I am a pastor at 
Jesus didn’t bring a new religion into the world. What he brought was new life. What does this mean for our understanding of Christian mission?
…But the mission of the Holy Spirit is the mission of new life…we must find new ways that lead ‘fromm religion to the kingdom of God, from the church to the world, from concern about our own selves to hope for the whole…instead of spreading a Christian civilization or the values of the Western world we have to build up a ‘universal culture of life’…
we seem paralysed by a chilly apathy. Our social coldness towards the poor and strangers shows that we have no love for their lives. We see the misery in Bosnia and Rwanda on the TV screen, but it no longer touches us…
We need nothing so much as the mission of life so that we can again affirm and love life so much that we protest against death and all the powers that desseminate death. What we need is not new religion, or new peace between the religions. What we need is life – whole, full and undivided life. Isn’t this the essence of the gospel? (p. 21).
My question: are we offering a “gospel” that promotes this kind of life? is the gospel we preach offering life that is “whole, full and undivded” and makes us love life so much that we “protest against death?”
Different Dan said...
1Hi Todd,
How are you and the family? Think of you often.
Very interesting stuff. I am still haunted by the question you asked sometime ago: What exactly is it that we offer people? (or something like that).
I’m working toward an answer and it’s based on something like what you’ve been posting. It’s definitely not religion. It’s more relationship. True, honest, naked relationship with each other and with the Eternal, the Source, YHWH — the God with No Name. The One who cries out in Genesis 3:8-9, “Where are you?”
I’m working at implementing some things in our church that reflect that approach. Like I said, I’m moving in that direction. I’ll let you know when I think I have something.
Keep pressing brother.
How’s the painting going?
10/26/04 1:21 PM | Comment Link