Toward Easter 6 (May 5, 2013)

Acts 16:6-15
Revelations 21:10-12, 22 - 22:5

 

What a difference it makes to have a holy dream.

 

Around 50 C.E. Paul had a dream of taking the Gospel of God's kingdom from Asia into Europe.  Up to that point the Christian movement was mostly a regional splinter-group of the Jewish synagogues in the east Mediterranean provinces of the Roman Empire.  After dreaming of a call to Macedonia, Paul was able to make Christianity a movement for all the world.

 

Around 90 or 95 C.E. the Christian movement was facing a nightmare.  After a generation of community-planting, evangelism and mission the Christian community remained a minority movement in the Empire, and at times instead of disinterest in what they had to offer there was outright hostility, ridicule and opposition from the culture around them.  But then John on the island of Patmos had a dream of the irresistible power of God and the ultimate appearing of the heavenly city on Earth, and he crafted a revitalizing message of hope for Christians of his time -- and of all time.

 

Ron McCreary, a United Methodist minister in Florida, notes how different the biblical dream of the redeemed city is from the image of what his people want in a city today.  In the city God brings to be on Earth:

• no temple or church buildings; just the everywhere-presence of God
• city gates that are always open -- not closed by Homeland Security and fastened tight by Immigration Services
• other nations not obliterated or defeated, but all welcome to bring their own praise and service of God
• the healing of all nations
• the end of curses and darkness in the shining of God

This vision was no less contrary to the reality and the ideal of the Roman Empire than it is today to the longing of people who live in fear.  It helped the Christian communities of 90 and 95 C.E. to be strong in their commitment to the way of God's kingdom; is this vision as inspiring and encouraging for us today, as it was back then?

We live in a visual culture, and many of the images that have the greatest currency and power in our psyche and society are images of destruction, evil and darkness.  Is there currently a dream, a vision, or an image of hope and redemption of Earth that we live by, and can offer the world?