Eugene Peterson wrote, Eat This Book, from the conviction that we need to read and digest the spiritual words of God found in scripture. In Revelation chapter 10 John was preparing to take notes on the message he had heard from the angel, when he was interrupted by a voice telling him to go and retrieve the scroll from which the angel had been reading. John went to get the scroll, but then, oddly enough, the angel told him to eat it. It seems strange to think of eating even a small piece of paper, yet John ate the scroll of God’s word as he was told and it tasted sweet, but it soured his stomach.
Peterson hopes that we can approach scripture in the same way John was instructed. The Bible is not just rules of conduct, lists of doctrines, or even great stories about God and his people. God’s word is not dead words on paper, flattened and manageable. We must take it inside of us, let it digest into us and affect us…even if it sours our stomach.
This is the idea of formation. For much of my early life, I looked to the scripture only for doctrinal truth. I was missing the point of letting the word do its work of changing me more into the image of Christ. We would do well to submit our “self” to the words of scripture, to let the word critique our living, our attitudes toward righteousness and unrighteousness. As we read the word, we seek not just to learn some new fact or idea, but to learn about ourselves inside the word, to let it speak to our bodies and then, through our bodies to speak to others.
Our best worship for Jehovah God is to let our learning re-create us into his image (Romans 12:1). Where we live, right now, is God’s gift for our spiritual development (Acts 17:26, 27). You should take some time to contemplate the mystery of your own creation and the creation that surrounds you: all of it is from God for your eternal benefit. Submit yourself to God by being what he created you to be, participating with him in his work. Let your life become so intertwined with God’s that when you tell your story, people also hear his.
If we truly are what we eat, as the popular saying asserts, then let us not be formed by this world and its culture, but by the word of God living and digesting inside us. Let our story be God’s story in our bodies.
Showing posts with label spiritual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual. Show all posts
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Grieving Your Loss
In some ways the essence of temptation is loss. And the question that goes with temptation is, “What will I lose?” or at least, what is the perceived loss?
From the first sin of Adam and Eve we can see what they were afraid of losing. They believed the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil could give them something superior to their current pursuit of righteousness. They were, in fact, tempted by a good thing, a spiritual thing – the desire to know what is good and the ability to avoid what is wrong. I think most things we are tempted by can be seen as good things: certainly we are only tempted by what we desire.
When faced with their temptation in the Garden, Adam and Eve could only resolve their circumstances by losing something. Either they would choose to honor God and trust in his provision and lose the ability to gain the special knowledge and wisdom they believed the fruit would provide. Or they would choose the fruit as a pathway to spirituality apart from God’s provision and lose something of the intimacy of that relationship.
Either way, when the decision had been made and all things done, they would feel the loss. What would have happened if we had…? That is what makes it temptation. Of course the stronger the desire, the deeper the sense of loss. If we choose wrong, we lose something of righteousness and relationship – and we will feel that loss. If we choose well, we lose the pleasure or reward we desired in the first place – and we will also feel that loss.
Innocence lost. Naiveté gone. So, this is what the world really looks like. Jaded, Cynical. Aren’t these just responses to our loss? Satan deceives, then he accuses.
Thank God for Jesus and restoration.
In some ways the essence of temptation is loss. And the question that goes with temptation is, “What will I lose?” or at least, what is the perceived loss?
From the first sin of Adam and Eve we can see what they were afraid of losing. They believed the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil could give them something superior to their current pursuit of righteousness. They were, in fact, tempted by a good thing, a spiritual thing – the desire to know what is good and the ability to avoid what is wrong. I think most things we are tempted by can be seen as good things: certainly we are only tempted by what we desire.
When faced with their temptation in the Garden, Adam and Eve could only resolve their circumstances by losing something. Either they would choose to honor God and trust in his provision and lose the ability to gain the special knowledge and wisdom they believed the fruit would provide. Or they would choose the fruit as a pathway to spirituality apart from God’s provision and lose something of the intimacy of that relationship.
Either way, when the decision had been made and all things done, they would feel the loss. What would have happened if we had…? That is what makes it temptation. Of course the stronger the desire, the deeper the sense of loss. If we choose wrong, we lose something of righteousness and relationship – and we will feel that loss. If we choose well, we lose the pleasure or reward we desired in the first place – and we will also feel that loss.
Innocence lost. Naiveté gone. So, this is what the world really looks like. Jaded, Cynical. Aren’t these just responses to our loss? Satan deceives, then he accuses.
Thank God for Jesus and restoration.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Refined
I have to admit that it frightened me to hear about salmonella in peanut products. But that turned to anger when it was reported that Peanut Corporation of America knew that their product was tainted with the deadly bacteria. Can you imagine how those sickened by the product must feel? And then there was the contaminated baby formula from China, where six babies died and over 1200 were sickened, and now thousands face atypically formed kidney stones.
Purity is important to our health. I never thought much about drinking from the stream when I was a child, but now I know what might be upstream. Pure clean water is essential to health and intellect.
Satan is the salmonella of our thoughts. He deceives, then he accuses. He is the impurity of our spiritual diet and the complications he brings when we indulge can be deadly. His deception is subtle - he takes what is good and makes it seem so much better under his terms. He gives every good thing new meaning. For the person desiring spiritual fulfillment, he brings spirituality. For the one needing deeper companionship and passion, he brings the depth of intimacy. For the one For the one seeking truth, he brings a truth that fits their size. But his spirituality is not a relationship with the Father, but a distraction from Him. His intimacy - his passion - is often based on sensuality, other times deception, sometimes substitution: satisfying for a moment, but self-imploding in the long-term. His truth resolves the crisis, but spins out more problems; more deception.
No wonder scripture sometimes describes our experiences in this life as refinement. The Spirit of God is working in our lives to rid us of the power and consequences of sin over us. God wants more for us than to merely escape the flames; he wants us to receive a purified life; he wants us to live a transformed life; he wants us to trust with a renewed, refined faith.
Purity is not just about eating and drinking: it is keeping ourselves for God’s service. Purity is another way of saying holy living. We are God’s holy people his pure refreshment. Let us feast on a pure life – a buffet of choices that glorify God in holiness.
I have to admit that it frightened me to hear about salmonella in peanut products. But that turned to anger when it was reported that Peanut Corporation of America knew that their product was tainted with the deadly bacteria. Can you imagine how those sickened by the product must feel? And then there was the contaminated baby formula from China, where six babies died and over 1200 were sickened, and now thousands face atypically formed kidney stones.
Purity is important to our health. I never thought much about drinking from the stream when I was a child, but now I know what might be upstream. Pure clean water is essential to health and intellect.
Satan is the salmonella of our thoughts. He deceives, then he accuses. He is the impurity of our spiritual diet and the complications he brings when we indulge can be deadly. His deception is subtle - he takes what is good and makes it seem so much better under his terms. He gives every good thing new meaning. For the person desiring spiritual fulfillment, he brings spirituality. For the one needing deeper companionship and passion, he brings the depth of intimacy. For the one For the one seeking truth, he brings a truth that fits their size. But his spirituality is not a relationship with the Father, but a distraction from Him. His intimacy - his passion - is often based on sensuality, other times deception, sometimes substitution: satisfying for a moment, but self-imploding in the long-term. His truth resolves the crisis, but spins out more problems; more deception.
No wonder scripture sometimes describes our experiences in this life as refinement. The Spirit of God is working in our lives to rid us of the power and consequences of sin over us. God wants more for us than to merely escape the flames; he wants us to receive a purified life; he wants us to live a transformed life; he wants us to trust with a renewed, refined faith.
Purity is not just about eating and drinking: it is keeping ourselves for God’s service. Purity is another way of saying holy living. We are God’s holy people his pure refreshment. Let us feast on a pure life – a buffet of choices that glorify God in holiness.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Forgiveness
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
As I spoke these words recently I was thoughtful about the phrase, “forgive us our trespasses (debts) as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
It’s hard to forgive people who have hurt you. It’s even hard to want to. It’s not so hard to say the words, but it is difficult to live them in reality.
Forgiveness starts with a decision and a commitment to righteousness. It is believing that God’s command to forgive others is a righteous command and will bless us. Forgiveness depends on actions before emotions. The actions of forgiveness are prayer for the forgiven one; blessing them in conversation with others by pointing out their good qualities; treating them by the standard of the Golden Rule. Eventually forgiveness is loving the forgiven with genuine affection; being able to acknowledge their fault, yet not defining your relationship solely by it; allowing their other qualities to obscure the fault. Finally, forgiveness defends – just as Jesus has become our advocate.
Blessings,
Don Morrison
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
As I spoke these words recently I was thoughtful about the phrase, “forgive us our trespasses (debts) as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
It’s hard to forgive people who have hurt you. It’s even hard to want to. It’s not so hard to say the words, but it is difficult to live them in reality.
Forgiveness starts with a decision and a commitment to righteousness. It is believing that God’s command to forgive others is a righteous command and will bless us. Forgiveness depends on actions before emotions. The actions of forgiveness are prayer for the forgiven one; blessing them in conversation with others by pointing out their good qualities; treating them by the standard of the Golden Rule. Eventually forgiveness is loving the forgiven with genuine affection; being able to acknowledge their fault, yet not defining your relationship solely by it; allowing their other qualities to obscure the fault. Finally, forgiveness defends – just as Jesus has become our advocate.
Blessings,
Don Morrison
Friday, June 20, 2008
Treasure
Solomon sought meaning for his life; he wanted to believe that his life would be more valuable than its mere length. Perhaps he measured himself by his father’s accomplishments – driven to achieve. But Solomon approaches meaning from a broad perspective, in some ways like Victor Frankle’s work, Man’s Search for Meaning. In Ecclesiastes 2 he briefly mentions his search for meaning through pleasure, only to turn abruptly, “Laughter is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?” So he searched in other ways:
But in the end he says, “…when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:3-11).
Verse 8 reveals a lot about humankind, Solomon drew to himself all the delights of the heart. Interestingly, this is the only verse in the Bible where “treasure” and “heart” both appear, other than when Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Solomon’s search for meaning is really a search for what to worship.
Where do we search for meaning in our lives? That is where we keep our treasure, and that is our god. Remember…We follow Him!
Don Morrison
Solomon sought meaning for his life; he wanted to believe that his life would be more valuable than its mere length. Perhaps he measured himself by his father’s accomplishments – driven to achieve. But Solomon approaches meaning from a broad perspective, in some ways like Victor Frankle’s work, Man’s Search for Meaning. In Ecclesiastes 2 he briefly mentions his search for meaning through pleasure, only to turn abruptly, “Laughter is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?” So he searched in other ways:
I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man.
I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
But in the end he says, “…when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:3-11).
Verse 8 reveals a lot about humankind, Solomon drew to himself all the delights of the heart. Interestingly, this is the only verse in the Bible where “treasure” and “heart” both appear, other than when Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Solomon’s search for meaning is really a search for what to worship.
Where do we search for meaning in our lives? That is where we keep our treasure, and that is our god. Remember…We follow Him!
Don Morrison
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Humble Yourself
I read a prayer called the "Litany of Humility," written by Merry Cardinal del Val (1865-1930) and I would like to share it here:
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated*
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected
Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
What do you think of this idea of humility? Is this a prayer we can or should pray?
I have not achieved humility, so I speak as an outsider, but I think that perhaps humility has less to do with me and more to do with the will of God being accomplished. If pride is the contrast to humility and if pride means to think highly of oneself, then does humility mean to think lowly of oneself, or, instead, to not think highly of oneself?
We can start by considering God’s will above our own. That sort of humility will surely teach us a lot about finding our proper place.
Don Morrison
*falsely accused
(The full version of the Litany of Humility can be found here along with some interesting comments and links.)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Candy Coated
I don’t know if you are old enough to remember what life was like before Skittles, but I am. I also remember before they removed the red M&Ms because of fears about a certain red food coloring. Anyway, I am not a fan of Skittles; they are okay and my family loves them, but I am more of a chocolate man. I remember the first time I ate a Skittle, when they first came on the market – it wasn’t at all what I expected; actually, it kind of weirded me out. I expected candy covered chocolate that would melt in my mouth, not my hand, instead I got this sugary sweet and sour fruit burst.
