I was asked to attend a workshop led by Pastor Scotty Smith, the first of a two-part series entitled “Restoring Broken Things.” Pastor Smith began by showing a four-part picture which represented the over-arching story of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Love (the Cross), Life (the final resurrection).
Smith noted that dignity preceded the Fall. We were made for “unashamed nakedness.” And in presenting Christ to other, we can look for these “echoes of Eden.”
Before the prohibition in Eden there was provision. The fall resulted in every sphere of life being broken. Blame shifting began with the fall. Even today, Christian leaders endure the effects of the fall, in their own lives and the lives of those to whom they minister.
All the “heroes” in the Bible are deeply flawed. God is the only true hero. We need to see how we are characters in God’s story so that we can become carriers of God’s story.
But the cross shows us that Eden was just a preview of what was to come. The new heavens and earth will be better than pre-fallen Eden.
One of the sharp images of Romans 8 is pregnancy. We are currently pregnant with the Lord and there is no way of going backwards: we are destined to be as loving and as lovely as Jesus someday. It is easy for church planters to have greater joy in the logistical details of their church’s growth than in the fact that we will someday be like Him. What did Jesus tell the 72 when they came back? “Rejoice that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.” How do we reclaim that rejoicing if we’ve lost it? [Church planters reproduce the kind of Christians that they are — if you are bored and boring, so will your disciples be.]
The story starts with dignity (Garden, Pre-Fall). We need to remember that as we go about cultural transformation.
Smith asked us: Why do we mean “gospel of the kingdom” when we say “gospel”?
Many times the word “gospel” can refer to a private, individualized relationship with Christ. But the reality is that we are part of a larger, corporate renewal. We should have our eyes on the “city whose maker and builder is God.” (Heb. 11) That will give us a vision for our own cities.
Gospel of the kingdom – personal redemption forms us as characters in the Story. But then we, as characters, become carriers and proclaimers of what God is doing. Since when Jesus comes, all oppression shall cease, we should be groaning with Him now — groaning for true beauty to be seen now. And working for it, also. Even though our work will not be finished until Jesus comes. We certainly don’t want to be found on the side of oppression when He comes.
By the same token, it is important for Christian leaders to periodical develop longing for the day when all God-belittling evil and oppression will be no more. We need to regularly work on our hearts.
Smith noted that sometimes we have a beautiful view of mountains and verdant greens from our window. But other times that same landscape is covered with fog. The beautiful reality is still there. Sometimes ministry gets very dark and tough. Yet the new heavens and new earth is coming.
There is organic and numeric growth. A church can grow by getting smaller. Church planting sometimes involves betrayal and loss. But we can persevere with hope because of the sure promise of God (new heavens, new earth).