putting the world to rights

the gospel is not about Western ideas of health, wealth and prosperity. the gospel is about the Jewish-Christian conviction that 'life - all life - is meaningful and good, and that evil distorts and disrupts the good and cries out to be set right' (Westerholm, Understanding Paul).

But the story of the bible, which is the story that I am telling you, is not - as many of you may have been brought up imagining - is not a story simply about random individual men and women, and whether they behave or misbehave, and whether or not they go to heaven or hell at the end. That is our Western reshaping of the story of the bible, our fitting of it into different categories.

The story the bible itself actually tells is the story of the creator God and His world, of the plan for humans within that world to manage creation and then to help in the task of putting it right.

- N.T. Wright, Reconstructing Hope (Harvard Graduate School Christian Fellowship Series, 18 Nov 08)

the gospel is not about saying the sinner's prayer so that we can go to heaven when we die. the gospel is the good news that Jesus has come to earth to launch the new creation of the world, and is coming back soon to complete it! in the meantime, we - who are a new creation in Christ - are called to participate in the new creation of the world through evangelism, missions and social action.

"As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"" - Romans 10:11-15 (NIV)

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
Who brings good news, good news
Proclaiming peace, announcing news of happiness
Our God reigns, our God reigns!

You watchmen lift your voices joyfully as one
Shout for your King, your King
See eye to eye the Lord restoring Zion
Your God reigns, your God reigns!

Waste places of Jerusalem break forth with joy
We are redeemed, redeemed
The Lord has saved and comforted His people
Our God reigns, our God reigns!

Ends of the earth, see the salvation of your God
Jesus is Lord, is Lord
Before the nations He has bared His holy arm
Your God reigns, your God reigns!

*****

as i was watching prison break last night, i was thinking about how we don't know for sure how the series will end. we hope that it will end well - and it probably will - but until it actually ends well, we can't be completely sure.

on the other hand, we do know for sure how God's big picture of creation will end - with God putting the world to rights.

"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more." - Isaiah 65:17-19 (NIV)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."" - Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)