Life is always the tension/balance between opposing forces:
dark energy makes up 70% of the universe, dark matter 25% –
the visible universe is only 5% of what we know!
Dark energy keeps the universe expanding
and dark matter is a vast invisible ocean
that causes clustering of galaxies
and keeps the universe together.
More tensions of life:
Paradox I: salvation is freely given
but requires effort on our part.
Paradox II: Salvation is absolute liberation and joy
but to get there you normally go thru
absolute chaos/confusion/suffering.
Peter, James, John and Paul were saints just like us
who brought their brokenness to Christ
so that God’s strength might be glorified
in the transformation of their weakness.
The New Testament word for “heart” – “kardea”
means “our innermost thoughts/feelings/judgements”
that Jesus said must be purified –
he is quite clear – we must go beyond
superficial practice of the Law
to inner purification of our heart.
The Protestant Principle of iconoclasm –
the anti-idolatry that smashes idols – purifies things.
Paul Tillich turned the Protestant Principle
on Catholicism for believing it is God
on Karl Barth for his ‘supernaturalism’
and not taking modern culture seriously
on Carl Jung for reducing religion
to a private subjective realm
on himself for absolutizing Christianity
and not dialoguing with world religions
earlier in his theology.
Spiritual growth is to get rid of the clutter
to purify your self. The hero’s journey is one of
rediscovery not discovery – you learn that you were
a daughter/son of God all along – the heir of the universe:
the universe, in all its darkness and light, is yours, forever!
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 