I wish I had saved the comment I just wrote, but apparently I had to create a substack account to send it. So it’s gone now. Sorry.
Briefly, I said that I like the bluebonnet metaphor, and I want to be counted as a bluebonnet. But I also like the parable of Jesus about the mustard seed, which was turned into an allegory by the early Jesus movement, that described the growth of a tiny mustard seed into a great tree where birds build their nests. But Jesus grew up in the farmland of Galilee. He knew that mustard seeds didn’t become great trees. They become wild, prolific bushes that create havoc in an agricultural area. The farmers hate them. They make tending the crops difficult, and they especially make harvesting them difficult.
But Jesus said that the Kingdom of God was like a mustard seed. The Kingdom of God is where compassion, forgiveness, healing, and raising up dominate. They choke out the judgmental good/bad, right/wrong, reward/punishment inflicted by the world to exclude people who do not meet their norms or standards.
So Jesus challenged their norms and standards. In the Kingdom of God, the norms and standards are reversed, “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” The Kingdom of God is where compassion, forgiveness, healing, and raising up dominate. Tribalism gives way to “Love your (Samaritan) neighbor,” “You ARE your brother’s and sister’s keeper,” we are all connected, all equally valued, all “one” with the one another, the planet, the cosmos, the Source. Even the first and the last are bound by the same tender embrace.
The Kingdom of God is like bluebonnets in a dry, barren world. But the Kingdom of God is also like tiny mustard seeds that disturb the farmers who only want to grow judgment, fear, guilt, and shame based on their exclusive values and standards. “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Those who eyes to see, let them see.”
I love this essay so much. I think fear is a huge part of our conditioning in conservative Christianity. And that keeps us small and quiet. But learning to live embodied and integrated and authentically is so freeing. I really resonate with your wild flowers imagery.
Your comment made me think about Thurman's Fear Chapter. I wonder if this might be a thread we want to pull on in our live conversation about Jesus and the Disinherited? What do you think?
Yes, absolutely. On one hand, white evangelicals have been the social majority/oppressors in our country (upholding white supremacy/male supremacy/classism, all while claiming persecution), and on the other hand, women within white evangelicalism are oppressed and live in that fear. Lots of fear and not very much freedom there!
One more comment I can’t resist. About transsexualism.
Down here in Texas we have plenty of folks who are all upset. They think the whole trans thing is madness.
I could talk about the theological and biblical illiteracy of these folks, but this is enough to put it all in perspective, Mamma Bear.
In the USA less than 1% of your population identify as Trans to one degree or another.
In the USA over 11% of the population live in poverty. Living in poverty increases the chances of mental illness, physical illness and shortens life span.
The threat of poverty is used by the richest 0.1% as a bludgeon to keep 99% of people from asking for true social justice.
It is estimated that about 81% of women and 43% of men report experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.
There is no “Trans madness”. The madness is ignoring the real problems.
I wish I had saved the comment I just wrote, but apparently I had to create a substack account to send it. So it’s gone now. Sorry.
Briefly, I said that I like the bluebonnet metaphor, and I want to be counted as a bluebonnet. But I also like the parable of Jesus about the mustard seed, which was turned into an allegory by the early Jesus movement, that described the growth of a tiny mustard seed into a great tree where birds build their nests. But Jesus grew up in the farmland of Galilee. He knew that mustard seeds didn’t become great trees. They become wild, prolific bushes that create havoc in an agricultural area. The farmers hate them. They make tending the crops difficult, and they especially make harvesting them difficult.
But Jesus said that the Kingdom of God was like a mustard seed. The Kingdom of God is where compassion, forgiveness, healing, and raising up dominate. They choke out the judgmental good/bad, right/wrong, reward/punishment inflicted by the world to exclude people who do not meet their norms or standards.
So Jesus challenged their norms and standards. In the Kingdom of God, the norms and standards are reversed, “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” The Kingdom of God is where compassion, forgiveness, healing, and raising up dominate. Tribalism gives way to “Love your (Samaritan) neighbor,” “You ARE your brother’s and sister’s keeper,” we are all connected, all equally valued, all “one” with the one another, the planet, the cosmos, the Source. Even the first and the last are bound by the same tender embrace.
The Kingdom of God is like bluebonnets in a dry, barren world. But the Kingdom of God is also like tiny mustard seeds that disturb the farmers who only want to grow judgment, fear, guilt, and shame based on their exclusive values and standards. “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Those who eyes to see, let them see.”
I LOVE this! I am so glad you have figured out how to use Substack comments. While publishing on Mighty Networks was OK, Substack has far more powerful publication tools. I do hope you will contribute to the other posts on this site. Your theological voice is much needed...if not by other readers, then as encouragement for me to find my own voice. I never knew that mustard bushes were seen as a nuisance plant to farmers and that they are prolific and common in Jesus day. That brings a whole new meaning to the text. It also makes me think about how wildflowers are resistant to capitalism and empire. That lens of Jesus mustard seed reference is really powerful to think about.
I wish I had saved the comment I just wrote, but apparently I had to create a substack account to send it. So it’s gone now. Sorry.
