Getting rolling

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

So, we're here finally. We have most of everything unpacked in our aprtment and Charity is getting in the groove of her new job. It's always interesting starting life in a new place. Friendships, shopping, learning to navigate in the city . . . it's a brand new game. As you can imagine, we've spent most of the last week doing all these things. In terms of refugee work, I'm making some good connections and just tutored English for the first time today. Because of its meeting time, most of the students were older. It's cool to see them take the initiative to learn a new language so late in life, many of them not learning to read or write in their original language.

2 Cor. 4 (a little too devotional/preachy for a blog, but it's my blog so live with i!! :))

Tonight I read through one of my favorite passages in the Bible a few times. 1 Cor. 4 has been a hallmark section of Scripture that I return to again and again. I won't post the chapter but its the chapter with "the god of this age has blinded the eyes of unbelievers. . . jars of clay. . . hard pressed on every side but not crushed. . . focus on what is unseen because it is eternal." So many good things in there.

In endeavoring to work with people who are resistant to the Gospel, verse 4 is quoted often, and rightly so. There truly is a war that is raging in the mind of every person for which Satan isn't real eager to relinquish territory. Tonight as I read, though, I was captivated by Paul's continual emphasis of preaching the cross and "not ourselves". It's fascinated that throughout the chapter Paul is discussing such things as losing heart, being persecuted, etc etc. . . but the admonition is to be servants of Christ and preach "a bloody cross and an empty tomb." The boody cross and the empty tomb is not just the legal contract where we are made right in God's sight. It's not this individualistic. It is global and involves a victory of the powers of darkness. The cross was a triumph over the works of the devil. Christ came not only to reconclie us to Himself, but to destory the devil's works.

This type of language was common place in early church history. With this in mind, my perspective had a small shift tonight as I realized the parellel in Satan having dominion on the earth vs. followers of Jesus preaching "the cross" - a pummelling blow to Satan and a costly gift for all humanity being made right with God. The natural temptation is to "preach ourselves" as Paul wrote. And, my goodness, many people do this in word and deed. Don't even get me started on paid laity who speak a message of successful life-management instead of the cross. Often times, we live and proclaim a message that is void of power, without an edge of resurrection life. But in the proper framwork, the Cross cuts through the "veil" that hangs over people's eyes. The cross dethrones and overpowers principalities and powers. As we live and work among people, even entire people groups, who oppose the Gospel, we preach Christ. We live Chirst. We proclaim Christ, and it rips through the veil, destroying Satan's work

My friend Steve and I have talked a good deal about power encounters or power evangelism. This is just so biblical when centered on the resurrection of Christ. The Cross destroys the devil's work. When it is proclaimed and lived out spiritual confrontation inevitably take place. The power of Christ must be seen an evidenced as stronger than any other force in this world. We do not "proclaim ourselves" as if to sprinkle a little good on a blatantly corrupt humanity. Jesus' power transforms. Christ came to make dead men live and the opportunities are around us everyday for people to encounter this Jesus and see Him triumphed over every force in their lives. This is so simple that it seems difficult. Preach Christ, not ourselves. . . .the Holy Spirit is always willing to turn the tide. I sure hope these aren't mere words tomorrow.