Crumbs from your table: Bono’s flawed vision for humanitarian relief August 31, 2007
Posted by Paul Edwards in AIDS, Africa, Bono, Culture, Evangelicals, Faith, GenX, Giving, Global Warming, HIV, Jesus, Politics, Relevant, Suffering, Uncategorized.trackback
What ought to be the response of the church of Jesus Christ to the social troubles that plague our world? What ought to be the response of the church of Jesus Christ to the AIDs crisis in Africa that takes the lives of 6,300 Africans every day and infects 9,500 more every day and has left 11 million children as orphans? What ought to be our response to unfair governmental trade policies that have as their result the oppression of the poor in countries throughout Africa? What ought to be our response to the overwhelming debt owed by countries in Africa to the World Bank and to the International Monetary Fund, so overwhelming it could never possibly be repaid?
Many evangelicals cringe at the notion that social issues like these ought to be of any concern to us at all. These issues are for us a distraction from our primary focus: preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But you should know that God made a priority out of these issues in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Amos. Amos was a shepherd whose travels frequently took him from the southern part of Israel to the north where he witnessed the abuse of the poor and displaced. He made it a priority to cry out against the religious and political leaders of his day who ignored, and even took advantage of, the poor and oppressed. And even before Amos’ time, God had written into the Law a Year of Jubilee, where every 50th year all debts owed would be forgiven and slaves would be set free. In the New Testament Jesus went through the cities and villages healing the sick and ministering to the poor. The Apostle Paul took up at least two offerings for the relief of the poor who lived in the region of Macedonia. The Bible makes a priority out of relieving social evil, and so should we.
Concern for the poor and oppressed, and for those suffering from AIDS, specifically throughout Africa, is the driving passion of Bono’s life; and he has spent the last ten years using his popularity to gain access to the political power brokers in an attempt to create a solution to the problem of debt owed by poor countries in Africa to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the rapidly spreading AIDS crisis in Africa, and the imbalance of trade between these same poor countries and their wealthy counterparts in the West. The specifics of Bono’s activism on these issues can be found at www.data.org.
Bono, whose given name is Paul Hewson, is the lead singer of the Irish Rock group U2. U2, at the moment, is the most popular rock group in the world. They have recently concluded the third leg of a four leg international tour, performing in sold out venues around the world throughout 2005.
Bono, along with computer whiz Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, were named Time’s Persons of the Year for 2005. Why?
“For being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow, Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono are Time’s Persons of the Year.” [Time Magazine, 12/26/2005, p. 44]
Time has co-opted the language of the Bible to describe the philanthropy of these three billionaires. “…doing good…justice…mercy…hope…daring the rest of us to follow…” Those are Bible words. Those are words that have their source in the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. And yet when you examine the work that Bono and Bill & Melinda Gates are doing, it is void of the power of the gospel.
There is no question that what Bono and the Gates’ are doing are good and important works. And you should know that Bono doesn’t trust the good works he performs to earn him a mansion in heaven. Over a period of several months in 2001, Bono was interviewed by music journalist Michka Assayas. One of those conversations turned to the subject of grace and Bono said,
“I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be by judge…It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity…I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb…The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us [Karma], and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled…It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven.” [Bono in Conversation, Riverhead Books, 2005, p. 204]
But, nonetheless, the good works of Bill & Melinda Gates and Bono don’t go far enough. Their version of doing good, and justice, and mercy, and hope relieves the physical suffering of humanity without consideration for the eternal soul of humanity. After all, Scripture reminds us, “For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” [Mark 8:36] What is an AIDS victim in Africa profited if we relieve his AIDS, but never offer him the gospel of Jesus Christ to secure his SOUL for eternity? This is not to suggest we should do nothing to alleviate the AIDS crisis. Rather, while working to relieve suffering we must also be acutely aware of the eternal destiny of those inflicted with AIDS. It is this eternal perspective that is wholly lacking in Bono’s activism.
A TALE OF TWO TABLES
Bono is an evangelist for the social gospel and his songs are his sermons. In one particular sermon/song, titled Crumbs from Your Table, Bono indicts America generally and the evangelical churches specifically for not doing enough to relieve the suffering of humanity around the world, especially in places like Africa.
From the brightest star
Comes the blackest hole
You had so much to offer
Why did you offer your soul?
