I'm nervous about christianity. It seems like a pretty extreme call. Let's be realistic. It is an extreme call. Jesus makes many statements that demand.. everything that we are. "Take up your cross and follow me." "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you." "If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him." Just to name a few phrases/verses.
As a preface to what I'll say soon enough, I struggle with just how absolutely I am submitted to my Lord. That fact makes me nervous. I feel I could always do more. Pray more. Read the word more. Talk about Him to others more. Lift people up more. And to be completely honest, I know I should do more. Not because it will get me salvation, but because it is my Father's will. It is my spiritual act of worship.
So what would a large group of intensely passionate christians look like? I honestly don't know. I feel like if such a group existed, people would be leaving all the time to go tell others. It is hard for me to imagine a passionate group of christians without persecution being in the picture. Cost. Something which isn't very present in America's congregations.
I want a life of passion. Of cost. And right now, I'm not in it. Or with it. Or however you want to phrase it. Are you? If not, doesn't that make you nervous? If so, how do you know that?
Just how narrow is this path of righteousness? How few find it? I know some who I think, and strongly believe are there. On the path. It's clear from their lives. The Spirit radiates light from their very bodies. Their eyes. I know I'm not that.
Answers, anyone?
6 comments:
Sacrifice is a euphamism for "not selfish all the time" for many americhistians. While not being selfish is good, it does not really mean sacrifice.
To sacrifice in America, you have to throw out the American values, the American way. A funny thing about sacrifice though, it is something that is seen as such from the outside. You may make changes to your lifestyle because of your love for God, and it may be that some things that you used to care about fall away. Others may see that as sacrifice, but if you do, it is still a little selfish in a way. The things we cast away in the journey towards God are chaff, not gold. Is it really a sacrifice to shed the uneeded junk? It is joy.
Now, persecution is mostly a matter of perspective in the americhristian mind. No one is imprisoned or killed for practicing their faith here. Many americhristians *feel* persecuted because there is resistance to Dominionism (that is for another post), but in reality, no one is going to stop them from worshiping, praying, helping the needy, and gathering.
On passion: a passion for God should drive every aspect of your life, not just those areas that are traditionally seen as "spiritual". Passionate does not mean hyperactive, but it does mean that even the way you eat or drive is informed by your passion and your love for God. You can't just be passionate, it is a natural result of that relationship.
Cost/sacrifice, 'He who saves his life loses it.' What are we protecting? A good name? Our children? The American Dream? Jesus said we would lose things if we follow Him (Fathers, Mothers sisters, brothers, children & grandchildren) but that He would give us all of the above one hundred fold (with persecution). I agree with Tech_Sam, much loss is in the eyes of those who observe... but when we feel the sacrifices we have made, then there is comfort in knowing that He knows, He has sacrificed, and there is a reward.
Persecution: Is when we are rejected, reviled, abused, imprisoned or killed 'for Christ's sake' or because of Him. This drops from the picture anything that takes place between believers or anything that happens when we have acted in an un-Christlike way. But, if one is turned down for a job because one refuses to do things that would displease our Lord, that counts.
I agree with Tech_Sam on passion. I really like it that we are told, "Whatever you do, even eating and drinking, let all be done for the glory of God." I think this ties in with "Giving thanks in all things." If we notice and are thankful for not only the smallest pleasures, but also for the things we don't understand in our lives, we will see His hand more clearly, feel His grace, know His mercy, and all this glorifies Him.
What seems so lost in the thinking of so many is that God never takes His hand away from His children. It is not true that God does the good stuff and the Devil does the bad stuff. That judges circumstances and events as 'good' and 'bad.' If God is good, and He loves us, then it is all good, all beneficial, all for our refinement. If that is true, then we can give thanks in all things and be unwavering in our passion for His glory... But I think He looks on us with a lot of grace and kindness as we struggle to learn how this works.
Oh, and I love those pictures of the heat exchanger. I would not have been able to resist taking pictures either.
There's a book on our shelf I've had for a very long time and I really like the title: 'The God-pointed Life'. I think that phrase captures what we've been talking about... The thought of God is always before us and affects the decisions we make, the things we do, think and say.
In scripture we have much to guide us in the Christian life, but it is also experiential and experimental. 'Walk as children of light... trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.' Eph 5:8-9
This is a good post. A bit depressing, though the comments were uplifting. :)
Thanks for each of your comments. They have certainly been filled with a lot of wisdom. I'm re-reading them again today after posting my newest post which expresses a bit more the personal frustration I have with my own self. Seems to always be that cycle of ups and downs, but I really don't believe that it is what God intended ("desert places" and vibrant life cycle).
Tech-sam, that's an interesting term= Americhristian. I agree with everything you said in your post. Also Mom and Dad, I appreciated your posts a lot as well.
Life really is going well. It just seems too busy, mostly with non-important things. (which still demand attention)
Post a Comment