Seven I am's

Following on from 5 things I am not, here are seven things I am.


1) I am a believer in the centrality of Jesus in understanding all Scripture, both the New and Old Testament. Jesus is the lens through which we interpret all the history, the laws, the prophetic writings, the wisdom literature, the apocalyptic literature and the letters that make up the Bible. He is also the fulfillment of Scripture, and history centers on Him, not on me or on particular nations or kingdoms.


2) I am more interested in the kingdom of God than in heaven and hell and who goes where. Seems to me that Jesus emphasised the kingdom much more than heaven and hell, and as his ambassadors we should keep the same focus in our theology, teaching, preaching, sharing Jesus, training, discipleship, and daily walk.


3) I love church and am commited to it insofar as it is an appropriate wineskin for the pouring in and out of the kingdom of Jesus. When the wineskin becomes more of a focus than the wine, I begin to get impatient with it. Church traditions, structure and politics are far less important to me than the invitation to enter the kingdom of heaven that is "at hand" in the person and presence of Jesus.


4) I am a questioner. I am never happy until I know the answer to the question "Why?" I have been labelled "the devil's advocate" in team building exercises- the person who has to question everything. To me, unthinking Christianity is unthinkable!


5) I am an avid reader, but tend to be a "dipper" unless something really grips me, in which case I stick with it. Sticky books for me recently have included "Jesus for President" (Shane Claiborne), "Jesus wants to Save Christians" (Rob Bell), "The Shack" (William P. Young), "Surprised By Hope" (Tom Wright), "Christianity Rediscovered" (Vincent J.Donovan), "The Divine Conspiracy" (Dallas Willard), and others. The book (other than the Bible) I blame most for the shape of my life is "The Mustard Seed Conspiracy" by Tom Sine. Much of my thinking is shaped by my reading.


6) I know that I do not know much about anything. What I do know is distorted by my cultural assumptions and perspectives. As Paul said, I only see through a glass darkly- but there will be a day when I see face to face! Therefore I am trying to be humble about my understanding of the ways of God, while passionately believing them until a more compelling alternative appears! In other words, my theology is on a journey, and I hope it never stops being so, as on that day I will be dead! I am committed to exposing my own cultural blindspots wherever possible, while also wishing to see culturally accessible expressions of God's love and His kingdom sprouting up all over the place.

7) I am a prenuptial Christian... Sorry, the next blog will explain!