I have been working with a class at church trying to impart a personal ownership of one's involvement in the congregation. I know that people are often afraid of discussing the topic for one reason or another, yet I didn't realize how many people it seemed to put off. We're not talking about "get involved because the church needs people to do stuff", and we're not talking about "feel guilty so you will participate in more stuff". What we are talking about is being personally excited about worship, study, and service to the Lord. In having a personal ownership of these things, we will be the infectious Christians God desires us to be. We will be like the apostles who said "we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard". We will be like those who studied the Scriptures daily to find Truth. We will be like those who went from house to house, encouraging others. Those who have been coming have offered great discussion, and have been open-minded to the challenge to perform a self-inventory. We can always benefit from being honest with ourselves. If we think we have "arrived" at some spiritual cap, then we kid ourselves. I really think God looks at us, sees our child-like fumbling that we call "mature worship", applies His magnificent grace, then loves us perfectly despite our efforts. I love God.
posted by Paul @ 11:18 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Is there not more than one way to serve God, to learn about His grace and love? I think that participation in church study is wonderful, if it works for you. If you get something out of it. (And by "you" I mean the general "you.") My sense is that everyone's relationship with God is unique. That all roads lead to Him, but that maybe we all come from different directions. Creating an opportunity to learn in the church environment and making it clear that the door is always open is all anyone can do. If people were put off, I wonder if the invitation was conveyed with an underlying message of obligation -- to be a good Christian, you should attend. Or perhaps those who were resistant just haven't been called to study and commune in the same fashion as those who regularly attend. Perhaps they never will be. We are all given different gifts, different spiritual gifts, different callings, different purposes. I think it's important to accept those differences and have faith that God will lead each of us along our own path. If that path leads to your (or your group's) door, more the better. If not, you know, maybe that's okay, too. It's in God's hands.
I don't think Paul's denying the uniqueness of each person's walk with God. On the contrary, he seems to be pointing out that mindless participation that does not spring out of an inner joy and gratitude towards God is not worship at all.
As you say, there are so many ways to use the gifts, passions, and talents that God has given us for accomplishing His purposes uplifting of each other; I think the main thrust of the class is that a heart in love with God and aware of His grace will act, not as a way of checking off some spiritual to do list or satisfying a sense of duty, but as a natural growth springing from an inner truth--the way fruit grows on a fruit tree.
Having said that, I believe, after studying the Bible, that involvement of some kind with other Christians is essential to a healthy spiritual life. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." And that's just one of the many "one another" verses that compel us to lovingly and patiently help each other on the road to heaven. I have come to understand that we aren't meant to walk alone, even if we are each responsible for our own response to His invitation.
Sadly, not all roads do lead to Him, but the one that does is clearly marked.
You're right. All roads don't lead to God. My statement -- not very clearly expressed and for that I apologize -- was in reference to those who seek Christ. I do think we come to Him and by Him in a variety of manners, lead by different kinds of teachers who speak our individual languages.
And yes, I'm familiar with the scripture you reference and have been taught most of my life that those who love God should gather together in His name to serve and worship. There's strength in community that we can't muster as individuals. I do think, however, that in addition to coming to God in a variety of ways, people come to different places in their walk at different times at that there should be understanding around that -- around the natural and varied course of growth. If you threw me into AP Calculus when I had barely mastered multiplication, I might be put off mathematics as well. We just can't force people to perform beyond their understanding.
Aside from that, I think my reaction is to the idea that if people aren't demonstrative in the way we think they should be demonstrative in worship or in service that they aren't worshipping at all or at least not sufficiently to satisfy other Christians. We don't know what's in the hearts of other people. We don't know the dialogue they have with God. We aren't in their heads or hearts. I understand the frustration with hypocrisy -- but how are we as humans to truly know?
All that said, perhaps I missed the point entirely. Perhaps Paul is simply saying that his love for God is so strong that he can't fathom why others can't/don't share his desire to know God better. And that's a truly wonderful sentiment and speaks well of his commitment to his faith. Not to cheapen Paul's passion, but rather to make a very, very human comparison, it's very much how I feel about people who say they don't like dogs when they haven't even met my dog, Fred.
And last, perhaps we should start a blog to address matters of faith, because I'm very much enjoying this conversation. Thanks for the thoughts, you guys. -- j
Oops, and sorry for the typos! grrr. . .
A person's faith is dependent on no other Christian. It can be encouraged, yes, yet it is not dependent on anyone but you (and Christ). I am not writing off people who do not worship, study, or serve like me. I DO know that when a Christian is on fire and is in a true ownership of their spirituality, it is infectious. That does not mean that the infected then do exactly what the infector does, but will rather find ways for God to use them. They will be more likely to reach out and take the leap of faith to God in the first place.
It may be relevant that the class I am teaching is predominantly populated by people who opted into a leadership class, which then moved into this involvement topic; they have already chosen to sharpen themselves in their spiritual experience.
I sometimes may sound like I am pushing, but what I am doing is searching myself and testing for ways to be better for God. I hope to be the kind of person that others look at and get excited to have what I have in my life: Christ.
I am not limiting anyone's spiritual gifts. I know a guy who can spout Scripture like it is written on the back of his eyelids. I aspire to have the Word of God in memory, but I will never get to the level of this scholar. His fire and zeal for the Word inspires me to try to write it on my own heart and mind even more than I would had I never met him. His fire and ownership of his study affects me positively. My desire for every Christian is not just quantity but quality. Not to meet some manmade standard, but to please God.
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Amazing that this popper up today:
Real Player sermon
http://www.dgchurch.org/sermons/2005/1023_rich_howell_sermon.html
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