Eugene Peterson, in his new book, Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ
explores the significance of the Ascension for the Church.Ephesians 4:
4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 4:8 Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men." 4:9 Now what is the meaning of "he ascended," except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth? 4:10 He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
He makes the important observation that kings, and Psalm 68 (from which the bold words were taken) in particular, were given gifts. But this king, once enthroned, instead of receiving gifts decides to give gifts. Paul changes to the word "gave" from the word "received." In this we gain a glimpse of what the church is:
Too often, Peterson once again observes, gifts are seen as something we posses and something we have as individuals. But he observes, and these words need to be read carefully: "These [gifts] are aspects of the work that is initiated at the Pentecostal 'descent of the Dove,' and then spills over into the world .... This is not specialty work -- this is community at work" (47).
Four theses then:
1. Christ in his Ascension is High King.
2. Christ exercises his rule by giving gifts.
3. The nature of his rule is not to lord it over but to invite others to participate in and extend his rule.
4. Maturity is about growing into the rule of Christ.
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Yes and amen to all of that.
The larger point of Ephesians 4 is spiritual maturity. We do not "grow up into Christ who is the head" unless and until we have learned to receive his gifts and share them as the basic form of economics in the reign of God incarnate-- i.e., in real life, here and now. Children hoard-- but adults bless and share, if they have indeed become "mature" in Christ.
A beautiful summary! Plenty of detail to fill in but with our typical framing of hierarchy this is a needed corrective.
In regards to Taylor #1, who says "in real life, here and now. Children hoard-- but adults bless and share, if they have indeed become "mature" in Christ" I disagree.
I have five nieces and a nephew, all between 4 and 7, who generally will share anything with each other or their relatives, but will often share with "strangers" in their church or at their home who appear to lack something the children value.
Sadly, I also have reserves about the adults. I see far too many adults who appear in many ways "mature in Christ" who do not hoard, but are very careful to make sure that their giving does not make them uncomfortable in any way.
I take your point about maturing in Christ, and I know there is some over-generalization here. But I write from what I have seen.
Peace,
Randy G.
hmm. There seems to be more and more writing on the ascension these days.
3. "The nature of his rule is not to lord it over but to invite others to participate in and extend his rule." captures it for me; I've been writing on the subject from a (social) Trinitarian angle; namely the thought of man in all of our creatureliness ascended into the community that is God. Taking Moltmann's lead here. While I think it's compelling as a social template, at the same time I've gotten some flack for dabbling too much into the Immanent.
I love the emphasis on gift-based ministry and servcie. Then it really does depend on the Spirit and the determination of the Spirit. May we be led by the Spirit in this manner in the church today.
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