Briefly, I said that I like the bluebonnet metaphor, and I want to be counted as a bluebonnet. But I also like the parable of Jesus about the mustard seed, which was turned into an allegory by the early Jesus movement, that described the growth of a tiny mustard seed into a great tree where birds build their nests. But Jesus grew up in the farmland of Galilee. He knew that mustard seeds didn’t become great trees. They become wild, prolific bushes that create havoc in an agricultural area. The farmers hate them. They make tending the crops difficult, and they especially make harvesting them difficult.
But Jesus said that the Kingdom of God was like a mustard seed. The Kingdom of God is where compassion, forgiveness, healing, and raising up dominate. They choke out the judgmental good/bad, right/wrong, reward/punishment inflicted by the world to exclude people who do not meet their norms or standards.
So Jesus challenged their norms and standards. In the Kingdom of God, the norms and standards are reversed, “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” The Kingdom of God is where compassion, forgiveness, healing, and raising up dominate. Tribalism gives way to “Love your (Samaritan) neighbor,” “You ARE your brother’s and sister’s keeper,” we are all connected, all equally valued, all “one” with the one another, the planet, the cosmos, the Source. Even the first and the last are bound by the same tender embrace.
The Kingdom of God is like bluebonnets in a dry, barren world. But the Kingdom of God is also like tiny mustard seeds that disturb the farmers who only want to grow judgment, fear, guilt, and shame based on their exclusive values and standards. “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Those who eyes to see, let them see.”
Huummm...looks like your comment made it to the thread twice! Thanks again for sharing.
Love this! Wild mustard is lovely in bloom, here in Texas and elsewhere.
Suzanne, indeed. And that makes the parable even more interesting.
The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that grows wild and prolific — and beautiful.
But if you are raising a nice crop of judgment and stereotyping and discrimination, you’re gonna hate them mustard seeds.
You won’t notice how beautiful they are. You don’t have eyes to see and ears to hear.
I love this essay so much. I think fear is a huge part of our conditioning in conservative Christianity. And that keeps us small and quiet. But learning to live embodied and integrated and authentically is so freeing. I really resonate with your wild flowers imagery.
Your comment made me think about Thurman's Fear Chapter. I wonder if this might be a thread we want to pull on in our live conversation about Jesus and the Disinherited? What do you think?
Yes, absolutely. On one hand, white evangelicals have been the social majority/oppressors in our country (upholding white supremacy/male supremacy/classism, all while claiming persecution), and on the other hand, women within white evangelicalism are oppressed and live in that fear. Lots of fear and not very much freedom there!
One more comment I can’t resist. About transsexualism.
Down here in Texas we have plenty of folks who are all upset. They think the whole trans thing is madness.
I could talk about the theological and biblical illiteracy of these folks, but this is enough to put it all in perspective, Mamma Bear.
In the USA less than 1% of your population identify as Trans to one degree or another.
In the USA over 11% of the population live in poverty. Living in poverty increases the chances of mental illness, physical illness and shortens life span.
The threat of poverty is used by the richest 0.1% as a bludgeon to keep 99% of people from asking for true social justice.
It is estimated that about 81% of women and 43% of men report experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.
There is no “Trans madness”. The madness is ignoring the real problems.
Thank you for adding your voice to this discussion. Within Christian circle most will not speak out.
I wish I had saved the comment I just wrote, but apparently I had to create a substack account to send it. So it’s gone now. Sorry.
Briefly, I said that I like the bluebonnet metaphor, and I want to be counted as a bluebonnet. But I also like the parable of Jesus about the mustard seed, which was turned into an allegory by the early Jesus movement, that described the growth of a tiny mustard seed into a great tree where birds build their nests. But Jesus grew up in the farmland of Galilee. He knew that mustard seeds didn’t become great trees. They become wild, prolific bushes that create havoc in an agricultural area. The farmers hate them. They make tending the crops difficult, and they especially make harvesting them difficult.
But Jesus said that the Kingdom of God was like a mustard seed. The Kingdom of God is where compassion, forgiveness, healing, and raising up dominate. They choke out the judgmental good/bad, right/wrong, reward/punishment inflicted by the world to exclude people who do not meet their norms or standards.
So Jesus challenged their norms and standards. In the Kingdom of God, the norms and standards are reversed, “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” The Kingdom of God is where compassion, forgiveness, healing, and raising up dominate. Tribalism gives way to “Love your (Samaritan) neighbor,” “You ARE your brother’s and sister’s keeper,” we are all connected, all equally valued, all “one” with the one another, the planet, the cosmos, the Source. Even the first and the last are bound by the same tender embrace.
The Kingdom of God is like bluebonnets in a dry, barren world. But the Kingdom of God is also like tiny mustard seeds that disturb the farmers who only want to grow judgment, fear, guilt, and shame based on their exclusive values and standards. “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Those who eyes to see, let them see.”
I LOVE this! I am so glad you have figured out how to use Substack comments. While publishing on Mighty Networks was OK, Substack has far more powerful publication tools. I do hope you will contribute to the other posts on this site. Your theological voice is much needed...if not by other readers, then as encouragement for me to find my own voice. I never knew that mustard bushes were seen as a nuisance plant to farmers and that they are prolific and common in Jesus day. That brings a whole new meaning to the text. It also makes me think about how wildflowers are resistant to capitalism and empire. That lens of Jesus mustard seed reference is really powerful to think about.