Discussion question: Who are we, honestly?

This issue is the second in a series of four exploring basic theological questions in ways designed to engender further discussion in your context. To that end, below are discussion questions that can be used with each of the feature articles. We hope these provide a catalyst for robust conversations that help us live our faith in the world.

We are God’s, yet… — read the article

1. John Wilkinson reflected on the language of “Amazing Grace.” How do you feel when you sing this hymn? Do you wrestle with the idea of being a “wretch”? If you could have voted on the language in a Brief Statement of Faith, would you have voted to include “we deserve God’s condemnation” or would you have preferred “we deserve God’s judgment”? What’s the rational for your choice?
2. Read again the quote from the Confession of 1967 found on page 14 and discuss it. How are we tempted to label and rank people as good or bad, worse or better than we are? What is wrong with this kind of gradation of sin?
3. Wilkinson writes about the power of God’s “yet.” Quoting the Brief Statement of Faith, right after the statement about God’s condemnation, we find this: “Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation.” When have you seen and/or experienced the power of God’s “yet”?
4. Ultimately, Wilkinson concludes, “we belong to God.” He notes that this should be both a comfort and a challenge to us. How is this both a comfort and a challenge to you? To your congregation?

Telling the truth about ourselves: Sinners redeemed by God — read the article

1. Erin Kesterson Bowers argues that we are what we do. If we lie, we are liars. If we cheat, we are cheaters. Do you agree with this statement? If so, reflect on your actions and words over the past several days. Who, then, are you? Is it who you want or are called to be? If not, what must change in order for there to be continuity between who we say we are or want to be and who our actions reveal we are?
2. Bowers discusses not just individual sin or sinners, but systemic sin. How would you define systemic sin? Given the size, scale and scope of systemic sin, how do we participate in addressing it in ways that have a tangible impact? How is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) engaged in addressing systemic sin?
3. If data shows that there is an actor-observer bias, that we judge ourselves and our motives differently and more charitably than those of others, how do we correct this bias? How do we help one another correct this bias?
4. Which of the two pockets Bowers talks about is more tempting for us to occupy either personally or corporately as a faith community? Do we think too highly or not highly enough of ourselves? How do we strike the delicate balance between these two assessments of ourselves?
5. Bowers frames her article around Psalm 51. Read the psalm aloud and note which words or phrases stand out to you.

Sinful bearers of divinity – read the article

1. Jess Cook begins their article noting that God seems to choose people to proclaim God’s word who are deemed by their fellow human beings as unlikely candidates for such a call. Would you agree? Who are some contemporary prophets and proclaimers? Would you deem them as unlikely or unexpected? What makes them so? Does this impact how we hear and respond to them?
2. “It is time for radical honesty and for the courage to face things many of us have been taught to ignore,” Cook writes. How do we do go about exercising this radical honesty and courage? What must we face in our personal lives, our congregations, our community, our country and our world that we might rather ignore?
3. Looking at the history of your church and/or community, how has it been misguided in understanding what it meant to follow God? Alternatively, when has it gotten it seemingly right? How can you discern the difference?
4. How does affirming that through Jesus Christ we are reconciled to God and one another give us the courage to name the ways we are divided and address those schisms? Where and when have you experienced reconciliation? How did it come about? Is it ongoing?
5. Do you think of yourself and others as “bearers of divinity”? Try to imagine yourself and everyone you encounter in this way and make note of how it alters your perception and perspective.