Share the-Secular-Jesus by Accepting the-Mystery as Mystery

Share the-Secular-Jesus by Accepting the-Mystery as Mystery I think vision for a future, better, United States church (possible-UBC) is emerging, thanks to conversations with previous Senior Pastor Andy Hale, Nomads SS class, Vaughn-Crombie-Friday-coffee participants, Courage class, the 4 ministers now serving, and UBC members who freely, kindly dialogue. I especially appreciate UBC “Formations”, so far, covering 2 topics: “Faith after doubt” and “Christian Nationalism”, both touching U.S. civic-integrity. I think the key to all these discussions is the combination: open mind and open heart toward whatever constrains the consequences of human being (verb). Key accommodations-by future, possible-UBC include: appreciating the-mysterious-God in-order-to share the-secular-Jesus ; pursuing the-ineluctable-truth rather than preserving rationalizations; and developing civic-integrity through accepting human being; and nurturing unique-maturity rather than preserving tradition. The human-being can& may constrain chaos in his/her way of living. Possible-UBC includes: an expanded Bible canon that benefits from human being during the earliest recorded civilizations on earth; church independence from both Baptist conventions and Christianity, in order to appreciate the-secular-Jesus; and gratitude to every person who pursues& practices civic-integrity, whether they claim Jesus’ guidance or not. Civic-integrity is essential to comprehensive-safety& security, and no person can or may either effect or constrain Jesus’ influence on an individual’s choices& actions. Some people study Jesus for guidance in self-interested, responsible behavior. The above concepts are grounded in interpretation of Sumerian political philosophy, expressed in Hebrew vernacular in Genesis 1:26-28, NIV. The word “may” in that passage infers that humankind can pursue comprehensive-safety& security to life on earth and to the earth. Humans divide on awareness and appreciation of that Genesis-1 principle. The civic-citizens pursue statutory-justice by which to facilitate& encourage reform to fellow-citizens who neither perceive nor accept the Genesis-1-can& may-principle. I think this principle can be discovered in ancient literature from other parts of the world. There’s no reason to think civic-integrity was recognized only in Sumerian culture. Expected consequences: UBC advocates pursuit of the-secular-Jesus as separation of state and church and flourishes; the-secular-Jesus begins to influence the community; our district council-person gets involved; Baton Rouge begins to promote the-secular-Jesus without lessening the divine mystery; our state representative and state senator join; guidance from the-secular-Jesus rises to state government; our U.S. Representative and 2 Senators are supportive; other states create their variations; an improved civic-process emerges; the U.S. reforms to civic-integrity, attributing U.S. improvement to Jesus’ example, if that is so. Accomplishment time frame: 10 years. We are 60 years from the civil rights movement, itself a divisive Christian struggle over appreciating 12% of the population. Episcopalian Bishop Curry cited a survey that suggests 84% of a diverse public is interested in Jesus. Perhaps the-secular-Jesus can accomplish what neither fire nor love did in 2000 years. The world is hungry for an achievable better future. A church with U.S. civic-integrity can initiate the journey: sharing the-secular-Jesus while accepting the-mystery as mystery. Copyright©2022 by Phillip R. Beaver. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for the publication of all or portions of this paper as long as this complete copyright notice is included.