I’m doing an “in a nutshell” series this year. Little teachings, written small, so others can run with them.

  Get ready, here we go! There are three large areas where Christ’s Lordship has not been fully applied or incarnated: soil, sight, skin. That is, a theology of the earth; a theology of the arts; and a theology of our stewardship over our physical bodies. All three areas have been claimed by other belief systems. The first, some sort of earth worship or vedic stream; the second, entertainment and celebrity-ism; the third, with yogic or new age thinking. I think Jesus is meant to dwell in all three areas, and has outlined how we are to partner with Him in each.

  In the area of the earth, we are finally hearing lots more on a Christian ecology; in the area of the arts, a few are starting to think about His Lordship over the imagination, which extends into culture making, and collective symbols; in the area of the human body, there is little literature on how we are to govern our bodies in a healthy way. Of course how we steward the earth, and our physical bodies, are related in terms of principles. The arts, is more about how we meet God in our creativity, which is part of our relationship with Him. God is symbolic and creative, and so are we, in His Image—this should be an area of our relationship and ongoing sanctification in Christ.

Spiritual development maps:

  The next nutshell for you is a model for spiritual development taken from the cities which were occupied in the book of Joshua. First Jericho, which was guarded by the ways of witchcraft, which is among other things rebellion against true authority. We begin our spiritual journey, by surrender, and realizing we need help from The True Authority. So we must topple the ways of witchcraft it ourselves. Those areas where we hold up our own authority above God’s. The second city is Ai, which is the area of community and friendship. We must allow others to minister God’s life to us. The third….the overall principle, is that we must go in with God, and occupy, possess and cultivate or make fruitful each area of our lives.

Going back briefly to His desire to enter into the arts….

 In the area of the arts we are talking about restoring a true image of both ourselves and God. As we get a clearer image of both, we are able to align with what is Real. So the imagination is part of getting a clear picture of God and His Creation. This allows us to live well. We need to see well, in order to live well. So the imagination is crucial to an accurate interpretation of what is Real.

  Under His Lordship over our bodies, is how to eat well, exercise etc. Our general governing with Him over our physical domains, starting with our own bodies. Of course, there is the interruption of the sin nature, but we are also moving partly in the new creation, and can learn to steward our bodies with Him. I’ll keep developing these three neglected areas of Christ’s Lordship: soil, sight, and skin.