Are we living as if the end of our lives is joy?
For Christians, the telos, the end, of our lives should be informing and shaping our current lives. And our end is a feast (Revelation 19:6-9). A good question for us to ask ourselves is, does the “feasting” reality of the New Creation (Revelation 21:1-8) have any input into our formation as Christians? Are we living as if the end of our lives is joy?
There are three ways this shows up in our community:
Friendship, Feasting, and Sabbath.
Friendship
Unhurried time together is important as we treat one another not as means to an end or just a connection to a greater opportunity, but an end to themselves. We seek out ways in which we do not have to perform, but just be ourselves and be loved. It’s hard to experience delight apart from friends. But it’s hard to have this sort of friendship if we do not first experience this kind of delight and friendship with Christ.
Feasting
We come together, laying aside work and worry, seeking to edify with our words and celebrate with our food and drink. Feasting reminds us who we are in Christ and what we will fully be some day (Matthew 9:15). We are prodigal children who have come to the Father, who throws the royal robes over our rags and rings on our fingers, slaughtering the lamb for a feast, inviting the community in to eat and drink (Luke 15:11-14).
Sabbath
The fundamental reason why we Sabbath is because God did on the seventh day of creation. When God commanded the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) he reminded his people that he was the first to practice it (Genesis 2:2). He enjoyed it so much he wanted us to experience it. Those of us who see it as a law to follow miss the delight. God has given us the theological justification to have the best day of the year once a week. Sabbath keeping is the way in which we rehearse the New Creation—our full Day of rest, forming us into people of delight.
There are three ways this shows up in our community:
Friendship, Feasting, and Sabbath.
Friendship
Unhurried time together is important as we treat one another not as means to an end or just a connection to a greater opportunity, but an end to themselves. We seek out ways in which we do not have to perform, but just be ourselves and be loved. It’s hard to experience delight apart from friends. But it’s hard to have this sort of friendship if we do not first experience this kind of delight and friendship with Christ.
Feasting
We come together, laying aside work and worry, seeking to edify with our words and celebrate with our food and drink. Feasting reminds us who we are in Christ and what we will fully be some day (Matthew 9:15). We are prodigal children who have come to the Father, who throws the royal robes over our rags and rings on our fingers, slaughtering the lamb for a feast, inviting the community in to eat and drink (Luke 15:11-14).
Sabbath
The fundamental reason why we Sabbath is because God did on the seventh day of creation. When God commanded the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) he reminded his people that he was the first to practice it (Genesis 2:2). He enjoyed it so much he wanted us to experience it. Those of us who see it as a law to follow miss the delight. God has given us the theological justification to have the best day of the year once a week. Sabbath keeping is the way in which we rehearse the New Creation—our full Day of rest, forming us into people of delight.