The New Testament Greek word telos can be best described as end. But not end as in “this is the end of the bench—move over any more and you’ll fall off!” But rather “the bench is finished being constructed. It is completed”. That is to say the intention the Designer/God had in mind is now fulfilled.  Telos also implies the purpose for which something exists. For example, a cup exists for the sake of holding liquid, water for the sake of hydration, books for the sake of reading. From telos, we get the everyday words like ideal, intention, purpose, function, or goal.

It has been well established that there’s a certain should-ness to life—that all things exist in direct alignment to their intended functions. This seems to be an obvious fact. Who can deny the frustration of a malfunctioning printer, or a car out of alignment? Or, who would fail to see the goodness of a well-functioning air bag?

But, from the point of view of Divine Intention, what is the telos for human life—for followers of Jesus? To what end are we to live? Just how should one live to reach that end? Philosophical and spiritual theories range from pleasure-centered hedonism to duty-bound and rigid ethics within religious legalism. We need a Divine-telos-based, simple and doable way forward. Here is my idea: Jesus, Our Master….we, his Apprentices.

One thing we know. Even a cursory review of Jesus’ life models for his followers would show two central practices: a journey inward, and a journey outward.¹ The former reveals the path to our spiritual transformation into Christlikeness. It suggests Christian spiritual exercises such as rest, silence, solitude, petition, friendship, self-control, worship, study and even leisure. The later reminds us that the pursuit of piety is never selfish, but always for the sake of others. These Jesus-traits are made manifest by his constant and loving care for others—his witness to God and God’s kingdom; his compassion, generosity, kindness, healing, deliverance, intercession, and sacrifice.

In short, the life of Jesus demonstrates a distinct pattern. Within his daily life we see spiritual rhythms and routines, directing and making possible both the inward journey of discipleship, and the outward journey of evangelism and care-for-the-other.

Telos Events aim to follow this Jesus-pattern, ultimately focusing our activities on two worthy ends:

DISCIPLESHIP: THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY INWARD
EVANGELISM: THE HOLISTIC JOURNEY OUTWARD

For more information about TELOS Events.

Todd D. Hunter foreword by J. I. Packer

About the Book

Many are longing for historical connectedness and for theology that is “not tied to the whims of contemporary culture, but to apostolic-era understandings of Christian faith and practice.” They also yearn for rhythms and routines that build spiritual health. Still others are responding to a call to participate in worship rather than merely sitting back and looking at a stage. Liturgy offers all of this and more.

J.I. Packer & Todd Hunter

In this book Todd Hunter chronicles his journey from the Jesus People movement and national leadership in the Vineyard to eventually becoming an Anglican Bishop. Along the way he explains why an evangelical Christian might be drawn to the liturgical way. Curious about the meaning of liturgy? Come and discover what may be waiting for you there.

“There is something in the air today, something in the spirit of our age, something in the Spirit that is leading thousands, maybe millions, of people to reconsider liturgical forms of worship. Liturgical seekers cherish the confidence that comes from historical connectedness, from theology that is not tied to the whims of contemporary culture but to apostolic-era understandings of Christian faith and practice.”

NOW AVAILABLE

If you live in Orange County, you can join Todd Hunter most Sundays at Holy Trinity Church.

The Mission of Holy Trinity Church

We are apprentices of Jesus…
Learning how to do what he did…
Live as he lived…
For the sake of others…which includes all manner of mission, service and evangelism.

Also available on Kindle!

Blessed Advent to you and all whom you love!

In these moments, I wish that those who think my becoming an Anglican pastor to be an odd turn of events could see me. I wish they could see the awkward half-smile on my face as I type words I could not have foreseen writing even 18 months ago. I think my journey is an odd thing, too! In fact, I have set aside most of this month to write a new book for InterVarsity Press: The Accidental Bishop—My Journey From the Jesus Movement to the Anglican Church.

While my story is unique, here is a more powerful corresponding truth: me and my new Christ-following friends at Holy Trinity Church in Costa Mesa, CA are having a blast with Advent and Christmas. Who knew that one could celebrate Christmas for seven weeks? It’s been exciting to decorate the room Rock Harbor gives us. There are Advent colors everywhere, coordinated lighting, an Advent wreath, antiphonal seating (look it up! ) and Christmas Music. All this surrounds us as we sit with humility, and with loyal trust in Jesus, to respectfully listen to the Advent and lectionary readings, and then as we comment (better known as a sermon) on them with the goal of helping us to embody the story the readings tell—and to do so for the sake of others.

Hebrews 10 in The Message says:

…anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust…

This first Advent as Anglicans is teaching us at Holy Trinity to do just that with our lives. As we consider the first and second comings of Jesus and the crucial part they play in the overarching story of God, we are receiving the knowledge that God is indeed sovereign over history and that we can joyfully commit our actual lives to him with loyal trust…for the sake of others.

The latest illustrative episodes occurred September 8 – 10 at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Pasadena, CA. After a couple weeks of reflection on the first Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO) Retreat, a couple of things stand out:

I see faces…the open-hearted and bright countenances of high quality people; friends who are sincerely engaged in the big questions surrounding the Gospel, our culture and the church. I’ll always remember the meals and the hallway conversations expressing a mixture of “the Lord is here”…”what does all this mean”…”something is happening here”…”what does this mean to me?”

Bishop Todd Hunter, Bishop Chuck Murphy, and Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini

Our leaders:

• Archbishop Kolini: I love and respect his simple focus on the Gospel of the Kingdom. He leads with power and effectiveness but without pretense. He is a wonderful model for all of us who have lost some confidence in the ability of Christian leaders to be simultaneously effective and ethical—experienced as good by those whom they lead.

• Bishop Chuck Murphy: Chuck may be the most underrated Christian leader in America. Someday, when some PhD student writes the history of First Promise and the founding of The Anglican Mission, the huge role Chuck has played and continues to play in early 21st century Christianity will come to light. For now, Chuck is rightfully content to merely go about his business—which is just another reason to respect him!

Bishop Silas Ng, Pastor Rick Warren, Bishop Todd Hunter, Bishop Doc Loomis

Of course no reflection on the retreat would be complete without a comment on the consecration of three new bishops that broke out in the middle of our retreat. Long before I was nominated to be a bishop I had asked Archbishop Kolini and Bishop Murphy to be with us at our retreat to tell us the story and describe the vision of The Anglican Mission and our part of it as C4SO.

Once I was chosen a bishop it made sense to have the consecration while they were in town. On top of that The Anglican Mission decided to do all three consecrations together. Thus we all got the privilege of meeting Silas Ng and Doc Loomis.

That night still seems surreal to me—almost like one’s wedding day. You remember it—but it seems like you floated through it more than experienced it. I know I took some serious vows that resonated with the great message by our co-worker in the faith, Rick Warren. By God’s grace I look forward to fulfilling my calling and my vows.

Thanks to all of you who were there—you made it happen—it is you who will never be far from my mind.

Kingdom Focus, Missional Encounters

Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO) is led by Bishop Todd Hunter. As an initiative of the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA), C4SO is launching a church planting movement designed to develop leaders committed to planting Kingdom-based, missional churches located primarily, but not exclusively, on the West Coast of the United States.

Jim Henderson and OTM specialize in something they call edutainment. Sure, Phyllis and Michael will teach as they usually do. But I know from many years of working with Jim and speaking at his events, that neither the speakers nor the hearers can be too sure what Jim will do next.

This means OTM events are always big fun, fast moving and highly participatory. As busy as I am, and as much I hate being away from home, I’ll be at Mirrors and Maps because I know it will be one of the most provocative events I’ll attend in 2009.

See you there!