Jill Keyser Speicher Sept 17 2021 Thanks for your article to remind us that God loves every body - each of us. As I have gone through struggles in life it has always helped me to be reminded that I am loved by God!
Longtime reader of yours who attended Gordon College and Christ Church. The simple gospel of love would have made it easier for me in those days! Thank you for reminding us.
This is such an uplifting thought and the exact opposite teaching that I have been taught. I have heard that in my Baptist background sure but it was more like, "Sure, God is love BUT....". To hear or read GOD IS LOVE. (PERIOD). is foreign. The more I read your stuff and others like you in the community that is restructuring their beliefs in Jesus Christ. The more I read in the bible that with God love is first and the rest of the bible is commentary. Thank you for teaching this, I await more instruction to this since this is all new to me.
Back in seminary, in 1969, I asked my theology prof, "If 'God is love, why can't we say 'love is God?" He gave me the Calvinistic answer about God being greater than everything, including love. Several years ago, contemplating God while reading John Caputo, I concluded that "Love is God" and "Justice is God." Richard Holloway, former Bishop of the Church of Scotland, helped me get there when he announced to the Jesus Seminar, concerning the Bible and all theology, "We made it all up!" And later a radio interviewer demanded to know what he thought the Gospel was. He answered instantly, "Life before death, for everyone!"
In a great book we’re using in our Sunday school class (“Freeing Jesus”), from chapter 2 (Teacher) we find this: “Jesus did not only teach us an ethic of love to follow; he embodied the love that he spoke of in his stories and sermons. Jesus, who was complete love, the man for others, taught us to go and be likewise. He did not teach rules. He taught that love ruled. He lived what he taught.” If God is love, and Jesus is that love incarnate, then it is gifted (graced) to us to be that love, too. Thank you for your inspiration and reaffirmation, Diana. May we all go and be likewise.
I really appreciate and thanking him too much because of the care and strengthen that he has also given me so far ,whatever have undergone thruogh he has made me a person
A remarkable column with real insight for me. I especially appreciate Maya Angelou’s comment “. I can do anything.And do it well…..because God loves me and I am amazed at it.” Thank you for this provocative column. It is a challenging, comforting and remarkable belief to ponder and ponder it I will!
As usual, I appreciate what you say here. God does love everybody/every body! Once, a few years ago, when I started feeling this instead of trying to define it, I became comfortable with my God.
(However, I am giggling at the many online definitions of OPC, especially the urban dictionary ones.)
Since we are all children of God, we are love. There are no chosen few. This truth is probably the most important thing to remember since we are living these lives and affecting one another. As long as God is out there somewhere, we do not have a clue as to who we truly are. No wonder we have behaved so egregiously!
Jill Keyser Speicher Sept 17 2021 Thanks for your article to remind us that God loves every body - each of us. As I have gone through struggles in life it has always helped me to be reminded that I am loved by God!
Thank you.
Longtime reader of yours who attended Gordon College and Christ Church. The simple gospel of love would have made it easier for me in those days! Thank you for reminding us.
Amen! God is love. God loves everybody. God loves every body. That is the Gospel and our daily mantra.
Your post reminds me of this poem: Susanna
by Anne Porter
Nobody in the hospital
Could tell the age
Of the old woman who
Was called Susanna
I knew she spoke some English
And that she was an immigrant
Out of a little country
Trampled by armies
Because she had no visitors
I would stop by to see her
But she was always sleeping
All I could do
Was to get out her comb
And carefully untangle
The tangles in her hair
One day I was beside her
When she woke up
Opening small dark eyes
Of a surprising clearness
She looked at me and said
You want to know the truth?
I answered Yes
She said it's something that
My mother told me
There's not a single inch
Of our whole body
That the Lord does not love
She then went back to sleep.
This is such an uplifting thought and the exact opposite teaching that I have been taught. I have heard that in my Baptist background sure but it was more like, "Sure, God is love BUT....". To hear or read GOD IS LOVE. (PERIOD). is foreign. The more I read your stuff and others like you in the community that is restructuring their beliefs in Jesus Christ. The more I read in the bible that with God love is first and the rest of the bible is commentary. Thank you for teaching this, I await more instruction to this since this is all new to me.
Back in seminary, in 1969, I asked my theology prof, "If 'God is love, why can't we say 'love is God?" He gave me the Calvinistic answer about God being greater than everything, including love. Several years ago, contemplating God while reading John Caputo, I concluded that "Love is God" and "Justice is God." Richard Holloway, former Bishop of the Church of Scotland, helped me get there when he announced to the Jesus Seminar, concerning the Bible and all theology, "We made it all up!" And later a radio interviewer demanded to know what he thought the Gospel was. He answered instantly, "Life before death, for everyone!"
In a great book we’re using in our Sunday school class (“Freeing Jesus”), from chapter 2 (Teacher) we find this: “Jesus did not only teach us an ethic of love to follow; he embodied the love that he spoke of in his stories and sermons. Jesus, who was complete love, the man for others, taught us to go and be likewise. He did not teach rules. He taught that love ruled. He lived what he taught.” If God is love, and Jesus is that love incarnate, then it is gifted (graced) to us to be that love, too. Thank you for your inspiration and reaffirmation, Diana. May we all go and be likewise.
I really appreciate and thanking him too much because of the care and strengthen that he has also given me so far ,whatever have undergone thruogh he has made me a person
AMEN SISTER! Love is all we need to remember and "if we fill our minds with LOVE, there will be no room for fear!"
A remarkable column with real insight for me. I especially appreciate Maya Angelou’s comment “. I can do anything.And do it well…..because God loves me and I am amazed at it.” Thank you for this provocative column. It is a challenging, comforting and remarkable belief to ponder and ponder it I will!
As usual, I appreciate what you say here. God does love everybody/every body! Once, a few years ago, when I started feeling this instead of trying to define it, I became comfortable with my God.
(However, I am giggling at the many online definitions of OPC, especially the urban dictionary ones.)
Nancy
Since we are all children of God, we are love. There are no chosen few. This truth is probably the most important thing to remember since we are living these lives and affecting one another. As long as God is out there somewhere, we do not have a clue as to who we truly are. No wonder we have behaved so egregiously!