“You know, don’t you, that I’m the One who emptied your pantries and cleaned out your cupboards, who left you hungry and standing in the bread lines? But you never got hungry for me. You continued to ignore me.”
Amos 4:6 (The Message/Remix)
Upon a first reading of this text, we can certainly see a possible interpretation as having something to do with trials. As God “empties” our pantries and cupboards, He leaves us empty and without. The taking away of provisions and blessings is intentional in order for us to “realize” our utter dependency on God.
I want to suggest an alternative reading, though. I’d like to suggest that this is a passage about fasting. Now, I’m not naturally inclined to fast and I would venture to believe that most of us aren’t by nature.
Yet, I see God telling me through this portion of Scripture to emulate Him and to make the emptying out of my own pantry & cupboard, an intentional & daily discipline in my life. The intended purpose is to remind myself of the One who genuinely provides everything in my life - no exceptions – no matter what.
What about hunger?
The word “hunger” most often prompts us to consider the physiological dimensions of the need. However, there is psycho-emotional, spiritual & relational hunger caused by a life devoid of purpose and meaning. It is paramount for each of us to recognize how our hunger (whether caused by spiritual, emotional, physiological and/or psychological needs) substantially dictates our actions. This is especially true as we seek to remove the discomfort, pangs or pain associated with hunger.
Clark Hull suggested a theory which has a significant lesson for us to learn as Christians. The Drive Reduction Theory, as he coined the term, suggests that we act in accordance to the needs are facing. We are driven by our needs to temporarily satisfy (reduce) whatever the “hunger” is in our lives – be it sexual, financial, relational or spiritual.
You can see the danger in living a life driven toward providing only conditional satisfaction to the presently insatiable areas of our lives. Here is where idolatry comes in. In essence, “junk food” and “poor eating habits” come in. Here is where persistent hunger (in either physiological or psychological form) drives us to sinful measures sometimes due to uncontrollable urges and sometimes due to desperate circumstances. However we arrive at this point in our lives, hunger determines our actions and can ultimately lead us to ignore God as we come to believe that He has failed to satisfy any or all our needs.
Malnourished Churchianity
In Amos’ lifetime, back in the day (c. 755 BC), God called him to rally against the abuses of religion as it was used to abuse God’s people. Religion was often used (and continues to be, I’m afraid) to undermine, exploit and oppress the people of God. Of course, this led to people falling away and growing ever more obstinate and incredulous toward the right relationship God desired (and commanded) to have with the people of Judah and Israel.
Although the divine mandate is tragically distorted, we remain hungry for some kind of spiritual fulfillment. In the “apparent” absence of God in our lives, we are still going to take necessary action destined to satisfy the void causing us pain, discomfort and in severe cases, malnourishment, famine, even death. This is where counterfeit religiosity and spirituality, like so many diets out there, never live up to there intended purposes. And yet, the diet industry is a booming one as is religion, spirituality and self-help markets.
There are many sisters & brothers hungering for God or for something to satisfy their unquenchable thirst and insatiable hunger for a new life, healing, peace, restoration, deliverance, change and for new opportunities. There is an unprecedented epidemic of malnourished or famished members of the Body of Christ sitting in so many of our pews across America or already having “given up” on the Church altogether.
These children of God are still subject to hunger for something bigger, something greater. Ironically, they find themselves unable to accept that God’s insatiable hunger for relationship with His creation and especially, for each and every one of His children, also include each and every one of them, too.
Often these individuals are driven toward all manner of destructive actions against themselves and/or toward one another. As they continue down a spiral of unending despair, anger, shame, guilt, angst and/or confusion, just to name a few of the countless feelings which can overshadow and eventually take our lives hostage, their hunger, sadly enough, will more than likely be for things other than God. Although we will still desire to be satisfied, fulfilled and ultimately digest something that will enliven, invigorate and nourish our spirit, malnourished people living within malnourished Churchianity will be encouraged to choose from a smorgasbord of spiritual options rather than to nurture a lifelong hunger for the only true bread and for living water.
So, what about Fasting?
