Do you have problems with authority? Are you defiant? Do you have problems submitting to God and being obedient? If you are at all like me, authority and power issues are a real struggle. When our lives lose balance and were are unable to maintain a healthy self-esteem we can open ourselves up for following our own agenda, rather than seeking God's guidance and will.
“Sins of Strength” can be understood as the things we do which are in defiance of God. Acts of defiance are the actions or inactions that are conscious, intentional, and deliberately done against God by individuals or groups. While sins of weakness derive from a loss of “centeredness” leading to self-annihilation, sins of strength derive from over-centeredness or the elevation of the self. Paul Tillich uses the Greek word hubris to describe the phenomenon of self-elevation. Hubris is more than simply pride, but the “temptation to make one’s self existentially the center of himself and the world.” Hubris is an over emphasis on humanity’s potential infinity (imago dei; cf. Gen. 1:26) without acknowledging actual finitude. Another sin of strength, related to hubris, is concupiscence, which is generally associated with unhindered physical and sexual appetites. What makes this a sin of strength is not the actions themselves, but the “unlimited striving for knowledge, sex, physical hunger, will to power, material wealth, or spiritual values.” In short, hubris can be understood as self-elevation, while concupiscence is extreme self-indulgence. They are sins of strength because they involve the inflation or indulgence of the self, rather than the loss of self (sins of weakness), or ideally a person centered on God.
Our scriptures, focused on the lives of God’s people, illustrate both hubris and concupiscence. In Exodus 32, as Moses receives the 10 Commandments and is on the mountain for 40 days, the Israelites become restless. Their impatience leads them to construct a golden calf by which they might worship and offer sacrifices. In their hubris they decide that they are unwilling to wait for God. They do not need Moses to tell them about God, they have it all figured out. Their idolatry is not exhibited in their worship of the golden calf, but in their worship of themselves. They elevated themselves above their covenant with God, forgetting their deliverance from slavery. They grew impatient with the Lord and sought to fulfill their desires, and to know God on their own terms. In doing so they committed the great sin of idolatry.
Although many of the idolaters of Exodus 32 are unrepentant, some repent and turn from their evil ways. Those who refuse to acknowledge the limits of humanity or do not humble themselves to the Lord, are subject to the same kind of judgment Jeremiah predicts: “I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says the Lord; I will kindle a fire in its forest and it shall devour all that is around it.” (Jeremiah 21:14) Jeremiah further details the failings of Israel. These sins of strength all revolve a lack of love/fear of God and lack of care and concern for the neighbor. Without repentance, these sins of strength will be punishable for both the individual and the community. “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them their wages.” (Jeremiah 22:13)
These stories are a sober reminder to those of us who have had many blessings in our lives, to acknowledge God as the source of all we have. In all that we do, God is with us; in times of prosperity and despair, God is present. Ironically the same tendency to feel abandoned by God in times of suffering, is present when we fail to acknowledge God in the midst of prosperity. To live lives of spiritual balance we must acknowledge God’s presence in all that we do. Exodus and Jeremiah point us to a jealous God who does not tolerate idolatry.
Reflecting upon these texts and your personal experience with hubris and concupiscence, consider the following questions:
-Have you ever become so self-involved as to fail to acknowledge God’s presence in your life?
-Have you taken credit for the blessings God has given? What happened as a result? How did you become aware of this?
-Have you ever made idols of the things of this world? money? food? material things? work? What was the result?
-How can we balance being “created in God’s image” without creating ourselves into “little gods?”
Monday, March 16, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Moral Evil: Temptation
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" -The Lord's Prayer
Temptation is part of human existence that none of us is immune to; we all must deal with our temptations. In the gospel accounts, the temptation of Jesus plays a key role in the narrative of Jesus’ life and ministry. The temptation of Jesus raises important questions for us: what does it mean that Jesus was tempted by Satan? How close was Jesus to giving in to temptation? Because Jesus successfully resisted temptation, are we expected to be able to follow his example? How are the temptations we experience connected to Jesus temptation? These types of questions go to the heart of the Christian faith, and call each of us to provide an answer. Who was Jesus and what does it mean for my life?
