Seeing Love In the Shadow

You think about your faith Journey? Do you ever like to look back on it? And and are like, why in the world that I believe that like it doesn't make sense. This is not me. I don't think this. Why did I ever think? Thought this is a pretty normal kind of thing to do as we mature in our faith, as we learn more and more about our faith in scripture, and not weekends, are kind of like, gravitate toward certain things and reject others. This is just kind of part of the journey people help us along and we look at things in different ways or things experience. We experience in life will shape how we look at things, right? And we go back and it does fit, but things that we used to think over me growing up. It was like a time when I don't know. If you know this guy you probably do. I mean it's pretty. He's pretty like popular, Tim lahaye. You know him. This was a time like when everybody was predicting the end of the world from had basically. And so there's this Doctrine Was developed by certain people like in the last part of the nineteenth century and then that was picked up by the hay and His World version of Christianity. And if this is a lot on something called The Rapture, you know, this Rapture, right? It is the sudden taking away of Christians on the world, they're like like disappearing, they're gone. They're taking away. They made a movie about this, like I forgot it was in it. I was really surprised that this guy was in it, but they made these movies about that this and it's like the end of the world. This is apocalyptic Vision. It says like crazy things that you are. I was like why would I ever have thought that? But it was really popular when I was growing up in this store in circles that I was in when I was being formed in my face early on. And the Rapture to me like really became one of those issues that I was just looking at him. Like this doesn't make any sense at all with the story of the Bible. God said creation is very good. Why would God take people away from creation and destroy it? Right? Why would God works through his people to like read creation? Only to pick it over the edge of the cliff so it can crash into nothingness. Is it make sense to me, right? And I had real issues with it especially like my science pray with ecology. I was like you know people are using this kind of as an excuse to like abused the Earth. So you have this kind of thinking has real implications for how we live our lives So eventually I rejected. I was like Yeah Tim lahaye we need to leave behind your Left Behind series has the books that he brought me being very wealthy actually and they made all kinds of life. Books about that. I don't know if you've read this, but it's a, it's an image of the end of the world. And it's pulling upon passages that are really mistranslated and used in a way, they're not supposed to be used and it's dark vision of the end of the world, except for the very few of those special ones who are able to go. Wake, they truly believe in God, there's a true Christian. Everybody else is basically going to suffer in this apocalyptic. Tribulation vision of death and destruction. I don't know why I never thought that why, I believe they're not. I mean, it was really popular. Maybe I was just like uninteresting. I was like, so like this is so weird. It's fascinating to me. But now as I've looked back on that, I see how destructive that kind of thinking is an Christianity, even in like Main Line circles you Few people who are pretty focused on that Nicolas Cage. That's the guy who starred in one of those movies Left Behind was like Nicolas Cage. What was? He's young? But I was like, whoa, that's kind of weird. So why did I ever think that? It's one of those things. I had to kind of rethink and leave behind, right? It is something that I didn't really appreciate. And then all of a sudden, the word apocalypse became this thing that I just rejected automatically. So when Seminary anytime apocalyptic literature came up or the idea of an apocalypse, I thought of Tim lahaye and the end of the world and a dark vision, I was like, why are we even talking about this and we move on. But then I started to learn about what apocalyptic literature is like in the Bible. There are all kinds of sections in the gospels Mark 13, It's called The Little apocalypse, Revelation is titled, the Apocalypse. We translate it Revelation, but that's what the word means. It means an unveiling. It means they pulling back the curtain and means of seeing what's going on on a Heavenly plane, right? And it's usually to address the evil and Injustice in the world and interpreted in light of this larger plan, the revelation of all kinds of images of the Roman Empire and it and the Christians being persecuted and death and being thrown to the Lions and all of these like dark and midges are actually symbols, that would have been familiar to the people ways of talking about what's going on. And what's really going on behind the scenes, Fleming Rutledge is, she's an Episcopal priest Theologian. She has done a lot to help me understand this literature and appreciate it, especially because she wrote a book about the Lord of the Rings, right? And I'm a nerd. And