Power in the Blood for Mission

Of course, All Power Is Spiritual

Welcome to the Easter edition of my newsletter, “Global Witness, Globally Reimagined.”

I dream here about mission in a postcolonial world. Every week, I share one thought that has spoken to me, two resources I trust will be helpful to you, and three quotes about mission.

I pray one of these will energise you this week.

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1. Thought I Can’t Shake Off

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Easter has many implications for how we understand mission. For me, this week, the scandal of the crucified God has been a huge challenge, especially around the issue of power in mission. Of course, my starting point is that all power is spiritual. As such, saying power in mission, I am including the power that humans and their structures exert on one another. But that is a conversation for later. For this week, I am wrestling with the fact that God Almighty, the highest power that can ever be, made himself powerless, and submitted to human judgment to the point of bleeding out on the cross. Paul says in Phil. 2 that Christ “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.” He then adds, Therefore, God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name ....” The fact that there is power in the blood is known beyond any doubt in primal religions around the world. Of course, the Old Testament bears witness to this. As Christians, we know that “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.” The blood of Christ has all the spiritual power and authority in the universe. That spiritual power, through the work of the Holy Spirit of God, ought to reign in the world and in our hearts. That is the kingdom of God in action, and it is the reason we bear witness of Christ. The blood that was shed on the middle cross makes the spiritual work that is mission possible.

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2. Resources I am Enjoying

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Video 1: Jordan Elgie, The Mission of God (Easter Edition)

Jordon Elgie here shares his reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus and how this crucial event commemorated in Easter, embodies the mission of God. As he surmises, “Jesus fulfils the mission of God because Jesus is God.” In making this argument, he reminds us that by examining the life of Jesus, even on the cross, the mission of God becomes clear, for God sent no one but God’s Son to do the “dirty work” of dying on the cross (of human’s making) to undo death, exuding love, forgiveness, and grace. What a loving, committed missionary God, laying down power to reach out to an undeserving creation!

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Video 2: Seven Last Sayings of Christ

No commentary is needed here. The voice of these 7 women, each preaching on one of the seven last sayings of Jesus, is exactly what many of us need for this Easter Season. Enjoy.

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3. Quotes I am Pondering

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• We should, therefore, not rely on human strength to accomplish spiritual missions. — Johana Kariuki Gitau

• Christ has not only spoken to us by his life, but has also spoken for us by his death. — Soren Kierkegaard

• One gets the impression that Africans have only song and dance to contribute to the message and practice of the Christian faith. Inculturation is not only about song and dance; as an ongoing quest for mutuality and comprehension between faith and culture, it touches and transforms the core of the symbols, gestures, words, actions, rituals, theology, government, and so on that make up Christian faith and African culture. — Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator

Thank you, I pray you have a missionally fruitful week. Happy Easter to you and all your loved ones.