The word for the day, is SAVED

The word for the day is saved

I fear that ‘saved’ is a loaded word

it implies a lot of things

on the one hand it implies that there is someone to save or rescue

a helping hand

a comforting voice

a sustaining presence

who wouldn’t like that?

but the concept also implies

a lot of negative things

it implies warped

flawed

wounded

lost

in trouble

frankly I have little trouble with the idea

that sometimes

OK, a lot of the time

OK, all of the time really, I need a little help

OK OK

A lot of help

so far so good

but then other meanings begin to creep in

“are you saved?”

all too often what that really means is,

“are you now on the “right” side”

“do you believe what I believe”

“have you been rescued from hell, unlike all those others”

“have you done what YOU need to do to escape the judgment and punishment of God?”

so the image I get is not that of a  child of God

a person with immense value

a person loved by the sacred

being helped to find his or her way

into the arms of the sacred

into a place of joy and peace

but of a wretch

who must do certain things

and keep doing certain things

to earn a little love

a little safety

to remain on God’s good side

Wow…

what a God that creates!

angry

judgmental

harsh

just waiting for those who huddling around HIM (yes HIM, I can’t fit a HER into this scenario)

to make a mistake so punishment can come

watching coldly, waiting for the wretched and cursed

to make the right choice, and be pulled from the fires of Hell

“turn or burn”

I suspect that is not,

what people think they mean when they talk about salvation….

but the more I listen, the more I watch,

the more I realize that is very much

what many actually mean

and what seems really sad is that this is where too many people

who think that way,

even as they think about themselves.

for them the saved life is like living in an abusive household

tip toeing around, trying to be perfect

so that “dad” doesn’t blow up

and punish

harshly

I would rather be “awakened”  (Thanks Steve McSwain)

I would rather wake up to the presence of God

The love of God

The acceptance of God

And wake up to what I can be

In that presence

I want to open my eyes

or have my eyes opened

(since it is all about grace)

and suddenly go

Wow!

God

you are here!!!!

Cool