I love re-finishing old furniture. There is just something about taking an old neglected, over- used piece of furniture and making it look new that gives me a feeling of having done something worthwhile.
When I start, these old pieces of furniture look nothing like they did when they were first made. They have been altered by each current owner to look the way they want it to. One owner wants it white, so they paint it white. The next owner wants it to be black, so they paint over the white paint. Then one owner wants different hardware on it, so they switch it out with something that is more pleasing to their eye. After time the piece that was originally made to be beautiful in the builders eye has become nothing like it was designed. It just looks like an old worn out piece of something that may have once been a work of art.
In order to re-finish it, the first task is to start stripping away the layers of old paint. This is usually a hard task. Sometimes a paint stripper needs to be used over and over to strip away each layer until the bare wood can be seen. This is my least favorite part because normally it involves a lot of hard work stripping and sanding the layers away. With me, that also brings up the very probable chance that there will be blood drawn from my well intentioned hands. I can’t seem to do any manual labor without cutting or scraping my pencil-pusher hands!
Eventually after much hard work and doubts of why I ever even wanted to tackle this project, the wood is stripped and clean. I am always amazed at how good the wood looks once I can see what the original creator had made.
I think in many ways modern Christianity has become just like the old, multi-layered piece of furniture. Just as the piece of furniture looks nothing like the original design, so Christianity has become a weak reflection of what the original creator intended it to be. Over the years each generation has applied their own layers. One group thought we should add this ritual, another thought it needed that tradition. Layer upon layer, until the current state of Christianity has been covered by layers of rituals and traditions until there is very little resemblance to the original, with each generation condemning the next because they changed something. Now new converts must navigate the maze of traditions and preferences to truly feel like they are worshiping the right way. You must wear this, not that. You must like this style of music, not that one. You must worship on these days and times, not those. Layer upon layer until all but the most zealous converts feel like there is no way they will ever be good enough.
I think it is time for all of us to put some prayer and thought into the way we do “Christianity”. Personally, I am identifying layers that I have either added or accepted into my life that were not a part of the way God has instructed me to live out my life for Him. They may be well intentioned rules, but if they were added at some point in time by anyone other than the Original Designer, I want to strip them away and get back to the piece of art that God designed me to be. I want the way I live and worship to be pure and untainted by layers of man-made rituals and traditions. I know this will not be easy. Some will question certain changes that I have made, but that is ok as long as I know I am following the leading of the One who originally designed who I am. Let the work begin!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Convictions or Politics?
For the last few months I have observed an increasingly worrisome situation in our churches.I have hesitated in writing about it since it may upset a few folks. Here's what I am seeing.
So much of the conversation in our churches centers on the present political situation. Now before I go on, let me assure you that I believe we as Christians should be aware and involved in the politics that go on around us However, I think many of us have become "entangled" with the present political situation in our country. I believe our focus has shifted from the work God has called us to do, to the work Politicians and the media have deceived us into thinking is our main mission. We are so preoccupied with the present administration that we have set aside our calling and replaced it with a work that we were never meant to become entangled with. There's that word again, Entangled.
In 2 Timothy 2: 4 Paul warns young Timothy not to become entangled with the affairs of this life. The ESV puts it this way: "No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the One who enlisted him" Civilian Pursuits! If any political situation could be compared to what we face today, it was what Paul and Timothy were facing back then. Christians were not only not having their way in politics, they were being KILLED for what they believed and yet Paul tells Timothy not to be sidetracked by getting entangled with the political debate that was all around him. Timothy was to remember who had "enlisted" him and focus on the job given to him. Who enlisted you? You were enlisted by God to serve him faithfully and not be entangled with this world's political quagmire! There will always be political issues to deal with. I have never seen so many Christians allow their conversation and thoughts to be so consumed by what is going on in Washington. Most of it seems to be fueled by what we are hearing in the media. Do we not understand that these talking heads have only one concern? RATINGS! They live to stir the pot and acquire followers. We are not to take our lead from what we hear and see in the media. Here's a novel idea, try reading your bible and praying for God's next move for you instead of relying on the media to tell us what we should be fighting for.
I'm sorry, but when I come to worship and fellowship with other believers, I do not want to be bombarded with political talk. I want to hear what God has done in your life. I want to hear what burden HE has given you, not how the world is coming to an end because of the President. (By the way, the world IS coming to an end and God has planed the whole thing) Do we think God is not aware of the current political climate in our country? May I remind you that God put our current leadership there?