As Christians, we confess that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. Jesus was God incarnate, with all the divine attributes and powers, but also experienced the fullness of human existence. The temptation of Jesus tells us that Jesus indeed experienced real temptation, by being tested under the most extreme circumstances. For forty days in a wilderness desert, Jesus endured constant testing by Satan to utilize his divine power in order to alleviate his suffering, demonstrate his divinity, and achieve worldly power. (cf. Matthew 4:3-11) It was not part of God’s plan for Jesus to employ his divine power, rather Jesus was to willingly die on the cross for the sake of all humanity. People would come to believe in Jesus, not through a miraculous display of divine power, but through faith.
Jesus’ temptation resonates with me because it demonstrates that he understands what human life is all about. Because Jesus experienced real temptation, he understands how difficult it is to endure. When we struggle with temptation in our life, we have a God who has been there and understands; a God who has endured suffering and temptation. We can cry out to God in the midst of our pain, suffering, and temptation and God hears our cries and prayers as one who has been there. We share this direct and intimate connection to God through the incarnation of Jesus. Prayer does not always ensure that we will resist temptation, but it does help us re-center ourselves and point us in God’s direction.
Temptation can be understood as an example of moral evil or a sin of weakness. Moral evil are the actions or inactions of an individual or group that can be seen as evil. When the action of an individual leads to an evil result or when that action is done with evil intent, this is moral evil. Moral evil can either be done from a position of strength or weakness. Temptation is moral evil from a position of weakness. When I give in to my temptations and evil results, it is because I lack a foundational moral center. We may know what the right thing to do is in a particular situation, we may want to do the right thing, but for whatever reason we are unable. (cf. Romans 7:15 "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.") Sins of weakness take place when we lose our center or our “moral compass.” We can become distracted, stressed out, or inattentive to the things which keep our lives in balance. When we lose our center, we open ourselves up to things we would not normally do. We become susceptible to the temptations of Satan, and act out even when we know it is wrong. When our faith is strong and healthy temptation is less of an issue, but when we are low or disconnected from God and one another, Satan pounces.
As we examine the temptation accounts and consider temptation in our own lives, it is important to remember that none of us, no matter how faithful and devout, are exempt from Satan. Satan is subtle and will lure us into a false sense of security. Satan preys upon not only our deep fears and anxieties, but our strengths as well. I have learned through my experience in ministry, that the closer you get to doing God’s work the more aggressive and desperate the assaults of Satan become. Whatever are preconceived notions we may have about Satan, we cannot deny the strong tempting presence Satan plays in our lives. For many, any discussion of the reality of Satan seems nonsensical and irrational. In the extreme, people either visualize a physical entity with horns and a pitchfork, or assume that Satan is an excuse that people use to escape culpability for their own actions. Either of these positions is potentially dangerous because they trivialize the serious threat that temptation and sin play in our lives. I recall a quote from a favorite movie, The Usual Suspects: “the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” However we choose to discuss or understand Satan, we cannot deny that there is either something within us or outside of us that compels us to defy God. The real issue is how we deal with temptation or the tempter.
-What temptations do you struggle with and how do you deal with them?
-What do you think about the reality of Satan? Is Satan found outside of us or within?
-What tools or resources do we have to deal with temptation? What works for you?
-What does it mean for you that Jesus was tempted?
Temptation is part of human existence that none of us is immune to; we all must deal with our temptations. In the gospel accounts, the temptation of Jesus plays a key role in the narrative of Jesus’ life and ministry. The temptation of Jesus raises important questions for us: what does it mean that Jesus was tempted by Satan? How close was Jesus to giving in to temptation? Because Jesus successfully resisted temptation, are we expected to be able to follow his example? How are the temptations we experience connected to Jesus temptation? These types of questions go to the heart of the Christian faith, and call each of us to provide an answer. Who was Jesus and what does it mean for my life?