I have been thinking about hypocrisy: What does a hypocrite look like? How can I know when I am being hypocritical? The word, hypocrite comes from the greek word for actor, but we would not call actors hypocrites just because of their occupation. I suppose we could think of a hypocrite as superficial, putting up a front that doesn’t really reflect what is deep inside.
Why would someone want to act like a disciple of God superficially, and withhold what is deep within from him? Does that make sense to you? It seems to me that there is very little benefit to looking like a Christian when you are not really (unless you are running for office.) I have noticed that the idea of hypocrisy in the New Testament is almost exclusively aimed at Jews. Now, I don’t believe that Jesus was picking on them in particular – he did spend most of his time with them – but they had the greatest incentive to be hypocrites about their true devotion to God. The other cultures that are represented in the Acts and the epistles were not saturated with believers so that there could be any benefit in acting like a follower. Instead the opposite is true, the believers had every worldly incentive to hide their faith and act like the world around them.
So hypocrisy might be something like a candy shell that covers the inconsistencies on the inside.
But in our culture, we have become so accustomed to corruption, immorality, self-promotion – there hardly seems to be any purpose for hiding it anymore. Why would someone go to the additional trouble to trying to look like a Christian when the inside simply is not devoted to that faith and lifestyle?
I wonder if you have any ideas about hypocrisy that can help us to be aware of its allure.
I don’t know if you are old enough to remember what life was like before Skittles, but I am. I also remember before they removed the red M&Ms because of fears about a certain red food coloring. Anyway, I am not a fan of Skittles; they are okay and my family loves them, but I am more of a chocolate man. I remember the first time I ate a Skittle, when they first came on the market – it wasn’t at all what I expected; actually, it kind of weirded me out. I expected candy covered chocolate that would melt in my mouth, not my hand, instead I got this sugary sweet and sour fruit burst.
I have been thinking about hypocrisy: What does a hypocrite look like? How can I know when I am being hypocritical? The word, hypocrite comes from the greek word for actor, but we would not call actors hypocrites just because of their occupation. I suppose we could think of a hypocrite as superficial, putting up a front that doesn’t really reflect what is deep inside.
Why would someone want to act like a disciple of God superficially, and withhold what is deep within from him? Does that make sense to you? It seems to me that there is very little benefit to looking like a Christian when you are not really (unless you are running for office.) I have noticed that the idea of hypocrisy in the New Testament is almost exclusively aimed at Jews. Now, I don’t believe that Jesus was picking on them in particular – he did spend most of his time with them – but they had the greatest incentive to be hypocrites about their true devotion to God. The other cultures that are represented in the Acts and the epistles were not saturated with believers so that there could be any benefit in acting like a follower. Instead the opposite is true, the believers had every worldly incentive to hide their faith and act like the world around them.
So hypocrisy might be something like a candy shell that covers the inconsistencies on the inside.
But in our culture, we have become so accustomed to corruption, immorality, self-promotion – there hardly seems to be any purpose for hiding it anymore. Why would someone go to the additional trouble to trying to look like a Christian when the inside simply is not devoted to that faith and lifestyle?
I wonder if you have any ideas about hypocrisy that can help us to be aware of its allure.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Jesus' Example of Suffering
The question of human suffering will always provide ammunition for unbelievers and questions for the faithful. In the movie, Shadowlands, and in his book, A Greif Observed, C. S. Lewis comes to deal firsthand with suffering after having lectured about it rather objectively for years. He had fallen in love with and married Joy Gresham only to lose her to cancer. Watching her courageously endure an agonizing death did not detract from his understanding of pain and suffering, but his objective knowledge had not fully prepared him for the intense feelings, questions, doubts, and fears that came upon him in his own personal suffering.
1 Peter 4 says that the result of suffering is that we do not live the rest of our earthly lives for human desires, but rather for the will of God. Now, I have suffered very little in this life, so I cannot pretend to fully understand this passage. Most of us have grown up privileged in that we have found access to everything we have needed almost every moment of our lives. For the most part we have also received more material blessings than we have been able to keep track of. Additionally, we have rarely, if ever, lived with fear for our own safety or our family’s. Our jobs have some security. Our economy is stable. Our place in this world has been an advantage for more than half a century. I can hardly understand the turmoil of those in Myanmar or Sichuan, China.
