Dear Caldwell,
Today’s news includes word that Jeffrey Fowle, an American arrested in North Korea in May for leaving a bible at a club for foreign sailors, has been released and is on his way home. Perhaps you’ve been following the case of Mr. Fowle and others whom the North Koreans have detained. It is, in part, a story about the tensions between two ways of living and governing people. Mr. Fowle’s story is also a reminder of how dangerous and subversive a document the Bible really is.
Imagine – getting arrested and detained for months for simply leaving a Bible behind in a public place. It was a “covert act,” according to talking points the North Koreans had Mr. Fowle read in a video plea for his freedom. According to CNN: “Although North Korea contains a number of state-controlled churches, the totalitarian regime forbids independent religious activities, viewing them as potential threats to its authority.”
We forget how potentially disruptive the Bible and its telling of “the Jesus way” really are. Clearly, the North Korean government knows the power of the gospel against injustice and oppression of any population in any time. It’s interesting to me how both progressive and conservative Christians agree on that.
One of the things God’s story reminds us of is the role of “memory and hope” in our lives as people of faith. The arc of scripture tells us that God has chosen to love us, despite our repeated mistakes and failures, and we should never forget that aspect of our covenant relationship with the Lord. That’s the “memory” part. We live out of that memory toward “hope,” the hope given to us in Christ, who renews us and calls us to join in building the world as God would have it.
Perhaps you are living from memory to hope in your own life, in some way. Perhaps you are moving out of an experience, a past toward something else, a new direction, guided, equipped and inspired by the offer of new life, new purpose and a new calling in Christ. To be sure, the church at large is living out of a past (one in which churches haven’t always given “religion” a good name) and toward something new, a fresh expression in our words and actions of God’s inclusive love and purposeful community.
For us at Caldwell, we are on a continuing journey of living “from memory to hope,” and we will talk more about that Sunday.
Reminders:
- There is still time to jump into a newly formed Disciple Bible Study that meets tonight at 6:30 in the Upper Meeting Room (above near the staff offices). It is beginning an 8-week survey of the Old Testament. Just come tonight and jump in.
- Also tonight at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary, the Latin American Coalition will hold a town hall on issues facing Latino immigrants in Charlotte, with a reception to follow.
Look for Caldwell This Week Friday. See you soon.
In Christ,
John