A Different Perspective on the Spiritual Disciplines
We see through the scriptures Jesus Christ getting up early in the morning to read the Torah...[record screeching]...I mean praying, communing with the Father. And therefore we try to emulate, copy, and imitate that. But what if that is the result of a truly deep and mature relationship?
We Christians can sometimes go so far into storming the gate we can miss the obvious. It becomes a sort of monkey see monkey do. But monkey does not understand, so monkey isn't really doing.
The funny thing is by emphasizing having your quiet times, making sure you read the Bible everyday, make sure you do this, and make sure you do that. All of which we "know" are truly spiritual things...what if that would be the equivalent of sleeping with someone on the first date.
Whoa, you might be saying...yeah I went there. Look here's the point, here's the perspective the metaphor is being used from -- the greater one knows another the EASIER and more natural the intimacy becomes. As God leads us [and we follow Him, not what someone else says, but only HIM] we get to know Him more and more. Remember, He's the "aggressor", not you. But what do we hear Sunday after Sunday? Do this to get this. If you didn't do that, don't expect to have this. Rather than, where is Father bringing you today? How are you seeing Him leading you into a deeper relationship with Him?
See our focus is almost ALWAYS on what we have to do. Even those who claim to be most biblically based are often the most self-focused. And because they know self-focus is biblically wrong, they wrap themselves up with the Bible and Chistianese language to cover up the fact that they still have themselves at the center and only talk a little about God.
As He brings us closer to Him we may find we naturally tend toward spending time with Him. Do you have to schedule time with those you love passionately? Or is it your schedule that makes way for the person? When you're in love, don't you find yourself doing different things and having comfortable habits? Isn't it sharing of life in ALL it's ups and downs, ins and outs, comforts and adventures, certainty and risk?
We Christians can sometimes go so far into storming the gate we can miss the obvious. It becomes a sort of monkey see monkey do. But monkey does not understand, so monkey isn't really doing.
The funny thing is by emphasizing having your quiet times, making sure you read the Bible everyday, make sure you do this, and make sure you do that. All of which we "know" are truly spiritual things...what if that would be the equivalent of sleeping with someone on the first date.
Whoa, you might be saying...yeah I went there. Look here's the point, here's the perspective the metaphor is being used from -- the greater one knows another the EASIER and more natural the intimacy becomes. As God leads us [and we follow Him, not what someone else says, but only HIM] we get to know Him more and more. Remember, He's the "aggressor", not you. But what do we hear Sunday after Sunday? Do this to get this. If you didn't do that, don't expect to have this. Rather than, where is Father bringing you today? How are you seeing Him leading you into a deeper relationship with Him?
See our focus is almost ALWAYS on what we have to do. Even those who claim to be most biblically based are often the most self-focused. And because they know self-focus is biblically wrong, they wrap themselves up with the Bible and Chistianese language to cover up the fact that they still have themselves at the center and only talk a little about God.
As He brings us closer to Him we may find we naturally tend toward spending time with Him. Do you have to schedule time with those you love passionately? Or is it your schedule that makes way for the person? When you're in love, don't you find yourself doing different things and having comfortable habits? Isn't it sharing of life in ALL it's ups and downs, ins and outs, comforts and adventures, certainty and risk?
posted by GBT at
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
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