How are we supposed to connect with God? Has anyone ever really done it properly? If it is olden does that make it golden? What if the person describing it is famous?
For too long, people have assumed that religion is how we connect with God, whereas relationship is how we connect with people. The original lesson of the Bible is that our connection with God should be a lot more like our relationships with other persons--intimate, unscripted, authentic.
Rituals and routines, institutions and organizations, may be used by people as meaningful expressions of genuine faith, but they are not confused with the substance of that faith. The Old Testament prophets repeatedly called Israel "back to the garden"--back to "walking with God" relationally, passionately, actively. God wasn't against symbolic gestures and rituals; he wanted these gestures to be infused with real meaning supported by lives of mercy, justice, passion, and love. God is like a lover who doesn't just want to receive flowers, but flowers that are accompanied by an attitude of true love and service.
Bruxy Cavey
"The End Of Religion"
pg. 196
"The End Of Religion"
pg. 196
It seems that God is real flexible about how we come to Him. He is not concerned if we follow a plan or a style that an institution has practised hundreds of years ago or if we make it up as we go along today. What He is concerned with is the depth at which we connect. Does it impact our living? No? then it doesn't matter how much you paid, what fancy garb you wore, or what ancient charm you have read. It doesn't matter if you had a guitar soloing, hand waving, clapping while kneeling and dancing experience if your regular living remains selfish. The gift that we offer up to God is only valuable if it comes from an honest heart that pleads with God "change the world...and start with me."
Religion, whether old, new or some dynamic blend of the centuries, is not the way to connect with God. The reality is less dramatic but for more inspiring. God wants to be called on to interact with us, to hangout with us, throughout the day. All day. Every day. By our choice. In our own words, or in someone else's words as long as they are an honest expression of that which we truly want to be.
Don't get good at religion and its intricacies, but get honest before God and ask the Holy Spirit to indwell you as you share yourself generously with those around you. Hopefully your church is a great place to do that.
g-ram
Religion, whether old, new or some dynamic blend of the centuries, is not the way to connect with God. The reality is less dramatic but for more inspiring. God wants to be called on to interact with us, to hangout with us, throughout the day. All day. Every day. By our choice. In our own words, or in someone else's words as long as they are an honest expression of that which we truly want to be.
Don't get good at religion and its intricacies, but get honest before God and ask the Holy Spirit to indwell you as you share yourself generously with those around you. Hopefully your church is a great place to do that.
g-ram
1 comment:
Great thoughts... have found this concept of how we meet with Jesus differently helpful. Kneeling by the bed prayer always leaves me feeling a dark void. Moments of music and such or in reading I find connect my heart with God. Always thought that was wrong but the language of our souls is different right?
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