Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

There is a concept that Whitehead offers suggesting the God is a process and that we can sense this in our lives. It comes to us as an invitation not a demand. It lures us but doesn't coerce us. It invites us to participate rather than force us.

Whitehead writes, "It is as true to say that God is permanent and the world is fluent as that the world is permanent and God is fluent. It is as true to say that God needs us as it is to say that we need God. God does not create the world. God saves it or, more accurately, God is the poet of the world leading it by the vision of truth, beauty, and goodness."

What I want to do with this sermon is to talk about how God works in the world in the context of a theology that doesn't put God up as a force or coercive power, but as the subtle influence that works in our lives and in our world to save it and to save us.

What I plan to have us consider is three elements; "the poet and the rhyme"

What is the impact of truth? We knew it when we hear it and it will set us free, but it may disturb us first.

What is the impact of beauty? When we see beauty we are inspired by it. The sunrise on most of these mornings will inspire us to a better day. The beauty of the a breath taking painting will drive us to be a better person.

What is the impact of goodness? When we encounter a person who is so completely good we cannot walk away from that person without some of that changing the way we act.

"God is the poet of the world leading the world by a vision of truth, beauty, and goodness."

Let there be no doubt that there is God as long as we can experience or sense the influence of something that is within us and beyond us that lures us to be a person better than we ever imagined but within the direction of a greatness that we were able to attain for the good of all.

How do you experience God through TRUTH, BEAUTY, AND GOODNESS?


If you have some thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster