In Christ...So What?

As we continue to wrestle with what it means to be on mission and how our mission is shaped and determined by our theology we looked briefly at the reality of being "in Christ". We left off with a simple question, "So what?" So what, if we as followers of Jesus, are in him?  What bearing does that have on any aspect of our daily reality? What does that have to do with our mission? The ramifications are significant.  A good friend makes that clear in a recent post (which got me kickstarted to write again). I really like what Alan Hirsch says here, httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jePGylrJWhM&feature=player_embedded You see Alan is making the point that we must be where Jesus is, this is obvious because we are in Christ, if those of us who say that we are "in Christ" are moving in mission then we necessarily must be doing it together. Did you catch that? To be on mission necessarily means doing it together. If one is in Christ then she must be on mission with someone else, a community of people.  I prefer the term (from Hirsch) Communitas.  This is an understanding that the community of Jesus is necessarily a people on mission. I like this definition,
Community is a ship in port.  Communitas is a ship at sea. The ship is not designed for port. The ship is designed for the sea. The church is not designed for community.  It is designed at its core DNA to be communitas.
I find it interesting that much of the Christian West is seeking to find "community" when it needs to be looking for communitas. However, we don't really believe the necessary outworking of the fact that to be a Christian is to be "in Christ" with all the other Christians. We seek holy huddles. We seek comfort. So, what happens if we instead begin to seek communitas? We will get really uncomfortable, we will have to enter into the lives of others, we will have set aside ourselves, it will be inconvenient. To be "in Christ" means to be unified with the whole of the body of Christ and the local expression of that body particularly.  Here are some questions that have been bouncing around in my head as far as evaluation goes:
  • How often are you spending time with people from your particular church outside of church sanctioned meetings or events?
  • How many close friends do you have within your particular church? Do you spend time with them outside of official church meetings or events?
  • Would you vacation with anyone from your particular church?
  • Who in your particular church would you call in a time of crisis (besides your pastor or deacon)?
  • Is there anyone from your particular church that you do mission with?
I would love to know if you have any questions to add to this list.  Just throw them in the comments section. In summary, to be "in Christ" means to be on mission together, communitas.

A long time coming...

I have not posted in a while.  This means that I have broken the number one rule of blogging.  That rule states that you are to blog approximately thrice weekly. But, you see real life, the place that is not connected to a computer has become full. Therefore, I haven't had time to write. Even writing this I feel like I should be doing ten other things. So, here's the deal, I am hopeful that things are going to begin slowing. I need the space to write. It gives me a place to work out what is going on in my head. I want to continue writing about how our theology and doctrine drives us into mission. But, right now the mission is demanding my time and the keyboard doesn't hold a candle to the mission.

Next...

I have been thinking where to go next as I wrestle through how our beliefs drive the mission. Remember, what we believe ought to send us on an expedition with God. Since I have argued that Jesus is the center, that he is Lord,  and that this is the starting point, I will move forward with the reality that those are Christ followers are said to be "in Christ". When it comes to unity with Christ let's start with John 15:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

(John 15:1-11 ESV)

Jesus is the central figure. He is the vine to which all is connected, I think this image is helpful:

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The "trunk" is the "vine". When one becomes a follower of Jesus she is grafted into the vine. The branches or cordons.  These are one with the vine. You see, those are Christians are not simply followers, we are one with the true vine. This reality is significant. Do you get that? If you claim to be a Christian you are one with Christ. This is why Paul says,
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

It is the "in Christness" of the person that determines their new identity. This is why Jesus' righteousness can be ours, because we are in him. We cannot be justified apart from being in him.

So what?

That's next...

Before the Beginning...a Further Reflection

I was thinking about this whole Jesus is the theological center thing all weekend and realized that this rabbit hole is ridiculously deep. I mean here is the God of the universe walking among us. Here, present, in time and space. Think about this reality, just for a moment. It's pretty astounding isn't it? The burning bush, the pillar of cloud and fire, theophanies. But, here is the person of God perfectly human and perfectly divine. To explore the riches of this reality is something that we cannot possibly come to an end of. The practical realities of this truth are limitless as well, are they not? Where did God go when he was here? A manger. A wedding. The wilderness. Dusty roads. A place everyone else avoided. The tax collector's booth. The sea. The mountains. The prostitute's corner. The drunk's table. The Temple. The synagogue. God entered. He engaged this lost world in a very raw and very real way. He didn't hole up in the Temple courts or in the synagogue. He didn't only hang with the religious people. He said things like, "I came to seek and save the lost." "This sick need a physician not the healthy." He said things like, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off." "The son of man has no place to lay his head." He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." He leads us out into expedition. He leads us to a dangerous place. He leads to the place of faith. This is not for the faint-hearted but the for the courageous who can follow a master that is more concerned about glory than safety. I have come to this question, "Am I living safe?" If I am living "safe", I am not following the one who called me. Living "safe" means that I will not be in danger of losing my life. I love the fact that there are people in my life who are not living "safe". They inspire me. They inspire me because they are following Jesus. I want to follow Jesus too. I want to go where he goes. I really do. But, it is scary.

