“What kind of story have we fallen into?”
Sam to Frodo in The Fellowship of the Rings
Maybe more accurately stated for we who follow Jesus, "What kind of Story has sucked us up into it?" It may seem that some of us stumbled into the faith, but the truth is that resurrection power exerted from an extra-terrestrial, loving and personal Source has drawn us into the realism of eternal life. But...back to the Story.
Meditate with me for a few moments on the following Scriptures in light of this premise: this Gospel of Jesus, that we have embraced, is essentially about the Person and Event of all time and eternity and that brings to light the true meta-narrative of Divine/human history, integrates its various sub-plots and provides the essential interpretative template for rightly understanding God's intentions and activity throughout time and eternity. (I know that these are really big thoughts, but...come on...it's good for us to "go there" on occasion! Oh, we so often don't perceive or remember what has actually come upon us.)
So...here is a smattering of such passages from the apostolic record (read the words slowly and contemplate their meaning and implications):
...3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery… 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets…. 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord…. Eph 3:3, 5, 9-11
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. Eph 1:9-10
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith…. Rom 16:25-26
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Heb 1:1-2
Our seemingly, but apparently not so, little lives and life stories are mysteriously nested in this Greatest Story ever told. The Gospel is truly the uber-intriguing mystery/adventure/romance epic imaginable and you're a player in the drama of it. "Unbelievable!," say the fearful. "No...Believable," say the courageous.
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Fellowship of the Mystery-Part 2
Definition: Metanarrative--a controlling story that informs our worldview and operates at a presupposition and precognitive level.
Is there such a Story in this world that is authentic and that possesses the animating force and informing power to integrate all aspects of reality? If so, there is only space in our hearts, minds and imaginations for one such story. No other smaller story could or should or would actually compete with the way this Story would effortlessly capture and focus our entire being. All that we would be and do would flow out of the subterranean culture that it would create in our deep heart.
As I write this morning, I am aware how few of our teachers in the faith have understood or labored to present the Story of Scripture, that truly is a beautiful and compelling whole--"God's one big God-Story". I've called this series "the fellowship of the mystery" which is a phrase used by the apostle Paul in Ephesians because, in the context of that passage, he is speaking about the metanarrative of Scripture and ... he spoke of it often in his epistles. I don't think the book of Romans can be properly interpreted or applied without first seeing it as the apostolic metanarrative of the entire history of God's intentions and interactions with all humanity.
“All of human life is shaped by some story...If the Bible is fragmented into little bits...then it will be absorbed into our cultural story...Our whole lives will be shaped by our idolatrous cultural story rather than the story of Scripture.” Jason Zahariades
What Jason warns us about above, sadly, has happened to most believers and church communities. I believe this is a main reason for whatever degree of spiritual impotency by which we are plagued. N. T. Wright has said that if we do, however, get this big picture of God's Story deeply seated in our hearts and minds then it will answers these ultimate kinds of questions (which we all share) quite sufficiently: Who am I? Where am I? What is wrong? What is the solution? What time is it?
More to come....
Is there such a Story in this world that is authentic and that possesses the animating force and informing power to integrate all aspects of reality? If so, there is only space in our hearts, minds and imaginations for one such story. No other smaller story could or should or would actually compete with the way this Story would effortlessly capture and focus our entire being. All that we would be and do would flow out of the subterranean culture that it would create in our deep heart.
As I write this morning, I am aware how few of our teachers in the faith have understood or labored to present the Story of Scripture, that truly is a beautiful and compelling whole--"God's one big God-Story". I've called this series "the fellowship of the mystery" which is a phrase used by the apostle Paul in Ephesians because, in the context of that passage, he is speaking about the metanarrative of Scripture and ... he spoke of it often in his epistles. I don't think the book of Romans can be properly interpreted or applied without first seeing it as the apostolic metanarrative of the entire history of God's intentions and interactions with all humanity.
“All of human life is shaped by some story...If the Bible is fragmented into little bits...then it will be absorbed into our cultural story...Our whole lives will be shaped by our idolatrous cultural story rather than the story of Scripture.” Jason Zahariades
What Jason warns us about above, sadly, has happened to most believers and church communities. I believe this is a main reason for whatever degree of spiritual impotency by which we are plagued. N. T. Wright has said that if we do, however, get this big picture of God's Story deeply seated in our hearts and minds then it will answers these ultimate kinds of questions (which we all share) quite sufficiently: Who am I? Where am I? What is wrong? What is the solution? What time is it?
