What does this mean, our being “in the wilderness before the cross?” Simply put, it captures something of what our existence is here. As sojourners, exiles, we find our place outside the camp, outside Jerusalem, outside those alleged strongholds along with our Lord, dying to the World and the World to us. In this dying in (because of) Christ’s dying, there might be found then something of a genuine working of God in making us alive.
The goal is not our getting as alive as we can, as if somehow we entirely (or almost so) put off mortality and corruption. Rather, there is a proper ongoing dying, because of our being brought to the Cross; a dying that only the Cross itself can bring about and sustain. What subsequent making alive that takes place is in spite of us, but only insofar as the dying is ongoing by the Sovereign (albeit merciful) hand. Fact is, oftentimes, there is little of either genuine dying of self or divine life-giving going on.
Our existence now is before the Cross, where we are in ourselves naked (natural condition fully exposed) and yet not ashamed, for Christ alone is our boast and covering. Amen.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Wow!
Found this over at Gospel Muse:
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3 comments:
Appreciate your posting this here, Bob!
BTW, these thoughts were stirred up with the help of Gerhard Forde. I take it that you are familiar with him?
Peace.
No, I am not familiar with Forde's work, but I just googled the name and lifted this quote from his Wickipedia page: "We should realize first of all that what is at stake on the current scene is certainly not Lutheranism [my comment: you can substitute any denominational name or program here that you like] as such. Lutheranism has no particular claim or right to existence. Rather, what is at stake is the radical gospel, radical grace, the eschatological nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen as put in its most uncompromising and unconditional form by St. Paul. What is at stake is a mode of doing theology and a practice in church and society derived from that radical statement of the gospel."
The last sentence rates a second "Wow!"
Excellent!
Hey, if you like that (remark by Forde) you'll probably find his work: On Being a Theologian of the Cross, a very worthwhile read.
Though I'm not an advocate of any particular denomination, or present-day systematic, I'd say that Forde's effort to put the Cross DEAD-CENTER is quite effective!
He has a way of really making one think about how they see their involvement in God's working out salvation (beginning to end). Good stuff.
Peace,
Matthew
PS
Re: another post you made here. Sounds like your pastor fails (like most of us tend) to see that "the whole counsel" is merely a WHOLE-CHRIST perspective on all of Scripture (Lk.24.25-27 & 2Cor.3.15-16).
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