What is the role of the Spirit? Of all the subjects in theology about which volumes have been written, the Spirit seems to be neglected the most. A couple of years ago, I was helping with a confirmation retreat. I was using some UM materials in the lessons, but I was also adding some things that I thought to be important along the way. On the section concerning God, I almost had too much to add to the lesson. It was a lot of information at once, especially for sixth and seventh graders. The lesson on Christ was the same way. How do you condense Christology into a thirty minute lesson for sixth and seventh graders? This is still something that I struggle with. But the lesson that I had the hardest time with, more than any other lesson period, was the Holy Spirit. Even with the help of the guide, I couldn’t get more than ten minutes on the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, my friend, mentor and former pastor was able to take over the lesson when he sensed that I was stumbling all over the place. Pneumatology is a weakness, not only in my personal theological development, but in the understanding of the Church as a whole. But what can be learned about the Spirit here?
The Spirit guides us in our weakness. Jesus had so much to teach the disciples. If we only had three years to spend with God, how much could we really learn? I’m in seminary now, closing in on completion of my M.Div., and I feel like I still have a lifetime of learning to accomplish. If Jesus couldn’t teach the disciples everything in three years; check that, if the disciples could not learn everything directly from Jesus in three years, how much more are we lacking in this type of knowledge? The Spirit guides us in knowledge and truth, but no more than we can bear.
The Spirit is closely tied to Jesus and to the Father. The Spirit teaches by taking what is Jesus’ (and consequently the Father’s) and making it known to us. This is so important that John (in the dialogue of Jesus) mentions it twice. This is certainly not by mistake. It is for emphasis. The Spirit is an integral part of the Triune nature of God. He cannot be separated from the Father or the Son. Does this make sense? No, but isn’t that what the whole point of this passage is? We cannot wrap our minds around the nature of the Trinity, especially not by any logic that we have in humanity. Here is one of our weaknesses in which the Spirit guides us. We have to be willing to allow the Spirit to work in our lives, but God is faithful and no doubt will help us to understand these things as we walk closer to Him.
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
Job 28:12-28
“But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?” (v.12) “God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (vv.23-24).
God sees the big picture. I was recently watching a hilarious movie – Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I love this movie because it is extremely random. I like random comedy, the kind of comedy that demands you pay attention to it, and often calls you to watch it again to pick up on something else that you probably missed the first time through. At the beginning of the movie, the main character, Arthur Dent, is trying to prevent a team of bulldozers from demolishing his house to make way for a bypass, because “you have to have bypasses,” says the foreman. Ford Prefect is Arthur’s friend who is in reality an alien (I’m not giving anything away here, it happens in the first ten minutes). Because Arthur once saved Ford from getting hit by a car, Ford decides that he wants to save Arthur’s life from the impending destruction of Earth to make way for an intergalactic bypass. So in the beginning of the movie, all Arthur really sees is the small picture, what is revealed right in front of him. Ford actually takes Arthur to a pub to tell him what is about to happen, and Arthur still does not believe it until he sees the Vogon destructor ship, when his worldview is greatly altered. Suddenly, Arthur is thrust into a whole other world that he never even knew existed. He finally gets to see a bigger piece of the picture.
This is amazingly a whole lot like what we experience as Christians. We think we have things figured out, but then we are told things like, “To gain you life, you have to lose it,” and “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” It doesn’t seem to make sense. It does not fit into our worldview. But God sees the bigger picture. It is only through death that we can live. We have to die to ourselves to truly find life. Can we find wisdom in this? Not by secular means. Life is meaningless unless we first die to Christ.
I heard the other day that if all memory of the other major world religions (i.e. Islam, Hinduism, Buddism) were to be wiped off the face of the earth, they would all come back because they are based on human reasoning and thought. Christianity, however, is the exception. Christianity is not something that can be contrived through human reasoning. It doesn’t make sense. Christianity is not made up from the wisdom of man, but from the wisdom of God, the one true God, Creator and Sustainer. We cannot find true wisdom in the other major religions of the world. They may have some interesting thoughts about life, but that does not make them wise. In vv. 13-19, there is a litany of precious items that cannot compare to wisdom, they cannot buy it or surpass it. Wisdom is said to be “hidden from the eyes of every living thing” (v. 21). Wisdom is found only in God. God is found only through Jesus Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is not something that humanity could have though up on its own. God sees the big picture.