I was there for you baby
When you needed my help
Would you deny for others
What you demand for yourself?You speak of signs and wonders
I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I’m waiting on the crumbs from your table
Bono based these lyrics on the story of the Canaanite Woman in Matthew 15. The table in Bono’s imagery is a place of wealth and abundance. The table is the resources of the nations of the industrialized West, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. Bono is preaching that America and the evangelical church in the West have not only ignored the plight of the poor and oppressed, but have not even offered the smallest percentage of their resources in an effort to relieve their suffering. And there is a sense in which it IS true that we evangelical Christians are NOT doing enough.
Ronald Sider in his recent book, The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience, makes the following observation based on statistical analysis of the giving patterns of American Christians by a couple named John and Sylvia Ronsvalle:
American Christians live in the richest nation on earth and enjoy an average household income of $42,409. The World Bank reports that 1.2 billion of the world’s poorest people try to survive on just one dollar a day. At least one billion people have never heard the gospel. The Ronsvalles point out that if American Christians just tithed, they would have another $143 billion available to empower the poor and spread the gospel. Studies by the United Nations suggest that just an additional $70 - $80 billion a year would be enough to provide access to essential services like basic health care and education for all the poor of the earth. If they did no more than tithe, American Christians would have the private dollars to foot this entire bill and still have $60 - $70 billion more to do evangelism around the world.
But the reality is that American Christians do not even tithe their income to their local church. According to recent surveys by George Barna, the average evangelical Christian in America gives less than 3% of their income on an annual basis to their church. And less than 9% of all evangelical Christians actually give 10% or more on an annual basis to their church. With statistics like that it is obvious why the average church in America cannot meet the basic needs of its own operating budget, let alone the needs of missions causes outside the local church.
THE OTHER TABLE
But while I agree with Bono that Christians, for the most part, have been indifferent to the issues he is passionate about, I want to argue that Bono is looking to the wrong table for help. Bono is looking to the table on which sits the wealth of nations. But there is another Table – the only Table – that can truly meet the needs of lost and suffering humanity.
The Table in New Testament imagery, as Jesus left it to us, is a place of spiritual life, and nourishment for that spiritual life. Not only ought the church to be offering the crumbs from this Table, but the full abundance of this Table.
The Table is the Lord’s Table. And it represents for us an abundance of God’s grace, provided in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ calls us to eat at this Table, to feast on Him, and to find in Him the satisfaction of our deepest longings. And it is the resources of this Table that the church is obligated to offer to a lost humanity as the only hope for their eternal souls.
The source of man’s trouble is his sin. And the remedy for sin is found at this Table. If you truly want to relieve the suffering of humanity, the root of the problem must be cut out. God cut out the root when he put His son to shame on the cross, when he laid on Him the iniquity of us all, when Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the tree, when He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
The Bible makes a clear connection between sin and the human condition. In John 9 Jesus and the disciples pass a blind beggar on the road and the disciples ask Jesus, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” In Matthew 9 some people brought a paralytic man to Jesus and he healed him by saying, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” Jesus equates physical healing with the forgiveness of sins.
The plight of the human condition cannot be remedied outside of God’s grace in the forgiveness of sins. And it is precisely this grace that is missing from the works of mercy being honored by Time magazine in their Persons of the Year.
WORKS OF MERCY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GOSPEL
There is no question that the church of Jesus Christ has in many ways abdicated its responsibility for the blind, the halt and the lame (and AIDS victims and the poor) to social service organizations whose primary mission is devoid of the gospel. And while the primary mission of the church is the proclamation of the gospel, a suffering world needs more from us than a pious, “God bless you.” The church alone is in the unique position of being called and equipped by God to both relieve the immediate and present suffering of humanity while at the same time offering lost humanity eternal life through the grace of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church of Jesus Christ is called to do works of mercy in the context of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How do works of mercy done in the context of the gospel differ from those being done by Bono and Bill & Melinda Gates?
The primary difference is one of focus: Bono has a short-term focus on the present by relieving the suffering of humanity in this life only. The focus of the gospel of Jesus Christ is on enduring suffering in this life [2 Corinthians 4:16 – 18] in view of the pleasures received in the future, and for eternity, at God’s right hand [2 Corinthians 5:1 / Psalm 16:11].
But there are at least two other differences that flow from this eternal perspective, seen in the story of the Canaanite woman and her appeal to Jesus on behalf of her demon possessed daughter in Matthew 15:21 – 28:
Works of mercy that have an eternal impact have their root in God and His grace, not in man and his resources. This woman understood that there was only one source of hope for her and her daughter: Jesus. There was no one else to whom she could go. No political connections. No financial connections. It was her FAITH alone in Jesus Christ ALONE that was her only hope. She knew she was undeserving, and so she depended on the grace of Jesus to meet her need. It was what Jesus could do, and not what she could do, on which she depended. And by FAITH she believed that His grace would move Him to respond to her need. She came to Jesus with nothing but faith; and it was her faith that Jesus rewarded.
