I am preaching on the ascension this Sunday at one of our traditional services (it being the Sunday after Ascension Day). I came across this quote, which makes a terrific point:
what happens when you downplay or ignore the Ascension is that, basically, the church expands to fill the vacuum. If Jesus is not someone other than the church – while of course at the same time being present with his people through his Spirit – then we have created a high road to triumphalism of the worst kind.
Ministers need to hear this loud and clear. Commitment to church life and programs can never be identified with commitment to Christ, precisely because Christ is absent – ascended to the right hand of the Father – even as he is present by his Spirit.
Hey – are you doing some THEOLOGY on this blog?
🙂
Well, I thought the time had come!
We have Forsyth on the Ascension tomorrow at St Philip’s. Nice.
Good comment. Though I think that a deeper understanding of the Ascension would increase commitment to church, but in a good way. It wouldn’t become a golden calf while Moses is away.
How did it go, Katay?
And whose quote is it?
Totally agree – the Church does not begin as a response to the “void” left by Jesus, but rather, as C. K. Barrett states, ‘ the end of the story of Jesus is the Church; and the story of Jesus is the beginning of the Church.’
Jesus ascension was required for the Church to begin, as was the sending of the Spirit, which also could not have occurred until Jesus’ ascension (c.f. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2).
Hi Andrew
Been enjoying popping in on your blog.
You’ve made a very helpful and important point. When the church expands to fill the void, the ‘gospel call’ starts to become ‘join the church’ rather than ‘repent and believe on the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ, who sits at God’s right hand as the Lord, Judge and Intercessor’.
I don’t think the resurrection, ascension and heavenly session of Christ plays a big enough part in our thinking (well my thinking, I guess I mean) — including thinking about salvation and the cross.
Thanks again for the quote.
TP
Tony,
nice to have you join in. And the ‘join the church’ gospel is certainly no gospel at all!