I agree with you wholeheartedly on this. I especially like this line: "We are vice-regents, and as such we are act on behalf of God (function) in a manner that is like God (form)." My concern, however, is that when I look at the church, I think people often don't know God well enough to know what it means to act like Him. Christ is our example, right? What did He say we were to do to follow Him? What did "dominion" look like to Jesus?
“Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24 CSB
“Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:29-34 CSB
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, and even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27 CSB
“In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33 CSB
“But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.” Luke 22:25-26 CSB
““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3-10 CSB
“You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.” John 13:13-15 CSB
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”” John 16:33 CSB
Yes, all of these scriptures are essential to following Jesus. The statements quoted in your reply highlight the great paradox of the gospel--the upside-down-ness of the kingdom of God. In particular, they underscore the wisdom of God in that he is able to use those things they world despises to bring about his kingdom.
We can acknowledge this while also holding that these statements are not comprehensive. Just as Jesus' incarnation and ministry was part of a larger story--the most important part, I might add--so his teaching's are a part of the larger witness of Scripture. We must keep in mind, therefore, the whole of what Scripture calls us to as image bearers of God. Consider, as just one example, the wisdom given in the Proverbs, which says a righteous man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren. How does that comport with Jesus' statement about selling your possessions and giving to the poor? Do Jesus' words trump Solomon's? Or is is the same Spirit who spoke both, and wisdom is required to understand how to apply them?
Not only are the sayings of Jesus set in a larger canonical context, but his issuance of those sayings is often in a particular socio/geographic context. In Luke 12, for example, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, and he was nearing Jerusalem--the center of economic/political corruption in 1st Century Palestine. What effect might he be aiming for by speaking such things in this part of his journey when such great crowds had gathered? Who is he seeking to alienate or offend, and why? (For more on this, see Jerry Bowyer's "The Maker vs. the Takers").
I say all this not to diminish the cruciform calling on Jesus' disciples, but to set it within the larger context of the resurrected life, which is one of immense optimism and promise for this world, not merely the world to come. (See my previous publication on postmillennialism for more on this theme.)
I agree with you wholeheartedly on this. I especially like this line: "We are vice-regents, and as such we are act on behalf of God (function) in a manner that is like God (form)." My concern, however, is that when I look at the church, I think people often don't know God well enough to know what it means to act like Him. Christ is our example, right? What did He say we were to do to follow Him? What did "dominion" look like to Jesus?
“Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24 CSB
“Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:29-34 CSB
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, and even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27 CSB
“In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33 CSB
“But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.” Luke 22:25-26 CSB
““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3-10 CSB
“You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.” John 13:13-15 CSB
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”” John 16:33 CSB
Yes, all of these scriptures are essential to following Jesus. The statements quoted in your reply highlight the great paradox of the gospel--the upside-down-ness of the kingdom of God. In particular, they underscore the wisdom of God in that he is able to use those things they world despises to bring about his kingdom.
We can acknowledge this while also holding that these statements are not comprehensive. Just as Jesus' incarnation and ministry was part of a larger story--the most important part, I might add--so his teaching's are a part of the larger witness of Scripture. We must keep in mind, therefore, the whole of what Scripture calls us to as image bearers of God. Consider, as just one example, the wisdom given in the Proverbs, which says a righteous man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren. How does that comport with Jesus' statement about selling your possessions and giving to the poor? Do Jesus' words trump Solomon's? Or is is the same Spirit who spoke both, and wisdom is required to understand how to apply them?
Not only are the sayings of Jesus set in a larger canonical context, but his issuance of those sayings is often in a particular socio/geographic context. In Luke 12, for example, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, and he was nearing Jerusalem--the center of economic/political corruption in 1st Century Palestine. What effect might he be aiming for by speaking such things in this part of his journey when such great crowds had gathered? Who is he seeking to alienate or offend, and why? (For more on this, see Jerry Bowyer's "The Maker vs. the Takers").
I say all this not to diminish the cruciform calling on Jesus' disciples, but to set it within the larger context of the resurrected life, which is one of immense optimism and promise for this world, not merely the world to come. (See my previous publication on postmillennialism for more on this theme.)