Towards Understanding of the Practice of Proclamation: The Core Element of Russian Baptist Worship, Timofey Cheprasov, 2015

llness, madness, and 7! Furthermore, the way Jesus conquers them is through ‘the whole course of temptation. his obedient life, with its successive moments of proclamation, healing, instruction, the gathering of a redemptive community, and his costly submission to the way of the cross ’72 (5) The established Christian church could continue with its death and resurrection. applying the concept of principalities and powers not only to the external powers (the persecuting state), but also to the practices internal to Christian tradition — the practice of the Mosaic Law. This challenge of applying the concept of powers to Christian practices raises an important question — what relations do the practices of the Church have to the concept of principalities and powers? McClendon argues that these concepts are related. More than that, Christians continue living in the world where degenerated powers are dethroned but not destroyed. This reality therefore defines the missionary task of the followers of Christ (6) to witness that ‘these civil, military, economic, traditional, cultural, social, yes, religious and other structures are not themselves the end and meaning of life,’ thus bringing (7) hope of their full restoration according to God’s plan.” Christian life is embodied in practices that are infused with meaning by the biblical narrative and the community’s experience of life. Participation in these practices of a Christian community can be described either in general terms (such as witness, worship, works of mercy, discernment, and discipleship’) or in a detailed enumeration (such as Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Marriage, Preaching, etc.”°) resulting in a changed character, a ” Colossians 2:15: “There he disarmed the cosmic powers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, leading them as captives in his triumphal procession.” ™ McClendon, Ethics, p 180. ” Ibid. 73 Ibid., p 181. ” Kallenberg, “The Master Argument of Macintyre’s After Virtue,” p 22. ”° Yoder’s book Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community Before the Watching World, is an important work on the practices that are visible signs of the Newness that comes in Christ, which transforms the church and makes Christian witness to the world possible. 182 transformed life, a different identity. Such personal and communal transformation is the purpose for the existence of the church — to make disciples, to teach them Christ’s way. (Matthew 28). Participation in these practices is ‘goal directed,’ and results in ‘excellences of the practice itself and enhances its progress.’’° Yet, a reminder that reveals the power possessed by these practices is equally important. As powers, these practices have the potential to ‘rebel, “fall,” lash out at the reign of 77 the Lamb, and persecute the saints.’’” Therefore, the understanding of the church as a cluster of powerful practices should be a necessary and hel