“This understanding of the equal and inalienable value of people has steadily made its way into people’s thinking wherever Christianity has spread, so much so that every ethical theory by Western philosophers, however much they differ from each other, assumes and is based upon the absolute value of every human being. Since this teaching of Jesus took hold in Western civilization, our legal systems, our understanding of human rights, the slow and gradual rise of democracy, and the emancipation of women and slaves–all rest on and are inspired by such simple parables as that of a Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin, a Lost Son, because they teach us that every person must be taken with ultimate seriousness. These stories encapsulate the core of the gospel: each and every person so matters to God that God the Son became a human being to seek us. Nothing can give us the value and worth that underlies our civilization’s conviction concerning human rights, which is spreading to the rest of the world today–nothing except the love of God. To reject God, to ignore God, or to neglect God is at the same time to reject, to ignore, or to neglect our irreplaceable value.” Diogenes Allen, Theology for a Troubled Believer, xxii
Gospel
The critic vs. the skeptic
“A critical person is not a skeptical person, who raises or looks for difficulties in order to undermine Christianity and to avoid personal commitment. Critical persons have faith and are seeking better to understand what they believe. To one who lives only in a pious mode, a person who at times is in a critical mode of speaking may appear threatening and even a skeptic. Some skeptics, on the other hand, take all believers to be merely pious people, without critical faculties, and they mistakenly identify faith with irrationality.” Diogenes Allen, Theology for a Troubled Believer, xvi.
Who is crying now?
Can you imagine what it would be like to grow up without having ever watched the evening news on TV or ever played a video game full of death? The first time would be shocking. The absolute abandonment of respect for others would be shocking; Unless of course that is your life and is the reality of the house you live in. Without calluses toward the shock of violence, rape, murder, anger, theft, lying, we would daily be utterly crushed by the evening news. Or having viewed it with no tears, we walk away with our self-righteousness intact, glad we are not like those people.
I’m reading Ezekiel with one of my Life Transformation Groups and I have been challenged with the question “Who’s crying now?” God gave Ezekiel a scroll to eat and on both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe. And God said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.”
So I’m wondering whose lament, whose mourning, and whose woe filled those pages? God’s? Was it God’s lament for a nation that was incapable of knowing, and loving Him. Or was it the mourning of victims; Were those pages filled with the cries of those who had received no justice; who had only suffered at the hands people or a system out to steal even their hope? Or did that scroll give voice to the regret of those who realized the folly of their ways? Those who wish they could go back and do life over because of the pain their callousness had inflicted upon others?
The scroll was sweet to eat. However, Ezekiel is totally overwhelmed by his encounter with the glory of God and the assignment from God to go to a people who would not listen. He writes, “The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in anger in my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days–overwhelmed.” Ezekiel 3:14-15
The Gospel has a sweet taste but also creates a disturbance. To respond to the reality of a world that is not as it should be and to our own complicity with rebellion against God is disturbing. But I do believe the Holy Spirit fortifies us for honesty and promises, “joy in the morning.” And Jesus promises, “The Truth will set you free.”
James encourages the followers of Jesus to humble themselves before God. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the LORD, and he will life you up.” James 4:7-10
What does such humility look like? Perhaps it looks like Ezekiel utterly overwhelmed sitting quietly by the river Kebar for seven days among the very people he was called to serve.
change on the horizon
Today has been a roller coaster of emotions, as I announced publicly at Cityview that I am responding to God’s call to plant a church in the UBC Campus Community. God has blessed my family over the past 16 years with your friendship and partnership in Vancouver. Starting early this morning I replayed the stories of many people who have seen Jesus lifted up and their lives transformed by the Gospel at Cityview. Thank you for praying for us and for being a part of our lives. If you would like to hear more of what I shared, listen to the talk that will be uploaded later in the week at www.cityviewchurch.ca In the meantime, please pray for Cityview and for my family as we go through this transition. Our last Sunday will be July 18 and in September we will give our full attention to the UBC Campus Community.
the Resurrection of Jesus & the “new normal”
Jesus who was crucified, is Risen. To accept the Resurrection of Jesus as a new normal is to challenge what you believe about God, life, and yourself, it is to begin a journey with a new guide, and with new rules: live by faith, not by sight. The resurrection of Jesus as a new normal changes the way you do business.
