My last post was on ‘alienation’ being the plight for humanity and that it is expressed in four directions:
- alienation from God
- alienation from one another
- alienation from oneself
- alienation from creation
I will post on the antidote that comes to humanity through the work of Messiah inn order to effect reconciliation but prior to that a few preliminary points here and in that laying out my presuppositions.
Our approach to the Bible is a key element. I am in process of reading through in a year and recently the NT aspect took me to Acts. It is no secret that I am not of a Calvinist / Reformed position and I come across Acts 13:48,
When the gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord, and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers.
A golden proof text for the Calvinist… though they have to read a little into it and subconsciously read ‘predestined for eternal life’ with the idea that these were elect prior to the foundation of the world and that regeneration precedes faith. It doesn’t say that. I come at the text and I baulk a little and want it to make fit my views and think it is not too difficult to do – maybe I will do a post one day on it. However both the Calvinist and the Open theologian have presuppostions – the text must mean, or it can’t mean. I am no exception to that… as is everyone else.
Probably if Luke knew the debate that ensued in history he would have been a little more careful (though the context is VERY helpful to the likes of me!) and would have put in brackets with an author’s note: ‘please note I did not write predestined from all eternity; where on earth did you get that idea from?’ And probably it shows that they are not too concerned about the issues we are concerned about.
This leads me to the obsession we have with ‘salvation’ or maybe better put that we are ever so clear who is ‘in’ and who is ‘out’. Assuming there is an in and an out that will be revealed on that future day that is God’s business not ours. Our task is to witness. Beyond that I consider that our salvation is far more for something than from something. That view will affect my approach to reconciliation.
I was told last night that there is a reckoning that among Gen Z they are 5x more likely to believe in God / the Transcendent than their parents. Amazing!! Hold that thought… I am reading with a small group ‘Lamb of the Free’ – if you wish to have a challenging read that can give you serious brain ache then that is the one. It is essentially a look at the OT sacrificial system from within and he comes out STRONGLY that there is no element of substitution involved in it (animals are not being sacrificed so that God forgives; they are not being substituted for us). Entering into that OT world is a challenge. It is a totally different world to the one we inhabit so getting one’s head around what is going on with the rituals is quite something. The next chapters will be on the NT in the light of what he has been establishing thus far. What hit me last night was the OT sacrificial system was not put in place to bring people into covenant with God… a cursory reading of the NT and it is through (let me call it) the sacrificial system that is witnessed to in the cross that we Gentiles are brought near and enter the covenant. I presume that is why Paul does not labour on about the OT sacrificial system when preaching to the Gentiles (we look to the book of Hebrews for that). I do have a point here!! And the point is the eternal Gospel cannot be changed, but what is presented does change dependent on culture…
Western Europe / world has been christianised; the Reformation came into that context; the revivals were in that context. Wales and 1904 is highly idealised, but it is instructive to visit Wales and check the dates on many of the chapels. Many date from, or were enlarged in the 1890’s. The people were already in church and a few years later something connected them to living faith; the Hebrides / Lewis were similar with a strong Calvinist belief that included no-one can respond to God until they are regenerated (born again), so until the time came when the conviction of God came on them they were not responding to God in what we consider is a dynamic way… then in a short season…
We do not change the Gospel, but what we express of the eternal Gospel is also in measure contextual. If the Gen Z aspect continues we are looking at the bridges that could be utilised to communicate the ‘good news’ of heaven’s pleasure to this context that is increasingly a reality in the Western world.
Back to the Bible. I read Scripture as narrative, not merely as salvation history, to borrow a phrase, but as a trajectory from creation all the way to new creation. The story is set in motion and we cannot deviate from the direction but there will be new (yet faithful) ways of living out and telling the story that we do not find a biblical text for. I appreciate that the likes of me can get accused over this, but give me a break… robes, titles, ordination, pulpits – even church buildings that some call sanctuaries. Not exactly an abundance of texts on that! We all go beyond Scripture… I think I do OK where I go.