Works of mercy done in the name of love are impotent without the name of Jesus. The Gospel of Mark’s account of this story says that when the woman “heard of Jesus” she came and fell down at his feet (Mark 7:24 – 30). She recognized the power of the name of Jesus.
In Acts 3 Peter and John were headed to worship and were interrupted by a cripple begging for money. Peter’s reply: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I unto you. In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk.”
And what is love? Giving to meet the needs of others in and of itself is not love! In 1 Corinthians 13 Scripture tells us that it is possible to give away all that you possess, and even to sacrifice your very life, and still not have loved.
Love is what God did in Christ when He offered Him as the once for all, eternal sacrifice for sins. And love is what we do, after having experienced the grace of God in that sacrifice, when God’s grace overflows in us through giving all that we are, all that we possess, to share the good news of that sacrifice with suffering humanity. Love is the overflow of God’s grace in us that meets the needs of others. Giving that is motivated by anything other than the grace of God is not love. And giving that is not done in the name of Jesus lacks the power to make an eternal difference in the lives of those who receive the gift.
We must not be satisfied with the crumbs from this Table. We must come to this Table and receive from it all of the resources that it offers. It offers grace. It offers genuine love. It offers the faith to believe.
And then we must take the resources of grace, love and faith that we receive from this Table and offer it to suffering humanity through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is Christ Jesus who has taken the physical suffering of humanity upon Himself on the Cross. It is “by His stripes we are healed.” And that healing can only be realized when lost humanity recognizes Jesus Christ as the only hope for their eternal souls.
Let’s not offer suffering humanity mere crumbs from this Table. Let’s offer them all of the abundance of this Table which we have already so freely received. And if you have not received for yourself the grace, the love and the faith offered by this Table, we invite you to come, to take, and to eat and find in Jesus Christ the satisfaction of your soul’s deepest longing.
Paul
This response is dead on point, with Mark 8:36 being the summation and centerpiece.
Hebrews 9:27… “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”…. What is the point without Christ?
Exactly-Exactly-Exactly!
I don’t get it. Twelve days on the block and no one takes you to task for a critique of the sacred one. The last time I did I was quartered and drawn.
I just saw this beautiful article. Frankly, im surprised to be the 3rd post. James the apostle really has said it all talking about works in his epistle. While some believe that he contradicted Paul (”the just shall live by faith”) by stressing ‘works’ so much, i believe he complemented Paul beautifully. Good works should be one of the fruits of our faith if we profess to have faith.
I heard a man of God preach that the rich man in Lazarus’ story went to hades not for being rich, but for ignoring the poor- ‘minding his own business’ as it were.
And who better to distribute physical relief than those who have received spiritual, eternal relief and who have the power to present it to the unsaved and suffering?
A friend sent me to this blog today. After reading this post, I doubt I’ll be back.
When you’ve given your blood for the Africans, then start talking about how they need more of your doctrine and how Bono is misguided for sending them his money without the name of Jesus plastered on it (or is flawed because he’s looking to government for help). Sheesh.
I have that U2 Album that you quote from, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more powerful song of worship than Bono’s “Yahweh,” the last one on the disck. It makes me cry every time I hear it and raise my hands toward heaven. Not that that means much, but still, I can’t help but experience a severe rise in blood pressure when I hear Bono being criticized by the Church for not speaking Christianese enough. It’s amazing the guy has any faith left, given the way we “love” him.
And as for the way the Church reacts to his desire to help Africa? It’s like the Pharisees haggling over whether or not Jesus should have healed the man’s hand on the Sabbath. I mean, is this writer joking???
“I’m sorry, you’re not helping starving and dying people through the right organizations. Oh, and you’re not using the right words when you do it.”
Praise God that Bono is working to alleviate suffering in a part of the world most American Christians try to pretend doesn’t exist. Praise God for that! After you’ve started your own relief agency for Africa, *then* haggle over details on how best to do the job, by all means. But until then, please have some respect for the suffering, who really don’t care whether they get “crumbs” from the fat US church’s potluck, or a “feast” from government bigwigs, or a passionately written blog post about how they can all come to an invisible Table. Why? They’re too busy trying not to die today.
