wind
August 15th, 2005 by Andy
The next element I want to talk about is wind. We are using wind as a metaphor for mission. In the comments of the post on water we talked about what happens when a community stops moving. Mission is what keeps a community of faith moving. We are led by the spirit for the sake of the world around us that needs the love of God. Thus wind seems like a good metaphor for mission, especially since both the Hebrew and Greek words for spirit (ruach and pneuma) both include breath or wind in there meaning.
There has always been intense discussion on why or for what purpose the church of Jesus Christ exists. From my reading of the New Testament, the purpose of the church is mission. This is really the only guaranteed purpose of the church as far as I can see. Jesus never promised safety, community, security or anything of personal benefit to us. He came announcing that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He called out followers and sent them out on mission. It’s true that where ever the mission went, community was formed and the community facilitates the mission. Take away mission and the community makes no sense. Take away community and the mission is hindered
It’s important to visualize mission with movement. Jesus did not call his disciples with the words “believe this doctrinal statement” but instead simply said, “follow me”. To follow Jesus on mission requires movement. It requires following the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus to guide us.
I don’t want to start a fight or anything but perhaps a few words about what the mission is would be in order. Now, it seems to me that the ‘follow me’ that Jesus said has oft been replaced with a ‘believe this’ or ‘accept this’. There is a subtle difference in these words; ‘follow me’ implies movement or journey, while the others imply completion. Do this and your done. I’m not trying to say that following Jesus doesn’t have a lot to do with reshaping your beliefs, but I think we all know plenty of christians who have responded to a ‘believe this’ and figured they were done and so stopped moving. So Jesus says ‘follow me’ and then sends us out to make disciples (repeat the ‘follow Jesus’), baptize them (forming community with water), and to teach them what Jesus told us (in a nutshell: love God, love others). As far as I can tell that is the mission and it’s why the church exists.
Now, having said all that, I’m not the smartest person on the planet (I’m not even the smartest person I know), so I’d love it if some of you other smart people out there would contribute to this conversation! For those of you who haven’t read or posted a comment yet, you’re missing out on the fuller conversation, so click that link at the bottom of the post and bless us with your wisdom. After all, we’re blessed to be a blessing, right?
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We are indeed. And we can’t see the wind, but we can see its effects. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to stir our hearts to the kind of service for Him that might lack a place to lay our heads. Oh, to see Jesus’s every movement and learn to walk His way… love God, love others; and I might include within that another reference to be just, merciful, and humble (how do you make that fancy link?)
*[with the power of html and the ‘anchor’ tag, of course
However, you can add a link by using the handy ‘W’ button just above the comment box. Highlight the text you want to be a link then click the W. When asked, either paste or type in the url you want to link to and you’ll have your link… now, if your not using a decent modern browser, you may not see the buttons. If that’s the case, all I can say is GET FIREFOX or learn the html by, going here or here.]
*link and additional comment added by andy
Comment by Wendy — August 15, 2005 @ 6:19 pm
I think that one of the most challenging (and fulfilling) aspects of following Jesus in mission is that it is a completely selfless act. You and I cannot follow Jesus unless we stop following ourselves. I know it’s obvious — yet it’s so hard. In our world, to truly live for the sake of others makes no sense. Every where we turn we are told that it’s all about us. I think that’s why there must be an unconditional surrender of our hearts and our minds. God must transform us so that we come to believe that surrendering our lives to the Spirit is the only way to live. But I agree with Andy that the good news is that we don’t need to have this belief nailed down before we can begin to follow Jesus. We can still embark on the journey even if there is doubt — uncertainty — confusion — even if we don’t trust and follow the Spirit completely. Jesus still invites us to follow him, even if we haven’t “arrived” doctrinally.
That’s not to say that doctrine doesn’t matter, or that belief isn’t important — not at all. But they are not a prerequisite for following Jesus. Thank God.
Comment by Chris — August 16, 2005 @ 8:04 am
“Follow me.”…this may be one of the most profound statements in the NT due to not only its simplicity but what it represents. It is my understanding that in Jewish tradition that individuals wishing to become a disciple of a particular rabbi would need in some aspect prove themselves worthy before given the chance to learn from a trained theologian. Once chosen they would live the next few years right at the feet of the individual learning everything they possibly could, in some aspects attempting to live the same way the rabbi did. For Jesus to say “Follow me” was akin to saying “Be like me, imitate what you see me doing and apply it to your lives”. This must have been a huge honor for the early disciples to be chosen in such a fashion without any kind of training or other trappings to offer, not to mention now having the monumental task of attempting to live the kind of life Jesus would end up living. This having been said it appears the element of wind is a great reminder that there are no barriers that that the Spirt or the church cannot overcome in regards to it’s mission of spreading the gospel and then sending others out to proclaim it’s truth. God will choose those whose hearts are open and willing to listen in order to use their mouths to speak to those that do not always want to hear.
And hey, feeling the wind blow over my freshly shaven head is really kinda cool too.
Comment by Michael — August 16, 2005 @ 8:40 am
So many people need to hear these things!
Comment by Ben — August 30, 2005 @ 2:36 pm