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
God sees the big picture. I was recently watching a hilarious movie – Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I love this movie because it is extremely random. I like random comedy, the kind of comedy that demands you pay attention to it, and often calls you to watch it again to pick up on something else that you probably missed the first time through. At the beginning of the movie, the main character, Arthur Dent, is trying to prevent a team of bulldozers from demolishing his house to make way for a bypass, because “you have to have bypasses,” says the foreman. Ford Prefect is Arthur’s friend who is in reality an alien (I’m not giving anything away here, it happens in the first ten minutes). Because Arthur once saved Ford from getting hit by a car, Ford decides that he wants to save Arthur’s life from the impending destruction of Earth to make way for an intergalactic bypass. So in the beginning of the movie, all Arthur really sees is the small picture, what is revealed right in front of him. Ford actually takes Arthur to a pub to tell him what is about to happen, and Arthur still does not believe it until he sees the Vogon destructor ship, when his worldview is greatly altered. Suddenly, Arthur is thrust into a whole other world that he never even knew existed. He finally gets to see a bigger piece of the picture.
This is amazingly a whole lot like what we experience as Christians. We think we have things figured out, but then we are told things like, “To gain you life, you have to lose it,” and “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” It doesn’t seem to make sense. It does not fit into our worldview. But God sees the bigger picture. It is only through death that we can live. We have to die to ourselves to truly find life. Can we find wisdom in this? Not by secular means. Life is meaningless unless we first die to Christ.
I heard the other day that if all memory of the other major world religions (i.e. Islam, Hinduism, Buddism) were to be wiped off the face of the earth, they would all come back because they are based on human reasoning and thought. Christianity, however, is the exception. Christianity is not something that can be contrived through human reasoning. It doesn’t make sense. Christianity is not made up from the wisdom of man, but from the wisdom of God, the one true God, Creator and Sustainer. We cannot find true wisdom in the other major religions of the world. They may have some interesting thoughts about life, but that does not make them wise. In vv. 13-19, there is a litany of precious items that cannot compare to wisdom, they cannot buy it or surpass it. Wisdom is said to be “hidden from the eyes of every living thing” (v. 21). Wisdom is found only in God. God is found only through Jesus Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is not something that humanity could have though up on its own. God sees the big picture.
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
Titus 1:10-16; 2:7-8
Titus 1:10-16
There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12 It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, "Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Titus 2:7-8
7 Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.
As I read these passages, the biblical scholar inside of me wants to look at the structure of what Paul is saying throughout the book, which wouldn’t be too difficult to do as it is only three chapters. I want to explore the Greek syntax and look at the structural relationship of contrast between the first passage and the second. Clearly I have Inductive Bible Study on my mind, and why not? It’s the only class I’ve had to this point today. However, I think I might miss something in doing all that work. I know, it seems strange. How could I microscopically pick apart an entire passage and miss something? But I do it all the time. I think part of it is the nature of the living Word, but part of it also has to do with my personal failings at digging deeper than just the surface, casual Sunday school Bible study level. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Sunday school Bible study, but usually it doesn’t go deep enough. I could make a living writing decent Bible studies for Sunday school classes and still not develop myself or my readers in a closer walk and understanding of the Lord.
As I read over and over again, one phrase sticks out in my mind – “set them an example.” Maybe it is because I’ve been feeling convicted lately over my rush to get things done and not spend enough time with the Lord in the silence of the morning or afternoon. I get time in, but that does nothing more than check it off of some list in my head. Is this the kind of example that I want to set? Is this the kind of mentality I would want the people in my congregations to display when it comes to the most important aspect of one’s life? No, it’s not good enough. It’s not good enough to simply do the work just to get it done. All of the exegetical work that I referred to at the beginning of this journal is great, but not if it wears me out for the really important part, the meat, of what God is trying to say in the passage to a world that is lost without Him, then I have lost something very important that I cannot get back without twice as much blood, sweat and tears. And if I, a future pastor, cannot seem to find the time to devote adequate study time to what God has to say to a hurting world, how can I expect the same from those who choose to show up on Sunday morning?
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12 It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, "Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Titus 2:7-8
7 Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.
