05.24.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

The next couple of weeks I have asked some of our most faithful leaders to write a thought or two to put in this spot. I hope you enjoy their perspectives and are challenged all the more that it is all about Jesus.

This week, Christina--one of the house church leaders from our 17th Ave. House Church is spilling her thoughts. Enjoy. --Mike



"I do not say profound things often. God did not bless me with eloquent speech or the ability to always say ?just the right thing?, but God did give me the ability to read, which I do quite often. It is by reading other peoples words that I am able to find the right words to express what God is teaching me.

I have always been fascinated by the Jewish roots of our Christian faith. It seems obvious that in order to truly understand who Christ was, what he did, and why it was necessary we must understand his religious roots. ?Girl Meets God? is a book written by a woman who converted to Christianity out of Orthodox Judaism. In a chapter entitled ?Ascension Day?, the author, Lauren Winner, describes a striking similarity between Christianity and Judaism.

People think Judaism and Christianity are radically different from one another, and that the difference is straight forward-one religion has a messiah who has come and the other religion doesn't. But on Ascension Day, I am struck by the deep similarity that lies just underneath that difference. Both Jews and Christians live in a world that is not yet redeemed, and both of us await ultimate redemption. Some of us wait for a messiah to come once and forever; others of us wait for Him to come back. But we are both stuck living in a world where redemption is not complete, where we have redemptive work to do, where we cannot always see God as clearly as we would like, because He is up in Heaven. We are both waiting.? (p. 204-205)

I think that this striking similarity is exactly what Peter talks about in his book to the scattered followers of Christ. He says ?But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

Peter could no longer see God as clearly as he had once. Living on earth with Jesus, Peter had his physical presence to assure him of his hope for eternity, but in Christ?s physical absence, we find it difficult to experience Him in a way that convinces us of eternity. We rest on His promise to return, and our experience of His Holy Spirit is what gives us reason for our hope. It is this hope that sets us apart as Christians.

If we had any clue what eternity would truly be like, we would never waste a moment here on earth. I pray that our hope for an eternity that we cannot even begin to imagine, would be great enough to set us apart from the despair and hopelessness of the many who do not know Jesus. "


- Christina (May 24, 06)


the rest of thequest email UPdate HERE