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Thursday 18 April 2013

Authentication

God does not communicates truth to us through a propositional statement. He communicated truth to us through a dynamic expression of praxis and purposeful participation in and with humanity, in Jesus Christ.

To grasp this is liberating, releasing us from a preoccupation with terms and definitions. Words and concepts only find expression and definition through the context they are expressed within. Through the reality of persons in community.

When we are authentically embraced and filled by the Holy Spirit,  it is the powerful presence of God that brings about transformation in us. When we are confronted with God's Being, it is the imperative that moves us towards conformity to His Being. This drawing close to God realises in us the the Ontic drivers that affect and shape us into being effective heralds of His Purpose, instruments of His power, harbingers of the presence of His Kingdom.

And it is through our being shaped, through the Holy Spirit and with a humbling towards Christlike service, that we realise that true instruction is always embodied instruction

This, always leading to constructive community.  For it is the establishing of authentic, thick communities that mission is all about.

Sunday 7 April 2013

John 20.19-31


19-21     The impartation of 'peace' - שלךם - is also about establishing a place of rest: the gift of יהךה to His people. The bringing of the people to the place of 'peace' is the outcome of the Covenants of God. Getting to the place where God wants us to be. The place of fullness of righteousness and justice, healing and deliverance, faith, hope and love.

Here, there is the sense of the deeper, covenantal purposes of God through His people (Genesis 12.1-3), to bring blessing to all people in the world through Abraham.

The specific mention of both 'hands and side' evokes both the imagery of the paschal lamb (John 1.29 - the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world) and also that of the top lintel and doorposts smeared in blood (Exodus 12.1-3).

22-23     The act of 'breathing' the Holy Spirit evokes Deuteronomy 30.6 and especially Ezekiel 36.26-26 & 37.9ff., where the Holy Spirit's powerful presence and impartation brings restorative, reviving, renewing life and empowerment to God's people. 

 v 23 and its reference to forgiveness of sins may seem strange, unless it is taken with the preceding verses. To grasp the full sense of forgiveness we need to realise that forgiveness issues in reconciliation and restoration. We need to root our understanding of forgiveness beyond individualistic perspectives, into a fuller and more holistic OT way of thinking. It speaks of the calling of the people of God to bring God's wholeness and 'peace' to others. That the purposes of the people of God is to bring glory to God, to reflect His character and to exhibit His ways. It is the very ministry of salt and light into a world that is lost in savour and life. It is to be a people who are heralds of hope and harbingers of healing.

Now, this is about a message; but also a lot else besides. It is about who we are. How we behave. How we relate to others. Whether we Are interested in people as people at all.

24-31     A cause to live and die for?

27    -     μη γινου απιστος αλλα πιστος 
The text is clear. The challenge is, 'stop being unbelieving and instead, be believing'

So easily, we have a deficient understanding of the Christian life. Where it is diminished and debased into a philosophy,  a way of thinking, a perspective in understanding life.

But faith in Jesus is far more than an opinion or perspective on life. Faith to enter into a way of Being. It is a commitment to a cause, a response to a rallying call. 

Thomas understood this. he needed to be sure that the resurrection had actually happened. Because He realised how utterly radical and different from normal, religious living the Christian life of following Jesus truly is. There is a huge cost and disruption to normal living in becoming a disciple of Jesus: it is about purposely participating in his life, ministry and victory. And it is not a way that brings security and fulfilment according to the standards of this world.

Tuesday 2 April 2013

the aftershock

So, Easter once more passes. And Pentecost beckons.

In what I do, issues of congregational politics, power and people in leadership are never far away. So I find myself reflecting. What qualities, in the light of Easter, are essential in Christian - and therefore, baptistic - leadership?

And I rather fancy the acronym, PHD, as a starting point.

PASSION that reflects the personality of God.
HUMILTY that heralds the heart of Jesus.
DEPENDENCY that relates into life with God with people around us.

None of them are easy. They come at a price. Easter.