the downward way of jesus
Last week, I read Henri Nouwen's book about Christian leadership called In the Name of Jesus. Boy did it resonate with me.
One of the points he emphasizes is the need for Christian leaders who choose a life of downward mobility. This life includes challenging and renouncing the pursuit of comfort, power, relevance, recognition and popularity (pursuits which Nouwen calls "temptations, not vocations".)
This statement particularly marked me:
[Christian leadership] is not a leadership of power and control but a leadership of powerlessness and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, is made manifest.
Nouwen points to the person of Jesus as the model for Christian ministry in that He "[...] did not cling to power but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave."
Why do Christian leaders so often ignore this? Why are we so concerned with the relevance and appeal factor of ministry that we forget that our own Lord and Saviour was primarily focused with doing life with "the least of these"? And that He made Himself poor to journey with others?
It's a temptation for me to avoid people that are at the margins of society, that are different than me and make me uncomfortable. I naturally drift toward "comfortable" ministry, which involves like-minded people, attractive opportunities, and polished formats.
This isn't the way of Jesus. Discomfort is the very place where the gospel is enacted, where holiness will ensue.
Last week, I read Exodus 39 which described the making of the priestly garments. Priests of the Old Testament made sacrifices to atone for their sins and the sins of the people. They were required to wear lavish, intricate garments to enter into the presence of God in the temple, where they never stopped working; because their work of intercession on behalf of the people was never done.
And then we find Jesus, who is the perfect, better priest today. He atoned the sins of humanity once and for all.
How interesting is it that the ultimate priest, Christ Jesus, is not remembered for wearing lavish ceremonial garments. Instead, he ended naked on the cross so people in their depravity would be clothed with His righteousness.
That's the downward way of Jesus.
Christian leaders are invited to walk this way of downward mobility, choosing mutuality over popularity; becoming marginal so those at the margins can enter into God's presence; making themselves small so Christ can be raised.
Perhaps that means sticking it out in a church where the diversity of cultures and generations is incommodious to you. It could also involve packing bags and choosing to live in a low-income community. For some, it will require putting away flashy programs and learning to simply do life with members of their ministry. For others, the downward way of Jesus will mean to befriend someone of a different creed, socioeconomic status or cognitive ability.
May we as Christians choose to live with outstretched hands, willing to be led where we would rather not go. As Nouwen writes, "powerlessness and humility in the spiritual life [...] refer to people who are so deeply in love with Jesus that they are ready to follow Him wherever He guides them, always trusting that, with Him, they will find life and find it abundantly."
May we do so, in the name of Jesus.
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)
One of the points he emphasizes is the need for Christian leaders who choose a life of downward mobility. This life includes challenging and renouncing the pursuit of comfort, power, relevance, recognition and popularity (pursuits which Nouwen calls "temptations, not vocations".)
This statement particularly marked me:
[Christian leadership] is not a leadership of power and control but a leadership of powerlessness and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, is made manifest.
Nouwen points to the person of Jesus as the model for Christian ministry in that He "[...] did not cling to power but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave."
Why do Christian leaders so often ignore this? Why are we so concerned with the relevance and appeal factor of ministry that we forget that our own Lord and Saviour was primarily focused with doing life with "the least of these"? And that He made Himself poor to journey with others?
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
(2 Corinthians 8:9)
This isn't the way of Jesus. Discomfort is the very place where the gospel is enacted, where holiness will ensue.
Last week, I read Exodus 39 which described the making of the priestly garments. Priests of the Old Testament made sacrifices to atone for their sins and the sins of the people. They were required to wear lavish, intricate garments to enter into the presence of God in the temple, where they never stopped working; because their work of intercession on behalf of the people was never done.
And then we find Jesus, who is the perfect, better priest today. He atoned the sins of humanity once and for all.
How interesting is it that the ultimate priest, Christ Jesus, is not remembered for wearing lavish ceremonial garments. Instead, he ended naked on the cross so people in their depravity would be clothed with His righteousness.
That's the downward way of Jesus.
Christian leaders are invited to walk this way of downward mobility, choosing mutuality over popularity; becoming marginal so those at the margins can enter into God's presence; making themselves small so Christ can be raised.
Perhaps that means sticking it out in a church where the diversity of cultures and generations is incommodious to you. It could also involve packing bags and choosing to live in a low-income community. For some, it will require putting away flashy programs and learning to simply do life with members of their ministry. For others, the downward way of Jesus will mean to befriend someone of a different creed, socioeconomic status or cognitive ability.
May we as Christians choose to live with outstretched hands, willing to be led where we would rather not go. As Nouwen writes, "powerlessness and humility in the spiritual life [...] refer to people who are so deeply in love with Jesus that they are ready to follow Him wherever He guides them, always trusting that, with Him, they will find life and find it abundantly."
May we do so, in the name of Jesus.
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)
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