More Than An Example
Nowen says, “it is not enough to imitate Christ . . . the spiritual life presents us with a far more radical demand: to be living Christs here and now . . .”
Whoa! The enormity of the demand to BE CHRIST in the world seems overwhelming – indeed, it seems IMPOSSIBLE!
Right now, with war in the news and winter hanging on, perhaps we need a little fiction, a little frivolity to help us approach this seemingly insurmountable task. So, assuming we have accepted this call, how do we go about living as the hands and feet and voice of Jesus?
Thinking of taking on an “impossible” mission, but one that can be accomplished, there’s a melody that repeats itself, and an image . . . of Peter Graves (NOT Tom Cruise) flipping through his files to pick his team. Each member is chosen for their individual skills (whether knowledge, strength, charm or disguise). Working together they overcome obstacles and avoid detection by the enemy. They use planning and skill rather than noise and violence. Ultimately they accomplish an “impossible” mission.
When I was a kid, the agents of the Impossible Missions Force were my heroes. As an adult, our mission to be, “living Christs, here and now,” seems to be a call for heroics, and that’s frightening. But one slick television program can teach us the same thing that we also know from scripture – we are not called to work for Christ in isolation, but together, each according to our skills. Paul tells us in Romans chapter 12, “Just as each of us has various parts in one body, and the parts do not all have the same function, in the same way, all of us, though there are so many of us, make up one body in Christ, and as different parts we are all joined one to another.” God has chosen each of us, according to our gifts, as members of his team. Working together, through God who gives us strength, we can accomplish the seemingly impossible mission of radical discipleship, being Christ in the world.
If you feel overwhelmed by the enormity of God’s call, maybe the MI theme song can be your earworm, and you can look around and see the other members of the team and know that they will help you with this mission.
– Sharon Enoch, EFM Alumna
Sharon,
The concept that we can literally be Christ in this world is truly mind boggling and overwhelming.
One lesson that the pandemic has taught me is that no matter how well connected we think we are by phone, text, technology, video, Zoom, Teams, you name it, there is no substitute for work and fellowship with real people in real time. Being in the presence of Christ and His people is life giving.
I felt this so strongly last Wednesday evening as I tried to find a parking place and then went inside for the WAGS program, sitting and eating and talking to friends and being almost overwhelmed at how it felt to be with that many people in the Parish Hall after so many months of enforced solitude. It was fabulous!
As you said, it is wonderful to look around, see so many others on the team with their various skills and talents and to know that we can all be present, that Christ can be present, for all of us at any time.
What more can we possibly need?
Tanks for your insights.
Thank you Sharon for the powerful message. Yes, whoa is an understatement!
It’s very easy in the good times to think we’d be ready to be Christlike in any given situation, but I know I would find it difficult.
I’m remembered about an idea that came up during a youth Sunday school class, the idea of daily prayer being preparation for the times when we’re too stressed or unable to pray.
Prayer is to Prepare, or Prepare with Prayer, were two phrases we came up with.
Online morning prayer has been a good place to start.