More to come....
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Fellowship of the Mystery--Part 1
I'm getting ready this morning to minister to a well established congregation in the area and I'm deeply stirred once again about how the Bible is an account of the one overarching and authoritative God-Story of universal history. (Still, in my humble opinion, there are details, interpretations and implications of the Story of "secondary importance" that are up for honest debate among genuine God-lovers and Christ-followers. Some segments of our brotherhood are inclined to project that their particular views of such details are the only valid and "orthodox" beliefs on these points of doctrine.)
Yet, the bigger Story clearly rings out across the breadth of the pages of the Scripture and we ourselves have "fallen into this Story" in Jesus the Christ. Here is just one brief reference to this reality:
Eph 3:9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church (i.e. simple people like you and me!) to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord….
For too long and in too many quarters of the Church, we have understood the Bible in "pieces" and have not been taught it as God's "metanarrative" (def. a controlling story that informs our worldview and operates at a presupposition and precognitive level.) of universal history. Here are just a few quotes from some deep thinkers that relate to us the problems that this creates for our lives and witness.
“The whole point of Christianity is that it offers a story which is the story of the whole world.” It is public truth.” N.T. Wright
“I can only answer the question “What am I to do?” if I can answer the prior question “Of what story do I find myself a part?” Alasdair MacIntyre
“The way we understand human life depends on what conception we have of the human story. What is the real story of which my life story is a part?” Lesslie Newbigin
“As I read the Bible I find in it a quite unique interpretation of universal history, and therefore, a unique understanding of the human person as a responsible actor in history. You Christian missionaries have talked of the Bible as if it were simply another book of religion.” Badrinath (Hindu scholar)
“… the Bible provides us with an overarching narrative in which all other narratives of the world are nested. The Bible is the story of God. The story of the world is first and foremost the story of God’s activity in creating, sustaining, and redeeming the world to fulfill God’s purposes for it.” C. Gerkin
“Scripture teaches one universal kingdom history that encompasses all of created reality: past, present, and future…its vision of history extends backward all the way to the beginning of time and forward all the way to the last day…the biblical vision of history spans time from the first creation to the new creation, encompassing all of created reality.” S. Greidanus
I must and will say more....
Yet, the bigger Story clearly rings out across the breadth of the pages of the Scripture and we ourselves have "fallen into this Story" in Jesus the Christ. Here is just one brief reference to this reality:
Eph 3:9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church (i.e. simple people like you and me!) to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord….
For too long and in too many quarters of the Church, we have understood the Bible in "pieces" and have not been taught it as God's "metanarrative" (def. a controlling story that informs our worldview and operates at a presupposition and precognitive level.) of universal history. Here are just a few quotes from some deep thinkers that relate to us the problems that this creates for our lives and witness.
“The whole point of Christianity is that it offers a story which is the story of the whole world.” It is public truth.” N.T. Wright
“I can only answer the question “What am I to do?” if I can answer the prior question “Of what story do I find myself a part?” Alasdair MacIntyre
“The way we understand human life depends on what conception we have of the human story. What is the real story of which my life story is a part?” Lesslie Newbigin
“As I read the Bible I find in it a quite unique interpretation of universal history, and therefore, a unique understanding of the human person as a responsible actor in history. You Christian missionaries have talked of the Bible as if it were simply another book of religion.” Badrinath (Hindu scholar)
“… the Bible provides us with an overarching narrative in which all other narratives of the world are nested. The Bible is the story of God. The story of the world is first and foremost the story of God’s activity in creating, sustaining, and redeeming the world to fulfill God’s purposes for it.” C. Gerkin
“Scripture teaches one universal kingdom history that encompasses all of created reality: past, present, and future…its vision of history extends backward all the way to the beginning of time and forward all the way to the last day…the biblical vision of history spans time from the first creation to the new creation, encompassing all of created reality.” S. Greidanus
I must and will say more....
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Our Kids: Christmas '07
We are definitely proud parents of our fabulous and growing clan. Mike (19), Sam and Caitlin (married in July 07), James and Lisa (the blonde) Hoskins (married in Jan 07), Steve (16 and driving!) and Luke and Rebekah (in the middle) (married six years now and living in Nashville) Every one--a friend of God.
