Articles
Disruption
For most of us, the past 18 months or so has been a rather disruptive time. Schedules have changed. Routines have been altered. The regular rhythms of life have been revised.
In short, we’ve been disrupted in one way or another. We typically think of a disruption as a bad thing. After all, the word disruption refers to something that has been broken.
But, being broken isn’t always bad. If changes need to occur, then disruption might just be the thing we need most. Jesus coming into the world was disruptive in all the right ways. In the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus is baptized, He “saw the heavens being torn open” (Mark 1:10). This is an allusion back to the book of Isaiah, where the longing is expressed that God would “rend the heavens and come down” (Isaiah 64:1). In the life of Jesus, this is precisely what happens.
Throughout Jesus’ life, He disrupts the status quo. He challenges false teaching and tradition, He heals the sick, and He shows what true relationship with the Father looks like. Under most circumstances, people don’t like to be disrupted. Disruption implies a change and few of us readily embrace change.
The people in the time of Jesus did not want the change associated with His coming into the world. Therefore, they treated Him like the lowliest of society by crucifying Him on the cross. We know this is not the end of the story. Resurrection occurs three days later. It is a statement that change has come. Death is no longer victorious.
In our lives, the Word of God should be disruptive. By this, I mean that Jesus’ life and the words of Scripture are meant to bring about change. Scripture is meant to be transformative in our lives. We read in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Similarly, it states in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
The teachings of Scripture are intended to disrupt the way we think, live, and behave day after day. Sometimes, being disrupted is just what we need.
