Weekly Bulletin

And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people lay hold of it.         Matthew 11:12

 

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.     

 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.        II Peter 1:3-4

 

And we all, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.         II Corinthians 3:18

 

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.       Philippians 1:4-6      

 

 

Over our years in ministry, Pam and I have had numerous spiritual discussions with people who dislike some of Jesus’ teachings or the New Testament epistle-writers’ interpretations of those parts of his message.   Some of those people have cited “progressive (or continuing) revelation” as the reason they think those teachings no longer apply to modern Christian life.  I may have forgotten, but I don’t recall any of those people offering a reasonable explanation of what “progressive revelation” actually means.  In my own spiritual life, I have always thought it quite important to understand such things as fully as possible before basing my choices regarding discipleship and eternal life on them.

 

Understanding Scripture     As far as I know, the phrase “progressive revelation” does not occur anywhere in the Bible.  In theological writings, it is sometimes referred to as “a theory or principle of biblical interpretation.”  One definition which resonates with me states that progressive revelation is the revelation of contemporary ways to live and express the foundational eternal principles spelled out in the Gospel.  It is not the negating or discarding of those principles, but rather the deepening and growth of our understanding of how to practice them in our times.  In A Living Faith, former Earlham School of Religion professor Wilmer Cooper described progressive revelation as “the revealing of God’s will and Truth to humans in a continuing process” so that spiritual leadings and spiritual life are dynamic, not static – not just a destination, but a lifelong journey which takes us to that destination.  Another writer Sonja Corbitt suggests that it was and is God’s way of revealing his identity, character, and plan for humankind gradually over centuries as humanity was ready to accept it, rather than all at once.  Corbitt points to the symbolism and “shadows” of the Old Testament which laid the foundation of eternal Truth, and the clear reality of God’s plan which the New Testament provides through its fulfillment in Jesus.

 

Christ Is Present to Teach Us      Quaker minister Lloyd L Wilson addresses the topic of progressive revelation in his book Quaker Vision of Gospel Order.  He holds that if studied in its entirety, the Bible yields a full, adequate account of “all the chief principles of the doctrine of Christ.”  Wilson wrote further that when we study scripture inwardly under the guidance and instruction of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised in John 14-16, we can be divinely led “in all the necessary articles of Christian faith.”  It is in that context – when we are “in the Spirit who gave forth the scriptures” — that Wilson states progressive revelation may occur, with the Spirit giving us a fuller understanding of the Gospel’s message or deeper insight into its application in our lives.  It is similar to Elton Trueblood’s three-legged stool of balanced discipleship – scripture, the Spirit’s leading, and Body unity.  Nothing contradicting the principles of the scriptures will be given; the Spirit will lead in consistency with the Word. 
             In the Spirit, new insight can be gained through dedicated effort to understand the actual words in the scripture, effort to understand the historical and social context of the passage being studied, and effort through contemplative listening to understand God’s intent for including the passage in the Bible.  That intention will not be for us “to use it to justify one’s own thoughts or attitudes.”  Progressive revelation can help us understand why live animal sacrifice was important in the Old Testament context, but is no longer deemed necessary for the forgiveness of sins.  Similarly, Wilson uses some people’s misguided accusation that the apostle Paul supported slavery to illustrate the importance of understanding context.  Paul did everything he possibly could to treat enslaved people as fellow human beings loved by God and redeemed by Christ, and he insisted that other Christians do the same.  The strict laws of the Roman Empire at that time prevented them from doing more.   
             Wilson cautions Christians against “proof-texting,” the too-common practice of lifting a Bible passage out of its context and using its words to make a point which sometimes contradicts the overall spirit and message of the Gospel.  That clearly misses God’s intent and is not progressive revelation.  Wilson also points out that many helpful nonbiblical books, articles, and other spiritual writings are available which can be considered led by the Lord, so long as they do not contradict the foundational principles of Christ found in scripture. 

