Category: Theology and Reflections

So I’ve been reading Exile: A Conversation with N. T. Wright and this isn’t so much a book review as it is a musing over the topic of exile, the Church and the individual. For me, the theme of exile in the Bible hasn’t always been something I’ve given a lot of thought to. I’ve always had a vague understanding that as Christians, this current age and world isn’t our final destination, that we are foreigners, sojourners, pilgrims, living in this “land” doing what we can for the Kingdom as we await its final consummation at the second coming of Jesus. The idea has always been at the back of my mind, but I’ve never really given a lot of thought to how it informs the life I live in the here and now, how it might affect my experience of both the local and universal Church, how it might affect me. So then, let’s explore what the theme of exile in the Bible is.

Exile simply defined from good old Google is “the state of being barred from one’s native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.” A pretty good definition, we can even map this onto the Biblical narrative. Almost the entire Old Testament is a story about how God’s people in the nation of Israel are constantly being enslaved to foreign nations, taken out of their land and placed in others only to repeat the cycle again and again. For the Jews Egpyt, Babylon and the Grecco-Roman empire were their worst enemy’s enslaving them, exiling them and ruling over them. For the Christian however, we are exiles living in a world that tries to enslave us to our idols, to our sin, and to satan. We are pilgrims and workers burdened with the joyous task to go about bringing peace and shalom to the world through the Gospel and our good works. Unfortunately, those things that ensnare often get the better of us. We might not be under imperial oppression (some of us literally are) but the crushing weight of this world renders us feeling useless, worthless, broken and beat. We are enslaved to a kingdom unseen, to a power that can’t be perceived. There is, however, a greater power, a greater kingdom that offers peace instead of chaos, that offers wholeness instead of brokenness, that offers life instead of death. This can only be found in Jesus.

For me, my idols are like coffee. When I had my first ever coffee it was like a dessert, sweet, chocolatey and kept me hyped (it was a mocha at Zaraffas). Then slowly but surely I moved on to stronger, more bitter, darker brews. Desserts just didn’t do it for me anymore. Soon I found myself finding exotic ways to brew my drop. I wasn’t content anymore with a simple flatty from Starbucks or even from the more boutique cafes that do speciality coffee. Now I use cold drip towers and Chemix’s and unless somebody stops me I’m probably going to be drinking coffee that comes out of the butt of a Civet (Google it, it’s a thing). The relentless pursuit of the perfect, satisfying cup of hot steaming caffeinated marshmallow liquid that spills forth from the divine is unending and has probably cost me thousands of dollars over the years. This single endeavour though fun (everyone needs a hobby right?) has left me ultimately unfulfilled never truly being satisfied with whatever it is I’m drinking. Bam, what a perfect analogy for idolatry.

Immediately my mind now flicks through dozens of passages and stories in Scripture that talk about this (Adam and Eve for a start). Even if you hate coffee (you heathen) think about that one thing you spend the most money on, the most time thinking about, the most time given to, that’s probably what you love most in this world, it is probably what you worship, it is probably your idol, your god. Let me be blunt. Idols are bad. They’re not really stone statues in your garden tempting you into yoga or asking for a blood sacrifice… idols are the things that rule over your life, your very soul. Idols rule over you, you give them power and in turn, you hope to receive some benefit usually peace or prosperity … even life. The irony is the very things that God intended to give your life shape and joy actually now suck it out of you, they leave you high and dry, they leave you unfulfilled, depressed, and ultimately they lead to spiritual death.

For me personally, idolatry, the worship of other gods have been the eternal war being waged over my soul. It feels like every time I look to something to satisfy me I lose apart of who I am (or at least of who I’m supposed to be), I change, I’m always different. Idolatry has always lead me down a darker path of uncertainty always looking for another path, another fix to warm my longing heart and to quench my thirsty soul (Prov 4:23; Jer 2:13). There is, however, a lasting fix, a lasting quench, a lasting path that leads to life. Jesus says in John’s Gospel “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jhn 4:14). For those who are lost in their idols, Jesus offers us a way out if only we come and depend on Him if only we look to Him for true and lasting life and satisfaction.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 3:2, Matt 4:17, Mk 1:15). The Kingdom of God is perhaps the biggest theme in all of Scripture. Stretching from Genesis to Revelation God’s Kingdom seems to be almost in every idea, thought, and page. It seems God wants to establish and create an everlasting Kingdom where He would reign forever (Ps 2; 45:6; 89: 29, 36-37; Heb 1:8; Rev 11:15) with and over His people in perfect unity (Ps 8; 2 Tim 2:12) free from sin, Satan, and death (Rev 21:4). That all sounds lovely doesn’t it? It is a great hope and a great promise for God’s people to be looking forward to. However, just because there is a future hope it doesn’t mean there isn’t a present hope, a present kingdom, where God rules and gives us a taste of His goodness well before we see Him face to face.

So where do we find this taste of the good life, this taste of goodness that only comes from God? In His Church. Theologically speaking the Church is made up of two parts, the Church universal and invisible, and the Church local and visible. I make this argument elsewhere in another essay but 1. the Church (universal and invisible) is God’s Kingdom (redemptive rule) expanding throughout the earth and 2. the local church is a primary visible and tangible expression of God’s redemptive rule and mission. Think of it like this, the local church acts as an embassy for its nation (God’s Kingdom) so that those who would want to take asylum would find shelter, protection, and even eventually citizenship are able. This is the predominant function of the Church, to bring about God’s Kingdom, God’s Redemptive rule to every facet of creation. The thing is though unless a local church is functioning as God intends it to, then it can’t be a place of God’s goodness, it can’t but a place where God’s Kingdom is redeeming people and His creation, it can’t be that embassy that people can run to in their time of need. So then what does a healthy church look like?

In order for a local church to be considered healthy according to the Scriptures, it must consist of 1. God’s people gathering together regularly (Heb 10:25) as members of the body (1 Cor 12:13) united to Christ (Gal 3:27) 2. There must be a healthy leadership that guides and instructs the sheep that is made up of a plurality of elders and deacons and qualifies for said roles according to Scripture (1 Tim 3; Tit 1). 3. There must be the preaching of Scripture every gathering in order that the sheep would be sanctified, feed and fully equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). The administration of the sacraments (the preaching of Scripture, baptism and the Lord’s Supper). 4. Church discipline (Matt 18:15-17; 1 Cor 5:1-13). 5. It must be missional (Matt 28:16-20).

At the end of the day God’s Kingdom will come, His will, will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. However, God’s means for doing this is through biblical local churches (with Christ as the head) which there needs to be more of. Discipling, baptising, teaching, evangelising, bringing about the Kingdom (God’s redemptive rule) is done through the Gospel and healthy, Spirit-filled churches obedient to their King and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Some of you might not know this but I love video games. I really love video games. It probably all started when my mum and dad owned a Sega (not sure which) and we’d play Alex the Kid. Next, came the Super Nintendo where we played Yoshi’s Island and Mario is Missing then finally the console that probably defined my gaming experience the Nintendo 64. This console was one of a kind, a classic. Amazing games such a James Bond: Golden Eye, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Mario 64, Lylat Wars, Pokemon Stadium, and of course (probably my favourite game of all time), The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Since then gaming has come such a long way. From the 8 bit Pong to amazing graphically built games like The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and even into virtual reality (VR), gaming has radically shaped the way humanity experiences the world around them and even God and spirituality.

I remember not long ago reading a book called “You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit” by James K. A. Smith. The title is pretty self-explanatory but essentially Smith writes about how what we do actually forms us into who we are. For example, if all you do is hate on people then inwardly you will become a hate-filled chaotic person. But, if you go around loving others as you would yourself then slowly but surely you become a love-filled Shalom (whole) kind of person. That’s fairly simplistic but this got me thinking… I’ve put a lot of hours into gaming but what has it put back into me? How have the games I’ve played shaped the person I am today? What stories have they told that I’ve retained? Are video games good for me or are they bad for me? Now I can imagine the typical average Christian probably thinking “video games are bad for you, so don’t play them.” You’re probably right. I’ve had some very negative experiences with games before… mostly me rage quitting when I don’t get my way on Halo or now on Fortnite (I hate when scrubs kill me). Also, the toxicity in some games like Overwatch just gets to you and makes you feel terrible. People spit poison and genuinely hate you if you don’t play up to a certain standard. Gaming can create a really negative culture that isn’t good for you and you have to be aware of those cultures and experiences and stay away from them. However, I’ve also had some of the most positive moments of my life while gaming as well. Again, I think back to Zelda tracking through Hyrule slaying monsters and being in genuine awe of the world around me as I strived to save the princess.

The narratives Zelda told of good versus evil, of heroes versus villains, of the underdog, rising up and often sacrificing himself for the greater good and winning, of gods and demons, of the transcendent, feels all very Biblical. Turn almost anywhere in Scripture and you see the cry out for evil to be defeated, for people to be rescued, for the hero to win, and to bring peace and liberty to the world  It is these sort of narratives that seem to permeate almost every form of entertainment, but in video games, you get to be apart of that story. You get to live out their experience and make it your own. How then does this perhaps shape who I am in reality?

… To be continued