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Rector's Blog: But Through Me

This blog is also available as a podcast

When I was 14 I got into an argument with some other kid’s mom in youth group. She brought a video to our Sunday gathering about how Rock music comes from the Devil and made us all watch it. At one point, the erstwhile documentary displayed The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album and pointed out that, among the many celebrity cutouts adorning the classic cover was a once-famous occultist. This, you see, alongside the strange sounds the later Beatles albums featured, was proof of their demonic influence. It’s important that I tell you I’m not making this up. This happened to me.

Mercifully, the video came to an end. This mom stood up and looked at us triumphantly. To this day I am not sure why she was even there: Maybe our Youth pastor was out sick? Because he and I used to listen to the Ramones together, so I knew he wouldn’t be buying this. She asked what we thought. I was a demonstrative kid and could barely contain myself. “I hated it,” I said. Her face told me she was not expecting this. “What did you hate about it?” she asked, and I was so glad she asked because I got to tell her I hated all of it. I said, “I listen to a lot of those bands. I listen to the Beatles. I don’t do drugs. I don’t worship Satan. I’m Christian.”

She was unfazed. “But just imagine,” she continued, “what your relationship with Jesus would be like if you were listening to Christian music instead?”

I said, “If Jesus wants me to listen to Christian music instead, he should make it not suck.”

This is when I was disinvited from the conversation.

I know there are some Christians that think pop culture is bad, evil, maybe even demonic, and I know that they are very vocal, but most of the Christians I have known in my life have been more open. They are able to see the value of the secular alongside the spiritual. Me, I think I’m more on the radical side of things. I don’t believe anything is secular. I see Jesus all over the place.

Speaking of the Beatles, I remember when my dad slipped into a coma and I thought he was going to die. I was in California and he was in Maine, and it would be at least 24 hours before I’d be able to get to him. The only comfort I could get that day was in the George Harrison-penned Beatles song “Within You Without You.” It had long been my least favorite song on that album, but for some reason it popped up now and wouldn’t let go. It was so simple and emotionless, and I heard George intone, “You’re really only very small and life goes on within you and without you.” Should that have comforted me? I don’t know, but it did. I heard Jesus in that song that day.

I got back to Maine, and he stayed in that coma for a couple more days. Windchill made it 30 degrees below zero, and I was driving back and forth from his house to the hospital, and it was George Harrison again, this time singing, “All Things Must Pass.” I did not know if my Dad was going to live or die, but I heard this long-haired British Hindu Hippie tell me this is the way of things and I believed him. And I heard Jesus that day.

I want to be clear that I’m not using Jesus’ name metaphorically in these situations. And this might be an odd idea for you, but bear with me.

There’s a moment in Jesus’ ministry when he says, “I am the way and the truth and the life: no one comes to the Father but through me.” The prevailing interpretation of this text is that Jesus is saying you can only go to heaven when you die if you are Christian. And that is very odd to me. In fact, I don’t buy it. Because that’s not what Jesus says.

In the story, Jesus knows he’s going to die very soon. And on the night before he’s killed, he gathers his closest friends together to share a meal. He spends a great deal of time seeking to comfort them. He tells them he’s going to the Father and that at some point they’ll join him. And their response is how will we join you if we don’t know the way there? Let’s stop here for a moment. This is not a theological question: It is a heart wrenching plea from someone who loves Jesus and is scared to not see him again. This is don’t leave me, friend, because I won’t know what to do, and I won’t know how to find you.

Jesus’ response is the now famous, “I am the way. And the truth. And the life! No one comes to the Father but by me.” Now this is where people usually stop the quote, except it’s not at all where Jesus stops speaking. We cut Jesus off mid-sentence. It’s a thing Christians like to do. “Nobody gets to Father but through me,” Jesus says, and then he continues, “if you know me you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and you have seen him.”

