Thursday, March 03, 2005
Incarnation
JOLLYBLOGGER has started a bit on a discussion on incarnation by first asking if the blogosphere can operate as a church, and then concluding that it cannot. JB compares those who think it can to Gnostics. Adrian Warnock agrees with JB's sentiment so thoroughly that his post on the topic is a striaghtforward unadorned quote.
There is little I can add to what David says, save "AMEN."
I did a Tecnorati search on the word "incarnational" -- boy is it used a lot. And misused. Check out this quote from a blog called "emergingBlurb":
As I understand the term incarnation is about imitating Jesus. John 1:14 -- And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. God dwelling among us. Gal 2:20 -- I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. Christ dwelling in us. 2 Cor 5:20 -- Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. We dwelling in the world.
This is not a question of movements or trends, ideas or issues. Incarnation is about being in the very image of Christ.
God reveals Himself in Christ, in the Word, in manifestations of the Spirit, but mostly in US, not in what we do, not in what issues we stand for, but in who we are, in Christ.
Transforming Sermons provides a link to a post at a ticking time blog that argues that the commonly accepted concept of "self-image" is unbiblical. I understand and in some senses agree with this point, but I think it is disposing with a useful concept.
People should have a good image of themselves, but not because of who they are born to be, but because of who Christ makes them to be. Incarnation is about looking at ourselves, and having others look at us and seeing not us, but Christ. Do we evidence Christ in a movement? No, I think we evidence Christ in a relationship.
Which brings us back to where this bit of a rant started. You can't "do church" in cyber-space. You can't "do church" on TV. You can't even do church very well in an auditorium filled by thousands of people.
I have been to Corinth and stood in the ruins of the "church" where Paul preached there. It is tiny, I mean really tiny. The room could not have accommodated more than 10 people. Yet, that church of 10, and many other tiny little churches of 10 changed the world. Not because they built grand edifices, physical or cyber, not because they planned large political movements, but because they concentrated on evidencing Jesus.
There is little I can add to what David says, save "AMEN."
I did a Tecnorati search on the word "incarnational" -- boy is it used a lot. And misused. Check out this quote from a blog called "emergingBlurb":
While much of our EC mission will be intercalating in the lives and communities in which we live, there are other opportunities for fighting for justice, the environment and serving human need. It is this level of incarnation...This implies that "incarnation" is about the latest "movement."
As I understand the term incarnation is about imitating Jesus. John 1:14 -- And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. God dwelling among us. Gal 2:20 -- I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. Christ dwelling in us. 2 Cor 5:20 -- Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. We dwelling in the world.
This is not a question of movements or trends, ideas or issues. Incarnation is about being in the very image of Christ.
God reveals Himself in Christ, in the Word, in manifestations of the Spirit, but mostly in US, not in what we do, not in what issues we stand for, but in who we are, in Christ.
Transforming Sermons provides a link to a post at a ticking time blog that argues that the commonly accepted concept of "self-image" is unbiblical. I understand and in some senses agree with this point, but I think it is disposing with a useful concept.
People should have a good image of themselves, but not because of who they are born to be, but because of who Christ makes them to be. Incarnation is about looking at ourselves, and having others look at us and seeing not us, but Christ. Do we evidence Christ in a movement? No, I think we evidence Christ in a relationship.
Which brings us back to where this bit of a rant started. You can't "do church" in cyber-space. You can't "do church" on TV. You can't even do church very well in an auditorium filled by thousands of people.
I have been to Corinth and stood in the ruins of the "church" where Paul preached there. It is tiny, I mean really tiny. The room could not have accommodated more than 10 people. Yet, that church of 10, and many other tiny little churches of 10 changed the world. Not because they built grand edifices, physical or cyber, not because they planned large political movements, but because they concentrated on evidencing Jesus.
