In the Bible, the apostle is not about being on the top of the pile. Just consider what the term apostle meant in Jesus’ day. Jesus borrowed the concept of the word apostle from the Romans, who borrowed it from the Greeks. This term was the best way to describe what Jesus was building in His Church on the earth—an apostolic movement. The responsibility of these people called ‘apostles’ was to recreate Roman culture in the newly conquered land by introducing Rome’s educational system, language, arts, roads, and countless other values that had worked so well in Rome. The intention of this ‘apostolic team’ was to create in this new land something similar to Rome. This helps us understand why Jesus taught us to pray ‘on earth as it is in heaven’. God is not trying to keep us busy doing stuff until he returns again. He longs for earth to become Heaven, a place where He feels as much at home as we do. Prayer and radical obedience make such places possible. Continue reading “God’s Church – an apostolic movement”
Value the world
Value the world – value every unbeliever. That is not to say that we treasure ungodliness, carnality, or any such thing. It’s just wise to recognize the hand of God at work in environments we have little to no influence in. Honoring the person God honors is always important. Religious bias and arrogance keep us from that at times, but it can become a part of our mode of operation if changes are made in our thinking.
Understanding this one concept would have helped me navigate many of the controversial issues in church life through the years. Jesus simply thought differently from us. Differently from all of us. Continue reading “Value the world”
Deserving more than respect
God isn’t just a being whose name we should respect, though we should.
God is Father
the strangely generous creator
the surprisingly wise ruler and guide of the nations
the Father of Jesus the God who makes promises and keeps them
the Lord of ages
utterly faithful, loving,
and who is determined to bring heaven to earth together in a glorious and fruitful marriage.
N.T. Wright from “Simply Good News”