Down-side upping – Mary-Anne Rulfs
The kingdom of God has often been called the upside-down kingdom. Where things happen in the reverse way to what we expect in ‘the world’.
What if this is a flawed image? What if this completely misses the point of what Jesus is wanting to convey through his life, teaching and sharing about the good news of God’s kingdom? As the embodiment of who God is, Jesus’ intent was not to put anyone down. Not ever. Jesus’ intent was only ever to raise people up.
In our Conversations @ 5 on Monday evenings we’ve been throwing around a new idea that I think captures what’s at the heart of God’s kingdom in a far more helpful way. While it’s not original – the phrase has been coined by others – it resonates with those in the conversation. It feels like an authentic way to describe the basis of Jesus’ whole ministry:
down-side upping
Down-side upping is where the last become first, the least become loved, and the lost become found. It is where failure becomes a pathway to growth, and brokenness becomes the way to wholeness.
Down-side upping is a journey – a journey we take when we are willing to humble ourselves and follow Jesus’ lead into humility and servanthood. Death to life. It’s a disruptive, subversive journey and it is sure to transform us. Transform us into more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, gentle, faithful and self-controlled people. People alive to the Spirit of God.
The down-side upping journey requires that we let go of the things that keep us down. We are gifted the freedom to choose. And the courage to let go.
The New Testament is bursting with references to down-side upping.
This week during our Wednesday morning communion service we reflected on Luke 6:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Down-side upping. The language of transformation. And resilience!
The parables are another example – lost sons, lost coins, lost sheep, wheat and weeds, a good Samaritan and indifferent priests. Down-side upping. The list goes on.
This week’s parable about forgiveness is another case in point. The purpose of forgiveness is not simply to fulfil the letter of the law, as a box-ticking exercise (even if you have to do it 7 times!). Forgiveness is a journey of transformation to restore relationship, where we allow what has been wronged or broken to be healed and made whole. Not simply as it was, but the way it can be when we allow grace to form and re-form. It’s a journey we may need to take more than once, and more than 7 times. Forgiveness is a journey we may need to take countless times throughout life.
And lest we think the goal is to be the ‘winner’, the one who comes out on top, down-side upping isn’t about status or prestige or wealth or being right or achievement. Not as we like to measure these things, anyway. The throne of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, is a cross! Down-side upping is a journey away from the need for personal recognition and towards peace, grace, extravagant generosity, forgiveness and a heart content with knowing that your life has been poured out for the benefit of others.
Downside-upping is a process of formation. ‘Formation’ is a word that can be used to describe the way we grow in faith. Faith formation happens in many ways. The apostle Paul sees faith as a transcendent experience born out of death, brokenness and longing. To experience the encounter of Christ through the contradiction (down-side upping) of the cross. Faith is a complex human experience where we find ourselves immersed in the faithfulness of God through experiencing Jesus as God’s faithful son.
We are beginning a new series this week:
‘formed for the benefit of others’.
Being formed in faith, hope, love, grace, compassion and forgiveness means encountering down-side upping as part of our daily experience. Being formed in faith means experiencing God though our life in Christ. This must also mean that we share in the life of one another. Our shared life together transforms us because that is the nature of life in God – relational, experiential and full of possibilities that invite us to wholeness. Life in the kingdom of God.
For me, the experiences that have contributed to my down-side upping journeys – sometimes through many years – have been both painful and joyful. Yet always life-giving.
How are you experiencing down-side upping in your life?
What do you need to let go?
What are the possibilities of ‘being raised up’ that lie ahead?
I have found it helpful to reflect on these thoughts with God through prayer.
Perhaps you will too.
Grace and peace,
Mary-Anne