Saturday 23 September 2023

Psalm 122

Background

There is a strand of Christian thought and practice that stresses purity and separation from the world. It finds support here in the second letter of Peter and elsewhere in the Bible, including in the writings of St Paul. Much of this thinking is rooted in fledgling communities who felt very much under threat and existed in hostile and even violent environments. There are people of faith today who still live in such contexts. Some manage to exhibit enormous courage and profound growth "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" and don’t resort to pulling up the drawbridge. People of faith in more comfortable situations, including ourselves, do well to hold them in their prayers.

In other contexts, the emphasis on purity and separation can be a consequence of theological or doctrinal insecurity and the perceived threat of "the error of the lawless", that is, people who hold alternative views. This is what we have found in 2 Peter and here in this passage the threat comes apparently from those who sought to twist some of St Paul’s more difficult teaching. Such insecurity can be found in our own day and can sometimes lead to an unhealthy exclusiveness on the part of Christians.

The incarnation – the belief that God came among us in Jesus Christ – breaks down any separation between a ‘good’ spiritual realm and a ‘bad’ material realm: the world should not to be seen as a hostile place from which we need saving. And if we can continue to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"we can become more secure in our faith and not feel threatened by those who hold different views from our own. God is open, generous and loving, and we are invited to share in God’s life and reflect in our own communities this openness, generosity and love.

To Ponder:

•  What could you learn about faith communities in our world today who are living with hostility and even persecution? How might you support them?
•  What are you doing that is helping you to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
•  How secure do you feel in your faith? How open and generously disposed do you feel towards people who hold different beliefs? How might you learn more about what they believe? 

Prayer

Gracious God, in Jesus Christ you came among us and revealed yourself to be open, generous and loving. Help us to grow in grace and knowledge, and to reflect your openness, generosity and love in our own lives and in our communities. Amen.