Even though I have suffered little, I can see the result of sin in my life and in our culture. Peter seems to indicate that is at least part of the suffering that leads us to turn toward God and away from the flesh. Perhaps we should make the time to reflect on the results of our pursuit of privilege and comfort – certainly Jesus did not follow that path: 1 Peter 4 starts by exhorting us to prepare ourselves to follow Jesus’ example of suffering so that we might be finished with sin. That is not often the way I have fought temptation when left to my own strategies.
The question of human suffering will always provide ammunition for unbelievers and questions for the faithful. In the movie, Shadowlands, and in his book, A Greif Observed, C. S. Lewis comes to deal firsthand with suffering after having lectured about it rather objectively for years. He had fallen in love with and married Joy Gresham only to lose her to cancer. Watching her courageously endure an agonizing death did not detract from his understanding of pain and suffering, but his objective knowledge had not fully prepared him for the intense feelings, questions, doubts, and fears that came upon him in his own personal suffering.
1 Peter 4 says that the result of suffering is that we do not live the rest of our earthly lives for human desires, but rather for the will of God. Now, I have suffered very little in this life, so I cannot pretend to fully understand this passage. Most of us have grown up privileged in that we have found access to everything we have needed almost every moment of our lives. For the most part we have also received more material blessings than we have been able to keep track of. Additionally, we have rarely, if ever, lived with fear for our own safety or our family’s. Our jobs have some security. Our economy is stable. Our place in this world has been an advantage for more than half a century. I can hardly understand the turmoil of those in Myanmar or Sichuan, China.
Even though I have suffered little, I can see the result of sin in my life and in our culture. Peter seems to indicate that is at least part of the suffering that leads us to turn toward God and away from the flesh. Perhaps we should make the time to reflect on the results of our pursuit of privilege and comfort – certainly Jesus did not follow that path: 1 Peter 4 starts by exhorting us to prepare ourselves to follow Jesus’ example of suffering so that we might be finished with sin. That is not often the way I have fought temptation when left to my own strategies.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Humble Path
He was one of us
A man of the people
He surrounded himself with us all
Common folk
They listened; they received
He was not like us
A spiritual man
He retreated to the mountainside
Holy Father
He listened; he received
He was a part of us
A man of flesh
He walked a dirt trail
Simple man
Using the common; making the sacred
He was taken from us
A submissive man
He walked a lonely path
Silent lamb
Killing the sacred; making him common
He is the new us
A creating man
He opened a new door
Humble servant
Seeing the common, perceiving the sacred
Don Morrison
2008-05-20
He was one of us
A man of the people
He surrounded himself with us all
Common folk
They listened; they received
He was not like us
A spiritual man
He retreated to the mountainside
Holy Father
He listened; he received
He was a part of us
A man of flesh
He walked a dirt trail
Simple man
Using the common; making the sacred
He was taken from us
A submissive man
He walked a lonely path
Silent lamb
Killing the sacred; making him common
He is the new us
A creating man
He opened a new door
Humble servant
Seeing the common, perceiving the sacred
Don Morrison
2008-05-20
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Humility Or Humiliation
How can such similar thoughts be so very different? Both have to do with appearing “less than.” But the differences are many:
Humility is when someone is asked to take a back seat, and the person realizes that is not a reflection of his/her true value. It is the belief that by taking a lesser role and serving the roles of others we are imitating the character of God and advancing His kingdom by faith. Humiliation is the feeling a person may have when they are asked to take the back seat.
Humility is a decision; the ability to set aside feelings and think less of oneself than of others; to be aware of their needs and attentive to them instead of merely thinking of one’s own desires or needs. Humiliation is a mixture of feelings that can produce a variety of behaviors: anger may lead to retaliation, shame may lead to isolation, embarrassment may produce retaliation, defensiveness that stems from pride, or even humility that reflects a greater concern for others who are involved.
