longing for the fulfillment in Jesus

I am in the habit of listening to scripture being read, something I’ve done, as I recall, most years since I’ve been a Christian. Going over scripture in that way as I do (now through The Bible Experience) there are parts of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible which are just fine to hear over and over again. But there are other parts, and a good number of them in which I do grow weary, and am glad to get through them, even though I believe they’re important for us to read and listen to. The book of Judges comes to mind with all the apostasy of Israel, even the great prophet Elijah in calling down fire from heaven to consume two companies of fighting men, Jeremiah and the long prophecy of doom and gloom but with that, as always, hope in anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s promises (somehow I have really identified with Jeremiah, particularly as read in The Bible Experience). Every book and part of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament is important for us, no doubt. That’s why I keep going over it. As N.T. Wright suggests, it’s a part of our breathing as God’s people, to do so.

But the reading, and primarily for me, listening of the Old Testament serves all the more to remind me, and even makes me long for the fulfillment in Jesus, which in reading scripture begins in the gospel according to the evangelist Matthew (in the sequential order of books in our Bibles). It comes as a breath of fresh air, and both braces us for and embraces us into the new life Jesus brings. And the fulfillment of the Old Testament in which Israel was called to be God’s people in and for the world. So that Jesus fulfills that calling, yes in surprising ways as one might well expect from God. But in ways that make complete sense on hindsight, not to say that some parts of that are  not clearer than other parts. And which awakens in us something of anticipation in the completion yet to come.

Of course life itself prepares us and actually produces in us through Jesus a longing for the completion of the fulfillment that is now present in him. We hardly have to go into detail to express why. Just an honest look at ourselves is enough. We must begin there. And then we look around us, and we can only say in the words Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

We get glimpses and glimmers of that completion now, even as we live in the beginning of the fulfillment through the new covenant in Jesus.  And we do so not just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others, indeed for the entire world, since that is the breadth of King Jesus’ kingdom to at long last be fully realized in the completion of the new creation, renewed earth, and new world to come.

works that remain

Recently I was listening to a talk online from N.T. Wright on baptism and the Eucharist in which the following has given me much pause, rather stopping me in my tracks to ponder and wonder:

Baptism is about dying and then rising again, not somehow getting into the church by evading the challenge. As C. S. Lewis emphasized again and again, there is nothing in this world which cannot die and be raised into God’s new world in terms of the actual good creation. At the same time, there’s nothing in this world that will make it into the new world if it does not first die and be raised.

I had to think about my love for classical music. I could well hope, and I suppose I do that Mozart’s wonderful music will be present in the new creation, and those who don’t appreciate that gift now will then. I was left to wonder if such works won’t be present in the new creation in Jesus, how we can enjoy them now, we who are in Jesus. Of course that is not a hard question to answer on the surface: such works are indeed a part of creation now. We read in Genesis not from Seth’s line, but from Cain’s line quite notable achievements which impact us all to this day, including musical instruments. I will continue to listen to Mozart and others. Hopefully our listening will transport that music into the new creation as we do so in praise of the Creator who made such music possible.

But what stands out to me the most about this thought is to consider what works of mine will remain and what will have to be burned in the judgment, when God through Christ makes all things known, including the worth of everything. While Paul here was referring to the work of leaders in the church, I think without question this applies to all of us in Jesus:

 ¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

It is amazing how in some way that is well beyond us since it isn’t we doing it, but no less than God, we can be taken up into the actual work of God. This is a work that is characterized by love and truth in the testimony and proclamation of Jesus. It is a work that involves both serving and speaking, can be either. We pray and work, work and pray. And God takes us up by the Spirit into his work. Something of those works from us because of God’s grace will remain and go on into the new creation in some ways quite beyond us now, surely. But in other ways in which we can surmise now, such as those who see the Savior anew through us, and are by that means changed by God.

Works that remain. Yes, we ask God to establish the work of our hands, to make it lasting. We do want to know that our work is not in vain, and we are assured that indeed work in the Lord is not because of his resurrection (end of passage). Somehow works done here go on into the new world, the new creation. Works done in the grace, truth and love of our Lord individually and together with others in Jesus for the world.

more on knowledge in the faith, a nonnegotiable presupposition

Yesterday’s post is about the nature of faith for followers of Jesus. How it’s about life. Faith doesn’t leave the mind behind, yet it goes beyond the mind in that we’re called to trust God in Christ. And not to lean to our own understanding.

