Kerygma means: Rescue out from the destructive power of Sin through the Iesou (Jesus) who died at a point in history and was raised again out from death for ALL of mankind.
For over two millennial the church has proclaimed that man's extant condition (alienation from God, self, and others) is the source of his existential disillusionment.
The Church has preached an anthropology of fallenness which it unequivocally claims as the exegetical teaching of the Word of God. According to the Word of God, human fallenness is not a forlorn mystery nor is it informed by the weighty metaphysics of Dostoevsky. Human fallenness is more akin to the tragic-comedy depiction of Beckett's misfits in his masterpiece "Waiting for Godot."
Beckett, a member of the Theater of the Absurd, according to John P Newport: "...takes to it's logical implications the thesis of Sartre-the-non-existence of God or rational order behind the world of 'appearances' and the non-existence of a rational ego or substantial self. They actually disclose the absurd." Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" is a classic exposition on the meaningless foibles of existential absurdity. It is icy alienation on display. Godot never comes to the rescue of the pair of lonely creatures waiting for him. Since Godot never comes, therefore, no redemptive word or act will bring healing to those caught in the tension of self-awareness without purpose.
Divine inscripturated self-revelation has brought the redemptive word to those captured by the ontological split of self-alienation. Inscripturated self-revelation has spoken to the human predicament by the power of the Spirit of God for over two millennial. The message of the Kerygma is a transcendent word from on high decisively spoken into the temporal order.
The word of God breaks, as it were, the formidable paradigmatic constructs of the supposed naturalistic order, and delivers the transcendent Keygman to those beguiled, and betrayed by the demonic within and without, and in the process of doing so provides the courage to be.
To be continued ...
If you are struggling with something that happened to you in the past and the past is present in your life, let me say that God loves you. The Kerygma is about God's plan and god's way of meeting your deepest need. Believe in you heart (Kardia) that Iesou (Jesus) died for you - confess to Him that you want to appropriate the Salvation that He has provided through Iesou and you will be free - indeed!
II Cornithians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
For more information about Dr. Josiah Rich, please visit his web site.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
A Meditation on Release from Spiritual Bondage
The Iesou (Jesus) was teaching at the local synagogue on the Sabbath day. It was his custom to teach in this manner. On this particular Sabbath day the customary was overtaken by the extraordinary - an event that He already knew would take place.
Behold, the stage for the extraordinary is set by this one word. Behold, a woman walked into the synagogue, she was one among many women who was at the synagogue that day. She was different. This woman had a unique appearance that was not merely physio-gnomic. She presented an anatomical aberration. She was bowed in half and could not lift herself up.
As if this were not enough her condition was chronic and had been so for 18 years. It is profoundly interesting that the immediate source of her condition was a spirit of infirmity (weakness). What does this mean to us in our time of clever scientific reductionism? What, in fact is a spirit of infirmity?
The Iesou (Jesus) knew what a spirit of infirmity was, and the power it possessed. He knew how it could havoc a life.
A spirit of infirmity removes us to the boundaries of permissible explanation and cogent paradigms. A spirit of weakness kept her bowed in half and a helpless scion. It took a word greater than her extant condition to free her from a spiritual bondage that had mercilessly controlled 18 years of her life.
The Iesou - Logos spoke the word - the word of release into her spirit of infirmity and she was immediately able to lift up and out of her bondage. Her situation is a picture of the human condition.
Has a negative word or action by someone you love caused you to be bowed in half - on the inside, that is, in your spirit? Have you been so hurt by a situation or circumstance that you feel you cannot lift yourself up?
Iesou (Jesus) has a word greater than your spiritual bondage.
Behold, the stage for the extraordinary is set by this one word. Behold, a woman walked into the synagogue, she was one among many women who was at the synagogue that day. She was different. This woman had a unique appearance that was not merely physio-gnomic. She presented an anatomical aberration. She was bowed in half and could not lift herself up.
As if this were not enough her condition was chronic and had been so for 18 years. It is profoundly interesting that the immediate source of her condition was a spirit of infirmity (weakness). What does this mean to us in our time of clever scientific reductionism? What, in fact is a spirit of infirmity?
The Iesou (Jesus) knew what a spirit of infirmity was, and the power it possessed. He knew how it could havoc a life.
A spirit of infirmity removes us to the boundaries of permissible explanation and cogent paradigms. A spirit of weakness kept her bowed in half and a helpless scion. It took a word greater than her extant condition to free her from a spiritual bondage that had mercilessly controlled 18 years of her life.
The Iesou - Logos spoke the word - the word of release into her spirit of infirmity and she was immediately able to lift up and out of her bondage. Her situation is a picture of the human condition.
Has a negative word or action by someone you love caused you to be bowed in half - on the inside, that is, in your spirit? Have you been so hurt by a situation or circumstance that you feel you cannot lift yourself up?
Iesou (Jesus) has a word greater than your spiritual bondage.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will rest you." "Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30For more information about Dr. Josiah Rich please visit his web site.
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