Do I really buy in to the fact that the kingdom life is present in the world, and I have an active role to play within it?
Yes. I am slowly seeking to find out what that looks like, but I am generally excited about the idea.
Do I buy into the fact that Jesus is the example toward whom I should imitate and follow?
Yes, but all too often I try to follow someone else. The tension I experience in this quest is not so much in the conflict of being like Christ so much as the conflict of being like every other story while trying to be like Christ.
Is there a danger within these two ideas?
Yes, a person who claims the above two statements fights the danger of believe that, because the Holy Spirit is in them and that they are the hands and feet of Jesus, they take the place of Jesus in the world. Also, they fight the danger of believing that it is up to them to bring the kingdom to its fullness (which it is not... that's God's job.)
Should the two ideas be thrown out because of the dangers?
BY NO MEANS!!! As a Christian, I recognize the life to which God calls me with the humility to understand that it is God who works in me as I work anything out.
Christians should be like "little Christs." Not in the sense that we believe that we can save the world on our own power... Instead, we should live in such a way that our relationship with God and God's presence in our life are obvious. We should live so hopeful and specifically Christian that people wonder what is different about us. We should live so much like Christ that the response to what is different about us is Christ.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
The Fundamental Re-Contextualization of Love 5
If Making love is the process of self-sacrificially giving for the benefit of another person in any and all relationships, we must ask the question of that which is beneficial. What is for the "good" of another? Up front, I must admit my biases. 1) I am a Christian. I am not interested in universal "goods" that all people in all situations will be able to grasp and apply. I am interested in a good that can only come from He who is Good embodied. 2) I am a male. I think that is enough said. 3) I am a United States citizen with post-Enlightenment philosophy and conservative Christian roots.
The Bible says that the strong should bear with the weak. It says that we should look not only to the good of our selves, but we should look to the good of others. It says that our attitude and mind should be the same as that of Jesus.
In light of these statements, we can reasonably assume that, for a Christian, the highest manner of showing good is manifested in Jesus. So, the question is how did Jesus work for the good of the people who did and did not follow him.
1) Doing good means meeting immediate needs. Food, water, healing, and the ability to work were all gifts that Jesus gave to people in the name of doing good.
2) Doing good means, at times, giving more than what was asked. Jesus constantly did more than give healing; he would often give embrace to those who were not considered worthy of embrace.
3) Doing good means creating a place of belonging. Jesus created a community of followers and embraced them in spite of and because of their failures.
4) Doing good means finding creative ways to serve. Feet washing is a classic example.
5) Doing good means forgiving sin. How can we do good to someone if all we see is a homosexual, an aborter, or a murderer? We must pray the prayer, "Father for give them because they do not know what they are doing." At times, we pray it when they do know what they are doing.
6) Doing good means calling to the process of repentance. Yes, there is a need to ask someone to turn from the current path. This MUST be done in truth and love. Without both love and truth, the gospel is rendered impotent.
7) Doing good means that, in all of this process, we must find the ability to walk within the context of those we seek to love. Jesus was God, and he became man. Surely, we can find the ability to be white and see the plight of the Invisible Children.
8) Doing good means sharing passion and experience. You cannot truly show love to someone until you are willing to walk, talk, and live with them.
9) Doing good means judging and being willing to take on another's judgment.
10) Doing good means making peace by taking the full weight of wrath and pain.
11) Doing good means serving, loving, and giving in the midst of pride, hate, indifference, and being taken advantage of.
In following the example of Christ, we can see what it means to make love and do good to our neighbors. Ultimately, the most beneficial thing one can do is show someone (by words or deeds) the One who is truly good.
The Bible says that the strong should bear with the weak. It says that we should look not only to the good of our selves, but we should look to the good of others. It says that our attitude and mind should be the same as that of Jesus.
In light of these statements, we can reasonably assume that, for a Christian, the highest manner of showing good is manifested in Jesus. So, the question is how did Jesus work for the good of the people who did and did not follow him.
1) Doing good means meeting immediate needs. Food, water, healing, and the ability to work were all gifts that Jesus gave to people in the name of doing good.
2) Doing good means, at times, giving more than what was asked. Jesus constantly did more than give healing; he would often give embrace to those who were not considered worthy of embrace.
3) Doing good means creating a place of belonging. Jesus created a community of followers and embraced them in spite of and because of their failures.
