iCrucified

Christmastide Meditation: The Word Became Flesh – Pt. 2 [01JAN2011]

I ended the first post about the Word became flesh sharing the idea that I believe we obsess over the event of salvation and with rare exception fail to live as Kingdom ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2) on this side of eternity.

“The glory of God is a human fully alive,” Irenaeus

I wonder… How many Christian people, Protestant Christians in particular, are still considering the incarnate birth of Jesus Christ? I realize that the day we celebrate his birth (Dec. 25^th) is simply a calendar mark chosen by men, but nonetheless, it is the day we have chosen to begin celebration and meditation upon the Word becoming flesh. In Church history, the people of God have traditionally focused upon the revelation of the birth of Christ through Epiphany or Theophany a date that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. Following Epiphany, some traditions in the Church continue to celebrate the Word became flesh through the first Sunday in February. So, I wonder; “How many Christians are continuing to ponder the great mystery of the Word became flesh?”

The Immortal became mortal…

The Unseen became seen…

The Uncreated One became as us…

Pure Spirit was revealed in flesh and blood…

The greatest Mystery in the history of Creation deserves more than one day to reflect on. Even more tragic is the reality that most Christians may have only given a fleeting thought or moment to this great mystery. I’m sure some celebrated the obligatory “Christmas Eve Service” or Christmas Mass, but if we are honest… how much more of our precious time did we give to pondering this great gift of God to mankind? This very weekend most of the world has celebrated the beginning of a new year and by the start of the next work week, the majority of people will have moved well beyond the thoughts of Christmas and the Word became flesh.

“Not only has the usefulness of foregoing examples served for calling us to eternity, but the Truth Himself has even “appeared” in a visible body.” –Leo the Great

The “tip of the iceberg”

I mentioned in the last post that I believe most people who profess knowledge of God through the Salvation Experience live the majority of their “earthly salvation lives” on a very small portion of real estate that exists in the kingdom of God. It seems that many Christians tote their life in Christ around with them as if it were a “safety base” or “yoga mat.” They will live in the world completely oblivious to the leading of God, and largely unresponsive to Him, until a crisis or otherwise selfishly motivated reason arises which prompts the “safety base” or “glory mat” to be unfurled. Then, the crisis-motivated “believer” will draw on the depths of their knowledge to proclaim the protection, leading, blessing, etc. of God for their need. Once the crisis is removed, the “base” or “mat” is picked up and “life” can resume for the “believer.” The salvation experience for this type of “christian” is event based; it was a one-time initiation into the “club” that will ultimately culminate in a heavenly experience after this earthly life is over. Not at all what God intends for His children…

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” –Jesus (John 10:10)

I think that many of our “family of believers” suffer from heretical beliefs. This occurs in large part because of our unwillingness to truly grow in deep relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We rely on our event-based salvation and continue the pursuit of knowledge instead of focusing on the Wellspring of all Known Things. This is a form of Gnosticism. We think we become more saved as we gain more knowledge, but that is simply not true. There are not degrees of salvation. There is one salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ. We receive that full salvation when we choose to become fully and sacrificially obedient to Him and His Way. Only first through the “death of self” can we begin the journey of becoming a Christian-fully-alive in the person of Jesus Christ. This is the Mystery revealed. This is where God’s grace is explained in the Word becoming flesh in us, HIS FOLLOWERS.

When we fail to fully engage the roles God has destined for His people, we are not His people at all. If we do not become the Ambassadors of Salvation ourselves, if we do not leave the old self, if we do not embrace the changed heart and life that is the New Creation… we attempt to accept God’s grace in vain. Effectively, we trample the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ underfoot. Knowledge does not save. Salvation is not an event. Grace saves and is evidenced by the salvation experience completely and utterly consuming the old life of a person and presenting it with something new that is manifest as the Word becomes flesh in you… and in me.

More thoughts on the Word became flesh in the coming days; stay tuned for part three…