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Friday, October 26, 2007

Is God's Word for Me... or Us?
By webmaster @ 7:00 AM :: 453 Views :: 2 Comments :: Rev. David Lewicki

I'm reading two books simultaneously right now. One is Bishop TD Jakes' latest, called "Reposition Yourself." The other is a collection of essays by the early 20th-century Quaker author Rufus Jones. Jakes is best-know as the pastor of the Dallas megachurch The Potter's House, which claims 30,000 members. Jones is best known as a mystic and one of the founders of the American Friends Service Committee, one of the oldest and most committed peace and justice organizations in the country.

Both authors write about personal spirituality. They talk about the individual's relationship to God as a source of grounding, strength, and life purpose. They talk about how to access God's power, God's love, and God's forgiving grace. Both invoke the fundamental importance of reading Scripture and praying regularly as ways of strengthening the individual.

But from that shared starting point, the authors point the reader in radically different directions. Jakes' book expects that you will use God's gifts to better your life - pursue your dreams, learn to love again, manage your money better, achieve prosperity. Jones sees relationship with God as a good in and of itself. Relationship with God isn't, for Jones, instrumental to some other end... it is access to the Soul of the Universe... and through that Soul, to every part of Creation. When Jones' vision of spirituality does direct toward action, the actions are love and service to others in the way of Jesus of Nazareth.

In Jakes, God is for me. God is about individuals achieving their dreams. In Jones, God is for us. God is about a collective dream for the world embodied in Jesus--to which our dreams are to lead us.

I can't help but feel like these are not only two different books, but that they refer to two different Gods... and I'm struggling to know which one is real? Or are both? Or neither?

Comments

By john cadue @ Friday, October 26, 2007 3:19 PM

well David Mr.Jakes seems to be very ME ME ME ego driven and nothing wrong with improving ones positon either spirtiually or emotionally and I suppose you could rationalize that if I improve then the world improves. Where as teh Jones interpretaion of the Peaceful justice betterment of the common god where we all benefit seems more like teh Christ I think I know from my limited Bible knowledge. Even thier bacjrounds , Megag church in dallas, and don't even get me started on the Export of Texas' Sons as opposed to teh peace and justice approach. I think you hit teh nail right on the head in yoru first paragraph, two INDIVIDUAL interpretaions key work is obviosly INDIVIDUAL, but I know which I aspire to emulate and it isn't The Mega one. Relax I don't think we have such a Delemma here. Just two different way s of looking at the world. Can't say that Jakes all about me approach is in any way in line with my belief system.

By Pamela @ Saturday, October 27, 2007 3:33 AM

Hi David,
It seems to me that both men are writing about the same God just different facets of God. I believe God does want us to live an abundant, joyful, healthy life. Yes, we will face challenges and God is always with us to deal with the difficult times. Having prosperity is not a bad. God gives all of us gifts that we are here to hopefully use so we can make this world we are living in a better place. It seems to me, Jakes is telling people to live their dreams and to do their best to be like Jesus. There are people out there who are self-centered and the sad thing about those people is they don't see how much joy and fulfillment they can have in their lives by serving others. I believe people can use the talents and gifts God has given them to be personally successful AND to serve other people.
Jones brings to light the other part of God where we go within through prayer and meditation to connect to the universal soul and to connect to each other. Together we are parts of the whole. It's important for us to remember our connection to each other and to God. This soul connection helps us to love and serve each other. Recognizing we are all parts of a whole, here to love and serve one another, doesn't conflict with us living our dreams, it serves to enhance our individual lives. Just some thoughts.

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