Re-Posted from "Meditations of a Charismatic Calvinist Who Does Not Speak in Tongues".
There was a great vehicle built by the All-Sufficient One before the
dawn of time. She had huge treads made to move mountains and strong
armor to defect flaming darts, but there was no lock on the door and it
opened to all who would come (though it was said you only came if driven
aboard by the Breath of the All-Sufficient One). She was painted with
the colors of the rainbow, the colors of grace, and held together by the
blood of the Lamb. She was powered by the Breath of the All-Sufficient
One, which was said to be one of the forms of the All-Sufficient One
Himself. She was dubbed Aletheia, though she was also know as
Euangelion or Soteria. She rolled forth into the world with the full
blessing and power of her Master.
While she had
traveled since ancient times, she rolled out into the full light of
history in obscure places. A feeding trough for cattle, a fisherman's
boat, a place of execution, and a tomb strangely missing its occupant.
When she reached public attention it was with a blaze of mighty words
and mighty works, and she was immediately opposed. Many of those on
board were harassed and killed, but they lost only their physical lives
and reached their destination quicker. And Aletheia rolled on.
Later,
she became popular, and many lauded her and extolled her beauty. Even
those who would not come on board applauded her approach and cheered as
she passed. But many both on board and off fought to control her,
though only her Master had access to the cockpit. They tried to obscure
her colors of grace and to use her to make profit and justify many
shady schemes. But Aletheia rolled on.
Then came the
great wars of control when many fought over who would possess her.
Those on board all huddled together in their little cliches in various
parts of her passenger area. And many built their own imitations of her
and traveled off in their own directions. And many both on and off
board feared, hated, and even killed those of the other cliches. And
Aletheia rolled on.
Then came the time when many
rejected her; they hated her and avoided her and argued against her.
Those who were on board were shunned and sometimes even tortured and
killed. They were demeaned as stupid and uneducated for staying aboard
such an obsolete vehicle. Those on board responded to the criticisms
with logic and persuasion, and some were convinced to come on board, but
many stayed off to follow the crowd. Some of those on board became
seriously concerned and took up clubs and fought those off board in
order to protect the vehicle. Many came back beaten and bruised, but
those who did not proclaimed victory and said the safety of the vehicle
was their doing. But Aletheia rolled on.
One might almost suspect she knew where she was going.
prayer for change in hard times
8 hours ago
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