Communist, lib, tree-hugger
Lately Jesus has been taking me on a journey. I have been beaten and bruised, seen truth exposed as lies, and have been lead into a whole new stream of existence. The journey has been through the kingdom of God. I am learning anew about politics (heaven forbid) and the local economy.
Since embarking on this journey I have found myself to be rather small and insignificant, and have found few 'round these parts that would endeavor to journey with me.
The journey started with St. Athanasius and his talk about salvation, as renewal. In fact he talks about salvation being the renewal of all things. He doesn't talk about apocalypse, or the end of the world but, rather the salvation and renewal of all of creation; humanity and the earth all included. This has lead me to understand that God intends to save the world John 3.17 style. I have began to see my role in his kingdom differently as well. God wishes us to be "ministers of reconciliation" as Paul says, which gives light to renewal, making right, making whole, etc. This renewal of all things, relationships, land, waters, trees, cultures, people, individiuls is what got me thinking, maybe it will start your gears turning as well. Let me know your initial thoughts.
Blessings,
Justin
Since embarking on this journey I have found myself to be rather small and insignificant, and have found few 'round these parts that would endeavor to journey with me.
The journey started with St. Athanasius and his talk about salvation, as renewal. In fact he talks about salvation being the renewal of all things. He doesn't talk about apocalypse, or the end of the world but, rather the salvation and renewal of all of creation; humanity and the earth all included. This has lead me to understand that God intends to save the world John 3.17 style. I have began to see my role in his kingdom differently as well. God wishes us to be "ministers of reconciliation" as Paul says, which gives light to renewal, making right, making whole, etc. This renewal of all things, relationships, land, waters, trees, cultures, people, individiuls is what got me thinking, maybe it will start your gears turning as well. Let me know your initial thoughts.
Blessings,
Justin
posted by jamis4 at 3:12 PM
5 Comments:
The thought of me being a "minister of reconciliation" makes me want to hide in a whole. It means I might have to do something. I'll explain more later once I think more about it.
Also, Justin, I don't know if you know this, but Derek Webb's going to be at Faith and Learning on March 1. I'm going. You should too.
The thought of me being a "minister of reconciliation" makes me want to hide in a whole. It means I might have to do something. I'll explain more later once I think more about it.
Also, Justin, I don't know if you know this, but Derek Webb's going to be at Faith and Learning on March 1. I'm going. You should too.
On man, I smell a good discussion a brewin'. I believe that one thing that we are trying to get at is how much, in fact, did God reconcile the world to himself? Thw world as a whole, the trees, seas, bees (heh), was affected by the cataclysm of the sin of mankind. How was this so? As stewards of the earth, and its vast resources, those resources became subject to the perversion within the purpose of many of man's sinful endeavors. But beyond the philosophical/theological jargon - we see that the reconcilation of man encompases the reconcilion of man's influences on the world. in short, we are the hands and feet of Christ -"ministers of reconciliation". Dare we believe that this reconciliation is on a much larger scale than the narrow dichotomy that we understand as "the world" Help me out Justin, I dont want to get into a hopeless theological mess, what are your thoughts on the matter?
Yeah, now you guys are thinkin'. Think now about heaven, the kingdom. If it is not the pie in the sky, but rather here in our midst, among us, and our prayer becomes "your kingdom come", praphrased "May your dream, your wish for humanity come true". What are we praying for? What does this mean for us. I don't believe we are talking simply of heaven after you die. Our Jewish brothers and sisters, live a with God life now, isn't this what God is calling us to.
Mike,
you are on to something! Take your theology and make it applicable, apply it now to nature, politics, economics, foriegn policy, homelessness, poverty, ethics, any and all realms of existence. We are called, called!!! to be transforming agents of God's kingdom, ministers of reconciliation to a hurting and dying world. God wishes to make right, to make new, all of creation. And we have the privelege and responsibility to participate with him, be his Kingdom Partners. Now our theology is moving out of the realm of religion, into ethics, public life, politics, everything. Isn't this what Jesus did? After all he did talk about a kingdom, not the roman kingdom, but the kingdom of God. Do you think that stepped on some toes. After all wasn't he crucified as King of the Jews? Jesus' theology informed his ethics, his public and private life, it informed every part of his humanity, as it should ours.
Keep thinking!!!
Indeed, the kingdom of God is not confined to the hearts of men, but the whole of creation (which he reconciled to himself). Let me pull out some of my Christ and Culture notes...we had a lengthy couple of days on this subject. Be back with a comment, quote, and a caveat.
-Mike-
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