Ignatius

In 1994 three college students at Albright College were watching actor Kevin Bacon in the movie "Footloose". That movie was followed by another Kevin Bacon movie called "Quicksilver". In the boredom that came from being shut-in during a heavy snowstorm, they began to muse about how many actors or actresses were connected to Kevin Bacon in some way. Out of their creative minds came the game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon". According to Wikepedia, "The game requires a group of players to try to connect any film actor in history to Kevin Bacon as quickly as possible and in as few links as possible."

The real point of the game shows us how small of a world we really are. The phrase "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" is now accepted as a quick way of saying, "Hey, did you know so and so knows so and so, who knows so and so?" Kevin Bacon said that he hated the game at first because he thought they were making fun of him. Now he embraces it and even formed a charity last year called SixDegrees.org.

I am not interested in playing that game, but the concept to me is fascinating because I believe it is important for us as followers of Jesus Christ. Replace the name of Kevin Bacon and let's think in terms of "Six Degrees of Jesus Christ". We are connected to Him through our Spiritual Genealogy even though we are more than "Six Degrees" away in some ways and closer due to the Holy Spirit. So who was the closest to Jesus? We know that answer is His mother Mary and father Joseph, and the disciples, turned apostles. The next "degree" away from them brings us to some fascinating people that we are linked to but rarely hear of.

The Apostles not only preached Christ to the world, but they mentored and trained others to do the same. They annointed and ordained others to become leaders of churches. We know, for instance, that the apostles Peter and John both spent time with a follower of Jesus called Ignatius. It is believed that John tutored him in the things of faith and that Peter ordained him as Bishop of Antioch. Jesus taught the Apostles and they taught others. So Ignatius was "one degree" from Jesus according to the game. Ignatius was able to hear first hand accounts from the very Apostles who spent over three years with Jesus and then saw Him after the resurrection. Ignatius was and is our brother in Christ and we can be encouraged by his life and death.

It is thrilling to me to read the words of this church leader and to realize that he was instrumental in not only defending the faith but also defining it in the early days of the church. As one who was discipled by the Apostle John, Ignatius was clear on the doctrines he presented. In his writings one can read that he stressed the Virgin Birth of Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity, and the importance of the Lord's Table. For those of you with Catholic backgrounds, you might be interested to know that Ignatius was the first to use the term "Catholic", meaning universal.

While in Antioch leading the church, Ignatius was condemned to death and summoned to Rome. While on his long journey back to Rome to face the executioners, he wrote seven letters that we still have today. He wrote to several of the churches including Rome and Ephesus and to his fellow Bishop Polycarp who was also discipled by the Apostle John. As he journeyed to Rome, Christians would come to see him to encouage him, but he was the one who did the encouraging. He wrote to his friends, "There is water living and speaking in me, saying from within me, 'Come to the Father.'" Ignatius knew he was going to die and in fact he was later thrown to the lions in the Coliseum in Rome.

Today that very same Spirit is drawing each of us to the Father. The ministry of the Holy Spirit and the person of Christ leads us to the Father. Ignatius taught the importance and reality of the Trinity. He understood quite well the role of the Spirit and of Christ, that they were pointing to the Father. We are not "six degrees" away from the Father--He dwells in us through His Spirit.

The Father, your Father, is always drawing you. John tells us that Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him". The Father is drawing you to His Son by the Spirit, and the Son is revealing the Father to you by the Spirit. The Trinity that Ignatius taught is working constantly in your life.

Even in this time of economic, political, and moral uncertainty, the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are calling on us to find our meaning, our peace, our security in Them. We should not forget the words of the Psalmist "For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever." Psalm 117:2. Ignatius lived in a time that was horrific for Christians and yet in the midst of a hostile environment, he could hear the words, "Come to the Father."

No one can really protect you. There is truly no security in this world; there will always be evil and moral failures, and nothing that we hold to tightly will last. Many Christians living in the affluent West are only now beginning to understand this. This week let's remember the words: "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man". The Father is calling you to not just trust Him, but to be satisfied with Him!

Ignatius was ripped apart by two lions in front of thousands of blood-thirsty people, but not before he encouraged the Christians in Rome with these words: "No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire."

With Eternity in Mind,

Dan Owens

P.S. Please pray for our upcoming ministry in Rwanda and for the finances to complete our mission.

Copyright 2008 Eternity Minded Ministries