As Progressive Christians we need to explore the concept of Eternal Life. Eternal Life is connected to the Reign of God which includes faithful and thoughtful Christians but extends to all those who follow the sensitive teaching of Jesus which is a fundamental outline for living in a sustainable Earth Global Community as expressed in many Spiritual formations. The Reign of God is the community that recognizes the Divine Spirit that lives within us all and in all of Creation. Once we make a decision to intentionally follow the teaching and example of Jesus, we are immediately citizens of this new community.
John's Gospel and the Gospel of Matthew point us to our understanding that the community and our decision to be members through our actions and thought give us Eternal Life. Eternal Life begins now, not at our physical death.
There is often confusion between immortality and Eternal Life. Immortality was a Greek non-Christian philosophical thought. There is a Spark of Divinity which is a part of us from the universe at our procreation and goes into the universe at our death. The Bible is clear that Immortality is only reserved for Jesus.
The implications are that we must as members of the Reign of God, work to put away our instincts of revenge, violence, lack of forgiveness and desire to get even. Instead, we are inclusive, restorative, reconciling and just as we practice love of ourselves, others, the planet and God.
