We have seen his glory…full of grace and truth

An update for December from the Network

These regular updates are continuing to unpack the refreshed Mahabba vision and how it’s being worked out in practice across the Network. Last time we reflected on ‘how we can get Mahabba working more as a network for the benefit of all’. That’s the picture of the future we’re looking to, believing and working for.

Carol Services include the Mahabba manifesto in John 1:1-17. Jesus is ‘grace and truth’ personified and ‘grace and truth’ is Christly ministry outworked. You can check-out our ‘core ethos’ on the website here.

‘The law came through Moses’ (Jn.1:17a)

Religious law is about external performance. Jesus’ life is what fulfilled ‘law’ looks like. The right thing came out of Jesus because it was his disposition.‘Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ’ (Jn.1:17b). Jesus modelled a gracious attitude and was faithful to the truth that God’s heart conceived the ‘law’ out of love and warmth, but Muslims encounter it as something cold, impersonal and controlling. ‘It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you…but what comes out of your mouth, from the heart’ (Mk.7:15).

‘The Word became flesh’ (Jn.1:14a)

I.e. he was ‘incarnational’; he ‘made his home among us’ (Jn.1:14b) – i.e. he made sure he was in ‘proximity’ to us; he was ‘in closest relationship with the Father’ (Jn.1:14c) – i.e. he was ‘relational’; and he ‘made the Father known’ (Jn.1:17) – i.e. he ‘demonstrated’ the good news. People could see his good works and glorify His father in heaven’ (Mat.5:16).

Jesus had a three-fold ministry: “works”

I.e. whole life relational engagement; when needed he used “wonders” – i.e. prayer and supernatural intervention; and only then did he use “words” – usually in that order. His definition of ‘friendship evangelism’ would be to earn the right to speak: ‘I call you my friends, because everything I have learned from my Father, I have told you. (Jn.15:15) Why do we insist on reversing this order?

The fact is that ‘grace and truth’ has a broad scope

It’s a biblical and theological conviction; it also becomes a personal value, and only then can it be expressed as a missional orientation. ‘Grace and truth’ have implications socially (i.e. it develops trusting relationships); politically (i.e. social cohesion). This is why “evangelism” has social implications, and “social engagement” has evangelistic implications’. ‘If the Word became flesh, we must be careful not to turn the flesh back into words. (Bishop Tom Wright).

At a Mahabba regional gathering in Reading last month

We affirmed the need to initiate and look for signs of grace in what we do; and how we do it. One sign was a lady just sitting with Muslim friends in mourning, which drew her into the status of ‘extended family’. Another was when Muslim leaders were proud to be identified publicly with a Mahabba group.

This Christmas and always

Let’s model in our witness, the creative tension between the Great Command of Christ to ‘love’ our neighbour (i.e. grace, Mt.22:39), and the Great Commission of Christ to ‘proclaim the good news about Jesus’ whole life’ (i.e. truth, Mt.28:19) – i.e. not just his last three days.

Have a meaningful Christmas!

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From Steve Bell for the National Team