There was a development from first generation Christians who
focused on the special relationship of Jesus to God
to second generation Christians who
to counter growing Gnosticism
focused on Jesus as the Cosmic Christ
as the only way to redemption
the kingdom/queendom/kindom of God
is available to us here and now
because Jesus is the door
thru which we enter the kingdom/salvation/life everlasting
and we do not go to the kingdom – the kingdom comes to us –
since Jesus not only is the door – he stands at the door/knocks/and asks
will we let “Thy kingdom come” to us?
this is the Great Reversal: Jesus showed us
we cannot deduce anything about Jesus
from speculation about God – everything about God
must come from what we know about Jesus
Jesus unconditionally accepts sinners –
he does not condemn them
but gives them a strong challenge:
he will not tolerate
objectively destructive behaviour that ruins people
therefore repentance – turning from sin –
is the key to Christ’s door
of a new beginning –
Jesus unconditionally accepts sinners
but does not unconditionally accept their sin
“Besides the ‘Communion of Saints’
we should also affirm the ‘Communion of Sinners’
since all of us firmly belong to both groups”
– Richard Rohr
“God says ‘Abide in me, abide in my love,
make your home in the love
of the homemaking God
and you will bear much fruit’”
– Canadian folk music legend
Bruce Cockburn
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 