Saturday, August 16, 2008
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Turning Our Theology into Biography
"The Word became flesh — and then through theologians it became words again." — Karl Barth
German theologian Karl Barth spoke these words many years ago and I have loved them since I first heard them. They are so true. As one who spent eight years in theological schools, and have been a teacher myself, I have been forced to read many of these "words." Some good, some otherwise. Karl Barth himself wrote many books including a massive 50-some-volume theology entitled Church Dogmatics. He knows about words. It is not that words are bad, but he knew all about the temptation to turn flesh into words. Interestingly, at the very end of his life, when he was about to pass into his eternal reward, someone asked him what was the most profound theological thing he had learned, his response was, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
The apostle Peter says that Christ has left us an example and to this we were called, "that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus Christ himself is the supreme example of what being a Christ-ian is all about! He is the Word that was with God in the beginning and is in fact, God (John 1:1-2). And then, the most profound and life-altering thing happened!
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
God's example to us in Jesus Christ was that words become flesh. It was not merely enough for him to speak the truth, he must live it, embody it. And, we are called to do the same. He is Jesus Christ and we are Christians — which actually means little christs! He was and is the Word — are we little "words" now sent out into the world? I think that we most definitely are! Jesus told us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). We will need the anointing which he supplies (the word Christ means "anointed one"), and we will need to use words to accomplish the task that he has given us, but, following in his steps means that our gospel must always be more than words, more than theology, it must be lived, it must be biography!
One of the reasons why the gospel seems at times to be so powerless is that it has become mere words. Paul says that "the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20), and talks about certain people, "having a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:5). Faith needs actions. The gospel must do something. And it must make a real and noticeable difference in the way we live and act if anyone else is to believe it. They must see something real, not just hear it described. Words about something that is not a reality is a lie! The power of the gospel is its reality in your life and mine!
"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another" (John 1:16).
When Jesus, the Word, became flesh, John says, we saw his glory, the glory that comes from God the Father, full of grace and truth. We have seen that as well, and not only that, we have received that grace and truth and a share in that glory. However, it only becomes visible when we allow the word to become flesh in us. But, as we do, like Jesus, there will be a compelling glory about us that the world cannot resist! It is God's way. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The world is looking for something. And they have had their fill of words. We live in an information society. People need people, real people who will live in front of them. Let's get our theology solid, but more than that, let's live it out for the world to see. And that, we are told, is truly glorious!
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