Part 2.
I think the tone of this blog has been a skeptic's approach to
Christianity, so in line with that today I am asking, what are some
things we can proactively do to encourage building faith internally?
My last idea was Testing. This time I want to discuss Asking.
Asking is much less controversial. Ask and you shall receive, right?
For one, John 16:27, "...Truly I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you've asked nothing in my name. Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full."
Ask for little things. Ask for huge things. Ask for anything. Just try! For so long I rarely or never tried and I have a feeling many of us are like that. Is it self-sufficiency? pride? ...or simply ignorance? Even today I struggle to remember Asking. I sometimes forget that we have this vital luxury.
I wonder if the other world religions allow such a concept.
The fan-favorite blunt theologian James said, "You don't have, because you don't ask." (James 4:2)
But one of the most monumental episodes of Asking in the biblical record is Solomon's story. It rings close to home for me because it ties in so many, very important things: philosophy, theology, judgement, knowledge, discernment, and above all, how to apply these truths in everyday life! Ah, to be the owner of such vast and important information. It's called Wisdom.
Let's briefly revisit the old King Solomon, king of Israel & Judah. After surviving his older brothers' unjust attempts to claim the throne, he ascends and is probably overwhelmed by responsibility. Displaying some uncommon insight (compared to other OT figures), he asks God to give him an understanding, discerning mind for governing God's people. (1 Kings ch. 3)
Not for wealth, success in war, crops, or decendants. He asked for a sharp mind. God ends up being pleased with this powerful request and not only gives him wisdom, but also everything he didn't ask for. He got the prestige, the gold, and the power. And for one of the first times in the historical record God's tribe, "ate, drank, and were happy... [Solomon] had peace on all sides around him... and Judah and Israel lived in safety" (1 Kings 20, 24-25.)
Solomon's request resonated within me. Before I started studying anything at all, especially the Bible itself, I had a yearning to learn. When I relearned Solomon's story for the first time as an adult, I thought it was really interesting. So, I began Asking. And Wisdom was amongst the top of the list.
So, again, be proactive in your faith... if you're doubting, skeptical, atheistic... but perhaps have the will to try... then try Asking. And continue to do so. I wish I could "try" to play the violin, and pick it up on the first time and play like Andrew Bird. But it takes perserverance... and most certainly the right attitude.
Going back to James 4:2-3, "You don't have, because you don't ask. You ask and you don't receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
Just as in Testing, Asking requires you to have the right motives.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Proactivity Pt. 1
To begin with a butchering of poetry-
What then? Shall we sit idly by...
That phrase came to mind as I began ruminating on this topic. I think the tone of this blog has been a skeptic's approach to Christianity, so in line with that today I am asking, what are some things we can proactively do to encourage building faith?
We can't demand that God show himself to us as Aladdin would to a genie. Furthermore, these days we don't have Christian teachers showing up to dinner parties and turning water into Yellowtail Cabernet. Those days appear to be past us, though we have quite a recollection of them (the Bible.)
Two ideas came to mind though; Testing and Asking.
The first concept of Testing is a bit touchy. I get nervous at the concept. Are we able to test God? Deuteronomy 6:16: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah." OK, this is a statement from God via Moses, referring to the Israelite's lack of trust in God's provision. At this point in their journey at Massah, Moses' tribe had been carefully cared for daily with the provision of manna. They had wandered into the land known as "Rephidim." Apparently it wasn't known for it's bountiful streams and springs. I have a feeling the people, upon the realization they would be camping there, were a little pre-emptive in their complaints against Moses' and God's choice of lodging. It even got to the point where Moses feared for his life (Ex. 17:4.) Well, what ended up happening? God told Moses to smash a rock with his staff and water blasted out of it.
Jesus quotes this phrase too. In Matthew 4:7 Jesus says "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test" to none other than the primary antagonist of the world, whose motives must be the essence of evil.
So, in light of some unwise, disgruntled former slaves from Moses' tribe, and the sole being attempting to ruin as much as he can of God's empire, it would certainly appear that Testing God would be something we should avoid.
Or, is it?
