The Devil does exist. As Father Malcom Manson our interim Rector said the devil does exist "Whether we believe in a creature with horns and a tail or whether we can be grateful to Star Wars for the idea of the Dark Side." As songwriters Cory Mayon, Andrew Rollins and Jaida Dreyer wrote in the song "This Town" as performed by Clare Bowen and Charles Easton from the cast of the TV show Nashville "I've seen the devil inside me /But I won't let him guide me/Or take my wings." It was this idea of what medical intuitive Carolyn Myss refers to as the inner saboteur that we continued to explore at our weekly Wednesday Soup and Discussion. We explored three different types of power, including but not limited to: Personal power and political power.
Father Malcom posed this question for personal power: "Are we responsible for unintended consequences?" The idea was that if we use our personal power for our own benefit it's sometimes hard to tell what the motivations are behind it. For example, with the creation of vaccines the debate continues whether or not drug companies created them strictly for profit. Was there a force of evil behind the profit of the drug companies?
Personal power can be a tricky thing especially when one is seeking political power as with the upcoming election. Father Malcom asked "Where is God in the Political Process?" A question I have seen in one form or another posed frequently on social media. We frequently find ourselves questioning whether or not these candidates are working for the good or whether they are seeking to serve self rather than to serve others, in this case the people of the United States. We discussed the dysfuctional relationship we have with God in this country where we're only allowed to talk about God is on our money. We further discussed that our system of government teeters back and forth between "separation of church and state" versus "IN God we trust" as printed on our money. As Father Malcom pointed out however, there have been corrupt systems of government over the years which have produced some great leaders.
Finally we discussed what I'll refer to as "The power of prayer." Again a question was asked of us, this time "How does God appear?" We came up with a list: moral compass, conscience, personal power, personal responsibility, good versus evil finally concluding that "Language s insufficient to develop conscience therefor it must be done through prayer." We were reminded (because after all we are a church group) of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Finally I leave you with two questions to ponder which we were asked to ponder for ourselves: 1) How do we take a s tate of grace with us out into the world? and 2) If you were "accused" of being a Christian would you be convicted?
Finally we discussed what I'll refer to as "The power of prayer." Again a question was asked of us, this time "How does God appear?" We came up with a list: moral compass, conscience, personal power, personal responsibility, good versus evil finally concluding that "Language s insufficient to develop conscience therefor it must be done through prayer." We were reminded (because after all we are a church group) of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Finally I leave you with two questions to ponder which we were asked to ponder for ourselves: 1) How do we take a s tate of grace with us out into the world? and 2) If you were "accused" of being a Christian would you be convicted?
