Markers for a Jesus-Centred Transformation | 1. What are the markers with Meghan Larissa Good
Nov 3, 2022
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Meghan Larissa Good, an expert in recontextualizing Christianity, discusses the concept of a new reformation and the movement Jesus Collective serves. Topics include deconstruction and reformation in religious traditions, hopes for a Jesus-centered transformation, tension between individualism and community, overcoming through suffering love, and markers for a Jesus-centered transformation.
Understanding God's character through Jesus leads to a more authentic and compassionate version of Christianity.
Jesus' mission involves restoring and reconciling all things, addressing brokenness, injustice, and participating in healing work.
Embodying the transformative power of suffering love overcomes divisiveness and contributes to personal and societal transformation.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to bridge divides and participate in restoring relationships and systems.
Deep dives
Renovation #1: God always looks like Jesus and all scripture is properly read through him
This renovation emphasizes the importance of understanding God's character through the lens of Jesus and interpreting scripture in light of his teachings. It addresses the need to align our understanding of God with the loving and reconciling nature demonstrated by Jesus. By centering our beliefs and interpretations on Jesus' life and teachings, we can build a more authentic and compassionate version of Christianity.
Renovation #2: Jesus leads a movement to heal what is broken in the world
This renovation acknowledges that Jesus' mission is not just about individual salvation, but also about the restoration and reconciliation of all things. It highlights the need to address the brokenness and injustice present in the world and participate in the healing work initiated by Jesus. By embracing a holistic approach to following Jesus, we can actively contribute to the renewal and reconciliation of all aspects of creation.
Renovation #3: The power of suffering love reveals the way of transformation
This renovation emphasizes the transformative power of suffering love modeled by Jesus. It challenges the conventional understanding of power and invites us to embrace a radical approach that involves self-denial, enemy love, and the willingness to sacrificially serve others. By embodying the way of suffering love, we can overcome the divisive patterns of the world and participate in the transformation of ourselves and society.
Renovation #4: The Holy Spirit empowers us to partner in God's work of reconciling all things
This renovation highlights the role of the Holy Spirit as the empowering force behind our efforts to reconcile and restore all things. It recognizes that human determination and efforts alone are insufficient to bring about meaningful reconciliation. By embracing the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can be vessels for God's work of reconciliation, bridging divides and participating in the restoration of relationships and systems.
Renovation #5: Our purpose is to embody the renewing and reconciling love of God
This renovation emphasizes the call to embody God's renewing and reconciling love in our lives and interactions. It recognizes that our actions and attitudes should reflect the transformative power of God's love at work in us. By intentionally living out this love, we can bear witness to a more hopeful and authentic expression of Christianity in the world, impacting generations to come.
The Church's Diverse Interpretations of God's Nature
Despite praying to the same God and reading the same book, Christians around the world have come to wildly different conclusions about God's nature. This disparity raises questions about the interpretation of the text itself, with different readings leading to conflicting beliefs. The speaker suggests that Jesus brings a unique perspective that challenges narrow interpretations, emphasizing the importance of understanding God through the lens of Christ's teachings.
The Church's Role in the World and the Individual
The podcast highlights the different versions of the salvation story told within the church and the secular world. In the church, salvation is often seen as an individual, future-oriented transformation. However, this narrative fails to address the purpose of existence and the larger crises faced in the world. On the other hand, the secular narrative emphasizes self-actualization and individual authenticity. While this narrative achieves some good, it falls short in providing a sense of community, belonging, and meaning. Ultimately, the podcast highlights the need for a broader understanding of salvation that focuses on community, purpose, and belonging.
Phyllis Tickle once suggested that every 500 years or so, Christianity goes through an upheaval. These upheavals happen because the old answers no longer hold true for a large number of people, and the church at large has to re-explore and recontextualize. Five Hundred years ago, the upheaval was the Reformation when Protestantism was born. In this episode, we keep off our series where we will be exploring Five Markers for a Jesus-Centred Transformation.
Today we’re joined by Meghan Larrisa Good who gives leadership to our Jesus Collective Theology Circle. Together, we discuss this concept of a new reformation and the movement that Jesus Collective exists to serve. Meghan lays out Five Markers for a Jesus-Centred Transformation that are true of Jesus Collective’s theology that we’ll explore more in-depth in the coming weeks.
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