Abiding and Anticipation
Discipleship is a state of being. To be a disciple is to abide in Jesus. If the only discipleship metaphor we knew was the apprentice metaphor, we might make the mistake of striving in our own strength to be a follower of Jesus.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams writes in the opening chapter of his book Being Disciples,
Discipleship is about how we live; not just the decisions we make, not just the things we believe, but a state of being. It’s very telling that, at the very beginning of John’s Gospel (John 1.38–39), when the two disciples of John the Baptist come to Jesus they say, ‘Rabbi, where are you staying?’ Jesus says, ‘Come and see’, and they stay with him for the rest of the day.
Jesus says to “abide in me…abide in my love” (John 15:4,9). This is a permanent state of being. It is not something we do some of the time. The disciple who abides in Jesus, expects to change. Williams says you will start to see the world differently. You are excitedly anticipating Jesus to tell you or give you something important or significant. When we read the Bible or sit under teaching, we anticipate Jesus to speak to us. When we pray, or engage with others in fellowship, we are attentive to his leading.
However, if you are like me, you probably find being attentive to Jesus voice a challenge.
Acceleration and Alienation
We are distracted and overwhelmed with life because of what the German sociologist and political theorist Hartmut Rosa calls ‘time sickness’ which is as a result of ‘the great acceleration.’ Advances in transportation, communication, and production means we can do more faster, but we feel sick because we can’t engage with everything we have before us.
Being busy makes us feel like our life is worth more, but ultimately it makes us disconnected. Rosa calls this ‘alienation':
The danger (or cancer) of acceleration isn’t speed per se, but the way speed alienates us from the world, from core human connection with one another and the world itself…
Modernity is a broken promise. Rosa writes, “the very technology and social revolutions that were supposed to lead to an increase in autonomy are now becoming increasingly oppressive.” Acceleration has become a totalitarian ruler over our lives: “The powers of acceleration no longer are experienced as a liberating force, but as an actually enslaving pressure instead.”
Acceleration has led to an increase in mental illness, the climate being in crisis, unstable economic systems, culture wars and a loneliness epidemic. It’s no wonder, then, that we find it so difficult to be still and abide in Jesus.
Resonance
At Merri Creek, if we are to be a community of people abiding in Jesus, we need to find a way of resisting acceleration and alienation. This is not easy.
Rosa says the answer might be to pursue what he calls ‘resonance’ – and the really cool thing is that he is basically saying something close to what Jesus has already told us.
Resonance is the opposite of alienation. Alienation is about being closed off from the world but resonance is about living in a vital relationship to the world and the people around us, and tuning in to the different ways the world speaks to us. We look for real (rather than transactional) connection with others. Resonance is about being known and loved.
This is very similar to what Jesus has already told us – which is that when we engage deeply and meaningfully with each other, we encounter Jesus. For we are the Body of Christ, his Spirit is with us!
Remember Jesus’ words (Matthew 25:35-40),
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Some of my recent experiences of resonance has been playing a late-night game of cards with some Iranian refugees, sitting and praying with a person on their deathbed, having long conversations over a meal with close friends, walking through the bush at the Grampians with my family, performing with my band, and praying for people and being prayed for at our healing service.
Perhaps you’ve experienced resonance as well? Try writing down times that you might have experienced it?
If we at Merri Creek pursue resonance, then we will find ourselves encountering Jesus. We will resist acceleration and alienation, and have a greater chance at being able to abide in Jesus.
Peter Carolane
Senior Minister
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