Monthly Archives: September 2006

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Love One Another


Western individualism has so severely distorted the communal emphasis of early Christianity. Popular to common belief, Christian faith is not “all about me”, about my “personal relationship with my personal Saviour, Jesus Christ.” The Church exists as a forgiven and forgiving community (cf. Colossians 3.13). Our distinct identity is marked by our love for one another, as Jesus said:

“A new command”–remember that phrase–”I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13.34-35

This is not some abstraction or sentimental mushiness; the apostles recognized that the love characteristic of Christian community is expressed in the midst of difficulty, and is not always reciprocal.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12.10). “But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” (Galatians 5.13). “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4.2).

Devotion. Honour. Service. Humility. Gentleness. Patience. These are unnatural characteristics that are essentially antithetical to the autonomy and self-centeredness so characteristic of individualism. They must be constantly nurtured by turning our eyes to gaze on the Selfless One, the Crucified God, whose great act was one of passivity, self-sacrifice–in short, love of another. This act alone can justify the command, “Love one another.”

I ask that we grasp the preciousness of Christian love, as shaped and practiced within a community of faith. The apostle John, writing fifty years after the ascension of Christ, gives this instruction:

“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another” (2 John 1.5).

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Pente-formed


I was part of a very interesting discussion last night in my Intro to Missions class. We were discussing the changing nature of the Church, and the changes going on the world around us and so on, and a lot of the class mentioned their strongly intellectual Reformed background. They felt that what the Reformed Church needs is sensitivity to the Spirit and a vivid spirituality. While I agree, it’s interesting that I’m heading in the opposite direction on that spectrum. My background is Pentecostal, and about a year and a half ago, I realized how little I actually knew about my faith (which is a large part of why I decided to come to Redeemer, which has a strong Reformed basis).

So I guess we are all kind of “Pente-formed”, somewhat Pentecostal, somewhat Reformed. Which led us to talk about a “functional ecumenism”, or “functional unity of the Church”. Even though organizational unity or denominational unity isn’t a reality, there’s a growing sense of humility among Christians, especially in my own experience, that says that each branch has something to learn from the others. Each Christian tradition carries an emphasis that is important for the other traditions to grab a hold of.

From the Catholics, we need to learn visible unity and a sense of mystery in the sacraments; from the Anglicans, we need to learn to seek consensus and a middle way among Christians; from the Lutherans, we need to recover a strong sense of our unworthiness in receiving the grace of Christ; from the Reformed, we need to learn to thoughtfully engage the Bible and our world and to raise our children with a sense of their covenantal inclusion; from the Methodists, we need to learn a sense of holiness and reverent fear; and from the Pentecostals, we need to learn sensitivity to the Spirit and about His power for witness.

And this will begin to happen as: “Das Gespräch [werde] der Geburtsort aller Theologie” (The conversation becomes the birthplace of all theology).

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I Heart My Grandma


Wow, it’s been like a whole six days since I last blogged. That’s… weird.

Well, yesterday afternoon was a birthday party for my grandmother’s 80th birthday. It was fairly fun and such, but what I most enjoyed was just talking about the differences between the world I’ve grown up in and the world my grandmother grew up in back in the Depression of the 1930s. Today we’re so consumed by materialism and consumerism, by a drive to succeed financially. And we seek to do this in ways that leave no time for parents to interact with their children, or for husband to interact with wife. This of course accelerates family breakdown, and so on.

But anyways, my grandmother said something that really impressed me. She said–I’m paraphrasing–”People look all these different places for fulfillment, especially in financial success, and they may find it temporarily, but the only really lasting fulfillment comes from serving the Lord–and our lives are a testimony to that.” My grandparents pastored for over fifty years, so that statement carries a fair bit of weight. It impressed me to maintain my focus and to be careful about where I’m seeking fulfillment in my life.

On a totally different note, I think I may have discovered the longest last name of all time. (It’s Dutch of course.) Van der Giessen-Reitsma. And the guy’s first name? Rob.

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On That Note


Since coming to Redeemer, I’ve gotten this wonderful, tangible sense of how precious Christian community really is. Everyone I’ve met has this sense of authenticity, honesty and genuine Christ-motivated compassion about them. On that same note, I can’t believe it’s been ten weeks now since Miriam Fluit was in a car accident. Reading her family’s blog of her recovery has so blessed me by bringing me face to face with the wonderful power of a caring community grounded in and motivated by the love of Christ. I think the Reformed have this innate sense of the importance of everyone caring for others in the Church congregation, outside of just Sunday mornings and just the pastor–something I never seemed to get a hold of growing up.

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"The Servant Song"


We sang this song at Redeemer this morning for Church in the Quad, where we gathered together as a school for church–which is in itself quite a unique, amazing experience. This one song stuck out during worship, and I think it perfectly embodies what Christian community is.

Will you let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,
We are travellers on the road.
We are here to help each other,
Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ light for you
In the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we’ve seen this journey through.

Will you let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

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I’ve Landed


Well, I’m at Redeemer now, and thoroughly enjoying it, even though full classes don’t start until tomorrow–condensed classes today. Opening convocation was today, and President Cooper delivered an address relating to our school theme for this year: Rooted in Love. The key passage is Ephesians 3:14-21, especially verses 17b-19. Everyone I talked to thought it was boring, but I was amazed the whole way through–maybe everyone is just used to Christian education, but hearing what was practically a sermon in convocation blew me away. Also, starting each class with prayer continues to hit me each and every time. It is really the most amazing thing for me, and I hope no one here takes it for granted.

P.S. This is a CD you want :) .