“Down Is Up” - Luke 3:4-14
The Upside Down Kingdom by Donald B. Kraybill (1978)
Down is up, Outsiders are insiders, Dying is living…God-centered vs. Human-Center, Humanism
Community-centered vs. Individual-centered
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” (v.4)
1. Reexamining faith by fruit
“And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (v.3)
“He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’” (v.7)
‘Cheap Grace’, ‘Easy-believism’
“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (v.9)
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
2. Regrouping community
From ‘Religious Ritual Community’ to ‘Relational Community’
“Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” (v.8)
3. Regaining opportunity
“And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’” (v.11)
“Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than you are authorized to do.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Do not exhort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.’” (v.12-14)