Humility costs in advance: it must be exercised daily for it to gain any strength in one’s life. It pays in arrears: one reason we use it so little is because the benefits are not always clear and they almost always go unnoticed by others. Humility is closely related to meekness and so is often seen by others as weakness. Humiliation costs in the moment and later, but our reaction to our humiliation can make a difference to the cost – self-control and graciousness toward others (both of which are produced by humility) can actually pay more than the cost.
Jesus chose to exercise humility long before his public humiliation. (cf. Philippians 2:1-11, John 5:31-47) It was his mastery of humility that allowed him to humbly say, “Father forgive them.”
How can such similar thoughts be so very different? Both have to do with appearing “less than.” But the differences are many:
Humility is when someone is asked to take a back seat, and the person realizes that is not a reflection of his/her true value. It is the belief that by taking a lesser role and serving the roles of others we are imitating the character of God and advancing His kingdom by faith. Humiliation is the feeling a person may have when they are asked to take the back seat.
Humility is a decision; the ability to set aside feelings and think less of oneself than of others; to be aware of their needs and attentive to them instead of merely thinking of one’s own desires or needs. Humiliation is a mixture of feelings that can produce a variety of behaviors: anger may lead to retaliation, shame may lead to isolation, embarrassment may produce retaliation, defensiveness that stems from pride, or even humility that reflects a greater concern for others who are involved.
Humility costs in advance: it must be exercised daily for it to gain any strength in one’s life. It pays in arrears: one reason we use it so little is because the benefits are not always clear and they almost always go unnoticed by others. Humility is closely related to meekness and so is often seen by others as weakness. Humiliation costs in the moment and later, but our reaction to our humiliation can make a difference to the cost – self-control and graciousness toward others (both of which are produced by humility) can actually pay more than the cost.
Jesus chose to exercise humility long before his public humiliation. (cf. Philippians 2:1-11, John 5:31-47) It was his mastery of humility that allowed him to humbly say, “Father forgive them.”
Monday, April 28, 2008
I recently wrote my final assignment for a class I have been taking, Christian Spiritual Formation, taught by Dr. David Wray. It has been a wonderful and challenging experience to learn about a variety of spiritual traditions and perspectives. This final paper, which I have included below is a statement of principles for me to measure my life by. I expect that it will change over time, but it will help me at the present time.
Don Morrison’s Rule of Life
Jesus said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV) That is the essence of my rule for life. I do not anticipate perfection; I simply want to measure my thoughts and actions by the direction I have chosen. I have found that this simple rule sustains me when I am confused by life, when I have failed to be righteous, when I doubt God or his motives, even when I feel defeated. This straight-edge gives me direction when I am lost. It is a grace from God to straighten my bent. It is comfort, since Jesus is not speaking to those who have found the kingdom already, but to those who, like me, may experience moments under the reign of God, yet often find ourselves submitting to the world and its values. This rule is for broken seekers who are still worried about this life, but who want to trust in the promise that God will give to us what we need.
I will seek God through worship. While there are deeply personal elements of worship, I find they are often intertwined with those parts of worship that are communal as well. So as I seek God through worship, I will do so as an individual who is not alone or disconnected from the body and as a member of the body of Christ who is to some extent self-responsible.
Purity of life is my worship to God. I give my body as a living sacrifice to God as a spiritual act of worship. It is a grace from God to discipline what goes into my body and what comes out of it. May my speech reflect his purity. May my hands reflect his care. May my feet reflect his perfect ways. Keep me from unrighteousness and fill me with your Spirit so that I may seek purity.
Taking the spiritual nourishment of the body and blood of Jesus is my worship to God. When I think that the things of this world can offer me fulfillment, I need the Supper. I eat the bread with God’s family to remind me where my righteousness comes from and how much it costs and to proclaim this to the world. I drink the cup and its sweetly, tangy flavor traces over my tongue and down my throat, into my stomach where is becomes a part of me. So different from who I am, yet absorbed into my being, like the righteousness of Christ which becomes mine. I need the Supper to remind me that I live because he sustains me.
Prayer is my worship to God. I will seek intimacy with God in confessing my life to him and pouring my needs and my heart’s desires before him in spontaneous encounters and in scheduled times of prayer.
