CCBlogs thinking critically, living faithfully

James Lumsden's blog

Three fascinating comments came my way during worship today after sharing my reflections on "not getting sin and salvation" anymore. (See my sermon notes below...) First, there was a deep resonance among some people who said that they, too, were interested in the nuanced and multi-layered sense of the human experience that the "new paradigm" church is exploring. "All of our sin-talk seems like a hamster on a wheel in a cage going round and round and never getting off!" Some saw the traditional words of sin as a way of letting some into the community while keeping others out; and some told me that our usual sin words are too narrow and don't help us consider things like poverty, race hatred and war. (I love the way Peter Rollins talks about this wrestling together in community...)

Second, there was a sense of "liberation and freedom" among others who said that they felt a little discomfort, too, in letting go of such an historic resting place. They grasped that the time had probably come to speak more creatively about the human condition but they also wanted to make sure that I wasn't claiming the whole idea of sin and salvation were over. And, of course, that was not my point..... READ MORE.

James Lumsden's blog

Last night, after the fullness of the first Sunday of Advent had come to a quiet close, I received a phone call from the spouse of one of my staff. He and the doctors confirmed what I had sensed earlier last week: my colleague and friend's kidneys are shutting down and she has about a week to live. In a flash, this tune from the Dead came to me, one of my all time favorites... READ MORE.