771 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/400b6fee964a463d0ef9139a444576b4.mp3 576217d73a38da97b32207c8b717d5d6 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c0a6dba73158f64053f12f78f0532703.pdf cbb3b4a59a9429648b0a24d5ab6ee438 PDF Text Text In the End, God Text: I Corinthians 15:28 Richard A. Rhem Christ Community Church Spring Lake, Michigan Advent I, December 4, 1988 Transcription of the spoken sermon In the year of our Lord 1988 and the fifty-third year of my life, I finally got fired. And I think congratulations are due. Well, I didn't really get fired, but I did lose my job. Well, I actually took the initiative to remove myself from the teaching position at the seminary at the conclusion of this academic year. And I did that as a consequence of my feeling that my remaining there could have serious consequences for the seminary. Actually, I went to the Exec. Comm. and asked them simply to agree to my demise at the end of this year in order to avoid what I felt would be a serious conflict that would be damaging to the seminary. You should know that I did have more than enough support on the Exec. Comm. to be sustained and supported, but that probably would have been unwise and I judged that it was better to yield this round than to exacerbate the situation. For those who made the move upon me, being frustrated because they have a sense of being outside of power and disenfranchised, were they not successful this time, they would only have accelerated the move on the seminary. The controversy arose because of an article that I wrote in the theological journal of the Reformed Church called Perspectives. I have a couple of issues here. You perhaps know that I am on the board of editors of this theological journal. It is a journal of modest proportion. It is mailed to all pastors, college and seminary faculties, people in leadership positions in the Reformed Church, college and university libraries, and other persons who might desire to be on the mailing list. We have a circulation of about 4100, and its founding three years ago was for the purpose of stimulating theological discussion and thought within the Reformed Church, to push the limits a bit, to stretch the Church, to seek to nudge the Church forward in its theological endeavor, and to create a forum in which the leadership of the Church could exchange views and reflect together on the nature of the faith in the context of the contemporary world. Being a part of this editorial board has been a great experience for me, because it has given me the opportunity of writing and bringing to expression many of the things that I have worked through over the years, things which I preach, things which I have shared with you. I have written nothing that I haven't first preached here, so you wouldn't have any surprises, but apparently there were some surprises out in the © Grand Valley State University   �In the End, God Richard A. Rhem Page 2   larger Church, which doesn't surprise me. But let me give you a little overview of how we got to this point. It was five years ago that you gave me the opportunity to go on Sabbatical and to do some serious study. I began that experience by going to the University of Michigan for two days a week to be with Professor Hans Küng, the Catholic theologian. I was admitted into a seminar with him on Tuesday afternoon, and on Monday nights he delivered lectures which have subsequently been published under the title Eternal Life?. In those lectures, he dealt with all of the questions of The End, the questions concerning the “last things.” He dealt with the neardeath experiences of those who have seemed to move into death and then back to life; he dealt with the great religions of the world and how they answered these ultimate questions; he dealt with the Old Testament and with the New Testament, the biblical record of resurrection, and questions of judgment, of hell, of purgatory and of full redemption. The University of Michigan is a vast institution of higher learning and it is a largely secular institution. There is a one-half time professor who has a half-time secretary who runs a Program on Studies in Religion. That's it. For the rest, that vast university is totally secular in its endeavor. There was some pressure on the university to take more seriously the whole field of religion, and Hans Küng was the first world-renowned lecturer brought in for a term in a new program that has brought others in the wake of that first year. It was a privilege to be with him, and as I listened to him on Monday nights deliver these lectures on themes of death and hell and resurrection, judgment, purgatory, I was amazed that the vast Rackham Auditorium was filled and sometimes filled to overflowing. There were students and faculty, the total academic community drinking in these learned discourses on these questions, sitting for an hour and a half to two hours to a lecture read with a heavy, Swiss-German brogue. And I said to myself, people are really interested in questions about the End. I admitted to myself that I hadn't really dealt with them in depth. You can preach pretty much your whole ministry and avoid some ticklish subjects. Just talk to me about it, I'll tell you how you do it. It was a moment for me when I recognized that these questions were very much a part of the secular person's agenda - that there were questions in the depths of the human person, existential questions about life and death, that people wanted to talk about and have some light about. So, I came back that very Fall, Advent season, exactly five years ago today, December 4,1983, and preached for the first time in this area. The Season was Advent when our focus is again the coming of the King and the End, and I preached on the double-image of the End, heaven and hell. I continued to think about it and study. I didn't really address it again in the pulpit until Advent, 1985, and then I did so seriously, with three messages - “Life Hereafter - Wishful Thinking?,” “The Images of Heaven and Hell,” and then the sermon, “Why I Believe in Purgatory,” which was a strange sound in a Reformed church. But, it © Grand Valley State University �In the End, God Richard A. Rhem Page 3   began to raise the questions that I was thinking about and we thought about together. The board of editors of Perspectives, of which I am a member, meets twice a year in a kind of “think tank.” It's a wonderfully stimulating experience. And we try to determine what's going on in the world, what's going on in the Church, what the questions are, what the issues are that need to be addressed. How can we move the Church along in its own responsibility to translate the Gospel in the present age? In those discussions, I am sure that my experience with Küng and my conviction about the importance of these last things was a part of the mix that issued in the determination to have an issue on Purgatory. I have it here. “Purgatory-a Fresh Look at the Final Transformation of Life,” January of 1988. It was just a scholarly dressing up of the message I preached in 1985. We only got one response, I think. One person said you don’t have to send the journal anymore. For the rest, no reaction. Purgatory in a Reformed Church journal - no reaction? Maybe the Church is dead. So, as we came together again and continued to plan our issues we were talking about the triumph of God's grace, the covenant of grace as it is rooted in the Old Testament and finds expression in Jesus Christ, I think it was probably Gord's brother, Jim, who is our editor, who said to me, “Why don't you write an article on the covenant of grace and the triumph of grace,” and so I said, “Okay.” Over the years I have been working through this material theologically and biblically. Last spring as we were about to make our major plunge with our capital funds drive, I was so concerned during Lent and Easter not to become a promotional institution, but to make sure that our decision to move forward would be rooted in our understanding of who we are as a people of God. I put together a series for Lent and Easter very carefully. It was the major occupation of my winter vacation, and in March I preached a sermon simply entitled, “Universal Salvation” based in those chapters 40 to 55 of Isaiah and the Letter to the Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In that biblical study, in my theological reflection, I was becoming more and more convinced of the universal triumph of the grace of God, that what God began in the beginning, God would bring to consummation in the End, that the creation that had gone awry, would be reclaimed by the God Who would not give up until there was a conquest by love of all of those set in opposition against Him. It was in the sharp focusing of that, and then the series this summer on the foundations of faith and the understanding of the covenant of grace, that I came to the clarity that issued in an article in the September issue called “The Habit of God's Heart,” the habit of God's heart being to save. Well, if in January Purgatory didn't percolate a purr, in September, the suggestion that we might be able to close hell down caused a sharp reaction. Now, you have to understand that there was a theological issue here, and there were those that were concerned about that issue, but the larger picture concerned a growing discontent with some things at the seminary. Those things didn't really © Grand Valley State University �In the End, God Richard A. Rhem Page 4   involve me, except that as I had been on the board for a number of years before I went on the faculty and had tried to push the seminary in the direction that I felt it should go; but the issues that were a source of growing discontent were not really my issues at all. But, I, with my article, threw a spark into a room loaded with fumes, and it exploded. I gave, with my article, my suggestion of the triumph of God's grace, an understandable, easy-to-grasp handle by which various disparate elements galvanized in a move on the seminary. It was, as I said a moment ago, my best judgment that the way to defuse that move on the seminary was to remove myself as an issue because my brothers in the faith were playing hardball and the threat to withhold funds from a small denominational school is a rather powerful weapon. You can be “dead right.” So, I simply felt that if I removed myself, the seminary would not be in jeopardy and we would not exacerbate the controversy, but be able eventually to recoup and hopefully regain the initiative. You have to understand that there was sufficient support in the Executive Committee to sustain me. I asked them not to, so in a very real sense, I didn't get fired, but I have lost my job. Now, that's a little bit of background. There are a couple of things that I want to say about that. The first is that through this experience I have been wonderfully supported. I have been supported by many people out in the Church who have written, who have spoken to me, who are grieved by what has happened and who have encouraged me. I have been marvelously supported by this community of faith. The Personnel Committee, Consistory, and right across the board - all of you who were aware of it have been forthcoming in your expressions of trust and confidence and love, and for that I am deeply grateful. I have not felt isolated, alienated or alone for one moment. I also want to say that this is a wonderful place to be able to come back to. Going through this experience I learned that at the seminary they really thought that I would eventually slide down there. Because I think, there no one can believe that someone would choose to be the pastor of a congregation if one could be a professor in the seminary. I tried to be clear when I went there, but I don't think they really believed me. But, for me to remove myself from there and to be here again fulltime is a bright prospect. I enjoyed the teaching very much. I really enjoyed the engagement with the class. But, I have been stretched, and I have been dissatisfied with my inability to do everything here I have wanted to do in a pastoral way. You have not complained; you have been gracious and supportive. But, I have not been satisfied. I was trying to do probably too much and I am not content simply to appear here on Sunday and to be incomprehensible and disappear on Monday and be invisible for the rest of the week. I want to be here, and so I am grateful for the fact that I can return in full power to this place. But, where do we go from here? There's never simply a going home. It cannot be just “business as usual.” And I want you to reflect with me about what this experience says to us as a community of faith. I have encountered the ugly face of the Church. I have run head on into the defensiveness, the tearfulness, the © Grand Valley State University �In the End, God Richard A. Rhem Page 5   experience of threat, which is so much a part of so much of the Church. It's not a pleasant picture. And I am convinced that as Christ Community we must not retrench, we must not recant nor repent. We must not back down. We must become more of what we have been trying to become over these many years. I am convinced through this experience that far too many pastors stop thinking when they get out of seminary, and