I think it is a mistake to start with the martyria. Rather, one starts with koinonia, with our Lord reaching us a share in His communion with the Father in the Spirit and this is found to be everlasting life. THIS is what one then witnesses about, testifies to the truth of, and it is THIS which frees us from the fatal curve in on one's self and straightens up, turning us outward toward the neighbor in acts of diakonia, of mercy, thus authenticating the martyria and calling others back with us into the koinonia of our Lord in the Spirit with the Father. Not that anyone asked, but since when has THAT stopped me?
But it is the Holy Trinity that witnesses or testifies first, as the verse chosen for this emphasis states: “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” 1 John 5:7-8. Nothing happens unless God speaks "Let there be" first. He has witnessed and witnesses daily our salvation by His continuing work of Baptism, in which we have become partakers of Christ.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, but John 1 before John 5! :)
ReplyDeleteI john, I meant.
ReplyDeleteRemember that this is a Venn diagrahm. The point of it is the cross in the center where all aspects join. This is us, the church, here on earth - receiving, utilizing, giving.
ReplyDeleteBut - it is impossible to speak of all aspects at the same time, hence the divisions. Where to jump in? Well, on one hand it doesn't matter much. A person could instruct another beginning from any area of the diagram, proceding up, down, left, right till everything is covered. After all, in God's economy it all interlocks anyway.
But to put this total concept forth the church needed to start somewhere, and for whatever reasons a certain order was chosen. OK, now it's all out there, I say start where you will.
One more thing - I am sure that Bill would prefer to start at the point he posted, but I submit that not everyone you try and reach needs to start with that partiular secton. Get the message straight Missouri - Get the message out Missouri.
Matt H.
Matt,
ReplyDeleteI agree, that it is rather Banyon treeish. Doesn't matter where you start if it gets you to the center where all meet. It just makes more sense to me to start with the koinonia. 1 John starts with that. But then again, it joins the koinonia to martyria right away too, doesn't it? "We proclaim to you."
Oh, come now! :-) Isn't that a bit like trying to figure out which atom comes first in "dihydrogen monoxide"? Just jump in the pool and enjoy the refreshment!
ReplyDeleteIt all starts with God's MERCY toward
ReplyDeleteus. His crucified and resurrected Son
Jesus Christ died and rose again to
give us forgiveness and eternal life.
Out of love God demonstrated His
mercy to undeserving sinners. Now
we are to demonstrate His mercy to
others out of love. His mercy calls
us together in FELLOWSHIP as we
gather around Word and Sacrament.
Then we go out into the world to
WITNESS. Without God's mercy there is no fellowship or witness.
It's a hermeneutical circle. Just look at the logo.
ReplyDeleteJust tryin' to help.
Tom Fast
Okay, you all have convinced me. You CAN start at any point - because every single point IS a starting point and every point leads into another. But when you're a mystical union kinda dude, you ALWAYS opt for koinonia first! :)
ReplyDeleteI was just joking, of course.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the "thingy" being an original part of the logo, but I like it.
Tom
I guess you can always change it when you become Synodical President.
ReplyDeleteI vote for Mercy.
ReplyDeleteBut, having never really thought about this before and deciding that my choice would be mercy, I am now forever fated to looking at this banner and thinking it's in the wrong order! There's goes Bill, causing me to overthink things again!!!! ;-)
Just kidding of course (about Bill causing me problems, not about me looking at this as in the wrong order from here on out!)
ReplyDelete- Jeff
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't one worry if the whole thing has been the slogan of the World Council of Churches for decades?
ReplyDelete