World Repairer

Jul 2, 2021

There is a great quote by author and speaker Brenѐ Brown that says, “The way to move information from your head to your heart is through your hands.”

I love to learn. Whether it is a documentary film, a podcast, a sermon, or a new book, knowledge helps me grow. I want to learn so that I can become a better husband, father, employee, and friend. If I want to be more like Christ, Paul tells us that transformation begins in human beings with the renewal of our minds.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

- Romans 12:2

However, learning does not always translate to changed behavior. It is a challenge for me to connect ideas in my head to transformation in my heart. But in order for us to be more like Christ, our behaviors must change, and there must be evidence of fruit in our lives.

The Jewish people practice something called Tikkun Olam (pronounced tee-KOON oh-LUHM). This Hebrew phrase means "world repair." It was thought that God intentionally left undone some work in the world so that mankind could joyfully partner with Him in its completion. We have a role to play in being world repairers.

There is a sixteen year old girl in our church named Hannah who is a world repairer. Hannah recently learned about the migrant crisis at the convention center. Hundreds of unaccompanied minors are living alone, in a forergin country without a permanent home. When she learned of this problem her heart broke, and she knew she had to do something. She contacted a local nonprofit in the city that works with children and decided to help. She invited The Church at RB to join her in sharing love and support to these young children. So Hannah didn’t just read about the issue in the newspaper, but she responded and moved this knowledge into action. She got her hands dirty.

At a deeper level, being a world repairer requires something more from us. Yes, we are called to use the gifts and resources God has given us; however, there is something else we are not tapping into. Jesus shows us what that is:

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

- Philippians 2:5-8

What?? 😳 Jesus sacrificed everything in order to repair our broken relationship with our Heavenly Father. But why did God—the Creator of the universe—choose such a difficult path to bring salvation and restoration to our broken world? As God, He could have chosen an easier path. But He didn't - He chose to give up His position of glorious power as God and become a humble human. As a human, He did not come as a King to rule over others although He is King. And if that wasn’t enough, He went a step further and allowed Himself to be murdered... Every step along the way, Jesus surrendered all forms of His power, authority and strength.

Why did Jesus do this?

Jesus chose this path of weakness and humility so that the full power of God would be manifest through Him. God demonstrated His power when He raised Jesus back to life. It was through the weakness of Jesus that the power of God changed the world and made us new.

Theologian Henri Nouwen sums it up for us this way:

The more I think about the meaning of living and acting in the name of Christ, the more I realize that what I have to offer to others is not my intelligence, skill, power, influence, or connections, but my own human brokenness through which the love of God can manifest itself.

- Henri J.M. Nouwen, Gracias!: A Latin American Journal

We can choose to take the path of Jesus and change our world. Like our friend, Hannah, we can move down so others can be brought up.

So as you go through our day, ask yourself, “How can I be a world repairer? What would it look like to allow myself to be diminished so that others can be lifted up?”

In my workplace, can I practice humility and allow my co-worker to take the credit for landing that client?

In my home, can I give up the need to be right and apologize to my spouse?

In my neighborhood, can I be a servant and offer to take in the trash cans for the elderly couple next door?