Mennonite Weekly Review

ELKHART, Ind. — Harry Huebner believes we can participate in and give expression to what God intends for the world.

Harry Huebner gives the Theological Lectureship at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. — Photo by Mary E. Klassen/Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary

Huebner, professor emeritus of Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, Man., presented that view for the Theological Lectureship Feb. 17-18 at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

Working with the theme, “In Christ in the World,” Huebner invited listeners to view ethics — right and good actions — as visible forms of invisible grace, thus as sacrament.

“Both God and human beings are involved in bringing about real change in the world,” he said. “God is not only acting with us and through us in our church liturgy, but also in our businesses, jobs, friendships and recreational activities, or even through those who are not Christian.”

We will find the best wisdom available to us in Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection, Huebner said.

“To participate in Christ is to act in openness to God’s resurrection power, to place our own actions into the wonder and mystery of what might actually happen in this material world through little power of our own,” he said. “In Christ the entire world is being re-created, and we are invited to participate.”

Jonny Gerig Meyer, an AMBS student who responded to Huebner’s third lecture, summarized this challenge.

“God is at work in the world in Christ today, and we are called to recognize and join — to participate — in this divine activity,” Gerig Meyer said.

Huebner, author of Echoes of the World: Theological Ethics as Rhetorical Practice, is working on another book, An Introduction to Christian Ethics: Learning to Be a Storied People.

Each year, AMBS hosts a scholar in biblical studies, church and ministry, or theology and ethics for the annual Theological Lectureship. In addition to the three public presentations, the lecturer joins several classes and is available to students and faculty for extended conversations.