Bono wasn’t criticized in the post for not speaking “Christianese.” He was challenged to live the faith he professes by speaking the gospel into deperate situations.
You point out the fact that AIDS victims in Africa (and I suppose other places, as well) are “too busy trying not to die today” which is PRECISELY why they need the gospel of Jesus Christ ALONG WITH aid for their physical and emotional suffering. If these people DIE, their hope is not Bono’s relief efforts. Their only hope is Jesus’ blood and righteousness. As Bono works to alleviate suffering, he should do it in the context of speaking the gospel to those same souls.
The post was not a reaction to a desire to help Africa. You have no idea what I am personally doing to relieve suffering in Africa, so who is the real Pharisee here? No one in the church of Jesus Christ is “haggling” over whether or not we should be helping Africa. It seems you are the one standing and beating your chest, pointing how much more righteous you are than the “sinners” in the church (Luke 18:9-14). Again, who is the real Pharisee here?
[...] Scriptura or poke at Grudem’s thoughts on what Creation “clearly” teaches, or yell at people who grump about Bono’s work with dying people!!! [...]
I wasn’t trying to say you are a Pharisee. I was just frustrated at the way we (in the Christian community) treat people. Your post is an unfortunate example, in my opinion.
If you think Bono isn’t doing a good enough job, then go join with him—you can do the salvation message everytime he hands out stuff that saves physical lives. But grumping about someone who is keeping people from dying, all because he’s not doing *enough* or not including the right words, just seems really…weird. He may not buy into your theological view, but he’s out there sacrificing personal comfort to save lives that most of the world is ignoring. Good grief.
If you don’t like that, please explain Biblically why caring for the “widow and the orphan” is only acceptable when one includes salvation tracts. And in the meantime, start your own organization that will do it “right,” instead of bashing the few people who are at least doing SOMEthing.
I’m annoyed, and I do apologize for letting that come through my tone. I am just finding it very hard to have any sort of patience for this line of thinking. Again, my apologies.
http://www.joshuacase.net/archives/2007/11/bono_wave_of_so.html
Bono commenting on an experience in Africa. This is really powerful and worth watching all the way through.
After watching it and thinking about your own commentary (one I once agreed with), I am reminded of Mark 9:
“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
For he that is not against us is on our part.
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
I’m sorry but throwing Bibles and brochures at those in destitution will not save them from their predicaments on earth.
How do you expect to lift a nation in severe poverty to God? There is one tricky thing about the Word of God. It is word, which requires literacy and willingness to learn.
Before those impoverished can learn the word they need to learn how to read and write. Before schools will be established the nations must be out of their current predicament.
Also, don’t generalize the term “Christian” so much now. In this day there are so many denominations with different views on getting into heaven. For instance, if a member of LDS went to a village in Africa and preached their word, and a UCC member went to that same village, only confusion would arise.
Don’t hide yourself behind Bible verses to justify everything you say.
Bono is on the right track. Do not call his work flawed. Let someone else take up the responsibility of bringing Christ to Africa.
I advise that you change the tone of the argument and bring less heat on Bono, but use him as a positive example.
Perhaps: If Bono can influence so many people to advocate political and economic change in Africa, we as Christians (watch the denominations) should be able to bring about the spiritual change.
Keep this article to a rallying cry, instead of a mud thrower.
to: molleth (Nov 18th post)
Bless you, and thank you. I agree completely. I am so grateful that folks like Bono (and he is just one of many), are willing to embrace their gifts so fully, and give so much to ALL. Yeah, his song “Yaweh” does the same thing for me. I know the history of the word “Yaweh” is that it was originally symbols, not meant to be harnessed, written down, and owned by those humans who would use it to gain power and dominance over fellow beings. It is the grace and divinity of a universal spirit, a great mystery — its what you see in a baby’s eyes; its the action you take when you do something wonderful for someone else, and they don’t know it was you that did it, and you just take such joy in THEIR joy, expecting nothing back. In short, LOVE.
Thank you for your wisdom. I know what the cost is for me to sit here in my warm house, with my kitchen full of food, typing on this laptop. There are only so many resources available on the planet, and approximately 1/4 of the world has control over the majority of it. Things are not in balance. I used to feel really ashamed to live in America and have so much, while people are watching their children suffer as they starve to death in other countries. But I have come to know that my shame will not help them. I know that I am a warrior. Warriors are strong, and they use what they are gifted with to help those in need. I pray for awareness, and for everyone to let go of needing to control and hoard because they are so AFRAID.
