Dread-Pirate-Disciples



Dread-Pirate-Disciples--January 11, 2017

"[God] has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will...." [Ephesians 1:9-11]

We are dread-pirates-in-training, we followers of Jesus.

There's this moment in the classic movie The Princess Bride where Westley (Cary Elwes at his best) is recounting to his beloved Buttercup how he had been captured once, years ago, by the infamous Dread Pirate Roberts.  And he talks about how he had been brought on board the pirate's ship, ends up as the cabin boy for the pirate captain, and eventually earns his trust and becomes second in command on board. 

And then there comes the day when the pirate himself takes Westley back into his captain's quarters for a conversation--he gives Westley the name and identity "Dread Pirate Roberts" for himself, and Westley will now be the captain of the pirate crew.  The old "Roberts" (who, it turns out, had been about the fourth "Roberts" in a line already) would stay on with the ship for a while as one of the crew as they took on new sailors and would help Westley (the new "Roberts") get himself on a firm footing in his new persona.

There is something helpful about that scene in thinking about our calling as followers of Jesus. There is something both deeply encouraging and deeply challenging, I believe.  We sometimes think that Christianity is a passive thing--that we are consumers, watching from the audience, ticket-buying customers and club-members who just receive what Jesus has to give us.  We sometimes imagine that the Christian life is basically a deal wherein I believe certain religious facts, make periodic monetary contributions, and then take a couple of shifts volunteering for this or that committee at my local church so that we can keep the lights on and the bills paid.  We sometimes imagine--because the shows are on television and on the radio--that as long as there are preachers on TV, that Christianity is basically a matter of occasionally consuming a religious "product", whether in person in a church or leaving it on in the background while I read the paper.

But that is not the way the New Testament writers picture this.  We are a part of the crew.  We are all caught up in learning the ropes and brought into the mission of the One who has claimed us.  We are all part of a movement, a subversive, surprising, underground divine conspiracy to embody the Reign of God's mercy and justice, God's love and truth-telling, right under the noses of the powers of the day that think they have all the control and all the power.  We are called to be part of Jesus' peaceable pirate crew, learning to do what Jesus does, to be more and more deeply a part of his work to restore and renew all things, even to the point that we are called to embody the face of Jesus for the world.  We are, as I say, all dread-pirate-disciples in training.

See, the voices in the New Testament are convinced--like you can see from today's verses from Ephesians--that in Christ, God has a plan... and it is bold, ambitious, and audacious.  God's plan, from the beginning of creation, has always been "to gather up all things" in Christ.  Nothing and nobody will be left out.  God has had this mission to lift up, to restore, to embrace, to include, to heal, to mend, to renew... everything--by bringing the presence of Christ everywhere.  That's what God is "up to" in the world.  That's what the unfolding project we sometimes call "the Kingdom of God" is all about--it is one more way of picturing what happens as God "gathers up all things." 

And if that's what God is all about... if that's what Jesus' mission was and is about... then that's what our calling is, too.  There is no idea in the New Testament (or the Old, for that matter) that God's people simply keep their club membership status by occasionally sitting in a pew and then using that as their afterlife insurance premium.  We are disciples of Jesus, not customers or viewers.  That means whatever Jesus is about... we are about.  And he is committed to training us to do what he does... to be like him... to bring his presence to all the world. 

Now, here's the other thing: you are already on board Jesus' ship.  This is not a plea for you to "make the right decision today and invite Jesus into your life."  Guess what--Jesus has already claimed you.  He is not trying to get you to buy a subscription to his services--he is already the captain of the ship you are on, and you are his.  The question is whether you and I will dare to let him train us... to let him form and shape us... to let him give us his own name and identity to wear for the world.  The question is whether we will let Jesus make us one of the crew, sharing his mission, as together we steal the world back from the powers of the day and lay it all at the feet of our Captain, King Jesus with the wounded hands and feet. 

God has had a plan all along, from the very beginning, to gather up all things, all people, everybody everywhere, into God's own movement of mercy and justice.  How will you and I let God make us part of it... today?  All hands on deck.

Lord Jesus, pull us out of passivity to share your mission and your all-embracing love, and let us see ourselves rightly as a part of your crew, wearing your name for the world.