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BlogHere are the thoughts and news of the people in our community. Leave a comment as you wish. If you want to join the blogging ask Mark.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004More on the Conference: Tom Wright, Part 1 The Bishop blew the conference away with his huge view of the world. In this charismatic leaders conference he started as he meant to go on: “We need to get the big picture between the resurrection and the new creation. The gospel is not about us having a new religious experience, nor is it about going to heaven when you die”. That’s how to get peoples attention ;o). There were a million and one gems, if you could type fast enough, which I couldn’t [on my iPAQ and foldaway keyboard]! Like this: The power Caesar had was based on "if you get in my way then I will kill you" - the cross was a symbol of Caesar’s power; in Jesus it became the symbol of the power of the living God. I have never heard the implications of the resurrection so vastly expounded. I think I need to read the book [d’oh!]. “Jesus body is the same but transformed, not resuscitated nor was the old thrown away. Easter is the new creation begun - God's future appearing in the middle of history. The work of the gospel in the present is held between the Easter event and the Easter hope.” This determines who we are to be: Our lives are to be shaped by the new creation. So Paul saying “if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation” is not so much just about me, but rather about me getting caught up God’s new creation work, which will be brought to completion when it culminates in ‘new heavens and new earth’. Those ‘in Christ’ are a sign in the present that God’s future is on the way. Therefore what we do in the present and how we treat this world in the present matters, because it will not be chucked, nor resuscitated, but will be transformed. More implications followed in part 2. He finished part 1 with what is in the last two chapters of “The Challenge of Jesus”: The Disciples on the Emmaus Road [evangelism in a pomo world] – they were puzzled people, trying to work out what’s going on with Jesus, their hopes dashed because of his death. Jesus comes but doesn't reveal who he is, but rather he comes alongside and retells the story, probably pulling out themes of God’s people getting to place of total suffering and darkness and then coming forth, and showing how this reframes Jesus. Jesus eats with them and their eyes were opened (cf Genesis 3:7). Our world is full of people walking to and fro confused in a post-Christian culture. There is still a memory, however, over 70% still call themselves Christians. Our task is to play Jesus in that story - not to beat them over the head, but to come alongside incognito and to retell the story "it was the way is was meant to be", and to come into their homes and break bread with them to show that Jesus is alive. Posted by: Mark | 12:06 pm |
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