As Christians, we confess that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. Jesus was God incarnate, with all the divine attributes and powers, but also experienced the fullness of human existence. The temptation of Jesus tells us that Jesus indeed experienced real temptation, by being tested under the most extreme circumstances. For forty days in a wilderness desert, Jesus endured constant testing by Satan to utilize his divine power in order to alleviate his suffering, demonstrate his divinity, and achieve worldly power. (cf. Matthew 4:3-11) It was not part of God’s plan for Jesus to employ his divine power, rather Jesus was to willingly die on the cross for the sake of all humanity. People would come to believe in Jesus, not through a miraculous display of divine power, but through faith.
Jesus’ temptation resonates with me because it demonstrates that he understands what human life is all about. Because Jesus experienced real temptation, he understands how difficult it is to endure. When we struggle with temptation in our life, we have a God who has been there and understands; a God who has endured suffering and temptation. We can cry out to God in the midst of our pain, suffering, and temptation and God hears our cries and prayers as one who has been there. We share this direct and intimate connection to God through the incarnation of Jesus. Prayer does not always ensure that we will resist temptation, but it does help us re-center ourselves and point us in God’s direction.
Temptation can be understood as an example of moral evil or a sin of weakness. Moral evil are the actions or inactions of an individual or group that can be seen as evil. When the action of an individual leads to an evil result or when that action is done with evil intent, this is moral evil. Moral evil can either be done from a position of strength or weakness. Temptation is moral evil from a position of weakness. When I give in to my temptations and evil results, it is because I lack a foundational moral center. We may know what the right thing to do is in a particular situation, we may want to do the right thing, but for whatever reason we are unable. (cf. Romans 7:15 "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.") Sins of weakness take place when we lose our center or our “moral compass.” We can become distracted, stressed out, or inattentive to the things which keep our lives in balance. When we lose our center, we open ourselves up to things we would not normally do. We become susceptible to the temptations of Satan, and act out even when we know it is wrong. When our faith is strong and healthy temptation is less of an issue, but when we are low or disconnected from God and one another, Satan pounces.
As we examine the temptation accounts and consider temptation in our own lives, it is important to remember that none of us, no matter how faithful and devout, are exempt from Satan. Satan is subtle and will lure us into a false sense of security. Satan preys upon not only our deep fears and anxieties, but our strengths as well. I have learned through my experience in ministry, that the closer you get to doing God’s work the more aggressive and desperate the assaults of Satan become. Whatever are preconceived notions we may have about Satan, we cannot deny the strong tempting presence Satan plays in our lives. For many, any discussion of the reality of Satan seems nonsensical and irrational. In the extreme, people either visualize a physical entity with horns and a pitchfork, or assume that Satan is an excuse that people use to escape culpability for their own actions. Either of these positions is potentially dangerous because they trivialize the serious threat that temptation and sin play in our lives. I recall a quote from a favorite movie, The Usual Suspects: “the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” However we choose to discuss or understand Satan, we cannot deny that there is either something within us or outside of us that compels us to defy God. The real issue is how we deal with temptation or the tempter.
-What temptations do you struggle with and how do you deal with them?
-What do you think about the reality of Satan? Is Satan found outside of us or within?
-What tools or resources do we have to deal with temptation? What works for you?
-What does it mean for you that Jesus was tempted?
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Problem of Evil
Note from Ben: Throughout Lent I am teaching a course on evil. I will provide weekly posts connected to the class in addition to the regular blogging. Enjoy!
The first two chapters of the book of Job have always been difficult for me. The pain, suffering, and loss that the righteous character Job endures are troubling. Job is said to have been “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” (Job 1:1) Yet Job endures a great deal of suffering and pain as he sees his family die, his livestock killed, his house burned down, and extensive physical ailments inflicted upon him. Perhaps most disturbing is the role God plays in the story of Job’s suffering. The theological implications of Job suffering at the hand of Satan are quite problematic. The title “Satan” in Job is not the Satan we hear about in the New Testament, or in popular culture.
The title Satan (ha-satan in Hebrew) literally means “the adversary” or the “accuser” and can perhaps be best understood as the prosecuting attorney of God. The Satan is not the adversary of God, but of humanity. The Satan is one of the “heavenly beings” (literally “sons of God”) and a member of the royal court of God. He has the unique responsibility to bring forth God’s justice in the world, often in creative ways. The Satan must however first receive permission for “testing” Job. The interaction that takes place between God and Satan is not the cosmic duel for the souls of humanity and control of the world. Rather, Satan is the agent of God and the adversary of humanity. God allows Satan to act in his own best judgment, only placing certain restrictions on how Job could be tested. The question the story of Job poses is this: who is God in this story? Is this the same God that we know? Who is Satan? How does this story affect our understanding of a loving and merciful God?
