Stewards of the Mystery

The term "mystery" in the Bible refers to a truth heretofore unknown or little understood. In a previous post ("What If Jesus Visited Your Church"--3/28), I touched on one of those mysteries, i.e., "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). Delving into this "mystery" I cannot help feeling as though I am plumbing the depths of the unfathomable. No wonder that in the early part of the 20th Century, the German theologian, Rudolph Otto scrambled to find a term that rightly respected the power, indeed, the awesomeness of God and ended up calling Him the "Wholly Other." But he also utilized a latin term, mysterium tremendum, which you can figure means "tremendous mystery." Intrinsic to this mystery is that this inexplicable God, who's ways are "past finding out" (Job 9:10; Rom. 11:33) entered our world of flesh. The transcendent became immanent. "Immanuel," as you know, means "God with us." Virgin born, Jesus carried within himself God fully, and man fully. Inexplicable! 

On this truth hangs all of history! 

In his post from Thursday, April 2nd, Ravi Zacharias wrote the following:

I have often referenced the quote by the talk-show host Larry King, in his response to a particular question: “If you could select any one person across all of history to interview, who would it be?” Mr. King’s answer was that he would like to interview Jesus Christ. When the questioner followed with, “And what would you like to ask him?” King replied, “I would like to ask him if he was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me.” The first time I requested permission through a common friend to use this quote of his, he sent word saying, “And tell him I was not being facetious.” I believe him. Who would not like to interview Jesus Christ?

So, transcendent, immanent, and virgin born, our Savior exists completely unique in the universe! One can say some things that are true about him, but in no way can one properly tap the depth of such a relationship with Jesus! And to top it off, such an inscrutable mystery belongs not to the spiritual elite, but to all who name Jesus as Savior! Still, this truth comes prepackaged with a wonderful responsibility--stewardship.

Paul writes through the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 4:1, "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." That's the fact of our vocation. But verse 2 provides the basic condition, "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." 

There's the "kicker." We who proclaim Jesus Christ (all Christians, but especially pastors) are "stewards of this mystery." In other words, it falls our lot to properly appreciate this truth, and accurately teach it and to thereby glorify God in it!

One of the errors into which we pastors may easily slide is over-familiarity with certain doctrines. This is dangerous. We've all heard, "Familiarity breeds contempt," which means not to become buddy-buddy with the wrong folk--bosses, & certain authority figures. We in leadership can easily fall prey to the temptation to reduce the wonder of "Christ-in-you" to a fact to be known, and lose the value inherent in that truth. Further, we may become too cozy with Jesus in the sense that after a while we feel we have the right to represent him in any way we feel necessary to make our point, viz., to lower him to a cozy level to suit the culture. While God has graciously invited believers to call him, "Abba," (Daddy) this doesn't mean he's our buddy next-door, nor that we control his public relations. We need to maintain a healthy and loving respect for our Savior. Why? We are stewards of this truth--responsible not just to know it, but to handle it carefully. What a privilege! 

Have a glorious Palm Sunday!