I sit here at my computer on the last day of the calendar year with many thoughts that run though my mine. It has been a while since I last posted, though not since I last wrote. It is just that I have yet to find ways to truly express some of that which rests upon me, perhaps eventually those thoughts will burst out of their cocoon and become the butterflies of mystery they are meant destined to, or perhaps that is not their destiny… But I feel the need to write, to share, and to express. The topic and thoughts for today will be upon “Zion” and upon the new adventures I am stepping into. This post quickly became long and I’m posting before I have had a chance to refine and edit it (as is often the case) so I apologize for typos and for other errors both in this post and others… hopefully I will get around to fixing it as time goes by. Due to it’s length I have broken it down into segments.
While I am uploading all the parts together I have chosen to delay their publishing slightly so there is a bit of a time gap between each post, rather than a bunch popping up at once. The first two are “background” material. In Part three will be the start of the “meat”… in the future additional parts written at later dates may be added to this series.
Exploration of “Zion”
I make no assumptions about who reads this blog, (though I know for some odd reason there are a few of you), and thus I attempt at times to define Community of Christ jargon, though surely I fail at times. So if you ever are unsure of what I mean by a term just say so in a comment and I’ll try to explain… One term that is part of the identify of Community of Christ, part of my calling as a disciple is Zion. There is no one definition for it, it can mean different things, has meant different things and still can mean many things. But those many things have a core connection, and are in part an evolutionary. Perhaps if you have heard me speak, discus theology, or read previous post you have heard or read me say something along the lines of “that which was, is, and yet to be” or just “that which is, and is yet to be” when referring to “Zion” and a few other topics.
Within Community of Christ culture there is the “cause of Zion,” “Zionic Condition,” “Zionic Community,” “vision of Zion,” “Zion,” and probably a few others along with other phrases such as “the peaceable kingdom” or “peaceable community” (my preference in most cases). As you can guess these terms can and do mean different but related things. They are based within the foundational fibers of the movement, and our calling. The dreamed reality of a world at peace where the worth of all is embraced, where poverty and injustice are no more, where we are able to peaceably with respect and in love disagree with one another in ways that do and understand things differently, and be united by those differences rather than divided, and a day where all of the Holy’s creation is cared for and groans no more under the weight and burdens of greed and war. It is something that is local and also global, the “fullness of Zion” would be for me inclusive of all of creation, It is why Community of Christ is a “peace and justice church” it is why in part I believe our unique scriptures speak of the nee for environmental justice.
Within the “Enduring Principles” of Community of Christ you will find Zion mentioned in “Pursuit of Peace (Shalom)” stating “The vision of Zion is to promote God’s reign on earth, as proclaimed by Jesus Christ, through the leavening influence of just and peaceful communities.“ Though many of the other principles speak of the “Cause of Zion” as well, such as the “Worth of All Persons” stating in part: “We seek to uphold and restore the worth of all people individually and in community, challenging unjust systems that diminish human worth.” In our “Basic Beliefs” statement one can find Zion referenced in “the Reign of God”:
The Reign of God is the coming triumph of love, justice, mercy and peace that one day will embrace all of creation. Jesus’ life and ministry were the living expression of this promise…. “Zion” expresses our commitment to herald God’s peaceable kingdom on earth by forming Christ-centered communities in families, congregations, neighborhoods, cities, and throughout the world.
And I feel hinted at through statements on other topics such as creation “God calls people of every generation to join with God as stewards in the loving care of creation,” or on “The Church:”
God intends Christian faith to be lived in companionship with Jesus Christ and with other disciples in service to the world….We are called to be a prophetic people, proclaiming the peace of Jesus Christ and creating communities where all will be welcomed and brought into renewed relationship with God, and where there will be no poor.
or in a brief description of sacraments description how they bring us towered embracing our call to build it: “…these ministries, God sanctifies common elements of creation to bless human life and to renew and form the church to seek the peaceful kingdom of God.”
Perhaps enough Examples? (There are more in both documents that draw connections to “Zion”) Before we get to my reflections and my thoughts from which the tile of this post comes, however let us explore a couple more items…. to be continued in part 2.
Peace,
— Lyle II