Recently I’ve been reading the book “Rainbow Spirit Theology” written in part by the late Aboriginal Pastor George Rosendale from Hopevale Qld. Part of the book tells of the joyous yet tragic story of the white European missionaries who came to Australia. They brought with them the seed of the gospel, but — blinded by their own cultural expression of Christianity — rejected the Aboriginal culture as pagan spirituality and evil, encouraging them to stop much their cultural practices. Many Aborigines (particularly in Qld) lost their culture and language. The authors open their book with a word picture to describe this loss — they use the metaphor of a strangler fig.
‘High in the branch of a pine in a Queensland rainforest, a small bird rests. Having previously fed on the sweet fruit of the Ficus, the bird excretes seeds and leaves them in a small, wet patch of manure on the branch, then flies away. Several weeks later, in the humid conditions, one fertilised seed has sprouted many leaves. Long, hair-like roots have begun to snake downwards, seeking soil and moisture. The seed has come to the land to grow and develop. … In the months that follow, the young tree flourishes. High in the canopy, a trunk and branches are formed. Meanwhile, the think hair-like roots begin to embrace its host and thicken. In time, the roots of the fig swell so much that the generous host is slowly crushed. The parasitic plant is commonly known as the strangler fig.’ (Rainbow Spirit Theology, 2007, ATF Press, 2nd edition, pp 1–2).
This word picture got me thinking: What is the strangler fig of our modern era? What is suffocating our spiritually? What is chocking our relationship with Jesus and preventing us from growing in faith together?
I think one of the foremost issues of our modern era and culture that strangles our relationship with God is the false divide between secular and sacred. Let me explain. Our world can be described as four spheres: church, home, work/school, and community. Yet our world, our society, even ourselves at time, falsely say that God is only allowed into the first sphere (church), and Jesus is denied access, or not welcome, in the other three (home, work, community). But the truth is that God is above all, through all, and in all. He permeates all four spheres: church, work/school, community, and especially our homes.
In the Old Testament reading from Deuteronomy, we hear clearly that God desires to permeate all aspects of our life. ‘These commandments [or Torah] that I give you today are to be on your hearts. [Another way of saying ‘commandments’ is just ‘the Word of the LORD.’] Impress the Word on your children. Talk about it when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.’ (Deuteronomy 6:6–9).
‘Walk along the road’ is just another way saying not being at home. So it’s saying, when you’re home, or not at home, talk about the Word of the Lord — that pretty much covers everything right?! If we didn’t get the point, the passage says it again. ‘When you lie down [i.e. night-time] and when you get up [i.e. daytime]’ — again this covers all aspects of our life. God desires that we talk about his Word always.
Following Jesus is not just something for one hour a week, or something we can keep private or compartmentalised. Jesus is not just for the “church” compartment. Rather, Jesus is present with us 24/7, in church, at work/school, in the community, and especially in our homes.
God has a special purpose for the home — the home is a training ground for growing in faith together. If cricket nets are a training ground for cricket, then the home is a training ground for faith. If we wanted to use a church word, we could say the home is a place of ‘sanctification.’ (‘Sanctification’ just means the process of being sanctified, made into holy saints like God). Now this doesn’t mean we are holy saints and we get everything right all the time. If you visit my home you’ll find the opposite! We are sinners and failures and stuff-ups. But it’s at home that God makes us into holy saints, by teaching us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. Just think about how a newborn baby teaches parents love and joy. Raising toddlers and teenagers, or living with your spouse, can teach patience! Caring for an elderly grandparent or babysitting grandchildren can teach kindness, etc. The home is a place of sanctification where God trains us to be holy like Jesus.
Our relationship with Jesus begins in our baptism. To use a church word again, we might say in baptism God works ‘justification’ (which means you are made right with God). Scripture uses all sorts of wonderful pictures to describe what justification in baptism means. Let’s briefly look at three: (1) In baptism you, who are guilty, are declared innocent. (2) You are given new, dazzling white robes to wear (the righteousness of Jesus). (3) You are adopted into God’s family.
But the Christian life merely begins at baptism. The rest of our life is about growing in faith together. So the other side to justification is sanctification. In your baptism you are justified, and the rest of your life is about God sanctifying you. Let’s revisit the three pictures: (1) You are declared innocent, and the rest of your life is learning what it means to live free (e.g. Barabbas, Matthew 27:15–26). (2) You are given new clothes, then spend your life learning how to wear them. For women, remember the first time you wore high heels; for men the first time you wore a tie. New clothes feel weird, it takes practice to feel comfortable in them. Likewise as we learn to live wearing Jesus’ robe of righteousness. (3) You are adopted, then for the rest of your life learn what it means to be a child in God’s family, you learn the family trade, you learn to be like your big brother Jesus.
In your home you interact with your parents, husband, wife, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren. And it’s through these interactions that God sanctifies you. You learn what it means to make mistakes and to forgive and be forgiven — just as God forgives you. You learn what it means to be unconditionally accepted — just as God unconditionally accepts you. You learn what it means to clean up messes (parents of babies certainly know all about this!) — just as Jesus cleans up your messy life.
The reason the home is a place of sanctification, is that in the home we meet Jesus Christ. When you meet Jesus, he changes you. Remember our gospel reading from Matthew 25? The righteous ones helped feed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcomed strangers, and helped the sick. When I hear this passage, I tend to hear that the hungry, thirsty, naked, and sick strangers are “out there” somewhere e.g. overseas or in a big city. But what if these needy people are living in your home? What if your family were the hungry and thirsty ones, in need of clothes and tender care?
Christ meets you here in our public gatherings, through the Word, and in baptism and Holy Communion. Christ meets you as your household reads the Bible together. But Christ also meets you in your family members. Your home is a training ground for growing in faith together. God uses your parents, husband, wife, siblings, children, and grandchildren to come and meet you. As you serve them, you serve and meet Christ. And once you’ve met Christ, you’re never the same again, for he changes you to be more like him day by day.
The ‘Growing Faith at Home’ resource sheet has a number of challenges for your week ahead. (1) Consider the times at home that your household does (or could) talk about the Word of the Lord. This week talk about the Word around the dinner table and in the car. (2) Spend some time serving your family. As you serve each other, look for Christ in the other people.
Let’s hear the gospel reading again. As you hear the words, picture your family as the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick strangers. Picture meeting Christ as you serve and interact with your family this afternoon, this week, and beyond.
Jesus says, “Then the King will speak to those on his right. He will say, ‘I was hungry. And you gave me something to eat. [Think about the times you will prepare meals this week. Or the times you will go shopping.] I was thirsty. And you gave me something to drink. [Think about this week when you’ll make a coffee for your spouse or parents or child.] … I needed clothes. And you gave them to me. [As you wash the clothes and fold the laundry, think about meeting Christ.] I was sick. And you took care of me.” (Matthew 25:34–36)
Lord Jesus, open our eyes as we meet and serve you in our homes. Change us to be like you. Amen.
