I think it comes out many times when people use the language of, "I am not where I want to be" or "I just wish I could be further down the road". I am not saying that this language is always wrong, but if the end is not to be closer in relationship with God then the pursuit becomes vain quite quickly. I have noticed from self evaluation and talking with a couple of people lately that when you ask, "Where do you want to be?" the normal response is "I am not sure. I just want to be further along". The point I am trying to make is when relationship with God is not seen as preeminent then all other pursuits tend to legalism. Even when someone says they want "to spread the glory of God", if they do not ultimately mean relationship with God they become like a functional Muslim.
A Christian who is like a functional Muslim is one who tries to apply God to every situation, but it does not lead to relationship with God, it only leads to some type of outward manifestation (that may look good), but ultimately the person uses God for a personally preferred outcome. After all, one of the biggest problems with a Muslims view of Paradise is that it ultimately only uses God to get into Paradise and thus shows that Paradise is more important than God. This root problem of being a "functional Muslim" is manifested when Christians look at the focus of life as mainly being a "place to get", instead of the focus of life mainly being about relationship, first and foremost, with God and then with others.
Some of the Scriptures I have been meditating on that have helped to shape the focus of relationship as preeminent are Jer. 9:23-24, John 17:3, 2 Pet. 1:3-4, Phil. 3-4.
The "There" is a "Him". When we see Him as our focus this does not necessarily change an outward circumstance, but it gives us hope in all circumstances, whether good or bad. This is part of Paul's boast in Phil. 4. He was a person who did not make a god out of suffering or good times because he understood that good times or suffering was not the main point. This allowed Him to focus on Christ in all things and take the times of suffering ALONG WITH the times of good.
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8 comments:
great words to think on
Just had this conversation this afternoon when a 'long time - well studied Christian man' said; "our hope is in the rapture." WHAT?!?
Then he changed the subject when I said I disagree, our hope IS CHRIST Phillipians 3:8
Thank you for what you do, no one has been more guilty of your charge than me. I have wanted so bad to be 'there' and have missed that the there is a him.
"When we see him as our focus this does not necessarily change an outward circumstance..."
"...take the times of suffering ALONG WITH the times of good."
Doesn't that type of outlook encourage someone to sit back and do nothing? This may be more of a distraction technique in times of crisis or upheaval than an actual action towards something better.
While I agree that the focus cannot merely be the goal but must also be the journey, that type of distraction technique mentality can easily lead to people who do nothing. They just wait and say their focus is on "him."
"Anonymous",
Those are some great thoughts. I have a few questions to that type of thinking.
1. What is the "something better" you are talking about?
2. When Jesus told the disciples in John that they were all getting ready to abandon Him, but He still had the Father, did His relational focus on doing the will of the Father produce a "sit back and so nothing" mentality?
It seems that if someone is ultimately relational with God it will be impossible to sit around. Therefore, it would not be a distraction, but the action would be properly informed instead of just moving toward "something better" because the "thing" would be an expression of thanksgiving to the "Someone".
Thoughts? By the way...I really appreciate your questions, so please take my comments in a tone that hopefully come across as one who is eager to learn and not some type of punk.
Love Truth
Vernon
oops...I meant to say "sit back and do nothing", not "sit back and so nothing".
great thoughts....congrats on graduation....we are proud of you.
much love brother.
Vernon,
I appreciate your comments and apologize if I seem out of line or offensive in any way. I am simply curious as to how all of this plays out in the end to reach some type of result.
Let me answer your questions in reverse order.
2) "Did his relational focus on doing the will of the father produce a 'sit back and do nothing' mentality?"
Well, look at what you just said. The relational focus produced an ACTION (ie DOING the will of the father). It's one thing to produce an action from wherever your focus is. It is quite another to "focus," so to speak, on the relationship knowing full well that some action is required but not liking the action or hoping for direction toward a more favorable action and simply citing focus on the relationship as reason for sitting back. I hope that made sense.
1) "What is the 'something better'?"
This can be anything from a personal better to a global better. On a personal level, perhaps taking some action in a time of family crisis, however difficult that action may be, to create a better situation. Leaving a partner or spouse who is abusive and hasn't responded to anything else...it would be extraordinarily difficult...but it could very well be the action necessary. Yet I have seen too many people of faith not take a necessary action because it is difficult and they cite focusing on "him" as their reason for lack of action when the action is simply unfavorable. That's moving toward something better.
Or you could think on a wider scale. Social inequality. Too many people...people of faith and people without faith...sit back and wait for others to take action towards the something better. We know what is better but no action takes place. Just focus on "him" or your god or your (insert religious/philosophical focus point here), and hopefully it will go away.
The point is, we can all focus all day long on whatever it is we want to move our focus to. But if it doesn't result in action at some point, what is the benefit? We'll be closer to someone or something invisible, but our lives, our families and our world will be in chaos? No thank you.
I do agree with you that "if someone is ultimately relational with god it will be impossible to sit around." I think that same thing is true of anyone who is truly properly focused on whatever god, faith, or philosophy they may hold.
Thanks for your response. Feel free to disagree with me or comment if you feel so inclined.
"Anonymous",
Your words are very good. I also want you to know that I do not mind disagreements because I am always seeking to learn.
I think that we are saying the same thing in many ways. I agree that many people "of faith" miss the outworking of Christianity (and thus miss Christianity).
This is the point Jesus made to the rich young ruler (Mk. 10:17-22). Jesus asked the ruler why he called Him "Good Teacher" when no one is good except God. Jesus goes on to not only endorse morality, but He calls the ruler to personally follow Him, not just the thought of Him (go...sell all...follow Him...i.e. ACTION).
I say this because it does not seem like Jesus gives room for people to profess Christianity without living it out. In fact, this would just be total insanity (i.e. to say the best thing or One that happened to me is not worth living for). The reason I asked the second question was that it magnifies the impossibility in the thoughts of Jesus to not live out His relationship with the Father.
My main point being that what is ultimately good is not a "what" but a "Him". The "what" will only be truly good if it is properly informed by "Him".
If Christians walk in obedience it will never produce laziness. The reason is that a person will do nothing more or less than what God is telling them. Just a side note, I always believe that God will speak in accordance with what the Bible says.
One more thing, it may be helpful to unpack your first statement so that I understand it properly before I respond because (as stated earlier) I just do not think that "sitting back" in a relationship can be done in an honoring way.
Thank you so much for the questions and the chance to be sharpened.
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