's moment of faith when he said "You are the messiah"? Was Jesus refering to Peter or to the act? Jesus builds on the moment when, like Peter, you say 'yes' to God. Peter screwed up a lot, but at just one moment he didn't even hesitate, didn't think about it. He said 'yes.' That's the Rock I will try to keep with me each day. That Rock that says 'Yes!' to God in joyful praise. ¶ 3:35 PM