I don’t know if you can hear that the way that I hear it, but when I hear this I don’t hear Jesus as the doorman you’ve got to befriend in order to get into the heavenly nightclub. I hear him saying to his friend, you don’t need to worry about finding God. You already know God. You have experienced my love. If you have experienced my love, you have been in God’s presence.

And now I’m going to say a very Christian thing, and it might make you uncomfortable. I believe every time you experience Love, that’s Jesus. Every time you realize something true and honest and real and wise and beautiful, that is Jesus. And I don’t mean it metaphorically or symbolically. I literally believe it’s Jesus. I believe in Jesus, and I believe Jesus works in the real world this way. And I don’t think you need to believe in Jesus or be Christian for Jesus to be working in your life. I believe Jesus was working in the songs those days. When Jesus says he’s the way to the Father, he’s not saying you need to believe all the right things about him to experience God. He means that he is the one who is facilitating your connection with the Divine. He is at work within the love that you know. Jesus is always working to draw you closer to the love for which you were made.

I do not need you to believe that. It’s completely fine with me if you don’t. I say it only to say that I believe a proper Christian worldview does not need everything to be Christian for God to be present and visible in it. I can see Jesus in a Hindu pop song, in an atheist Jewish friend, in some Hollywood movie, in a meme some friend sends me, in my kid’s teacher. Nothing is secular. Everything has the capacity to show the work Jesus is doing to bring you closer to the One who made you. Love finds you, and that’s when Jesus says, “You already know God.”


Tags: Rector's Blog

Sermons

  • Mar 20 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    The Present Past
  • Mar 12 | Tym House
    Direct Access to Grace
  • Mar 6 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Being Righteous
  • Feb 27 | The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane
    Two Sides of the Same Coin
  • Feb 20 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Superman Transfigured

Rector's Blog

  • Mar 24 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, When God Feels Like It
  • Mar 17 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, But Through Me
  • Mar 10 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Conversions - Part 2
  • Mar 3 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Conversions - Part 1
  • Feb 24 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Better Not Easier

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2944 Erie Ave. · Cincinnati, OH 45208
(513) 321-6700
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The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
2944 Erie Ave.
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Welcome Children Service Times Membership Contact Us

Welcome to Church of the Redeemer! We invite and welcome ALL to join us in worship and community. In addition to worship, we have a vibrant music community, a fun and welcoming community for children and youth, plus offerings for everyone from young adults to seniors, covering many varied interests.

The Rev. Philip DeVaul, Rector

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We love children, and children love Church of the Redeemer!

Children are at the heart of life at Church of the Redeemer. Children learn about the word of God through our Children's Christian Education programs; they are involved in worship services, they play music in our services, and they form lifelong friendships with each other through their experiences.

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On Sundays we have an 8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I service, a 9:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II service (which is also livestreamed), an 11:00 am Banquet Eucharist service and a 5:00 pm Celtic Eucharist service.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we offer Morning Prayer on our Online Worship Podcast.

On Wednesdays, we offer Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 6:00 pm in the Chapel.

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The community of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer welcomes you! We are glad that you have chosen to explore your faith here and hope that this document can answer some of the questions you may have about Church of the Redeemer. We seek to be an open, inviting community. Our invitation to you is to join us as we grow in faith and reach out in love to others. At Church of the Redeemer we are always seeking to know Jesus and grow in love. We hope that in whatever ministries you undertake will strengthen your relationship with him through your ministry and fellowship here.

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PARKING: Parking is on the street. Please pay attention to the signs indicating proper parking zones. Handicapped parking is available in the front on Erie, in the back parking lot, and on the south side of Raymar.

ACCESSIBLE REDEEMER: The front entrance has a ramp and there is an elevator inside the back door and to the left. Accessible restrooms are located in the Lobby inside the front entrance.


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Such permanent savings are often called an “endowment.” The endowed funds are permanently set aside by donors or by the Vestry. Some of our donors have specified uses for their endowment gifts. A limited portion of the funds is distributed each year to supplement our general budget. All funds are invested with professional advice.

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