Amos 4:6 challenges us, although I believe it commands us, to fast from all the things that keep us from God. All too often we have harbor excuses for not praying, reading scripture, participating in some kind of Christian community and for not pursuing God with our entire being. We fast from prayer, so we slowly loose our connection to God and we begin to rely more on our control and on ourselves. We fast from scripture, so the narratives of salvation history seem to grow dim as we substitute those narratives with stories that reveal the cynical, vain and worldly dimensions of this shadow world. We fast from community and we experience loneliness, anxiety and depression. We fast from God and we entertain the notion that life just is what it is. Consequently, we will then fast from joy, hope and from genuine love.
To purposely keep ourselves for a time from individuals or things that keep us from God will reveal to us how much we are dependent on everything but God. In experiencing this state of emptying out, we can begin the process of being filled by the Spirit of God. The emptying out our pantries and cupboards removes all manner of clutter which keeps us from living Christ-centered lives.
It isn’t that we are to fast choosing those items which contend for the path of least resistance. We are to intentionally choose those idols which cause us to choose between God and them. We when fast from food, the Internet, iPods or from people, we are essentially seeking to reconfigure our lives and to put all things under God’s Christ. In that way, when we do finally come back to turning our computers on or calling a friend, we now do so acknowledging the blessing, but not without recognizing the power our hunger and desires have over us. We, therefore, fast from things that enslave us so that we may live as free people. Free from all things that challenge our faithfulness for our first love, which is Christ.
The purpose of emptying out ourselves is to recognizing how easily we can become subject to our ego, desires, ambitions, pride, shame, guilt, pain and other needs, hurts or “dreams”. It is a daily reminder of our sinful and unfaithful predisposition being willingly subjected, in humility and obedience, under the sovereignty of God.
Finally, there’s a profound lesson for us to learn from this – our dependency is not fully on God. We are double minded and ignore the God who is here, there and everywhere; the God who willingly and lovingly provides everything – even the bread of life.
See you @ Bible Study -
IN Christ,
Daniel
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Kingdom Scraps
I never thought of abandoned blessings. Have you?
In The Message translation of Matthew 15: 27, Jesus replies to the Canaanite woman, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.” The woman answered, “You’re right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table.” If we continue to read we find Jesus heals the woman’s demon possessed daughter as a consequence of her faith. Later on, we find in Matthew 15: 34-39, that from a small amount of food (seven loaves plus a few fish) Jesus is able to feed over four thousand people. They ate to their hearts content and there were leftovers and in some cases, to be sure, scraps.
This is so like the kingdom, it is from discarded or insignificant remnants that we find God breaking into human history, overturning oppressive circumstances and bringing healing to brokenness. It is in the leftovers & scraps that we find hope. Perhaps we desire God to provide us with fresh, out of the oven opportunities. If we conceive of our ministry as being unconventional and in some fashion challenging the status quo of “Churchianity”, then we would arguably pray for God to present innovative and “prophetic” avenues of ministry for us. However, I believe that it is in finding kingdom scraps, the discarded blessings God presented to other servants which somehow they felt weren’t going “anywhere” (or God took out of their mouths), and see them as the exact opportunities God intended for us to gladly receive and prayerfully work with satisfied and contrite hearts. If those pieces of bread taken from children’s mouths happen to fall on the floor underneath the Master’s table, then it is for us – in humility and obedience – to get on our knees and be content with all but a foretaste of the kingdom. For if we are willing to receive only but the leftovers of what God’s intended for others, then we will be ultimately blessed with results beyond our wildest imaginations.
The other day, a friend shared her reflection on this same passage. She suggested the following, “The children who the bread was meant for did not consume the bread as real hungry children in some third world country . . . They could afford to let crumbs fall. . . Like those children, there are many that God has blessed who have not hungered for the total bread and have not utilized the God given meal to the fullest. When we abandon ourselves at God’s feet we will not only be able to benefit from abandoned blessings that others have not used fully for the glory of God - blessings that now fall to us, but we will be elevated to equal and even higher positions because of our humility and submission.”
How have we been humble, obedient and diligent stewards?
How have we appreciated the meal God so lovingly prepared for us? Have we shared this meal with others to such an extent that the dishes are clean and there are no leftovers? Let us pray for God inspired leftover recipes and let us share the meals with all who hunger for justice, healing and righteousness.
