Welcome back to the Reformer Newsletter, where we can take a dive into various projects and activities from around web3 and across the Christian community. You have joined this network to contribute to our collective mission of building for Christ’s Kingdom, and we will use this newsletter as a platform to encourage that.
We want to remind everyone that the crypto and web3 space is still wild, and can be dangerous for those exploring. Practice good digital security, do your own research, and keep an eye out for fraudsters. Nothing here is financial advice.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said “it is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:28-30
Every year the faithful of God’s Church observe Holy Week and remember the final days of Jesus’ ministry. The Messiah enters Jerusalem as a King, celebrates the Passover with friends and family, and willingly accepts the cosmic burden of mankind’s sin, thereby fulfilling the “true Passover” and redemption of Creation.
“It is finished” are the final words St. John records of Christ’s earthly ministry which led to the Cross, but looking forward to Easter Sunday shows an irony in this statement. Christ conquered Death and finished the work He came to accomplish, but the work of the Church led by the Spirit to fulfill that glory and spread this message through the world was only beginning. St. John, later in his life, relates how the resurrected Lord declares this paradox:
And He said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Revelation 22:10-13
We live in a reality in which we must lay down our lives to live in Christ, bringing the temporal end to accept an eternal beginning. All of nature declares this every Spring- during the Easter season- as we see the “dead” nature re-awakening to new life. Similarly, all of society declares this as we see the decaying institutions regenerated by new systems built in their place. This realization should give comfort to walk the straight and narrow path of hope and avoid the opposing ditches of utopianism and nihilism.
Restructuring our world is not new. It appears to be a force of nature as unstoppable as seasons changing. Our challenge is to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit to engage with this reformation of society to bless it by leading it to Christ and the Cross. We are not passive observers in this mission- we are called to join in, take roles as leaders, try new things, fail and learn from our mistakes, and ultimately find success in Him.
The world tells us “a new world order is beginning if you follow us!” or “AI will bring about the end of humanity!” That’s all entertaining to watch, but ultimately silly. Follow the One who is “the Beginning and the End”, and He will lead you to the Cross, through Death, and towards Life in Him.
Happy Easter- He is Risen!