YeKengalé

I’ve had a number of conversations with my theologically trained friends on my disdain for much of Christian Apologetics – not that I completely discount its value, but that I am completely convinced of its marginal contribution to the perpetuation of authentic Christian faith, a thing not based on scholarship of any sort, but on simple belief in stories that inspire transformation, whether ancient stories, codified, canonized and celebrated, or contemporary stories, just as convincing, challenging and awe inspiring as anything taken from sacred scripture. (The Now is the holiest time we have.)

Especially after my penultimate blog on miracles, I have been re-convinced to highlight contemporary stories of Yeshua that are transforming the times, whether or not they are heralded and broadcasted. The amazing story of Bernard Blessing, just one of the thousands upon thousands of similar witnesses to the authentic Christ still at work, regardless of who has decided to canonize and attempt to contain the definitive and transforming power of God to any particular set of generations or locate Him with a specific group of people; just reiterates my point that all the men and women, and their stories mentioned in the Bible are no more and no less striking, challenging, awe-inspiring and transformational to those who hear and believe them now, than those at any other time in human history, regardless of our penchant to ‘legendize’ into golden eras times long gone by in order to encapsulate the unchanging and guiding life principles that span across civilizations and eras, though contexts and modes of expression may change according to any given culture and its mores.

Like all of the stories recorded in the Bible, Bernard’s story also has its failures, imperfections and mistakes – obviously (like the Clinton prophecy, apparently, which adds for me to the authenticity… not of his gift but his character, he could have taken the video down to protect his ‘reputation’ but clearly that’s not one of his motivators. And for those theologically stupefied by this egregious mistake, consider what would taken place if Isaiah was recorded on social media delivering God’s message to Hezekiah, but nobody decided to cover the part after he left Hezekiah’s house and God ‘changed his mind’…or at least his message.

I’m constantly amazed how blissfully unaware most Christian devotees seem to be of the deeply flawed characters at the heart of the Biblical narrative. They judge themselves and each other with much higher standards than actually presented by Biblical example (*note: I said Biblical example referring to the characters not Biblical precept referring to the teachings).

Surely, what is significant and challenging, whether in Bernard’s striking story or the oft told Jewish legends rehearsed by the Christian faith, is that they rise above the ideological and social, geographic and religious contextual barriers within which people often seek to place their God stories – their religious experiences; encapsulating people in high and low places, from different social and cultural backgrounds and even theological understandings. People assume that Job and JerubBaal (Gideon), or Moshe and Paul even belong to the same religion.

(Although people have a rather jaundiced way of reading and interpreting the Bible, if one hasn’t developed or can override religious filters to actually understand the Biblical narratives in context, we may yet find something that transcends the iron-age mindset of the cultures that produced them and if not speaks authentically to common humanity at whatever stage of our journey of hundreds of thousands of years, then at least can serve as a mirror or reflection and projection as we seek to find meaning, truth, hope and power in life.)

Bernard’s story is compelling, and His insights shared are equally compelling. If you ask me why do I worship Yeshua, my answer is simple – the stories. You can ‘tell me the stories of Jesus’ for the rest of my life. I love to hear them. They are the most beautiful and compelling stories I know. The blessed stories of the mercies of Christ, in every age. (And of course, one of the most awesome and authentic stories, even if I’m the only one who knows it, is my own).

That’s what true Christianity brings to the table of mankind passing through the veil of tears – whether a single university or theological seminary or Apologetics professor ever existed or no (and they may have their contribution but are fairly inconsequential to the life of that wonder-working Spirit that in every age transcends the finite boundaries of human thinking and human possibilities.)

Whether we are seeking to remember the future or imagine the past (yes, I meant exactly what I said), this is the Spirit present in every potential time line and possible universe, therefore always willing and ready to open up doors to the expectant and the determined to salvations and solutions unknown and unknowable to the ‘arm of the flesh’ (the Biblical code word for human technology).

Regardless of one’s ideological commitments and educational orientation, it cannot hurt to consider….and so I hope everyone who reads this does….and may the Spirit of God use this invitation for good. Amen.