See you @ Bible Study. . .
In Him . . . alone,
Daniel
In The Message translation of Matthew 15: 27, Jesus replies to the Canaanite woman, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.” The woman answered, “You’re right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table.” If we continue to read we find Jesus heals the woman’s demon possessed daughter as a consequence of her faith. Later on, we find in Matthew 15: 34-39, that from a small amount of food (seven loaves plus a few fish) Jesus is able to feed over four thousand people. They ate to their hearts content and there were leftovers and in some cases, to be sure, scraps.
This is so like the kingdom, it is from discarded or insignificant remnants that we find God breaking into human history, overturning oppressive circumstances and bringing healing to brokenness. It is in the leftovers & scraps that we find hope. Perhaps we desire God to provide us with fresh, out of the oven opportunities. If we conceive of our ministry as being unconventional and in some fashion challenging the status quo of “Churchianity”, then we would arguably pray for God to present innovative and “prophetic” avenues of ministry for us. However, I believe that it is in finding kingdom scraps, the discarded blessings God presented to other servants which somehow they felt weren’t going “anywhere” (or God took out of their mouths), and see them as the exact opportunities God intended for us to gladly receive and prayerfully work with satisfied and contrite hearts. If those pieces of bread taken from children’s mouths happen to fall on the floor underneath the Master’s table, then it is for us – in humility and obedience – to get on our knees and be content with all but a foretaste of the kingdom. For if we are willing to receive only but the leftovers of what God’s intended for others, then we will be ultimately blessed with results beyond our wildest imaginations.
The other day, a friend shared her reflection on this same passage. She suggested the following, “The children who the bread was meant for did not consume the bread as real hungry children in some third world country . . . They could afford to let crumbs fall. . . Like those children, there are many that God has blessed who have not hungered for the total bread and have not utilized the God given meal to the fullest. When we abandon ourselves at God’s feet we will not only be able to benefit from abandoned blessings that others have not used fully for the glory of God - blessings that now fall to us, but we will be elevated to equal and even higher positions because of our humility and submission.”
How have we been humble, obedient and diligent stewards?
How have we appreciated the meal God so lovingly prepared for us? Have we shared this meal with others to such an extent that the dishes are clean and there are no leftovers? Let us pray for God inspired leftover recipes and let us share the meals with all who hunger for justice, healing and righteousness.
See you @ Bible Study. . .
In Him . . . alone,
Daniel
Take the Red Pill
Based on Luke 14:25-34 (The Message)
25-27 One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple. 28-30 "Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.' 31-32 "Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce? 33 "Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple. 34 "Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing. "Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
In the film, The Matrix, one of most engrossing scenes is that of Morpheus' meeting with Neo. The famous proposition - to take the Blue or Red pill - has become the source of all manner of philosophical and spiritual conversations, books, etc. What I find most compelling about the entire exchange between the two characters is that most of what Morpheus is telling Neo about the life he knows is actually, quite accurate. As Christians, however, the pills only point to a greater reality. They're signs directing us to a choice we must make, namely, genuinely following Jesus signifies turning our back on how things used to be in our lives. It means giving everything over to God and that includes what we hold most dear to us.
The notion of pills is a fascinating one. The blue pill suggests we are living a life of habit. A life without purpose or, in the best case, superfluous purpose. Doesn't it seem as if most human beings in the United States live out their time on earth enacting a series of rote behaviors and perfunctory actions that are woven into a rationalized existence? Despite socio-economic factors, I see this as a reality of our contemporary existence that truly transcends all financial circumstances, levels of education, race, ethnicity or gender. All levels experience angst, feelings of stagnation and wonder about tomorrow as being typical & mundane. How are we living and ultimately, for what? What are we living for? I’m afraid that the answer is not that distinguishable between a Christian and a non-Christian. All of our lives are affected by these circumstances and by the sense of complacent routine.
