Stina’s Message

During a question and answer session at a speaking engagement, a university student asked,

Why do you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God?

Now this is a very interesting question, and one that anyone could ask.  In other words what is so special, so unique, about the Bible that Christians believe it is the inspired word of God? Pastor Matt Hilpert of Saint Mark Lutheran Church,Kaneohe, Hawaii, responded with this: “First, the Bible is not just one single book, which is a common misconception especially among people who do not come from a Judeo-Christian background.  The Bible is actually a collection of 66 little books called the Bible ‘canon’.  These 66 books contain a variety of genres; history, poetry, prophecy, wise literature, letters, and apocalyptic, to name a few.

Secondly, these 66 books were written by 40 different writers from a variety of backgrounds; shepherds, fishermen, doctors, kings, prophets, and others.  Most of them never knew one another personally.

Third, these 66 books were written over a period of 1600 years.  In other words many of the writers were not even living at the same time, and were therefore unable to collaborate with each another in their writings.

Fourth, the 66 books of the Bible were written in 3 different languages, ancient Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic; another reflection of the different historical and cultural circumstances in which each of these books were written. And finally, these 66 books were written on 3 different continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe.  Once again, a testament to the varied historical and cultural circumstances of Bible writers…What makes this so remarkable is the common storyline, namely; the creation, fall, and redemption of God’s people, with a common theme, the Creator’s universal love for all of humanity, and a common message… salvation is available to all who first humbly acknowledge they are sinners, then exercise genuine faith in the ransom God has provided for forgiveness by fully submitting to the authority of His anointed son.”

Until he used the word “ransom” I totally agreed with what he says here. More on that later. But then he says: “In addition to sharing those commonalities, these 66 books contain no historical errors or contradictions.”

That’s simply not true. There are plenty of contradictions. Furthermore, the Bible is not a history book. If you read it for “historical” errors, there are plenty. As far as I’m concerned, that’s not the point, and the business about it not being the point is very important in my book.

What do I mean by that?

We in the modern world are very impressed by what we call historical fact, that something happened at a particular time and place. If something cannot be proven as a historical fact, we do not want to believe it is real. The ancients had no such qualms – and neither do many young seekers these days either. Reality may or may not have historical factual basis. Historical fact is only one way of establishing reality. We have so bought into the religion of science that we have trouble with the idea that there is reality outside of scientific fact. The Bible is speaking to and out of a different reality, which intersects with, but is not bound by, historical fact.

For example, the archeologists have searched diligently for any proof that Jericho’s walls came down. There is none. Does that mean that the story is false? No, it simply means that the story is speaking about a different reality. Marcus Borg can (and does) speak to this much better than I can. If you were able to listen in on our recent Borg series, or if you have read any of his books, you will know this.

Why is this important to think about now? Because we are coming up to Easter – the resurrection of Jesus. Did it happen? We cannot prove it from a scientific point of view. What does it mean that we cannot prove it as a scientific fact? Very little, in my book, because if we consider it from a different reality, there is no question.

Did something powerful enough to significantly change people’s lives happen? No question! Did the presence of Jesus get witnessed by lots of people after the resurrection? Apparently! Was the death of Jesus different somehow? I think so. There were many “messiahs” who were crucified around the time of Jesus. None of them claims a resurrection, at least not one that anyone knows about these days.

The only one which had enough power to found a church which still continues to this day is the religion of John the Baptist. If you want to know more about that, look up Sabean Mandaean Religion, it’s interesting.

It is a “fact” that something happened with the death of Jesus, and that something was enough to cause a group of obscure and mostly uneducated folks to change their world. Do I believe that the resurrection was possible? Sure! I believe God can do anything. Will my faith be destroyed if they “find the body?” No, because whatever “happened” was a deeper reality than historical fact.

The bigger question for me is whether Jesus has become the messiah for you. Have you encountered him, through reading, meditation, or through other people? Has he become a guiding force for your life? Do you see the risen Christ, do you hear his voice, do you feel his touch? If not, pray for that to happen! Read the Gospel of Mark, and let it speak to you. Look for Christ in the world around you, and allow yourself to feel his healing touch.
Then have a blessed Easter!
Stina

BC NOTES

Because we did not have a quorum for the last BC meeting, we had an informational meeting. If you have been to church, you saw the new carpeting on the stairs and hallway. It looks great. We decided to have the Good Friday service at 6:00 p.m. If you need a ride one or both ways, please let Stina know. The EAM@40 conference will start on Thursday, June 20. On Friday, June 21, the Japanese Convocation will come to SKK, at least for dinner. We will order bento, and ask everyone for help with additional food and setup. Then, that Sunday, June 23, we will not have Sunday morning service. Rather, we hope everyone will come join the big EAM service at Grace Cathedral. The Presiding Bishop will be preaching. After the service, there will be a big dinner in Chinatown. Everyone is welcome to buy a ticket to that dinner. It is only $30 per person, but the tickets must be bought in advance. There is also a golf tournament. If you know anyone who plays golf, we will have flyers for you to pass on! If you have not been to EAM before, this is a great chance to do so. The subsidized commuter registration is only $185, which covers all of the meals, including the banquet.

UPCOMING EVENTS – Please mark your calendars!
JARF, March 19
Palm Sunday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m.
Maundy Thursday at CUPC, March 28, 6:00 p.m.
Good Friday at SKK, March 29, 6:00 p.m.
Easter, March 31, 10:00 a.m. with Easter egg hunt for the children after church
April 21 Gishifu grandson baptism, Cherry Blossom Festival
EAM @ 40 – please mark your calendars for the weekend of June 22-23, 2013. The main part of the conference will be held in Burlingame. The Sunday afternoon service will be at Grace Cathedral, with the Presiding Bishop.
Asian Music Festival at Grace Cathedral, August 25, 2013

SPECIAL THANKS
To the SKK family for all their love and support – Stina

REMINDER! If you have not gotten your pledge in to Kuni, you can simply call her to let her know you are supporting SKK this year!

THE LAST WORD
Draw in the breath of peace. What you face will be resolved. What you need will be supplied. What you hope revealed. Faith is your strength. Do not worry or waver. Peace in heart and mind, body and soul, enfold you. Peace, deep peace, surround you. Breathe in as if you were God’s first creation. Breathe in life and breathe in healing. No matter where you walk today, you walk in peace unfailing.
Bp Steven Charleston, Hope as Old as Fire

MESSENGER’S NOTESI
The Messenger will strive to provide:
1. Information regarding events of significance to the whole congregation.
2. Information regarding the customs and practices of the Protestant Episcopal Church, USA and of our Nikkei community.
3. Information regarding efforts made to advance the program goals established by the Vicar, Bishop’s Committee as the goals themselves are made known.
4. Information regarding events relevant to the mission of the church.
The Messenger will not list individual monetary gifts or donations as it has no direct access to such information. However, donors will be acknowledged as their names are provided. Institutional grants for project goals of the Mission will be acknowledged as a part of information regarding the programs themselves.