The
essence of what I have called “trinity” (lower case ’t’) is
unity in diversity, interconnectedness and interrelatedness (see the
January posts "Trinity and trinity"). Mankind, being made in the image
of God, is trinity body, soul and spirit. But most of the time we
think and operate as one dimensional man. Most of the time, but in
fact we have started to discover the interrelatedness. We talk,
for example, about psychosomatic (soul – body) illnesses. Secular
self help is mostly about the inward journey, and too easily turns
inward. A large part of the church is concerned only with the upward
journey saying we don't need inner healing “It's all under the
blood brother!” In the meantime we operate out of our hurts, habits and
hangups, and do little about the outward journey. The split between
the liberal and the conservative church began early last century,
with liberals saying we should feed the poor, and conservatives
saying we should preach the gospel. Jesus commanded, and did
both, not one to the exclusion of the other!
Concerning the outward
journey, the Green Party, for example, base their actions and principles on
social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. It's not that any
of these things are wrong in principle, but rather that they tend to
be one dimensional and while they address some issues can actually be
detrimental to others (see Unintended consequences October posts).
Holistic discipleship can be expressed in terms of obedience to
the first commandment trinity. We are to love with the Lord with all
our heart, mind and soul, and to do this with everything we are and
have. Since the second commandment is “like unto the first”
(Matthew 23:37-39), we are being told here that loving our neighbour
as ourselves, is intricately interconnected with loving Him with all
our heart, mind, soul and strength. You see when we love the Lord
in this way, we cannot help but love what He loves. And He loves you
and me.
And
it's only out of this love for God and ourselves, that we
are able to fully love our neighbour as He intends that we love
ourselves. Since, for example. we so easily project our own faults
onto others, if we do not love ourselves or are not merciful to ourselves, we are not likely to be
merciful to our neighbour. So am I saying that we
should not attempt to love our neighbour if we have not yet learned
to love ourselves? Well no, there are two things I keep saying that
are relevant here. The first is that it's not all about our level of maturity
that impresses the world, but rather the degree to which we are being
transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).
It's not about having arrived, but rather secondly, it's about
practicing our discipleship. Paul puts it this way “not that I
have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I press on
to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me”
(Philippians 3:12).
Father,
thank You that when we do discipleship the way that You intend, it is truly holistic. We not only get to love ourselves we even get
to like ourselves. In this way as we continue to practice receiving all that You have for us, and all that You call us to be, that we are more and more able to
do the outward journey “Freely you have received, freely give,” in Jesus Name Amen
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