Sunday, November 25, 2018
The Narrative Is Not Closed
Back in mid-September, I went to NYC for a prayer school with Brian Zahnd. Soon thereafter, a bunch of beautiful things started happening. One of them was that I started to see a bunch of connections in and between things that I hadn't seen or noticed before. It was as though my imagination was enlarged by the presence of God in prayer. In this instance, I was given to see - in a new way to which I had previously been blind - the story of the church in the Apostles Creed. I record that seeing here...
*Pictured, a Mennonite AA Meeting, where they the practice of the kind of communion and forgiveness described at the end of The Apostles Creed, sustained by a "higher power"
One part of the Apostles Creed that has always confused me:
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Catholic Church,
The communion of Saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlastin. Amen
It always seemed to me as though the Creed basically ends with the previous line and then moves onto a weird list that abandonds the basic story-telling format of most of the rest of the creed up to that point.
The story seems to basically end with, "is seated at the right hand of the Father, / He will come again to judge the living and the dead." Then, it suddenly seems to become like an Excel Spreadsheet where the church recites seven apparently important data entry points that always struck me as basically separate from the previous part of the Creed. Like a laundry list, or a list of chores. Basically a mathematic data set that you arithmetically add up randomly until you get to the end and, voila, whatever random result pops out.
In prayer this morning, I was given to see that I have been confused, because I've been looking at it wrong! Well, duh. But, OK, let me explain. The story-telling format actually DOESN'T end. And, it's actually not just a data-entry set of mathematical, abstracted bullet points that we need to try to memorize and keep track of if we are going to be faithful in our remembrance and participation.
Actually, those seven "points" "point to" or "indicate" the whole of a myserious reality we are left with and continue in in "this age" between ascension and New Creation. The age of the church. She serves as and is an extension of the body of the crucified and risen Christ in the world, and she depends on the Holy Spirit for her very existence, as well as for her preservation and continued flourishing. Said flourishing is the demonstration and depicting of the Life of God embodied in Christ on earth for humanity to see, know, and love.
It is seen in a beautiful "communion" that requires, means, and is sustained by a reconciling and life-giving forgiveness, which is itself dependent back upon the power and prompting of the Spirit. In this sacrificial death to honor others in the act of forgiveness, everlasting life is glimpsed in a Kairos moment of truth and obtained as it is sustained in Christ, who "is seated at the right hand of the Father," making intercession for us all, who "made of one blood all the peoples of th earth." That "one blood" is His very own, which is what and who the first part of the creed is all about.
So, I now see, the two parts of the creed are not the cart being drawn behind the horse, so to speak. They aren't a cheap, rickety cart full of random trinkets to be stored away in a closet somewhere upon arrival at the next destination. They aren't even the trinkets of the bricoleur, randomly obtained and creatively used. No, they are the fulfillment of the originating story of all that is and that is heading towards the teleological end as the means of fulfillment of said original purpose. The end of the creed is the "light" upon the lampstand of the throne of God, shining in, for, and to the world.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, 11 inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look!
- 1 Peter 1: 10-12
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb...
- Rev. 7: 9
*Pictured, a Mennonite AA Meeting, where they the practice of the kind of communion and forgiveness described at the end of The Apostles Creed, sustained by a "higher power"
One part of the Apostles Creed that has always confused me:
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Catholic Church,
The communion of Saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlastin. Amen
It always seemed to me as though the Creed basically ends with the previous line and then moves onto a weird list that abandonds the basic story-telling format of most of the rest of the creed up to that point.
The story seems to basically end with, "is seated at the right hand of the Father, / He will come again to judge the living and the dead." Then, it suddenly seems to become like an Excel Spreadsheet where the church recites seven apparently important data entry points that always struck me as basically separate from the previous part of the Creed. Like a laundry list, or a list of chores. Basically a mathematic data set that you arithmetically add up randomly until you get to the end and, voila, whatever random result pops out.
In prayer this morning, I was given to see that I have been confused, because I've been looking at it wrong! Well, duh. But, OK, let me explain. The story-telling format actually DOESN'T end. And, it's actually not just a data-entry set of mathematical, abstracted bullet points that we need to try to memorize and keep track of if we are going to be faithful in our remembrance and participation.
Actually, those seven "points" "point to" or "indicate" the whole of a myserious reality we are left with and continue in in "this age" between ascension and New Creation. The age of the church. She serves as and is an extension of the body of the crucified and risen Christ in the world, and she depends on the Holy Spirit for her very existence, as well as for her preservation and continued flourishing. Said flourishing is the demonstration and depicting of the Life of God embodied in Christ on earth for humanity to see, know, and love.
It is seen in a beautiful "communion" that requires, means, and is sustained by a reconciling and life-giving forgiveness, which is itself dependent back upon the power and prompting of the Spirit. In this sacrificial death to honor others in the act of forgiveness, everlasting life is glimpsed in a Kairos moment of truth and obtained as it is sustained in Christ, who "is seated at the right hand of the Father," making intercession for us all, who "made of one blood all the peoples of th earth." That "one blood" is His very own, which is what and who the first part of the creed is all about.
So, I now see, the two parts of the creed are not the cart being drawn behind the horse, so to speak. They aren't a cheap, rickety cart full of random trinkets to be stored away in a closet somewhere upon arrival at the next destination. They aren't even the trinkets of the bricoleur, randomly obtained and creatively used. No, they are the fulfillment of the originating story of all that is and that is heading towards the teleological end as the means of fulfillment of said original purpose. The end of the creed is the "light" upon the lampstand of the throne of God, shining in, for, and to the world.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, 11 inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look!
- 1 Peter 1: 10-12
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb...
- Rev. 7: 9
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