probably don't engage in serious theological wrestling beyond those years. It has become obvious to me that to engage in indepth theological discussion in the Church in general is almost impossible. The reaction of fear, defensiveness and threat is so strong that one does so at one's risk and peril. That tells me that Christ Community must not be less, but more of what we have become. That it is incumbent upon us to be a community that continues in that which has been our aim for eighteen years to combine intellectual integrity and evangelical passion: to bind together mind and heart, to be fully convinced of the glorious gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ, to be totally at home in this present age and day in this world translating the gospel for the last decade of the 20th century, preparing for Century Twenty-One with hearts full of hope, with confidence and with joy. It seems to me that what we have to become is even more of what we have been - a model, an island, if you will, a concrete, tangible community of faith in this place where we live out the gospel, where we incarnate the grace of God. We can become even more of a stimulus than we have heretofore. It is obvious that out in the broader structures of the Church one walks at one's peril. But, here, where we are in full trust and love in community, we can think together, reflect together and find new ways, other avenues, for impacting the larger Church. I think we cannot be content simply to have a good thing amongst ourselves. I think we must seek to continue to create here a community of faith that incarnates the gospel and that becomes a translator of the tradition in such a way that it may impact our day and our generation, and thereby become a stimulus to the whole Church. How can we do that? Well, I'm not sure, but there must be some ways, and I invite you, with me, to think about how as a local congregation we can have a larger vision and a greater mission. It's not an accident that all of this stuff was born in Advent, for Advent is the season in which we celebrate that the King Who came is the King Who is coming. It is the season in which we celebrate that the Kingdom inaugurated in Jesus' first coming is a Kingdom that will come to its consummation in the fullness of time. It is the season in which we think about the End, in which the last things come into sharp focus for us. John A. T. Robinson, a rambunctious bishop in the Church of England, now dead, was one of those people who was always stretching the Church, and he wrote a little book some years ago, In The End, God, in which he suggested that in a secular age the entree to the secular person with the gospel of Jesus Christ may well be through the avenue of the questions concerning the End. As I found at the University of Michigan in the secular campus, people, whether they were related © Grand Valley State University �In the End, God Richard A. Rhem Page 6   to the Church or not, still have some kind of haunting question in the midst of their being about what it means to live, what it means to die, and what there is to look forward to beyond. What is the meaning of life; what is the meaning of history; whence have things come; whither are things going; and what does it mean to me here and now? I am convinced that when that impacted me then, I was right. Robinson says that is the very avenue through which to approach the secular age. The world is secular. The Church isn't doing it. Look around you at congregation after congregation after congregation! Friends, it's survival. It is maintenance mentality. There is no real dent on the modern age. There is no real mission, no real thrust, no real penetration. It is the reiteration of ancient thought forms, of classic statements of doctrine that in their own time of formulation were historic statements that impacted, but have become mere empty slogans in our day. How do we say Jesus Christ today? How do we spell hope today? How do we bring joy today? Well, the season of Advent is the season in which those very questions occupy us, and we have a message. It's a biblical message. Isaiah the prophet lived in the midst of human darkness and anguish. He lived in human situations where infants died in infancy, and where old men failed to fill out their days. He lived in the midst of human tragedy where people built houses and never lived in them, planted vineyards and never harvested them. He saw a day coming when things would be different. He saw a new world, a new heaven and a new earth. He saw the day when the lion and the lamb would lie down together and when they would not hurt or destroy in all God's holy mountain. He lived by a vision; he believed in God, the God of covenant grace. Paul knew that, and he was encountered by Jesus Christ, the risen Christ, and he was convinced the Jesus of Nazareth, crucified, had been raised by the power of God. He wrote to the Church in Corinth: “If Christ is not raised, you are yet dead in your sins. But, as a matter of fact, now is Christ risen from the dead, and as in Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive, and he will reign until he has subjected all rule and authority and power and finally the last enemy, death itself, and when Jesus has subjected every rule and authority and power set in opposition to God and His Kingdom, then he will yield up the Kingdom to God and the Father, and God will be all in all.” Or as the RSV has it, “Then God will be everything to everyone.” Well, I've got a lot of questions about that. There are a lot of things I don't understand. There's a lot of Bible to bring into dialogue. There are many mysteries that elude my insight and understanding at this point. But, this I'll tell you. I am gripped by the good news of the triumph of the grace of God. I don't know how, but I believe that God will be all in all, and consequently, I am saved from despair even now in the face of the historical scene because Jesus reigns, Jesus is Lord. And I am saved, as well, from a kind of superficial optimism that © Grand Valley State University �In the End, God Richard A. Rhem Page 7   fails to reckon with the present opposition to the Kingdom of God. Saved from despair, saved from superficial optimism, by faith I believe in God. I don't believe that the kingdom will fully come and God will be all in all because there is something wonderful about human nature, that there is some kind of potential in the human person that through the evolutionary process will blossom into full bloom. I don't believe we have it in ourselves; I don’t believe that there is some seed of perfection in history; I don't believe that this old world can be transformed through any human possibility! But, I believe in God! And I believe that God, in His grace, has intervened in our time and our space, and I believe that God's triumph of Grace will be the realization of His purposes of love and thus in the face of the darkness of this world I can bring light, and in the face of the futility of this world I can bring hope, and in the face of the despair of this world, I can bring joy - because God will be all in all. I don't know how. I don't know when. But, I believe that, and that's the Advent hope; that is the vision; that is the dream and we can trust God for it. And in the meantime, live as a community of graced and forgiven people, full of love and care for the world, being here a beacon light, looking for the day when salvation will be brought to earth's fartherest bound. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray. Our Father, our understanding is so small; we only see as in a mirror dimly, but we believe the day is coming when we shall see face to face. We only know in part, but we believe the day is coming when we shall know, even as we are also fully known. And in the meantime, we know that faith and hope and love abide. And in Your love, we rest, clinging by faith to the promise, with hearts filled with hope, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Reference: Richard A. Rhem, “The Habit of God’s Heart,” Perspectives, September, 1988. © Grand Valley State University � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Advent II Scripture Text I Corinthians 15:28 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19881204 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-12-04 Title A name given to the resource In the End, God Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 application/pdf Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on December 4, 1988 entitled "In the End, God", on the occasion of Advent II, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: I Corinthians 15:28. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Advent Community of Grace Eschatology Universal Grace https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e1887fa554e635abde12ff2660feb73f.mp3 15d16a2af39b6b378dd9ff8b5c1f8540 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/1453055d9391ff7d074e4536883f6d82.pdf 15869a96b27bf43d1261e47ce571de5f PDF Text Text The “Now” of the End Text 7:1-7,11 Richard A. Rhem Christ Community Church Spring Lake, Michigan Advent II, December 11, 1988 Transcription of the spoken sermon The phrase, “The End of History,” in the English language, can be understood in two ways: You can understand the phrase, “The End of History,” as some future, distant point in time, the point in time furthest out into the future. The End of History can speak of the terminus of history, the last act, the last event. That can be understood as the end of history. But, you can also understand the phrase, “The End of History,” in terms of history's goal, its meaning, its purpose. In that sense, it has nothing to do with future, terminus, last event; it has to do only with the present moment: the meaning and the goal of history in the present moment. And to use “The End of History” in that sense, is to recognize that the end of history is present to every moment of history. The goal and the meaning of history is present to this moment; it is present to every moment. Eternity. God is immediately present to every moment on the timeline. And so, in that sense, the end of history doesn't talk about something that is way out there in the future; it talks about the present moment before the face of God, the inner secrets, the core of history, its meaning, its purpose, its goal. The end of history is always present to every moment of history, and every present moment is filled with all of the potentiality and all of the possibility of history's purpose and meaning and goal. This present moment is the moment in which God deals with us. Sometimes we wish we lived in some other period of time. There's a little chorus the children sing bout Jesus taking children on his knee and blessing them and saying, “Oh I wish that I had been there then.” Well, it's not really so. There were all kinds of people that were there then who didn't see Jesus, that didn't see in Jesus the revelation of God. You could be present to Jesus physically and be miles away. And maybe you think it would be neat to be at the end of history, to be there for the final curtain. Well, maybe or maybe not. We can contemplate the end of the historical process. Scientists tell us maybe the whole thing will burn up and become a cinder, or maybe it will just grow cold and become an ice cube. We don't know how; we don't know when. © Grand Valley State University   �The “Now” of the End Richard A. Rhem Page 2   Now, there are a lot of people who talk about that last, furthest-out moment of history as though it were really important and the Bible had something to say about it, but it doesn't. History will wind down somehow or other, but you and I don't care. The Bible doesn't really have much to say about it; it doesn't matter. Here we are in the midst of time and the thing that's important for us to say is that we came from somewhere and so we talk about God as Creator, and there was a beginning point. Nobody was there. Nobody had a camcorder to catch it all. What we see are symbols and images and stories; we simply were here and believe that it began and so we believe that all of it came from God and so we talk about The Beginning, and we're here and we're on the way and so we talk about The End, and we believe that God was in the beginning, God will be in the end. But, as far as the beginning and the end is concerned, that's really all we can say. God was there; God will be there: God in the Beginning, God in the End. That's enough! Now, that's not where the Church has stopped. The Church in much of its tradition has loved to speculate about the events of the end and all that kind of stuff – I think distorting what is in the scripture with the images of the parables that are there about the end. But God doesn't really want us to bother about that out there. God is always concerned about this present moment. The Now of the End; that is, the present moment in terms of the ultimate purpose of history. That's really the only thing we have to be concerned about. I was coming out of a funeral home a month or three ago and as I walked out the door, there was a pastor (I knew he was a pastor because he had a great big floppy Bible) and he was there fleecing his flock, a couple of people. And as I walked by, I heard him say, “And that's the reason why I believe the Lord's going to come very soon.” And I had to smile. I said to Nancy, you know, pastors have been fleecing their flock that way for 2,000 years. How can you hold your breath for 2,000 years? How can you look in the sky or look at the history and say, “Well, obviously these are the last times. Obviously you see the signs all about you. Obviously Jesus is coming very soon.”