But it is often misunderstood. We need to remember that resurrection is not merely the reversal of death; it is not resuscitation. Nor is it the release of the soul from the body. It is a recreation of the human person. Jesus was raised bodily but a unique body, recognizable but different (cf. John 20, 1 Corinthians 15).
One implication of this belief is the affirmation of creation. Too often, Christianity has implied that the body is a burden--creation, a mere shell. The essence of life is the soul or the spirit, many have taught. Christianity is more holistic than this. Matter matters to God. He created the world in love. He redeemed the world in love. The Bible doesn't say God so loved your soul but rather the world, cosmos in Greek, the original language of the New Testament (John 3.16). Nowhere is the affirmation of creation more pronounced than in the resurrection. The resurrection is the dawn of God's new creation. It's the down payment, the first installment (first fruit in Paul's writings) of many more to come. And this, of course, is connected to the redemption of all creation. Remember, Paul links these two concepts together in Romans 8, announcing that all of creation is waiting for our redemption.
How we live in light of this truth is really exciting. We don't have to pursue endless retreats in the recesses of the soul. Nor do we sit around and wait for heaven. Instead, we must affirm all that is an affirmation of life. That's why I always say, pursue truth, justice, goodness, and peace.
I need to say more . . . but my brain is fried . . . And I'm leaving for vacation now.
Peace,
2 comments:
David, I hope that you have gotten some much needed rest and recreation too!
That is an interesting point you made about the holistic nature of our Christian walk, essence, faith, and being. This nature does have a kinisthetic path of connection between the believer and our Lord.
It seems, to me, The Creator wired mankind with sences of physical, mental, emotional, and potential spiritual oneness.
For example, the "kinetic work" of Jesus, on behalf of his creation, was manifested when Jesus bore on his person our griefs and carried our sorrows. God, The Father, laid on him the iniquity of us all. Pouring out his wrath on the total personhood of Christ for our, we who believe, eternal benifit.
It comes to mind how Jesus bears our burdens...The yoke example; My yoke is easy and my burden is light. He is co-laboring with us. We are made strong through him in our weakness. We can do all things in him who strengthens us.
From hymn "Art thou sunk in depths of sorrow" 3rd stanza:
Underneath us, O how easy;
We have not to mount on high,
But to sink into His fulness,
and in trustful weakness lie.
And we find our humbling failures
Save us from the strenght hat harms!
We may fail, but underneath us
Are the everlasting arms.
Also from the hymn "Just One Touch"
Just one touch as He moves along,
Pushed and pressed by the jostling throng,
Just one touch and the weak was strong,
cured by the Healer divine.
And in conclusion Hymn 819 by witness lee & watchman nee
Stanza one.
As the body is the fulness
To express our life,
So to Christ the Church, His Body,
Doth express His life.
Post a Comment