As I read these passages, the biblical scholar inside of me wants to look at the structure of what Paul is saying throughout the book, which wouldn’t be too difficult to do as it is only three chapters. I want to explore the Greek syntax and look at the structural relationship of contrast between the first passage and the second. Clearly I have Inductive Bible Study on my mind, and why not? It’s the only class I’ve had to this point today. However, I think I might miss something in doing all that work. I know, it seems strange. How could I microscopically pick apart an entire passage and miss something? But I do it all the time. I think part of it is the nature of the living Word, but part of it also has to do with my personal failings at digging deeper than just the surface, casual Sunday school Bible study level. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Sunday school Bible study, but usually it doesn’t go deep enough. I could make a living writing decent Bible studies for Sunday school classes and still not develop myself or my readers in a closer walk and understanding of the Lord.
As I read over and over again, one phrase sticks out in my mind – “set them an example.” Maybe it is because I’ve been feeling convicted lately over my rush to get things done and not spend enough time with the Lord in the silence of the morning or afternoon. I get time in, but that does nothing more than check it off of some list in my head. Is this the kind of example that I want to set? Is this the kind of mentality I would want the people in my congregations to display when it comes to the most important aspect of one’s life? No, it’s not good enough. It’s not good enough to simply do the work just to get it done. All of the exegetical work that I referred to at the beginning of this journal is great, but not if it wears me out for the really important part, the meat, of what God is trying to say in the passage to a world that is lost without Him, then I have lost something very important that I cannot get back without twice as much blood, sweat and tears. And if I, a future pastor, cannot seem to find the time to devote adequate study time to what God has to say to a hurting world, how can I expect the same from those who choose to show up on Sunday morning?
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
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“Hear, O Israel.” As I read over this passage again and again, I was sometimes stuck on the first word – “Hear.” In our culture, we have a proclivity for only listening to our own voice. How many problems have resulted because one side already assumes they know the position of the other and work off of that assumption instead of the truth? How often do we only listen to what is said and totally miss what needs to be heard? I see it happen all the time. I’ve done it myself, at home and at work. We think we know what needs to happen and so we begin to focus on what we think needs to be done rather than what actually does need to be done.
I think there is a disproportionate amount of credit that we give to this one small word compared to what it actually deserves. In this particular passage, it is a command. It is not a suggestion. It is not something that is thrown in just for the fun of it. The tone is set from the very beginning of the passage. “Hear, O Israel…” The other verbs that follow are also commands, not suggestions – “love the Lord your God… [these commands] are to be upon your hearts… impress them… talk about them… tie them… bind them… write them….” No, these are not suggestions. They show a greater way. They show a way to enter into relationship with the one and only God, the Creator and Father of all things. We cannot enter this relationship without first hearing what God has to say to us. Can you become a Christian without listening to Christ? No, I don’t think so, and Scripture is pretty clear on that point as well. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). You can be a moral person. You can make great decisions and have the highest of ethical standards, but for what reason? If you want to be separate from God for your life on earth, I believe you will be granted that choice in eternity as well. Scripture is clear on this point – there are not many ways, there is the Way. “Hear” isn’t such a small word now, is it?
Something else strikes me about the word and this passage in particular. While “hear” certainly implies some passive “action” on the part of the listener, it is not solely a passive word. The rest of the passage implies that some sort of action needs to take place. This is not just hearing for the sake of hearing. It is for the sake of instruction – not only of oneself, but also of those with whom we come into contact. The rest of the passage describes nearly every sort of situation that we find ourselves in as people living among other people. It describes teaching our children; talking about the commands when we are on the road, at home; when we lie down and get up; on our hands, which we see every day, and on our foreheads, which everyone else sees everyday; on the doorframes of our houses, which, again, we see every day and on the gates of our houses, which people we may not even now see from time to time (or everyday if they are driven by a routine, as am I). “Hear, O Israel” could easily be followed with “and teach at all times.” However, we cannot teach unless we are willing to learn ourselves. My prayer today is that I might hear. The challenge comes in discerning what to listen to in our busy world, but that’s for another time. For now, “Hear, O Matt!”
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
--------------
“Hear, O Israel.” As I read over this passage again and again, I was sometimes stuck on the first word – “Hear.” In our culture, we have a proclivity for only listening to our own voice. How many problems have resulted because one side already assumes they know the position of the other and work off of that assumption instead of the truth? How often do we only listen to what is said and totally miss what needs to be heard? I see it happen all the time. I’ve done it myself, at home and at work. We think we know what needs to happen and so we begin to focus on what we think needs to be done rather than what actually does need to be done.
