Why is my new project called #MutualGlory?
Well, usually when Christian books discuss the use of authority, it’s about people over people.
Should elders have authority over a pastor? Should women be elders with authority over men? And so on…
There is less discussion about the glory all Christians receive from King Jesus, and the responsibility we have to exercise that glory. That’s because “glory” is a royal word that’s hard for Americans like me to understand.
NT Wright explains:
“We regularly use the word glory or glorification in terms of going to heaven in the usual western sense. Paul, on the contrary is thinking of the glorious and scripturally promised rule and authority, which renewed humans are to have over God’s creation.”
NT Wright, “The Romans Road: Through the Dark Valley“
With that definition in mind, read Romans 8:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
Romans 8:18-21
Lots of “glory” 👑 discussed here.
Later in Romans 8 Paul gives us almost a timeline of our walk with God:
“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Romans 8:29-30
Predestined ➡️ Called ➡️ Justified ➡️ Glorified 👑
The glorified part, the rule of all things that we’re called to is a process that starts now, not after we die. Yet many Christians are stuck in a justification cycle of sin and repentence and never embrace their God given glory.
This next part is important. Our call to glory is not over each other. After pumping us up with all this royal language, Paul makes it clear what our relationships should be to each other:
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
Romans 12:3
Be humble. And with that humility, work together using your specific gifts:
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
if it is serving, then serve;
if it is teaching, then teach;
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;
if it is giving, then give generously;
if it is to lead, do it diligently;
if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:4-8
This is the basis of #MutualGlory👑
The Bible is full of this pattern. Humans working together in God’s glory to exercise his good rule.
There’s also the opposite – humans oppressing each other, creating a little comfort for a few, and misery for most. In my opinion no group has suffered more from these crooked systems than women.
By the way, you can judge how well a church understands the call to #MutualGlory based on how focused they are on women using all of their gifts without artifical barriers.
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