I pray that I can continue on my journey of answering the calling that is carried on the wind, and be the change that I most dearly want to see in this world.
I’m glad you’re out there. Keep the faith; spread the word; and bless you.
onemagi5
bono is the ONE person who, if i could pick anyone walking the earth today, would be the one i’d want to have lunch with
man alive, folks
what backhanded compliments. you think it’s great he does ‘this’ but take him to task for not doing ‘that’
no single person can do everything
stephen was chosen to serve, wasn’t he? why isn’t it enough that bono do what he’s been called to do?
i hear “The Message” in their music…especially all the tracks the christian artists recorded on “in the name of love, artists united for africa”
and who was it who said to “preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words”?
Jayne said: and who was it who said to “preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words”?
St. Francis of Assisi, AKA not Jesus.
“Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
By the way, I am a huge U2 fan. The Joshua Tree changed my life. So don’t call me an ignorant idiot just because I think Bono has flaws. What he’s doing for Africa is incredible and I highly respect him for it.
this is so sad….i’ve seen and heard this divide within the larger community who claim to be christians……….if we did one tenth of what bono was doing………do you think hearts would change in those who receive? think about it…………i believe they would!! it may not be ’salvation’ but sure as heck would lay the groundwork for a literal witnessing of mercy and grace…..an example of what the love of christ does, or should do………uggggh………criticizing something done in good faith…..is ugly….
Mark 8:36
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Jesus
How do we find ourselves here? don
I don’t believe what we have here is a complaint against anything Bono or the Gates have done, it is rather a focusing in on the true mission of the church. Yes, relieve suffering where and when you can…this is a VERY GOOD THING…but, always point the way to Jesus and what he has done as our ultimate means of deliverance from a DEAD END life. Resources however great will eventually fail…the human hand will tire, or grow weary. We need an eternal view point.
Jesus told us that it was to our benefit for Him to go to be with the Father so that the Comforter would come. He too was bound by the physical limitations of humanity. Because He was eternity minded, we all, who have reached out to Him have been given the ultimate connection to the SOURCE OF LIFE ITSELF.
Can we have both of these views of ministry on their own? Yes, but we shouldn’t have to; they go lovingly hand in hand. But the real argument is…which is better, to give a man a fish…or to teach him how to fish?
Scene: Bono at the judgment
Jesus: ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Bono: What? Who me?
Jesus: When I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
Bono: when did I see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
Jesus: ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Corporal works of Mercy
1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Clothe the naked
4. Shelter the homeless
5. Visit the sick
6. Visit those in prison
7. Bury the dead
Spiritual works of Mercy
1. Convert the sinner
2. Instruct the ignorant
3. Counsel the doubtful
4. Comfort the sorrowful
5. Bear wrongs patiently
6. Forgive injuries
7. Pray for the living and the dead
I think bono and gates are right in line with the church’s mission. Not all are preachers.
Preach the Gospel always. Use words only when necessary. (Francis of Assisi)
I really liked your post Chris. It reminds me of conversations that I’ve had with a long time close friend. We all are called to action by the Holy Spirit, working through the personality that the Father has given us. My first reaction (mostly) to any problem, or joy is to pray and ask for a plan of action. My friend on the other hand always wants to get in and get her hands IN action. Many times I have heard her say…I don’t want to just PRAY! We make a great team *: ) My personality says: Pray first then jump. Hers says: Jump first and get the praying done before your feet hit the ground. *: ) I really LOVE this friend and we have had many wonderful adventures together.
Hmmm, guess I just played the Martha and Mary combination card. *; )
Nancy I get the impression hanging with your friend can get exciting / crazy at times. There are a few Martha’s at my church - they always seem to know what to do and how to do it. I’m a ready volunteer to help them when I can.
By experience reaction is to pray also. In the few instances I’ve tried to lead / plan the results were more Peter-like. Peter being the biggest nit-wit in the bible. Like him, with the exception of my belief, everything I say or do comes out wrong.
Yeah, we’re all nit-wits until the Holy Spirit gets ahold of us! *: ) Then we mercifully are changed to half-wits and then move on to three-quarter-wits. None of us will get ALL our wits until Jesus returns.
We live in a world today where if someone only does good works and never speaks except when neccessary, many people seeing the deeds will not know to glorify our father in heaven. We need to do good works that he planned before hand for us to walk in, but we must always (also) tell the gosple otherwise, how do we glorify Jesus? They will not know that you are christian. People always have preconcived ideas about everything and unless we talk about Jesus when we help, they will probably not know that we do it because we are christian.