Ironically, there is safety in the typical and a sense of superficial comfort that tends to limit or discourage living out our full potential. I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if faithfully lived, challenges everything we know about life. In fact, I am convinced that the nature of living for Christ alone will disarm and dismantle all of the trappings and insecurities we have about living as God desires us to live. To live for Christ is to live in genuine freedom. It is to embrace our brokenness, embrace our humanity and find that in the process of becoming whole, we become family. We become everything that typical families tend to shield, hide or rationalize. The shame, guilt, interference and loyalties so often associated with blood and family ties are forfeited so we become a family by the blood of Christ.
In this new society, in this new “Matrix” of community, we disregard all that is about us - we dies to self in order for us to receive life in its abundance, in its fullest expression. The blue pill is the security we have in the tangible and in the now. It is the pathway of excuses for why things are and the rationalization for they need to continue to be the way they are. Whether its family, ministry, work, school or other inter/intrapersonal exchanges, we can continue to live through them – making due and getting by – or we can be transformed in such a fashion so as to become all that God desires us to be. That’s what the red bill is all about, I think. I’ll take some license and suggest that it’s pretty amazing that the pill that causes all of the scales to fall from our eyes and sees things for what they really are is red like blood. All too cool.
After you take from the cup and drink his blood. After you take the red pill, my friends, all of your inter/intrapersonal experiences will be altered because they will no longer be about you. They’ll be about Him. About Jesus. It’s when we begin to live for him, that our lives become sincerely noticeable to us for the first time. We’ll notice our hearts for the first time, for they will begin to beat for others and break for others – for the first time. It’s when they begin to break for others, that we begin to live as fulfilled and purposed brothers & sisters. No longer as singular entities trying to make sense of it (the blue pill), but rather, as members of a body seeking to live out the purpose that He instills in us (the red pill). Once He notices you, you’ll notice yourself as one of His children. Once you realize what God intends for you, you will proclaim it from the top of the roofs and from the highest mountains.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t warn you. It seems all too appropriate as Morpheus warned Neo about the uncertainties of his future journey should he wish to take the red pill. The problem with many messages proclaiming the transformative power of life in Christ is that seems too romantic. In fact, it is false advertising. The truth, as Morpheus, offered Neo, comes with a price. Scripture clearly promises that trial and tribulation will come to those who seek the kingdom with all of their hearts & minds. At some point in time, you’ll be taken through the valleys, the wilderness and experience suffering of some kind. It’s only right and sincere to share this “full disclosure” with each of you who may seek to renew (Neo) your commitments to Christ. It may be that you're just about to take the red pill for the first time - a brand new (Neo) start to your life; it's great to read all the fine print before you choose.
So, now that the terms & conditions have been laid out before each one of you – before me as well, mind you, we need to consider this. . . If we are to be the dynamic, living and organic body of Christ in the city and to one another, then we need to figure the costs. We need to make a conscientious decision to follow him – no matter what. That’s the red pill, people. Only truth is offered. Truth that will lead to healing, forgiveness, freedom, wisdom, grace, peace and above all else, God’s immeasurable love. But like Christ, we will experience hardships, division, challenges and confusion. If we tell Jesus that we’ll go wherever He goes, then we need to be ready to rough it. Count the costs, follow Him anywhere He goes, no matter what. Seems a bit harsh when compared to the comfortable routine we called life. Perhaps that what’s so scandalous of our faith, we die to self in order to live. Once we’ve crossed over to the other side, the red pill, we will encounter a joy, purpose and life unlike anything previously imagined. All I offer is the truth. It’s up to you. Which pill will you choose?
Daniel
25-27 One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple. 28-30 "Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.' 31-32 "Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce? 33 "Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple. 34 "Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing. "Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
In the film, The Matrix, one of most engrossing scenes is that of Morpheus' meeting with Neo. The famous proposition - to take the Blue or Red pill - has become the source of all manner of philosophical and spiritual conversations, books, etc. What I find most compelling about the entire exchange between the two characters is that most of what Morpheus is telling Neo about the life he knows is actually, quite accurate. As Christians, however, the pills only point to a greater reality. They're signs directing us to a choice we must make, namely, genuinely following Jesus signifies turning our back on how things used to be in our lives. It means giving everything over to God and that includes what we hold most dear to us.
