Follow us on
WELCOME TO FPC TODAY!
  • Home
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Photo Gallery
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
    • 2021 Annual Report
  • Donate Online
  • Worship Online
  • Fellowship
    • Fellowship Opportunities
    • Youth and Family
  • Mission
    • Appalachia Service Project
    • Presbyterian Women
    • The Center
    • Interfaith Hospitality Network
    • PW Meal Packing Event
    • Helping Hands
    • Veteran's Ministry
    • Weatherization Assistance
    • And Wait, There's More!
  • Learn
    • What We Believe
    • Bible Studies and Classes
    • FPC History
  • Helpful Links
  • Pastor Blog
  • Link Page
  • Home
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Photo Gallery
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
    • 2021 Annual Report
  • Donate Online
  • Worship Online
  • Fellowship
    • Fellowship Opportunities
    • Youth and Family
  • Mission
    • Appalachia Service Project
    • Presbyterian Women
    • The Center
    • Interfaith Hospitality Network
    • PW Meal Packing Event
    • Helping Hands
    • Veteran's Ministry
    • Weatherization Assistance
    • And Wait, There's More!
  • Learn
    • What We Believe
    • Bible Studies and Classes
    • FPC History
  • Helpful Links
  • Pastor Blog
  • Link Page

What God Sees

10/19/2021

1 Comment

 

So, the confirmation class is rolling. And I’m looking ahead at the work we’re doing. We’re coming up on some interesting conversations like: If we’re equal parts sinner and saint—created in the Imago Dei (image of God) yet total sinners—how can we be both?
 
Do we take that literally and can we see God just by looking in the mirror? Do we take on the sinner part literally? 
 
Is it all metaphor for spiritual image, spiritual sin? Or what?
 
What is sin, anyway? Doing bad things? Breaking the “rules”? 
 
You see the problem. And what’s always fascinated me about the “Presbyterian conversation” is that we are most often left with more questions than answers. Almost always. We are constantly taking things apart and putting them back together again.
 
This is the kind of work we’re doing in the confirmation class! 
 
We’re forcing some adulting—finding our place on the spiritual growth spectrum. 
 
I like to say that God sees us “perfect in our imperfection.” 
 
God = Love
 
Love = God
 
Always in all ways. 
 
It’s a gift that we can’t do anything to earn. It’s on us to accept it. It’s there before we even know it. Saying it another way, God’s prevenient grace just “is.” 
 
So, a couple parting shots courtesy of Richard Rohr—boom! And boom!
 
When you looked at me
Your eyes imprinted your grace in me;
For this you loved me ardently;
And thus my eyes deserved
To adore what they behold in you.
. . . And let us go forth to behold ourselves in your beauty.
--
John of the Cross (1542–1591)
 
Religion, from the root “religio,” means to reconnect, to bind back together…In a very real sense, the word “God” is just a synonym for everything. So if you do not want to get involved with everything, stay away from God. - RR
 
I’ll just leave it right there.
 
Grace & Peace,
Scott

1 Comment
Donna Rahmann
10/20/2021 11:32:52 am

Sounds like a great topic for a sermon or adult Bible study....

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Pastor Blog 

    Assorted muttering and armchair theology from the interim pastor, Rev. Scott Foster. 

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Mailing Address: 247 Old Turnpike Road, Califon, NJ  07830  
Please note new email address:
Email:    fpcoffice@gmail.com

Office Phone: 908-832-2154