Dear Trinity (part 5)

1 Corinthians 15.35-38; 42-50

Into the garden of life, death. (Genesis 3.19)

Into the garden of death, life. (John 20.18)

The Bible begins in a garden teeming with life. Soaring sky life. Creeping and walking land life. Swimming water life. The Spirit (Ruach) of life was hovering over it all. And, God shaped Adam out of the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.  Into the garden of life, a word from the whisperer introduced unbelief and death.

The Gospels end in a garden of death. A cemetery. Tombs. Stones. Spices to cover the smell of decay. In Joseph's tomb, the ultimate Adam (ho eschatos Adam) lay dead like the original Adam. Perished. Dishonored. Weak. Jesus participating fully in our Adam-life. Jesus held by the rigor-mortis of same old world that holds all the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. On the day of creation. The First day. The Eighth day, the Spirit of life was hovering over it all. Jesus, who had been sown perishable, dishonored, and in weakness, was raised imperishable, in glory and power with the Spirit (pneuma) animating, giving life, raising Jesus from the dead. In the garden of death, LIFE! And the first-fruits of life for this old world and for me and you. On earth as it is in heaven.

Final in a series of "Dear Trinity" letters

Dear Trinity,

Are you curious what happens to us in the new Genesis, when we, along with the rest of the groaning creation is all made new? I'm curious about that. Paul called the Corinthians, "foolish" for asking questions like these. Honestly that seems a bit of an over reaction on the good Apostle's part. Why are they foolish for not knowing? Maybe I'm a little sensitive because I feel like he must be calling me "foolish" too.

Maybe the Corinthians were thinking about it all wrong? And maybe we are too? Paul told them that their same body would rise, but that it wouldn't be like the body they buried. 

The body (σῶμα ψυχικόν) they buried was fussy. Always needing make up and deodorant and exercise and new clothes and constantly reminding us of how hungry it is and how thirsty it is. 

Jesus was a little more couth when he addressed the same foolishness in the sermon on the mount. "Don't be anxious about what your soul will eat or drink or how you body will be clothed. Your soul is more than food and your body more than clothing (Matthew 6).

Whether it is Paul calling us foolish or Jesus is naming our anxiety, both are putting their finger on something important. The gospel is all about forgiveness for sins, freedom for chains, belonging for shame, and life from death. 

This makes our devoted commitment to our current comforts, our upward mobility, our curation of our image, our banking everything on our success at work, at home, on the field, on the road, on how our kids turn out, on our trophies, no matter what they are--foolish. Solomon would say, ultimately meaningless. Jesus would gently, but directly say, anxiety inducing. 

We are living as if this is our best life. Unless you are going to hell, your best life is NOT now. Jesus has been raised from the dead. One day you will rise. Imperishable. No need for make up or deodorant to battle decay. You will rise in glory and power. God himself will breath his Pneuma-Ruach-Breath-Spirit in to your soma-body (σῶμα πνευματικόν). Imagine it. Life! Resurrection awaits you.

So, instead of hoarding and investing all your resources in making this old world feel as much like heaven for yourself--Give it away! All the hope you are pinning on particular outcomes here--Release them! Hope in God and his promises. It really would be anxious foolishness to put your hope in the stock market, or your exercise and vitamin regimen, in politics, in a certain outcome for a relationship. The stock market won't, can't forgive you. God can and does. Your exercise regimen will let you down. God won't. Human relationships will fail you. God won't. Politics can't love you. God can. In fact, God can't not love you.

Therefore my beloved sisters and brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15.58).

Trinity, you are a community of life, a colony of the Kingdom in San Pedro. The city might experience revitalization or even gentrification. they can replace Godmother's Saloon with a bougie avocado toast bar, but what does San Pedro really need?

A church that is alive in faith in what God has done. Alive in hope in what God will do. Alive in love in Jesus' name.

Church, you are not an add on to a bustling city, another agency with products--spiritual or religious.

Church, you are the body of the resurrected Lord. If you don't speak and breathe life and hope in this old town, who will? If you are swept up in a cancel culture, who will say, "Welcome HOME!" to all the cancelled poor and powerless and prodigals? If you conversations are marked by grievance and outrage and finger pointing, who will point to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?

Does it hit different if we concretized and localized the truth: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of San Pedro. The Lamb who takes away your sin.

Let our voices ring out:

Alleluia, Christ is risen. He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Alleluia, You will rise. We will rise indeed, Alleluia!

And now may the peace of the risen Lord keep you until that day.