Dear Redeemer Family,
Two days ago was January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany, where Christians celebrate how God became incarnate in a human to spread His light to the nations. On Epiphany we read the story from the Gospel of Matthew ch. 2 of the Magi (representing all the non-Jewish world) traveling to worship and offer gifts to the Christ child. It kicks off the season in the church liturgical calendar focused on the revealing of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. Aptly, the word Epiphany means revelation, unveiling, manifesting, making known.
OUR DARK EPIPHANY
Two days ago, our nation and the watching world had a different sort of Epiphany as we witnessed mobs of domestic terrorists storm the Capitol building. Amongst the many nauseating things that we witnessed, we beheld throngs of violent insurrectionists chanting slogans and waving flags with phrases like: Make America Godly Again! Jesus Saves! Give it up if you believe in Jesus, give it up if you believe in Donald Trump!
What ought to be most revolting to us (no matter our political persuasion - conservative or progressive) is that the crimes committed against democracy two days ago were not only done in the name of political conviction, they were done (by some) in the name of our Lord and Savior. The Epiphany of two days ago was the revealing of just how deep the cancer of power-obsession runs within some who identify as Christians.
In light of this Epiphany, it seems necessary for us to pause and rehearse together the story of power that unfolds in the Gospel.
THE STORY OF POWER IN THE GOSPEL
CREATION — In the beginning God holds all the power. He is the creator and the life-giver. He speaks and, at the power of His Word, the cosmos is called into existence. Then God generously shares his power with humanity - bequeathing to them the power to name creatures, to be fruitful and multiply, and to steward as his Vice-Regents under his rule and over the creation.
FALL — But what do we do with this God-given power? We hunger for more. Humanity stretches out its hand to grasp for the fruit of more power, moral power, the power to determine what is right and wrong. In this power-grab, this first-great-transgression, humanity and the whole created order falls into the shadow of sin. As we read our way through the biblical story, power is wielded in increasingly destructive ways: a brother is murdered, women are abused, an idolatrous tower is built, nations rebel, people are enslaved, genocidal wars are waged - until we have what you and I now think of as “normal.”
REDEMPTION — Into this power-hungry, violent world, God himself enters in Jesus - and what might we expect from God Almighty showing up on the scene? Well, we might expect what first-century Jews expected from the long-awaited Messiah: a military leader who would drive out the Romans and reestablish the earthly kingdom of Israel. We might expect a political leader who, through cunning strategy and savvy maneuvering, would oust the infidels and make Jewish theology and culture mainstream.
Is that what we got? Is that what God did with His power?
No, Jesus used His power in limited ways to heal, to feed, to forgive, and to drive out evil… and then, in what is still the most shocking political move of all time, He surrendered His power in order to die for His political and religious enemies.
Jesus’ crucifixion subverts everything we think we know about human power - how to get it, how to wield it, and how to keep it.
In Christ’s bodily resurrection from the dead, His beautiful subversive process opens the door for his followers to walk the same counter-intuitive, counter-cultural, power-surrendering path that used to be called “The Way” and is now called the Christian Faith.
NEW CREATION — The story is not over. The glorious conclusion has already been written and all of history is rushing towards it. One day Christ will return in glory to use His power to renew and restore all things. God’s power will fully and finally drive out evil and sin forever so that eternal peace and justice will be established. In this new creation, God promises to continue to share His power with His people as we reign together forever and ever.
Now, back to present - January 8th, 2021. In light of this Gospel, how could any Christian ever assault a nation’s capitol building in an attempt to secure temporary, earthly, political power? It is impossible, unthinkable, indefensible. It is antithetical to the Gospel and profoundly un-Christian despite the use (misuse) of Christian words and symbols by the rioters.
WE NEED A TRUE EPIPHANY
And so, as a new year dawns upon us and our nation roils in anger, we are in desperate need of the one, true Epiphany - the light of Christ breaking in upon us, scattering the darkness and revealing the presence of God in our midst. We need Jesus to manifest his Holy presence right here, right now.
If you are a political conservative, your hope lies not in overturning a contested election.
If you are a political progressive, your hope lies not in the seemingly imminent inauguration of Joseph Biden.
If you are a human being, your only real hope this new year lies in experiencing an authentic Epiphany - realizing the presence of God incarnate here with you, here with us. May it be so.
In the Father’s love,
Dan
