Why Advent Is More Than Social Justice
EPHESIANS 1:7–10 |
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Consider This The last couple of chapters we’ve looked at our Advent mission as acts of social justice in the world. But this is a good time to pause and look carefully at our trajectory. Today’s text reminds us that the final mission plan is not only works of justice, but for everything in heaven and earth to be brought together in Christ. Early in Advent we looked at how Jesus is the One who created all of this so of course his final mission will be to bring it all together in himself. In other words, Advent is more than social justice awareness month. The truth is we don’t need a gospel message for social justice. Even the pagans are for that. I’ve been a part of several interfaith services, and the one thing they all have in common is prayers for peace and calls for justice. Don’t get me wrong . . . it’s a good thing, but what does it really mean? Does peace mean the absence of conflict? No more war? No more political Twitter trolling? Partially . . . but in Scripture peace means so much more than that. Remember, the word is shalom, and it means wholeness and well-being—the ideal state of humanity, both individual and communal—as a gift from God. It’s what we had and lost in Eden, and Advent reminds us that it’s only found again in Jesus Christ. As Paul says: For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. (Col. 1:19–20)
Advent aims to deepen our mission understanding of “for God so loved the world that he sent his only Son,” and widen our orbit beyond only social justice. As Andy Crouch writes: Attempt to bring justice without Jesus, and you may not even get justice. You will certainly not get justice the way the Bible understands it—the restoration of all things to their created fruitfulness with the One who made them. . . . If you follow Jesus, he will use you to bring justice. If you want justice—follow Jesus. Because what we’re aiming for is, “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with 1 a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’” (Rev. 7:9–10) So next we should probably talk about how to get into mission mode.
CHRIST WAS BORN. CHRIST HAS DIED. CHRIST IS RISEN. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Consider This The last couple of chapters we’ve looked at our Advent mission as acts of social justice in the world. But this is a good time to pause and look carefully at our trajectory. Today’s text reminds us that the final mission plan is not only works of justice, but for everything in heaven and earth to be brought together in Christ. Early in Advent we looked at how Jesus is the One who created all of this so of course his final mission will be to bring it all together in himself. In other words, Advent is more than social justice awareness month. The truth is we don’t need a gospel message for social justice. Even the pagans are for that. I’ve been a part of several interfaith services, and the one thing they all have in common is prayers for peace and calls for justice. Don’t get me wrong . . . it’s a good thing, but what does it really mean? Does peace mean the absence of conflict? No more war? No more political Twitter trolling? Partially . . . but in Scripture peace means so much more than that. Remember, the word is shalom, and it means wholeness and well-being—the ideal state of humanity, both individual and communal—as a gift from God. It’s what we had and lost in Eden, and Advent reminds us that it’s only found again in Jesus Christ. As Paul says: For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. (Col. 1:19–20)
Advent aims to deepen our mission understanding of “for God so loved the world that he sent his only Son,” and widen our orbit beyond only social justice. As Andy Crouch writes: Attempt to bring justice without Jesus, and you may not even get justice. You will certainly not get justice the way the Bible understands it—the restoration of all things to their created fruitfulness with the One who made them. . . . If you follow Jesus, he will use you to bring justice. If you want justice—follow Jesus. Because what we’re aiming for is, “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with 1 a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’” (Rev. 7:9–10) So next we should probably talk about how to get into mission mode.
CHRIST WAS BORN. CHRIST HAS DIED. CHRIST IS RISEN. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!
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