But there is one nonnegotiable presupposition, of course more than one to get as far as the presupposition to be insisted on here, but there is one fact front and center that is required for the Christian faith to be intact as given in scripture. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

Whether or not we understand it, or whether or not it computes with us, by faith we must receive what is given as central to the good news of Christ, that he indeed did rise from the dead on the third day. And we do so within the context given, of the New Testament.

If we stumble here, Paul says our faith is worthless, and that we’re still in our sins. That Christ died, was buried, was raised on the third day, along with being seen by witnesses, that he ascended and is to return all seem a part of the good news as expressed in 1 Corinthians 15. The heart being his death and resurrection.

What if we struggle with doubts about the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. There are good sources to help us. The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright is a massive work which is considered most helpful. A shortened version to help one through this would be his book, Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters. Can a Scientist Believe the Resurrection? is a transcript of a lecture he delivered. On balance, I’d recommend Simply Jesus. For a quick read the online transcript is good. For a rather exhaustive study, The Resurrection of the Son of God should help. If you like to watch and listen, Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead? by Wright would be good.  John Polkinghorne and his books can help us, he a renowned scientist and Anglican priest.

In my own thinking, while resurrection is contrary to what we see and understand, I consider both “creation” and “new creation.” Life coming seemingly from no where, out of the big bang. And life as promised in the new creation. So that Jesus’ life on earth, and then his resurrection overlap with both. A life now present in Jesus by the Spirit.

But even if I don’t understand it well, I take it by faith and go on. This is the faith in which I live, the air which I breathe, spiritually speaking. And it is the hope not only for us, but for the world. Our hope is in Jesus, in God’s work in and through him. Yes, beginning even together now for this world.

the skeptic in me

I used to be, and maybe to some extent still am a skeptic by nature. Just because something is supposed to be true, and nearly everyone I know accepts it, doesn’t make it so to me. I want to ask questions. I want to know why others dissent. I want to be open.

This has got me into heaps of trouble in the past, when I’ve openly expressed views at loggerheads with established views. Be they political, or perhaps even faith related. I realize now that oftentimes it is not worth the grief, it’s not necessarily my calling, and the more I know, the more I realize there is to know.

I still am a bit skeptical by nature I suppose. I want to examine something for myself, part of that investigation finding out what others say, especially those really knowledgeable, weighing everything, and coming to some sort of position. Often a lean one way or another, with varying degrees of certainty.

I think the skeptic in me has given way to a significant extent to the realization by faith that God knows. God knowing does not mean God wants us to dispense the responsibility we have of making judgments in regard to truth claims. It does mean that we can be confident that God can guide us now, in spite of our inevitable mistakes, and that in the end, God is sovereign so that everything will be taken care of for good, in and through Jesus.

Therefore, I won’t lose sleep over who wins the next presidential election of the United States (where I live and am a citizen of), figuratively speaking, though I may be up later that election night to see how it’s going. I won’t worry about those who sharply disagree with me on matters of politics or faith. I want to listen, be respectful, even when I completely disagree. Knowing that sometimes I’ll learn something new, which at least will help me better understand the position that is held.

The bottom line for me always ends up being Jesus. Simply Jesus. God’s grace and kingdom come in him. That is the bedrock and foundation on which I stand. Informed on that by scripture. Living that out in the context of community, through the Trinity, and Christ’s body. Knowing that all that is good, right and true is somehow related to and fulfilled in Jesus.

And so we follow. To whom else shall we go? Jesus indeed has the words of eternal life. A life as big as every issue under the sun and then some, as big as all of creation. Yes, even in the darkness we in Jesus go on, following him together and for the world.

the gospel reading of scripture

Two books recently have challenged us, particularly us evangelical Christians, to understand what scripture is about, what really is the point of scripture. And to learn to read all of it according to that, including what is now the hotly (in some quarters) debated book of Genesis. I consider them (from my limited perspective, but gathering from those with a much broader, deeper view, and having read both books myself): Christian Smith’s, The Bible Made Impossible: Why Biblicism Is Not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture, and Scot McKnight’s, The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited, co-books of the year, 2011, not necessarily in that order. They actually complement each other well, I think. Christian Smith is particularly apt at laying out the problem of biblicism, which over simply stated means or could be described as a role given to scripture which actually undermines its true role. We as Christians, followers of Jesus must have nothing short of a gospel (evangelical means something like holding to the gospel/good news) reading of scripture.

