n this last installment on our wonderful experience at the Synod Kaleidoscope with Joe Small, retired director of General Assembly's Theology and Worship Unit, I want to describe one of the other key responses he gave to the question, "How can we proclaim the Gospel to a world (and a church) that thinks it knows it already?"
After reviewing the profoundly secular culture in which we live, move and have our community in Christ Jesus, and after proposing to us the seemingly more radical vision for church renewal of rediscovering the Nicene Creed, Joe pointed our community of teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders toward immersing our congregations in the sacraments.
At first blush, Joe's "Back to the Future" embrace of our theological heritage seems counterproductive: in a culture that idolizes the new, Joe seems to call for the old; in a world of glitz and glammer, shock and awe, Joe seems to call for the tired traditionalism. Or does he?
I say "Joe seems to call..." because it is only a seeming, an appearing to be old and tired. Not so! Joe contends, and with him I whole-heartedly concur, that what is called for is not pejorative but rooted, grounded and foundational; it is the deep, immersive stream of transformation through participation in God's grace through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirt. These words and the realities to which they point - rooted, grounded and foundational, deep and immersive, grace and Spirit - are longings of (even) the post-modern heart!
Of course, the above sentence is only true to the extent that we embody these words, incarnate them, live into their fullness with lives being transformed by the renewing of our minds, with hearts ablaze for God's peace and God's justice to reign on earth as it is in heaven, with words spoken in kindness, humility and generosity toward all. It is this kind of Church the world longs to experience, though they know it not. It is these kind of Christians that intrigue those who do not (yet) belong to Jesus. It is this kind of community, Joe contends, that might be renewed through a robust recovery of sacramental practice.
Here is your homework: Look up the following passages in the postscript and list all the rich, variegated imagery associated with the sacraments of Baptism and The Lord's Supper. What kind of spiritual life do they describe? How do these images call to you as an individual, or call to your congregation as a faith community? What would it look like to lean into these ways of being in Christ?
Finally, it's not too late to sign-up for the next Synod Kaleidoscope in Tempe, October 19-21, with Andy Dearman from Fuller (Houston), who will present on preaching Old Testament stories. Registrations can be found at synodsw.org.
Grace and peace,
Brad Munroe
P.S. Baptismal Scriptures: Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 2:37- 42; Acts 10:44-48; Rom 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:36-29; Colossians 2:11-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22.Communion Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Mark 14:22-25; Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-23; John 6:25-51; Mark 6:30-44 and 8:1-10; John 6:1-14; Luke 9:10-17; Luke 24:13-35; John 22:4-19; Acts 2:43-47; Revelation 19:1-9
P.P.S. Parade of the Infant in the French Reformed Church: "For you, little one, God sent his Son. For you... Someday you will learn of this and be joyful to share for someday you, little one, will love God because He first loved us."Food for Thought from Joe: "When I invite people to the Table, I am inviting them to Christ."
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