GREATER THINGS FOR New England – GREATER THINGS FOR WORCESTER Part 1
This post is my first reflection on two discussions given by Andy Crouch, author of Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling and Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary on Tuesday, October 29.
Notes are provided below. Also, Andy has seen these truths come to life among multiple churches choosing to work together in a specific city. One city that resembles Worcester in size and demographics is Richmond, Virginia. You can learn more about the Church's endeavors in Richmond at:
Richmond | This is Our City
If you want to hear more details about what I thought, feel free to drop me a line.
Andy Crouch | Saturday, October 26
Genesis 1-2 | Revelation 21-22 – Flourishing to Shalom
The different parts of the body of Christ – His Church – cannot say to the other "I have no need of you." So, when we look at our towns and cities and the responsibility God has given His church there, we should not ask "How can God use me (or your own church alone)?" but instead "How can God use us (the church as a whole)?"
" ... God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body ... God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." – Saint Paul (1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 24-27)
Jesus, in His high priestly prayer in John 17 prayed not to take us out of the world, but for us to be one with Him in it. While we are not of the world, we are not meant to be out of it, but in it, continuing in cultivating it and pointing to His redemption and restoration. When we engage culture, we need to not only recognize the fall of men and women into sin, but also reflect on how God created the world to be good in Genesis 1-2 and how He is making all things new again in Revelation 21-22.
God's liturgical refrain throughout Genesis 1 is "It is good." And when God brings abundance out of His creation, it is good. For example, He created the waters, and then He made the waters teem with life. When God made man and woman "in our image," He then gave them dominion and made room for flourishing in all of life – love, work, rest, etc. He told them to "be fruitful and multiply – fill the earth and subdue it."
As humans redeemed by God through the blood of Jesus, we want to move from flourishing to seeing God's shalom impact the earth through gospel works – in our homes, neighborhoods, occupations, etc. – that bring glimpses of His kingdom. We pray and work towards becoming and seeing the fullness of what's possible as we turn away from our kingdoms and turn to His. And as we turn to His kingdom, we invite others to join us; this should not just occur with one group of people, but across ethnicities, social status, and cultures.
We want to see grace cultivating and growing with the people we meet and the places we live, work, and play. The destination of the people of God is not just a garden like in Genesis 1-2, but a city with a garden in the middle of it as we see in Revelation 21-22. Gold that is seen as good in Genesis is seen as pure, clear gold in Revelation. A gold with this amount of purity has been hammered and formed by good work.
"The story of Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22 goes from good-to very good-to glory. We work towards and look forward to the day when 'the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God' (Habakkuk 2:14). God's image-bearers – the only ones on earth who know God through knowledge – will be transformed from glory-to-glory to fill the earth with images that look, act, live, and love like Jesus. There is no temple in the New Jerusalem because His glory will be everywhere."
As we grow in grace and peace, we also need to be asking, "Are the vulnerable flourishing? Is there room for gleaning? Who are the resources and development ultimately benefiting?" Grace is undeserved merit. If we have received grace, we should know how to sow grace without withholding to those many consider undeserving and trust the reaping to God.
In Acts, as the church grew, they continued to endeavor and envision outward. In their faith and pursuit of Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, God shut doors and redirected to places where His Spirit was moving (see Acts 16). What does it take to trust God like this? Tenacious commitment to and confidence in God to do what He says He will do when we obey Him.
"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
– David (Psalm 27:13-14)
Intrigued by what you're reading? Check back for the next post: Greater Things for New England Pt. 2: Andy Crouch | Vulnerability, Idolatry, and Authority
– Sully
Curiosity piqued? Something inside you being stirred? Go ahead and connect.
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