16 November 2006

More on the "new human being" and the members of the body of Christ.

The relation of the individual believer to the "new human being" is described in terms of "putting on" the new human being. The "new human being" is like a garment made to cover the individual believers. They are to put on the image of God, that is, Christ and the church. In baptism we are putting on Christ (Galatians 3:27), which means we are being incorporated into his body, or into the one human being in whom their is neither Greek or Jew, neither free nor slave. Whoever is baptized is being incorporated into the church-community.

We are a part of this "new human being" because we are covered over by its reality. No longer are we to get along with what we can do for ourselves and what we have done that fall far short of what we could be, rather, we are now identified by the one who covers us. When Bonhoeffer notes that "They are to put on the image of God, that is, Christ and the church," I must say I was quite shaken up. I was shaken because it really does put our life together as the body of Christ into an amazing place. We are being called to unfold our lives within that dressing - that identity - that image...and the image is of God....now see in the Christ and in, with, and under the Church - that's us! I find that to be a wake up call. This doesn't give us special privilege, it gives us a life into which we are to walk as if we were walking in the light of God. the witness of the church becomes for many the image of God. When you think about that, it is no wonder some people look to the church and say if this is what God is like...I'll skip it all. So, what is our witness? What is the image we present to the world? How is this "new human being" coming to life among us??

Connection: It is quite awesome to step into the call to be a follower of Jesus when that path is said to be one that reveals the image of God. And yet, it is something to prayerfully consider as we again face the day at hand.

Lord of New Life, we reflect the image of so many things within our world. And yet, we are called to reflect your image in all things. It is within that calling that we continue to ask that the power of the Holy Spirit take us into new depths of your being so that we too might shine with the light of your blessed Reign. Amen.