a change of perspective

"There is, and must always remain, a distinction between the religious culture and the reign of God," Ms Balabanski said.

Ms Balabanski spoke of how the reign of God, which Jesus proclaimed, stood over-against the cultural norms of Jesus’ day and over-against the power structures. The reign of God critiqued these structures and required "a new way of thinking, a repentance, a change of perspective".

Ms Balabanski said she preferred to think spatially rather than chronologically of the reign of God which pressed in on our own reality, changing our perception, inviting our allegiance at every moment.

God’s reign (as perceived in Jesus) was not a reign people could grasp with their hands or domesticate to the realm of the senses, Ms Balabanski said.

And yet, those who were open to it, could glimpse God’s reign breaking in; liberating people from all kinds of bondage.

"When Jesus proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and the oppressed to go free the possibility of God’s reign was close at hand, pressing in," she said.

"This is still the case. God’s sovereign rule presses in on our superficiality. It becomes tangible where people transfer their allegiance, the depth of reality they perceive in Jesus Christ.

"This realm can be tasted in fellowship with one another, prompted by the spirit, entered in prayer. And it becomes tangible in the liberation of the oppressed. In all these ways we can be enfolded in the depths of god’s reign. So we can relax.

"Expressing allegiance to God’s reign we commit ourselves to prophetic openness to the presence of God. We commit ourselves to cultivating ears to hear and eyes to see it. We commit ourselves to living out the depths of God’s reality, God’s love. We commit ourselves in inviting others to join in our allegiance.

"Rather than constantly gazing sideways at each other, or backwards to see where we have been, looks forward to Jesus as the forerunner and perfector of our faith.

"Repent and believe," Ms Balabanski challenged Assembly participants. "Change your perspective. Invest yourself in the good news of God."


a pilgrim people

For Dr Balabinski the people of the pilgrimage reflect the situation of the church. "We struggle with the nexus between success and God’s favour."

"For better or worse, we who have experienced God’s gracious calling into new possibilities in the formation of the Uniting Church we need to move into the unknown with each other."

Dr Balabanski led her people through more new territory on the second day of her Biblical discovery, this time travelling with some women on the way: Rachel, Ruth, Naomi and Mary.

By moving with these women, Assembly heard how God continued to bless, fulfil and use those who were outside the boundaries of current social acceptance.

At the end of the story of Ruth, we hear of how a son is born to Ruth and Boaz , called Obed. Yet it is by way of an unlikely match.

"A foreign woman goes and lies with someone other than the ‘next of kin’ on the threshing floor, which in those days was the site for fertility rites

"From this union, God’s anointed son - King David - is descended!"

For tour guide Balabanski, this was God working beyond the boundaries. God was "choosing to work out God’s good purposes for the world via someone who stood outside the boundaries in terms or race, kinship and even the sexual mores of the day".

Dr Vicky Balabanski, Lecturer in New Testament, Parkin Wesley College, Adelaide.

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