Escapism Theology

I teach a Bible Study to an ecumenical group of people aged 55+ in a high rise in town. There are about 10 people who meet with me weekly and I must say I enjoy them. Only 1 has any Presbyterian ties and he's the one who invited me to teach. The rest represent all kinds of denominations, including pentecostals, seventh-day adventists, methodists, "former" catholics, and other miscellaneous non-denominations. There have been times I haven't wanted to be the leader of this group -- like the time I was teaching about honoring Sabbath and realized that one in my group considered Sabbath-keeping one of the highest commandments to the exclusion of others, demanding that Saturday be kept or else . . . or the time when one of the people really wanted to make this a religious right political discussion when I have quickly recognized that ALL political views are represented in this group -- especially because this is a low income group. But there are other times when I truly recognize the spirit of God in this group -- like when we are disagreeing but choose to put aside our own passions to listen to the other and recognize that they too are trying to listen for God's word to them. This past week something stuck with me. One woman for whom I have a lot of respect, spoke up saying "when I die I don't want to be remembered as Sister B. who prophesied in church. I want to be remembered as one who showed God's love." This was especially poignant as the discussion ran away (as it does frequently) to the second coming and how we are finally going to get to escape all of these hardships. And then Sister B. spoke up: "I'm not ready for the second coming. I hurt for the many who do not know God's love. I just want to use every second I have to communicate this love and compassion to others." Her comment allowed the escapism theology to halt and opened the door for all of us to think. Another woman spoke up: "Everything we do -- how we spend everyday, every second -- is being recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life and I just want to have a clear conscience so every night, before I go to bed, I ask God's forgiveness for everything . . . " Until finally I could say what was on my mind -- "I think Sister B. is right. I think our salvation is intricately tied into the salvation of others. As long as we are thinking about what is going in the book of life about US, we are only thinking about ourselves. But when we are thinking about others, when we are loving others and showing compassion to others as only God through us can do, then we are extending the joy of our salvation to others. And I also believe that things aren't as hopeless as we confess. I believe that if we will listen to the Holy Spirit, God will show us how to speak and to whom we should speak in love. God will show us how to love in such a way that even those who are closed to the love of God can receive the gift of love that is offered to them." And as I said this and thought further about it, I really began to reflect on how our salvation is tied to the salvation of others. Sure, I believe that there is an individual part of salvation -- that we have to open ourselves up to receive, but I also believe that even that is impossible without the prodding of the Holy Spirit opening us to desire love and to be changed by it. But I am really beginning to think further about the communal part of salvation -- that we are to listen for God's words to us so that we know how to connect with others, knowing that the true connection is a gift from God, is Love itself. I may have to write more on this later, but I am seriously thinking about all of this and wondering how best to receive it myself so that the world can be changed.