I am reminded of the Prophet Daniel. How did he respond to a law restricting his ability to legally worship God? Did he run around crying and blaming the King of turning the country to socialism? Did he take every political quiz on facebook and thereby make his stand for what is right? No, he simply continued doing what he was called to do and allowed God to be God and take care of the political situation. He did not become "entangled"!
In Galatians 1 Paul give some more great advice on who we are to concentrate on "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Who are we trying to please? God or Man?
My prayer is that we will cut ourselves free of the web that has been placed across our path by the media and the politicians and get back to focusing on the job God has given us to do!
God is big enough to handle the political arena. Remember who enlisted you and seek your orders from Him, not the talking heads !
So much of the conversation in our churches centers on the present political situation. Now before I go on, let me assure you that I believe we as Christians should be aware and involved in the politics that go on around us However, I think many of us have become "entangled" with the present political situation in our country. I believe our focus has shifted from the work God has called us to do, to the work Politicians and the media have deceived us into thinking is our main mission. We are so preoccupied with the present administration that we have set aside our calling and replaced it with a work that we were never meant to become entangled with. There's that word again, Entangled.
In 2 Timothy 2: 4 Paul warns young Timothy not to become entangled with the affairs of this life. The ESV puts it this way: "No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the One who enlisted him" Civilian Pursuits! If any political situation could be compared to what we face today, it was what Paul and Timothy were facing back then. Christians were not only not having their way in politics, they were being KILLED for what they believed and yet Paul tells Timothy not to be sidetracked by getting entangled with the political debate that was all around him. Timothy was to remember who had "enlisted" him and focus on the job given to him. Who enlisted you? You were enlisted by God to serve him faithfully and not be entangled with this world's political quagmire! There will always be political issues to deal with. I have never seen so many Christians allow their conversation and thoughts to be so consumed by what is going on in Washington. Most of it seems to be fueled by what we are hearing in the media. Do we not understand that these talking heads have only one concern? RATINGS! They live to stir the pot and acquire followers. We are not to take our lead from what we hear and see in the media. Here's a novel idea, try reading your bible and praying for God's next move for you instead of relying on the media to tell us what we should be fighting for.
I'm sorry, but when I come to worship and fellowship with other believers, I do not want to be bombarded with political talk. I want to hear what God has done in your life. I want to hear what burden HE has given you, not how the world is coming to an end because of the President. (By the way, the world IS coming to an end and God has planed the whole thing) Do we think God is not aware of the current political climate in our country? May I remind you that God put our current leadership there?
I am reminded of the Prophet Daniel. How did he respond to a law restricting his ability to legally worship God? Did he run around crying and blaming the King of turning the country to socialism? Did he take every political quiz on facebook and thereby make his stand for what is right? No, he simply continued doing what he was called to do and allowed God to be God and take care of the political situation. He did not become "entangled"!
In Galatians 1 Paul give some more great advice on who we are to concentrate on "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Who are we trying to please? God or Man?
My prayer is that we will cut ourselves free of the web that has been placed across our path by the media and the politicians and get back to focusing on the job God has given us to do!
God is big enough to handle the political arena. Remember who enlisted you and seek your orders from Him, not the talking heads !
Cause just ok, is not enough.
The Motions: by Matthew West
This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions
No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
This song has been playing in my mind for the last few weeks. This is what I have been feeling for quite a while now. "'Cause just OK, is not enough".
I love my life,(Thank You S-Babe!) but do you ever wonder if there is more to it all? Sometimes I feel like selling everything and moving to a place where I can really make a difference. A place where people thirst and hunger for a real relationship with the creator of the Universe without all the self-righteous spiritually arrogant "Church-goers" watching every move they make to see if they measure up to their man-made standards and traditions.
It doesn't take me long to realize that I am in that place. I love the job God has given me at this time in my life. If I am not making a difference here and now, then what makes me think I would do better on some far away Island?
God help me to live in a way that when my time on earth is over I can say I have no regrets, I gave it my all.
This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions
No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
This song has been playing in my mind for the last few weeks. This is what I have been feeling for quite a while now. "'Cause just OK, is not enough".
I love my life,(Thank You S-Babe!) but do you ever wonder if there is more to it all? Sometimes I feel like selling everything and moving to a place where I can really make a difference. A place where people thirst and hunger for a real relationship with the creator of the Universe without all the self-righteous spiritually arrogant "Church-goers" watching every move they make to see if they measure up to their man-made standards and traditions.
It doesn't take me long to realize that I am in that place. I love the job God has given me at this time in my life. If I am not making a difference here and now, then what makes me think I would do better on some far away Island?
God help me to live in a way that when my time on earth is over I can say I have no regrets, I gave it my all.
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