GENESIS 1:26-31
God didn't to work very hard when he created. It was as hard as God saying, "Light," and then light appeared. After six days of creating, God wasn't in need of a massage therapist. He didn't have blisters on his hands or a sore back. He wasn't in need of Gatorade to replenish his body. He simply spoke and it happened.
It was almost as if the first five days were only a warm-up for the sixth day. On the sixth day, God pulled out a mirror and next to the mirror was a drawing board. As he created human beings in his very own image, it was as if he was glancing in a mirror to see his reflection, and then forming human beings from what he saw.
Genesis 1:26-31 is a launching pad for so much that takes place throughout all of Scripture:
Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness...So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them...God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good."
THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN! To be human is to live as people who have been created in the image of God.
We are quick to use the phrase, "Well, I'm only human." Or, "Johnny made a mistake, but he is only human."
I want to say, "No. That isn't right. To be human is to embrace the reality that you have been created in the image of God. What happens in Genesis 3 & 4 is what it means to not be human. All of Scripture, God is working in the lives of people to restore them to the kind of people he created them to be--people fashioned and formed in the image of God. The beauty of Jesus is that he restores people to the essence of what it means to be human."
We know what it means to be dehumanized. We live in a country that has dehumanized people because of skin color, nationality, and/or social status.
Genesis 1:26-31 reorients us into the life of God. It gives us fresh eyes to see the world.
Genesis 1 is not about knowing it in order to combat evolutionists. Instead, Genesis 1 teaches us how to live.
I need Genesis 1 to form me in my life and ministry.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Formed by Scripture--Part 2
For those who know me, it should come as no surprise that Luke 4:18-19 has become "the" lens in which I engage all of Scripture.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he has anointed me
To bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To let the oppressed go free,
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
When I open the Bible, I read under the umbrella of Luke 4:18-19. This is the thesis of the entire gospel of Luke, and not only Luke, but also of Acts. Here, at the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, he reads from Isaiah 61--a text that people had been waiting to come to fulfillment through the coming Messiah. Jesus enters as the one who embodies the essence of Isaiah 61.
Story after story Jesus is speaking words to the poor.
He is all about the message of "release."
He gave sight to those who were unable to see.
He freed the oppressed and he indicted oppressors
He proclaimed "the year" of the Lord's favor. (A clear referral to the year of Jubilee)
Luke 4:18-19 becomes the table of contents to Jesus' life and ministry. It is the ministry that he handed to the apostles and they handed it to the church. We are recipients of this good news.
I want to live as a Luke 4:18-19 kind of person. These aren't just words that described Jesus' life here on earth, but they are words that continue to describe His power that is at work in the world around us.
Ultimately, this becomes our script as we live out the Jesus-story in our own contexts.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he has anointed me
To bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To let the oppressed go free,
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
When I open the Bible, I read under the umbrella of Luke 4:18-19. This is the thesis of the entire gospel of Luke, and not only Luke, but also of Acts. Here, at the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, he reads from Isaiah 61--a text that people had been waiting to come to fulfillment through the coming Messiah. Jesus enters as the one who embodies the essence of Isaiah 61.
Story after story Jesus is speaking words to the poor.
He is all about the message of "release."
He gave sight to those who were unable to see.
He freed the oppressed and he indicted oppressors
He proclaimed "the year" of the Lord's favor. (A clear referral to the year of Jubilee)
Luke 4:18-19 becomes the table of contents to Jesus' life and ministry. It is the ministry that he handed to the apostles and they handed it to the church. We are recipients of this good news.
I want to live as a Luke 4:18-19 kind of person. These aren't just words that described Jesus' life here on earth, but they are words that continue to describe His power that is at work in the world around us.
Ultimately, this becomes our script as we live out the Jesus-story in our own contexts.
Formed by Scripture--Part 1
Over the next few days I am going to take a few moments to share a few verses that have formed and shaped me as a disciple and as a minister. I am like most Christ-followers in that we have been formed by all different facets of Scripture--the prophets, the psalms, the historical books, the books of the law, wisdom literature, the gospels, Paul's letters, Acts, Revelation, and the other epistles.
However, all of us have the "door-frame verses"--the verses that have been stamped on our hearts. The verses that won't let us go. The verses that have helped to reframe the world for us.
So, with that said, over the next few days I am going to share a few of my own.
"The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
"The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood." (The Message)
This verse is at the very center of how I think about preaching and ministry. In God's humility, he became flesh and lived among people. In Paul's words, "He emptied himself." This form of giving up power is at the heart of Jesus' character. He went from being surrounded by the hosts of heaven to being surrounded by withered hands, leprous disesases, sinful behavior, and faithless religious leaders. He didn't visit earth during the day and ascend into the heavens during the night. He became like us.
He lived in a way that welcomed people into his glorious presence. He was fully present.
To step into the presence of Jesus was to step into the presence of love and compassion.
This verse has something powerful to say to the church. Too often church leaders can sit around tables praying and discussing who the "target audience" needs to be: "Who should we reach out to?" "Who are we going to pour our time into?"
However, to take John 1:14 seriously, church leaders need to stand on the front porches, look around the neighborhood, and claim what they see as the harvest that is plentiful. Become the presence of Christ right where you are. Be the "Word" that becomes flesh and lives among people.
PS--this verse was the driving force behind the article I wrote for New Wineskins.
However, all of us have the "door-frame verses"--the verses that have been stamped on our hearts. The verses that won't let us go. The verses that have helped to reframe the world for us.
