When I began bible college 13 years ago, I was told that it would
be a difficult experience, because they would strip down my faith to the bare
minimum and then rebuild it on solid foundations. This did not happen! Mainly because I had only been a ‘recommitted’
Christian a year and did not have much faith to strip back! I was a blank canvas. However, my time as a missional listener has
stripped me back and corrected some wrong ways and purposes and I hope over
time rebuilding me in a much more Christ like manner. It has been a difficult experience, broken at
times, terrifying at others but the result has been one of moving closer to God
and being more able to join in with His mission. My previous blogs on the wrong questions,
more answers and family are good examples of this stripping back and over the
next few weeks I will share with you some others.
But it’s a good
thing. A difficult thing but a good
thing. A painful thing but a good
thing. A scary thing but a good thing.
In November I went to the
Launch conference in Manchester. It
wasn’t completely my cup of tea but as always with God there were bits that
were helpful. Danielle Strickland,
wherever and whenever she speaks, is someone who is always a means of grace to
me. She mentioned in her talk about
being a butterfly or a snake. It is in
conversation with Nicodemus that Jesus says that to see the kingdom of heaven
you must be born again.[1] But how are we born again? Like
a butterfly that has a one-off transformation from something small too something
incredible?
Imagine asking
Peter when he was born again? What might his answer be? When he was fishing, and Jesus asked him to
follow him?[2] When he realises Jesus has the words of
eternal life?[3]
Perhaps at the transfiguration?[4]
Or when reconciled with Jesus on the beach?[5]
Coming forward to preach at Pentecost?[6] Or doing the unthinkable and staying with and
explaining the gospel to a Roman centurion called Cornelius?[7] The answer would probably be every time. Strickland concludes that perhaps the
Christian should be more like a snake, constantly letting go of skin that
doesn’t fit anymore and move closer to God.[8]
This tells you
where I am in the missional listening project.
I’m a snake! Constantly shedding
skin… painful… scary… hard… but the result is moving closer to God. Hallelujah!
When were you
born again? Is it a date in time when
you were ‘converted’? The Christian
calling is to be continually born again.
So, when was the last time you were born again? May you be born again today.
Hiebert writes
that in the nineteenth century the focus of the missional movement was
behavioural change, in the twentieth century its focus was the changing of
beliefs and in the twenty-first century it needs to be focused on the
transforming of worldview.[9] When we focus on conversion we think of an
old set of beliefs and behaviours replaced with new ones. As we live in
contemporary culture our worldview is constantly affected and shaped and we
must see worldview not only as conversion but ‘as a process of deep
discipling’.[10] Then we can respond to Paul's plea ‘to not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so
that you may discern what is the will of God’.[11]
My friends, be
continually born again, shed skin, and have your worldview constantly changed
by our wonderful God. Learn to know him
different, neighbour different, yourself different, the world different… be
born again and may you move closer to Him!
Hiebert, P.G. (2008). Transforming
Worldviews. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Strickland, D. (2017). ‘Snake vs.
butterfly – being born again’. Thrive.
Retrieved January 10, 12:13 from thrive: https://thriveconference.org/now/snake-vs-butterfly-being-born-again-by-danielle-strickland.
[1] John 3:3. (NRSV).
[2] Mark 1:17. (NRSV).
[3] John 6:68. (NRSV).
[4] Matthew 17:1-13. (NRSV).
[6] Acts 2:14-41. (NRSV).
[7] Acts 10. (NRSV).
[8] Strickland. (2017).
[9] Hiebert. (2008). pp. 11-12.
[10] Ibid. p. 319.
[11] Romans 12:2. (NRSV).
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