The story of Job brings forth the classical theological issue of evil, or more precisely The Problem of Evil. The problem of evil leads us to struggle with questions that challenge our fundamental beliefs about who God is and how God acts in the world. Most, if not all, definitions of God include the following: God is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and wholly benevolent. If this is the case, how do we explain the evil and suffering in our world? If God is the source of all things and evil exists, doesn’t it follow that God is the source of evil and therefore no longer good? If God somehow isn’t “the author” of evil does this mean God is not all-powerful? If God and the Devil are engaged in a war for our souls, does this mean God could lose?
There are many creative ways that theologians and scholars have attempted to diminish or solve the problem of evil, although none have done so with any success. The problem of evil is real and one each of us must confront and be honest about, for if we deny evil and sin in our world we deny reality. On the other hand, if we conclude that God is responsible for suffering and evil, we are left with a God who cannot be described as loving and merciful. Instead the image of God as sadistic “tester” we see in Job who feels the need to punish those who are faithful as well as the unfaithful. If God were truly benevolent why didn’t God give us the ability to live righteously? If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, then God knew we would turn out this way and allowed it to happen anyway. What kind of God is this?
I ask you to consider this issue in light of your experience with suffering, death, and evil.
-Have you seen God at work in these situations?
-Have you ever felt abandoned by God?
-How do deal with the “problem of evil”?
The first two chapters of the book of Job have always been difficult for me. The pain, suffering, and loss that the righteous character Job endures are troubling. Job is said to have been “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” (Job 1:1) Yet Job endures a great deal of suffering and pain as he sees his family die, his livestock killed, his house burned down, and extensive physical ailments inflicted upon him. Perhaps most disturbing is the role God plays in the story of Job’s suffering. The theological implications of Job suffering at the hand of Satan are quite problematic. The title “Satan” in Job is not the Satan we hear about in the New Testament, or in popular culture.
The title Satan (ha-satan in Hebrew) literally means “the adversary” or the “accuser” and can perhaps be best understood as the prosecuting attorney of God. The Satan is not the adversary of God, but of humanity. The Satan is one of the “heavenly beings” (literally “sons of God”) and a member of the royal court of God. He has the unique responsibility to bring forth God’s justice in the world, often in creative ways. The Satan must however first receive permission for “testing” Job. The interaction that takes place between God and Satan is not the cosmic duel for the souls of humanity and control of the world. Rather, Satan is the agent of God and the adversary of humanity. God allows Satan to act in his own best judgment, only placing certain restrictions on how Job could be tested. The question the story of Job poses is this: who is God in this story? Is this the same God that we know? Who is Satan? How does this story affect our understanding of a loving and merciful God?
The story of Job brings forth the classical theological issue of evil, or more precisely The Problem of Evil. The problem of evil leads us to struggle with questions that challenge our fundamental beliefs about who God is and how God acts in the world. Most, if not all, definitions of God include the following: God is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and wholly benevolent. If this is the case, how do we explain the evil and suffering in our world? If God is the source of all things and evil exists, doesn’t it follow that God is the source of evil and therefore no longer good? If God somehow isn’t “the author” of evil does this mean God is not all-powerful? If God and the Devil are engaged in a war for our souls, does this mean God could lose?
There are many creative ways that theologians and scholars have attempted to diminish or solve the problem of evil, although none have done so with any success. The problem of evil is real and one each of us must confront and be honest about, for if we deny evil and sin in our world we deny reality. On the other hand, if we conclude that God is responsible for suffering and evil, we are left with a God who cannot be described as loving and merciful. Instead the image of God as sadistic “tester” we see in Job who feels the need to punish those who are faithful as well as the unfaithful. If God were truly benevolent why didn’t God give us the ability to live righteously? If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, then God knew we would turn out this way and allowed it to happen anyway. What kind of God is this?
