A few days ago we hosted a concert at the church's building featuring Liz and the Lions and Tim Skipper (from House of Heroes) with Stephanie SmithStephanie Smith. The evening was meant to raise awareness of the church's involvement in bringing justice and mercy to our community through the ministry of the diaconate. In between sets I gave a little explanation about the diaconate and then asked the question, "Why should we get involved in mercy ministry?" I thought I'd unpack this theme again here in the blog. So here goes:
Disney's classic animated film Cinderella is one of my all-time favorites for a lot of theologically rich reasons (that can be put into another blog post someday) but until recently I did have one thing against the movie. Prince charming is a flat character. in the movie you barely get his name. His personality is not developed at all. You don't know if he is a great guy. You don't really know if he's going to be good for Cinderella or if he's going to marry her and cheat on her or beat her or something. All you know is that he's Prince Charming so you should like him. For the story, he is meant to be the ideal prince so there is no need to unpack that with good character development.
This reminds me of the book of Ruth, in the Old Testament. (Go read it real quick). The "prince charming" of the book is Boaz. He is a flat character who has little plot development. All you know is that he is the ideal "prince" or in the Bible's language, he is the ideal king. Why is he the ideal king? The Bible, in places like Psalm 82 wants us to know that a good king is one who does justice and mercy, one who rescues the weak and the needy, one who cares for the fatherless and the widow. This is exactly what Boaz does for Ruth (and to Naomi through her relationship with Ruth--you know, you just read it!) Boaz is Prince Charming.
But the Bible isn't going to leave us hanging with a flat character. It's going to unpack what a good king looks like. We see it in the life of King David (Boaz's great-great-great-great-etc-grandson). Remember the story of Mephibosheth and how David showed kindness to Jonathan's son? The Bible says that this is a mark of a great king.
All throughout the Old Testament the theme of the good king or "Prince Charming"points to one man, Jesus Christ. This is where we see the character development explode. Jesus shows us what it truly means to be The Perfect King. It reminds me of "The Houses of Healing" chapter in The Lord of the Rings. You know the true king when he has hands of healing. Jesus was king because he brought healing. He was the High King who brought mercy and justice.
So a good theology of diaconal ministry answers the question for us. Why should we do diaconal ministry? The answer isn't "because God says so." The answer includes this but it is more beautiful than a mere command. We are commanded to bring justice and mercy because it is a kingly duty and as children of the Most High God, we have been made royalty. When you see injustice in the world and you act out against it, you are enacting your kingly or queenly duty. You are living out your royal calling.
But there is something at stake here that can't be missed. There is great potential for the world to look at the ultimate Prince Charming, Jesus Christ, and just see a flat character. We, Christ's church are his body, we are his hands and feet to this broken world and if we don't enact our royal calling to be bringers of mercy and justice, then the world is not going to see the explosion of grace and mercy that comes with knowing Jesus and following him. It is shocking and scandalous but it is true, we are the character development that shows the world a "Prince Charming" who heals, who brings justice to the oppressed, who brings food to the hungry, who brings hope to the hopeless. Let us go and show the world this Jesus.
So I guess I'm okay with Cinderella's prince being a flat character because it shows me that the story needs a good sequel. In our case Pentecost begins Jesus' sequel...and it just so happens to be us!)
Grace and Peace,
Jim
