This past week I was facilitating a seminar out in Vancouver dealing with Christian spirituality. Our discussions on the last day focused on the influences of postmodern influences on Christian spirituality, especially postmodern's resistance to grand narratives.
Previously, I had thought about our incarnational witness in culture means making space for the Gospel in culture, but that still presents an image of "elbowing" the Gospel in amongst other metanarratives.
In taking our cue from the Parable of the Soils in Matthew Gospel, what if culture or different narratives within culture are soil in which Gospel is to be planted. So, rather than Gospel trying to squeeze in amongst other metanarratives within a postmodern culture that resists the imposing of narratives upon other narratives, what if the people of God are to live out their lives in witness to the Gospel so that the Gospel is planted as a seed (by God's Spirit) in the soil of culture or the soil of a narrative.
What this looks like is that the "seed" of the Gospel does not compete with other narratives, but is rooted within a narrative and begins to grow - as a mustard seed - and begins to create life within this soil so that the culture or narrative is recreated/transformed in light of God's ongoing redemptive mission.
Though there is much more reflecting that is required to think through this idea, what I like about it is that the Gospel does not become another competing metanarrative within culture, but enters into culture in a way that something new is created within the culture -- it seems that focusing on this act of creation is something that is more in line with God's character than approaches which try to "push out" other narratives -- which has been the modus operandi of Christendom.
Could it be in this way, as the Gospel is planted within the soil of metanarratives that these metanarratives grow to come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Looking forward to your thoughts to help flesh this out some more.
Roland
Previously, I had thought about our incarnational witness in culture means making space for the Gospel in culture, but that still presents an image of "elbowing" the Gospel in amongst other metanarratives.
In taking our cue from the Parable of the Soils in Matthew Gospel, what if culture or different narratives within culture are soil in which Gospel is to be planted. So, rather than Gospel trying to squeeze in amongst other metanarratives within a postmodern culture that resists the imposing of narratives upon other narratives, what if the people of God are to live out their lives in witness to the Gospel so that the Gospel is planted as a seed (by God's Spirit) in the soil of culture or the soil of a narrative.
What this looks like is that the "seed" of the Gospel does not compete with other narratives, but is rooted within a narrative and begins to grow - as a mustard seed - and begins to create life within this soil so that the culture or narrative is recreated/transformed in light of God's ongoing redemptive mission.
Though there is much more reflecting that is required to think through this idea, what I like about it is that the Gospel does not become another competing metanarrative within culture, but enters into culture in a way that something new is created within the culture -- it seems that focusing on this act of creation is something that is more in line with God's character than approaches which try to "push out" other narratives -- which has been the modus operandi of Christendom.
Could it be in this way, as the Gospel is planted within the soil of metanarratives that these metanarratives grow to come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Looking forward to your thoughts to help flesh this out some more.
Roland
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1 comment:
Thanks for facilitating the course, Roland. I enjoyed the discussions... and especially enjoyed working on the final paper. I learned enough about Augustine to know I am not anywhere near where this giant was in terms of understanding "making space" and "planting" and all the big buzz words today like incarnational, missional, community, organic, etc. He was the DaVinci of theology 1000 years before DaVinci. Anyways, thanks for the point in that direction. I appreciate your work!
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