Spirituality and Mission Part IV

Having briefly explored the integration of the Mission and Culture mandate, I would like to (again, briefly) turn to the integration of spirituality and mission.

As Colossians 1:15ff. makes clear, the whole cosmic enchilada is centered around Christ - the entirety of history (terrestrial and celestial) revolves around the Word, the self-revelation of God, embodied in the glorified Christ.

As humans, made in the image of God, we are patterned after the incarnate God, the express image of the invisible God, and the fullness of Deity in bodily form. As redeemed sinners, marred by the fall, but rescued in Jesus, we are being continually conformed and renewed in Christ, in whose face shines "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God." And one day - the last day - we will be made complete in Christ, and will be like him who is from heaven (1Co.15:48).

Our spirituality then is entirely centered on and around Christ, as the only mediator between man and God, the heavenly high priest who effectually intercedes for us, and in whom alone our destiny as human beings is restored, fulfilled - summed up (Eph.1:9-10). In light of this, I can think of our spirituality only in terms of our relationship to Jesus. Knowledge of God through Christ is the only pathway to (and for) true spiritual life (cf. Jn.17:3; 14:6).

In studying Colossians, I see three dynamics or aspects in our relationship to Christ, which in turn determine everything about us as the church. First, Christ, as the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, is over us. He is the head over every principality and power, and, particularly, the head of the church, "the fullness of him who fills all things." To him we are compelled to bow the knee. He commands; we must obey. This is creation properly ordered, or more accurately, restored to its proper order. This is the basic significance of Christian submission: ordering our lives under divine authority, as unveiled in the revelation of Christ. And so, for example, we order our lives under the institutions he, through creation, providence and redemption has established, ordered, and blessed (e.g., government, marriage, and the church). A spiritual life, then, is submissive - a well-ordered life (cf. Eph.5:18-21ff.).

Without obedience to Christ and his commands there is no spirituality in any biblical sense of the term.

The second aspect is our spiritual union with Christ: We in Christ and Christ in us. Through faith, we have union with him in his death, burial, resurrection, and glorification (Col.2-3; cf. Ro.6:1ff.). We are spiritually and organically united to him as members of a body (1Co.6:15-17). We are one with him through the Holy Spirit, such that all the splendor, beauty and perfection of His person and work is ours. This is joy and hope of the Christian!

Likewise, we become wholly his - both in body and soul (cf. 1Co.6:19-20) - individually, and corporately (Eph.5:25-32).

Therefore, what he has, we have. In him, we have the righteousness of God (cf. Ro.5:16-18; Phil.3:8-9). In him, we have all the wealth of knowledge and wisdom (Col.2:3). In him, we are eternally blessed with all the spiritual riches in the heavenlies (Eph.1:3-14). Through him, even the fullness of the Godhead belongs to us (Col.2:9-10)! Such is the overwhelmingly lavish inheritance of the Christian (cf. Col.2:8-9ff.; Eph.1:18). And so Paul declares in 1Co.1:30,

By His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.

As a result, we now walk with boldness in the presence of God, with joy and with hearts at rest (cf. Ro.5:1-5; He.10:22; 1Jn.3:19-21). And not only do we enjoy this new status before God (as "righteous,"and "holy," as "sons of God," etc.), but our whole lives are now revealed as wrapped up in this new destiny - his destiny. In Christ, we are not only justified and sanctified (cf. 1Co.6:11), but are progressively being conformed into his image; and ultimately we will be glorified in him and with him (Ro.8:29-39). In Christ, we are predestined for this glorious future (cf. Ro.8:23, 29; Eph.1:5). We are thus made to be coheirs with Christ of the divine kingdom - both in his sufferings and in his reward (Ro.8:17; cf. Phil.1:29)!

As our result, on the one hand, our lives here and now become increasingly 'cruciform' - that is, shaped by the cross of Christ (e.g., 2Co.4:7-11). According to the apostle, this is our great destiny on earth: to be conformed to the sufferings of Christ (Phil.3:10-15). And so, what He was, as the suffering servant, we are. As Peter wrote to the churches in Asia Minor, "Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps," 1Pe.2:21.

But, on the other hand, our lives are also exalted in him, both now (Col.3:1), through the gift of the Spirit, and then, when he appears in power to transform our "lowly bodies into conformity with the body of his glory" (Phil.3:21). This is our great destiny in the new heavens and new earth: to inherit the kingdom of God (cf. 1Co.15:50-53; 2Pe.3:13)! And so, what He is, we will be (Col.3:3-4). As John wrote, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is," 1Jn.3:2.

Obviously this language of being "in him" implies more than mere representational solidarity - as though the fullness of Christ's person and glory were merely some hologram projected from heaven to earth. Rather, our union with Christ lifts us up to where he is, seated at the right hand of majesty. It is a mystical reality that not only imputes divine righteousness to us, but imparts righteousness, through the transformative power of Christ at work within us. For in our spiritual union, the life of the immortal Christ invades our lives through the indwelling Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ), by whom we are continuosly being transformed "from glory to glory" into his likeness (2Co.3:18).

Mysteriously, the life of Christ, then, is lived out within us. He is alive, and at work in us, changing us, saving us. Hence, Paul writes,

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

We are in Christ. Christ is in us. This mysterious, living union is the very 'stuff' of our spirituality - the vital center of our new life and obedience. Wasn't this knowledge of the mystery of "Christ in you" the substance of Paul's prayers for the churches (e.g., Eph.1:15-23; 3:14-19; Col.1:9-14; 2:2-3; cf. Phil.1:9-11)? Paul understood that such a knowledge of our spiritual riches in Christ would yield 'good works' and 'fruit' (Col.1:10); it would inexorably produce the end of our redemption, namely, perfection (cf. Phil.1:6; 1Th.5:23).

This knowledge of our union with Christ in his death and resurection, according to the apostle, is not merely theoretical. Properly grasped (by faith), it leads us to "reckon ourselves dead," and live anew to God through Christ (Ro.6:11), etc. This calls then for meditation, for reflection on our profound union with Christ, and, through him, with the Godhead. From this spiritual understanding and knowledge comes wisdom: a wisdom demonstrated by our obedience.

Christ is over us. Christ is in us. And as a result, Christ is at work through us. Here we see the 'missional' impact of our union with Christ. Not only are we drawn up into the life of the Godhead by virtue of this spiritual union, but we thereby become instruments of Christ in the world, impacting the realm of his kindgom (i.e., everything) through the activity of his Spirit. In this way, the living Christ continues to work in the world today, through his body, the church. And our union with him through faith, as grounded in the word of God and realized through the Holy Spirit, is the powerful means by which Christ accomplishes his redemptive purposes in history. As Christ dwells in us, and we abide in him (trusting and obeying him as Lord), our impact is deepened, and our obedience to his commission is enlivened with life, confidence and joy.

As Christ is over us, we are compelled to obey his mandate (Mt.28:18-20). As Christ is in us, and we in him, we have the liberating knowledge of his victorious reign on our behalf (if Christ has conquered sin and death, we have conquered sin and death) and the power of his transforming presence goes with us, and is active in us. And so, as Christ is at work through his church, we have the promise and confidence that the mission will be accomplished through us, as his body on earth.

Christ over us; Christ in us; Christ through us. We need all three: 1. authority/submission (giving us purpose and direction), 2. boldness and vitality (giving us life and energy), and 3. efficacy in the ministry of the gospel (giving us impact in the world).