Incarnation is better than intervention

Posted by: Len
Church: Metro Community Kelowna, BC
Date: March 12th, 2012

IN the first Reformation, the split between clergy and laity remained nearly intact. The functions of priesthood were still restricted to a special class of people.

But as Anabaptists, we stand in a different tradition. We recognize only one Priest – Jesus the Christ. We are all brothers, and all priests. We are all filled with the Spirit: men, women, and even children – manservants and maidservants (Acts 2), and can all stand in God’s Presence with NO OTHER MEDIATOR.

Paul Maconochie writes,

“Incarnation is better than intervention.

Intervention says “I really want God to touch my life and make it better. But God is a little scary; I think I need a Pastor to stand between him and me.” Of course we never actually come out and say this; we just act as if it is true. Instead of going to Jesus directly we expect our Pastor to go to Him, praying, fasting and reading the Bible and then to instruct us in what he has learned at the worship service. In return, we pay out tithes and turn up on a Sunday morning before going back to our lives, and to be honest, not changing too terribly much.

Intervention also operates the same way with other people. We want to help others who are poor or struggling or who do not know Jesus, but we want to do it from a distance. So we give money to overseas missionaries (not a bad thing in itself!) and maybe occasionally even take blankets or soup to folks living on the streets before going back to our nice warm comfortable homes.

These things are all good and I am sure that God likes it when we intervene to help people, but I believe that God actually has a preference for incarnation. He does not want to help us from a distance, through our Pastor. He wants to be in every part of our lives. I love Eugene Peterson’s translation of John 1:14; he writes:

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.

God wants us to access His presence and His Word for ourselves. He wants to deal with us directly, and He wants us to do the same with the Last, the Least and the Lost.”

pilgrim in process

Posted by: Len
Church: Metro Community Kelowna, BC
Date: February 9th, 2012

Walter Unger writes at the MB Herald,

“How long does it take to “get saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18)? Many years ago at a revival meeting, I went to the altar, said a prayer, and went home rejoicing. The work is done, I thought. I’m saved.

“To top it off, my father gave me a verse from Philippians 1:6, which said I could be confident that the one who began the good work of salvation within me would carry it on to completion “until the day of Christ Jesus.”

“Great, I thought. I’m all set….”
More…

love, rightly ordered

Posted by: Len
Church: Metro Community Kelowna, BC
Date: December 23rd, 2011

So often when thinking of discipleship I think of structures and tasks. Even reminding someone to pray and read their bible can miss the point — which is the heart. The point of discipleship is a heart in love with Jesus.

It’s been popular in recent years among groups where there is some college or seminary training to talk about “worldviews.” The point of training is a Christian worldview. And then we measure a worldview change with beliefs — so conversion becomes all about a belief system. Like bible study and prayer, even a Christian worldview can miss the point.

When Jesus talked about the heart of discipleship, he pointed to conversion — a continual turning of the whole person toward God. He talked of loving God with our whole heart, mind and strength. This interview with James Smith reminds us that God is not known if God is not loved.

love, rightly ordered