Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented.
The Divine Authors of the Bible invested more in God's Mighty Deeds than in the wisdom of proverbs. Chestnuts like "Do good, avoid evil;" and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you:" have their place in any religion. But they are not the core of our faith.
We believe in God's mighty works; that is, in the clear and obvious interventions in human history. That the Hebrews were delivered out of bondage to a powerful Egyptian pharaoh could not be an accident. That Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and was himself raised from the dead after suffering scourging and crucifixion: these were Acts of God. There can be no doubt about it.
Critics might say none of that ever happened, but no one can prove that something never happened. Our evidence is the eyewitness testimony of those who were there. Plus the courage and credibility of those very witnesses who saw and testified despite the arguments, persuasions, threats, violence, and martyrdom which they encountered. Unlike the "martyrs" of some nations and the "heroes" of others, Christian martyrs never killed anyone. They were only mercilessly slaughtered for saying what they knew to be true.
The Nicene Creed, written in Nicea seventeen centuries ago, is not a recital of good ideas. It's a record of what we saw and remember. Thomas Jefferson, perhaps the most important of America's Founding Fathers, rejected the entire story of salvation. His "Bible" excludes all of the stories and contains only the teachings which conform to his notions of God and religion. A Jeffersonian nation cannot be called Christian.
"Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented."
The warning is clear. The urgency is obvious. The time is short.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.