TGIF
“To be commanded to love God at all, let alone in the wilderness, is like being commanded to be well when we are sick, to sing for joy when we are dying of thirst, to run when our legs are broken. But this is the first and great commandment nonetheless. Even in the wilderness – especially in the wilderness – you shall love him.”
Buechner
There are a multitude of reasons we can find ourselves in the wilderness.
Sometimes, it’s because of our sin, sometimes, it’s the result of the sins of others.
Sometimes, it’s by choice.
Sometimes, the wilderness is safer than being inside the camp.
Sometimes, if you want to see the stars you must leave the lights of the city and go into the darkness of the wilderness to see them shine.
Sometimes, in order to see Jesus and love Him, you must leave those who claim to love Him too.
For me, this is such a time.
The divisions among us are now so deep, so entrenched in temporal politics, that I can no longer see Jesus clearly among the saints.
The Jesus of social media is primarily interested in the defeat and humiliation of His political opponents.
Sin and sanctification are measured by political ideology, not necessarily biblical standards.
The Sermon on the Mount is for the weak or another dispensation when voting wasn’t an option.
We are not known for our love, but we’d better be known to uphold specific political principles.
I don’t have what it takes to participate in such anymore, nor to debate with those who do.
Add to that the corruption of too many leaders, the abuse of the sheep by the shepherds… and it easily becomes too much to bear.
You run to the wilderness.
The great challenge of the wilderness is not to love Jesus in your isolation…that’s the easy part.
Once you see Jesus clearly above all earthly powers, once you see Him in the reflection of the Cross again…your heart is instantly renewed.
No, the hard part is to love the ones who are glad that you’re no longer among them.
The hard part is to not prefer division and give up on the hope of reconciliation with the family.
The harder part is to follow Him back where you came from…because He loves the people you left and because He does, you do too.
The brokenness you take into the wilderness is the healing you bring back home.
When you’re ready…
I’m not yet…
I will be.
Make your own application…
Yes…
I remember the cross was set outside the city walls,
but then, so was the resurrection…
Keep the faith, my brother.
Duane,
Well said…the one contains the promise of the other.
My faith is being kept for me…and thank you for being part of that process.
One of my favorite verses, Job 6:14 ‘what is needed for the despairing man, is kindness from his friends, lest he forsake the fear of the All Mighty”
There is a shocking and sickening amount of arrogant posturing and hate-spewing going on within and without some churches or circles of believers. But not all circles.
A quick review of the Letters to the 7 Churches of Revelation, is a good commentary on issues that were around then, and are still around now. Some things never change.
1 Kings 19:6 & 7 …6Then he (Elijah) looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7The angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
many remain within ‘the walls’ who feel exiled, apart, and alone. The pressure to remain despite the sense that one is excluded drives many to fake it–and perpetuate what the ‘insiders’ espouse as the party line. Giving permission to withdraw and regroup may be an essential step in helping save the whole.
I support the notion that all persons in vocational ministry take a sabbatical every 5-7 years–not a vacation–a true sabbatical.
fil,
Well said…for me, the difficulty is in the temptation to withdraw and stay away.
reading here this morning brought to mind the admonition to redeem the time for the days are “evil”… and that sent me to reread Eph. 5 and that reading has me thinking that our churches fall way short of what the Ephesians were instructed… is that because it was written to a different people in a different time or is the chapter there for all the Church down thru time?
it seems today that the local churches now are having trouble following the admonition of 1 Cor 13:1,13 … or so it seems … so?
so, either we’re fast coming up on the end of the end times or we’re due for another great awakening – either one would be a joy
just sayin … and … God keep Michael N
well, i must say, Duane, Paige and filbertz – a big AMEN or is that 4 big ones? 🙂
Yep.
All the cool kids hang out in the wilderness anyway 😉
“No, the hard part is to love the ones who are glad that you’re no longer among them.”
pray for them because God means it when He said, “vengeance is Mine, I will repay” … those who have driven you out are going to face an angry God or else they are not His children and the wilderness is a much better place in the first place … if the Phxp is any example – as London noted 🙂
John 20:29,
I do not think that those inside the metaphorical camp are malicious, simply misguided.
The marriage between politics and evangelicalism has produced a mutant child that is as concerned about the secular as the the sacred and does not distinguish between them in terms of priority.
