Word of Life Church Podcast

The church in Western Europe and North America is struggling with deep disappointment. We are disappointed with the failure of the Christendom project. The grand attempt to produce a continent of Christian civilization through the apparatus of the state is either dead or dying. It appears that secularism has already won in Europe and will win in North America. So we either deny it (more easily done in America), or we angrily blame scapegoats (those we claim have “compromised the gospel”), or we simply trudge along, a bit sad about it all, nostalgic for a mythical past. The church in the post-Christendom world is walking the Emmaus Road. Confused and disappointed. But our confusion and disappointment, like that of the original Emmaus Road disciples, comes from misunderstanding the nature of Christ's kingdom.

"Your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams."
-The Prophet Joel

"You may say that I'm a dreamer."
-John Lennon

Brian Zahnd tells the story of three dreams:
1. In New York looking for the faith of Abraham.
2. In Zurich shopping for shoes with Karl Barth.
3. In Calcutta riding in a taxi with Mother Teresa.

Following Jesus is not a matter of religious preference or memorizing a set of God-facts or preparing for the afterlife. Following Jesus is a journey with surprises, challenges, and changing terrain. Our journey with Jesus is much like long distance hiking, requiring waypoints to guide the way, waypoints such as: training, rhythm, obstacles, companionship, flexibility, and being present.

David and Goliath. The underdog prevailing against impossible odds. The boy who slays the giant. This archetypal story captures our imagination like few other stories in Scripture. But how do we reconcile this admittedly violent story with the Son of David who bears the moniker of Prince of Peace?

Derek Vreeland interviews Brian Zahnd on his new book, A Farewell To Mars.

Jesus is ruling above all powers and authorities in this age and in the age to come. Jesus saw time in terms of two ages. This present evil age is a time where things do not always go right, but in the age to come, God will make all things right. The secret is that the age to come has broken into this present age through the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. We find ourselves living in between these two ages, and while there is tension in this gap, God has a plan for us. He is transforming us now, so we become people fit for the age to come.

Jesus promised to ask the Father to give to his followers the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. We believe the Spirit is the giver of life who proceeds from the Father and the Son, but where do we find him at work in the world? We need look no further than the church. The Spirit is working in harmony with Jesus to build the church, to fill the church with the holy attitude of God. Where the church is gathered in unity, there the Spirit is at work. Where the church is fighting and divided the Spirit dissipates.

Whether we find ourselves on the mountaintop or in the valley low when it comes to our faith in Christ, Jesus is always faithful. But what do we do when this statement seems suspect? What about doubt? Looking to Jesus' encounter with Thomas after the resurrection, may we learn a valuable truth about how to deal with our doubt.

Jesus said, "Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” In other words, those who are grounded in the truth, or love the truth, put themselves in a place where they can hear the life-giving words of Jesus. Truth, as reality from God's point of view, does not shift or change according to human preference; it exists on it own. The question followers of Jesus must answer is, "Do you love the truth?" More importantly, do you love the truth before you love God. If not then you have no way of knowing if the god you worship is the true and living God. Developing an appetite for the truth requires living uncomfortably in a world of lies and fantasy. Loving the truth allows you to encounter God as he is and thus be formed by him.

What if you could go back in time and talk to your younger self? What would you say? I've thought about this a lot. There's a lot I would want to say, but most of it couldn't be heard. But the one thing I would say for sure is this: Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid! It's what the present says to the past. It's what heaven says to earth. It's what Jesus says to us over and over...don't be afraid!