The notion of pills is a fascinating one. The blue pill suggests we are living a life of habit. A life without purpose or, in the best case, superfluous purpose. Doesn't it seem as if most human beings in the United States live out their time on earth enacting a series of rote behaviors and perfunctory actions that are woven into a rationalized existence? Despite socio-economic factors, I see this as a reality of our contemporary existence that truly transcends all financial circumstances, levels of education, race, ethnicity or gender. All levels experience angst, feelings of stagnation and wonder about tomorrow as being typical & mundane. How are we living and ultimately, for what? What are we living for? I’m afraid that the answer is not that distinguishable between a Christian and a non-Christian. All of our lives are affected by these circumstances and by the sense of complacent routine.
Ironically, there is safety in the typical and a sense of superficial comfort that tends to limit or discourage living out our full potential. I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if faithfully lived, challenges everything we know about life. In fact, I am convinced that the nature of living for Christ alone will disarm and dismantle all of the trappings and insecurities we have about living as God desires us to live. To live for Christ is to live in genuine freedom. It is to embrace our brokenness, embrace our humanity and find that in the process of becoming whole, we become family. We become everything that typical families tend to shield, hide or rationalize. The shame, guilt, interference and loyalties so often associated with blood and family ties are forfeited so we become a family by the blood of Christ.
In this new society, in this new “Matrix” of community, we disregard all that is about us - we dies to self in order for us to receive life in its abundance, in its fullest expression. The blue pill is the security we have in the tangible and in the now. It is the pathway of excuses for why things are and the rationalization for they need to continue to be the way they are. Whether its family, ministry, work, school or other inter/intrapersonal exchanges, we can continue to live through them – making due and getting by – or we can be transformed in such a fashion so as to become all that God desires us to be. That’s what the red bill is all about, I think. I’ll take some license and suggest that it’s pretty amazing that the pill that causes all of the scales to fall from our eyes and sees things for what they really are is red like blood. All too cool.
After you take from the cup and drink his blood. After you take the red pill, my friends, all of your inter/intrapersonal experiences will be altered because they will no longer be about you. They’ll be about Him. About Jesus. It’s when we begin to live for him, that our lives become sincerely noticeable to us for the first time. We’ll notice our hearts for the first time, for they will begin to beat for others and break for others – for the first time. It’s when they begin to break for others, that we begin to live as fulfilled and purposed brothers & sisters. No longer as singular entities trying to make sense of it (the blue pill), but rather, as members of a body seeking to live out the purpose that He instills in us (the red pill). Once He notices you, you’ll notice yourself as one of His children. Once you realize what God intends for you, you will proclaim it from the top of the roofs and from the highest mountains.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t warn you. It seems all too appropriate as Morpheus warned Neo about the uncertainties of his future journey should he wish to take the red pill. The problem with many messages proclaiming the transformative power of life in Christ is that seems too romantic. In fact, it is false advertising. The truth, as Morpheus, offered Neo, comes with a price. Scripture clearly promises that trial and tribulation will come to those who seek the kingdom with all of their hearts & minds. At some point in time, you’ll be taken through the valleys, the wilderness and experience suffering of some kind. It’s only right and sincere to share this “full disclosure” with each of you who may seek to renew (Neo) your commitments to Christ. It may be that you're just about to take the red pill for the first time - a brand new (Neo) start to your life; it's great to read all the fine print before you choose.
So, now that the terms & conditions have been laid out before each one of you – before me as well, mind you, we need to consider this. . . If we are to be the dynamic, living and organic body of Christ in the city and to one another, then we need to figure the costs. We need to make a conscientious decision to follow him – no matter what. That’s the red pill, people. Only truth is offered. Truth that will lead to healing, forgiveness, freedom, wisdom, grace, peace and above all else, God’s immeasurable love. But like Christ, we will experience hardships, division, challenges and confusion. If we tell Jesus that we’ll go wherever He goes, then we need to be ready to rough it. Count the costs, follow Him anywhere He goes, no matter what. Seems a bit harsh when compared to the comfortable routine we called life. Perhaps that what’s so scandalous of our faith, we die to self in order to live. Once we’ve crossed over to the other side, the red pill, we will encounter a joy, purpose and life unlike anything previously imagined. All I offer is the truth. It’s up to you. Which pill will you choose?
Daniel
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