What holds scripture together? What gives it its true meaning? Jesus said that they point to him. That their true meaning is found in him. In his fulfillment of them. Jesus fulfilled and is fulfilling the story of Israel for the world, and in Jesus we are part of that fulfillment. So scripture is meant in the end to be read, prayed through and lived out of, with reference to its fulfillment in Jesus. That dynamic, which continues on to this day.

Thus, when we read its beginning, Genesis, as well as its ending, the Revelation, we do so holding to the dynamic which we begin to see in 1 Corinthians 15, as well as in “the gospels”, and the sermons in the Acts. It is a gospel oriented book, which is meant to point us to King Jesus, whose coming brings with it the realization of the true hope for this world. In the end bringing justice in shalom, in the remaking of the old into the new creation in and through Jesus.

That is what scripture is all about. That is its point. Not a text book of any sort, or meant to give us detailed information on this and that. But a dynamic, Spirit-breathed, Spirit-filled witness to the truth in Jesus, everything related in some way to that. In the story of God.

Scripture is then held in higher esteem than before. It is the word of God to point us to the Word himself, Jesus. We then find the true meaning not only of scripture, but of life itself. Meant not only for us, but for the world. In and through Jesus.

My thoughts are gathered from these two books shared above, which I am convinced are true to scripture and God’s revelation in Jesus.

Anna Rapa on the ministry of reconciliation through Jesus

Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: Jesus died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

Because of this decision we donʹt evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly donʹt look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life begins! Look at it!

Instead of selfishness, we now can be selfless.  Instead of greed, we now can give generously what we have.  Instead of being filled with lust, we now can love people who are ugly.  Instead of being prideful, we know that everything that we have and are comes from God.  Instead of seeking the approval of others, we now know that we have God’s approval.

All this comes from the God who healed our broken relationship with him, with ourselves, and with each other.  He now asks us to spend our lives working to help other people heal their broken relationships.  If we choose to walk with God, then our job is to also walk with others and bear their burdens and help men and women drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right.

But how is this possible?  It’s possible because God made Jesus, who had no brokenness, to be broken for our sakes, so that through his body and blood, we could become the children of God.

Anna Rapa, Second Story: seeing what’s not being said, 75-76.

“This passage is a mixture of the author’s paraphrase,
the NIV, and The Message…”

Jesus: the human God

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

John 1

Sometimes we rightly criticize the human tendency, indeed our own tendency to make God into our image, rather than honoring God as God. Paul does this in Romans 1. In fact humankind stooped even lower, depicting God in idols of animals such as reptiles.

While that’s true and important, it is also true that now we know God through the face of a human, Jesus. God became human, and so became a human God. We as human beings are made in God’s image: male and female. And Jesus is the icon (eikon, transliteration of Greek word) meaning image of God. Jesus is that image and in him that image is to become all it was meant to be in the new humanity, beginning now, even in this life.

In Jesus we are shown the new Adam, the new humanity, the new way to be human. How that’s lived out now is by the Spirit in the one Body of believers, in Jesus. It is relational at its core: to God and to each other, as well as to others.

In and through Jesus comes the fulfillment of all that God created in the beginning. The goal is not a return to Edenic bliss, but rather the new creation. There we find a city, along with paradise in the renewed earth, after heaven and earth become one at Jesus’ reappearing.

God becomes one with us, that we might be one with him. Not becoming God ourselves, and yet partaking of his very nature, made his children as humans, through and through when it’s all said and done. All in and through Jesus.

And so as we celebrate Advent, let’s celebrate the wonder of the God who is human, the human who is God, in Jesus. Who became one of us to live with us, that we might be one and find our true life in him. Together with others in Jesus for the world.

a new vision

A big issue with Rob Bell’s “Love Wins” is story in terms of just what story the Bible is telling. Those Christian leaders who have made out of bounds statements against Rob Bell see his take on the meaning of the biblical story as heretical.  While I can’t see Rob’s take on it as doing justice to the whole of scripture, I do think he’s getting at something which is there, but which his opponents don’t seem, in my view, to account well enough for. That indeed mercy does overrule (CEB), or triumphs over (NIV) judgment. In other words, what is at work in the world is an unleashing of God’s salvation through Christ in a way in which mercy is at work. From scripture we see the only norm is that this is to occur through the church. Although there may be hints in scripture, and indeed there are some indications that God meets people in unusual ways at times, apart from the norm.

