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	March 2003
		Bishop's reflection by John Harrower
			The logic of the alternate One of the many ironies we face is the despair that many feel in the face of Weapons of Mass Destruction, with fear, and uncertainty, and yet at the same time there is debate in Tasmania over Blasphemy laws. On the one hand the cry for hope and certainty, and on the other a society turning its back on the hope and certainty that God gives. The prophet Isaiah pointed out that the alternative to trust and belief in God is despair and helplessness. He notes how people turn from God and then make their own gods: 'Some pour out gold from their bags...and hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.' Isaiah goes on to forcefully point out 'the logic of the alternate', the logical consequences of turning away from God. What are these alternate gods? They are gods that cannot move, cannot answer and cannot save! The Psalmist in 115:8 develops a similar argument to conclude of those who worship idols, 'Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.' Imaginations It is important to contrast to the Living God and idols. We do end up becoming like that which we worship. The Living God promises to sustain life and gives hope and help. 'I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.' Isaiah 46:4 We choose to live with either the Living God or gods formed in our own imaginations and images. But we are made in the image of God and therefore we are created to live in social relationships with others and with God. The first petition in the Lord's Prayer, 'Hallowed be thy name', is in fact the basis on which life can be lived and respected. Tablecloth This month I am participating in an arts festival and with artist Gay Hawkes. We have chosen our theme to be 'The Strangers' Dinner'. At a time when there is so little hope we chose the theme of God's hospitality and Gay has designed and painted a most wonderful tablecloth with God at the centre and peoples from all nations around the tablecloth. We will open our exhibit by having a meal with people from different backgrounds, using the tablecloth. A draft of my written contribution says: Human beings are of infinite worth because we are created in the image of God. We are bearers of the divine. We are God-carriers; each and every one of us. Therefore every human being is of infinite worth. To treat any human being as less than this is an offence against God. We are life-loving because the God of life and love has given us this life-love. Therefore we too are called to be generous. What we have is not just for ourselves but a gift; a gift to be shared with others. We see that in one particular human being, Jesus of Nazareth, the image of God becomes a glowing, fully alive person who rules with love. The demands of love are fiercer than the demands of any law: a shepherd seeks the one lost sheep; a despised foreigner is the hero of the rescue of 'one of our own'; the humiliated receive restoration, not retribution; a father runs through a threatening crowd to bring home the child who wished him dead; and the Prince of Peace preaches the Sermon on the Mount.' The 'logic of the alternate' leads back to God. The Triune God of the universe gives hope and love, even in the midst of chaos.