New dimensions in my identity

Last week I wrote that the believers on the Day of Pentecost received a new identity. I am not walking away from this statement, but more precisely, I believe that they were restored in the original image of God, in which Adam and Eve were created. When they had their firstborn, he was born ‘in the image of Adam’ after the fall (1).

In the story about what happened in the ‘third move’, I read that after a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting:

“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them”
Acts 2:3

It is very easy to focus on the fire in this story, and I believe that the fire is important. However, in an identity perspective, I believe the tongue, as in language, is equally crucial. I am not referring to the ‘physical act’ of speaking in tongues (2), but in the unique language of love that binds believers together across language-barriers and geographical borders.

When my identity in Christ includes this language, the momentum will never stop, because love moves me on. This ‘drive’ is not a duty but a response. I love because I am loved by an even greater love - God himself (3). Paul phrases it like this:

For Christ’s love compels us.
2 Cor 5:14

‘Manna’ for today:

When love is strong, I move in response!

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(1) When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. Genesis 5:3
(2) To speak in tongues, as in speaking an existing or angelic language, may come as a consequence; however, it is not a goal in itself. Personally I frequently speak in tongues when I pray. It is my spirit speaking with God’s Spirit in love.
(3) God is love. 1 John 4:8b

Keep moving!

We have just moved again. Not very far this time. Our new apartment is approximately 3 km away from where we have lived for the past 2,5 years. In addition, I have moved office – I carried my stuff across to the other side of the corridor. 

I am moving because of moves in our movement. Christianity is not a religion; it is a motion, a movement. Therefore, The Salvation Army is first and foremost a movement that sets people in motion.

We know that there is motion in the world; whatever is in motion is moved by another thing; this other thing also must be moved by something. For Thomas Aquinas (1) this developed into one of his philosophical arguments for God’s existence. Because motion takes place there must have been a ‘first mover’ and for Aquinas this ‘first mover’ is God. Since God is infinite, Aquinas consider him as the ‘immovable mover’.

So, when we chose the Latin word ‘Momentum’ as our motto, it is to remind us about the fact that Christians are supposed to be moving on the impulse from the first mover – every day! What this means in practical terms, I will elaborate on in my blog once a week.

So how did it start?

The Creation-story tells us that the earth was formless, empty and in darkness:

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Gen 1:3

What a move! This was not the creation of the sun. This was God placing himself in the middle of his creation. The first mover had moved. The first motion had begun. John captured this in his writings: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (2), and in prologue of the gospel where he described the coming of the Word, he wrote: In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind (3).

‘Manna’ for today

Let us live, move and have our being in the light and the life of the first mover. (4)

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(1) Tommaso d'Aquino was an Italian Dominican Friar who lived from 1225 to 1274.

(2) 1 John 1:5

(3) John 1:4

(4) Acts 17:28

Why did God choose The Salvation Army? #4

NORSK
When I grew up in The Salvation Army in Norway, I in some ways felt a bit inferior to other Christians. This was because both members of the Lutheran Church, which was the state-church in Norway until 2012, and members of other evangelical churches repeatedly accused me for not being biblical because TSA did not use the sacramental rituals. At the time I was born app 95% of the children were brought to church for the Christening (infant baptism). Most children of Salvationists went through the same ritual. It was considered important, and something all good citizens should do, so my Salvationist-parents followed the tradition 
– no harm done, I have a good relationship to the Norwegian Church!

The summer I turned 14, I also gave my life to Christ - a radical decision I had postponed for quite a few years. When school started after the summer-break, our head-teacher informed us that we had to start our confirmation-preparation classes the following week. All of us attended, and four months later we were ready to be confirmed. When we were kneeling at the altar and the vicar prayed for us, I tried to pray, but could not avoid to observe what was going on around me – only very few of my my kneeling schoolmates seemed to be engaged in the ‘solemn moment’ they were part of. It seemed to me that for them this was nothing but a ritual. 

I think this was the first time I got a glimpse of the rationale and theology behind the TSA’s position – it happened in a ritual in the state-church and it is not unlikely that this is why I, 47 years later, think that:

4) God chose TSA because we focus on the content of the baptism and the agape meal, not the ritual. (1)

TSA has never been against the sacraments. I know very well that they can help people to understand the miracle they symbolize. In a beautiful way baptism visualizes the believers death with Christ and the resurrection with and in Him. Likewise, the agape meal symbolizes the unity of all believers in Him. We are part of the same bread – the bread from heaven (2), saved by the blood he shed for us at the cross (3)!