So, with that said, over the next few days I am going to share a few of my own.
"The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
"The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood." (The Message)
This verse is at the very center of how I think about preaching and ministry. In God's humility, he became flesh and lived among people. In Paul's words, "He emptied himself." This form of giving up power is at the heart of Jesus' character. He went from being surrounded by the hosts of heaven to being surrounded by withered hands, leprous disesases, sinful behavior, and faithless religious leaders. He didn't visit earth during the day and ascend into the heavens during the night. He became like us.
He lived in a way that welcomed people into his glorious presence. He was fully present.
To step into the presence of Jesus was to step into the presence of love and compassion.
This verse has something powerful to say to the church. Too often church leaders can sit around tables praying and discussing who the "target audience" needs to be: "Who should we reach out to?" "Who are we going to pour our time into?"
However, to take John 1:14 seriously, church leaders need to stand on the front porches, look around the neighborhood, and claim what they see as the harvest that is plentiful. Become the presence of Christ right where you are. Be the "Word" that becomes flesh and lives among people.
PS--this verse was the driving force behind the article I wrote for New Wineskins.
Friday, October 24, 2008
A Call to Remember
In less than 10 days our nation will have a new president.
Prayers are being offered up by both sides in favor of their candidate.
Some people are hanging the future of America on whether their side wins or not.
In this season, remember this:
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but our trust is in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7)
Prayers are being offered up by both sides in favor of their candidate.
Some people are hanging the future of America on whether their side wins or not.
In this season, remember this:
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but our trust is in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Social & Physical Location
A friend recommended an article for me to read from Charles Campbell.
Campbell begins by describing social location--this means that I, Josh Ross, am white, middle-class, and I come from a two-parent home in which both of my parents were spiritual nurturers. These factors influence the way I read Scripture.
Everything changes when the conversation moves to physical location.
What happens when we read Scripture and take our prayers to a different, physical location?
For instance:
1) What happens when we read James 5 (a passage about materialism) while sitting on the steps of the biggest bank in our city?
2) What happens when we read Jesus' words, "Do not worry about what you will eat...drink...or wear," while sitting in the food court of a shopping mall?
3) What happens when we read Luke's beatitudes from Luke 6 while driving through the "projects" in the inner-city?
4) What happens when we read the story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy (Luke 5) while at an AIDS clinic?
5) What happens when we read passages about caring for widows while walking the halls of the nearest nursing home?
6) What happens when we read the Lord's Prayer ("Give us this day our daily bread") while sitting with the homeless in a local park?
For most of us, we engage Scripture in safe places, such as classrooms in the church and/or in the safety of our homes. Right now in my own life, I feel God calling me to engage Scripture in the city...outside of my office.
I am attempting to take a prayer drive once a week through the city of Memphis. While driving I want God to open my eyes to see the way he sees and to care the way he cares.
When we take Scripture outside of safe-pockets, it takes on new life. It invites us into the world in innovative ways.
Campbell begins by describing social location--this means that I, Josh Ross, am white, middle-class, and I come from a two-parent home in which both of my parents were spiritual nurturers. These factors influence the way I read Scripture.
Everything changes when the conversation moves to physical location.
What happens when we read Scripture and take our prayers to a different, physical location?
For instance:
1) What happens when we read James 5 (a passage about materialism) while sitting on the steps of the biggest bank in our city?
2) What happens when we read Jesus' words, "Do not worry about what you will eat...drink...or wear," while sitting in the food court of a shopping mall?
3) What happens when we read Luke's beatitudes from Luke 6 while driving through the "projects" in the inner-city?
4) What happens when we read the story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy (Luke 5) while at an AIDS clinic?
5) What happens when we read passages about caring for widows while walking the halls of the nearest nursing home?
6) What happens when we read the Lord's Prayer ("Give us this day our daily bread") while sitting with the homeless in a local park?
For most of us, we engage Scripture in safe places, such as classrooms in the church and/or in the safety of our homes. Right now in my own life, I feel God calling me to engage Scripture in the city...outside of my office.
I am attempting to take a prayer drive once a week through the city of Memphis. While driving I want God to open my eyes to see the way he sees and to care the way he cares.
When we take Scripture outside of safe-pockets, it takes on new life. It invites us into the world in innovative ways.
Monday, October 20, 2008
From Last Place to World Series
Tampa Bay went from last to first in one of the toughest divisions in baseball. They deserve to be in the big series.
I, for one, have counted them out a number of times this season.
They're a great story.
Here's the question: where have all of these Tampa Bay fans come from? Less than two months ago they were still averaging less than 15,000 per game. Now, you have a stadium of die-hards.
I guess that is just sports for you. It is all about "What have you done for me lately?"
I, for one, have counted them out a number of times this season.
They're a great story.
Here's the question: where have all of these Tampa Bay fans come from? Less than two months ago they were still averaging less than 15,000 per game. Now, you have a stadium of die-hards.
I guess that is just sports for you. It is all about "What have you done for me lately?"
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Social Justice and Spiritual Disciplines
There needs to be a marriage between the two: Social Justice and Spiritual Disciplines.
From Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's book Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers:
"Here's the good news: prayer and action can go together; in fact they must. Otherwise we have little more than a bunch of inactive believers or worn-out activists."
From Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's book Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers:
"Here's the good news: prayer and action can go together; in fact they must. Otherwise we have little more than a bunch of inactive believers or worn-out activists."
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