FACES OF GOD
June 2002
prep materials for Six-Day, 2002
God has been known by many different names and experienced in many different ways throughout the history of the world. This year’s Six-Day theme emphasizes the diversity of the One God and encourages us to explore the mysteries of who God is and how we can get to know God better.
CALLED BY NAME (Wednesday, June 19) … the face of the loving parent
God called the boy Samuel from his bed (1 Samuel 3:1-10). In the same way, God calls each of us by name to do God’s work in the world. As we arrive at camp and meet each other, let’s keep in mind that each of us is a child of God, called by name to live a life of love.
MANY DOORS (Thursday, June 20)
… there are many faces of God
There are some pretty heady topics here, but they can be fun to explore. As you
lead the group through the day, be sensitive to people’s convictions, especially
since the group is just getting to know each other. Remind them that we are only
speculating on the nature of God, and none of us has a monopoly on truth. If the
group isn’t really into deep theological speculation, that’s OK; this day is
also important for just getting to know each other better.
Christianity has only been around for about 1/1000th of human history’s 2 million years. Today, Christians make up only about 30% of the world’s population. Yet, Jesus said, “I am the gate,” (John 10:9) and “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14: 6). What about all those people who have never heard of Jesus, and the billions who existed before Jesus was born?
Our Trinitarian understanding of God tells us that Christ has existed in God forever, that Christ is not limited to the human person of Jesus. What is the difference between Jesus and Christ, if we say they are the same? How do other faith traditions fit into the picture? What about people who know about Christianity but reject it? Could it be that they also have experienced Christ, but not in the same way we do? How do the other religions of Abraham (Judaism and Islam) differ from Christianity? What about religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Native American traditions? Is there truth in them? Is there truth we don’t know about?
We also use the Trinity to illustrate the multiplicity of the One God, which sounds like a contradiction in terms. Could it be that religions that speak of many gods approach the same truth from the opposite direction?
Jesus’ life was full of work. Looking for examples? Just open to any page in any of the Gospels, and you’ll find accounts of Jesus teaching, healing, performing miracles, etc., etc. If you have a concordance, ask people for their favorite stories about Jesus’ work and look them up. Or just thumb through the Gospels and read a few stories.
What was Jesus’ occupation? (Think carpenter and go waaaay beyond.)
This is the day of the blessing service. Jesus worked at blessing people. What does it mean to be blessed? When someone or something has been blessed, what has changed?
If something becomes radioactive, a scientist can explain what has changed. If something becomes blessed, a theologian can tell you about that. When we experiment with science, we are all scientists. When we speculate about God, we are all theologians!
What is your occupation? (Think waaaay beyond school.)
What do you do best? When and how do you work with Christ?
Some people’s occupations tie in directly with Christ’s work. Is it possible—or advisable—to keep the two separate? How can you work with Christ regardless of your occupation?
ALPHA AND OMEGA (Saturday, June 22) … the face of the all-powerful Creator
Today is Saturday. After all that work of creating the universe, God rested on the Sabbath. The traditional Jewish Sabbath greeting is “Shabbat Shalom!” (Blessed Sabbath!)
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” - Revelation 1: 8
God created the world, and God created us. When we say we believe in God, this is usually our first understanding of what that means. Along with the Creation story we all know well (Genesis 1:1 - 2:3), check out two other accounts: Genesis 2:4b – 2:25 and Job 38:4-11.
Writers’ descriptions of the creation of the world read like poetry. Scientists explain their theories of the creation of the world very differently: all the matter in the universe was compressed into a single point and then exploded outward in a Big Bang. Today, we can see evidence that our universe is still expanding rapidly by studying the phenomenon known as the Red Shift. Of course, the writers of the Bible knew nothing about this. What does all this mean to you?
At some point very recently in the history of the universe, you were born. God created you. When you put that up against the creation of the world, how does that make you feel?
Someday, you will die, as we all will. Most of us are probably young enough that we haven’t thought much about our own mortality—that is, unless we’ve lost friends and loved ones to death. What are your thoughts on death?
Someday, the world we know will no longer be here. Scientists say that our Sun will grow old, and in perhaps 10 billion years, it will turn red and expand and swallow up Planet Earth. The Bible’s account of the end of the world concludes with a passage read at many funerals: Revelation 21:1-4. Most people probably find this passage more reassuring than the thought of the Sun swallowing up the Earth! What are your thoughts on the inevitable end of the world?
Over the past two hundred years or so, a movement called Rapture Theology has developed within fundamentalist Christianity. It takes the Revelation to John and other Bible passages quite literally, stating that at some point in the near future, Jesus will come down from heaven and sweep the faithful up into the clouds. What do you think of these ideas?
SHALL WE DANCE? (Sunday, June 23) … the face of the partying God
Although there are very few references to dancing in the Bible, there are many occasions of celebration.
- Psalm 149 is a particularly joyful hymn of praise.
- Jesus’ appearance at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) and his first miracle of changing water into wine suggests that Jesus certainly didn’t frown on a good party!
- In a post-resurrection appearance (John 21:1-14), Jesus invites his disciples to “come and eat breakfast” as he fries fish on the beach.
- And in Matthew 11:16-19, Jesus speaks of others labeling him “a glutton and a drunkard”—an exaggeration, we imagine, but there’s no question that Jesus liked to party.
It seems that Jesus was always eating a meal with somebody—usually someone whose very presence made his disciples or the religious authorities uncomfortable. This demonstrates God’s all-inclusiveness and his willingness to invite absolutely everybody to the feast.
With Jesus, every moment is an occasion for celebration! Jesus came that we might “have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b). To live our lives with joy is to celebrate with God. This is why we say the priest “celebrates” the Eucharist. God has invited us all to a feast, to a shared meal.
ALL GOD’S PEOPLE (Monday, June 24) … the face of God in each of us
In John 10:31-39, Jesus is almost stoned for blasphemy. The religious authorities are offended by the idea that Jesus was God’s Son. But Jesus says, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?”
What a shocking idea! Even our standard theology today doesn’t claim that we are gods—only that Jesus Christ was and is God. What is the truth behind these words? We are not God, but aren’t we like God? At least a little bit?
We sing, “I see Jesus in this place, in your face.” We encounter Christ in one another.
The medieval mystic Teresa of Avila wrote, “Christ has … no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ is to look out on a hurting world.”
Do you feel that you have encountered Christ personally? How?
Who brought you here this week?
Who are the Christ-bearers in your life?