However, no ritual can save, they can only remind us about the available salvation. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12

The best way to show his salvation and love for the world, is to make our lives living sacraments in this world (4). I believe that was one of the reasons God chose to strengthen and bless those whose hearts were fully committed to him and his mission.

‘Manna’ for today:

Alive in Him and sharing his life in and with the world

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(1) The whole series:
# 1 God chose TSA because of people with a calling and a passion!
# 2 God chose TSA because we focus on the fact that everyone is called!
# 3 God chose TSA because everyone who receives the call has the same right to ministry
# 4 God chose TSA because we focus on the content of the baptism and the agape meal,

# 5 God chose TSA because we have a holistic view 

(2) John 6:35-40
(3) 1 John 1:7
(4) Albert Orsborn’s song describes this:

My life must be Christ's broken bread,
My love his outpoured wine,
A cup o'erfilled, a table spread
Beneath his name and sign.
That other souls, refreshed and fed,
May share his life through mine.

My all is in the Master's hands
For him to bless and break;
Beyond the brook his winepress stands
And thence my way I take,
Resolved the whole of love's demands
To give, for his dear sake.

Lord, let me share that grace of thine
Wherewith thou didst sustain
The burden of the fruitful vine,
The gift of buried grain.
Who dies with thee, O Word divine,
Shall rise and live again.

Listen to the song HERE

What is a disciple's calling? - a time for everything *

NORSK
The conversation Jesus had with Peter at the Sea of Galilee gives a clear answer to what a disciple's calling is.

Jesus' question to Peter sets the foundation for the calling: “Do you love me?” (1). If the answer is “Yes”, John made it clear that the confession has consequences:

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
1 John 4:20

To love God and my neighbour is the very root of the calling. If love is not present in my life, whatever I do will be without fruit. If the love is there, the calling is summed up in Jesus' invitation to Peter. An important reminder to give to the one chosen to be the leader of the flock after Jesus had ascended to heaven:

“Follow me!”
John 21:22b

‘Manna’ for today:

In love, I will follow Jesus

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(1) John 21:15
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost

Knowing what faith is - a step on the journey

NORSK
“Why couldn’t we …?” the disciples asked Jesus, and the question triggered several reflections. 

I shared the first one yesterday, and today I continue with the immediate response Jesus gave:

“Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matt 17:20

A week ago, a young mother brought to me her son and asked us to pray for him. He has microcephaly (Zika virus disease) and the disease was visible on the gorgeous little boy. I know that I can do nothing, but I also know that God can. The mother showed her faith by bringing the boy to be interceded for, Magna and I used our faith in praying. I believe Jesus was in the room and that he was very close to us. 

I wish that I could tell "and then the miracle happened!". But there was nothing to indicate that something happened there and then apart from the fact that we shared the pain. I continue to pray and I have shed many tears for the boy and his mother. I admit the feeling of emptiness caused by the feeling of shortcoming, because I have many times seen God intervene with healing. Yet I have also many times seen how he has joined in the suffering. There are no simple explanations or answers to the problem of suffering; However, with regard to the subject of faith I think the explanation is simple:

Faith is not an achievement, it is a response of love. Faith is taking God into the world so that people who suffer can meet his boundless love. “Why couldn’t we …?” the disciples asked. "For you have so little faith," Jesus replied. Maybe Jesus called it little faith because it was not a response of love to a situation of suffering, but solely a technical response: 'we’ll fix this, let's do a miracle!'?

I do not know, but again I am reminded about Paul’s statement: if I do not have love, I am nothing. The Jesus-quote from yesterday, “apart from me you can do nothing” supports the perspective if I switch ‘me’ with ‘love’. Since the Bible confirms that ‘God is love’, I would say that the switch is legitimate.

‘Manna’ for today:

“apart from love you can do nothing”

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Certificate or record?

NORSK

Our daughters found it timely to make some fun on my behalf when I in my Norwegian version of the blog wrote that “my birth certificate is issued in Stavanger”. The correct way of referring to this document in Norwegian, translates “my birth record”, which again sounds strange in English.

Today I will take this certificate or 'record' one step further. The point is that the certificate bear witness to the fact that a birth has taken place and that I as a consequence am registered as a citizen of the kingdom of Norway.

Do I have an equivalent certificate to bear witness to the fact that I am a citizen in the kingdom of God?

Several bible verses may be used as a certificate, and since this is about being born of God, I choose this:

For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
1 John 5:7-8

For years I wondered what this means. That the Spirit testifies, was fine, but what about the water and the blood? 
If you have read the blog in recent days, you will remember that John had a strong focus on water and blood. Some will immediately associate the elements with baptism and communion, and the symbolism of the sacraments will have links to the new birth.