So as I come to look at ‘reconciliation’ into the four areas of God, others, self and creation I might push the boat a little way out from shore but given my presuppositions I don’t think I am deviating from the eternal Gospel. Perspectives abound! The next post will come one day soon.
If the OT sacrificial system was not to atone for sins or appease Yahweh I don’t really understand what it could be for? I think you’re saying that it was within the context of the civilisations that were around at the time? Maybe as in other cultures where human sacrifice was considered necessary to appease the gods then Yahweh who detested human sacrifice is requiring something different to distinguish and set apart the Israelites from the rest of the religious rituals and groups then? I’m not sure I’m getting the nuances of what you said though?
It’s very profound.
On to the point of Gen Z more likely to believe than previous generations in recent history. I think there is a strong move amongst some of them to believe and some have really strong and almost intransigent faith. There seems to be a real revival of purity which leads to a tendency to being set apart from the sinful world. A world full of temptation. This is entirely understandable but can cause some real problems. I’ve noticed that there doesn’t not seem to be much of an outreach mentality when it comes to the people they consider being most sinful. For example, LGBTQ Groups etc? Since my daughter has many friends from these ‘outcast’ groups, then I really find it problematic and sad that there don’t seem to be many people who are willing to meet them where they are and show them the love of Christ without conditions. Or maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be but just doesn’t sit right to me. It’s like a whole missing piece of the puzzle which the evangelical church loves to turn away from and just ignore. It talks about diversity, but that’s only in terms of race etc not for the LGBTQ youngsters. I think they don’t know what to do with them which I understand to some extent. But the question that haunts me is what with Jesus do about it and how would he approach it?
Just a few questions I have and things I’ve been pondering on. Sorry, this is a bit of a ramble. I hope slightly relevant to your post? They probably just about are. Thank you Martin for this thought provoking and challenging post.
Hi Joanna
The comments on the OT sacrificial system were comments on the brain aching book. His view (which I share) is that the sacrifices were not to enable God to forgive. He has gone way deeper than I have or could! In short they were to either cleanse the sanctuary by the bringing of life before God or to be eaten together with God. Two initial comments:
Jesus’ blood cleansed not an earthly sanctuary but the heavenly one (Hebrews) thus making it possible for ever for us to meet God and he presented his life before God – a perfect life on our behalf thus opening up a way through the veil to God (Hebrews).
God does not need a substitute death in order to forgive – see Ps. 51 with David who needs and finds forgiveness. God is MERCIFUL.
The sacrifices according to Rillera (Lamb of the Free author) were for the above two purposes and so that we take responsibility for the pollution we have created. Jesus death cleanses, we eat of his flesh and drink of his blood and he goes further through the power of an indestructible life that cannot decay he destroyed the power of death and sin.
Sacrifices abounded in ancient culture but were to appease the gods. It was about death. No appeasement of God or Israel and it was a presentation of life – the life of the flesh is in the blood.
Anyway the book is a mammoth read in its content.
And on Gen Z – I found the stats so encouraging and challenging. How do we connect and communicate.
There is one door but through that one door the manifold aspects of reconciliation are many. When I post on it I will allow for the possibility that there are those who are experiencing in measure reconciliation – true heavenly reconciliation – as they seek to undo the alienations around us, and are healed themselves.
I am thinking that ‘healing’ is probably a better way of thinking of salvation rather than ‘my guilt was gone’.
Thank you Martin that clarifies it more for me and what a deeply encouraging amazing and redemptive picture you explain to me. It is mind bendingly wonderful. I think the book is beyond me? I knew I was missing the fundamental points and only seeing on a superficial level.
Yes will be interested in your post on reconciliation and healing as it could apply to Gen Z especially. The whole ‘what is real revival’ thing is really on my mind at moment in relation especially to the concerns I expressed before. Has to be more than good worship services?. I don’t want to be cynical though!