Most folks agree that one of the deepest spiritual problems in Christianity is egoism. Me, me, me -- that's the source of sin. So the spiritual practices that cause me to diminish myself in order to "work out" my salvation are at the core of being Christian. Those practices have their biblical foundation in the NT ideas of kenosis and servanthood. Kenosis is embodied spirituality. Just as Jesus "emptied himself" (Philippians 2) and John "decreased, in order that Jesus might increase" (John 3), kenosis is captured by themes of service, submission, obedience, humility, and modesty. Generally, the idea of "servanthood" captures the manifestation of kenosis . The image of kenosis , therefore, is the towel. From John 13: It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them th...
A "restless" theologian in service to the church of Jesus Christ