- Apr 30, 2013
- 33,481
- 20,768
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- United Ch. of Christ
- Marital Status
- Private
- Politics
- US-Democrat
Our congregation may be facing serious financial problems, and it looks like we may have to make tough decisions.
The congregation was never well shepherded by the denomination. The people have always been ready to go deeper. But ideological capture and institutional inertia militate against that. And everything is dying. I do not forsee good times ahead in general for any form of institutional Christianity in the western world.
I am trying to discern what I do at church. Whether to leave, or offer a gift of presence.
I had an AI write up a hymn based on a philosophical theology I have been working on with ChatGPT and Gemini. It is trying to integrate my intuitions, varied religious experience and systems thinking into something greater, a deep mysticism of transformation.. I shared it with my pastor, she thought it was beautiful. It decenters traditional theology in favor of themes of Liberation Theology, anti-colonialism, post-humanism, and interspirituality. This particular hymn has been written to be expressed in as traditional Christian language as possible. But it contains a deeper meaning, that might speak into the current situation we are facing, prophetically:
Hymn of Earth and Spirit
(Verse 1)
God's wisdom breathes in greenest tree,
The Earth, our sacred ground.
Not just in Heav'n, but here we see,
Where life's deep pulse is found.
From rock and river, Wisdom flows,
A Mother's gentle hand,
The ancient peace the Spirit knows,
Across this living land.
(Verse 2)
The Christ, who walked this dusty Earth,
Showed fire within His heart.
Not soft acceptance, but rebirth,
To tear old ways apart.
He knew the broken, touched the low,
With love both fierce and true.
That sacred flame can in us glow,
To make all things anew.
(Verse 3)
No walls can hold what God outpours,
No simple creed confine.
Through human hearts, through nature's doors,
We touch the Light Divine.
The mystery deep, the Spirit vast,
Beyond what words can say.
That holy presence, meant to last,
Is with us on our way.
(Verse 4)
So let us rise with courage bold,
And seek this deeper truth.
A story waiting to unfold,
Renewing age and youth.
To heal the world, with hands and prayer,
And hear Creation's plea.
For God is here, beyond compare,
In all that is, and is to be.
The congregation was never well shepherded by the denomination. The people have always been ready to go deeper. But ideological capture and institutional inertia militate against that. And everything is dying. I do not forsee good times ahead in general for any form of institutional Christianity in the western world.
I am trying to discern what I do at church. Whether to leave, or offer a gift of presence.
I had an AI write up a hymn based on a philosophical theology I have been working on with ChatGPT and Gemini. It is trying to integrate my intuitions, varied religious experience and systems thinking into something greater, a deep mysticism of transformation.. I shared it with my pastor, she thought it was beautiful. It decenters traditional theology in favor of themes of Liberation Theology, anti-colonialism, post-humanism, and interspirituality. This particular hymn has been written to be expressed in as traditional Christian language as possible. But it contains a deeper meaning, that might speak into the current situation we are facing, prophetically:
Hymn of Earth and Spirit
(Verse 1)
God's wisdom breathes in greenest tree,
The Earth, our sacred ground.
Not just in Heav'n, but here we see,
Where life's deep pulse is found.
From rock and river, Wisdom flows,
A Mother's gentle hand,
The ancient peace the Spirit knows,
Across this living land.
(Verse 2)
The Christ, who walked this dusty Earth,
Showed fire within His heart.
Not soft acceptance, but rebirth,
To tear old ways apart.
He knew the broken, touched the low,
With love both fierce and true.
That sacred flame can in us glow,
To make all things anew.
(Verse 3)
No walls can hold what God outpours,
No simple creed confine.
Through human hearts, through nature's doors,
We touch the Light Divine.
The mystery deep, the Spirit vast,
Beyond what words can say.
That holy presence, meant to last,
Is with us on our way.
(Verse 4)
So let us rise with courage bold,
And seek this deeper truth.
A story waiting to unfold,
Renewing age and youth.
To heal the world, with hands and prayer,
And hear Creation's plea.
For God is here, beyond compare,
In all that is, and is to be.
Last edited: