Because God Is A Self Sending God

The concept of God as a self-sending entity is a profound theological idea that breaks down the very nature of divine love, action, and presence within creation. It suggests that God, out of an intrinsic and overflowing love, initiates a movement of self-communication and self-giving. This concept is deeply rooted in Christian theology but resonates with broader understandings of divine engagement across various faith traditions.

Understanding the Self-Sending God

The self-sending nature of God speaks to a God who is not distant, aloof, or self-contained. Instead, it portrays a God actively involved in the world, reaching out to humanity, and offering a path to reconciliation and communion. This idea challenges notions of a static or detached deity, emphasizing the dynamic and relational character of the divine.

To grasp the depth of this concept, we need to explore its theological foundations, manifestations throughout history, and implications for our understanding of faith, love, and service Easy to understand, harder to ignore..

Theological Roots

The doctrine of the self-sending God finds its most explicit expression in the Christian understanding of the Trinity. In practice, the Trinity posits that God is one being existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is distinct yet united in essence and purpose.

The Father: The Father is often seen as the source and origin of all things, the one who initiates the sending of the Son and the Spirit.
The Son (Jesus Christ): The Son is understood as God incarnate, the Word made flesh who came to dwell among us. His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate act of God's self-sending love.
The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the advocate and comforter who empowers believers, guides the Church, and continues the work of Christ in the world.

Within the Trinity, we see a continuous movement of self-giving love. That said, the Father sends the Son, the Son submits to the Father's will, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. This internal dynamic of love spills over into creation, prompting God to reach out to humanity Most people skip this — try not to. Took long enough..

Manifestations of God's Self-Sending

The concept of God as self-sending is not merely an abstract theological idea. It is manifested in concrete ways throughout history and in the lives of individuals.

Creation: The act of creation itself can be seen as an act of self-sending. God, out of love, brought the universe into existence, sharing divine goodness and beauty with creation.
Incarnation: The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the most profound manifestation of God's self-sending. God the Son took on human flesh, lived a human life, and died a human death to redeem humanity from sin and reconcile us to God. This act demonstrates the immense love and humility of God, who willingly entered into the messiness of human existence.
The Holy Spirit: The sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost marked a new phase in God's self-sending. The Spirit empowers believers to live out their faith, to witness to the gospel, and to build up the Church. The Spirit continues to work in the world, drawing people to Christ and transforming lives.
The Church: The Church, as the body of Christ, is called to participate in God's self-sending. Christians are called to love one another, to serve the poor, to preach the gospel, and to work for justice and peace in the world.
Individual Believers: Each individual believer is called to be an agent of God's self-sending. Through acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity, we can reflect the love of God to others.

Implications of a Self-Sending God

The concept of God as self-sending has profound implications for our understanding of faith, love, and service Not complicated — just consistent..

Understanding of Faith

If God is a self-sending God, then faith is not merely intellectual assent to a set of doctrines. It is a response to God's initiative, an acceptance of God's love, and a commitment to follow Christ.

Faith as Response: Faith is a response to God's revelation, to God's self-disclosure in creation, in Scripture, and in Jesus Christ. It is a recognition of God's presence and a willingness to trust in God's promises.
Faith as Relationship: Faith is not simply about believing in God; it is about being in relationship with God. It is about cultivating a personal connection with the divine, communicating with God through prayer, and experiencing God's presence in our lives.
Faith as Transformation: Faith is transformative. It changes our hearts, our minds, and our actions. It leads us to live more like Christ, to love more generously, and to serve more faithfully.

Understanding of Love

The concept of God as self-sending challenges our understanding of love. It suggests that love is not merely a feeling or an emotion. It is an action, a choice, a commitment to the well-being of others.

Love as Self-Giving: God's love is self-giving. God is willing to sacrifice for the sake of others. This challenges us to love in the same way, to be willing to put the needs of others before our own.
Love as Unconditional: God's love is unconditional. God loves us despite our flaws and failures. This challenges us to love others unconditionally, to extend grace and forgiveness, and to see the image of God in every person.
Love as Action: God's love is expressed in action. God heals the sick, feeds the hungry, and comforts the afflicted. This challenges us to express our love through concrete acts of service, to care for the vulnerable, and to work for justice and peace.

Understanding of Service

The concept of God as self-sending transforms our understanding of service. It suggests that service is not merely a duty or an obligation. It is an opportunity to participate in God's mission, to reflect God's love, and to make a difference in the world.

Service as Participation in God's Mission: Service is a way of participating in God's work of reconciliation and redemption. It is about joining God in healing the brokenness of the world, in restoring relationships, and in bringing hope to the hopeless.
Service as Reflection of God's Love: Service is a way of reflecting God's love to others. When we serve, we demonstrate the compassion and generosity of God. We become channels of God's grace, bringing comfort, healing, and encouragement to those in need.
Service as Transformation of the World: Service has the power to transform the world. When we work for justice, peace, and equality, we are helping to create a more just and compassionate world, a world that reflects the values of God's kingdom.