I ask you to consider this issue in light of your experience with suffering, death, and evil.
-Have you seen God at work in these situations?
-Have you ever felt abandoned by God?
-How do deal with the “problem of evil”?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ashes to Ashes
As I reflect upon Ash Wednesday, when many of us participated in the imposition of ashes upon our heads as a sign of repentance, I cannot help to feel both humbled and blessed. I have always found this service to be deeply powerful and humbling. It is a reminder that we have sinned and fallen short, that our lives are not what God intended, that we have more to learn and room to grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. The ashes upon our foreheads represent our repentance and our mortality, as we remember "that we are dust and to dust we shall return."
I do however, remember a distinct time growing up when ashes played a key role in my life (other than once a year at church). I grew up in old house built around 1880. It was a large house (think mock-Victorian) that was exceptionally drafty in the winter and thus exceptionally expensive to heat. My dad installed a wood-burning furnace to supplement the gas furnace in order to keep costs down. At an early age I learned how to split and stack wood through much practice. One of the by-products of burning large quantities of wood is accumulating large quantities of ashes. I will never forget the moment those ashes came to my rescue. I had gotten myself stuck in the ice and snow of our back alley. My '76 Buick Skylark was no match for 12 inches of snow and ice. My car was hopelessly stuck and all the pushing, pulling, pleading, and praying I could muster did nothing to alleviate my dilemma. I then remembered how my dad had once used ashes for traction in just such a situation. I raced to the basement, filled up a bucket of ashes, placed them under the car and I was soon unstuck. The ashes I thought were waste and of no value saved the day!
I wonder now if our lives in some ways are a lot like ashes. We go through times of great turmoil, stress, trauma, and pain. Many of us have been burned by broken relationships, betrayal, deception and deceit that our lives resemble a bucket of full of ash--used up, burned out, and left in a heap. What happens when we overcome and clogged up with the ashes of life? How can we be cleansed?
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. -Psalm 51
Psalm 51 is a favorite of mine and at times has functioned like a mantra. Whenever I feel overcome with negativity, filled with doubt and uncertainty, the words of the psalmist bring comfort and solace. Life is dirty, messy and painful. There is no way to avoid pain, disappointment, agony and suffering. What we need to be reminded of is our deep need to trust God to bring healing and wholeness to our lives. Christ is our rescue, our strength, our healer. God can clean the mess up, can restore our lives, and bring joy.
May the ashes of your life not hold you captive, but may they propel you to a new place of healing, wholeness, and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Contagious Energy
Have you ever known someone with contagious positive energy? The kind of person when you spend time with them you feel better? There are those whose mere presence has a way of lifting the spirits of all they meet. Such people are a true gift from God and we need more of them in our lives! My friend Tom Martin is one of these people in my life. He is always filled with energy and enthusiasm for life and has always lifted my spirit and mood. It is not really what Tom says or does that makes a difference, it is just...his presence.
I have thought about this idea of contagious positive a lot recently. I have been looking at the call stories of the early disciples. Jesus simply walks up to Peter, Andrew, John, James, Philip and simply says "follow me." (Mark 1:17; John 1:43) What I simply cannot get over is how basic and simple Jesus' words are, and yet how incredibly effective, as they all immediately leave their lives to follow Jesus. In fact, sometimes when Jesus calls a disciple to follow he not only says simple things he sometimes says truly bizarre things.
The story of Nathaniel is quite interesting on a number of levels, but his encounter with Jesus is particularly interesting. Nathaniel is brought to Jesus by a super-pumped and enthusiastic Philip (a key behavior of disciples--helping people encounter Jesus) and is initially quite skeptical of Jesus. When Jesus tells Nathaniel that he "saw him under the fig tree" Nathaniel confesses his faith in Jesus. Nathaniel becomes a believer/disciple because Jesus tells him he saw him under a fig tree? what? Why would this convince a skeptical Nathaniel? Wouldn't you want a bit more explanation and convincing?
