convergence – a post-modern, post-evangelical idea?

The Disciples are sitting in Arby’s in Tiberius. They’d just finished a Habitat for Humanity build. Jesus is sitting at a table across from Philip and Nathaniel. Nathaniel is clearly angry and has his back to Philip.

Jesus (looking at Philip): What’s with Nate?

Philip (shaking his head): He’s broken fellowship with me and Luke again.

Jesus (shaking his head, too): Nate. What’s it about this time?

Nate remains silent.

Philip: He says that when you heal people you give them new bodies in which everything is healed.

Jesus: And?

Philip: Well, I said you just repair the broken parts.

Nate (turning to Jesus): He doesn’t have enough faith in you. As God is my witness and may lightning strike me down if I don’t believe you make everyone whole! Whole. Not part. Whole. Philip, ‘ye of little faith.’

Philip: Frankly, I don’t believe it makes any difference. Parts? Whole? It’s done. I suppose you believe these roast beef sandwiches were molecularly changed when Jesus blessed them a few minutes ago?

Nate (looking at Jesus, raising his chin): Absolutely! These sandwiches, curly fries and drinks are now blessed to the nourishment of our bodies and the furthering of God’s Kingdom.

Jesus raises an eyebrow and looks at Philip.

Philip: So, if he hadn’t blessed it, it wouldn’t work out that way? I agree with you, Nate. I just don’t necessarily see it the same way you do.

Nate: Yeah, and what about baptism? You said at your baptism that Jesus had filled you with grace. YOU KNOW THAT WAS SYMBOLIC!

Philip: Whatever. I know what I know. You can be such a pain in the rear on details. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t told you to ‘come and see.’ THEN who didn’t believe ‘any good thing could come from Nazareth?’

Jesus (holding up his hand): Hold on. Guys! This is going to be with you always. Believers are always going to disagree on details and explanations. Wait until the Ecumenical Councils and the Reformation — the world drives wedges in between you, but I want you to converge.

Philip: But how? Nate thinks I’m barely a disciple! I was feeling kinda good about the Habitat thing.

Jesus (points two fingers at his eyes, then to theirs): Listen. You guys are fighting about what you believe is true. My Spirit has the final say on truth — IN each of you. Your truth is yours and you should live accordingly. You’ll be consistent in the big things and differ on the little ones. Listen to my voice and do as I say and do.

Nate: Why aren’t we all the same? Shouldn’t we all have the same theology, doctrines and orthodoxy?

Jesus (incredulously): Really? Look around you! How many things in creation are identical to another? None. NOT ONE. Everything I do is personal. I LOVE what I do. Each of you are a special creation with unique perspectives and ways of processing truth. Don’t be surprised that you are different. You have different views, ministries, missions and objectives in following me. They’re all good. Uniformity is against my nature, but I’m all about unity. Each relationship is unique and personal.

Philip: So, how do we keep from fighting or arguing?

Nate: Doesn’t there have to be good, better and best in discipleship? I want to be the best.

Jesus: Nate, I appreciate your zeal, but you have this wrong. This is not a competitive sport. Remember, life is a balance of grace and truth. The truth is for you to work out with the Spirit and implement as best you can in YOUR life, not Philip’s. Same for Philip. Grace is how you act toward one another. You teach truth to your children, but you relate to them in grace. I want you to converge in grace regardless of where you stand on details about the truth.

Nate: Are you saying it doesn’t matter what we believe?

Jesus: Sort of. If you really know me and follow me, you’re good on belief. My Spirit will direct you in truth and grace. I will reveal truth and demonstrate how to move on in grace, so that all may be reconciled to me. You are to converge on me. I’ll repeat, the truth is pretty brutal, grace is not. Converge on me.

Nate turns to Philip and throws his arm over his shoulder as he nods his head.

Nate (smiling): Yeah, that rings so true. Sorry, Philip. Sometimes I think too much.

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Tr8: Christians! Converge on Christ and work together in grace to redeem the world for Christ’s sake. It doesn’t matter what you think is true, love one another! “By this they shall know you are my disciples.” Convergence makes it possible for the rain to fall on the just and unjust.

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Convergence Pledge

james’ custom cart and jesus’ favorite song

Jesus is helping his brother, James, fix a wheel on his cart.

James (loosening the hub): So, what’s you favorite song?

Jesus (leaning in watching): Hmmm. I guess 10 Little Monkeys.

James (looking quizzically at Jesus): What?

Jesus (smiling): You know — the song Mom used to sing us  — 10 little monkeys, jumpin’ on the bed, one fell off and broke his head…

James (laughing): Yeah, that was a good one, but it doesn’t count. Really, what’s your favorite song?

Jesus: Of all time?

James: Hmm. Yeah, I guess. I’ll probably regret this.

Jesus (grinning): It’s a tie and you don’t know either of them. Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, last movement, and ‘Lean on Me’ by Bill Withers. I can hum you a few bars of the symphony or sing a verse of the other if you want.

James (raising an eyebrow): I don’t even know what a symphony is, so sing the other one.

Jesus (singing, deep baritone): Sooome tiiiimes in our liiiiives…

James greases the axle of the cart and slides the wheel back on. Jesus continues singing and lowers the jack when James has the wheel tightened.

James (nodding thoughtfully): Nice tune. I see why you like it. Who is Bill Withers?

Jesus (scratching his head): He’s one of those guys in the future.

James: Oh. Nuff said.

Jesus (rubbing the cart wheel): Nice cart. What’ll it do on the open road?

James (excitedly): Depends on the horse. Zechariah’s would get this from zero to 25 in maybe 10-15 seconds. The springbeam in the transaxle gives it a smooth ride at high speeds.

Jesus nods and points down the road toward the lake where Andrew is helping Peter haul nets out to dry and mend.

Jesus: Faith and works. Andrew loves Peter, see?

James (looking up) What?

Jesus (thoughtfully): Andrew anticipates Peter’s needs. His actions are louder than his words. Faith and works, that’s what I want you to remind everybody of when I’m gone. You know how the pharisees spew all kinds of rules and then sneak around breakin’ them? That’s not us. It’s the spirit of the thing that’s important.

James: So, you’re saying what you do is more important than what we say?

Jesus: Or believe. If you don’t practice it, you don’t really believe it. If you say you are in me, you CAN’T hate someone. You just can’t. Period. If Andrew loves Peter he CAN’T sit around when Peter has work to be done. He just can’t.

James: Let me guess, there’s a tension.

Jesus (smiling): Yes. Truth and grace. Judge and forgive. Ideal and real. Words and actions. The rule for us is love. If you don’t do that, it doesn’t matter what you think or say, you have NO part of me. Remember: They’ll know us by our love. We’re spiritual M&Ms — Truth on the inside, grace on the outside. Love in the heart, not in the head.

James (smiling):  Spiritual M&Ms. Ok.

Jesus: I know it doesn’t make sense now, but you’ll see it immediately after I’m gone. The group will be drawn to sit around and talk about me, but I want you out in the community and the world being me. Keep reminding ’em.

James: I’ll put it in a letter.

Jesus: Yeah, you will.

Tr8: Faith = works. BE Christ. Memorize ‘Lean on Me.’

James 2:14-26