Lent Day 19: Out of touch? With whom?

"U.S. Catholics in Poll See a Church out of Touch" screamed the NY Times headline this morning. That got me wondering, "Out of touch with whom?"

We want a god in our own image. One who lets us do whatever pleases us but doesn't let us get hurt. One who indulges our inclination to sin but doesn't punish us for violating a higher holy nature. One who affirms but doesn't demand.

We constantly remake God to suit ourselves. Those who value wealth look for verses in scripture to support material prosperity. Those most comfortable with "black and white" thinking emphasize the commandments and legal prescriptions. Those who lean toward kindness and hoping for the best may pick out verses about God's love and forgiveness, without recognizing the justice and holiness of God.

God will always seem "out of touch" to those who rewrite his revelation. To those who want God to change when they do not want to. To those who don't want to be accountable to anyone but themselves. To those refuse to embrace the God of ALL the Bible, OT and NT, the revelation of Love and grace ... plus justice and provision for mercy.

However, God is consistent to his nature. If He never changes, how could we have missed understanding Him?

So how can we begin to know the God who was, is, and is to come?

1. Be open. God promised to make Himself known to those who earnestly seek Him with their whole heart.
2. Be active. Read scripture. Pray. Seek a community of faith with whom to explore faith. Serve other people and find out more about God as you watch Him work in others as well as in you.
3. Be willing. You'll have to change the way you assume things are. You're leaving preconceptions behind for a mind-bending adventure!
4. Be ready. The life of faith is mysterious. You'll change, day by day, year by year, decade by decade. God intends to shape you into conformity with Jesus.
5. Be in motion. Don't get stuck. When you find yourself settling into familiar patterns, attack the scriptures for new insights. Pray longer and more openly. Volunteer. Work. Embrace life!

6. And be prepared for ANYTHING! Our creative God will take you places you never dreamed. Walk you through valleys so deep and hike you up mountains so high you will be breathless with pleasure as well as pain. And some day -- when you see Him face to face -- you will recognize the one you've already learned to love and trust!

Read more:
*Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3 NLT

*[Jesus told his disciples,] "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you." John 14:16–18

*Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 NIV

*Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:18

Moravian Prayer: May we feel you beside us this day, God. May we be aware of how we communicate our feelings of love through more than words. Help us to make everything we do be rooted in love, an expression of love, and a witness to your love. Amen.

Walking WITH God

The book I'm reading is titled simply, "With." It explores our journey of faith and encourages readers to find themselves on a journey WITH God. Many of us live "under God," trying to follow rules to coerce God to act on our behalf. Some live "over God" as though He were the prime Mover in creation and has paid little attention to us since. Skye Jethani encourages us to rethink our walk with God.

Paul and others describe healthy Christian life through lists of behaviors and spiritual fruit (not fruits) that emerge when we walk WITH God, in partnership with One who is able to transform us from the inside and outside. If you claim to follow Christ, how have these qualities begun to grow in you? Are others eating the sweet fruit of them? Or have you developed a bitter root that spoils what people get from your life?

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• longsuffering
• kindness
• goodness
• humility
• selflessness
• gentleness
• compassion
• friendliness

The scriptural lists are long and specific. I have some fertilizing, watering, and basking in the light of God's presence to do to let the fruit grow strong and tasty. You?

Read more:

*Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. Psalm 31:5 (NKJV) 

*The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. Psalm 119:130

*All belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 3:22-23 

*Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 NIV

Moravian Prayer: Jesus, we put all of our eggs in your basket, all our trust in you because we know you love us. Help us to live a life that shows we always trust in you. Amen. 

Living in the mystery

The world is awash in mystery. Science seeks it out. Religions dive in to explore it. And people both fear and desire interaction with things they don't understand. 

We have a lot of questions:

• Does my life have a purpose? If I didn't exist, would it matter?
• Why have people hurt me? How should I respond to them?
• How much free choice do individuals have? Does it matter if our choices harm others?
• The world became chaotic, just when I thought  was getting a grip on things. Is anyone in control?
• Nature seems to be going mad. How do I understand my place in my surroundings?
• Does it matter what path I choose or whom I worship? Does it all sort itself out in the end?
• How do I respond to (or explain things) I don't understand?

Everyone looks for meaning and comprehending these mysteries of life and more. Most people make excuses to find answers ANYWHERE except in the Bible and through belief in the Christian God. We may have various reasons to avoid the Mystery of becoming Christ-followers, including:

• We prefer to invent our gods. We don't want anyone or thing in authority over us. It's more appealing to pick and choose from religious traditions to imagine a perfect scenario of cosmic appeasement ... with our Self at the center.
• The Christian God makes demands on his adherents - to follow him, we must fall in with him and his expectations. He refuses to come alongside us as a magic genie who responds to cosmic manipulation. (i.e. "If I live well, he must bless me and do what I want/need/desire.") 
• Christians are a funny bunch. God has chosen "the weak things of the world" to show off the marvels of his universe and his generous love. We don't necessarily want to be identified as "one of those kooks."
• It's politically incorrect and intolerant to believe - never mind to say - "This is God's way. The only way to heaven." (And who even believes in a Christian heaven and hell anymore?) 
• We may have been disappointed with Christians or the Church in the past. We might have experienced an abuse of power, hypocritical believers, people who don't live up to our expectations, a church that gets off into weird sectarian doctrines, etc.

Don't look everywhere but God's offer! It's worth checking out the Bible's claims of God seeking us out, the Mysterious Creator wanting to connect with us, providing a way to know a God who is altogether holy, just, AND loving.

I'm encouraging those who are already in the faith to plunge in wholeheartedly. For those exploring their options to consider traveling the road of life, please open wide to the possibility of "GOD WITH US" in Jesus Christ. How?

• Read through the Bible. Not just once, but many times. Grab a Bible handbook and study guides along the way. There are many versions from easy to academic, authored by people who have thought deeply about the faith and can explain culture and customs that are confusing to readers. Or choose an online reader with research resources in it. Click here.
• Listen to podcasts about theology (thinking about God). One version: my husband's been a theology prof for 20 years and has a series on "Basic Christian Thought" here, including thoughts on heaven and hell, God and the angels, the Trinity as holy dance, creation, the place of humans, etc.
• Host or join a group that explores scripture. I like the range of groups here but a local church near you probably has groups as well. If they're kooky, don't give up. After all, you don't give up eating just because you hit a lousy restaurant!

The adventure of life is worth exploring to the max. The mystery of life is worth examination and interaction. Though we can't fully understand God and his ways, he invites us into relationship. That mystery is the deepest of all for me! Have fun on the journey and let me know how it goes.

Read more:
*Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span. Exodus 23:24-26 NIV

*We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old. Psalm 44:1

*Though you have not seen Him, you love Jesus Christ, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries. 1 Peter 1:8, 9-10 (NASB) 

*And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things
in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. Ephesians 1:9-10 NIV

Moravian Prayer: Lord, it is by faith that we know and that we are called. May we follow your call as strongly as those who walked side by side with you. We hear of your works and are led to do your work as well. Amen.