One must be as devoted to political ideology with the same fervor as a doctrinal statement…and one can be branded a heretic for violating either.
We have always been a heretic hating people…
It is an interesting fact of 4th century Church History that the heterodox and the heretics were the ones who resorted to political power either to protect themselves or to enforce their heterodoxy using state power – Eusebius of Nicomedia is a good example. It was the orthodox who were exiled – think, Athanasius.
In the 20th century it was the German Church that made common cause with the National Socialists, while Bonhoeffer, the Confessing Church and the White Rose movement were persecuted.
You would think that by now we would have learned…
“The marriage between politics and evangelicalism has produced a mutant child that is as concerned about the secular as the the sacred and does not distinguish between them in terms of priority.”
ahhh, then we must pray for another great awakening… and, sadly the Lord does chastise, if necessary, to get our attention… i know “the signs of the times” sets everyone’s teeth on edge here, but there are signs and they look a bit ominous to me… but God knows, i don’t and He knows i don’t
what’d she say ????
I don’t know what application i am suposed to make. 🙁 are you leaving us? I know your health is not good.
Whatever you need to do i suport you 100%
Dusty,
I’m not going anywhere.
I’m just going to be very intentional about where and how I interact online and off…I think I’m safe here. 🙂
I’ll keep you safe big brother. 🙂
I no longer identify with American Evangelicalism. I know longer want to be at war with all those that Evangelicals say I should be at war with.
“One must be as devoted to political ideology with the same fervor as a doctrinal statement…and one can be branded a heretic for violating either.”
Hi, I’m a heretic. Well, that’s the label anyway.
DavidH,
While I do not identify with American evangelicalism, I love my brethren in that “tradition”.
The temptation to separate is one that will serve none of us, though it is necessary at times for the good of all.
Thanks, Dusty. 🙂
I’m going a bit out on a limb here.
If you are under 55 years old, you already know that Evangelicalism is R.I.P.
Yeah?
There is good company out in the wilderness…just look at all of us…kind of all in the same place. Waiting on God! Lets enjoy the view.
Costco,
Define dead…
Michael,
I merely don’t want to be labeled anymore. I’m too old to pigeonholed now. I still attend an “Evangelical” church, a new home with really loving people.
I had to take time away to regain my sanity. I realized that I was becoming a person who I wasn’t. It was tearing me apart inside.
Maybe not not dead.
But dying.
As far as…
Relevance.
And numbers.
Of what once was…
In 1993.
And neither relevance or numbers determines God’s favor.
It’s just our (my) point of view.
Yeah?
DavidH,
I hear you…
“And neither relevance or numbers determines God’s favor.” yep
The numbers aren’t what they were…more concerning to me is the growing hostility toward the church from the young and unchurched.
What is the wilderness? What does that mean? I’m pretty sure I know but my questions are with the intention of sparking a conversation.
I think it’s an important topic/issue because it seems there are so many christians having wilderness experiences at the expense of their faith…I did.
Promised Land,
The wilderness is a broad metaphor for being separated from the mainstream and at times feeling separated from God.
Costco Cal- I’m 55 and have considered myself a recovering evangelical for a number of years now. To me evangelicalism was like a treadmill that never stops.
I walked into the wilderness willingly. Intentionally. Every now and then I look back and wonder if it’s OK to return. Then it passes.
Michael,
My wilderness resulted from questioning and doubting God. It started when life smacked me in the face and my life circumstances were overwhelming. I began a slow, long descent into the wilderness. Wasted 15 years there.
Michael,
What you are experiencing is different than what I went through. I understand the frustration of wanting to separate from those you mention in your article.
It sounds like you have a good handle on it. You realize you’re called to love them. You mention it is hard (and I agree it is) but I don’t think it has to be. I think it gets easier the more we know Him. You make a great statement:
“Once you see Jesus clearly above all earthly powers, once you see Him in the reflection of the Cross again…your heart is instantly renewed.”
I found it easier to create a wilderness I was comfortable in with a god I constructed than to believe there was more. Yet God is quick to forgive and not do away with us as I thought He might do.
Christianity lived is not for the feint of heart.
I am so over the political rage that has swept our nation which I pray doesn’t spill over into violence in the coming weeks and months.
Erunner, praying with you… even though one can and should defend their viewpoint on the commerce of the nation, political rage can foment some dangerous violence…