Exploring the Biblical Narrative

The idea of a self-sending God is woven throughout the biblical narrative, from the Old Testament to the New Testament Simple, but easy to overlook..

Old Testament

Even in the Old Testament, where God is often portrayed as transcendent and powerful, we see glimpses of God's self-sending nature.

God's Covenant with Abraham: God initiated a covenant with Abraham, promising to bless him and make him the father of a great nation. This covenant was not based on Abraham's merit but on God's grace.
God's Deliverance of Israel from Egypt: God heard the cries of the Israelites in slavery and sent Moses to deliver them from oppression. This act of liberation demonstrates God's compassion for the oppressed and God's willingness to intervene in human affairs.
God's Sending of the Prophets: God sent prophets to speak truth to power, to challenge injustice, and to call the people back to faithfulness. The prophets were often rejected and persecuted, but they remained faithful to their calling, proclaiming God's message even in the face of opposition.

New Testament

The New Testament provides the clearest and most complete picture of God's self-sending nature Worth keeping that in mind..

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ: As mentioned earlier, the incarnation is the ultimate act of God's self-sending. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh, the visible image of the invisible God. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus revealed the love, grace, and mercy of God.
Jesus' Ministry of Healing and Compassion: Jesus went about doing good, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and comforting the afflicted. His ministry demonstrated the compassion of God and the reality of God's kingdom.
Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross: Jesus willingly sacrificed himself on the cross to atone for the sins of humanity. This act of self-sacrifice is the ultimate expression of God's love.
The Sending of the Holy Spirit: After Jesus' ascension, God sent the Holy Spirit to empower believers, to guide the Church, and to continue the work of Christ in the world. The Spirit is the presence of God in the lives of believers, enabling them to live out their faith and to witness to the gospel.

Addressing Potential Misconceptions

The concept of God as self-sending can be easily misunderstood if not approached with careful theological reflection. Here are a few potential misconceptions and clarifications:

God as Needy: The idea of self-sending might be misinterpreted as God being incomplete or needy, requiring something from creation to fulfill a lack within the divine being. Even so, the self-sending of God is not born out of a need but out of an overflowing abundance of love. It is an expression of God's perfect and complete nature, a sharing of divine goodness rather than a filling of a void.
Diminishment of Divine Sovereignty: Some might worry that a self-sending God implies a limitation on God's sovereignty, as if God is bound by the act of entering into creation. Still, God's self-sending is an exercise of divine sovereignty, a deliberate choice to engage with creation in a particular way. God remains fully God, even in self-limitation, demonstrating a unique and powerful form of divine authority.
Universalism: The idea of God's self-sending love could be misconstrued to support universalism, the belief that all people will ultimately be saved, regardless of their response to God. While God's love is indeed universal in scope, offering salvation to all, the Bible also emphasizes the importance of human response to God's grace. Faith, repentance, and obedience are necessary for receiving the full benefits of God's self-sending love.
Equating All Actions as Divine: It's crucial to discern that not every act of self-sacrifice or giving is inherently divine or reflects God's nature. While human actions can reflect God's love, they are often imperfect and mixed with selfish motives. Discerning the genuine expressions of divine love requires careful judgment and alignment with the teachings of Christ.

Contemporary Relevance

The concept of God as self-sending remains profoundly relevant in contemporary society, offering guidance and inspiration in a world often marked by division, injustice, and despair.

Promoting Social Justice: Recognizing God's self-sending love compels us to address systemic injustices and inequalities. It calls us to stand in solidarity with the marginalized, to advocate for the oppressed, and to work towards a more just and equitable world.
Fostering Interreligious Dialogue: Understanding God as self-sending can promote dialogue and understanding between different religious traditions. While theological differences may exist, the shared emphasis on divine compassion and engagement can serve as a foundation for building bridges of respect and cooperation.
Encouraging Environmental Stewardship: God's self-sending love extends to all of creation, not just humanity. This understanding calls us to be responsible stewards of the environment, to protect natural resources, and to work towards a sustainable future.
Inspiring Personal Transformation: Recognizing God's self-sending love can inspire personal transformation, leading us to live more compassionate, generous, and purposeful lives. It encourages us to embrace our calling to be agents of God's love in the world, to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Conclusion

The concept of God as a self-sending God is a powerful and transformative idea. It challenges us to rethink our understanding of faith, love, and service. It calls us to respond to God's initiative, to embrace God's love, and to participate in God's mission. It reminds us that God is not distant or aloof but actively involved in the world, reaching out to humanity with a love that knows no bounds.

By embracing this understanding, we can live more fully as followers of Christ, reflecting God's love in our words, our actions, and our lives. We can become agents of transformation, working to heal the brokenness of the world and to bring hope to the hopeless. We can embody the self-sending love of God, making a positive difference in the lives of others and contributing to a more just and compassionate world Small thing, real impact. That's the whole idea..