I think there is a disproportionate amount of credit that we give to this one small word compared to what it actually deserves. In this particular passage, it is a command. It is not a suggestion. It is not something that is thrown in just for the fun of it. The tone is set from the very beginning of the passage. “Hear, O Israel…” The other verbs that follow are also commands, not suggestions – “love the Lord your God… [these commands] are to be upon your hearts… impress them… talk about them… tie them… bind them… write them….” No, these are not suggestions. They show a greater way. They show a way to enter into relationship with the one and only God, the Creator and Father of all things. We cannot enter this relationship without first hearing what God has to say to us. Can you become a Christian without listening to Christ? No, I don’t think so, and Scripture is pretty clear on that point as well. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). You can be a moral person. You can make great decisions and have the highest of ethical standards, but for what reason? If you want to be separate from God for your life on earth, I believe you will be granted that choice in eternity as well. Scripture is clear on this point – there are not many ways, there is the Way. “Hear” isn’t such a small word now, is it?
Something else strikes me about the word and this passage in particular. While “hear” certainly implies some passive “action” on the part of the listener, it is not solely a passive word. The rest of the passage implies that some sort of action needs to take place. This is not just hearing for the sake of hearing. It is for the sake of instruction – not only of oneself, but also of those with whom we come into contact. The rest of the passage describes nearly every sort of situation that we find ourselves in as people living among other people. It describes teaching our children; talking about the commands when we are on the road, at home; when we lie down and get up; on our hands, which we see every day, and on our foreheads, which everyone else sees everyday; on the doorframes of our houses, which, again, we see every day and on the gates of our houses, which people we may not even now see from time to time (or everyday if they are driven by a routine, as am I). “Hear, O Israel” could easily be followed with “and teach at all times.” However, we cannot teach unless we are willing to learn ourselves. My prayer today is that I might hear. The challenge comes in discerning what to listen to in our busy world, but that’s for another time. For now, “Hear, O Matt!”
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
Luke 24:44-49
Luke 24:44-49 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
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As I continue to read this passage over and over again, verse 45 continually sticks out in my mind. “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” There is so much here that is speaking to me that I’m not quite sure how to settle the voices long enough to sort it all out. One word in particular that sticks out in my mind is “opened.” As I do this it is a cloudy day outside, but out on the horizon, there are clear patches of sky, where the heavens have been opened. This in turn brings my attention to two things.
First, and rather comically, I think of the scene in The Blues Brothers where Jake and Elwood are in the back of the church, and suddenly, the heavens open and they have “seen the light.” While this does seem to be a little out of place given the nature of this exercise, I also continue to think about what happens when we do indeed “see the light.” In the movie, Jake and Elwood become convinced that they are on a “mission from God” to put the band back together to make enough money to save the orphanage in which they were raised. We too have times like this. We see the light and our mission from God is suddenly clear. We know what our purpose is in life, and who we are in relation to God the Father and Creator. And in this purpose, we find a way to take on our mission, knowing that we do so in the grace of God which is available through the life, death and resurrection of the Son, which brings me to the second image in my mind.
The weekly discipleship group with whom I meet looked at the beginning of Luke’s gospel yesterday, and explored what significance there is in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in framing how we begin to look at the atonement. Jesus goes to be baptized by John in the Jordan River, and “as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’” (Lk 3:21b-22). In this instance, we begin to get our understanding of the Trinity and the relational nature of God. We see God as Father. Everything that Jesus does from this point forward is a recapitulation of the original creation story, but unlike Adam, Jesus does it right. The opportunity for new life is available in the life that Jesus is about to model. The story of the temptation in Luke 4, is what should have happened in the Garden when humanity originally fell into sin. Jesus stands firm and lets out a resounding “No!” through his understanding of the Scripture in the face of temptation by the devil. If only I can have my mind opened in such a way.
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
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As I continue to read this passage over and over again, verse 45 continually sticks out in my mind. “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” There is so much here that is speaking to me that I’m not quite sure how to settle the voices long enough to sort it all out. One word in particular that sticks out in my mind is “opened.” As I do this it is a cloudy day outside, but out on the horizon, there are clear patches of sky, where the heavens have been opened. This in turn brings my attention to two things.
First, and rather comically, I think of the scene in The Blues Brothers where Jake and Elwood are in the back of the church, and suddenly, the heavens open and they have “seen the light.” While this does seem to be a little out of place given the nature of this exercise, I also continue to think about what happens when we do indeed “see the light.” In the movie, Jake and Elwood become convinced that they are on a “mission from God” to put the band back together to make enough money to save the orphanage in which they were raised. We too have times like this. We see the light and our mission from God is suddenly clear. We know what our purpose is in life, and who we are in relation to God the Father and Creator. And in this purpose, we find a way to take on our mission, knowing that we do so in the grace of God which is available through the life, death and resurrection of the Son, which brings me to the second image in my mind.