Reading from the Holy Scripture is my worship to God. I will find new expressions of the Father by daily receiving his word into my spirit.
Yielding to the work and guidance of the Holy Spirit is my worship to God. I will listen quietly for his wisdom in the words of scripture, his created children, and the world around me. I will exercise my yielding in the most obvious guidance so that I can hear him better when he speaks quietly, subtly.
Fellowshipping with other seekers is my worship to God. It is good to be with those who love the Lord, but it is not always easy, since we are made of human flesh. We can make each other comfortable and we can challenge one another’s comfort. We need a full diversity of fellowship to balance our egos. We need a full diversity of fellowship to make up for our own weaknesses.
Exploring new ways of engaging my spirit with his is my worship to God. Practicing a variety of spiritual disciplines: finding those I am most comfortable with and stretching with those I find challenging will teach me new facets of God’s divine being. Asking questions about my beliefs or about doctrines can free me for fresh answers from God.
Caring for my very self is my worship to God. My ability to seek God is a gift from God that I should cherish and nurture. My ability to seek God feeds my ability to minister in his kingdom so it is worthy of special care. Caring for self does not place self at the center of life, rather it stewards the body and spirit God has given me for his purposes.
I will seek God through Ministry. I will find ways to participate in God’s mission on behalf of humankind, that he is reconciling all things to himself. I will open my heart to compassion for the world, one or two at a time, as God enables me. I will live in such a way as to validate the message of God’s renewing work.
I will seek God through imitation of his holy character. I will humble myself before God and people to serve where I can. I will share my life with others in such a way as to draw us into shared paths so that we can seek God together. I will be a peace-maker to help reconcile people with people and with God: bringing diversity into unity; brokenness into wholeness.
I will honor righteousness, faithfulness, justice as I learn to love what God loves. I will protect the weak from the oppressor and the destroyer as I learn to hate what God hates. I will place first things first as I learn to be ambivalent about those things God is unconcerned with.
Don Morrison’s Rule of Life
Jesus said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV) That is the essence of my rule for life. I do not anticipate perfection; I simply want to measure my thoughts and actions by the direction I have chosen. I have found that this simple rule sustains me when I am confused by life, when I have failed to be righteous, when I doubt God or his motives, even when I feel defeated. This straight-edge gives me direction when I am lost. It is a grace from God to straighten my bent. It is comfort, since Jesus is not speaking to those who have found the kingdom already, but to those who, like me, may experience moments under the reign of God, yet often find ourselves submitting to the world and its values. This rule is for broken seekers who are still worried about this life, but who want to trust in the promise that God will give to us what we need.
I will seek God through worship. While there are deeply personal elements of worship, I find they are often intertwined with those parts of worship that are communal as well. So as I seek God through worship, I will do so as an individual who is not alone or disconnected from the body and as a member of the body of Christ who is to some extent self-responsible.
Purity of life is my worship to God. I give my body as a living sacrifice to God as a spiritual act of worship. It is a grace from God to discipline what goes into my body and what comes out of it. May my speech reflect his purity. May my hands reflect his care. May my feet reflect his perfect ways. Keep me from unrighteousness and fill me with your Spirit so that I may seek purity.
Taking the spiritual nourishment of the body and blood of Jesus is my worship to God. When I think that the things of this world can offer me fulfillment, I need the Supper. I eat the bread with God’s family to remind me where my righteousness comes from and how much it costs and to proclaim this to the world. I drink the cup and its sweetly, tangy flavor traces over my tongue and down my throat, into my stomach where is becomes a part of me. So different from who I am, yet absorbed into my being, like the righteousness of Christ which becomes mine. I need the Supper to remind me that I live because he sustains me.
Prayer is my worship to God. I will seek intimacy with God in confessing my life to him and pouring my needs and my heart’s desires before him in spontaneous encounters and in scheduled times of prayer.
Reading from the Holy Scripture is my worship to God. I will find new expressions of the Father by daily receiving his word into my spirit.
Yielding to the work and guidance of the Holy Spirit is my worship to God. I will listen quietly for his wisdom in the words of scripture, his created children, and the world around me. I will exercise my yielding in the most obvious guidance so that I can hear him better when he speaks quietly, subtly.
