Third Sunday of Lent

 “… Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”  ~ Mark 10:43-45

This week, I’ve been reading the chapter in, “Freeing Jesus” by Diana Butler Bass, entitled “Savior,” and it’s been very interesting.

For those of you who don’t know me that well personally, I grew up in the United Methodist church.  My father was a United Methodist Pastor, Minister, Preacher.  (I list all three because to me they are all different, but that’s another story.)  So, I honestly don’t know a time without God, Jesus and the church being in my life.  It just was and is.

I remember being asked in my youth, if I’d been “saved” and my response was “From what?”  It wasn’t a sarcastic reply, I honestly, didn’t know what they meant!  That wasn’t really something that we said in our church.  I’d been confirmed, is that what they meant?

I found the answer to be no, because they usually didn’t know what that meant!  It was a strange circle.  Eventually, I just said yes, and hoped they didn’t ask for a specific date.

I don’t know that I’ve ever really fully understood what they meant by ‘saved’, but I usually just replied with, “well, I’ll be honest, I can’t remember a moment in my life, when God wasn’t there.”  

Sometimes that was good enough, and sometimes it wasn’t but my faith, my soul, my whatever is between me and God, and that’s all that really matters.

But back to the book.  I found that the author felt similar to me, when asked this question when she was young.  But she was somewhat different, in that she then fell into this type of evangelical church due to a move in her life.  My moves at her age kept me with the same pastor and denomination as a young person, thankfully!

But she came to learn and understand better about what “saved” meant in those churches that experienced it, or wanted to experience it or… not sure how to word it.  But for them it was about the hereafter, getting into heaven and avoiding hell.  It was  about sin and guilt and dying.  To me, it sometimes seems that it’s about fear. 

In the churches I grew up in, I learned more about living in this life, in this place, in this world.  I learned and taught my own kids and the kids in Sunday School and youth groups, that how we lived right now, loving one another, helping one another, reserving judgement and such was what is truly important.  It’s what Jesus taught, right?

The author says:
 

“The word “salvation” comes from the Latin salvus, which originally referred to being made whole, uninjured, safe, or in good health.  Salvus was not about being taken out of this life; it was about this life being healed.”
 

“Freeing Jesus” by Diana Butler Bass page 76

I really like that.  “This life being healed.”  This speaks to my heart.

She goes on to say,
 

“This is the dream of the saved earth – one where oppression ends, mercy reigns, violence ceases to exist, and all live safely under their own “vine and fig tree.”  Jesus the savior… is peacemaker, light of justice, and the good physician.  Jesus saves in all these ways and more.”
 

“Freeing Jesus” by Diana Butler Bass page 77

First off, I don’t really think that much about being saved.  Instead, I think more on, as I’ve said a gazillion times, living my life in a way that reflects the love of God, that reflects the teachings of Jesus.  BUT, When I do think of being saved, this is more of what I think about, being healed in spirit, being full of Spirit, knowing that Spirit is with me, in me, all around me.  It’s about being the light, sharing the light.  It’s about knowing love and sharing love.  Being saved to me, is about this life more than the next.

I have lots more to share on this but I’ll save it for later.  For now, let’s pray together…

Dear friend and teacher,

Thank you for your grace that meets us each day, offering us healing in this world, so that we might be a shining light in our community, reflecting your love, sharing your goodness through acts of service and kindness.

Amen.

Until next time,
♥️ Sherri