so Like, I was like a pill that I was like really Fleming Rutledge when I came across. That it's called The Battle for Middle Earth and she brings out cuz she's like really into this idea of reclaiming, the understanding of seeing in this way, right? And what it really like, what it means throughout scripture, she does a great job of explaining it but then she use Middle-earth and the Lord of the Rings as a as a way to approach this idea of a deeper narrative going on. She reads the Lord of the Rings. She loves that she says all kinds of awesome stuff about it but she helped me. See that? Yes, it's kind of like that. There's a deeper narrative behind what we're seeing one of the reasons I love Bible project so much, as they use their apocalyptic imagination to communicate ideas that are really profound the help. See beyond the reality that we confront everyday that use those cartoon images. When we were talking about the way I was showing you these videos, the cartoon represents the spiritual plane as the more, you know, realistic images can represent. You know what we're experiencing in the everyday world and it's this idea of developing our apocalyptic imagination. I don't want to talk about today because Paul is Ephesians is really focused on that. It's a major theme and today, we are shifting gear. So we've been Ephesians chapter 1 through 3. We wrapped it up. And now we're shifting gears until more sort of like a practical kind of The application of this Vision that Paul was sharing in chapters 1 through 3, just by way of contacts helping us to reorient ourselves to it chapters 1 through 3 was this like worship and prayer service. I mean, it literally was structured like that. In fact, there was, there was this synchronicity between them, the AAA Prime BB Prime. So, very Jewish way of like creating and talking about the sort of poetry and prayer that Paul was using drawing upon. And so, the center of it like many poems, like the songs, like a lot of ways of communicating about difficult ideas or approaching things from sort of, you know, from the side, the center of it D. Like if you're mopping it out a, a prime, B, Prime c, c, b d. The middle and the middle is chapter 2, verses 19 through 22. They says, the Messianic moment, this is the big theory that Paul declare. The Messiah has one and the Monument of that Victory if you will is us, it's the living body of Christ. It's the part called the temple. It's the like and we talked about this before but the temple in Jerusalem was not just this like building, it was a heaven and earth overlap place for Paul the image and idea of having an earth overlapping was really important. In fact, he talks about it in terms of this age, right is overlapping with the age to come So there is an idea of consummation of time of joining Heaven and Earth of old and creation being renewed, fully. That's a part of the biblical story line. It's really important. It is the biblical story if you're going to read it as a story that's it right there. The garden were kicked out of because of that and then God chooses a Remnant and they feel again. And again and again that's like 3/4 of the Bible and stuff Old Testament. We call it but then we have this like a coming of the Messiah. The one who is ringing Heaven to Earth who is starting new creation. And Paul saw himself at this person, going around announcing new creation of for me these communities that were the new Temple. And it's significant because you know, this is after Paul died but in 70 AD the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. So, all of a sudden you had these rabbis rethinking things and out of this movement, Christianity with Gentiles and Jews emerged, the Messiah people. They were called followers of the way, the oldest people overdose way. This is the story of the Bible and we're in that place before time ends, right? The confirmation of time. We're not, please trying to figure out how to live out new creation. And it involved being highly creative confronting the mundane trying to figure out in our day-to-day life. What it means to be new creation and so here chapters 4 through 6 in the end it's going to be Paul talking about how we do this. What is it look like, how are we changed? Are we supposed to be transformed by this message of New Creation? This new Temple that is us with God dwelling, and it's missed in us when we gather. And so that's where we're shifting, okay? So to make the transformation our own, what would it be? Like if we took seriously, what Paul saying chapters 1 through 3 and tried to put that into practice. That's what we're starting for these next couple of weeks, chapters four through six, we have this new creation that has been formed in the Messiah people and now, we must develop our apocalyptic imaginations, like Paul experience on the road to Damascus, that changed everything. What is that mean? That's what we are called to do as the church the gathered people of God. So the big long sentences, we still have like one of these, but it's not as long as like you, I was showing you and chapter one, where it's like, this huge sentence, that is 10 versus long in English, but in Greek, is one sentence. So there's going