1. God matters. Life is not about me. God becomes the main character in the story of my life. Its not about me or my family, or my country, its about Him. The glory, honour, praise, of life is to be His. True worship is something that seeps from my life because of WHO God is, not what I want Him to do for me. To stand before the Resurrected Lord with Pride in my heart seems ludicrous and in fact can only produce fear or denial of Who Jesus really is. To stand before the Resurrected Lord with humility and with the confidence of His acceptance of me is to know that life is not about me. Its about Him.
“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!”
If God is the main character of our life story, then our acceptance of the Resurrection of Jesus as the new normal promotes Him rightfully into the star role and not just our audience for whom we are performing.
“He became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
The Sovereignty of God or the supremacy of Jesus over all things is not something we run from, but something we joyfully embrace. For then life’s pain, suffering, trails, are not meaningless, but instead are made meaningful by the knowledge that the one who suffered on the Cross and was raised to life is able to accomplish His purposes and retain His glory in them and through them.
2. Jesus is the victory. Jesus has victory over death. Jesus has the power. Jesus has been promoted by God as judge over the living and dead. By entrusting myself to Jesus and believing on him I have one who claims me as His own and is able to judge between all situations.
When a day’s work is done…you go home.
“He is headed to Galilee.” Jesus is going home. Death did not keep him down. He is not stuck outside Jerusalem in shame. He is going to Galilee. He is going home. He is going home victorious.
The new normal. When confronted by my fear of people and the “death” they may inflict on me, the new normal of Jesus’ resurrection, reminds me that my life is hidden in Christ. He is victorious over death. Death is not the end. physical death By entrusting myself to him and by believing on Him I am freed from the bondage of sin, of my sin, of the fear of death.
This is a new normal that I confess I am still getting used to. This past year to be at the bedside of one of our members who was dying… To share in that moment with the family… to have confidence of our eternity in Christ. Jesus is the victor. Paul said, “Oh death where is your is your victory where is your sting?” The sting of death is sink and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
3. My life matters to God. The angel said, “Tell his disciples and Peter.” To take a big view of creation is to be confronted with the smallness of ourselves. To read the Scriptures is though is to be confronted with the bigness of God and His big interest in people. I matter to God. You matter to God.
Because the Resurrection of Jesus is the new normal the Cross of Jesus becomes a sign pointing to a new reality: my life matters to God.
John 3:16 becomes personal
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose…” 1 Cor 1:26-27
“I chose you…” John 15:16
God has chosen to share His mission of redemption with people. He entrusts his Gospel to women and to men and says share this. He takes an interest in the lives of people. God is big enough for this. And you matter enough to Him. He knows your name.
The resurrection of Jesus created a new normal for the disciples’ view of the cross. They would come to know that the cross showed that God would take extraordinary measures to show the glory of His grace. Your life matters to God for it is intended to show the glory of His grace. Sin distorts and hides His grace and glory. You matter so much to God, that Jesus accepted the cross for the joy set before Him—the glory of the Father and the incredible treasure that would be His—people redeemed and saved.
4. What Jesus says matters to me. “There you will see Him, just as He told you.” Christ is the authoritative voice in my life. To accept the Resurrection of Jesus as the new normal is to accept that Jesus is now the authoritative voice for life. Everything Jesus taught has new authority. And now by the power of His Holy Spirit made available by the Resurrected Jesus I enter into a real living relationship.
Jesus is exalted as Lord of my life, and has become my shepherd’s voice. So as I look back on His teachings I am also seeking to hear his voice for today. Jesus is a living Lord, not a dead voice speaking from the past. His voice and word is present, not just past or future. Today Jesus can speak to me and guide me into his paths of life. I expect that the Word of God is a living Word giving not only wisdom for my relationships, but directives about what I do in response to this grace of God. I am united with Jesus in his death. I am united with Jesus in his resurrection. The disciples were to go to Galilee to meet Him. But now by His Spirit He meets me wherever I am. Learning to hear His voice and know Him is the essential relationship I now enter into when I accept the Resurrection of Jesus as the new normal.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he will strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:16-17
You and I lack spiritual comprehension. Unless the Holy Spirit intervenes we are left with only. hearing about the resurrection of Jesus. By the power of the Holy Spirit we We miss the new normal.
A new normal is on your doorstep. To be with Jesus in His Resurrection is to let Him create a new normal in your life where
1. God matters to you & life is not all about you.
2. Jesus is the victor.
3. Your life matters to God.
4. What Jesus says matters to you.
To face life with the Resurrected Jesus means that when life presents me with “new normals” that challenge the very core of who I am, I face them not alone, but with Him.
urbanfoot 