The God
Gallery: Images of the Holy
by Major JoAnn Shade
Reprinted below is one of the chapters from The God Gallery:
Images of the Holy. This is a book I did to connect with the
series of radio broadcasts that will be done through Wonderful
Words of Life, the USA South SA radio broadcast.
Thought it might give a flavor of the book for JAC
readers.
…Major JoAnn Shade
Faith is a matter of life and death. The
Bible is a serious book. A person’s connection to Jesus has
eternal consequences. That’s solemn Kingdom business. Yet in
our walk of faith and in our coming to Christ, there is a
sense of great joy, an invitation to celebration, for our God
is a Party Host. As one of twenty images of God explored in
The God Gallery: Images
of the Holy, the following excerpt
provides scripture, song, poetry, prayer and intentional
actions that remind the believer of the joy of salvation.
We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been — a place
half-remembered and half-envisioned we can only catch glimpses
of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people
to whom we can speak with passion without having the words
catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to
receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will
celebrate with
us whenever we come into our own power. Community means
strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to
be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing.
A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free.
Starhawk
The picture of God that will be our focus
for this chapter is one that doesn’t show up in the Bible’s
index or concordance, but is prominent in the stories of
Jesus. While some may see God as a heavenly game show host,
urging us to spin the wheel of fortune or choose between door
number one and door number two, that image isn’t consistent
with scripture. But what is clear is that God is definitely a
party host.
Turning to the pages of the Old Testament,
the people of Israel were expected to celebrate, to share in
feasts and festivals on a regular basis. It’s an image found
in many of the Psalms, such as Psalm 23 ‘He prepares a table
before me in the presence of my enemies.” In the Old Testament
narratives, God often provides food, such as the manna in the
wilderness, and the flour and oil that never ran out for the
widow at Zarephath.
As recorded in Nehemiah, the people of God
were weeping as they listened to the words of the Law during a
day of worship.
Nehemiah gave strong direction to them: “Do not mourn or weep.
Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to
those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our
Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength!”
As we move to the New Testament, we find
God as a generous host at many parties, as we see at the
wedding party at Cana in John chapter 2, and at the huge
picnics that came to be known as the feeding of the thousands.
And then there is the ultimate celebration, recorded in the
book of Revelations - the wedding feast of the Lamb. “Then
the angel said to me, ‘Write: Blessed are those who are invited to
the
wedding supper of
the
Lamb!’”
But perhaps the most
moving image of God as the party host is found in Luke 15, as
Jesus tells the stories of a lost lamb, a lost coin and a lost
son. Each of the stories ends with rejoicing. Listen to how
they are described by Luke: “There
will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to
repent,” “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of
God over one sinner who repents" and, as announced by the
father of the prodigal son, “We had to celebrate and be glad,
because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he
was lost and is found.” This is a God who knows how to
celebrate, how to host a party.
If we are
created
in the image of a celebratory God, then we too need to live in
a spirit of rejoicing. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Rejoice
in the
Lord
always. I will say it again:
Rejoice!” Yes, we are challenged to the disciplines of solitude and
fasting, but our celebratory God invites us to rejoice, to
share meals together, to dance and to sing.
Rabbi Abraham Heschel
warns us: “People of our time are losing the power of
celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or
entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of
expressing reverence or appreciation.” Perhaps it’s time that
we join our party host God in celebrating his glory, and the
gift of life he gives to us in Christ. Leo Buscaglia
challenges us:
“Life is meant to be a celebration! It shouldn’t be necessary
to set aside special times to remind us of this fact. Wise is
the person who finds a reason to make every day a special one.”
He came to bring
celebration into people's lives that have had nothing to
celebrate. This is true religion, says the epistle of James,
to visit the fatherless, the widows, and the afflicted and
bring celebration into their lives. He is the Christ who saves
you from sin and fills you with his joy, commissions you to go
out and to spread that joy to the world because the Lord has
come.
Tony Campolo
HYMN
I was once a sinner, but I
came Pardon to receive from my Lord: This was freely
given, and I found That He always kept His word.
There’s a new name written
down in glory, And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine! And the
white robed angels sing the story, “A sinner has come
home.” For there’s a new name written down in glory, And
it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine! With my sins forgiven I am
bound for Heaven, Never more to roam.
C.
Austin Miles
POEIMA
at the table
simon’s banquet
pharisee-crony party
crashed
host offended, guests
miffed
Christ anointed and
adored, harlot esteemed and redeemed
storyman at work,
canceled debt, exposed arrogance
forgiven
passover’s meal
upper room observance
etched in eternity
Jesus resolute,
disciples unsettled
servant-heart modeled,
pastoral prayer pled
sacrificial lamb
prepared, bread broken, wine spilled
remembered
galilee’s communion
seaside fast-breaking at
dawn’s first light
crackling fire, sizzling
fish
sustenance offered,
grace extended
risen redeemer engaging
hearts, rooster silenced, mission bestowed
restored
Lamb’s supper
heaven’s marriage table
rich with lavish fare
radiant bride purified,
groom expectant
ransomed saint embraced,
Christ exalted
lion of judah enthroned,
jerusalem reborn
home
INTO OUR HANDS, INTO OUR HEARTS
- Sing a new song to the Lord.
- Share in a delicious meal with friends, old
or new.
- Release a balloon.
- Dance with joy.
- Do the polka.
- Read Phillip Yancey’s
What’s So Amazing About Grace, especially his re-telling of the
Lost Son parable as experienced in a bus station.
- Learn a Jewish dance.
- Celebrate the new Christian in your church.
- Celebrate the faithfulness of the saints.
- Plan a recognition dinner or reception for
those who serve.
- Go on a picnic.
- Give a compliment.
- Start a new tradition in your family by
inviting the celebrated person to eat from a special red
plate to recognize birthdays, good report cards,
anniversaries, or a job well done. Use it to honor a
guest, to recognize achievement, or “just because!”
- Jump for joy.
- Create greeting cards to celebrate
friendship.
- Read Tony Campolo’s The Kingdom of God is a Party. a sermon given at the Crystal
Cathedral.
PRAYER
Our glorious God, we rejoice
today in our salvation.
We rejoice today in your
presence.
We rejoice today because
we’re alive to celebrate your goodness.
We sing today with the
angels.
Accept our sacrifice of
praise today, in the name of Jesus,
Amen.
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