In the Old Testament, the experience of 'ichabod' meant that the 'glory' or Presence of God had departed from the former Reality of His being known as among His People.
In the old New England fable, Ichabod is the unfortunate name of the school teacher in the story of the headless horseman. Ichabod Crane is a fictional character in Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", first published in 1820.
Today, it may be that a church has lost contact with Christ, Who is the Head of the Church. The Body has lost the ability to commune with the Head.
Alan Hirsch (author of Forgotten Things), challenges us unto the recovery of the centrality of Jesus Christ 'in His own Movement.' He asserts that we need to recover a Christology first (that leads to renewal) - then Missiology - then Ecclessiology.
He asks: "Do we see His words as just ‘good advice?’" - for we see today the subversion of Christianity today into being just another religion. We have made Jesus just like us - to fit into our plans and do our thing. We do not listen, nor follow.
But Jesus wants to make us like Him.