Great post (#16), Chris!
The good news of the kingdom that Jesus brought was not “pray this prayer and you get to go to heaven when you die” - that perversion was invented recently in church history. Whether or not the good works Bono is encouraging and doing himself include a speech on the superiority of the way of Jesus or not, the actions themselves are good and right and just and merciful, and in keeping with the kingdom. I thank God for Bono, Bill, Melinda, and every soul practicing kingdom-minded principles, even if only in part. I’d venture that teaching people the way of Jesus is a lot easier with some food in their bellies, some medicine flowing through their system, and some ointment and bandages on their wounds than without these acts. Heck, just doing that you HAVE taught them part of the way of Jesus. May His kingdom increase!
I tend to see this statement a lot…
“The good news of the kingdom that Jesus brought was not “pray this prayer and you get to go to heaven when you die”
The “prayer” NEVER saved anyone…it is simply finding words to proclaim what has happened in your heart…If it were the “prayer”…it would exclude the deaf mute and possibly others…The “prayer” is also not a problem…words will not negate the work of the Holy Spirit in someones heart…The words…or the “prayer” are a point of contact to express and proclaim the wonder that has just happened…
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:10
Because we believe…we speak
Because we love…we share
Context, Nancy - you’re not using that verse as it was intended.
Jesus said “FOLLOW ME”. Jesus commissioned his disciples to MAKE DISCIPLES (literally Talmidim who learn to become just like the Rabbi). It’s a “do what I do” proposition, not a one-time proclaiming of some kind of “wonder that has just happened”.
Because we believe, we speak and DO. But we’re not trying to get people into heaven when they die, we’re trying to get them to embrace the wisdom and beauty of his reign in the lives of his called-out community that is both kingdom and church.
I suspect you’ll continue to see that statement more and more as this generation rises up to reject our corrupt two-party system, radical militant reaction, and isolationism and embrace the true gospel of Jesus Christ that restores the world. I also suspect that most on this site will fight against it because it violates their tradition. But even from that there will be a Nicodemus and a Joseph of Arimathea yet to slip out and embrace the truth.
Actually, the kingdom, whether heavenly or earthly is merely a sideline issue…the point of the Gospel is to bring people into relationship with the Father. From there…all things are possible…from there we inherit the kingdom (both earthly and heavenly) …from there we receive life abundant and life eternal…
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:3
The kingdom is not a sideline issue, it is the heart of the gospel. Jesus came preaching the good news of the kingdom of God/Heaven - go ahead look it up and you’ll be surprised at how many times that language is used in scripture.
God’s mission is not to save individuals, it’s to create a COMMUNITY of individuals (call it the church, the kingdom, God’s people, whatever) who love him and honor him and do his will. This group of people (Jew/Gentile, male/female, slave/free) is all about restoration in the four directions I mentioned earlier (God, self, others, creation). This restoration IS the good news, the “gospel”.
We are not destined for heaven permanently - it’s a temporary place until the heavens and earth are restored, at which point the resurrected will inhabit it along with those who are still alive.
I fear your gospel is too small and too individualized, which is unfortunately very American.
“…all about restoration in the four directions I mentioned earlier (God, self, others, creation). This restoration IS the good news, the “gospel”.
So we agree it is about relationship, relationship, relationship…relationship…*: )
Might we just state the obvious…The Kingdom…any kingdom…without the required relationship…can become ugly really fast.
Bob,
“I fear your gospel is too small and too individualized, which is unfortunately very American.”
I honestly feel this move is happening right underneath the nose of the church. The church has done all it can to squash it but the issue is that once the message is revealed it makes so much sense that it is impossible to resist. God is raising up a community of believers that resist the old norms. Us vs them, Us vs us, etc, it is not longer about being separate but taking the entire message of Christ to the world for true reconciliation. We no longer see the 1 aspect of personal salvation as the only most important and thus only thing the world needs to hear. As we have witnessed, the church as taken on it’s personal salvation message and applied it to themselves. What can we do to build the church to make it more appealing to the world so they will come. They build mini empires that only glorify ourselves. The message of the Kingdom is about reconciliation, it is about restoration, it is about come one come all, the kingdom is open to all. Personally, used to follow a movement to squash the emergent church movement, however, once I read a book by one of the authors it opened up a whole new world. One that loves the lost more then ever, one that views all humans as in God’s image no matter what worldview. One that wants to take Christ to the world and not hide him in the tiny box of the Christian subculture, he is too good to keep to ourselves.