A Lent Journey

Coming back to the coal face of ministry after two weeks in Prague, I am faced afresh with a challenge. In engaging with God’s calling to help people develop and mature in ministry, I am reminded that the vocation of the pastor requires the qualities of a ‘leader of a household’ as well as those of a ‘servant of God’. It is no easier being a good pastor than being a good father.

For there is always a tension. When does authority become control? Where does confrontation become aggression? How does confidence in Christian identity become arrogance in our own identity? These are questions I reflect on, in this time of lent. And the answer must take me again and again to the Cross.

Kenosis. More than a theory. A painful reality that demands that the disciple seeks to follow in the via crucis, the way of Jesus Christ to the Cross.

The period towards Easter is a good season to reflect, wait and expect. For those who pass through Jesus Christ’s Cross will know the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

The key of Kenosis

These last two weeks at IBTS have been, as always, a great privilege and full of discovery. The beauty and quality of consecrated Christians, with all the variegated understands and perspectives of what it means to seek to follow Christ, born out of different contexts and cultures; yet united in a common humility of journey, discovery and adventure as we read the Bible, see with fresh understanding, finding renewed, multicoloured vision.

I come to an end of this time in Prague with a fresh appreciation of the Philippians 2 hymn, and a desire to explore it more. To know the love of God in our lives, to serve others in a meaningful way, to reach out to them in the name of Jesus Christ – all of this has to be constrained and defined by what it means for us to be joined to the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. This passage describes what happens on the self-emptying of Christ, His kenosis. And this begins and it worked through in this great act of self-emptying in order to be Christ-filled. I want to explore more of what this means for us as people, as church community, as those who long for more of God's Kingdom to be expressed through us to others around us.

And a new book that is a must to read: David Augsburger’s Dissident Discipleship (Brazos Press 2006). This is going to be a spiritual classic and deserves to be read.