The more I have thought about these stories the more I am convinced that it is really not what Jesus said that was important. There is something about an authentic experience of God that is beyond words, beyond description. I believe the first disciples knew who Jesus was not by the power of his words, but through the power of his presence. Jesus had supernatural spiritual energy that was contagious to all whom he encountered. When people met Jesus, and felt the presence of God, they knew everything they needed to know.
Many of us have had "God moments" that are integral to our faith, moments which define our relationship with God, moments which define our lives. These moments are encounters with the crucified and risen Christ, encounters that transform lives, encounters which are beyond words. I have had these God moments and been so filled up with God's love, grace, and presence that I could not help but to share it. When I share my God moments with others, my words often fall short and fail to convey the energy and enthusiasm I intended.
All this brings me back to Philip and Tom Martin. We know that God has freely poured out love and grace and hope in our lives. We know God has given us this gift to share with the world. We also know that it is not the power of our words which will be compelling, but the power of our presence. If we could have a contagious spirit of God, and help people encounter Jesus we could make a huge impact in our world.
The question of the day is: how do we get contagious positive energy? And once we get it, how do we keep it?
For me, my spiritual energy comes from being connected to God. When I feel connected to God, my energy and enthusiasm for sharing Jesus goes way up. When I feel disconnected to God, spiritually dry and used up I have no energy at all. I have found when I take regular time to have deep discussions about faith, mission, church, and what God is up to I am re-energized and excited to share myself as Philip does.
Do you have a contagious positive energy for God?
What feeds your spirit? What re-energizes you spiritually?
Do you take regular time to get energized?
I have thought about this idea of contagious positive a lot recently. I have been looking at the call stories of the early disciples. Jesus simply walks up to Peter, Andrew, John, James, Philip and simply says "follow me." (Mark 1:17; John 1:43) What I simply cannot get over is how basic and simple Jesus' words are, and yet how incredibly effective, as they all immediately leave their lives to follow Jesus. In fact, sometimes when Jesus calls a disciple to follow he not only says simple things he sometimes says truly bizarre things.
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ (John 1:47-49)
The story of Nathaniel is quite interesting on a number of levels, but his encounter with Jesus is particularly interesting. Nathaniel is brought to Jesus by a super-pumped and enthusiastic Philip (a key behavior of disciples--helping people encounter Jesus) and is initially quite skeptical of Jesus. When Jesus tells Nathaniel that he "saw him under the fig tree" Nathaniel confesses his faith in Jesus. Nathaniel becomes a believer/disciple because Jesus tells him he saw him under a fig tree? what? Why would this convince a skeptical Nathaniel? Wouldn't you want a bit more explanation and convincing?
The more I have thought about these stories the more I am convinced that it is really not what Jesus said that was important. There is something about an authentic experience of God that is beyond words, beyond description. I believe the first disciples knew who Jesus was not by the power of his words, but through the power of his presence. Jesus had supernatural spiritual energy that was contagious to all whom he encountered. When people met Jesus, and felt the presence of God, they knew everything they needed to know.
Many of us have had "God moments" that are integral to our faith, moments which define our relationship with God, moments which define our lives. These moments are encounters with the crucified and risen Christ, encounters that transform lives, encounters which are beyond words. I have had these God moments and been so filled up with God's love, grace, and presence that I could not help but to share it. When I share my God moments with others, my words often fall short and fail to convey the energy and enthusiasm I intended.
All this brings me back to Philip and Tom Martin. We know that God has freely poured out love and grace and hope in our lives. We know God has given us this gift to share with the world. We also know that it is not the power of our words which will be compelling, but the power of our presence. If we could have a contagious spirit of God, and help people encounter Jesus we could make a huge impact in our world.
The question of the day is: how do we get contagious positive energy? And once we get it, how do we keep it?
For me, my spiritual energy comes from being connected to God. When I feel connected to God, my energy and enthusiasm for sharing Jesus goes way up. When I feel disconnected to God, spiritually dry and used up I have no energy at all. I have found when I take regular time to have deep discussions about faith, mission, church, and what God is up to I am re-energized and excited to share myself as Philip does.
Do you have a contagious positive energy for God?
What feeds your spirit? What re-energizes you spiritually?
