HOME 
Blog
Getting the Big Picture
[Bob's Blog]
04/16/2009
By Towell, Bob
The theological equivalent of supposing that the earth goes around the sun is the belief that the whole Christian truth is all about me and my salvation. I have read dozens of books and articles in the last few weeks on the topic of justification. Again and again the writers, from a variety of backgrounds, have assumed, taken it for granted, that the central question of all is, 'What must I do to be saved?' or (Luther's way of putting it), 'How can I find a gracious God?' or, 'How can I enter a right relationship with God?'
Now do not misunderstand me. Hold the angry or fearful reaction. Salvation is hugely important. Of course it is! Knowing God for oneself, as opposed to merely knowing or thinking about him, is at the heart of Christian living. But we are not the centre of the universe. God is not circling around us. We are circling around him.
God made humans for a purpose: not simply for themselves, not simply so that they could be in relationship with him, but that through them, as his image-bearers, he could bring his wise, glad, fruitful order to the world. And the closing scenes of scripture, in the book of Revelation, are not about human beings going off to heaven to be in a close and intimate relationship with God, but about heaven coming to earth. The intimate relationship with God which is indeed promised and celebrated in that great scene of the New Jerusalem issues at once in an outflowing, a further healing creativity, the river of the water of life flowing out from the city, and the tree of life springing up, with leaves that are for the healing of the nations. We are in orbit around God and his purposes, not the other way around. (Justification: God's Plan & Paul's Vision by N.T. Wright)
Comments not allowed for this entry.