The weekly discipleship group with whom I meet looked at the beginning of Luke’s gospel yesterday, and explored what significance there is in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in framing how we begin to look at the atonement. Jesus goes to be baptized by John in the Jordan River, and “as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’” (Lk 3:21b-22). In this instance, we begin to get our understanding of the Trinity and the relational nature of God. We see God as Father. Everything that Jesus does from this point forward is a recapitulation of the original creation story, but unlike Adam, Jesus does it right. The opportunity for new life is available in the life that Jesus is about to model. The story of the temptation in Luke 4, is what should have happened in the Garden when humanity originally fell into sin. Jesus stands firm and lets out a resounding “No!” through his understanding of the Scripture in the face of temptation by the devil. If only I can have my mind opened in such a way.
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
Psalm 19
Psalm 19:1-14 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
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I had a little bit of trouble at first with this passage. I think it was because it was the liturgy in chapel last Thursday. The first few times I read through it, the liturgical aspect kept interfering with my actual reading of the passage. However, once I was able to push that out of my mind, a couple of things really stuck out to me.
First, “reviving the soul.” I begin to think of Ezekiel and the valley of the dry bones. I wonder how this represents me in my current walk. At times I have felt like nothing more than dry bones that have desperately needed to be formed from the dust. I have especially felt this over the past few weeks, as I have fallen out of rhythm with my means of grace. Isn’t it amazing how discipline can slip when free time opens up? I have been in a rut lately. I get my reading done just so I can get it done. I skip meals more often than I fast. I think of praying more often than I actually pray. I am nothing but dry bones. But I know that God is ready, willing and able to revive my soul. What I don’t know is how much that is true of myself.
What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ? What does it mean to come to life after being nothing but dry bones? The soul is the deepest part of a person. Sometimes it is so deep that some refuse to believe that it is even there. I believe my soul is there, waiting to be revived by the Lord, waiting for me to be ready for such a revival in my own life. Physically and spiritually, I am ready for such revival in my personal life. Mentally… I think I’m scared. But why? If indeed the “law of the Lord is perfect… the statutes of the Lord are trustworthy… the precepts of the Lord are right… the commands of the Lord are radiant… the fear of the Lord is pure… and the ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous,” then what have I to fear? Every person wants to be the master of his/her domain. It is scary when we have to give up that so-called “right.” But is that really a right? Or is it something that we merely think we are entitled to?
There is new life in Christ. There is the opportunity to have our souls revived. All we have to do is die. We have to die to that which is ours and become His. We have to die to the desires of our hearts, but in this death there is new life. Paul says in Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). When we finally decide to die, we truly begin to live.
The prayer of the Psalmist becomes my prayer – “Forgive my hidden faults…” The faults I have tried so hard to bury so that no one will think less of me. “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me….” The sins I regret as soon as I commit them. The sins that take away from the only true life that I have – life in You. “Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression…” and free to live in you in such a way as to really experience life. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
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I had a little bit of trouble at first with this passage. I think it was because it was the liturgy in chapel last Thursday. The first few times I read through it, the liturgical aspect kept interfering with my actual reading of the passage. However, once I was able to push that out of my mind, a couple of things really stuck out to me.
First, “reviving the soul.” I begin to think of Ezekiel and the valley of the dry bones. I wonder how this represents me in my current walk. At times I have felt like nothing more than dry bones that have desperately needed to be formed from the dust. I have especially felt this over the past few weeks, as I have fallen out of rhythm with my means of grace. Isn’t it amazing how discipline can slip when free time opens up? I have been in a rut lately. I get my reading done just so I can get it done. I skip meals more often than I fast. I think of praying more often than I actually pray. I am nothing but dry bones. But I know that God is ready, willing and able to revive my soul. What I don’t know is how much that is true of myself.