to be that at first, but then it's going to start the shift into like more. What we would expect in terms of a like letter that's be sent to people. Therefore so chapters 1 through 3, therefore, there's a shift because of all of that, I a prisoner for serving the lord, he was literally in prison. When he wrote this letter, a prisoner for serving the lord beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble. And gentle, be patient with each other making allowance for each other's faults because of your love notice. It is assumed that you're in community. You can't be patient with yourself, as well as you can be patient and an act that patients with somebody else, right? So, being patient, being gentle, being filled with love, it's assumed that those things have to happen and Community, you have to gather together, you have to be around people. You don't like very much sometimes. You have to be the person that others don't like it very much sometimes cuz this is how we grow. There's something significant about Gathering Together. Paul was emphatic that unity in the church was crucial. And we have fragmented that Unity again. And again And yet, God still works somehow through our fragmented Unity, but always it is there in the backgrounds. How can we be the unified people of God. Paul tells us make every effort verse 3, to keep yourselves United in the spirit building yourself together with peace. For Paul, there were people that were associating together that never would have Associated together, right? It was a very hierarchical culture that he was working in with the Gentiles. I mean, slaves and free were considered completely different people. Three were more, you know, valuable than slaves. Obviously, the Paul saying community in Ephesus the slaves in the free, the men and the women together, that's what God is calling you to be. And solve this image in this idea and its ammunition for Unity is very important. And Paul speaking and writing for there is one body verse four and one Spirit just as you have been called to one glorious, hope for the future. There is one Lord, One Faith, one baptism, one God. And Father of all who is overall and then all and living through all, are we getting the idea? Unity One? However, God has given each of us. A special gift through the generosity of Christ, so Unity, but not uniformity. so we have different gifts and Paul will go on to name these, we have different gifts First state, that is why the scriptures say, when he ascended to the heights, he led a proud of captives and gave gifts to his people. So that slide and you will see Paul going to do something here. And I forgot exactly how I put this. But I underlined gave gifts. So keep us in mind cuz he's referring to the scriptures. Paul assumes a lot. Like he just assumes. You know, your Hebrew Bible like that, like he does and he knows that you're going to know the song that we read Psalm 68, right? That came to mind immediately, right? I mean, so we have to like stop and think and we always have to look at the footnotes and go back because Paul does something here that we wouldn't notice. Otherwise, I don't know if I should put some 68 next, so goes next life. Yes I did. Look at man so good. So Psalm 68 verse 8, remember God gave us gifts is what Paul says, but he's referring to this scripture. And what is the scripture say when you have sent it to the heights? You let a crowd of captive you God? So this is God is a subject did what? So next? So fill in the blank. You received gifts from the people, even those who rebelled against you. Now, the Lord God will live among us there for Psalm 68, Paul has in mind, it's a big changes. It doesn't he instead of God is the one who receive gifts from people, God is giving the gift to the people. So it's a significant change in like, I'm like a chainsaw like that, but he did, and they did all the time. Actually, that is like a technique that these rabbis would use. So he is emphasizing the fact that we are being given gifts. What are those gifts for so verse 9, notice it says that he ascended, the clearly means that Christ. Also descended to our lowly world is that clear to you? It wasn't to me and the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all Heaven and Hell, and all the heavens so that he might fill the entire universe with himself, my mind is like going crazy when I hear that. He will have to fill the entire universe with himself. So back to the gifts also, now these are the gifts that God is giving these gifts to us. Christ gave to the Church of the Apostles. The prophets, the Evangelist, the postures, the teachers, these are some of them. What are they supposed to do for us first 11? I mean verse 12. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ first 13. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's son that we will be mature in the Lord notices image measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. And this is like, really kind of weird to think about, right? Specially little children, we won't be tossed. Him blown about by every wind of new teaching. The little baby in a boat being tossed and thrown about by every wind of your teaching. These waves. It's a weird images startling image. We won't be tossed and don't about by every wind of new teaching will not be emfluence when people try to trick us with lies. So clever, they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth and love Growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body? The church and he makes the whole body fit together perfectly as each part does its own special work and help the other parts grow. So that's the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. So the biologist to me is like yes sir. I love this image, that Paul uses that he uses it. A lot of places 1st Corinthians. 12 is another place where the body that we are part of the body. We have different gifts, different functions crisis, the head leading everything, but wear a body working together. Amazing image. It's an incredible image and it seems that he adds that the ends here, but there's like the lifeblood of this body if you will love that's what's driving at, that's what's animating. It that's what it's full of and showing It is. Love, and it can only be gone in community. Why it's important to come to church of y'all feel like I'm just hurt some days. I think about it. I'm helping other people grow in. Love, I'm growing and love. If only we had more to hear this. So my biology mind is like all over that crisis. The head where body parts? I think all kinds of interesting body parts and now inside the body and I look at DNA and all that kind of cool stuff and I'm like, yes, you're right. All the stuff is working together for a purpose. So in order to be the Messiah people walking around within creation, we had parent-teacher conferences this week, I think this is why I'm thinking about this, they're interesting because they're good. I mean I love it. Actually it's hard for me cuz I'm sitting there for hours straight one parent after another. It's going out to me. The kids asked me this week there like why is your lines too long? And I'm like, well, I think the entire seventh grade about their like, while the social studies teachers line wasn't that long and I'm like, I'm kind of a hard teacher and I have a lot to say, to parents, to help them get on the right path, you know. And I'm like, yeah, I need to have these conversations, but I talked to these parents and I at least share stuff with me. And I hear and the kids share stuff with me and I my heart breaks. I told you guys that I pray for my classes, my kids and it's hard sometimes cuz I kid pops into my head and I might I'm praying that for that kid to and that kid was a parent-teacher conference. You know what he did? He got up and he gave me a hug. I don't really like to be tough, but I'm sitting there he's like once he's putting his arm around me. I'm like all right all right, that's why I don't like to touch other people necessarily and I don't like to be touched and it was like kind of startling to me cuz that's a kid. I don't like playing praying for but my heart was breaking for him and his heart is breaking when he's trying to like do this thing be in class, struggle with this thing that he has a lot to actually And so he we connect it right? And that is what happens and Community. That's a neat and it's hard. And I see that part of Sterling you guys get together, you hand out food and there's something very powerful and doing that as hard as it is. And as you know, kind of like a man, I got to do the food thing today. Think about what you're doing. You're actually feeding the body in a physical way as we are the body in a metaphysical way. It's incredible. It's Australian to live out, love So what we do as Christians is connect with these images of always using and we have to us flipping Rutledge with say develop our apocalyptic imagination and the way that we do that for me who I'm I love art. I'm I like to draw, right? I'm like really into DaVinci. I tell my kids all the time. You would eventually was a genius is amazing. He got all these like, you know, mental issues but he was amazing. And so I'm I'd love that I draw on that kind of stuff. I told you like him, and I make them for all because it helps them acquire vocabulary. And then like, I can't draw him like a horse, you can you are drawing all of your face, your first birthday, write that cake. All of your face. You draw on your grounds in your room. And all I can stop as something powerful about art, to help us look in a different way. Develop, our apocalyptic imagination. I came across this sculpture and somebody and it's incredible sculpture is something by the space around. It is just as important as the actual sculpture. A big sculpture. We can call the apocalyptic like imagination. Like I said, this to me is showing it when you somebody was describing and I didn't actually go to that. They said that you go into the exhibit and you enter in such a way that you see the sculpture from an angle. And you see what's on there. It's just a bunch of trash. It's literally trash that has been thrown away. But then you walk around. and you see, The next thing. The real sculpture. They're shining a light on the trash and that's what it makes. God is developing the apocalyptic imagination. I don't, I can't think of a better way to communicate. What's