Christianity is not about the divine becoming human so much as it is about the human becoming divine. That is a paradigm shift of the first order.
Interpretation
The essence of Christianity focuses on the potential for humans to attain divinity rather than just recognizing divine intervention in humanity.
This quote highlights a profound perspective within Christianity, suggesting that the emphasis is not solely on God taking human form, but rather on the transformative journey of humans aspiring to reach their own divine potential. This 'paradigm shift' inspires a more active participation in spiritual growth, encouraging individuals to elevate their own moral and spiritual existence.
In practice
In a sermon, a pastor might use this quote to inspire parishioners about their personal growth.
When I grew up in the South, I was taught that segregation was the will of God, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. I was taught that women were by nature in inferior to men, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. I was taught that it was okay to hate other religions, and especially the Jews, and the Bible was quoted to prove it.
The church is like a swimming pool. Most of the noise comes from the shallow end.
I would like the church to be a place where the questions of people are honored rather than a place where we have all the answers. The church has to get out of propaganda. The future will involve us in more interfaith dialogue. ... We cannot say we have the only truth.
It appears to be in the nature of religion itself to be prejudiced against those who are different.
The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to new dimensions of life which our religious boundaries - creeds, atonement theologies - have kept us from experiencing.
When the dust settles and the pages of history are written, it will not be the angry defenders of intolerance who have made the difference. The reward will go to those who dared to step outside the safety of their privacy in order to expose and rout the prevailing prejudices.
One can no more have a private religion than one can have a private sun or a private moon.
We have inhabited both the actual and the imaginary realms for a long time. But we don't live in either place the way our parents or ancestors did. Enchantment alters with age, and with the age. We know a dozen Arthurs now, all of them true. The Shire changed irrevocably even in Bilbo's lifetime. Don Quixote went riding out to Argentina and met Jorge Luis Borges there. Plus c'est la mΓͺme chose, plus Γ§a change.
That was what gospel was meant to do - make you hate and love yourself at the same time, make you ashamed and glorified.
In each individual the spirit is made flesh, in each one the whole of creation suffers, in each one a Savior is crucified.
Dogs are a really amazing eye opener for us humans because their lives are compressed into such a short period, so we can see them go from puppyhood to adolescence to strong adulthood and then into their sunset years in 10 to 12 years. It really drives home the point of how finite all our lives are.
for 100,000 (dollars), you [can] flatten a house with a wrecking ball. Imagine how much less it [takes] to destroy something than it [does] to build it in the first place.
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