A commonly quoted phrase in Malachi 3:10 is: "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." The passage goes on to explain how much of a reward one can truly receive if he only gives.
Now, considering the context this is in reference to those of Judah/Israel who had given up on God. They had stopped tithing, finding it useless? Or maybe irrelevant? But God says via Malachi, in modern English, "Get over your hang-ups, you're robbing me of what I am owed. Start giving your share, and watch what I will do. Test me, and see how much I can make you grow. I'll bless you beyond your imagination."
OK, so maybe that was one specific reference to a time that God spoke through a prophet to a specific audience giving them directions. Since we aren't supposed to test God, we probably just shouldn't. Well, I don't necessarily think so. After all, 4 verses prior God reminds us, "For I the LORD do not change..." so I think perhaps that "test" or challenge is open to people to this day.
I took it on and I think it changed my life for the better.
Of important note is to examine yourself and to determine where your heart is. Do you want to test God like the Israelites, with bad motivations? Are you complaining?
Or do you actually want to do the right thing? Make sure you are motivated not in order for your own personal gain, but to be in compliance with what we need to give as Christians.
So that's one idea on how to get proactive with your faith - do you want to start seeing results? One step could be to consider stepping up or starting your giving.
Asking is part 2.
What then? Shall we sit idly by...
That phrase came to mind as I began ruminating on this topic. I think the tone of this blog has been a skeptic's approach to Christianity, so in line with that today I am asking, what are some things we can proactively do to encourage building faith?
We can't demand that God show himself to us as Aladdin would to a genie. Furthermore, these days we don't have Christian teachers showing up to dinner parties and turning water into Yellowtail Cabernet. Those days appear to be past us, though we have quite a recollection of them (the Bible.)
Two ideas came to mind though; Testing and Asking.
The first concept of Testing is a bit touchy. I get nervous at the concept. Are we able to test God? Deuteronomy 6:16: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah." OK, this is a statement from God via Moses, referring to the Israelite's lack of trust in God's provision. At this point in their journey at Massah, Moses' tribe had been carefully cared for daily with the provision of manna. They had wandered into the land known as "Rephidim." Apparently it wasn't known for it's bountiful streams and springs. I have a feeling the people, upon the realization they would be camping there, were a little pre-emptive in their complaints against Moses' and God's choice of lodging. It even got to the point where Moses feared for his life (Ex. 17:4.) Well, what ended up happening? God told Moses to smash a rock with his staff and water blasted out of it.
Jesus quotes this phrase too. In Matthew 4:7 Jesus says "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test" to none other than the primary antagonist of the world, whose motives must be the essence of evil.
So, in light of some unwise, disgruntled former slaves from Moses' tribe, and the sole being attempting to ruin as much as he can of God's empire, it would certainly appear that Testing God would be something we should avoid.
Or, is it?
A commonly quoted phrase in Malachi 3:10 is: "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." The passage goes on to explain how much of a reward one can truly receive if he only gives.
Now, considering the context this is in reference to those of Judah/Israel who had given up on God. They had stopped tithing, finding it useless? Or maybe irrelevant? But God says via Malachi, in modern English, "Get over your hang-ups, you're robbing me of what I am owed. Start giving your share, and watch what I will do. Test me, and see how much I can make you grow. I'll bless you beyond your imagination."
OK, so maybe that was one specific reference to a time that God spoke through a prophet to a specific audience giving them directions. Since we aren't supposed to test God, we probably just shouldn't. Well, I don't necessarily think so. After all, 4 verses prior God reminds us, "For I the LORD do not change..." so I think perhaps that "test" or challenge is open to people to this day.
I took it on and I think it changed my life for the better.
Of important note is to examine yourself and to determine where your heart is. Do you want to test God like the Israelites, with bad motivations? Are you complaining?
Or do you actually want to do the right thing? Make sure you are motivated not in order for your own personal gain, but to be in compliance with what we need to give as Christians.
So that's one idea on how to get proactive with your faith - do you want to start seeing results? One step could be to consider stepping up or starting your giving.
Asking is part 2.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)