Justice? Are you sure?

Last night was a tipping point in American history.  We heard the details of a straight out of Hollywood scene recounting the death of Osama Bin Laden.  It has been a fascinating scene to see this unfold via social media and other information outlets.  Upon hearing the news I tweeted,
Interesting how my perspective on all this is so much different than ten years ago. Desiring justice more than revenge.
Ten years ago, I would have rejoiced. Ten years ago, I was longing for the death of this man. Now, I am saddened that he is separated from God. Now, I am saddened that many of my friends consider this justice. I am more and more aware that justice is not something that I really want. If I really want justice then I would want God to cast me off.  I would want God to send me away from his presence forever. No. I desire grace. I desire grace for everyone. Yes, even for those who do evil. I desire grace. I am grateful that justice was served nearly 2000 years ago on a cross on a street corner that is now a parking lot for buses. I am grateful that I won't have to face justice, because if I am honest with myself, I am more like Osama Bin Laden than I am like Jesus.  At the end of the day, that's all that matters. Let justice be served? I suppose. But I think I prefer to let the gracious God who gave everything to reconcile the world to himself through a cross dole it out.

Before the Beginning...applied

So, if Jesus is the center, his life, death, and resurrection culminating in the reality that he is Lord, how does this apply to mission? How does this reality determine how we ought to live and act as his followers? Well, that's just it, we have to follow. I really like what Rt. Rev. Dr. David Zac Niringiye says here, it has been stuck in my head. We are to be followers. If Jesus is the center then we go where he goes. We follow where he leads. We love how he loved. We extend grace like he extends grace. We engage the lost world at the expense of our own safety and comfort. We enter into relationship with people who are the same and different from us. We speak truth. We live truth. We love the Scriptures. We ask questions. If we accept the invitation to follow and we believe that Jesus is the theological center of everything then our lives cannot be lived as our own. 1 Corinthians 7 offers a helpful reminder:
You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. (1 Corinthians 7:23 ESV)
If Jesus is our center then we cannot, must not, retreat behind the walls of a holy hideout. We must, we have to step out into the lost and broken world and... engage it, question it, challenge it, transform it. Following Jesus necessarily pushes us out and into the world as transformative ambassadors who bring a story, a message, healing, love, grace, mercy, truth, transformation. To call yourself a "Christian" means you are required to go on expedition on behalf of the one who bought you.

Where's the 'Real'?

I am being struck more and more by my inability to be quiet.  I get uncomfortable.  It makes me feel like I am missing something if 'the Twitters' or the 'the Facebooks' are turned off.  Heaven forbid, I don't access my email. When I study the Scriptures it strikes me that the same is true. I don't settle down and respond in the quiet moments that follow. I move on to what is next. I have been thinking about so many things in my life and so much of it needs to be written down and processed.  But, I don't have the white space to write and process. I don't have the space to be quiet.     Why?     Because I think it scares me.     In the quiet I just might meet the God of the universe and no longer be in control.     What about you?

Easter, B-O-R-I-N-G

 
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I received this in the mail yesterday.  I was completely shocked. No, I was aghast. Then my heart broke. Easter is the single greatest moment in the history of the world. Time was split in two. Sin lost. Life was victorious. The whole of creation redeemed. Easter is anything but boring. Easter is anything but a slick marketing technique. If the church thinks that Easter is boring, that the church needs to liven it up, that the church needs to do it "differently", then we are more lost than I could have ever imagined. Here's the real kicker, this ad is targeted at church goers. It's targeted to the people who show up to church. Really? Let's grow by shifting sheep? Really? Really. It's a game to be won. Sadly for many of us pastors "winning" = "nickels and noses". In the grand scheme of things this post won't matter.  It will be lost in the minutia of all the noise. But, I had to write it, because this is wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. There are no two ways about it. In the midst of EACH and movement of 400+ churches uniting together for the cause of Christ, this church chooses to forsake unity. Why? "Winning". That's why. I think maybe we need to read a little 2 Corinthians  to close out:
Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:1-6 ESV)