 

The Best Example      For me, one of the best illustrations of progressive revelation is found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:17-48. Early in his public ministry, Jesus was already being criticized by the religious authorities for not obeying all of their Hebrew dietary, cleanliness, Sabbath, and other laws.  He answered their accusations boldly and fearlessly, telling the crowd and those officials that he had not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them.   He even told them that unless their righteousness consisted of something better than what those authorities taught and practiced, they would never enter God’s kingdom.  Then, he began challenging their keeping of some of the Ten Commandments by giving examples of what he meant. 
             Jesus introduced each point by saying, “You have heard it was said….” and quoted the law, then gave his “…but I say to you” progressive revelation of what God intended and desired on that issue.  First, he named the Law’s prohibition of murder, then explained that God’s desire was to transform people to be free of even the sinful seeds of murder – hatred, greed, undisciplined anger, scornful contempt, and unreconciled conflict.  Next he named the law against adultery, then explained that God desired to set people free from the sinful lust and indiscipline that lead to overt sexual sins.  He named the law against divorce, then explained God’s intention that people would keep their word, honor the covenants they enter into, practice forgiveness, and live free of the sinful selfishness which destroys relationships.  Next, he spoke of the law about breaking oaths.  Jesus explained that it was really a law about honesty, about God’s desire for a people of truth who did not employ “legalese” or loopholes to escape legitimate responsibilities on a technicality.  He named the law of eye-for-eye revenge, then told them God’s intention was to lift that burden from them by giving them a heart of spiritual strength, love, and compassion.  Finally, Jesus named the traditional law of loving neighbors but hating enemies.  He told them that God’s intention was to help them see the progressive revelation that he loves those enemies and desires to communicate that love to them through his people.  He desires to do that by filling his people with sacrificial love that is far more powerful than any adversary’s weapons.  This “progressive revelation” of Jesus – this righteousness that surpasses that of the teachers of the Law – is a revealing of more of Christ, not less of scripture.

 

Some Reflections      A writer J.T. Bakare has noted that using progressive revelation in interpreting scripture needs to have some guardrails, namely the comprehensive message of the whole Bible.  He wrote that progressive revelation “must never be taken as a license for doctrinal innovation or emotional interpretation.”  It is for gaining deepened insight, not a new gospel.  Another writer pointed out that it must be about the spiritual maturity which comes from seeing Jesus more clearly, not just about gaining more intellectual knowledge.  Still another writer uses the John 4  account of the Samaritan woman Jesus met at a well to suggest that progressive revelation of Christ leads to mission.  Their encounter began with casual conversation, then progressed to respectful recognition, a bit of religious education, and finally to an entire village meeting the Lord and many of them believing in him.  For that woman, it meant deeper faith, richer understanding, authentic worship, and the Living Water of eternal life.

 

Progressive Transformation      In my reading this week, I came across a simple statement by Lara Raji that I intend not to forget.  She wrote, “No one graduates from the school of knowing Christ.”  The riches of his mercy, his love, his Truth, his goodness, and his entire identity are infinite and unlimited.  To abide in him and to walk in his Way means learning something new and helpful about him and his desires for us every day he gives us breath.  He told the disciples in Matthew 11:12 that “the kingdom of heaven is purposefully advancing,” so if we’re not advancing with it, we’re likely moving backwards.  His progressive transformation of our lives must mean that we are becoming more and more like Jesus, both in his dealings with people and in his personal spiritual life (I John 2:5,6).  If we will let him, he will transform self-focused people into Christ-focused ones.  He can change the bombastic into the reverent, and the retaliating into the reconciling.  His power can transform the arrogant into the humble, the self-advancing into the common good, and the selfish into sacrificial servants.  If allowed, he can make the fearful courageous and the over-reactive calm.  He will help us become the person he created us to be.  As Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5:17, if we are willing to remain in Christ, he will spend the rest of our lives transforming us into new creatures with all of those Christ-like traits, creatures who will bear witness of his presence and goodness simply by being the progressively transformed people he has made us.  There’s no test over our Bible knowledge or the religious rules we’ve obeyed. All that matters is the identity of the Teacher and Example we follow and love. Let’s be his Friends.    

 

 

 

 Queries for Worship-Sharing and Reflection

 

1)  What for you is the most important revealing, transforming aspect of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount?

2)  Why does the use of progressive revelation in interpreting scripture need “guardrails”?

3)  How/why does grasping the progressive revelation of Christ’s identity and love lead to mission and outreach?

4)  Why is knowing Jesus to gain spiritual maturity more important than knowing him to gain intellectual knowledge?