The 78th episode of my podcast just released. In it, I share my reflections on Bono’s statements about Jesus that I posted on the blog recently.
If you’re new to the podcast, be prepared to hear a few “commercials” sprinkled into the episode (we have to keep our sponsors happy, you know . . . Cough).
The podcast ends with a (comical) blast from the past. You can listen to the podcast in one of three ways (below):
Testimonials from Readers of God’s Favorite Place on Earth
“I read this book twice and it made me weep. It touched me deeply because it made Jesus appear so real to me. It came at a good time when the Lord seemed distant. I’ll be giving copies of this book away to friends. Thank you for writing it. I’ve read the gospels many times and I’ve never seen the story you bring out before. The message and application for today are beautiful.”
~ Kevin
Do You Make These 8 Mistakes When Reading the Bible? (Video)
Would it be possible to get a transcript of this, or for you to do a separate text post with your ideas? I very rarely listen to podcasts myself.
No, sorry. There’s a lot of humor in it (commercials and other things) that won’t be captured if someone were to transcribe it. It’s short, so I’d give it a listen. Most people listen to podcasts in the car or on walks.
Some food for thought, please, if I may? I hope that’s okay.
On the matter of karma. I hear what’s being said about what’s referred to as “karma”. And yes, the Scriptures do speak of “reaping what we sow” (as in Galatians 6:7, for example). But the Scriptures do present an added, nuanced perspective as well. Life isn’t that simple always… that cut and dry. Life can be downright messy, as we so well know. Sometimes horrible, undeserved things happen to truly good people. Job’s friends were sure that he had done wickedly, and that that was why he was experiencing such unprecedented, unbelievable horror and suffering. Turns out they were dead wrong! Jesus’ disciples figured that a blind man was born blind due to either that man’s sins or the sins of his parents (John 9:1-3ff). Turns out they too were wrong, and Jesus set them straight on it. He did the same sort of thing when commenting strongly on the tower of Siloam that fell, disastrously killing some people (Luke 13:1-5ff). So much for karma, there.
And we all know that sometimes super wonderful things happen to ‘bad’ people. And that God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous”.
I love Bono (and anyone else) for having the courage to speak from his or her heart of our Beloved in today’s complex culture. More, please! Awesome. But in the process, we still need to lovingly, gently, carefully remember the nuances of truth as presented in the Scriptures, and continue to strive to conform to that in our thinking, even as we seek to grow, (as well as in our living).
I love you, my fellow readers. I so hope that this is in no way offensive. It isn’t meant to be. Just a touch of food for thought.
I don’t think Bono is denying that; he’s talking within the context of grace and comparing it to the idea of karma. His statements make this plain. We deserve death for our sins. That’s what we’ve all sown. But God gives grace. Love interrupts that “law,” so to speak. I don’t see an issue here.
Remember, Bono isn’t writing a theological treatise … this is a transcription of an oral conversation. Answers are short so not every qualification can be made to every statement. Listen to my podcast on this. We’ll miss what he’s trying to get across if we approach it pedantically.
I did listen to it. 🙂 I agree with you, Frank. But some of the readers’ comments seem to affirm the concept of karma. That’s what I’m addressing…