? Friends, if you turn on your radio today you will find that everywhere on the dial is going to be all shot to heaven, and you are going to find pastors who will be telling you, “Repent and send in your offering, because the Lord is coming soon.” Now, there's going to be one set of pastors who are really living on the end who are going to be right. But, it won't be their fault. That's an accident. Somebody's got to be there in the end. But, as far as the Bible is concerned, we don't know when the end is going to be, and the Bible doesn't even care about it. The only thing that the address of scripture to us is concerned about is now. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the acceptable time. We don't know, we say there will be an end because there was a beginning and there is a present, and so there will be an end, but if we want to get serious with God, then it is the now of the end that God is really concerned about. It is this present moment. This present moment, God is © Grand Valley State University �The “Now” of the End Richard A. Rhem Page 3   present to our history. This present moment, eternity impinges on our time. This moment is freighted with eternity and that's the only moment we ever have to worry about. And so Paul went about preaching the Gospel, saying to people, “Receive the grace of God. Be ye reconciled to God, for the end is come.” Now, Paul in this letter was dealing with his own ministry, which was under attack. He said, “You know I sort of sense this old body decaying and wasting away, but I am being renewed every day.” And then he goes on to say in that fifth chapter which we often read at funerals, “And we know that if this earthly tabernacle is destroyed, we have a building with God not made with hands,” and oftentimes at funerals the application is that the physical body dies and that the spirit goes to be with Jesus. And then way out there somewhere there's supposed to be some kind of future resurrection. I really think we have to think that through. Paul is not talking about if this body dies, I have a building with God not made with hands. Paul is saying, “I don't want to die. This old body is decaying and getting crotchety. What I would really like is to have this old body clothed upon by my resurrected body, because I know that if this old body be destroyed, I've got a building.” We have a building, not we will have a building; we have a building now in heaven: the Body of Christ. Paul is so obsessed with his present, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ that he sees death as an incidental passage, simply a moment in time. We have this thing already and I can't wait until I come into the full experience of it, he says. Oh, right now I grunt and groan and I decay and I'm full of anguish and pain, but he says the thing that God has made me for is that other thing. In fact, he says, I would rather leave this present burden, this ambiguous existence and come fully into the experience of my God. Now, Paul kind of thought the end of history and the end of history were the same. He sort of thought that history at its terminus and history in its purpose were almost happening synonymously. Paul expected to wake up one morning and to have a rift in the sky and to see Jesus coming. Paul was praying for it. Paul was wrong. I mean, he was at least 2,000 years off. But he thought so. That didn't really matter. We can see in his writings in the New Testament he begins to make adjustment, because, well, even Paul couldn't hold his breath, you know, for even a dozen years. And so he began to see that maybe he was going to die. He didn't really want to die. He wanted to go zippo, but maybe he was going to die. That would be all right, too. It was kind of incidental because those who die fall asleep in Jesus and he will bring them with him and so forth. He had that all worked out. He didn't know when the terminus point was, but what he did understand was what the purpose of it all was. And the reason he was so turned on was the fact that, as far as he was concerned, it was over, there wasn't anything more to do. Do you ever wonder why the New Testament keeps talking about the last days, these last days? Well, in terms of the terminus, it was wrong. But, in terms of whatever had to happen in order for history to realize its purpose, it was © Grand Valley State University �The “Now” of the End Richard A. Rhem Page 4   absolutely right. There wasn't anything more to do. What did he understand had been done? Well, he says we understand that if one died for all, then all are dead. And he died for all, he says. Jesus died for all. And so he says if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away; all things have become new. “It's a whole new world, folks. It's now. It's present. I am living in a whole new world, a whole new creation. Death? Well, death, if death need be. But, death can't even touch me. If anyone is in Christ, it's a new creation. Old things have passed away, all things have become new because God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, but not imputing their trespasses to them. God made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. It's all over. It's done. Salvation is accomplished. Salvation is finished. Salvation is complete. There's nothing more to do. And so, come Lord Jesus!” So Paul thought. He was so convinced of the completion, the finished work of Jesus Christ for our salvation, of the issuing in of a whole new world, of the beginning of a whole new age, of the presence of the New Kingdom, that he was just marking time. Come, Lord Jesus. Any old day, now. Any old day, now. Where in the world are you? Well, maybe I've got to adjust my sights, but there's nothing more to do, it's all over. So, he says, who am I (in terms of his ministry now)? Why, he says, I'm just an ambassador for Christ, God working through me, pleading with you. I plead with you on God's behalf. Be reconciled to God. Why shouldn't you be reconciled to God? You should be reconciled to God. You should be friends with God. You should be friendly with God because God has become friendly with you in Jesus Christ. It's all over; it's all done. You want to carry your little knapsack of guilt around? What do you do that for? It's over. You want to carry a few sins around on your back? What do you do that for? It's over! Not imputing their sins to them. God made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be the righteousness of God in him. Be ye reconciled, for it's all over. It's all ready. It's all finished. So, as an ambassador of Christ, God beseeches you through me, turn to God Who has turned to you. Say Yes to God, Who has said Yes to you. Why? Why would you receive the grace of God in vain? Why would you frustrate the grace of God? Don't you see what has happened? Don't you see what God did when the word became flesh and dwelt among us? Don't you see how Jesus walked our way, bore our sins, buried it in the depths of the sea so it's remembered no more and opened up heaven? Be ye reconciled to God. Come, come! What are you waiting for? Why do you hesitate? Aren't you good enough? Can't you make it? Won't you be able to hold on? It's not up to you anyway. It's all of grace. It's all of God. Come, come. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the acceptable time. That's all the Bible knows. Wonderful, good news. Paul does two things because of the finished nature of our redemption. He says, for one thing, I try to live in a pleasing way to God. He says, for one thing, I try whether in this present existence or when I come fully into God's presence, to be acceptable to Him. Paul is serious about the life he leads. There's a kind of moral earnestness about the Apostle because he says we're all going to appear before the © Grand Valley State University �The “Now” of the End Richard A. Rhem Page 5   judgment seat of Christ. Now, you say, why'd you drag that in? You had all that good news going. Why'd you drag that in? Well, I'm sorry, but Paul did. He said we'll all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. You say, well, if he doesn't impute our trespasses to us, if he's removed our guilt, if he's forgiven us and graced us, what's this judgment seat business? Well, it's certainly not judgment in the sense of condemnation. We certainly don't have to wonder what the verdict is. The verdict has been given. You're not guilty. But, that doesn't mean that life isn't a serious affair. It doesn't mean we come to Jesus and cover up the past and get rid of it as though we can get away without becoming fully transparent in the presence of God. There will be a moment when I will own my story. Not the story I would tell you if I could tell you my story. The story as I've lived it. You'll all be there. Look him in the face. That's who you are, eh? That's who I am. No secrets hid. No dark corners unexposed. That's who I am. We'll appear before the judgment seat of Christ. And that's really a kind of liberating thought, when you think about it. Because Christ is the judge. No new revelation for him. He's removed it. But we'll own it. And the very fact of that transparency before Jesus Christ says to us now, today maybe we need to clean up our act. It's serious business. Living a Christian life. The second thing Paul does is he goes everywhere trumpeting the good news. Be reconciled. Be reconciled. God has said Yes. And God can't say anymore. There's nothing more for God to do. All done. Over. Accomplished. Free. Come! Receive it. Embrace it. Now. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. It's the only moment you'll ever have, good friends, don't worry about the future. Don't ask me about the cartoons in the book of Revelation. Don't ask me about the thousand-year reign or the rupture or the rapture, however you call it. Don't ask me about any of that stuff. The only moment, the only concern, the only biblical imperative is now, now, now, now. Get ready to meet your Lord, Who is full of grace. Now is the day of salvation, and God is as close and immediate to this moment as at any moment you'll ever know. So, come. Be ye reconciled. Throw away your alienation and your estrangement and just let yourself be loved. Say Yes. Say Yes. Say Yes to God through Jesus Christ, through whom God said Yes to us. © Grand Valley State University � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Advent III Scripture Text II Corinthians 6:2 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19881211 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-12-11 Title A name given to the resource The "Now" of the End Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 application/pdf Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on December 11, 1988 entitled "The "Now" of the End", on the occasion of Advent III, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: II Corinthians 6:2. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Advent Apostle Paul Eschatology Forgiveness Salvation Unconditional Grace https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/fa56795fb578dfbd6ec6b664df75c398.mp3 2bf8a381e7faef579347c3a31ecfef5e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Advent IV Scripture Text Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4-5, 9 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19881218 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-12-18 Title A name given to the resource God's Light in Our Darkness Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on December 18, 1988 entitled "God's Light in Our Darkness", on the occasion of Advent IV, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4-5, 9. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c59c3a255ef1acefe95ffbf639da467d.mp3 fe6ae9c81f35aceb34fd65a48261c2ec Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Christmas Day Scripture Text Luke 2: 9-11 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19881225 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-12-25 Title A name given to the resource The Rustling of Angels' Wings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on December 25, 1988 entitled "The Rustling of Angels' Wings", on the occasion of Christmas Day, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Luke 2: 9-11. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7e05b310608bded6aa40dcb76076938d.mp3 2510eaa98a17dd3329a744b01645df6e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event New Years Eve Scripture Text Philippians 3:12-14 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19881231 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-12-31 Title A name given to the resource Freedom from the Past, Freedom for the Future Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on December 31, 1988 entitled "Freedom from the Past, Freedom for the Future", on the occasion of New Years Eve, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Philippians 3:12-14. