But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
“Death was given by God as a gift to those who had sinned for this purpose: that evil might not remain immortal.”
Methodius (c. 815-885) Apostle to the Slavs, as cited by Ilaria Ramelli in A Larger Hope? (2019) 70.
As I wrap up work in the Slavic world, I wanted to get a last word from Methodius, Apostle to the Slavs.
It offered me word of an unexpected gift having witnessed some of the horrors of war and the darkness of sin and brokenness in recent days. I had never thought of death as a gift that does away with sin.
And I saw this redemptive idea in the meetings in Mikulov, Czechia, taking place in the shadow of Holy Hill (pictured above).
When we put to death our sloppy stewardship, bad management, and disengaged governance, we write a new story and experience new life in church and ministry settings.
On the final day, it has been encouraging to watch the national workers engage in the discussion.
They are identifying the issues in their context that need to die as a first step toward fostering life in the churches and ministries of post-Christian Europe. I think today marks a new future for them.
A working group has formed to establish a peer accountability group for Czechia and Slovakia. Praise the LORD.