Wednesday, 22 October, 2003

From “The Cross in our Context” by Douglas John Hall



Israel itself, as the name suggests, “struggles with God,” “contends with the Unnamable” - and for the very understandable reason that its election is an election not to privilege but to a responsibility, a priestly and prophetic existence, that can never be devoid of pain. The late Paul E. Scherer, regarded by many as the greatest preacher of his era, used to point out that in the newer Testament the kingdom of heaven is customarily depicted, poetically, as a great feast, a bounteous banquet – from which, ironically, everyone wants to stay away. St. Paul himself, the most articulate and fervent apostle of the early church, could only be brought into the sphere of Christ’s lordship kicking and screaming and only remained within it because of a “necessity” (destiny) that, he said, “is laid upon me” (1 Corinthians 9:16).



In the margin of this piece I have simply written, “Whoa!” We are called to into the blessed struggle that is the way of Jesus. Why have we been working so hard to turn the church into a gathering of people we look to attract as though we have to offer them a gold ring…or at least something that will please them so that they will come back? No, I’m not against outreach and hospitality – but what about the cross…what about the call to be banquet people whose presence is dictated by the God who opens the doors and says, “Come in, my beloved.” Then from that banquet we are propelled out as the banquet people who carry out the dinner, you could say, to the world…free for all. But I know that this “free for all” part doesn’t settle well…never has. Remember that just because it doesn’t settle well…doesn’t mean that it is not the Way. Called to honor one another…to love one another…to sacrifice for one another – is a journey over which we struggle much.



Connection: Let’s keep struggling and standing with one another and awaiting the Holy Spirit as it whips us into the body of Christ again and again…even today.



Wrestling God, it is amazing that you come into our lives to make us a people because we can be so opposed to your ways. And yet, again and again, you come and you love and you nourish and you promise to carry us, if need be, into your promised Reign. Praise be to you! Amen.