On Not Losing Heart
2 Cor 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (NASB)
If we do lose heart along the way in life, there is hope and the availability of restoration through the love and power of Jesus. But is it possible to not lose heart in the first place? We will certainly be tempted and ... I don't personally know anyone who hasn't had seasons of their life in which they lost heart. But, I do know from my experience and from others that, in any given situation, we can successfully "guard our heart" (cf. Pv 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.") from becoming "spiritually damaged". This is different than our heart being temporarily "hit"... which happens simply because we are breathing humans who have a heart in the first place! It's also different than living and relating in a "defensive/self-protected" way. (But that's another 10 blogs!)
The apostle's divine revelation quoted above holds the key to our avoiding the loss of heart in a fallen world. He instructs us to view all the negative and hard things that happen to us as "momentary light affliction". Yet, even beyond this, he states that these very situations "produce" for us their polar opposites in our future..."eternal weight of glory". This is a great height of divine irony and paradox. Have you ever seriously meditated on this reality in light of the pains of your life?
However, there is one more important thing to say. For us to enjoy the peace and security of this truth in our messy present, we must "look" at "things which are not seen"...no small task. (Note: a rather special set of "eyes" is required!) This is the essence of what it means to "walk by faith and not by sight". This is what all the heroes of faith referred to in Hebrews 11 did...even before Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is what it means to be "heavenly minded"...to be a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. This certainly includes holding in view our glorious future reward. But that very reward is vitally connected to our living well here and now. It's not about checking out of this world...oh no. Rather, it's about getting a heavenly mindset regarding our earthly circumstances that empowers us to be of some earthly good, for Christ's sake, in a world in which not everything is going well and nothing is going perfectly. And so it will be until He returns and His kingdom is fully revealed. Even so, will I remain His friend over the long haul?
If we do lose heart along the way in life, there is hope and the availability of restoration through the love and power of Jesus. But is it possible to not lose heart in the first place? We will certainly be tempted and ... I don't personally know anyone who hasn't had seasons of their life in which they lost heart. But, I do know from my experience and from others that, in any given situation, we can successfully "guard our heart" (cf. Pv 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.") from becoming "spiritually damaged". This is different than our heart being temporarily "hit"... which happens simply because we are breathing humans who have a heart in the first place! It's also different than living and relating in a "defensive/self-protected" way. (But that's another 10 blogs!)
The apostle's divine revelation quoted above holds the key to our avoiding the loss of heart in a fallen world. He instructs us to view all the negative and hard things that happen to us as "momentary light affliction". Yet, even beyond this, he states that these very situations "produce" for us their polar opposites in our future..."eternal weight of glory". This is a great height of divine irony and paradox. Have you ever seriously meditated on this reality in light of the pains of your life?
However, there is one more important thing to say. For us to enjoy the peace and security of this truth in our messy present, we must "look" at "things which are not seen"...no small task. (Note: a rather special set of "eyes" is required!) This is the essence of what it means to "walk by faith and not by sight". This is what all the heroes of faith referred to in Hebrews 11 did...even before Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is what it means to be "heavenly minded"...to be a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. This certainly includes holding in view our glorious future reward. But that very reward is vitally connected to our living well here and now. It's not about checking out of this world...oh no. Rather, it's about getting a heavenly mindset regarding our earthly circumstances that empowers us to be of some earthly good, for Christ's sake, in a world in which not everything is going well and nothing is going perfectly. And so it will be until He returns and His kingdom is fully revealed. Even so, will I remain His friend over the long haul?
Monday, January 21, 2008
On Losing Heart
2 Cor 4:16a "So we do not lose heart…."
The ancient enemy of human souls is a real being and he is working, mostly under-cover and behind the scenes, in a malevolent and unrelenting way, in an all out attempt to get us to “lose heart”. However, this is a life-transforming point of spiritual warfare: the devil cannot actually achieve this end without getting us to cooperate—he hands us the poison arrows, but our heart can only be “killed” (closed, hardened, shut down, frozen, anesthetized, embittered, divided…can you add to the list?) if we plunge the arrows in ourselves. His main strategies involve lying, luring and deceiving us into cooperating with him to commit some kind of “suicide of the heart” And this…of course…happens every day to people living in this fallen world.
Have you ever “lost heart” in various seasons of your journey? I am sad to confess that I certainly have. Fortunately, there is healing and recovery available for our broken hearts through the in-breaking of the grace of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s certainly better to not lose heart, but if we have, it’s not automatically the end of our story. The losses and victories of our heart-battles actually become a part of the divine drama of our pilgrimage—and a source of instruction and encouragement to others.
Jesus came to give us a relationship with our Creator and Father that centers in a genuine restoration and renovation of the human heart—a true religion of the deep heart. With His great and mighty help, we can arise with courage and break our past agreements with our ancient foe that have plugged up the well-spring of our being—our heart.
