Two thousand years ago, the Shekinah Glory that blinded and terrified mortal men became one of us. Majesty and transcendance grew hair and wore diapers. "The Word was made flesh."

God in skin was not put on display in a museum. "He dwelt among us." In Jesus we have a glimpse of what holiness looks like with dirt under its fingernails. He spilled His milk. He stubbed His toes. He hung out with farmers and carpenters, fishermen and tax collectors, partyers and prostitutes. He used his hands and feet and mind and mouth to bring healing and hope. He was "full of grace and truth."

The word made flesh. This is how God lives on earth. And this is how the early church followed in His footsteps.

Many centuries after Christ’s sojourn on our soil, another historical event impacted our faith, transformed the way we do church and redefined us as followers of Christ.

I am not referring to the Protestant Reformation, although the two are interconnected in history and influence.

Defining factor
The greatest defining factor in the way we do Christianity today is the invention of the printing press. The first book that Gutenberg produced with his movable type press in 1456 was the Bible. And since then, men and women have lived and died for the right to translate, publish and disseminate the written word of God.

The cause is worthy. Scripture is God-breathed. It is a revelation of His person and purposes. It is an efficient way of communicating information to masses of people. The written word is less fluid and therefore more consistent over time than the spoken word, assuring us of accuracy and reliability. Individuals around the world have access to the book, opening the way to personal study and meditation.

These are great advantages for the Christian mission.

There are some disadvantages.

We have become people of the book, theorists. We are learned in our systematic theology, and skilled in parsing and exegeting texts in the original languages.

Subtle shift
The resultant shift is subtle, but significant. Rather than learning the passions and practices of the Master by imitating His example in the rough and tumble of daily reality, we consult the printed page for information and guidelines.

Our new credo reads something like this: "The flesh was made word and dwelt above us, full of requirements and information."

If you don’t believe me, take a look at the statement of faith of your church or denomination. A quick search shows that the denomination I grew up in is in the majority by having "We believe in the Bible" as the number one doctrinal distinctive, followed by "We believe in the triune God."

We define a Christian as somebody who has accepted Jesus, reads the Bible and goes to church.

We baptize the faithful following their confession of faith in Christ and belief in the Scriptures.

We ordain ministers based on their doctrinal adherence.

And the man and woman on the street, already overloaded with requirements and information, are left looking for Jesus, a Jesus who dwells among them.

Jesus said, "Follow me."

"All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:35).

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

"Go and make disciples?" (Matthew 28:19).

The writer to Hebrews says, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son?" (Hebrews 1:1,2).

In the Incarnation, the Word was made flesh. Since the Reformation the flesh has come dangerously close to being made word again.

But we are on the edge of something new. Today we have the privilege of unprecedented access to biblical knowledge. It is now up to the church to make that word flesh again; to live as Jesus’ body-His hands and feet and mind and mouth-ministering grace and truth.