Are we a "Saturday People" or a "Sunday People".

[pmcleanj]

Instead of regular worship today we had a cantata from a regional bible college called "the Space Between". In introducing the cantata, our pastor made the claim that "we live our lives in the space between Good Friday and Easter".

Last Friday (Good Friday) while munching a hot-cross bun after the service, the Episcopal priest made the comment that "We are an Easter People, even on Good Friday. I don't know how that works; I just accept it."

I found the pastor's comment shocking, and the priest's comment traditional; but it led me to wonder whether these two different metaphores for the kairos in which we live are indicative of different fundamental understandings of the post-resurrection church.

Any thoughts?

[Secundulus]

If I uderstand correctly the comparison is between those who whose focus is on Christ redemptive death as contrasted to Christ's triumphant resurrection.

I think that perhaps some focus on one or the other to the virtual exclusion of the other. My personal opinion is that the two are so closely interconnected that they cannot be considered apart.

By his sacrifice Christ opened the doors of the sanctuary so that forgiveness of sins is now available for those who acknowledge him. By his resurrection he conqured death to lead us to eternal life.

Christ is the perfect Lamb of God but he is also the Triumphant God himself.

[higgs2]

The space between Good Friday and Easter is Saturday. That comment your pastor made sounds bizarre to me. We are Saturday people? I can't think what he even means by that.

[pmcleanj]

The space between Good Friday and Easter is Saturday. That comment your pastor made sounds bizarre to me. We are Saturday people? I can't think what he even means by that.

Dean says he was just quoting a phrase from the libretto notes for the cantata, so I'm not sure that pastor knew what he meant by that. Anne nearly choked on the sulfasalazine she was swallowing when I said that aloud, but it's unfortunately likely. Of course, that only changes the question to "what on earth did the author of the libretto notes mean".

One interpretation would be that Good Friday, like the Fall, plunged Jesus' followers into an intimate experience of sin and death. That is an experience that we share by living in a fallen world. But the followers had the promise of salvation and redemption in the resurrection of Easter whether they understood those promises or not. In the same way we have the promise of salvation and of entering into the nearer presence of God where we will see "face to face".

Another interpretation would be that prior to Good Friday, the disciples had a sense of certainty that they understood Jesus role in the politics and religion of their nation. After Easter Sunday they were witnesses to a new certainty. But in the time between, they were filled with uncertainty and knew undeniably that they did NOT have all the truth.

And I can see that a sense of our own uncertainty can be a very good thing. The arrogance of thinking you have all the answers is one of the big errors an evangelist can commit that alienates so many of those he might otherwise be able to reach. Being able to say "I don't know how it works; I just accept it" then turns out to be an example of this "between-ness" and perhaps reconciles the two viewpoints.

[karen freeinchristman]

Perhaps we are 'Saturday People' when we live through a 'dark night of the soul'. This happens to Christians in spite of their 'knowing' that they are Resurrection People. It is kind of a head/heart paradox.

[Adammi]

Instead of regular worship today we had a cantata from a regional bible college called "the Space Between". In introducing the cantata, our pastor made the claim that "we live our lives in the space between Good Friday and Easter".

Last Friday (Good Friday) while munching a hot-cross bun after the service, the Episcopal priest made the comment that "We are an Easter People, even on Good Friday. I don't know how that works; I just accept it."

I found the pastor's comment shocking, and the priest's comment traditional; but it led me to wonder whether these two different metaphores for the kairos in which we live are indicative of different fundamental understandings of the post-resurrection church.

Any thoughts?


I think that some way or another, these are two ways of saying the same thing. they both just come from different people with different ways of conveying what it is they are trying to say. My pastor often tells a story of what two older men told him whenever he was a teenager trying to pursue God. One told him "Let go", while the other said "Hold on." Both men were saying the same thing, just in different ways. This led to my pastor's own philosophy, which is "throw it in neutral and let it roll." lol

I think it's all a matter of semantics. As a student planning to major in English, I do think that most of the world's problems could be solved if we just took the time to understand the semantics of others.

[Wigglesworth]

When we take up our cross, embrace redemptive suffering, crucify the flesh, and die to self, we are living our lives in the space between Good Friday and Easter.

I recommend Imitation of Christ (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.html)by Thomas a Kempis.

Peace be with you.

:crossrc:

[learningtoenjoyhim]

I think it might mean we are meant to suffer hear on earth and our ressurrection, that is, our Sunday, will come later? Maybe. But I still think it's a weird saying.

[karen freeinchristman]

I think it might mean we are meant to suffer hear on earth and our ressurrection, that is, our Sunday, will come later?
Yeah, I think there is something in this.

The kingdom of God has already begun through Jesus, but it is not yet at it's complete fulfillment. 'Now and not yet' is the phrase we seem to get frequently in our studies of eschatology.

Reading the paper this morning certainly demonstrates the 'not yet' aspect of God's kingdom. :sigh:
Come quickly, Lord Jesus! :prayer: