Here is the final quote from James K.A. Smith’s Discipleship in the Present Tense. It answers the 'how' portion of the question as we consider how we participate as coredeemer (see first quote and second quote). “But for the most part, Spirit-empowered redemption looks like what Raymond Carver calls 'a small, good thing.' It looks like our everyday work done well, out of love, in resonance with God’s desire for his creation–so long as our on-the-ground labor is nested as part of a contribution to systems and structures of flourishing. It looks like doing our homework, making the kids’ lunches for school, building with quality and a craftsman’s devotion, and crafting a municipal budget that discerns what really matters and contributes to the common good. Of course, redemption is the fall of apartheid, but it’s also the once-impossible friendships forged in its aftermath. It’s an open seat on the bus for everyone, but it’s also getting to know my neighbors who differ from me. It’s nothing short of trying to change the world, but it starts in our homes, our churches, our neighborhoods, and our schools. It should not surprise us that redemption will not always look triumphant. If Jesus comes as the second Adam, who models redemptive culture-making, then in our broken world such cultural labor will look cruciform. But it will also look like hope that is hungry for joy and delight.” (pages 9-10, I think – Kindle makes it tough to figure out) While reading this quote I was reminded of Rob’s message on “blessed are the peacemakers…" (Matt 5:9) this summer in which he talked about us having the option of sowing seeds of peace. I believe this idea applies also to that of being coredeemers with Christ. We have the option to participate with Christ in his work by how we engage in each task and each interaction however mundane. We can either act in a manner that declares that Jesus is Lord and is making all things new or act in a manner that works against this. We are all invited to sow seeds of new creation and by doing so participate in the task that humans were designed for–to be the ones to govern, serve and protect his creation. There is quite a bit more to say about this in the context of Romans 5-8, which always is in the background of second Adam language, that I will have to save for another day... perhaps next week... ~chris |
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Just a reminder/update about the Town Hall meeting tonight at 7pm concerning the recent Staff Audit and Congregational Survey. The meeting is going to be in the Sanctuary and not the Fellowship Hall. There will be childcare.
This is an important meeting to gain a better understanding of the changes that have taken place and to ask clarification questions. Hope to see you there. ~chris Karla Kent and I (chris) were talking briefly about Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron the other day and then she asked me about another book that her mother-in-law had picked up, specifically Prodigal Christianity by David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw. As some of you might remember, I was on a little bit of a Fitch craze last fall. In the course of the conversation it seemed like it would be a good idea to discuss this on the connection blog. So this is the first blog entry titled, “Bookshelf”. I will use it as an opportunity to share books, articles or interesting blogs that I am reading or have found particularly influential in my journey. Hopefully you find it interesting and I’m always happy to engage in further conversation. The first book that I would like to mention is in fact Prodigal Christianity by Fitch and Holsclaw. I came across just about one year ago when I was reflecting on the Evangelical Church. I can’t remember what I put into google, but Fitch’s book The End of Evangelicalism? came up (I’ll post on this book at some point in the future I am sure). One of his other book’s Prodigal Christianity was available in the Saskatoon library system so I ordered it and read it and jumped on the Fitch bandwagon. Clearly, that is not how one would want to describe being persuaded by good arguments that Fitch and Holsclaw had something worthwhile to say about the direction of the church; however, that might best describe my reaction. In Prodigal Christianity, Fitch and Holsclaw position their view of how to move forward as the church between the polarizing debates of the last ten years or so. The Neo-reformers (e.g. John Piper, Mark Driscoll) and the Emergents (e.g. Brian Mclaren, Rob Bell) envision significantly oppositional ways of being in the world as the church, which has created considerable tension. (A side note: some expressions of evangelical Christianity, in my opinion, have avoided this debate and now must play catch up in identifying the shift in culture over the last generation, perhaps not yet even realizing that one has taken place). Fitch and Holsclaw offer, as is the subtitle of their book, “10 Signposts into the Missional Frontier” (Post-Christendom; Missio Dei; Incarnation; Witness; Scripture; Gospel; Church; Prodigal Relationships; Prodigal Justice; Prodigal Openness). All sections are worthwhile and offer an important evaluation of the last ten and equally good 'signposts' as a way forward. For me, the first four chapters are the most important with the first chapter being crucial. The first signpost outlines how the culture of North America has shifted into a post-Christian one. They describe this under three headings: post-attractional (people are not generally attracted to church and in many cases repelled), post-positional (the church no longer carries the influence it once held), and post-universal (no longer is the language and the worldview of the church shared or understood). How the church responds to these shifts is of extreme importance. In general Fitch and Holsclaw argue for a way of being in the world without compartmentalization and an honesty that reflects the Gospel (Jesus is Lord). How they work Gospel living out in their signposts contributes lots of room for discussion and visioning for who we can be as individuals in the places we find ourselves and together as the church. I close with a quote from the Introduction: “The point of the book is to fund imagination for Christians to patiently inhabit our contexts, discern God’s work, and practice the kingdom in our neighborhoods. The book challenges us to inhabit the world differently than we do now, build relationships differently, and allow God, through Jesus Christ by the Spirit, to bring the kingdom in over the long term until Christ comes again (1 Corinthians 15:25). As a result, I suspect that if the message of this book sticks, we shall put a different emphasis on discipleship in our churches. We will focus on leading Christians into living under God’s reign in our everyday lives together for God’s mission in the world.” (xvi) Here are two links related to David Fitch: http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/ (his blog) http://bethany.sk.ca/?page_id=6470 (lectures he did at Bethany College, Hepburn, SK in Nov 2013. Rob did a seminar at this and many of the staff members at EBC attended.) and one from Geoff Holsclaw: http://geoffreyholsclaw.net/blog-page/ (his blog) ~chris Just a reminder that there is NO connection this coming Sunday (August 3rd). We hope that you all are able to have a wonderful and relaxing long weekend. If you would like to attend the morning service it starts at 10am.
As I post this the weather forecast is less than awesome for the weekend, but we all know that the forecast and reality have little to do with each other. ~chris Meet at Church and not the Forestry Farm. Weather forecast still has rain in it and we just talked to Forestry Farm gate person who said it has been raining over there and the ground is wet.
Pass this information along if you think someone might not check Facebook or the website. Hey all. Leona and I were thinking that we'd head out there a little earlier and snag a BBQ. So if you want to bring something to toss on there then please do. I'll confirm at 5:15 here and on Facebook whether we were successful.
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