Somebody's ringing the bell.
Someone's knocking at the door.
Somebody's ringing the bell.
Do me a favor. Open the door
And let 'em in. Let 'em in."
"Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them 'Who do the crowds say that I am?' They answered, 'John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered, 'The Messiah of God'" (NRSV Luke 9:18-20).
As we enter into this next series exploring the question, "Who is Jesus?," I asked my class to share their earliest understanding of Jesus and how they came to know him. Before I let you in on the particulars, I have to tell you that the class is primarily made up of African American women, and one man (God Bless his soul). They range in age from their early 30s to late 50s, and I'm being a little cautious here. ;-) They come from all walks of life and backgrounds, economic, social, educational levels and denominations. Each of them have a mind of their own with the confidence that comes from living as an African Americans in a society that doesn't make it easy to get through an average day without wanting to reach out and touch somebody who has confused them with their great, great grandparents or worse, an enslaved ancestor.
So, the answer to the question, "Who is Jesus?" varied. "He IS my Lord and Saviour. He came and died on the cross for my sins so that I could have everlasting life." Praise God! "He watches over me and protects me. He supplies me with my every need." Umph, Umph, Umph.... "He is the Son of God and I must believe in him and only him in order to be saved." Halle-lu-yer! "He was my secret friend that I always talked to and played with. I don't know how I came to know him as Jesus, he just was." Wow! "He was a beautiful white man, with long luxurious blond hair, piercing blue eyes. He wore a wonderfully brilliant white robe and was always in the middle of a bunch of sheep and kids, standing in a garden with no shoes on" - wonder who that was? The next question I asked was, "Did you have the option to believe in him?" With only one exception, (Jesus was my friend), the answer was an emphatic "No!" The stories ran the gamut from getting terrifying looks from parents, to physical and verbal reprimands and admonishments, and even threats. We learned early in our development, that if we didn't believe in Jesus, that is, that he was Lord and Saviour and that he died on the cross for our sins so that we could have everlasting life, that we were going to Hell! Whoa Lawd! And although we didn't know what or where Hell was either, it was made clear to us that it was not somewhere we wanted to go - EVER!
So, it seems that most of us have come to know or believe in Jesus out of fear and trepidation. But it seems from the aforementioned scriptural passage, that this man called Jesus, wants to know what the disciples' personal experience is of him. "Who do you say that I am?" He appears to want to know what they think of him. I hear him saying, "I don't want to hear what the gossip is. I don't want to hear what others are saying about me, I want to know "Who do you say that I am?" For me, the question is essentially, "Who am I to YOU?" Next, how does a skinny, little, ugly, nappy-headed, black girl from "Podunk," Texas with a family history of picking and chopping cotton in desert like heat from sun up to sun down, white men and women, young and old, referring to her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother as "girl or gal," come to know, love and have faith, not only in this Jewish Mediterranean peasant man who looks like the very people responsible for enslaving people who look like her, but who is also supposed to be Emmanuel - God with us? This man, representing a faith that justified the perpetuation of slavery for hundreds of years was forced down the throats of our ancestors, and our parents through beatings, rape, murder, lynchings, spiritual and theological indoctrination. But "US IS FREE NOW!" We've heard all the stories, the half-truths, the flat out lies, and yes, even the fantasies. We've heard who the crowds say that he is, so we know how we got here. But in order to answer the secondary question, we've got to get to know this man on a personal level. Can we? Shall we? What's that I hear?
"Someone's knocking at the door.
Somebody's ringing the bell.
Someone's knocking at the door.
Somebody's ringing the bell.
Do me a favor. Open the door
And let 'em in. Let 'em in."
© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010
THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!
With all the names we call Jesus, including God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, my questions is aren't they all the same but named to fit the different circumstances of historical walks through the stories of the "Good Book." I feel that once we learn all the names and the meanings for each name, we can then begin to learn who Jesus is. I'm jus sayin!
ReplyDeleteTerri; how many different names or nick names do you have? Each of them refer to a characteristic, personality trait or affection to or about you, but they are all referring to the same person - you. The same is true for God. There's "YHWH" or "Yahweh," (The true name of God that was so sacred it could/should not be used). That brings us to "Elohim" (Generally used for God in both singular and pluralistic - carrying along, angels, spirits, demons), "El Shaddai" (God Almighty), "Jehovah" (The proper name of God), "Jehovah Rapha" (God who heals) and the list goes on. Then there's Jesus, "Y'shua" or "Yahshua" (The original Hebrew name of Jesus). There's "Emmanuel" or "Immanuel" (God is with us). And let's not forget "Lamb of God," (the atoning sacrifice to God for our sins), "Prince of Peace, and on and on and on til the break of dawn... :)
ReplyDeleteThe other issue is the movement from the Hebrew Scriptures to the New Testament. One faith, then another - Judaism and Christianity. Hebrew vs. Greek, Latin and English.
I love it! THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!
It seems to me that over the years and generations, the writers of the scriptures and the preachers and teachers of the word has made God/Jesus so complicated to the point that you don't know what to believe or know what the truth really is? This is why we have to read and educate ourselves and develop a personal relationship with God/Jesus for ourselves. I know a lot of what I heard and was taught as a child and in my early adult years did not feel right nor did it sound right to me.
ReplyDeleteI rember asking my Pastor back in Chicago, why we could not go to the movies and other public places? (I spent a few years in the Holiness Church). Her reply was we are not to sit in the seat of sinful people. My reply to her was, we have to ride the bus. So aren't we sitting in the seat of the scornful? She replied back..."Well you have to get to work." Yeah, right? That was the point I really began to question the bible and what was being taught to me.
Thank you, Rev. Henry. I appreciate this clarification. It certainly helps to be able to learn from a degreed representative of the ministry. I am sure I am speaking for others, as well as myself. God Bless You.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous; lol I think your point is both funny and sad. It shines a light on how ridiculous some, if not most of what people try to get us to buy in to. Ultimately, it is about control - controlling what an individual thinks and feels not only about hers/his self, but others and the world around us is the easiest way to have dominion over that individual's life. Another element that creeps in is a level of "brainwashing." As a veteran of the US Army, I remember going into the Army as a social and political activist. Within a few short months of basic training - being told when to get up, eat, what and how to wear clothing, how to walk, when to go to bed, etc. - I was not the same person. It took a long while for me to find myself and my mind again. So too is the case with religion. At first we are indoctrinated (brainwashed), but we must find our "self" again and reinsert our minds, heart and soul to sync up to the Divine, the universe, our ancestors and all the wisdom that comes from each individually and collectively. What is also interesting about your story is that you had a woman Pastor! It is sad to think that even she - who many would say was out of order for "sitting in the seat" of Pastor - was at odds with herself.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your input. Keep coming... I'll leave the light on for you.
Peace,
Terri; thank you for your continued support and thoughtful questions. I'm glad somebody appreciates these degrees. Lord today!
ReplyDelete