TGIF
I have spent most of my life in the faith deeply concerned about the doctrines of the faith.
I invested vast amounts of time and money into learning about God and God was supposed to be found in the pages of all those books that talked about Him.
Those books told you what scholars had decided about His attributes, His attitudes, and how He dealt with man and creation.
It was a lot of information about Him.
I’m sure some of it was even true.
It left me unsatisfied.
It turns out that all that knowledge about Him, though valuable, also created a wall that separated me from the one true and living God.
You have to name the name…His name is Jesus.
When you center your attention on Jesus instead of doctrines about God and books about God things get crazy.
He makes a mess of your library…books cannot contain Him.
He blows up any comfort zone you think you have with astounding demands to follow Him.
Following Him means not following anyone else…even when people you want to be with are chasing after other leaders.
He goes about your life loving people you don’t and then waits for you to do the same.
He says we must love our enemies even if they are enemies of Him as well.
Most of the religious that claim Him try to tame Him…so He rattles their cages until they want to kill Him….and His followers.
He’s a political radical who claims to be King over a kingdom that supersedes all earthly ones.
He expects you to follow His “constitution” when it contradicts any laws of men.
He calls us to live by faith, when we think we need the certainty of currency.
He demands that you reject the ways of the world when the ways of the world are the only way you know how to survive.
Unfortunately, survival isn’t high on His priority list…He always talks about losing this life to find the one He offers.
Reading about Him is easier than following Him.
Following Him can terrifying and fraught with risk .
He is alive and active, demanding and forgiving, consoling and rebuking, holy and awesome.
He is utterly unique, utterly wondrous, utterly God.
I love my books, but I am learning to love Him more.
The risk has proven to be worth it.
Only He satisfies.
Make your own application…
Michael, are you channeling the late 60s early 70s today? 🙂
I was young in the sixties and started drinking in the seventies…channeling either would make a mess here… 🙂
There is just a huge difference for me in how Jesus is perceived when the focus is on Him instead of doctrines about Him…
“Those books told you what scholars had decided about His attributes, His attitudes, and how He dealt with man and creation.”
Isn’t this article saying the same thing as the ‘scholars’ you put down?
MLD,
I don’t put down scholars.
As I said…I love my books.
However, there is a difference between head knowledge and and the heart…knowing versus experiencing.
Both are necessary.
Yes.
Good post.
I don’t have a corner on the market of knowing Jesus’ heart, and I certainly don’t have a corner on the market of head-knowledge. I would prefer the former over the latter.
Michael,
Well said. Reminds me somewhat of something C. S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity (sorry, I realize I’m quoting another book, here). He talked about the necessity of a sailor having both a map and experience being on the ocean. Sometimes the books do help point to Him. And, actually being with Him, serving Him can give the fuller, truer meaning of Him.
Just something I think.
a TGIF that brings tears of joy…
“Most of the religious that claim Him try to tame Him…so He rattles their cages until they want to kill Him….and His followers.”
this post brings so much good thinking to consider today… thank you, Michael
erased my pontifying… not needed here
Owen… a sailor out on the sea and out of the sight of land without a compass won’t find the chart all that helpful…
IMNSHO – because life often has us all at sea we do need one book: THE Bible is a reliable compass – always identifying true north and magnetic deviance also… somewhere i read that tradition has God’s throne north of earth and i’ve found that interesting as my instinct, for some reason has been to face north when i pray (but, yes, i know that any direction will do 🙂 )
i do like the analogy, tho … it’s amazing how much of life has mariner comparisons
Amen. Beautiful.Amen. A terrifyingly beautiful position.
Michael – I hope you’re not becoming one of those “Red Letter” Christians. 😀
I think I accidentally cut-off my ability to physically experience God a few years ago. Not joking either.
very good Michael. a humbled amen
Josh, I think God is still with you
Thank for reading today, folks.
I’m out for most of the weekend.
Bravo, Michael! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Jesus came to create a Church, not a library. As for Jesus himself, although Albert Schweitzer was better at Bach than theology, he made one very salient observation:
“He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside,
He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same words: “Follow thou me!” and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.”
Soon we shall see Him face to face. 🙂
Josh – Experience Him spiritually instead. You won’t experience Him physically until you’re resurrected and see him face-to-face. He didn’t leave you – you left Him. Get back to where you once belonged. – Rev. 2:4-5
#s 12 & 18 … we don’t need to experience our Lord in any of the three persons physically …
if He thinks we need His impact on our physical being for some reason, He’ll do the coming to us… calm and rational and real… but rare, very rare IMHO…
not too many have been knocked off their (was Saul riding a donkey or a horse?) mount and blinded … by God, that is…
I experience Jesus physically – it’s all in the bread and the wine.
Great quote Duane
Michael…I think your best yet. It’s a call to revolution in thinking. It’s a call to align our thought process with our Savior’s. It’s uncomfortable, but isn’t that where growth takes place…in that space of reflection? Bravo!
Josh the Baptist… I feel you man. Everything will be cool. I’d hang out with you!
Josh I’m praying for you to feel God again
THanks Dusty, c2p, and Ms, ODM.
I know God is with me, and he loves me. Rough day, and I had a bit of a pity party. You guys are awesome!
If nothing else, I feel God through you.
You’re a good man Josh. Don’t listen to the enemy. Praying brother.
Thanks covered. I appreciate your prayers and encouragement,
So if I’m reading you correctly
A faithful life necessitates there be footprints of faith. Like one of your other posts, the indelible footprint is agapé.
So frightened to do the simplest task…
Lord I need your Holy Spirit to give me faithfulness…
this thread reminds me again: “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:10-13
for my part it is seldom felt physically, but it does seem to always be at work – some things resolve quickly when i am asking, some things resolve quickly (and satisfactory) when i’m not asking and some things just hang in the air unresolved, but i know, experientially if i look back over the years… God truly is always there, He IS a loving father… God the Holy Spirit will comfort, give us insight and He will bind our wounds – the privilege of free will means a few wounds
God keep all close and comforted… joining in praying for Michael tonight
Josh, still praying for you