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/24422e7726981084e517381841c871dd.mp3 d32c7a5b2ed296c2853038ac0264d79a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Christmastide I Scripture Text Romans 8:3 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890101 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-01-01 Title A name given to the resource Jesus, Flesh of Our Flawed Flesh Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on January 1, 1989 entitled "Jesus, Flesh of Our Flawed Flesh", on the occasion of Christmastide I, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Romans 8:3. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8eb02253cf35fc067344a22d4527943e.mp3 c7e4ce7149671a1e352408b799eb9c30 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Epiphany I Scripture Text Isaiah 60:1, Matt 2:2, John 8:12 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890108 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-01-08 Title A name given to the resource The Light Has Come! Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on January 8, 1989 entitled "The Light Has Come!", on the occasion of Epiphany I, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Isaiah 60:1, Matt 2:2, John 8:12. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6bb38781701e82d40cbe0cc4a9645a01.mp3 889b795214a683533b54e23c60507f64 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Epiphany II Scripture Text II Corinthians 4:6, John 12:36, John 8:12 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890115 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-01-15 Title A name given to the resource The Face of Jesus - The Heart of God Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on January 15, 1989 entitled "The Face of Jesus - The Heart of God", on the occasion of Epiphany II, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: II Corinthians 4:6, John 12:36, John 8:12. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d85789e244e1d853d811bba7a338c644.mp3 088316d95909dd822e525487a1c985db https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/be79f3944321cbedd9552dc892819a98.pdf 1bea416d9e4f826ed30a177be1f8b9df PDF Text Text God, For Whom Humankind is Groping Text: Acts 17:22-23 Richard A. Rhem Christ Community Church Spring Lake, Michigan Epiphany III, January 22, 1989 Transcription of the spoken sermon Men of Athens, I see that in everything that concerns religion you are uncommonly scrupulous. ... What you worship but do not know - this is what I now proclaim. Acts 17:22-23 The season is Epiphany, the word is manifestation, the light has dawned. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.” We've just celebrated that the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and John says, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth.” Jesus in human flesh. We look into the face of Jesus and we see into the heart of God, and the great truth of the season of Epiphany is the fact that the Light has come. The Light has dawned in our world of darkness; the Light is shining, and the darkness will never overcome it. Epiphany, a season of manifestation, and the good news is that, in the face of Jesus Christ, we have an insight into the very heart of God. That wonderful truth which we celebrate annually is celebrated in this season as a truth that is to be shared with the nations, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that begins with the Incarnation of the Word concludes with the Resurrection and the Great Commission which says to the Church, “Go into all the world, to all nations, preaching the Gospel, telling the story of Jesus.” And Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So, the Christian faith has always been a missionary faith. It has always been a people with a mission. It has always been the calling of the Church to share the good news because the Church believed that in Jesus Christ, in that particular and localized revelation of God, there was the manifestation of a worldwide mission and a universal purpose. In that little, narrow line of Israel's history, and in that event that is centered in Jesus, the Church always understood that what God was about was not simply Israel, and not simply events of that localized community gathered around Jesus, but what God was doing in Israel and in Jesus was something that had the world in mind, that the purpose of God was to bring Light to the nations. So, we have that particular story with its universal © Grand Valley State University   �God, for Whom Humankind is Groping Richard A. Rhem Page 2   impact and Epiphany is the season in which we celebrate the fact that Light has come into the world, and we hear that call to be Light to the nations. The whole New Testament is really the response of that early Christian community to its conviction that, in Jesus, the one True God, the Creator of the whole of Reality, had become clearly focused. Paul is converted, and Paul becomes the great Apostle to the Gentiles. The major bulk of the New Testament is simply the story of how Paul took this message of Jesus and the Resurrection and began to go to the world. In his heart there was a yearning to reach earth's farthest bounds. He wrote letters to the congregations that he founded, constituting a large portion of the New Testament, which is the story of the expansion of this Christian movement flowing out of the wake of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. So, we stand in that great tradition that has found, in the face of Jesus, the heart of God, the good news that is to be trumpeted to all people everywhere. Today we find Paul in Athens. Now, if that isn't spectacular! Athens! I've been to Athens. It's still impressive. The very ruins of Athens speak of another age and another day. There are few places on earth that can compare with Athens. Maybe Rome, eventually, and certainly we would say Jerusalem. But, when you say Jerusalem and Rome and Athens, you've said about all there is to say about Western civilization. I am parochial in that I don't know much about the great Eastern civilizations, but I know that Athens was that place where in 500 B.C., in the Golden Age of Athens, there were philosophic discussions which still today are as relevant and meaningful as they were then. Someone has said that all of Western philosophy is but a series of footnotes to the dialogues of Socrates and the writings of Plato and Aristotle. It was an amazing phenomenon. And there's Paul in Athens, at the Areopagus, at the very center where the Council met and ruled the city. There's Paul, 500 years after the Golden Age of Pericles, Plato and Socrates but, nonetheless, Athens was still the place where they loved to discuss, to dialogue, to debate. You don't get a very positive picture from Paul in his account in the 17th chapter of Acts. With all of the magnificence of the temples and statues and the artwork, I'm disappointed with Paul, frankly. He looked at it all and got disgusted. I just wish he could have said, “Wow.” But, he was so fanatically concentrated on Jesus that he came to that city and he saw it all and he saw it as a manifestation of a human hunger for God, totally covered with darkness. And so, he went to the marketplace and up and down the streets and in the synagogue where a few Jews were gathered, and to everybody to whom he spoke, he spoke of Jesus. Finally they said, well, why don't you come right up to the Areopagus itself and we'll hear you out. Athens was always open, looking for a new idea. What a moment. What a moment. What an audacious person this Paul was! He is at the very center of civilization, of culture, of education, of enlightenment, and he's not intimidated! He's not even impressed. He's got something to tell Athens that Athens never dreamed of. © Grand Valley State University �God, for Whom Humankind is Groping Richard A. Rhem Page 3   He begins to preach. Thank God he was sensitive in relating positively to his audience. He commended them. He said, “I see that in things religious you are uncommonly scrupulous. You folks are serious. Everywhere I see the manifestations of a religious quest or hunger.” Good preacher that he was, he had in his introduction something to hook them from which to move on into his message. He said, “I saw a statue with an inscription to the unknown God.” The Athenians were uncommonly scrupulous. Just in case there was a god they might have missed, so that he wouldn't be miffed, they raised a statue to the unknown god. Paul says (now, this is audacity), “This unknown god whom you worship, I proclaim!” Wow! Now, there's confidence, there's courage, there's certitude. Do you get the picture? This is Athens, folks. This is the Areopagus; this is the center of enlightenment, and here is this Apostle of Jesus daring to stand there and to say what you are searching for and don't know I proclaim. He went on to say he was talking about the One true God Who created the heavens and the earth, the One true God Who couldn't be visualized by something created with human hands, by human imagination; the God to Whom we can give nothing, but Who is the giver of all things; the God Who breathes life into all life, the source of all reality. This God, Paul says, “In whom we live and move and have our being,” quoting some stoic philosophical thought, “I proclaim.” Quoting one of their own poets, “We are God's offspring,” he preaches the God of Jesus. This God Who is the Fountainhead of all Reality, this God I proclaim to you. This God, Who is responsible for all that is and all life, this God has now at this critical moment in human history and in the whole cosmic drama, revealed Himself in the face of Jesus, and this God will now call all peoples to account. The time of ignorance, the times gone by, God in His forbearance, has overlooked, but He calls all people now to repent, that is, to change their mind and change their thinking, to open up to the truth. And He has demonstrated the certainty of it by raising Jesus from the dead. Paul, starting with the statue to the unknown god, moving to the Creator of the heavens and earth, ends up preaching Jesus and the Resurrection. There was quite a stir. There were those that mocked and laughed, but some believed. There was a little Christian community that was founded in Athens. Paul, convinced that the one true and Eternal God had now shown the light of the revelation of Himself in the face of Jesus, dared to go right into the lion’s den and proclaim Jesus and the Resurrection. That's really something. It is really a dramatic moment. I stand in awe of Paul. I would feel my own knees knocking. But, he did it, and what he did is still our calling to do, because it is our conviction that the Creator God has given life and light to the world in Jesus Christ, and this good news needs to be shared with people who are thrashing about in all sorts of human bondage, darkness, superstition, fear, and guilt. There is good news to tell; the Light has come. Jesus reflects the very heart of God, and God is good and God is full of grace, and God has a purpose to redeem the world. That's why the Church has always been a missionary enterprise, © Grand Valley State University �God, for Whom Humankind is Groping Richard A. Rhem Page 4   because there is this marvelous message to proclaim. And God knows in our day, too, this message needs to be proclaimed. Our day of enlightenment, our day of advanced scientific understanding and amazing technological breakthrough is still searching for this word. The moon was out last night, and it shone in all of its brightness. The lake was absolutely silver, awash with light, the waves dancing in the moonlight. I looked out of my window and I saw that big silver thing hanging there and it looked like I could almost touch it. I thought, you know, had I been a part of NASA, I would have planted my rocket on my bluff and then shot straight for it. How did they figure out that you can't just go right to the moon? It blows my mind. I'm out of my realm. It seems like you could just keep steering your rocket right toward that moon, but I guess it doesn't work that way. This amazing, wonderful, fantastic world. This age of which we are a part has put a person on the moon. This world still needs to know about the God revealed in Jesus. I have made a great discovery that occasionally to the seminary, even to the seminary, comes a brilliant mind. I had one manifest himself to me, one of my students whose sermon I will now cite. Preaching on this text, he said, You may be saying right now, “What does this have to do with Acts 17:1628?” Well, to be honest, it has everything to do with how we read and understand, and then eventually proclaim, the message of the gospel. We still operate in a Newtonian world, an ordered world. But our children will grow up in a Quantum universe, where the underlying principle of reality is that of randomness and uncertainty. These principles are not wild, unproven theories. Breakthroughs in Quantum Physics have led to the development of semi-conductors for your computer, satellites for your cable system, and of course, the worldwide nuclear arsenal. What Acts 17:16-28 has to do with this is that Paul's