Whole gospel for the whole person ...

Margaret, the Village Centre Manager (amongst all the other things she does!), was excitedly re-casting vision almost at our QBM the other night. Earlier in the day she had used a phrase when describing the aim of what the Centre is about:

'The whole gospel for the whole person.'

Like it! Haven't been able to get it out of my head for the past couple of days. Think she's onto something really significant, possibly more than she realises.

Got me to thinking ...

Recently have been taken with empire and kingdoms and values and peacemaking and reconcilation and how to put myself where God wants me to be and counting the cost and ... well, you get the idea, a whole lot of things (only some of which are mentioned here).

The key may just be the whole gospel for the whole person. I mean, for me, as well as for others. That's what Jesus was all about right ... He was the whole gospel for the whole person!!!



Reading this at the moment cause it 'feeds my lenses.' Not all that far into it, but today was reading the chapter about Jesus and the powers (Chapt. 3). In it Campbell was talking about the different ways in which Jesus both engaged the powers and offered the alternative. He writes:
As Walter Wink has noted, Jesus' entire ministry challenges the powers, and the gospel itself is "a context-specific remedy for the evils of the Domination System." (Pg. 44)

The gospel itself is a context-specific remedy for the evils of the Domination System. In other words the gospel may work and look different in different contexts, but it always brings life instead of death ... more than that, it brings life in the face of death.

Thats what Jesus was doing when He raised Jarius daughter. That's what Jesus was doing when the bleeding woman touched Him. That's what He was doing as He critiqued the religious leaders. That's what Jesus was doing when He healed the demonaic. That's what He was doing most of all in His death and resurrection. Bringing life to what was dead, inviting people into the alternative. Though, perhaps its not so much of an alternative as we think, but more an invitation into the way things should have been ... after all God created things good and life-full first.

Jesus is the gospel, and as Christians we carry it. We take it's message and tell anyone and everyone who will listen. It may take on different shapes depending on the context, but its always about Jesus.

If it's always about Jesus, then perhaps its not as scary after all. Though it involves a death to self (and that is still a hard and constant battle - for me at least), it involves rising into a new life. An old friend was reflecting today on where our security lies, the fears we have, and how perfect love drives out all fear. I believe this is true, therefore I need not fear what this radical discipleship shall 'cost' me, nor where it will place me. Jesus was always with people bringing hope where before there had been none, and He calls to His follwers to do the same. Remaining secure in Him radical discipleship will involve putting my behind where God is already at work and trusting Him for what will happen when there. Putting my behind to where I deem there to be hope, and it seems to me that Jesus found that everywhere ... especially among 'the least, the last and the lost.' The call to radical discipleship is the call to be involved in bringing the whole gospel to the whole person ... and experiencing it yourself as you go.

Margaret is right to get excited about that!