4) Doing good means finding creative ways to serve. Feet washing is a classic example.
5) Doing good means forgiving sin. How can we do good to someone if all we see is a homosexual, an aborter, or a murderer? We must pray the prayer, "Father for give them because they do not know what they are doing." At times, we pray it when they do know what they are doing.
6) Doing good means calling to the process of repentance. Yes, there is a need to ask someone to turn from the current path. This MUST be done in truth and love. Without both love and truth, the gospel is rendered impotent.
7) Doing good means that, in all of this process, we must find the ability to walk within the context of those we seek to love. Jesus was God, and he became man. Surely, we can find the ability to be white and see the plight of the Invisible Children.
8) Doing good means sharing passion and experience. You cannot truly show love to someone until you are willing to walk, talk, and live with them.
9) Doing good means judging and being willing to take on another's judgment.
10) Doing good means making peace by taking the full weight of wrath and pain.
11) Doing good means serving, loving, and giving in the midst of pride, hate, indifference, and being taken advantage of.
In following the example of Christ, we can see what it means to make love and do good to our neighbors. Ultimately, the most beneficial thing one can do is show someone (by words or deeds) the One who is truly good.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Fundamental Re-Contextualization of Love 4
In light of the present milieu of unhealthy and unbiblical models of love and sex, I desire to present an alternative re-imagining of love. In order for this to occur, we must first ask a question popularized by Saturday Night Live, "What is love?"
The Bible nerd within me jumps, and it says, "Greater love has no man than this; that he would lay down his life for a friend." And, this statement is true. But, is it really that simple? It the concept of sacrifice the defining practice of love?
In Greek, there are three words for love: Phileo, Eros, and Agape. Phileo and agape are often used interchangeably throughout the New Testament. They are almost always presented as the word "love." A nuanced approach to these words reveals an understanding of phileo meaning "brotherly love" and agape meaning "unconditional love." However, this is not always true. Agape is often used as the equivalent to the Hebrew word "hesed" which means a host of things including "covenantal love" in the Septuagint. The only clear definition of the three words is that Eros means "passionate love."
Using these three words, we can surmise a helpful philosophy of love.
First, love has an aspect of Friendship. This friendship love is expressed to the extent that it can be equated to covenant love. This love is shown in the love between Jonathan and David in the book of Samuel. Friendship stands in the face of pain and oppression (Jonathan's dad tried to kill David, but Jonathan saved him.) Friendship is willing to give of one's self for each other (Jonathan was the presupposed heir to the throne, but he gave it willingly to David.) Friendship focuses on a shared experience of life (Jonathan and David related and love one another.)
Second, love has an aspect of Commitment. This part of love is the least fun for most people. I would argue that this aspect is the determining factor for the strength of the other two. When David and Jonathan go through common experiences and show love to each other, they symbolize the commitment with one another by making a covenant. In this covenant, Jonathan promises to keep David safe, and David promises to not kill all of Jonathan's family when he comes to power. Each of the men follow through with their commitments.
Lastly, love has an aspect of Passion. It is ironic that the ordeal that Jesus undertook at the cross is considered the "passion," but we often say we are passionate about so much. I would argue that "the passion of Jesus Christ" is the fullest expression of living and loving (with the obvious irony that it caused his death intended.) To love is to give of one's self to another. A manifestation of that giving is sex, but I would argue that sex is not the best or highest way to give of one's self. This passion is expressed not by action but by lifestyle. If Jesus lived a selfish life, love no one, and died on the cross, the death means nothing. The death (and subsequent resurrection) mean everything because Jesus lived a life of self-giving.
To my original question: Is love as simple as sacrifice for the benefit of another? Yes. Yes, in the sense that a lifestyle of sacrifice in a prerequisite for love. Yes, in the sense that an unloving or non-beneficial sacrifice is not a true sacrifice but an act of mere obedience. Yes, in the sense that love is not merely meeting my needs but being in a relationship of mutual sacrifice and needs-meeting. Yes, in the sense that a community of sacrificial people has no needy among them. Yes, in the sense that to love is to give of one's self.
This love can be given, is given, and can be taken by everyone.
Making love, therefore, is the process of self-sacrificially giving for the benefit of another person in any and all relationships.
However, we must now define what is beneficial...
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