Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Round Table with Oscar
July 28, 2015

‘Luke’ opens the gospel story, telling us what he has in mind. Listen.

Conscious Salvation

I know that other people have written down from the memories of those who were the first witnesses of Jesus, and I too, have had the inspiration to research thoroughly and report what I learned of the life-changing events that Jesus has brought to us. Honourable friend, I present this careful study to you, so you can build a confident faith and a conscious salvation. (Luke 1.1-4).{{more}}

Is it clear that this gospel is saying: Treat me as a workshop or a studio in which you can become a transformed person, a new creation, a conscious disciple? I find that ‘Luke’ is very aware of the world in which the Gospel operates; its Herods, its sinners, its self-righteous leaders, its foolish rich, its women, its Samaritans and other unrespectables, its power centre in Jerusalem, its upful presence of the Holy Spirit, its celebration/partying when a ‘lost’ one is found, its graciousness towards the vulnerable. No wonder that this gospel writer was inspired to give us a special vison of Jesus Christ and the call to discipleship, crafting our spiritual person, as well as invoking our social and historical awareness, a transforming Salvation Consciousness.

Conscious salvation is scarce among us believers today, perhaps because we do not engage with this gospel in the way that the writer ‘Luke’ wants us to do. We do not enter the workshop under the Master, Jesus, whom Luke leads us to meet.

Squaring the Cross

Let us understand that the cross has two sides, two dimensions. There is the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Dying for a new dispensation. A different construct of the world, a reign of God. That is one dimension. The other side of the cross is ours, the cross that places us and the world on the road to newness when we take it up with Jesus. Both dimensions are part of the kingdom God is building.

Today, the cross is a jewel, swinging on a chain around many necks. For every jewelled cross that we see, however, there is one on a hill in our lives that we refuse to face, much less to hoist up with the fortitude of a confident disciple. On the job, there is a cross requiring us to defy dishonesty or expose the harassment of a colleague; at home, a cross that Jesus wants to bear with us; in church, the praise and worship is uplifting, but the politics is still eating out the fellowship like woodlice. The salvation that we enjoy by God’s graciousness and our faith does not reach out to tackle God’s world. There, Climate Change is a present danger. There, prodigal sons and daughters are struggling with their cyber/bling/gun-reigning new worlds. Our salvation does not inspire us to chop off the personal gains that we look to get unfairly through pull string, corruption and vice. These are real crosses that we turn away from, as we undermine the new creation that the gospel workshop is wanting and waiting to design in us.

Every cross that we pick up to carry, we get Jesus’ help with the load, and an investment is made in our character.

The raw material that the gospel uses to turn out a new transformed humanity in its workshop is expectant, vulnerable and repentant persons and communities. Where can we find this raw material today? Who are those looking for real changes, yearning to fill their lives with meaning and the world with renewal? Are we like that, vulnerable, like children, and hungering for right relations, or are we comfortable and self-satisfied adults, needing no saviour, only a church to worship in as we await the coming one? Just reflect with me concerning the Honourable friend to whom Luke presented his gospel research. The man had position; he was honourable; he accepted the faith teachings (katechethis, or catechism, as we would say); yet he was not too proud to ask for or seek the help of Luke. He was teachable, and Luke shared his love for Jesus with him. Salvation raw material is all around us in our community. Whoever we are, working class tax schemers, the manipulated poor, ‘loose’ women, sufferers, bright youth and respectable and marginalized women. A whole community passes through the gospel workshop to win their Jesus emancipation.

As we enter our community emancipation festival this week, in a time of celebrating jubilant news among the poor, deliverance and freedom for the enslaved, a repentant faith community of Christian disciples is called to turn for salvation consciousness from the gospel workshop in Luke.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Front Page
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    FAMILY MEMBERS of a woman who was killed at Long Wall say they suspect their relative was hacked by a person they all know very well. On Tuesday, Sept...
    Front Page
    NDP never built a single house in SVG – Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE IDEA THAT HOUSING is a right, that every Vincentian has a right to safe and secure housing, and that the government has a role to play in ensuring...
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Front Page
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A POLICE OFFICER, who allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend 26 times about her body was remanded even as his lawyer argued that the Royal St Vincent and...
    Front Page
    New ULP Administration will roll out AI policy
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A NEW UNITY LABOUR PARTY ADMINISTRATION will be rolling out an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to embrace its positives and guard against the nega...
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversery
    Front Page
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversery
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 9,2025 was a memorable day for the staff and students of the Sandy Bay Secondary School, which was marking its 20th anniversary wi...
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    News
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    NON- NATIONALS ARE being hired to fill several jobs in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) simply because locals did not have the required skill sets....
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    News
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Montgomery Daniel has sought to clear around rumours that have been circulating relating to his health. Speaking on NBC radio on...
    News
    $1.3 billion in Tourism investment to yield 2,000 jobs – Camillo
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    The GOVERNMENT of St Vincent and the Grenadines is set to sign agreements for tourism investment of $1.3 billion on mainland St.Vincent. On Monday, Se...
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    From the Courts, News
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A BARROUALLIE MAN will be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to being in illegal possession of a firearm and eight rounds of ammunition. Demron...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok