Entering Faith

What does the new year bring?

Does it provide an opportunity to look at the world differently?  Do we want to see the world become a better place?  And if so, what does that mean?

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. - Revelation 19:11-16

The New Testament reading for today is taken from the Book of Revelation, that highly visual and imaginative dream world of the Gospel writer, John.

I think this book was written for a future time, speaking to a different mindset, a generation that can appreciate the imaginary and the unreal.

What if that time is now, and the generation is our youth, those comfortable with augmented and virtual reality playgrounds of discovery.

Hollywood has had a field day with the book, focusing on the end time with apocalyptic imagery, but what if someone created a game world so we could enter the vision as John did?

Would it bring people closer to their faith, or reduce it to entertainment?

I, for one, would like to experience the world, VR headset and all, just to see what it was like for John.  Maybe I would come away awed and amazed, or frightened and confused, but it would be an experience I would not soon forget.

And if I could interact as John did, asking questions, receiving answers, how cool would that be?

It is time, I think, for us to engage our faith head on, to enter into it and become immersed in it.  We have the technology.  All we need is the will.

More to come...