Fellowshipping with other seekers is my worship to God. It is good to be with those who love the Lord, but it is not always easy, since we are made of human flesh. We can make each other comfortable and we can challenge one another’s comfort. We need a full diversity of fellowship to balance our egos. We need a full diversity of fellowship to make up for our own weaknesses.
Exploring new ways of engaging my spirit with his is my worship to God. Practicing a variety of spiritual disciplines: finding those I am most comfortable with and stretching with those I find challenging will teach me new facets of God’s divine being. Asking questions about my beliefs or about doctrines can free me for fresh answers from God.
Caring for my very self is my worship to God. My ability to seek God is a gift from God that I should cherish and nurture. My ability to seek God feeds my ability to minister in his kingdom so it is worthy of special care. Caring for self does not place self at the center of life, rather it stewards the body and spirit God has given me for his purposes.
I will seek God through Ministry. I will find ways to participate in God’s mission on behalf of humankind, that he is reconciling all things to himself. I will open my heart to compassion for the world, one or two at a time, as God enables me. I will live in such a way as to validate the message of God’s renewing work.
I will seek God through imitation of his holy character. I will humble myself before God and people to serve where I can. I will share my life with others in such a way as to draw us into shared paths so that we can seek God together. I will be a peace-maker to help reconcile people with people and with God: bringing diversity into unity; brokenness into wholeness.
I will honor righteousness, faithfulness, justice as I learn to love what God loves. I will protect the weak from the oppressor and the destroyer as I learn to hate what God hates. I will place first things first as I learn to be ambivalent about those things God is unconcerned with.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
What is Real
Sabbath helps us sort things through. That is to say a period of rest gives us time and opportunity to contemplate our life and actions. When we take time off from everything we can talk and remember together. Time off puts work and productivity into perspective, especially when we are compelled by someone else to rest when we would rather be doing something. God gave Israel two explicit reasons for observing the Sabbath – Creation and Recreation.
“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.” (Exodus 31:17) One might think that God didn’t really need to rest; that he was finished with all his work anyway; that his fence wasn’t broken; or whatever one wants to think about why God’s rest is different from the rest he commanded his people to take, but the point is still the same – God is saying he set an example for people and then commanded them to follow it: remember the rest and consider that time differently than any other time.
“Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:15) God had re-created Israel as a sovereign people from out of slavery because of his purposes for them and his promises to Abraham. Here, God instructs them: Keep the rest of God because you used to be slaves to labor, receiving only tenuous rewards for it, but as my people, I will provide for you and give you rest.
Sabbath is an important gift from God because it reminds us of what is real. God created us in his image to work and to be restful with him. God has re-created us further into his image by the work of Jesus, our Savior, so that we might find restfulness in him. The work we accomplish here will end and pass away, but our rest in God is more real. It is with God and in God; it transforms us out of this world and into his.
Sabbath helps us sort things through. That is to say a period of rest gives us time and opportunity to contemplate our life and actions. When we take time off from everything we can talk and remember together. Time off puts work and productivity into perspective, especially when we are compelled by someone else to rest when we would rather be doing something. God gave Israel two explicit reasons for observing the Sabbath – Creation and Recreation.
“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.” (Exodus 31:17) One might think that God didn’t really need to rest; that he was finished with all his work anyway; that his fence wasn’t broken; or whatever one wants to think about why God’s rest is different from the rest he commanded his people to take, but the point is still the same – God is saying he set an example for people and then commanded them to follow it: remember the rest and consider that time differently than any other time.
“Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:15) God had re-created Israel as a sovereign people from out of slavery because of his purposes for them and his promises to Abraham. Here, God instructs them: Keep the rest of God because you used to be slaves to labor, receiving only tenuous rewards for it, but as my people, I will provide for you and give you rest.
Sabbath is an important gift from God because it reminds us of what is real. God created us in his image to work and to be restful with him. God has re-created us further into his image by the work of Jesus, our Savior, so that we might find restfulness in him. The work we accomplish here will end and pass away, but our rest in God is more real. It is with God and in God; it transforms us out of this world and into his.
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