surrender.

A quote from a community that I dearly love... as I ponder some things.

Context HERE. (New Exodus)

"...Today, Egypt can be seen as a picture of what we're all born into. We're all born into oppression by sin. We're born with a sinful nature that pulls us, distorts things and takes us in directions that are destructive to us. Every single human being is born into bondage to sin. God wants to liberate us from sin, and he has a plan to do this. (*) In the same way that the Jewish people were called by God to use their wealth and influence to bless those who need it most, so God has called the Church to do the same, to be his flesh and blood - his body - in the world, so the Church is called the Body of Christ. When we begin to use our resources, energy and power to preserve our own comfort and empire, we are sinning. Eventually, our sin will cause us to lose our power, wealth and influence. And God's plan for blessing the world will be lost for a time.

The reason we study the Exodus is because we want to understand who Jesus is and what he's doing. He wants to liberate the world from physical, spiritual and cultural bondage. Most of us have been given great wealth, talent and energy. And God wants us to share it with others who don't have enough. What if the Church began to understand that God wants to fix this entire planet?"

http://www.marshill.org/believe/newexodus/today.php

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"We're born with a sinful nature that pulls us, distorts things and takes us in directions that are destructive to us. Every single human being is born into bondage to sin. God wants to liberate us from sin, and he has a plan to do this."

* The question is... what? They want to make a leap here from the problem of sin to the role of the Church in the world; to how we use our power. What this misses is the reality that, in order for us to take part in this great Mission of God; the living out of the Gospel, there must first be a fundamental shift in our own, personal rebellion and self destruction... a reckoning, a repentance, an acceptance of the invitation of Jesus and a fundamental change of allegiance.

Unless I come to this moment of profound surrender and acceptance of that reconciliation made freely available in Christ; through his life, death and resurrection, I will never be able to fully enter into what God is seeking to do in the world. I may be attracted and converted to a compelling community, because the truth is, when the Gospel is actually lived out it looks very compelling. But, at the end of the day, standing near the table and appreciating the smell of the food is not the same thing as joining in the feast.

This is indeed a journey… but a journey with points of arrival; perhaps the most significant of which is that moment when I, compelled by the gospel and moved by the invitation to join in it, say ‘Yes… Jesus, I (personally) want what you have to offer. Free me. Heal me. Use me.’

This, of course, will find its context and be fleshed out in community. But it is MY will that I must surrender. I am a rebel who must lay down MY arms. Until this happens, we cannot move forward.

What I find here in this cross-section of Mars Hill is a beautiful picture of what the Gospel ought to look like when it comes to fruition… but, as it stands, it is a chain with a missing link. It's the mystery of the missing atonement. It troubles me... if for no other reason that (albeit from a distance) these are people that I have come to love.



:: Side note (from a brief conversation last night)... If, in the end, 'every knee will bow' (in a positive sense), free will essentially has essentially been tossed aside. It seems to me that God has consistently refused to do this. He holds humanity in much too high a regard.