Column: Pothole Prairie

I had the rare opportunity to interview God the other day and found the Almighty to be an understanding, loving and kind deity. It seems fitting since tomorrow is Candlemas. While everyone else is running around chasing groundhogs, you can cuddle up with the newspaper or your laptop and consider that many Christians will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, or Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, or the end of the Epiphany season, or whatever you want to call it. The short name is Candlemas.

Me: OK, so a neighbor says someone has to be right and someone has to wrong. Which religion or denomination is the right one?

God: There are many paths to God. For Christians, a pretty good example comes from the early Church. You recall the first Christians were a handful of Jews in Jerusalem. They did not associate with Gentiles. After a vision from me, Peter changed his views on Gentiles and converted Cornelius the Centurion. Peter said, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

Me: It seems to me the early church made a lot of efforts at inclusiveness and unification. Since then, people have been splitting up and dividing over this or that.

God: No doubt. Peter had to defend his actions. He explained to the early Christians that the Holy Spirit became part of people, that it is something one person is simply incapable to denying to another person. You either become a follower of Christ or you do not. Men do not control the Holy Spirit. Peter asked them: “Who am I to stand in God’s way?”

Me: The Acts of the Apostles is a favorite. No wonder St. Peter is the rock upon which you, er, I mean, Jesus, or that whole-trinity-of-you-guys thing. Say, can you explain that to me again?

God: You are getting into doctrine. Let’s stick to core messages in this interview.

Me: Good point.

God: So the early church members debated whether the new Gentile Christians should follow the laws of the Jews. Peter, again, spoke: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.”

Me: I get it. So people and churches are supposed to be inclusive and accepting. It’s not like we have any control over who wishes to worship you.

God: Sometimes, when you give people something, they are thankful and share it with the next people. But sometimes, they take it and deny it to others.

Me: Hmm. Like voting in the United States?

God: Let me hear your example.

Me: Only the land-owning gentry could vote at the founding of our country. But after all the white men got the right to vote, they still didn’t let blacks, Indians or women vote. It took wars and decades to extend the gift to so many other segments of society. Today, it all seems pretty simple. Just let all the grown-ups vote. What’s so hard about that?

God: People get lost in petty disputes. That’s my point about doctrine. So much of people’s framework of beliefs is based on church doctrine, not the lessons of love and forgiveness at the core of everything, the stuff Jesus taught.

Me: OK, I am writing this down. Go on.

God: Think of all the schisms. Does it matter whether Jesus was divine? Isn’t his message the important thing? Does it matter whether there is a co-eternal trinity? Does it matter whether the bread used during Communion is leavened or unleavened? Is the question of free will really a reason to fight one another?

Me: Are you unhappy with the state of affairs of the church, with so many denominations and all?

God: You are putting me on the spot here. I am happy there are many churches for people to choose from. It’s like an ice cream store with many flavors. But I am saddened when I they pass judgment on other people or other denominations. That’s not the lesson of Peter. I am saddened when they take the path of exclusive, rather than inclusive.

Me: It seems to me that the Bible has a central message. Love others as you love yourself.

God: Yes. Love is more than just — you sort of like them. It means do more for others than you do for yourself. Care more for others than yourself. Be selfless. People are so self-centered. The message is — don’t be.

Me: Well, one more question. Who do you pick to win the Super Bowl?

God: I won’t meddle in such contests, of course. But I like to think that the G on the Packers helmets doesn’t stand for Green Bay.

Me: It’s good to know God has a sense of humor.

Tribune Managing Editor Tim Engstrom’s column appears every other Tuesday.