Salvation
2010 November 10
Today as I introduced the Gospel of Luke in class, we talked about how salvation in Luke-Acts is largely about God’s present release/freedom in Jesus. The kingdom is present — not fully but in reality nevertheless!
See what you think of these words from Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon:
“Salvation is the delightful surprise of having your little life caught up in the purposes of God for the whole world.”
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Really, really good. In moments and seasons of deep discouragement or sinfulness or ruptured community, one of the most prominent sensations in play is the thought that “In this condition, I am (we are) utterly useless to the Kingdom of God.”
qb
I love this part: “having your little life caught up.” Ironically, when we try to supersize our lives, they are diminished. When we relinquish control, when we put our lives in God’s hands, the scope of our lives expand (in him).
Interesting, Sally. Have often wondered about the role of ambition (not selfish ambition, but ambition in its best sense) in the emergence of self-replicating discipleship. Our culture, especially our business and government culture, talks so much about IMPACT! IMPACT! IMPACT! and how it is to be measured – usually numerically, which inevitably places a premium on scale, as in the “most influential churches” and the “most influential pulpits” etc. etc. And it seems oddly out of phase with the gospel, at least as qb reads it.
Feel free to expand on that, or not.
qb
Which of their books contains this quotation?
Great quote!
Craig – It’s their book on the Lord’s Prayer.
Almost to Luke. Thanks for the background. I’ll use that as a guidepost for the read.