What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ? What does it mean to come to life after being nothing but dry bones? The soul is the deepest part of a person. Sometimes it is so deep that some refuse to believe that it is even there. I believe my soul is there, waiting to be revived by the Lord, waiting for me to be ready for such a revival in my own life. Physically and spiritually, I am ready for such revival in my personal life. Mentally… I think I’m scared. But why? If indeed the “law of the Lord is perfect… the statutes of the Lord are trustworthy… the precepts of the Lord are right… the commands of the Lord are radiant… the fear of the Lord is pure… and the ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous,” then what have I to fear? Every person wants to be the master of his/her domain. It is scary when we have to give up that so-called “right.” But is that really a right? Or is it something that we merely think we are entitled to?
There is new life in Christ. There is the opportunity to have our souls revived. All we have to do is die. We have to die to that which is ours and become His. We have to die to the desires of our hearts, but in this death there is new life. Paul says in Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). When we finally decide to die, we truly begin to live.
The prayer of the Psalmist becomes my prayer – “Forgive my hidden faults…” The faults I have tried so hard to bury so that no one will think less of me. “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me….” The sins I regret as soon as I commit them. The sins that take away from the only true life that I have – life in You. “Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression…” and free to live in you in such a way as to really experience life. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
Substance v. enjoyment?
In a recent class (Foundations of Church Growth), we had a discussion on the value of "entertainment" in the Church. We began the discussion by noting that one of the primary ways that cultural messages get across is through "play." Some members of the class found that the idea of making the Church a form of entertainment was catering to the sway of society. I can understand and sympathize with these sentiments, but I also want to be careful to point out that they should not go too far. Yes, if enjoyment and entertainment is the sole purpose of the service, then something very important has been lost. However, I believe it is wrong to assume that simply because people are enjoying the service, it is somehow less sanctified and that we are catering to society. Something that I have always maintained is that there is a time to have fun and there is a time to be serious. I would say that it is okay to have fun. If we cannot be filled with joy when we worship the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, we have some serious issues.
I want to stretch a little bit here and put up an analogy that I think will make sense. Given the time of year (just a week after the Super Bowl), it think it is fairly safe to say that football is still fresh in our minds, so I would like to feed off of that for just a moment and compare a football game to our Sunday worship.
I'm sure most people have seen a football game (that's American football, in case there is any confusion). It can be fairly entertaining, depending on who is playing and whether or not your team is winning. A football game can appeal to the most basic of fans because in reality the game is very simple - you try to move the ball down the field and score. In this sense, anyone can understand the game. However, if the fan really wants to know more about the game, the opportunity is available. Let me ask this - how often do you watch the person with the ball compared to the way the offensive line works together, or how the running back runs out of the backfield on a passing play, or the route a receiver takes on a running play? The schemes are all over the place, offensively and defensively. It is such a complex game on another level; however, it is still entertainment.
Here's where the analogy gets applied to the Church. Worship can be a very exciting, entertaining time, but it can also be very deep and complex. It does not have to be one or the other. So much of it is what we bring in affects how we view worship. One person can "get nothing" from a service, while another can be moved in a very powerful, profound way. It is okay to be entertained. It is okay to be infected with vitality when worshipping God. There are times when the line between enjoying worship and desiring to entertain the masses has been crossed, but I don't think we should make assumptions based solely on the style of the worship.
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.
I want to stretch a little bit here and put up an analogy that I think will make sense. Given the time of year (just a week after the Super Bowl), it think it is fairly safe to say that football is still fresh in our minds, so I would like to feed off of that for just a moment and compare a football game to our Sunday worship.
I'm sure most people have seen a football game (that's American football, in case there is any confusion). It can be fairly entertaining, depending on who is playing and whether or not your team is winning. A football game can appeal to the most basic of fans because in reality the game is very simple - you try to move the ball down the field and score. In this sense, anyone can understand the game. However, if the fan really wants to know more about the game, the opportunity is available. Let me ask this - how often do you watch the person with the ball compared to the way the offensive line works together, or how the running back runs out of the backfield on a passing play, or the route a receiver takes on a running play? The schemes are all over the place, offensively and defensively. It is such a complex game on another level; however, it is still entertainment.
Here's where the analogy gets applied to the Church. Worship can be a very exciting, entertaining time, but it can also be very deep and complex. It does not have to be one or the other. So much of it is what we bring in affects how we view worship. One person can "get nothing" from a service, while another can be moved in a very powerful, profound way. It is okay to be entertained. It is okay to be infected with vitality when worshipping God. There are times when the line between enjoying worship and desiring to entertain the masses has been crossed, but I don't think we should make assumptions based solely on the style of the worship.
Just some musings from a traveling pilgrim.