Talking with a friend over coffee we tossed around upgrades in theological conversation. We tend to look for scriptural bytes in order to support out theology. In that we tend not to end up with a story, but something that is corrupted and fragmented. Our theology is of individualism...it's about me. Salvation is personal. Redemption is about me. Sin is about me. Listen to how much of our worship music is about "me", Jesus and God.
Sin is far more complex that breaking one of the ten commandments, a rule or a law. If we go back to Genesis we can not miss the reality of sin being " relational." And, when I say that, I'm not just saying my relationship about God. In that story we can not avoid the truth that the relationship involves God, Creation, and one another " humanity."
To confront sin is to confront all of that. Sin is personal, yes...but only partly. If we make it only that we have a theology that is fragmented...outside of the bigger story. If I make sin only personal, I can live by the ten commandments. I can be a good person. I can do good things. I might even be able to convince myself I'm not a sinner.
But if I believe as I've mentioned above in the relational complexity of sin...of God, creation and humanity...I am always with out doubt a sinner in need of Jesus. Salvation, redemption, restoration and new creation and the Kingdom are all about the complexity of relational sin.
The Spirit hovered over the murky void and the Word spoke all creation into existence. In the opening words of John's gospel, he says Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom is near. He came speaking words of a new creation. If we are to believe that, then on the cross...the Word was crucified. On the cross, " All " of creation, absolutely everything hung in the balance for three days. The crucifixion, resurrection, and new creation...is about all the complexity of that relational sin.
The big story is about the complexity of that sin. From begining to end, it is a Kingdom story, in which we are apart of. The Kingdom is about restoring, rebuilding the relationship between, God, creation and humanity...all of the damaged matrix that hold it together. This is the Kingdom of Jesus. This is what he died for...and to which he calls me to die for.
Our theology of sin has to be more than personal...it has to be about the Kingdom.
I'd love to hear your thoughts...
It's quite amazing how we have even turned God's gracious gift of salvation into an exercise of our selfishness. It's just about me. So, unless we move beyond 'personal Savior' to 'Kingdom', we are perpetuating the sin of selfishness. And when we don't think about how our lifestyle affects others (destroying the earth, trampling on the little guy, ignoring injustice) we are still living in selfishness. Our practice of church is often me-centered--Bless me, make me comfortable, grant me favor. In other words, we are still continuing to sin.
Posted by: Al | December 03, 2009 at 08:12 AM
" So, unless we move beyond 'personal Savior' to 'Kingdom', we are perpetuating the sin of selfishness."
Wow!In my musings I thought I was getting close to the head of the nail, but, Al, I think you nailed it.The myopia of personal salvation theology is that it is void of the Kingdom Jesus revealed and talked about.
A kingdom salvation theology...involves " me", but also all the broken relational spaces of all creation every aspect.My salvation involves my relationship with Jesus in fixing and mending those spaces.
Even, I think in terms of a postmodern style of sharing the gospel, sin has to be seen in all it's relational complexity. Pointing out someone's personal sin and fixing just that, does not capture the imagination drawing them into something much much more...to tip the world upside down, to right side up where the Kingdom is seen.
Posted by: ron cole | December 03, 2009 at 08:37 AM
I appreciate this broader understanding of sin - as it connects to a lifestyle of justice especially. The big picture, and the big story, are so important!
Yet, at the same time, I've learned so much about Father's love since I became a parent. When my child enjoys our relationship, and my love for her - I am absolutely thrilled about that!
I don't consider her selfish for it, but rather, I just see it as the natural order of things. The way it was always meant to be. :)
If I were solely concerned with how she was using the security she has in my love to change the world around her, without thought of her own freedom to enjoy it, I think I'd be a strange parent indeed.
Posted by: Sarah | December 04, 2009 at 10:05 PM