The ‘Touchy Feeling’ God

1 John 1:1

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life – 2: and the Word of Life was manifested…

I find this verse quite remarkable. If I’m reading this right, God sent His Son to ‘dwell among us’ (Jn 1:14) so that He could be heard, seen, observed, touched and to touch. It covers the senses – all except smell, but I’m sure that was just an oversight. Other verses talk about the ‘aroma’ or smell of praise. If this is true, which it obviously is because scripture says it, than we have been extremely limited in our approach to declaring the Gospel. We have been largely stuck in the telling and hearing aspects of the gospel. However this approach to the gospel is very flat – there exists other spectrums of Gospel witness.

I am thinking particularly of those for whom receptive language is a challenge. According to 1 Jn 1:1 the gospel is ‘ experienced’ as well as heard. It is observed, touched, and touching. How then is the gospel manifested in these other forms?

If the gospel is observed, it could be through the experience in how we are seen interacting with one another – in the ‘tone’ of our relationships. Would they be ‘seen’ as relationships of grace gentleness and peace? What about how we ‘touch’ others – emotionally as well as physically? What does our touch communicate about His acceptance, His forgiveness, His love? What does it mean for the Word to be manifested? I think it experienced through all the senses.
Practically, what does it mean for us as persons who support other persons? I think it means we must consider all we do and how we do it as a potential declaration of the Gospel. I say ‘potential’ because unless we yield who we are, and what we do to God – it remains potential. We must be intentional about it. In Exodus 35 we have the account of Moses calling the people to participate in the building of the tabernacle. What I find insightful in this passage is the ordinariness of the requests. He asks nothing beyond what people already have and already are doing. He says if you’ve got skills come and use them, if you have stuff, come give it.

Exo 35:5 'Take from among you a contribution to the LORD; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD'S contribution:

What changes the usual into the sacred is a ‘willing heart that brings it to the Lord’. No skill, ability or gift is elevated above the other. What makes the change is taking that skill, ability and gift, and willingly bringing it to the Lord to be used for His purposes. How do we do this? Glad you ask. It is in the intention of our heart that transforms what we do into ministry. Potentially anything we do can be ministry – from front line support work to Senior Leadership, from personal care to processing paperwork. If we accept that the gospel witness is more than ‘telling’ and is more experiential, then we must also become intentional about how we declare that gospel. Suddenly, I must stop and ask the question of what I do and how I am doing it, how is the gospel being declared? In who I am, what is the message of Christ others are experiencing?

How can you make the ‘Word of Life manifested’ to those around you? By knowing that how you are seen, heard, looked at, touch and are touched you are declarers of the Gospel. We serve a ‘touchy feeling’ God - let us make the Word of Life a tangible witness to those around us.

Anyway, I was just thinking.

Neil