However, for John the water and the blood primarily represent the birth fluids. He interprets them as the physical evidence to the fact that Jesus was human. The Spirit of truth gives the divine confirmation that Jesus is a physical human being as well as the son of God, but the same Spirit also confirms that the new birth has taken place in those who believe.

Therefore, the pilgrimage to Jerusalem is only the first stage. From the place of birth, the 'born of God continues to walk into all the world as the visible 'Jesus' people can see and touch today.

‘Manna’ for today:

The new birth is the new incarnation

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It is about an important confession

NORSK
If it is correct that the holiness and fruit are captured in one word: Love, why should it be important with confession?

This is an important question for me, primarily because I will much rather have life than doctrine. At the same time the spreading of spiritual life depends on the fact that I know something about how the spiritual matters are connected. I believe that is the background for John’s statement:

“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God”
1 John 4:2

Why was it important for John to remind his readers about this confession if all is about believing in Jesus and loving one another? And why is it important for me to write about holiness?

The answer is simple:

If it is not possible for me to accept that Jesus fully and truly God and fully and truly man, I clearly limit what is possible for God:
How can I believe that he can work through his body in our present time if he is not able to reveal himself in Jesus Christ?

Already in the first century after Christ, this teaching was challenged. However, even today the connection between the faith in Jesus as man and God is a precondition for believing that the Spirit of God in Jesus’ body will be able to be in the body God has chosen to use today.

Thus, what I confess about Jesus is important for the spreading of his life. What I confess and teach will either limit or nourish life. The same applies to the subject of holiness.

Manna’ for today:

Jesus has come in “flesh”, and Jesus comes in “flesh”

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It is about a good tree

NORSK

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
Matt 12:33

I chose a good tree when I began to write about fruit and holiness, because I began with vine. Therefore, the fruit will resemble the tree. Jesus is the vine, thus the fruit will resemble him. In other words, it’s most prominent attribute will the most prominent attribute of God.

This verse has occurred earlier in the “well of holiness”, but once again, it nourishes me:

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love.
1 John 4:8

It is no surprise that the fruit of the Spirit’s first attribute is love (1). It is no surprise that it is love that characterizes the testimony of Samuel Logan Brengle whom I have quoted many times. It is no surprise that it is love that Jesus describes as the “new commandment” (2). And it is no surprise that Juan Carlos Ortiz wrote his book “Disciple” which I read in my teens: “Love is the oxygen of God’s kingdom”. That is the reason why I can say that it is in him, in love, that I live, move and have my being (3).

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about belonging to the right tree.

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(1) The fruit of the Spirit is love – Gal 5:22
(2) As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34b
(3) Acts 17:28

It is about authenticity

NORSK
I have never doubted that love promotes authenticity; simply because we are created in God's image, and God is love:

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8

Sanctification is to come back to the original, back to the real image of God. In Christ, God has loved us back to the authentic image. This is illustrated in a wonderful way in children's story: “The Velveteen Rabbit” (1). For me, this little story represented a hole in my general education until a week ago, when my niece, Beathe, shared the following section on FB. A couple of days back it reappeared as the daily devotion in "Words of Life" (2). "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

I think this is good way of illustrating what sanctification is all about. I am loved by God back into authenticity, an authenticity which is beautiful for those who understand.

It takes a real person to spot one. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, I am sure he saw something beautiful, because he said:

“Here is a real Israelite; there is nothing false in him!”
John 1:47 GNT

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about authenticity

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(1) Margery Williams: “The Velveteen Rabbit” 1922
(2) Beth Ivany: “Words of life”

It is about a variety of images

NORSK
I have already reflected on some symbols or images of the Holy Spirit. Many are yet to be mentioned. Here are just a few examples:

• The Dove – was taken as a strong confirmation of the Holy Spirit’s presence over the life of Jesus when he was baptized by John the Baptist (1).
• The New Wine – is another image of the Holy Spirit. It is likely that I will write more about this image later in the series (2).
• The Living Water – as described by Jesus (2) and (3).
• The Sacred Anointing Oil – I promise that I will write more about this in several entries during the autumn. For me “anointing” together with “language” are among the strongest images of the Holy Spirit.

I take the following verse as a confirmation of my last claim.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
1 John 2:20 

The mission of the Holy Spirit is to make Jesus known – and because they are “one” a better knowledge of Jesus will lead to a better knowledge of the Spirit. The two persons will always mutually confirm one another.

‘Manna’ for today:

Images are used to make Jesus better known!

Tomorrow I will continue with “My image” – does that make Jesus known?
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(1) Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John 1:32-34
(2) An early entry in this series: “It is about drinking...” relates to this theme.
(3) On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39