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.