Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: In
- In: This is the word we use to express our relationships with our spiritual family. These are often the people who hold us spiritually accountable. They are the ones to whom we typically go for discussion and discernment. These are the ones with whom we learn to share leadership. They are the ones with whom we become family on mission.
You might
wonder how it is we go from the epitome of the Bible’s perspective of sin to
talking about the in dimension of relationships. It’s a bit of a mental leap, but I think it
is a leap that bears out some fruit.
As I am
being discipled, I am constantly being reminded about the need to have an in
dimension to my life. I need to share
vision. I need to share leadership. The developing spiritual community around me
needs to be family on mission, not a church on the pastor’s mission. When I speak like this, I am reminded of Paul’s
famous words in Galatians 3: “For there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor
free, male nor female. For you all are
one in Christ.” When I read through
Genesis 1-2 I get a sense of the oneness and the completion of creation.
So when
does hierarchy come in? Where does this
inner need to be in control come into play?
When do we as humans begin to feel the need to dominate over one
another? It comes in the curse to the
woman. “You shall desire your husband,
but he shall rule over you.” It is on
that curse – that consequence of sinful behavior – that we hear the first words
of human hierarchy.
As a
leader, I need to understand that my internal need to be in control comes not
out of God’s design but out of my own sinful nature. I need the in dimension to help me let go of
my human sinful tendencies. It is one
thing for people to willingly submit spiritually. But it is another thing for me to assume that
reality. True submission, a true in dimension
to relationship, comes out of the Spirit and our togetherness as a part of God’s
creation.
<><
No comments:
Post a Comment