going on the world around us. The trash around us, right? The stuff that's mundane and hard and you know, those people that you have encountered in your daily life, and the gentleness, and the praise your enemy, and all that kind of stuff, that's really difficult, broken families that I experience through the kids. That's the trash. The work halt to see the lights shining through it. Because what is shining through? There is the True Image. That's developing the apocalyptic imagination. I've said this before. It's totally rude, but I'll say it again, cuz I came from New Jersey. It was a immigrants Italian immigrant charge. This is German immigrant that was an Italian immigrant Church. It seems incredible like Masons. Who built this church. It was beautiful. It wasn't big at all. It was beautiful. Stones. Were incredible, the actual interior. That's what it was amazing. And I came to here, and I'm like, three, what's the deal with green? It's everywhere. Why green, and I asked this, like, even just like exchange student from Germany is a few years back. I was like, look at this. Why would they do green here? And she made the connection. Your wall. Germany has a lot of forest that agreed and she was like, maybe that's what they were thinking about. But you know what, I have come to realize is I meditate on this sculpture this place. I think they're very intentional about recreating the temple in Jerusalem. The stairs that are so annoying. That are so small. That makes you could really have to pay attention as you ascend out front to the door. The stairs, just like that, ascending to the temple. In Jesus day, this Tower would have been a kind of a temple structure in Jesus day. The name of the church is Zion referring to Mount Zion Jerusalem, that's where the temple was in the temple inside. I don't know if you know this, but they must have whoever built this church. I would love to hear like what they were thinking and inside, there were damaged has a garden. All over. This was it was the main thing that was going on there. Everybody was supposed to think of the new Eden, the new creation, the evil being overcome and the new being made. I think they were creating a temple a garden. I think we're supposed to be in the this Garden. This new Eden. I think we're supposed to be an apocalyptic and between place, because that's what the temple was Heaven and Earth join together. That is all over scripture. That's what that space was. Then my mind. So you're going crazy. I'm like, I'm going to start painting you. We can, we can stuff green stuff. And I'm going to, like, bring in potted plants if you see that, that's kind of me. Think of some crazy with the temple. I mean, what would that be like What if we took that seriously? What if we created a space that really connected with its original idea that I believe that these, you know, whoever created this space was trying to communicate. What if we took that far? No, I'm not saying we have to turn it into a garden. All that be cool. Kind of cool or koi ponds over here.

What if we built on that in some way? And I think that's what we're invited into. Every time we come to church, we are invited to use our apocalyptic imagination to see Beyond the Veil to see beyond the trash. And to see the image of God and this new creation to enter into a heaven and Earth space, will the greatest contributions there are negative ones but one of the greatest contributions of the church in the Western World throughout time is art. Some of the most beautiful and incredible things that I've ever been created are because of the church and sponsoring these crazy artists. Yahoo email the building. This is not really Cathedral. Kind of a structure that those they're amazing if you've ever liked then somewhere and this is kind of like what we do night or I want to do anyway, and I try to get Michelle into it cuz I'm like, let's go find the church stuff. I want to go see those like, you know, Cathedrals and things. I want to see how the paintings of these artists who go to any kind of a museum. I'm like you have any like certain paintings from this person. And so this art I think we are called to really help develop our apocalyptic imagination. Helps us to see Beyond the Veil, write a review, pulls back the curtain, that's what apocalypse means degree. That's what it means to see Beyond the Veil to pull back to have a revelation to see the heaven behind the Earth to enter into that thin place. So that's the vision we are called to develop our apocalyptic imagination so that we can live out New Creation. It's hard as it is in the mundane aspects of our life and so you were to be asking yourself how can I make this the garden. How can I make my life the garden when I go out of here? How can I treat the space as entering into this in between this overlap of Heaven on Earth space that were called to live in? How can I do that this week? That's my challenge for you is to ask yourself that question to ask yourself. How can I in the concrete mundane world and choices that I make every day? How can I see the vision behind the trash to see that apocalyptic New Creation? The on-call to live with an the God be all the glory now and forever? Amen.