speech places our view of God where it should be. We are not Stoics, or Epicureans, but modern Quantum theorists. Our worldview must be placed within the context of Acts 17. Paul speaks to us now as clearly as he did to the Athenians of the first century. God must be present in our lives as a firm reality amidst the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle, the observer-determined reality, and a world teetering on the edge of destruction. Our physics has opened up our minds to the awesomeness of creation. In our theories we can either see a Cosmic Christ, or a cosmic emptiness. Paul says to the Areopagus, 'God ... is not served by human hands.' God is the bedrock of our existence. To Bertram Russell and countless other modern intellectuals, the universe only reveals an UNKNOWN GOD. The secular physicists search for God in their theories, hoping to find Him conforming to their preconceived ideas. The Athenians, likewise, sought after God, but in their endless philosophical debates. We, as modern Athenians, must see © Grand Valley State University �God, for Whom Humankind is Groping Richard A. Rhem Page 5   God, not as some vague force, but as the fountainhead of all creation, the necessary being, the one independent being in all of the cosmos. We must, therefore, listen to Paul's words, not pretending to be first century Athenians, but remembering that we are twentieth century Quantums....’” And then he rewrites the text of the morning; he imagines a great seminar somewhere in some Hilton Hotel with sauna and indoor pool and all, a gathering of the world's greatest scientists and physicists, and he imagines old Paul coming on center stage and these are Paul's words to such a twentieth century gathering: “'Men of science, I perceive that in every way you are very important, very scientific. For I observed the objects you worship. I saw a telescope, a particle beam accelerator, a copy of your scriptures, The Scientific American. I also found a monument to the future and its potential achievements; it was made of the finest marble and I stood in awe of it.' The little man coughed and continued, 'Gentlemen and ladies, I will tell you the future. I will tell you what you seek for, what you hope to find. For, in this scripture I read of a theory called TOE, or the Theory of Everything. In it you state that God will be discovered as the source of this TOE. But I will proclaim to you that this God is here, today, among you. This God made the world and everything in it, and He needs none of you to explain or to discover Him. He made the world and set the courses of history in order that people like yourselves should yearn to seek after Him. You do seek after Him, but I will end your search. For we are His offspring, and we must realize that He is not like our theories or our art, but is Spirit. He is everywhere, but He is also here. His name is Jesus Christ.' At once there was a loud commotion, scientists were all grumbling at once and shifting in their chairs. They were saying that God was dead, and that Jesus was proved to be a hoax in the last AMA Journal, etc. Finally, the chairperson called for order and forced the man off the stage. They jeered and mocked the man, but some of the scientists followed him out.” Well, I sat enthralled with that sermon because that young man, whose name is F. Scott Petersen, was able to speak Jesus Christ in the context of contemporary Western civilization with all of the effectiveness of Paul in the Areopagus. Now, that's what preaching is and that's what the Christian mission is - to say to the world in all of its wonder and all of its fantastic potential and all of the marvel of this age of which we are a part, with all of the ingenuity in which we stand in awe, to the human mind, the imagination - to say to it all, “God is the fountainhead of Reality and can be known through Jesus Christ our Lord.” That's only one side of the contemporary scene. The other side is even stranger to me. The other side is the side of religion. Charles Colson, in his most recent book Kingdoms in Conflict, writes in the first chapter an imaginary scenario. The Christian Religious Right walked out of the Republican Convention in 1992 © Grand Valley State University �God, for Whom Humankind is Groping Richard A. Rhem Page 6   because their needs were not being serviced. But in the succeeding years, the gulf was bridged, the wound was healed and a Christian Right candidate, a marvelous professor from Baylor University, a good Southern Baptist, was the candidate for the presidency and was elected. This gentleman no sooner took office than it was discovered by the CIA that the Likud Party in Israel, the conservative party, having been unable to find a coalition partner in order to form a government, finally had found in a radical Right minority group a willingness to join. The condition of this radical minority party was, however, that the temple of the Rock, the Dome of the Rock, the Muslim mosque, the most sacred shrine be bombed and taken over by Israeli troops, commandos specially trained. And this little party was also training priests who could institute the rituals of the Old Testament sacrifice because this little group believed that until the Temple Mount was reclaimed and the temple was rebuilt and the sacrifices restored, the Messiah wouldn't come! Well, the scenario, as Colson puts it together, has this president hearing this and thinking, “This is it! Russia will come from the north; the troops will meet in the valley of Armageddon, and I will be the president at this cosmic point in human history.” So, rather than acting like a president should act, and doing what a president has to do in order to forestall that kind of internal maneuvering within Israel itself, he waits and waffles until it actually happens. The commandos of this little minority party blow up the Dome of the Rock and then, of course, the chapter ends. Colson says, in the footnote, “I've made this up, but the statements that I've quoted I quote from public figures out of the press.” And I wouldn't even be so impressed by that opening shot of Colson had I not recently heard Martin Marty, the person par excellence with his finger on the culture and religious development and history of America, say recently, that World War III will erupt and be ignited by the fanaticism of religion in our world today. Colson says not since the Crusades have religious passions and prejudices posed such a worldwide threat. If not through a religious zealot or confused idealist whose finger is on the nuclear trigger, then certainly by destroying the tolerance and trust essential for maintaining peace and concord among people. Friends, this world is a world that can land a person on the moon, and has a space vehicle going out to Mars. This world in which we live is a world so fantastic that our forefathers would not have believed it. And it is a world that is so screwed up spiritually, that it is falling for every kind of superstitious myth and cult, and even satanic worship. This is a world where the great religions in a worldwide resurgence are standing toe to toe and where there is a fanaticism that has groups in all religions ready to go to war, whether Christian Fundamentalists, or Islam Fundamentalists, or some other. This world in which we live is a world that needs to know that the one God Whom all people are searching for and groping after has indeed come to us in Jesus Christ. Does it matter whether we tell the story? Does it matter whether or not we © Grand Valley State University �God, for Whom Humankind is Groping Richard A. Rhem Page 7   share the good news? Is there anything incumbent upon us who stand in the great tradition of Light and Life? I would say there is. The world is at stake. We believe that, in the face of Jesus, we've seen into the heart of God, and we believe it's true. It doesn't mean that we believe that God has no concern for all of the rest of humankind. It doesn't mean that we should be so narrow and closed and dogmatic that we do not think that God has made God's self-known beyond the limits of Jesus Christ. It doesn't mean that we cannot have our own insights deepened and our viewpoint broadened as we enter into genuine dialogue and encounter with those who are also seriously groping after God in their own way. It doesn't mean that we will not be willing to enter into genuine dialogue, which means a willingness to change and to adopt and to adapt and to deepen and to broaden; all of that is true. But, it does mean that we have something very important to bring to the party. We have Jesus in whom we believe God has most fully revealed God's self. So, I wish somehow we could reclaim the fire and the passion and the fervency, the urgency and the certainty, the assurance of Paul in Athens. It is a different world, but that same kind of rootedness in Jesus we have. In confidence, not fear; with openness, not defensiveness, we can bring Jesus, the Light of the World, to the discussion, perhaps ourselves coming to see, in the dialogue, dimensions of Jesus we've never even seen before, therefore, being transformed ourselves, we will but share with this wonderful, crazy world, our conviction that God, the source of all, is the goal of all, and that in Jesus Christ our Lord, God is about reconciling all things to God's self. What a message! What a task! © Grand Valley State University � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Epiphany III Scripture Text Acts 17:22-23 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890122 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-01-22 Title A name given to the resource God, For Whom Humankind is Groping Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 application/pdf Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on January 22, 1989 entitled "God, For Whom Humankind is Groping", on the occasion of Epiphany III, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Acts 17:22-23. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Apostle Paul Epiphany God of Grace Interfaith Nature of God Religious Quest Revelation https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/859fa3ce3aeac3559689271c31ee1dc7.mp3 b019ab56ec73edab4ec61117dce4da62 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Epiphany IV Scripture Text Colossians 1:27-28 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890129 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-01-29 Title A name given to the resource Until You are Mature in Christ Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on January 29, 1989 entitled "Until You are Mature in Christ", on the occasion of Epiphany IV, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Colossians 1:27-28. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/27f27aad13390d655a719057e01f0aa1.mp3 4764ba79b82ffd10a27ac2c4037be7d9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Lent III Series Freedom: Costly and Conflicted Scripture Text Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 3:21-22, 4: 1-23 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI References Active Methods of Spiritual Growth The Next Step in Religion (Dialogue House Library) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890226 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-02-26 Title A name given to the resource Freedom's Quest: Search for Identity and Vision Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on February 26, 1989 entitled "Freedom's Quest: Search for Identity and Vision", as part of the series "Freedom: Costly and Conflicted", on the occasion of Lent III, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 3:21-22, 4: 1-23. