"There is a version that runs something like this: “God made you to know him, but you have rejected God. Your sin cuts you off from God and brings you under his judgment. But God sent his Son to die in your place and reconcile you to God. Now you can know God and look forward to being with him after death.” It is the story of an individual out of relationship with God brought back into relationship with God. This version of the story is true. But it is not the whole truth, nor is it how the Bible itself tells the story. Consider instead a different version: “God made humanity to know him and to rule over his good creation. But humanity rejected God, and ever since we have lived in rebellion against him and in conflict with each other. But God chose Abraham and his family to be the beginning of a new humanity. He rescued this people from slavery and made a covenant through which they could relate to him and display his glory to the world. When they persistently rejected God, he promised a remnant who would continue the promise of a people who know God. He promised a new covenant bringing forgiveness for sin and his Law written on their hearts. Ultimately Jesus was that faithful remnant. He died for his people to redeem God’s new humanity. And he rose as the first among many who would enjoy new life in a new creation. God is now gathering his people through the mission of the church and will present them, drawn from all nations, as the perfected bride of his Son.” The invitation implicit in this story is not simply to an individual relationship with God (though that is one implication). The invitation is to become part of the new people of God, the bride of Christ. It suggests a spirituality with a much more communal orientation. Here is a spirituality in which we grasp the amazing dimensions of Christ’s love “together with all the saints” (Ephesians 3:18). We model and embody God’s love for one another (1 John 4:12). I have a relationship with God because we have a relationship with God."- Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, Total Church, p. 148,149
5 comments:
So I am going through all the gospel presentations in Acts and this is seeming a little strained. Am I the only one?
I think the point these guys are trying to make is that of course salvation is for the individual, but that individuals can't choose to be individualistic in their expression of that salvation. God from cover to cover of the Bible is looking to gather a people (plural). Of course that means individuals need to get saved (which we see quite a bit in Acts) but those people need to join the collective community of worshipers of the Lord Jesus.
Thanks for these quotes Zach.
I agree w/ Matt. It seems to me that it could just as easily be said of the second version that "it is true, but not the whole truth, and therefore misleading." Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but the putting right of an individual with God seems to be the foundation from which the community grows - the individual reconciliation is more fundamental. Certainly this leads to a both/and, both indiv and corporate, both vertical and horizontal. But I am puzzled by those influenced by NT Wright and Scot McKnight and others who, in my mind, for all their very helpful insights, emphasize the corporate dimensions to sin and redemption to the neglect of the individual, creating an imbalance just as skewed as the one they're seeking to correct.
PS Your comment above helps - didn't see it in time...
In a culture (including church culture) that is so emphatically individualistic, I believe this is a healthy contribution. It is a both/and that I think they capture fairly. Will they follow this line of thinking to it's biblical conclusion and embrace mutual accountability and submission to biblical church leadership?
M.B. motivated me to go look at the books of Acts as well. I found a lot of plural pronouns.
For instance:
ESV Acts 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
You clearly see the individual component here as well. The call to repentance is to every one of you.
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