On the shelf in our living room is one of my daughter’s favorite things to look at when she was around nine months old. It is fragile so we always held it for her, but she wanted to look at it multiple times a day. The body of this object is long and slender and there is a glass container on the end which holds an array shapes and colors. She would look hard at all the individual pieces and then we’d shake it together while she’d squeal in delight. Then she’d gaze upon the “new” array of shapes and colors. I really look forward to the day when she can hold it up to the light and look from the other end. Kaleidoscopes when pointed towards the light and rotated, the tumbling shapes and colors presents beautiful arrangements of colorful patterns.
The Gospel is like this in scripture. Last week I used the metaphor of the single club golfer and the need for a full bag of clubs when sharing the gospel. An even better metaphor for what we see in scripture is the kaleidoscope. When the shapes in the glass are held in unity and revealed by the light there are common patterns but a vast display of images in which to look. The atonement metaphors and images within scripture are also held in unity and revealed by the light of the Son of God. The various metaphors of atonement come into view within the biblical texts as we rotate the “kaleidoscope.”
We talked last week about the need for contextualizing the gospel to meet people where they are rather than standing at a distance and trying to convince them to meet you where you are. We see this in St. Patrick’s approach to evangelizing the Celts of Ireland but more importantly, we see this in Paul in 1 Cor. 9:19-23 and Acts 17. Within Paul’s writing, he does not utilize any one single way of expressing the meaning of the death of Christ. Instead, he draws upon a kaleidoscope of metaphors and symbols to communicate its meaning:
Reconciliation – 2 Cor 5:18-20; Rom 5:10-11; Eph 2:16; Col 1:20-22
Sacrifice – Rom 3:25; 8:3, 1 Cor 5:7
Representation – 1 Cor 15:14-15
Redemption – Rom 3:24; 1 Cor 7:21-23; Gal 4:5
Righteousness – Rom 3:21-26; 5:9; 2 Cor 5:21
Curse – Gal 3:13
Self-giving/emptying – Rom 8:32; Gal 1:4; 2:20; Phil 2:7
Victory over the powers – Col 2:15
Paradoxical power and wisdom – 1 Cor 1:24-25; 2 Cor 13:4
The variety of images testifies to the depth and breadth of meaning of the death of Christ for Paul. It also enables him to tailor his interpretation of atonement to fit the needs and circumstances of the churches he is writing. Here’s a snap shot of Paul’s writing:
Romans – We see the relationship between Christ’s work, the Law, and justice (3:9-31).
Philippians – We witness the way Christ’s life and death should influence our morality and transform our behavior, especially the way we treat those around us (Phil 2:1-11).
Galatians – Hear hints of substitution. Christ gave himself for us (Gal 2:20)
Colossians – Cosmic Christ who is victorious at the cross and makes a spectacle of the powers and authorities (2:15).
As Paul rotates the kaleidoscope, he discovers new ways to encourage and enlighten the church to be who God has called them to be as those set apart by the blood of Jesus. The gospel changes how conflict is delt with in a community of believers. The gospel also shapes us into a community that embodies the gospel.
We become a gospel shaped community every time we read the story of Jesus and identify ourselves with that story. We then invite others to listen and hear that story of Jesus. The act of hearing the gospel story and learning to tell and live out the gospel story is why we gather. We carry this story within us when we eat the bread and drink the wine. We retell and remember the gospel story every time we gather around the table of the Lord’s Supper. This rhythm of telling and retelling the story at the table prepares us to go and live the story together for the world.