Of all people on earth, we Christians should have the largest hearts of anyone. And I’m referring to hearts of mercy. There’s no doubt that we’re all sinners, all humanity is under the power and penalty of sin. We deserve nothing but God’s judgment. But we know that in and through God’s son, Jesus, judgment has been taken care of on the cross so that through the resurrection, new life in the salvation in Jesus, is offered to all. But what about the many who either have never heard, or who have a distorted view of the gospel? I don’t see a second chance beyond the grave promised in scripture, though I am hopeful that such will be the case. I tend to view hell in a C.S. Lewis, Tim Keller sort of way, a kind of underworld in which people choose their self-destructive way in moving further and further away from God. Perhaps ending at some point in annihilation (John R.W. Stott), or to the place where the image of God is completely gone, so that no humanity is left (along the lines of my understanding on this from N.T. Wright).

What we need today, and always need to be open to, is nothing short of a new vision from God. Always reforming is tied to the Reformation, yet many advocates of the Reformation today seem to want us to go back and live in the past. There is much good we can learn from the Reformers, which would be helpful for us today. But I don’t believe one of them, if they were alive today, would hold to the letter all they wrote or said back at that time. For example the Jewishness of our faith that has come to light over the past few decades, and how that impacts our understanding of the law, and of so much in scripture is undeniable. That does not at all change the basic insights of the Reformation. But it rids the Reformation of baggage which actually undermines its argument. So that we end up, according to my understanding, to embrace something of both the old and new perspectives on Jesus and Paul. We do need to keep prayerfully studying together.

We need to keep seeking God, and indeed every generation and culture needs to do so, for a fresh vision of the story for our day, and for the times in which we live. Not changing the essence of the Story, but letting the Story be what it is: incarnational through and through in words and the Word, made by the Spirit to make all things new, fulfilling what is of God in the old into the new, in and through Jesus.

As a bottom note, I’m advocating a new vision in keeping with scripture, then tradition, reason and experience. It is something we in Jesus need to remain open to, and continue to work at in this present world where we will ever be seeing through a glass darkly, and will know only in part (1 Corinthians 13). And while I see Rob Bell bringing up some good points which are good for the conversation that is needed, I don’t come down where he does, as to the answer, which I hope I made plain enough by implication, in this post.

beauty

Today in the UK is the big wedding. We could guess that if one word could describe it, or what people rightfully anticipate, the consensus might be beauty. Though some might say, extravagance, as in no expense spared. Or how about extravagant beauty?

This is a great loss in much of Christianity, at least in my evangelical part of it, I’m afraid, not thinking about, nor celebrating beauty as of and from God. Maybe we’re too steeped in a utilitarian mindset with the idea that what matters is the use we can get out of everything, even the earth itself. So we begin to strip the forest bare, and live in our urban, suburban ghettos, giving little thought to beauty.

But in spite of ourselves, we can’t escape beauty. It is everywhere, inherent in nature, inherent in the wonder of creation. The older I get the more I appreciate the simple beauty we find everywhere. But also the more I want to enjoy the vastness and grandeur of God’s beauty.

Beauty comes from God, all over creation and in the new creation. It is a part of God himself, especially revealed in Jesus. We’ve just celebrated the beauty of Holy Week, now in the Easter season. Scripture speaks of God’s beauty. And yet  while all of this is true, I think we often don’t have eyes to see it. We need a heart intent on finding the beauty within creation, and in that being drawn to the Creator, and the beauty found in the Triune God, especially revealed in Jesus. And finding it, begin to contemplate and reflect something of that beauty into the world.

N.T. Wright on Jesus’ resurrection: new life and a new world here and now

…the resurrection gives us a powerful reason to worship, and so to follow, the risen Jesus. If it is true that Jesus has been raised from the dead, he is not just a private cult figure, not just someone that Christians happen to know in some private way. He is the Lord of the world. Paul got into hot water in Thessalonica for declaring that there was ‘another king named Jesus’ (Acts 17.7). In the world of his day, language like that was treason. It meant that Jesus called into question the absolute power claimed by Caesar, the absolute no-questions loyalty that Caesar demanded. That was what the kingdom of God meant; that was what following Jesus involved. In our world, we would have to diversify the claim: there is another Prime Minister; there is another Vice Chancellor; another Lord Mayor. More: there is another starting point for thinking and living, which neither the market economy, nor Freudian psychology, nor international power politics, nor anything else in our present hierarchy of ideologies can touch. And we have the privilege of worshipping and following this Jesus, this King. The resurrection opens up before those who would follow Jesus a new life, a new world. And that new life and world, though they will be fulfilled in the life yet to come, begin here and now.

N.T. Wright, Following Jesus, 114.