Do you take regular time to get energized?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Winter of Discontent
“Now is the winter of our discontent”
-opening line from Henry III; William Shakespeare
Let’s be honest: the weather has been truly awful this winter. It has been cold, snowy, and unrelenting. Even for me, a veteran of long depressing winters, this has been no fun and I am longing for days of spring, sunshine, and warmth. I know there are many who feel similarly, and some who truly suffer in this season.
In winter, we are restricted and confined, kept indoors by snow and ice. In winter, we struggle to keep warm and keep our spirits up. Compounding this is the current international financial crisis. We are worried about our jobs, our homes, our retirement, and our way of life. Anxiety, doubt, fear, and winter, what a glorious combination! In the midst of all these dis-ease, unhappiness, and discontentment, is there any good news to share?
As Christians, whether we know it or not, we have a deep storehouse of resources to combat difficult and challenging times. Scripture is filled with the story of God’s faithful action, intervention, and deliverance on behalf of God’s people. The stories of the exodus from Egypt, exile from Babylonia, and of course Jesus’ sacrificial death remind us of God’s deep love and compassion for us. God is neither absent nor unconcerned with our pain and suffering. God’s compassion and love for us is infinite and absolute.
It is also true however, that God does not shield us from unpleasant and difficult circumstances. God gives us strength to endure and the reminder of his presence, but the human experience is often filled with times of discomfort, pain, suffering, and hardship. God does not cause these things to happen, but they are allowed. For us then, times like these become opportunities for growth and development. What can we learn about ourselves in the midst of difficulty? How is this time in life preparing me for something later? How can I use this time to give God glory?
Times like these are never easy and require strong faith and confidence in the enduring presence, goodness, and love of God. Yet, we also know how this story will end. In Christ, we have our clearest picture of God’s heart. In Christ, we have a God of resurrection and redemption. In Christ, we experience the complete and total transformation of our lives and our world. In Christ, God transforms life from death, hope from despair, faith from fear, grace from guilt, victory from defeat. With full and certain knowledge we proclaim to the world, by the death and resurrection of Christ, confidence that despite a long and dreary winter, spring is on the way.
-opening line from Henry III; William Shakespeare
Let’s be honest: the weather has been truly awful this winter. It has been cold, snowy, and unrelenting. Even for me, a veteran of long depressing winters, this has been no fun and I am longing for days of spring, sunshine, and warmth. I know there are many who feel similarly, and some who truly suffer in this season.
In winter, we are restricted and confined, kept indoors by snow and ice. In winter, we struggle to keep warm and keep our spirits up. Compounding this is the current international financial crisis. We are worried about our jobs, our homes, our retirement, and our way of life. Anxiety, doubt, fear, and winter, what a glorious combination! In the midst of all these dis-ease, unhappiness, and discontentment, is there any good news to share?
As Christians, whether we know it or not, we have a deep storehouse of resources to combat difficult and challenging times. Scripture is filled with the story of God’s faithful action, intervention, and deliverance on behalf of God’s people. The stories of the exodus from Egypt, exile from Babylonia, and of course Jesus’ sacrificial death remind us of God’s deep love and compassion for us. God is neither absent nor unconcerned with our pain and suffering. God’s compassion and love for us is infinite and absolute.
It is also true however, that God does not shield us from unpleasant and difficult circumstances. God gives us strength to endure and the reminder of his presence, but the human experience is often filled with times of discomfort, pain, suffering, and hardship. God does not cause these things to happen, but they are allowed. For us then, times like these become opportunities for growth and development. What can we learn about ourselves in the midst of difficulty? How is this time in life preparing me for something later? How can I use this time to give God glory?
Times like these are never easy and require strong faith and confidence in the enduring presence, goodness, and love of God. Yet, we also know how this story will end. In Christ, we have our clearest picture of God’s heart. In Christ, we have a God of resurrection and redemption. In Christ, we experience the complete and total transformation of our lives and our world. In Christ, God transforms life from death, hope from despair, faith from fear, grace from guilt, victory from defeat. With full and certain knowledge we proclaim to the world, by the death and resurrection of Christ, confidence that despite a long and dreary winter, spring is on the way.
“I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13
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