In a recent Christianity Today article about Larry Crabb, I read something that was exactly what I have been feeling like. I've taken it from this article:
Several years ago, when Crabb was reading Evangelicalism and the Future of Christianity (IVP, 1995) by Oxford University professor of historical theology Alister McGrath, a warning leapt off the page: "Evangelicalism is the slumbering giant of the world of spirituality. It needs to wake up." At the time, Crabb was losing faith in what he had experienced as "the standard 'evangelical' means of spiritual growth."
"Daily devotions, no drinking, faithful church attendance, busyness with church programs, performance-oriented Sunday worship and preaching," he says, didn't lead him to "a dynamic enjoyment of God." In fact, they seemed to be interfering. "I was finding water for my thirsty soul in classic Catholic writings."
But reading McGrath gave him a renewed vigor to explore evangelical essentials. Soon, they became the building blocks in his uniquely evangelical basis for spiritual direction. These days, Crabb is tugging at the sleeve of the sleeping giant.
He goes on to talk about Spiritual Direction as one way to grow and mature in the faith, in Jesus.
I wonder if we haven't made some of these things our faith? Daily devotions, no drinking, faithful church attendance, busyness with church programs, performance-oriented Sunday worship and preaching. Have we preached these things so much as to make them our faith? The only expression of our faith?
And now I meet people who believe passionately in these things, and practice them "Religiously" thinking that these kinds of activities are the way to God. That if you do them, you are a Christian, your ticket is stamped and you're ready to go.
Crabb is calling us back to relationship, connectedness, with God, and with each other, through to Jesus Christ and God.
I think Paul agreed. Colossians 2 says:
16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
The growth and life we are to experience comes to us from God, through the joint and ligaments and sinews that exist within the Body of Christ. What are those joint and ligaments and sinews? In the human body they are the points at which two body parts connect. In the body of Christ, they are also the points at which the two body parts connect. That is called the "Relationship," our connection with each other. Through our connections, we experience the growth God has for us.
So, let's have done with the things that appear spiritual, and move to him that is the real thing, Jesus Christ.
Isn't it interesting when we re-discover that the key to walking with God is...walking with God. Mere service is just that.
ReplyDeleteAnd how often do we (read I here) forget it.
I'm intruiged by the idea of performance oriented Sunday worship; what does this mean? Do we have to perfom to a certain level? Does the band have to put on a show? Blowed if I know.
Hi Toni;
ReplyDeleteFor me, "performance oriented Sunday worship" means that the worship service is prepared by "Professionals" or paid staff. It is about quality and excellence rather than participation by any and all who wish to join in.
It's a bit like a concert where the congregation would be the audience, and just watch the professionals lead from the front, rather than getting involved themselves.
I think it's subtle, but it makes all the difference in the world.
Any other ideas out there?
Thanks Randall. We have an expression "God turned up" to descibe our times of worship when we're really aware of his presence. It may be no co-incidence that the times that He's most apparent are often (not always) the times when the worship team struggle a bit. Since we have an entirely amateur worship team, the criteria for a successful time of worship is whether people have met wth God. Something he's gracious enough to permit quite often.
ReplyDeleteThanks Randall. We have an expression "God turned up" to descibe our times of worship when we're really aware of his presence. It may be no co-incidence that the times that He's most apparent are often (not always) the times when the worship team struggle a bit. Since we have an entirely amateur worship team, the criteria for a successful time of worship is whether people have met wth God. Something he's gracious enough to permit quite often.
ReplyDelete