Standing on My Soapbox in Savannah

This afternoon I had a conversation with a friend about theology and Jesus. It was one of those talks that helps you cement who you are and yet makes you think about your expressed thoughts. Let me share some of my thoughts with you through some of my pictures from Savannah. I consider myself a Christian, but a fringe Christian. I like being on the edges and am perfectly comfortable there. Ever since my studies at seminary, I can’t categorize myself into any denomination. I’ve seen too much I appreciate in various and seemingly conflicting traditions, too much history to think one group is right about God. My hand is permanently bonded into God’s, that can never be shaken. Any other theology to me is superfluous. I like studying it, but I don’t like splitting theology hairs. God is so HUGE, so beyond our understanding, it’s almost a joke to try to define God and how he/she works into words. I just want to be with God, to explore my spirituality, my journey, and to talk with other people about theirs. In the span of history, the western Christian perspective is such a tiny slice of the pie, I just don’t believe we have all theology right. I have a deep inner peace with many faith traditions. Yes, they contradict each other sometimes, but we actually agree on quite a lot and there is truth in the contradictions.

For example, this is the First African Baptist Church in Savannah. The slaves sold the money they had been saving to buy their freedom to buy the property for the church instead. Then, as the women made the bricks, walked the uphill road from the river with the bricks in their aprons to give to the men, they then tended the bonfires the men worked by as the masters would only let the slaves build on their own time late into the night. I saw the patterns in the floor that were air holes for runaway slaves. The church transported people on the underground railroad. It was a complete change of perspective for me. No longer was history something I saw on a page, but it was all around me, it roared into life and left me shaking and deeply moved.

That morning I had also seen the 3rd oldest Jewish Temple in America. The Jews got to settle in Savannah after a boatload of them arrived at the colony and a doctor on the ship saved the lives of countless people living there who were dying from illness including the city’s founder. I have personally heard a Christian man say all Jews are going to hell. Boy, was I mad. This is also why I have a very difficult time believing you have to follow the Jesus salvation prayer to “be saved”. Being a Jew myself, I look into the faces of my fellow Jews who passionately love God and have his light pouring out from them. I can’t condemn that. Can you? David was a Jew and didn’t know Christ. Is he going to hell? How about Abraham, Joseph? What about them? I have a friend I watched dance this afternoon. She’s a Jew. After years of knowing her, I am still deeply moved by her beautiful soul. Her kindness, generosity, and love for others, all speaks God is love. She is light, wondrous light. We all are. All Jews, all people. I have learned so much being a part of the Jews, they hold dear so many incredible truths the Christians have left far behind. I feel like holes in my heart and faith have been filled at temple. I so need both.

That afternoon as we walked around Savannah, we visited the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. I read it was extraordinary. I was not disappointed. It was so beautiful. I love cathedrals and love it that people create such a humbling sanctuary for God. It was one of the highlights of my trip. In their holy water pool is an exquisite golden and emerald mosaic of an Irish knot symbolizing eternity. It made me feel so small before such glory pointing to God. I think it is so important to remember how HUGE God is and how small our perspective is.

Why do we have to put one denomination down over another? Do we feel such hateful treatment of our brothers and sisters is going to help us? Do we honestly think proclaiming our theology correct and other’s theology completely wrong is going to help people come closer to God? I think each group just wants to feel right and to do that they have to proclaim others wrong. I have been to many denominations and they all do this. Why can’t we appreciate each other’s differences, learn from them, and realize those difference aren’t so divisive but could even serve to unite? God is love, God is here, I am sure of this. We each are filled with God. We each hear his voice. I think I will be proclaiming this until the day I die. I’m counting on it.

365-09 #70