The ancient enemy of human souls is a real being and he is working, mostly under-cover and behind the scenes, in a malevolent and unrelenting way, in an all out attempt to get us to “lose heart”. However, this is a life-transforming point of spiritual warfare: the devil cannot actually achieve this end without getting us to cooperate—he hands us the poison arrows, but our heart can only be “killed” (closed, hardened, shut down, frozen, anesthetized, embittered, divided…can you add to the list?) if we plunge the arrows in ourselves. His main strategies involve lying, luring and deceiving us into cooperating with him to commit some kind of “suicide of the heart” And this…of course…happens every day to people living in this fallen world.
Have you ever “lost heart” in various seasons of your journey? I am sad to confess that I certainly have. Fortunately, there is healing and recovery available for our broken hearts through the in-breaking of the grace of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s certainly better to not lose heart, but if we have, it’s not automatically the end of our story. The losses and victories of our heart-battles actually become a part of the divine drama of our pilgrimage—and a source of instruction and encouragement to others.
Jesus came to give us a relationship with our Creator and Father that centers in a genuine restoration and renovation of the human heart—a true religion of the deep heart. With His great and mighty help, we can arise with courage and break our past agreements with our ancient foe that have plugged up the well-spring of our being—our heart.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
A Renewed Perspective of Adversity
2 Cor 12:9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The apostle Paul was being viewed as a "weakling" by the Corinthians believers during this particular phase of his relationship with them. This matter of being or appearing "weak" seems to be a very deep personal dealing of the Heavenly Father in our lives. It seems to go to the core of how we derive our sense of value and God, of course, is jealous that we find our worth in simply belonging to Him through Jesus. All of the good that we are capable of, and this goodness should not be underestimated, flows from this center. Paul came to the place where he not only patiently endured the difficult things in this fallen age in which we follow Christ, but he actually found a way to delight in these adversities. He actually viewed the weakness he experienced as a entryway into receiving and expressing a greater power of Jesus in and through his personhood.
A part of me hates to admit it, but a degree of adversity is necessary for me to grow into becoming the person that God intends for me to be. Without such challenges, I would tend to, in my imperfection, "veg out" and "idolize" my immediate comfort. (This challenge-free life can actually be temporarily simulated in such a society as ours...but it is, in fact, only a "virtual reality"!) For my good, there is a nobler cause present in this age worthing living for and dying for and the reality of the battle moves me to a reasonable sacrificial action.
It almost sounds morbid and it would be...if adversities were our only experience in this world. Fortunately, there is much beauty and joy given by God to us in both creation and the new creation inaugurated by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It must have been through this "resurrection grid" that Paul interpreted the hardships of his life. I find, for myself at least, it is only the resurrection of Jesus that makes sense of my journey in life--it explains well both the blessings and the trials and provides a context for living a good life that only comes through the grace of Jesus the Lord.
The apostle Paul was being viewed as a "weakling" by the Corinthians believers during this particular phase of his relationship with them. This matter of being or appearing "weak" seems to be a very deep personal dealing of the Heavenly Father in our lives. It seems to go to the core of how we derive our sense of value and God, of course, is jealous that we find our worth in simply belonging to Him through Jesus. All of the good that we are capable of, and this goodness should not be underestimated, flows from this center. Paul came to the place where he not only patiently endured the difficult things in this fallen age in which we follow Christ, but he actually found a way to delight in these adversities. He actually viewed the weakness he experienced as a entryway into receiving and expressing a greater power of Jesus in and through his personhood.
A part of me hates to admit it, but a degree of adversity is necessary for me to grow into becoming the person that God intends for me to be. Without such challenges, I would tend to, in my imperfection, "veg out" and "idolize" my immediate comfort. (This challenge-free life can actually be temporarily simulated in such a society as ours...but it is, in fact, only a "virtual reality"!) For my good, there is a nobler cause present in this age worthing living for and dying for and the reality of the battle moves me to a reasonable sacrificial action.
It almost sounds morbid and it would be...if adversities were our only experience in this world. Fortunately, there is much beauty and joy given by God to us in both creation and the new creation inaugurated by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It must have been through this "resurrection grid" that Paul interpreted the hardships of his life. I find, for myself at least, it is only the resurrection of Jesus that makes sense of my journey in life--it explains well both the blessings and the trials and provides a context for living a good life that only comes through the grace of Jesus the Lord.
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