As it is in Heaven revisited
I received an excellent comment on this film from a Swedish Pastor. You can read it for yourself. But I think be missed my point. This love stuff is not new, or even new age. Athanasius centred his whole theology on the infinite and transforming love of God that is so clearly seen in the crucifixion. This was not described theologically as any kind of punishment until after 1000. It was God's loving action to remind us of our creation in the Image of God, so that we would be drawn back into that love, and be that image. St. Augustine too in De Trinities is much more focussed on God's action in the incarnation and crucifixion as an act of enormous love, that was to renew our minds, reminding us of our being created in the image of God. St. Francis of Assisi was overwhelmed by the infinite love of God revealed in God’s willingness to accept absolute poverty in becoming human, and dying naked and alone on the cross. This was an act of love, not punishment or anger.
That is what this film portrays. The amazing transformative power of love! How much more will God's love transform?? All creation, if we have faith. This is not a whimpy action, or an evil God, but a God of such great love for all God has recreated that He will stop at nothing to transform that creation as it was created to be. That is the God I worship, the God who takes the hard route of bringing all back to Godself, rather than the much easier way of simply punishing and obliterating all that is evil. That is a petulant God. How can one trust such a god?
One last comment. I was reprimanded about one of the scenes where the wife is trying to free her husband to really love her, in a sexual way. Her husband, the pastor cannot. This is evil for him. So who is right here? The wife wanting a whole person loving relationship with her husband, or the husband who sees this as wrong, and sex only for procreation?
I'm with the wife on this one. And, so my Swedish friend, if you are with the Pastor, then you are living up to the stereotype you so detest!!!
Peace and all goodness
That is what this film portrays. The amazing transformative power of love! How much more will God's love transform?? All creation, if we have faith. This is not a whimpy action, or an evil God, but a God of such great love for all God has recreated that He will stop at nothing to transform that creation as it was created to be. That is the God I worship, the God who takes the hard route of bringing all back to Godself, rather than the much easier way of simply punishing and obliterating all that is evil. That is a petulant God. How can one trust such a god?
One last comment. I was reprimanded about one of the scenes where the wife is trying to free her husband to really love her, in a sexual way. Her husband, the pastor cannot. This is evil for him. So who is right here? The wife wanting a whole person loving relationship with her husband, or the husband who sees this as wrong, and sex only for procreation?
I'm with the wife on this one. And, so my Swedish friend, if you are with the Pastor, then you are living up to the stereotype you so detest!!!
Peace and all goodness
Comments
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