Embracing Sacred Mystery A study of Romans.
Speaker B11:33 36 on the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker AHello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker AThis is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker AIn a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker AThe reading is understandable.
Speaker AI use the Message version relatable.
Speaker APlease listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
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Speaker AHere's today's reading.
Speaker BThe reading from Romans 11:33 36 from the Message have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God?
Speaker BThis deep, deep wisdom is that's way over our heads.
Speaker AWe'll never figure it out.
Speaker BIs there anyone around who can explain God?
Speaker BAnyone smart enough to tell him what to do?
Speaker BAnyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask for his advice?
Speaker BEverything comes from Him.
Speaker BEverything happens through Him.
Speaker BEverything ends up in Him.
Speaker BAlways glory, always praise.
Speaker BYes, yes, yes.
Speaker BWell, we have just a power.
Speaker BA short but powerful passage of Scripture in today's reading, where Paul is really kind of bursting with power.
Speaker BHere about the poet, the poetic wonder, as it were, of the unfathomable nature of God.
Speaker BSo let's talk about some points to ponder.
Speaker BNumber one is about going beyond certainty.
Speaker BPaul's explanation is we'll never figure this out challenges both religious and secular certainty.
Speaker BProgressive faith embraces mystery as a feature, not a bug.
Speaker BThis humility before the unknown invites us to hold our beliefs more lightly and remain open to continued revelation and understanding.
Speaker BA second point is about divine interconnection.
Speaker BEverything comes from him.
Speaker BEverything happens through him.
Speaker BEverything ends in him.
Speaker BSuggest a Panatheistic view that is a divine presence which goes through and permeates all of reality.
Speaker BThis cosmic perspective aligns with both contemporary physics and environmental theology, seeing all creation as interconnected and sacred.
Speaker BA third point is about questioning authority.
Speaker BPaul's rhetorical questions challenge human claims to any kind of divine authority.
Speaker BNo one can explain God or tell God what to do.
Speaker BThis undermines religious hierarchies that claim an exclusive understanding or control of divine truth, encouraging us to question systems that weaponize certainty about God.
Speaker BLet's talk about an action step practice today.
Speaker BHoly uncertainty that is choose some strong.
Speaker ABelief you have, it might be political.
Speaker BOr theological, personal, biblical, and spend 15 minutes or so thinking about it, talking about it, journaling about it, about all the complexities of that ideology.
Speaker BWhat questions emerge?
Speaker BWhat might you not fully understand about your own perspective?
Speaker BAnd how might embracing uncertainty actually help you to deepen your understanding about this belief?
Speaker BWe'll come back to have a closing prayer here in just a minute.
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Speaker BLet's pray.
Speaker BGod, you are a mystery beyond understanding.
Speaker BWhen we try to box you into our certainties, remind us of your vastness in a world.
Speaker BDemanding answers help us to rest in questions when we encounter difference.
Speaker BLet us see your presence there too.
Speaker BOpen our minds to wonder, our hearts to possibility, our lives to the sacred flow that connects all things.
Speaker BTake Teach us to praise not just with words, but with humble curiosity and endless openness to surprise.
Speaker BYes, yes, yes my friend.
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Speaker AMy name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
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Speaker AHis merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.