Curious Christian

Reflections on culture, nature, and spirituality from a Christian perspective

Living the Resurrection

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Matt Stone

2011-04-13

What does resurrection mean for you? This is where differing views on eschatology and apocalyptics have profound implications for discipleship.

If you view the future as relevant for the present only in so far as the last judgement can be calculated to the near future, then chances you’ll treat the resurrection mostly as something to be awaited (as in, End Times events) or remembered (as in, the Easter event).

If, however, you view the future as relevant for how we live in the present, irrespective the nearness of the last judgement, then the resurrection changes everything, right here and now. For it means living the future day and age in this day and age, and watching the sparks fly.

For consider, what if we lived “as if” loving your enemies was an ethic for the present and not just the future? What if we lived “as if” the bottom line was not the bottom line? What if we lived “as if” the threat of death (from terrorists, militant democracies and others) had no hold on us? How world shaking that would be.

That’s what Easter is for me. It’s a call to apocalyptic awareness now.

Tags Easter, Resurrection

5 responses to “Living the Resurrection”

Jarred

2011-04-14

Overall, I think this is a great post. I did have to comment on this one statement:
“For consider, what if we lived ‘as if’ loving your enemies was an ethic for the present and not just the future?”
This is something I just don’t get. Is there really any other way to read the passage in which Jesus gave the instruction to love and pray for one’s enemies? I’m all for contextual reading, but I see nothing in the context that suggests this was an instruction on how one should act in some “later kingdom.”

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Matt Stone

2011-04-14

As strange as it may seem, yes there are alternative interpretations. Dispensationalists speak of “rightly dividing” scipture such that what is considered relevant in one “dispensation” or “era” is not considered relevant in another. Thus, what Jesus said to his disciples is not necessarily a command for the post-Pentecost church, or so they say. Personally I think it’s an example of theological yoga.

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Andrew Park

2011-04-14

Its an oldie but a goodie: “Christ – Crucified and Risen – Challenges Human Power”, which was put up by Orthodox participants who rephrased the theme of a Melbourne Conference in 1980 from “The Crucified Chrisat Challenges Human Power” (From Daviod Boschm Tranforming Mission, p515). “The resurrection has the ascendency and victory over the cross” and its deathly power (ibid, Berkohof cited in Bosch).

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Bill Sahlman

2011-04-14

“What if”…..
a call to apocalyptic awareness now.”
awesome!

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kathyescobar

2011-04-15

thanks, matt. i’m with bill. i loved: “That’s what Easter is for me. It’s a call to apocalyptic awareness now.” so good.

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