Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Kraybill, D (1990) The Upside-down kingdom. Herald
The kingdom of God is the common thread woven throughout the fabric of Jesus' teaching and ministry. Jesus frequently introduced parables as examples of the kingdom. The Sermons on the Mount and Plain describe kingdom life. The Lord's Prayer welcomes the advent of the kingdom. The vocabulary of the kingdom is continually on Jesus' lips.
In addition to his words, Jesus' activity, and behavior teach us about the kingdom. Jesus of Nazareth provides the most concrete example---the most visible expression of God's rule. His words and behavior offer the best clues to solving the riddle of the kingdom.' But in the final analysis it isn't his kingdom, nor is it ours. Always and foremost Jesus points us to Gods kingdom.
Pp22
This false split between spiritual and social leads to a warped reading of the Scripture. It tempts us to turn Jesus' hard sayings into sweet, spiritualized syrup. This dilutes his teaching, making it harmless. We marvel at the atoning death of Jesus but forget he also demonstrated a new way of living.
Any gospel which isn't social isn't gospel. God's love for the world produced social action. God didn't just sit in a great theological rocking chair and muse about loving the world. God acted. God entered social affairs --- in human form. Through Jesus, God lived and interacted in a real social environment. Jesus, in essence, disclosed God's social habits. In the incarnation, the spiritual became social. Pp29
… It communicated God's spiritual mysteries to us in a practical social form. Word and deed blended into a single reality in the incarnation. …The genius of the incarnation is that spiritual and social worlds intersect in Jesus Christ. To separate them is to deny the incarnation. Social and spiritual are inextricably woven together in the Gospels' account of Jesus' life. pp30
In true biblical fashion, the Jubilee integrates spiritual and social dimensions. It weaves religion and economics into one fabric. Pulling the two apart prostitutes the biblical truth. Refusing to participate in the economic turnover constitutes flagrant disobedience. Pp99
(1) What are the specific needs which this program is meeting?
(2) Would people create this project anew if it were terminated?
(3) Does it express the spirit and mission of the gospel?
(4) Is this structure designed to serve in the Spirit of Jesus?
(5) Does- it promote an exclusive self-righteous posture?
(6) Do people enjoy participating in it?
(7) Is flexibility built into its very structure?
(8) Has a time been designated to evaluate its functions
(9) Is there a decision-making process to declare an institutional funeral" if necessary?
(10) Is it clear that the people of God, as led by the Spirit, have the authority to declare its moratorium? Pp177
Jesus modeled agape. He embodied it by being an advocate for the poor. He violated civil and religious laws in the face of human need. His words and deeds insulted the rich and powerful. They didn't think he was loving. He championed the downtrodden, the outcasts, and the oppressed even when his behavior created a ruckus. Pp189
Brurgemann, W 1982 Living toward a vision: biblical reflection on Shalom . United Church Press
Down is up
Free slaves
luxurious poverty
impious piety
lovcable enemies
inside outsiders
low is high
successful enemies
#
In addition to his words, Jesus' activity, and behavior teach us about the kingdom. Jesus of Nazareth provides the most concrete example---the most visible expression of God's rule. His words and behavior offer the best clues to solving the riddle of the kingdom.' But in the final analysis it isn't his kingdom, nor is it ours. Always and foremost Jesus points us to Gods kingdom.
Pp22
This false split between spiritual and social leads to a warped reading of the Scripture. It tempts us to turn Jesus' hard sayings into sweet, spiritualized syrup. This dilutes his teaching, making it harmless. We marvel at the atoning death of Jesus but forget he also demonstrated a new way of living.
Any gospel which isn't social isn't gospel. God's love for the world produced social action. God didn't just sit in a great theological rocking chair and muse about loving the world. God acted. God entered social affairs --- in human form. Through Jesus, God lived and interacted in a real social environment. Jesus, in essence, disclosed God's social habits. In the incarnation, the spiritual became social. Pp29
… It communicated God's spiritual mysteries to us in a practical social form. Word and deed blended into a single reality in the incarnation. …The genius of the incarnation is that spiritual and social worlds intersect in Jesus Christ. To separate them is to deny the incarnation. Social and spiritual are inextricably woven together in the Gospels' account of Jesus' life. pp30
In true biblical fashion, the Jubilee integrates spiritual and social dimensions. It weaves religion and economics into one fabric. Pulling the two apart prostitutes the biblical truth. Refusing to participate in the economic turnover constitutes flagrant disobedience. Pp99
(1) What are the specific needs which this program is meeting?
(2) Would people create this project anew if it were terminated?
(3) Does it express the spirit and mission of the gospel?
(4) Is this structure designed to serve in the Spirit of Jesus?
(5) Does- it promote an exclusive self-righteous posture?
(6) Do people enjoy participating in it?
(7) Is flexibility built into its very structure?
(8) Has a time been designated to evaluate its functions
(9) Is there a decision-making process to declare an institutional funeral" if necessary?
(10) Is it clear that the people of God, as led by the Spirit, have the authority to declare its moratorium? Pp177
Jesus modeled agape. He embodied it by being an advocate for the poor. He violated civil and religious laws in the face of human need. His words and deeds insulted the rich and powerful. They didn't think he was loving. He championed the downtrodden, the outcasts, and the oppressed even when his behavior created a ruckus. Pp189
Brurgemann, W 1982 Living toward a vision: biblical reflection on Shalom . United Church Press
Down is up
Free slaves
luxurious poverty
impious piety
lovcable enemies
inside outsiders
low is high
successful enemies
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