Gospel of Downward Mobility

An underlying theme throughout the New Testament is the role of power and the Christian response not only to the powers that be but to the temptation/opportunity to take and grasp or exploit power. Everywhere from Jesus' temptation in the desert, which starts with something as simple as eating (which caries with it all the weight of global economics and the hunger crisis) and culminates in the great temptation to rule the world, to the call in Revelation for Christians to "come out from her" (Revelation 18:4) which is a call left just ambiguous enough for us to imagine every implication of global superpowers, we see that power is not to be the church's goal. The call of the church is to an ethic guided by eschatological vision which affirms "blessed are the poor in spirit" and "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Power is an illusive enemy which sneaks its' way into our imagination and camouflages itself therein. We believe we're "defending the Bible" when in fact we're trying to take power (for ourselves or for someone else), we believe we're defending Christ when we are in fact being guided by the wrong vision. "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword." We think we're protecting people when we are in fact ruling over them with dogmas and doctrines. The gospel movement is one of downward mobility.

Open yourself to the humility of Christ. Open your insecurity to the mysteries of life and do not try to rule over them if only to feel "safe." Imagine with God's imagination. See with God's vision. follow the Christ who

"was like God in everything. But did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit. But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. So God raised him to the highest place. God made his name greater than every other name so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus— everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and bring glory to God the Father" (Philippians 2:6-11).