Moderate and liberal Christians, unite! Reclaim Jesus, reclaim God, reclaim Christianity from the evangelical Christian Right! Just as Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle Chapel in 1517 to speak up against the abusive practice of the sale of indulgences for the forgiveness of sin, so it is time for moderate and liberal Christians alike to speak out against a new set of abuses threatening to undermine the very fabric of Christianity. In other words, it is time for a new set of 95 Theses for the 21st Century: Reclaiming Jesus.

Imago Dei 4

August 2, 2010 - 8:30am — todonnell

Today we complete our conversation about “Imago Dei” by asking ourselves this final question: What if we didn’t believe in God at all and did nice simply because that’s what we do? We do the right thing simply because it is the right thing. No quid-pro-quo – no heavenly bribe – no earthly prize, either, for that matter. In fact, often, the “right thing” can turn out to be the “wrong thing” by earthly standards of what it winds up costing the person doing right. What if we do the right thing simply because, as human beings, that’s what we are intended to do. Period. What then?

Welcome to Imago Dei. Welcome to the finest God of All. The God Inside. Ironically, the God Inside is best seen through the vantage point of one who does not believe in God but who does the right thing simply because it is the right thing. Made in the Image of God.

Which brings us to the final question. What if there is no God? This one is easy. But there is. The finest God of All. The God Inside. The God you and I are made in the image of. In the final analysis, it is the only God we can be sure about. The God Inside. If some who live their lives in accordance with the Imago Dei but insist on denying the existence of God, that’s OK. I’m sure God wouldn’t mind. In fact, I’m sure God would much prefer that to all those Quid-Pro-Quo ideas about God.

Furthermore, in the final analysis, the God Inside is the only God we can be sure about. What happens to us after our time on this earthly planet comes to an end is certainly an interesting subject for conjecture, but, for obvious reasons, that’s all it can ever be. The nature of heaven, the afterlife, eternal salvation – all fascinating issues to speculate on. Personally, I do not believe for one second that this is the end; that nothing happens after we die. What does happen, though, who knows? I know what I don’t believe, though. I don’t believe for one second that a human being is given a single life span on this earth (whether it be 70 or 80 years, or just 20 or 30) in order to “get it right” or risk spending all eternity burning in the deepest depths of Hell.

And one other thing I don’t believe. I don’t believe that faith is a set of beliefs. I believe, as they did in the time of Jesus, that faith is trust. And in this case, trust in God. The God Inside. The Imago Dei. The Holy Spirit. Doing the right thing for the right thing’s sake. Period. End of discussion. It may not bring wealth, or power, or community recognition or prestige in this life, but one thing it guarantees to bring is peace of mind. And at the end of the day, peace of mind isn’t such a bad thing, is it? What kind of a God would God want you to believe in? The God you are made in the image of. A God of Peace of Mind, a God of Doing the Right Thing.

Imago Dei.

Go forth, and live it. Go forth and be God-like.

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