Session The Heart of Christianity - Rediscovering a Life of Faith
by Marcus Borg

Chapter 7: The Kingdom of God - The Heart of Justice
Clicking the book anywhere will bring you back to the starting page.
"Do you still not perceive or understand? ... Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear?" (Mark 8:17-18)  
Section Internet Links Wayne's Notes Back to Index
This session was organized differently. Peter Barne's notes and questions were read, and the groups were sent off to small group discussion. When they came back to plenary, the discussion was entirely focused on "Born Again". This was such a hot topic that it was decided to push forward chapter 7 till next week, and to continue the Born Again discussion. The tone of the discussion was very negative. Three group members were asked to consider personal reactions as might help conclude this topic on a postive note.
Peter Barnes Notes.

Synopsis

Borg explores in depth the communal-social-political nature of the world’s great religions ... but Christianity in particular. His near focus is on what he has perceived happening in North America, but there are more than enough similarities to the Australian situation to make his thesis relevant, although some of the statistics almost certainly don’t apply (yet!) in this country.

Borg argues persuasively that the Bible is almost a text book on the topic of ‘systemic injustice’ and talks of the importance to Christians of creating living communities that actively seek to support ‘systemic justice’ through just political action. He says "the test of the justice of systems is their impact on human lives. To what extent do they lead to human flourishing and to what extent human suffering?"

Starting with the text of the Hebrew Testament Borg leads us through a discovery of God’s passion for justice, and the negative impact of the domination systems of the major political powers like Egypt, Babylon, Greece and Rome. This leads naturally into the Christian Testament where the phrase Kingdom of God is seen to point to a different way of being community.

Wayne's Notes. .
In chapter six, Borg deals with the individual dimension of spiritual transformation. He employs the term "born again" a good bibilical theme taken, for example, from John 3. Instead of the word 'conversion', however, that is strongly confined to the earlier paradigm, he uses a term often found in eastern religion - that word is "transformation." In doing so, the author acknowledges that personal change is an important aspect of biblical religion.

I believe that Borg is wise in emphasising the personal aspect of the Good News. Too frequently, we in the mainstream churches underemphasise the individual as compared to the political need for transformation (because, I suspect, of an aversion to the "sawdust trail" approach many of us have unhappily encountered at some point in our experience). Despite John Wesley's theology which worked from the premise that 'changed people change societyO his spiritual heirs in the contemporary United Church of Canada, tend to focus on 'people change societyO and the 'changed people' part gets short shrift.

So Borg attempts to call forth a balance in his book. We need transformed people and a transformed society. The Gospel calls us to emphasise both.

In chapter seven, then, Borg takes up the biblical meaning of the Kingdom of God. I find it interesting that he employs the traditional term, rather than the more contemporary 'Reign of God' which seems, at first glance, to be more inclusive. It would be interesting to ask Borg when he is with us why he has retained the translation from the earlier paradigm. My own interpretation would be that Borg is using the more accurately translated biblical metaphor - kingdom. Queens have usually ruled over 'kingdoms', not 'queendom'. Also, it is a bridging term in the dialog between those of the earlier and the emerging paradigms.

Kingdom of God theology emphasises the social dimension of being born again. Here, we enter the realm of God's justice (133). We worship a God who is passionate for justice (127). This theme threads its way through both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. When the early Christians declared that "Jesus is Lord" they were challenging the domination systems of their day - whether it be the worship of Caesar as a god, of the subservience of women. Again and again, God takes the side of the underdog.

Another important distinction should be made. While personal salvation tends to focus on life after death, social salvation is very much about the here and now. As John Crossan says, "Heaven's in great shape. Earth is where the problems are" (Borg, 133).

While many of us do not need to be reminded about the importance of the political implications of the Gospel, Borg challenges us to be keenly aware of many of the same things about which the Hebrew prophets and Jesus himself spoke so strongly. "Observe the gaps" they would say. Note well how easy it is for humans to be divided between the rich and the poor, and other different classes or distinctions we make between people.

What a wonderful witness, yesterday, we observed in the overcoming of distinction and division, when Sultana, a fomer refugee from Iraq, was able to share dolma (stuffed grape leaves) with the people of St. Davids. It was her way of saying thanks for our support and prayers. I am brought to tears when I see how well we can do social transfomation.

Borg reminds us that "the cross is both personal and political." A good reminder for Lent.
Questions for Discussion

Discussion in groups: (3 - 5 people) 35 min Please appoint a ‘spokesperson’ for each session Look at the first question that follows, then subsequent or other questions as time permits. If your own questions seem more relevant please raise them and seek discussion of them.

Question 1: How d

Question 2: What
Plenium Discussion (20 min) Each nominated spokes-person to have an opportunity to share their group’s discussion. The leader will facilitate the group discussion
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St. David's United Church.Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
January 2005