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/028dcb90bdff0763492017c604873082.mp3 53cd3c93f81ea9c60954fecc51ec2954 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e161fca48ae425b625c8065c9f2f2ce3.pdf 2df8cb18b1fdd2fe40de619d65c885a1 PDF Text Text Freedom’s Stumbling Blocks: Uncritical Traditionalism From the Lenten sermon series: Freedom: Costly and Conflicted Text: Mark 3:21, 32; Luke 7:19 Richard A. Rhem Christ Community Church Spring Lake, Michigan Lent IV, March 5, 1989 Transcription of the prepared text Jesus reveals God; in his face we see into the heart of God. But Jesus is a double revelation; he is also the model of a fully human being. Jesus is the human person according to which we are being shaped by the Spirit of God. Jesus thus reveals who God is and what as human persons we are called to be. In our Lenten reflections this year we are focusing on a central facet of Jesus’ person, the magnificent freedom with which he lived. He knew who he was and what God was calling him to do. As we saw in the first message in this series, Jesus had a sense of identity and vision. He was a truly free person. Jesus modeled out that freedom. Jesus calls us to grow into that freedom by the liberating power of God. Not freedom understood as autonomy; rather, freedom to live out of our own authentic being, freedom for God, freedom for others. Such freedom is not won without great cost; it is not won without conflict. Sometimes the stumbling blocks to authentic human freedom stem from those closest to us; sometimes from the very relationship and association we might suppose would seek to enable that freedom. Jesus encountered stumbling blocks to freedom – as uncritical traditionalism that was no longer open to the movement of God’s Spirit that creates freedom and calls persons to the transforming newness of the Kingdom. Jesus lived out of his own centered being – out of his sense of who he was and his vision for the ministry to which God was calling him. That sense of identity and vision came only after his own personal struggle. The Gospel writers make it very clear that Jesus’ ministry flowed out of his call and empowering by God’s Spirit experienced in connection with his baptism. The Gospels then record the wilderness temptations – a portrayal of Jesus’ personal wrestling who he was and what shape his ministry would take. We saw him last week as Luke portrayed him, inaugurating his ministry in his hometown using the text from Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me; he has sent me to announce good news to the poor, to proclaim release for prisoners © Grand Valley State University   �Freedom’s Stumbling Blocks: Uncritical Traditionalism Richard A. Rhem Page 2   and recovery of sight for the blind; to let the broken victims go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. What at first seemed to be a successful sermon for this hometown boy turned out to be a near disaster when the home town folds realized that Jesus’ vision of a radical grace that reached far beyond the bounds of the Jewish people threatened their supposed special coziness with God. Jesus was undeterred. He carried on a ministry of healing and liberation. His teaching was full of grace and his deeds were gracious deeds restoring persons to health and wholeness. He announced the Good News of the Kingdom and offered forgiveness to all. The Galilean ministry caused quite a stir. The word was out: a great prophet was present. God’s care was being manifest for God’s people. That is what Luke reports in the verse preceding our lesson. It would seem that Jesus was well on his way. He had a great future. Wouldn’t everyone rejoice and celebrate such an obviously God-graced person? Well, we already know the answer to that question – no, everybody would not celebrate that gracious, liberating ministry. The ordinary folk rejoiced, praised God, and experienced the freeing words and deeds of Jesus. But it was soon clear that Jesus would be strongly opposed by various groups. How would he react? How would he respond? Would he be able to maintain the vision, living out of that center rooted in God’s call and empowering? In a word – would Jesus live out his freedom or would he be detoured by the stumbling blocks cast in his way? We have already noted in the first message of the series that John the Baptist was troubled by the reports of Jesus’ ministry. He sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask, Are you the one who is to come or are we to expect some other? That must have been a tough question for Jesus. John had baptized Jesus. John had pointed to him as the mighty one who had been promised. The Fourth Gospel tells of an earlier Judean ministry of Jesus at the Jordan near where John’s ministry was carried out. It is reasonable to assume that John had been a model for Jesus and had impressed a model of ministry on Jesus – a model taken from the prophet Malachi: Look, I am sending my messenger who will clear a path before me. Suddenly the Lord whom you seek will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant. …Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand firm when he appears? He is like a refiner’s fire….Malachi 3: 1-2 John was a serious preacher of righteousness who pronounced the judgment of God on the evil and darkness and unrighteousness of the world. John longed for © Grand Valley State University �Freedom’s Stumbling Blocks: Uncritical Traditionalism Richard A. Rhem Page 3   God to call history to a halt, to vindicate the righteous and damn the wicked. John hoped Jesus would bring the fire of God’s judgment on the earth. Instead, he heard of Jesus’ healings and grace. His question arose from the confusion he experienced when the program of God’s Kingdom did not fit his expectations. Jesus affirmed John. John was a true prophet of God and an honest preacher of righteousness. But John failed to sense the marvelous inbreaking of God’s grace because he was so certain that he knew what God’s next move must be. Jesus demonstrated his freedom in his response to John. He did not argue or debate. He respectfully announced, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard.” There was no breaking of relationship – at least on Jesus’ part. He distinguished his own ministry from John’s, his own understanding of what God was doing from John’s expectations. But he affirmed John. He honored John. Jesus demonstrated real strength. He remained true to his vision, to the shape of ministry he discovered – not in Malachi as John had suggested, but in Isaiah. I don’t suppose that was easy. If John were his mentor; if John, the elder prophet of God, was recognized by Jesus as a faithful servant of God, it must have been difficult to follow a line quite at odds with John’s viewpoint. Jesus demonstrated freedom and maturity – the ability to be his own person, to differentiate himself from his mentor but to maintain relationship. That was not easy, especially because of the high esteem in which he held John. I wonder if Jesus’ response caused John to review his conception of the tradition critically. I hope so. Otherwise he robbed himself of the very great comfort and joy he might have experienced. The lesson from Mark’s Gospel tells of the negative response of Jesus’ own religious leaders and his own family. Here too the rejection comes after Mark has recounted the powerful ministry of Jesus, healing, exorcising the demonic, and announcing forgiveness freely to all. The religious leaders representing the established religion of Israel decided he was demon-possessed. They claimed his power was of the evil one. Jesus refuted their accusation and warned them of the peril of refusing to acknowledge the power of God at work in his healing ministry of grace. Here he stands against the traditionalism of the Jewish religion. We need not demonstrate how he shattered the accepted practices and understandings of his day. He manifested a freedom from the bondage of religious customs, rituals and rules that had become a heavy burden binding the human spirit. His response to the religious establishment is not moderate and affirming as is the case of John. The religious leaders angered Jesus – not because they opposed © Grand Valley State University �Freedom’s Stumbling Blocks: Uncritical Traditionalism Richard A. Rhem Page 4   him, per se, but because he knew they had distorted the intention of God as revealed in the Scriptures and had bound the human spirit, crushed the soul of the people, making religion a burden to be borne rather than a power to liberate. Jesus had courage. It did not take the establishment log to sense that Jesus was a real threat to their institutions, their positions of power and prestige, their religious customs by which they controlled the people. And it certainly did not take Jesus long to recognize that he was in a serious conflict that could well end in his death. I wonder if he ever considered giving it up and going back to the family business. I wonder if the anger he felt, which manifested itself when, for example, he routed the money changers out of the Temple, sometimes alternated with honest fear, a sense of despair at the entrenched blindness of his own religious leaders. That he struggled to the very end we are told. Yet it would seem that he did not look back nor did he question the vision, his sense of identity and his sense of mission. It takes a deeply grounded freedom to set oneself over against one’s own tradition. Over the years most of you have come to Christ Community from somewhere. You have joined because you believed in the vision, the tone quality of grace, the ambience of freedom. But, for all who have come, there are folk who have been similarly drawn but, in the final analysis, could not break out of a deeply rooted tradition – even when they sensed something seriously distorted or missing. The promise to conform, to accommodate, to compromise with is very powerful indeed. Jesus took on his whole significant national, cultural, religious world and broke free of its uncritical traditionalism. I think it may have been more difficult to distance himself from John than from the Temple crowd. But I suspect that most difficult of all was the differentiation of himself from his own family. In Mark 3:21 we read that his family, hearing the reports of his ministry, “set out to take charge of him; for people were saying that he was out of his mind.” That is the NEB translation. The RSV has “his friends” but the NEB is correct here and we can see that if we go to verse 31: Then his mother and his brothers arrived, and remaining outside sent in a message asking him to come out to them. Do you get the picture? Do you sense the kind of pressure this must have put on Jesus? I suppose we will all feel this scene in terms of our own family relationships but, even for those whose families are quite “laid back,” it must be obvious that this was the crucial test of freedom. And if you happen to be fortunate enough to be part of a tight-knit family and extended family, can’t you sense a knotting in your stomach? © Grand Valley State University �Freedom’s Stumbling Blocks: Uncritical Traditionalism Richard A. Rhem Page 5   Stop to think about it: the whole mission of Jesus might have been derailed by a well-meaning mother. Can’t you just hear Mary saying to her other boys, “We’re just going to go over there and bring that boy home. He’s making a fool of himself and embarrassing the family.” The word in Greek to describe what they were saying about Jesus means “beside oneself,” “to stand outside of,” to be “eccentric”– that is, to be “off center” or as the word is translated “out of his mind.” And the word used to describe their intention means literally they set out to seize him. Mary was serious! She wanted her boy home! We read that he was told his mother and brothers were outside wanting to see him and his response was Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? His eyes sweeping the room, he must have gestured as he replied, Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, my mother. To be able so to respond in that situation evidenced a freedom few of us will ever attain. Put yourself into the situation. Sit where May was sitting. What thoughts and feelings must have pulsated within her being! What do you suppose she said to her other sons? What would you have said? We have all been children growing up and outgrowing our parental home and many of us have been parents experiencing our children outgrow our oversight. It is not easy. It is often fraught with tension, not seldom laced with pain. Had you been Mary, would you have been able to let go, commit to God, return home without your son? Love, honor, respect: these are things required of a son or daughter. But finally every son and daughter must fine their own center of being, envision their own truth and respond to the call of God that comes to them. That is where we see again the freedom of Jesus. He differentiated himself from his family but never broke with the family, never broke relationship. In the Atlantic, September 1988, there is an extended essay introducing the family system theory, which, unlike psychoanalysis, sees human beings as persons in a situation of interlocking relationships rather than as autonomous psychological entities. The article is entitled “Chronic Anxiety and Defining a Self”– a title which speaks volumes and gives a clue to what is set forth, namely, that a failure adequately to differentiate oneself from the network of relationship given one in the family structure results in chronic anxiety. An unhealthy emotionality in family relationships results in chronic anxiety where the self is not well defined. The rebel, on the other hand, is a highly reactive person whose © Grand Valley State University �Freedom’s Stumbling Blocks: Uncritical Traditionalism Richard A. Rhem Page 6   self is also inadequately developed. He operates in opposition to parents and others. Jesus did not argue with John’s disciples as he responded to John’s question. Jesus confronted the distortion of the truth of God as he encountered it in the religious leadership of his day because of the damage it did not the people who should have been helped and healed. Over against his family he simply did not respond at the point of their total misunderstanding. Reason would not have worked anyway. Mary was afraid and defensive for her son over against the word being spread and she was embarrassed. I am happy one word of Jesus from the cross was an expression of care for his mother. It shows he never cut himself off from his family. But neither did he deny his own truth and vision simply to pacify them when they were caught in a traditionalism that blocked their coming into the spaciousness of God’s new movement. Isn’t it good to know that Mary was part of the post-Easter community praying for the Spirit and James, Jesus’ brother, became spiritual head of the Jerusalem church? Of course, James remained a rather conservative law/righteousness person. Yet it was he who was able to provide the compromise at the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15 that bridged the gulf separating Paul and the Gentile mission and the strongly Jewish Christian contingent centered in Jerusalem. Jesus is a model of magnificent freedom He lived it out and in his life we can see the beauty of an authentic life lived out of its own identity and vision – out of its own center and truth. The secret lay in Jesus’ rootedness in God. Being rooted in God Jesus was free over against every form of human bondage. In the words of the hymn writer, Make me a captive, Lord; Then I shall be free. Only when one is free, in possession of one’s life because that life is anchored in God, does one have a life to give away. This is what concerns me about so much religious posture. So much of the religious establishment in all forms of religion bind people, imprison, weigh down, manipulate and thusly control. There is so much “group think” encouraged by religious leadership. Jesus established his being and vision over against the powerful pull of traditionalism and Jesus calls us to freedom as well. © Grand Valley State University � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Lent IV Series Freedom: Costly and Conflicted Scripture Text Mark 3:21, 32, Luke 7: 19 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890305 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-03-05 Title A name given to the resource Freedom's Stumbling Blocks: Uncritical Traditionalism Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 application/pdf Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on March 5, 1989 entitled "Freedom's Stumbling Blocks: Uncritical Traditionalism", as part of the series "Freedom: Costly and Conflicted", on the occasion of Lent IV, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Mark 3:21, 32, Luke 7: 19. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Critical Thinking Grace Historical Jesus Inclusive Lent Way of Jesus https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6ea65ca3c44ffac780f1ee9512880014.mp3 5283f7dee1bc32b78cc87bfb47b88896 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2b976ddc1f66f2cd0b5bb2fa1909636d.pdf 9785024720c20c1e1e854d84f4caa13d PDF Text Text Freedom’s Gift: Grace From the Lent sermon series: Freedom: Costly and Conflicted Text: Isaiah 42:3; Luke 23:34 Richard A. Rhem Christ Community Church Spring Lake, Michigan Lent V, March 12, 1989 Transcription of the spoken sermon He will not break a bruised reed, or snuff out a smoldering wick. Isaiah 42:3 Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34 Of all the remembrances of Jesus recorded in the Gospels, none is more startling than the prayer of Jesus on the cross, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. There is perhaps no other word or action of Jesus that so embodies his understanding of God, of himself, of humankind. There is no clearer expression of his freedom, freedom to live out his own truth, freedom for God and freedom for others, than this prayer for the forgiveness of those who were crucifying him. Father, forgive them... With these words, we are shocked into awareness of how little we have learned the gospel and how poorly we have mediated the radical grace of God. Father, forgive them... Words that contradict every natural impulse of our being. Jesus modeled out a magnificent freedom, a freedom that transcended outward circumstances, enabling him to live a life of active love and grace rather than anxious and hostile reaction. Impaled on a cruel Roman cross, he was yet free. Taunted and spat upon and held in derision, he responded with grace, absorbing the evil and not responding in kind, thus breaking the vicious cycle of vengeance. Well, you say, but Jesus was different. Was he really? Is not the mystery of the incarnation, of God-with-us-in-Jesus, the story of God present in a genuinely human life? The freedom Jesus lived which issued in such grace was not some “given” of divine nature. No, it was a freedom won, a freedom costly and conflicted. To be sure, it was the result of his rootedness in God. Remember the scene at his baptism -the voice from heaven claims him, the Spirit descends upon © Grand Valley State University   �Freedom’s Gift: Grace Richard A. Rhem Page 2   him. This was, to be sure, God’s beloved Son. But, for all that, there was nothing magic about the process of Jesus gaining a sense of identity and vision for ministry. In the Wilderness he struggled with the Tempter – what kind of ministry would he carry out and how would he do it? John the Baptist had designs for him. John hoped he would fulfill Malachi’s prediction of the return of Elijah who would bring fire, the judgment of refining fire, to the earth, signaling the end of the world, the damnation of the wicked and the vindication of the righteous. Jesus had to overcome the obstacle of John’s expectation. Coming from the struggle in the wilderness, Jesus announced a ministry patterned after the Servant of Isaiah - a ministry of healing and liberation and Good News. John was concerned and confused. He sent his disciples with the question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Without argument or offense, Jesus simply pointed to his work. He went on to affirm John and John’s ministry but it was also clear that he was saying, “John, I am the one you were hoping for, but my mission is one of grace, not judgment.” He announced his ministry of grace and healing in his hometown synagogue and the radical grace far transcending the narrow exclusiveness of Jewish religion was an offense to the hometown crowd. If John was confused, they were angry, ready to lynch him on the spot. But again, his inner strength and calm assurance rooted in God’s call enabled him to move through the hostile crowd unharmed. When the religious leaders called him mad, beside himself, his mother and brothers set out to seize him and bring him home. But, once again, without anger or breaking of relationship, he simply lived out of his own vision and truth and said, “My mother and my brothers and my sisters are those who do the will of God.” The masterful freedom with which Jesus lived was costly and conflicted. He lived out of an inner vision and thus was able to embody the grace of God in all circumstances of his life. The grace of God Jesus mediated is the only power for human transformation. There are other ways and means of controlling and coercing human behavior, but only grace as the active outflowing of God’s love really changes persons from the inside out. This was what Jesus’ whole ministry was about - the promiscuous © Grand Valley State University �Freedom’s Gift: Grace Richard A. Rhem Page 3   proclamation of the prodigal love and grace of God. The portrait of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels makes that clear. The Gospel portraits of Jesus portray the radical grace which was his hallmark. Just after reporting the question of the imprisoned John and Jesus’ response, Luke tells the story of the dinner party given by Simon, the Pharisee. Without questioning Simon’s motivation in inviting Jesus, it is clear that he wanted to see firsthand this teacher who was causing such a stir with his gracious ministry and who seemed to have so little regard for the punctilious religious observances which securely bound the sect of the Pharisees. Could Jesus really be a prophet? Was he someone that must be taken seriously or was he just another upstart itinerant preacher? He got his answer, but not as he expected. During dinner a prostitute came in off the street because she learned Jesus was there. She intended to anoint his feet with oil of myrrh, but her emotions overtook her and she began to weep, her tears falling on Jesus’ feet. She wiped the tears with her hair, kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment – a scene of great tenderness and deep emotion, but a scene hardly in place in Simon’s house or on such an occasion. Embarrassed though he was, the rules of hospitality must prevail. Simon endured the scene. But at least his question about Jesus was answered. This was no prophet for, if he were, he would have known the immoral character of this woman and would hardly have tolerated such a display of bad taste. Jesus surmised Simon’s surmisings and proceeded to tell a story of two debtors, one owing a small amount and the other a large amount. They were alike, however, in that neither one had anything with which to pay. The creditor therefore freely forgave them both their debts. Jesus’ question to Simon, “Which one will love him most,” was given the obvious response by Simon: “I should think the one that was let off most.” Jesus said, “You are right,” and then proceeded to apply the story to the present situation. Simon, Jesus pointed out, had been proper in his behaviour but had failed to offer the kind of courtesy and care that bespoke deep kindness and love. The woman, however, had been a veritable gusher of emotion, revealing the deepest level of love. The application was obvious: Simon had little sense of gracious forgiveness; he loved little. But the woman whose sins were many had experienced grace and, consequently, loved deeply. Certainly Luke used this incident to illustrate Jesus’ ministry of grace and he set it against the background of John’s question, “Are you the one or should we look for another?” The story illustrates the vision of ministry Jesus was living out, a ministry not of judgment but of grace, a ministry not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke is the evangelist who recorded Jesus’ inaugural message in his hometown – a Good News message. Here he shows that ministry in action, a ministry that offers grace and thus transforms human life. Jesus knew that only grace transforms; only grace changes persons. © Grand Valley State University �Freedom’s Gift: Grace Richard A. Rhem Page 4   Breathing the heady atmosphere of freedom that comes from surrender to the gracious God, Jesus was able to mediate grace that transformed persons. Whoever the woman was that wept over his feet, this was not the first time she encountered him. Somewhere, sometime his words of grace had found their mark in her soul. Perhaps he caught her eye or mediated grace in a touch that healed. She knew the forgiveness of sins and her outburst of love was the consequence. Jesus’ freedom in God enabled him to mediate grace. But what is at stake is bigger than the transformation of persons; grace mediated out of freedom alone can save the world. How tragic that the Church has never been able to live by radical grace for very long. Throughout the history of the Christian tradition there have appeared those who have glimpsed that grace, experienced the freedom grace bestows and out of that freedom proclaimed the grace of God in all its radicality. We think of Paul - the Pharisee who lived blamelessly according to the legal prescriptions of Jewish religion until grace broke upon him with all its liberating power, setting him free to announce the Kingdom’s Good News. And Martin Luther’s experience of grace gave him the inward strength and freedom to stand against the whole establishment of the Christian Church much as Jesus did in his day. Still, for the most part, the Church has fallen back into the bondage of religious observance, legal prescription and self-righteous performance. There has been all too little joyous celebration of Good News, all too much gloomy demand and threatening coercion. The Church has not been a haven for the broken and battered, the fearful, the guilty, the crippled and the captive. Too often, it has crippled and cramped and burdened and broken. Rather than letting grace flow in a mighty tide, the impression the religious community has made on the world at large is one of self-righteousness, judgmental disgust and militant condemnation. Religion has bad press in the world and it has richly deserved it, for it has been characterized by binding and breaking rather than by the commission of the Servant of the Lord in whom Jesus found his identity and vocation. Isaiah speaks of the Servant anointed with God’s Spirit who ... will not break a bruised reed, or snuff out a smouldering wick. Rather, the Servant is called, To open eyes that are blind, to bring captives out of prison, out of the dungeons where they lie in darkness. Reflect for a moment on religion in these waning years of the twentieth century. What a surprising phenomenon it is. With what resurgence it has stormed into center stage. As the century opened, one might have thought that the classic Protestant liberalism would alone survive, accommodated as it was to the © Grand Valley State University �Freedom’s Gift: Grace Richard A. Rhem Page 5   dominant culture; there seemed only a narrow gap between enlightened Western civilization and the Kingdom of God. Then the terrible disruption of violence and war shattered the easy optimism of the liberal vision. Yet, near mid-century, Dietrich Bonhoeffer could speak out of the chaos of a Nazi concentration camp of “a world come of age.” But what do we see? An angry, militant fundamentalism under various