Friendship
Partnership
Relationship
Citizenship
Leadership
Membership
Battleship
... Ok, just kidding about that last one. But think about the these words. They all imply some sort of agreement. In a friendship it takes consent from both parties. And when you are not with the other person you are still a friend. The same goes with the others. When I am not in the United States, I am still a citizen. The suffix 'ship' means "a state of being". With that in mind, what is worship?
One writer notes that:
"Worship in our time has been captured by the tourist mind set. Worship is understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure. For some it is a weekly jaunt to church. For others, occasional visits to special services.. Some, with a bent for Christian entertainment and sacred diversion, plan their lives around special events like retreats, rallies and conferences. We go to see a new personality, to hear a new truth, to get a new experience and so, somehow, expand our otherwise humdrum lives. We'll try anything -- until something else comes along."
What is your worship like? Do you live in a state of worship? Or is it more like something that you think you should only do at church and on special occasions? Are you a touring worshipper- always seeking the "worship experience" at conferences, concerts and rallies?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
A Marriage Metaphor
How do you view God -- as master, or husband?
Think about the difference between "husband" and "master" and all the images that these words bring to mind. God wants us to relate to him with an obedience fueled by love and intimacy, not by self-motivated fear, and with a loyalty to a divine-human relationship, not a blind adherence to "principles". A husband harbors a passion toward his wife that is absent in a master toward his slave.
This image of marriage being used to symbolize the relationship between us and God is seen many times throughout scripture. Hosea teaches us that God views his people as a husband views his wife.
"In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.... I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. (Hosea 2:16, 19)
Isaiah uses this metaphor to stress how God rejoices in his people.
As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)
God delights in us. We make his heart swell.
Christ also uses this imagery placing himself as the groom and us (the church) as the bride. This has to be difficult for men. Women know what it is to be a bride. Most spend their girl-hood dreaming about the day they will walk down the aisle to be joined with their husband. But men only know how to be a groom. I don't know but I can imagine that it must be difficult to mentally go into that mindset for a man. Christ calls us all to be his bride. To join his side in loving submission for eternity.
**Source: Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
Think about the difference between "husband" and "master" and all the images that these words bring to mind. God wants us to relate to him with an obedience fueled by love and intimacy, not by self-motivated fear, and with a loyalty to a divine-human relationship, not a blind adherence to "principles". A husband harbors a passion toward his wife that is absent in a master toward his slave.
This image of marriage being used to symbolize the relationship between us and God is seen many times throughout scripture. Hosea teaches us that God views his people as a husband views his wife.
"In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.... I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. (Hosea 2:16, 19)
Isaiah uses this metaphor to stress how God rejoices in his people.
As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)
God delights in us. We make his heart swell.
Christ also uses this imagery placing himself as the groom and us (the church) as the bride. This has to be difficult for men. Women know what it is to be a bride. Most spend their girl-hood dreaming about the day they will walk down the aisle to be joined with their husband. But men only know how to be a groom. I don't know but I can imagine that it must be difficult to mentally go into that mindset for a man. Christ calls us all to be his bride. To join his side in loving submission for eternity.
**Source: Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Intentional Living
Ephesians chapters 4 and 5 are full of instruction for Christian living. Paul begins this portion of his letter urging us to live a life worth of the calling. And then tells us how: be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearting with one another in love. He goes on to talk about unity in the body and growing in Christ. But I want to skip down to verses 25 through 32. I love the way he has instructed us. If you notice in these verses he has told us what we are doing wrong, what we should do and given us a reason why. We can't ask for anything more, right?
25: Wrong: Put off falsehood, Right: Speak truthfully to your neighbor, Why: We are all members of one body.
28: Wrong: Steal no longer, Right: work, doing something useful, Why: So you may have something to share with those in need.
29: Wrong: Do not let unwholesome talk comeout of your mouths, Right: use speech that is helpful for building up others, Why: so it may benefit those who listen.
31: Wrong: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander and every form of malice, Right: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, Why: Because in Christ God forgave you.
Paul has packaged these words neatly between two parallel ideas. He preped us for what was coming by telling us, "To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." And he wrapped it up directly after verse 32 by instucting us to be "imitators of God."
Chapters 4 and 5 are full of other "dos" and "don't" of living like Christ but I think it can all be summed up in Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Be very careful. I don't think Paul is telling us to look both ways when crossing the street, or to not minister in foreign lands that might be dangerous, but he is telling us to live intently, with purpose. If we are living intently, making every step, every decision as though we have a reason we will be living for God, a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. God, I hope I smell good to you :)
25: Wrong: Put off falsehood, Right: Speak truthfully to your neighbor, Why: We are all members of one body.
28: Wrong: Steal no longer, Right: work, doing something useful, Why: So you may have something to share with those in need.
29: Wrong: Do not let unwholesome talk comeout of your mouths, Right: use speech that is helpful for building up others, Why: so it may benefit those who listen.
31: Wrong: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander and every form of malice, Right: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, Why: Because in Christ God forgave you.
Paul has packaged these words neatly between two parallel ideas. He preped us for what was coming by telling us, "To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." And he wrapped it up directly after verse 32 by instucting us to be "imitators of God."
Chapters 4 and 5 are full of other "dos" and "don't" of living like Christ but I think it can all be summed up in Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Be very careful. I don't think Paul is telling us to look both ways when crossing the street, or to not minister in foreign lands that might be dangerous, but he is telling us to live intently, with purpose. If we are living intently, making every step, every decision as though we have a reason we will be living for God, a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. God, I hope I smell good to you :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)