names, yet one in spirit, whether Christian, Jewish or Islamic. In my mind it is not at all clear that the world is more endangered by the threat of nuclear war than by the threat of zealous religion. It even seems more likely to me that the next great human catastrophe will evolve from some form of religious fanaticism than from a nuclear confrontation. Let me remind you of the recent book by Charles Colson, Kingdom in Conflict, where he imagines a scenario in which a fundamentalist Christian is elected president and, because of his literal reading of certain Old Testament prophecies, fails to act to stave off an attack by a fanatical right-wing group of Jews on the Dome of the Rock - the sacred shrine of Islam in Jerusalem. It is an imagined scenario, but highly conceivable. Of course, the most obvious representative of the religion of coercion and legal prescription is the Ayatollah Khomeni. I confessed in a previous message the anger that rises in my being when I see the totalitarion grip he holds on the masses and the vile hatred he breathes into their hearts. But the Ayatollah is only a radical example of what religion always tends to be - controlling, coercing, prescriptive, demanding, burdensome and binding. The Ayatollah has a book from the prophet who got the word straight from God. In that sense he differs little from the fundamentalist Jew or Christian. The book binds. Thus, when the book says he who defames the prophet must be killed, Khomeni without qualm of conscience says Salman Rushdie must die because his novel Satanic Verses defames the prophet of Islam. Is it any different than the established Judaism of Jesus’ day, which said we have a law and according to that law, he must die? It is all of a piece - all cut from the same cloth. But, Jesus was free of the bondage of religion, free of the coercive legalism and ritualism of the religious institution. Jesus was rooted in God and therefore free from every human bondage and, in that freedom, mediated God’s grace to all without condition - the grace alone that can bring redemption to a broken world torn by ideological strife and religious hatred. Rushdie must die, demands the Ayatollah. He defamed the prophet; kill him. Protect your religion; protect your prophet; protect your God. See Jesus on the cross in anguish experiencing the very worst hell that humankind can create. As they mock him, taunt him, jeer and spit upon him, he © Grand Valley State University �Freedom’s Gift: Grace Richard A. Rhem Page 6   prays. He prays out of the freedom of his own truth. He prays out of the vision of his calling; he prays consistent with his whole ministry; he prays, Father, forgive them... For Jesus knows that it is grace alone that transforms persons; he knows it is only grace lived out in freedom that can save the world from its own destruction. Father, forgive them, he prays. Father, forgive us. Set us free to forgive – to be the agents of such grace in our world. © Grand Valley State University � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Lent V Series Freedom: Costly and Conflicted Scripture Text Isa 42:1-7, Luke 23:34 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890312 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-03-12 Title A name given to the resource Freedom's Gift: Grace Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 application/pdf Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on March 12, 1989 entitled "Freedom's Gift: Grace", as part of the series "Freedom: Costly and Conflicted", on the occasion of Lent V, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Isa 42:1-7, Luke 23:34. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Forgiveness Lent Nature of Religion Non-exclusive Radical Grace of God Way of Jesus https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cc6dc0085c6083eb2029fa9ba111b2ea.mp3 59c101616d70d0dc89ecfb859b9f7a07 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Palm Sunday Series Freedom: Costly and Conflicted Scripture Text Zech. 9:9-10, Luke 19:28-48 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890319 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-03-19 Title A name given to the resource Freedom's Risk: Confrontation Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on March 19, 1989 entitled "Freedom's Risk: Confrontation", as part of the series "Freedom: Costly and Conflicted,", on the occasion of Palm Sunday, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Zech. 9:9-10, Luke 19:28-48. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e920f3b196e8ab85c049fa1e11f0358c.mp3 e1af7c7486697576a3720568e4101d1d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Maundy Thursday Series Freedom: Costly and Conflicted Scripture Text St. Matthew's Passion of Our Lord Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890323 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-03-23 Title A name given to the resource Freedom's Cost and Foundation: Thy Will Be Done Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on March 23, 1989 entitled "Freedom's Cost and Foundation: Thy Will Be Done", as part of the series "Freedom: Costly and Conflicted,", on the occasion of Maundy Thursday, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: St. Matthew's Passion of Our Lord. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4aa8ce272dbea88e1901576357895220.mp3 a39da25178e30f153b6eedd05c7b2051 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Easter Sunday Series Freedom: Costly and Conflicted: Scripture Text Isa. 45:22a, Phil. 2:9-11 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890326 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Freedom's Triumph: Life Out of Death Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on March 26, 1989 entitled "Freedom's Triumph: Life Out of Death", as part of the series "Freedom: Costly and Conflicted:", on the occasion of Easter Sunday, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Isa. 45:22a, Phil. 2:9-11. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/85fa39540311a73333c9e56c136e7aba.mp3 9d60306ef41dc77df5e8884527307b0b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Eastertide II Scripture Text I Cor. 15: 1-8, 20-28 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890402 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-04-02 Title A name given to the resource The View From This Side of Easter Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on April 2, 1989 entitled "The View From This Side of Easter ", on the occasion of Eastertide II, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: I Cor. 15: 1-8, 20-28. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c8cd4905dff30703788410f354c0281c.mp3 d2d742015fcfb73eeef539e1506002e4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Eastertide IV Scripture Text Job 19:25-26, I Peter 1:3 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890416 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-04-16 Title A name given to the resource Living a Doxology Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on April 16, 1989 entitled "Living a Doxology", on the occasion of Eastertide IV, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Job 19:25-26, I Peter 1:3. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/af2f7be4aff91aeaafec08f4c95ae013.mp3 42f9d09fb43a35f1dfd44c8dc68304e0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Eastertide V Scripture Text Exodus 19:1-6, I Peter 2:9-10, Matthew 16:13-20 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890423 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-04-23 Title A name given to the resource Who Needs a Good-For-Nothing Church? Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on April 23, 1989 entitled "Who Needs a Good-For-Nothing Church?", on the occasion of Eastertide V, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Exodus 19:1-6, I Peter 2:9-10, Matthew 16:13-20. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8827e752b375b81c7c5a450d7f8eef1f.mp3 e60aef9f7f96087725b78849762b2d73 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Eastertide VI Scripture Text Eph. 2:1-10, Matt. 20:1-16 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890430 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-04-30 Title A name given to the resource Can This Congregation Survive By Grace Alone? Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on April 30, 1989 entitled "Can This Congregation Survive By Grace Alone?", on the occasion of Eastertide VI, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Eph. 2:1-10, Matt. 20:1-16. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/266ac6454238c82004473f4c2db0a04c.mp3 b2ddaa4ad8de39132bb1c50ab5f6e774 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Eastertide VII Scripture Text Ephesians 1: 18-20 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890507 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-05-07 Title A name given to the resource The Christ Community Experiment: Rhem and Gordon VanHoven Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on May 7, 1989 entitled "The Christ Community Experiment: Rhem and Gordon VanHoven", on the occasion of Eastertide VII, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Ephesians 1: 18-20. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/bcf99b659856ca5e63ff269f728747be.mp3 5ce93d91b19fb4d1a02778cd0743eddf Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Pentecost Sunday Scripture Text Acts 2:17 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890514 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-05-14 Title A name given to the resource Come, Creator Spirit Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on May 14, 1989 entitled "Come, Creator Spirit", on the occasion of Pentecost Sunday, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Acts 2:17. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/3ace7d8e491e2a80ace954f804eb2ac3.mp3 d34c045dba361c7afcf4e966d22328dd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Trinity Sunday Scripture Text Micah 7:18, Romans 8:31, 39 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890521 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-05-21 Title A name given to the resource Who Is a God Like Thee? Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on May 21, 1989 entitled "Who Is a God Like Thee?", on the occasion of Trinity Sunday, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Micah 7:18, Romans 8:31, 39. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4607d7fafe2768c54b882592bb9bf1ff.mp3 932a58c28b746a093572575e5b23b743 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Richard A. Rhem Collection Description An account of the resource Text and sound recordings of the sermons, prayers, services, and articles of Richard Rhem, pastor emeritus of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, where he served for 37 years. Starting in the mid 1980's, Rhem began to question some of the traditional Christian dogma that he had been espousing from the pulpit. That questioning was a first step in a long and interesting spiritual journey, one that he openly shared with his congregation. His journey is important, in part because it is reflective of the questioning, the yearnings, and the gradual revision of beliefs that many persons in this part of the century have experienced and continue to experience. It is important also because of the affirming and inclusive way his questioning was done and his thinking evolved. His sermons and other written and spoken materials together document the steps in his journey as it took a turn in 1985, yet continued to revolve around the framework and liturgies of the Christian calendar. Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Religion Interfaith worship Sermons Sound Recordings Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rhem, Richard A. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/514">Richard A. Rhem papers (KII-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kaufman Interfaith Institute Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 text/pdf Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Event Ordination Sunday Pentecost VI Scripture Text Jeremiah 45:5, I Cor 3: 21-23 Location The location of the interview Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context KII-01_RA-0-19890625 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-06-25 Title A name given to the resource Christ Community: Carte Blanche to the Honor of Christ Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard A. Rhem Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Clergy--Michigan Reformed Church in America Christ Community Church (Spring Lake, Mich.) Sermons Relation A related resource Richard A. Rhem - An Archive of Sermons, Prayers, Talks and Stories: http://richardrhem.org/ Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 Description An account of the resource A sermon given by Richard A. Rhem (Dick) on June 25, 1989 entitled "Christ Community: Carte Blanche to the Honor of Christ", on the occasion of Ordination Sunday, Pentecost VI, at Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI. Scripture references: Jeremiah 45:5, I Cor 3: 21-23. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives