A sympathetic high priest
Currently, during our weekly Sunday morning meetings, we’re studying the book of Matthew. This coming Sunday, one of our brothers is teaching from Matthew 4:1-11 concerning the temptation of Jesus. There are many things that can be said – and should be said – concerning the devil’s temptation of Jesus. But, as our family was talking about this passage this week, we began to talk about what it means to us that Jesus was tempted.
Along with the passage in Matthew, we read Hebrews 4:14-16 –
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)
If you read my blog regularly, you may remember that I commented on Hebrews 4:12 a few days ago in a post called “Sharper than any two-edged sword“. In that blog post, I suggested that Jesus (not the written Scriptures) was the living and active high priest who is sharper than any two-edged sword. As Hebrews 4-16 (above) tells us, there is even more to our high priest than being able to discern the heart of people.
First, we have a high priest (Jesus) who has been tempted. Thus, Jesus is able to sympathize with us when we face temptations. Jesus is not some aloof deity who does not understand the plight of men and does not care about the problems of men. This demonstrates that Jesus is completely different from the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods. They used humans for their pleasure and benefit, but did not actually care about them.
Second, even though our high priest was tempted, he did not yield to that temptation and thus did not sin. He overcame the temptation and remained faithful to God throughout the ordeals. This shows that Jesus is completely different from the Jewish priests. As the author of Hebrews points out later, the Jewish high priests were required to sacrifice on behalf of themselves and their own sins before they could sacrifice on behalf of the nation.
Third, the fact that we have a tempted but unsinning high priest should cause us to draw near. Why? Because Jesus does not accept us with judgment and condemnation. Instead, he accepts us with mercy and grace. Indeed, the author of Hebrews says that Jesus reigns on a “throne of grace”. This does not mean that our high priest condones our sin. Instead, Jesus mercifully forgives us of our sin and disobedience.
Finally, because our high priest offers us mercy and grace, we know that he is a “help in time of need”. Jesus does not offer advice in the context of temptation that is simply good or wise advice. He offers advice and help as the only one who has faced temptation and completely overcome that temptation without sin. Everyone else – including me – has failed when it comes to temptation. Yet, Jesus – our high priest – can offer true help in times of need, especially in times of temptation, because only he knows how to remain faithful in the face of temptation and only he has managed to live in obedience to God the Father in spite of temptations.
I don’t know if this short study will be helpful to anyone else, but God greatly encouraged me as my family talked about this passage and brought out these beautiful truths about our high priest, Jesus Christ. We can draw near to him in confidence, knowing that he will accept us with mercy and grace.
Marriage and Discipleship
A couple of months ago, two new friends of ours asked Margaret and me if we would do pre-marital counseling for them. We started meeting with them a couple of weeks ago. It has been a blessing to get to know them more and to encourage them as they prepare to be married.
I don’t treat “pre-marital” counseling much differently that other opportunities of discipleship. My desire is to help them grow in maturity in Christ. As this happens, their relationship with one another will also grow and mature.
The last time we met, we talked about the sanctifying nature of marriage. Actually, they brought this up. They can already see how God is using their relationship with one another to grow them spiritually.
Before two followers of Jesus Christ are married – before they are husband and wife – they are brother and sister in Christ. Thus, the foundational relationship for a marriage is the relationship between believers. Also, since this brother and sister in Christ is spending so much time together, it is by nature a discipling relationship. Of course, it may not be a positive discipling relationship, but it is a discipling relationship nonetheless.
So, marriage is based on a discipling relationship. The husband and wife should encourage one another and help one another grow toward maturity in Christ. Since the two spend so much time together, and since they know one another better than anyone else, and since they are probably more open and honest with one another than with anyone else, marriage is also the most important discipling relationship.
While it is important for this discipling relationship to include activities such as prayer and reading Scripture together, there is much more involved in this. In fact, if a couple (or any two or more people) only pray and read Scripture together, I would not call that a discipling relationship. Instead, in a discipling relationship the people help one another follow Jesus Christ, recognizing that the other person is not perfect, accepting and loving them as they are, and helping them grow through the trials and struggles of life.
I think it helps a marriage to recognize that the two people are in this type of discipling relationship. When we read Scripture as it defines how believers should interact with one another, we should also recognize that this describes how a married couple should interact with one another as well. For example, consider this important passage from Philippians:
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)
While Paul writes this in general to followers of Christ in Philippi, it is especially applicable to a husband and wife in their interaction with one another. In fact, I think it is impossible to understand a husband’s role in a marriage or a wife’s role in a marriage without first recognizing these and other basic responsibilities that one believer has toward another believer.
As I look back over the time that Margaret and I have been married, I can see that Margaret has been my primary discipler throughout that time. I have learned more about God and life from her than from anyone else – and that includes pastors, preachers, and teachers. Why? Because I am with her every day. I see my own faults and weaknesses and sins most clearly in my relationship with her. I learn from her words and examples more than from anyone else.
And, perhaps most importantly, God expresses his love for me through Margaret than through anyone else on earth – in other words, Margaret is the channel through which God most demonstrates his love for me. This does not mean that Margaret is perfect, or that her demonstration of God’s love is on the same level as Christ’s demonstration of God’s love. But, God’s love is real and clear and intimate – and our relationship has been the best reflection of that love.
Have you thought about your relationship with your spouse as a discipling relationship? Have you thought about your spouse as your discipler? What insights can you add to this discussion?
How do you know how to do this?
Have you seen the previews for the movie Fool’s Gold? In one scene, Finn (Matthew McConaughey) and Tess (Kate Hudson) are flying in a small plane, with Finn at the controls. Tess says in amazement, “We’re flying! How do you know how to do this?” To which Finn calmly replies, “Playstation!”
(By the way, I’ve seen this line presented in two different ways in two different trailers. In the other trailer, Tess asks, “How do you know how to fly?” To which Finn responds, “Playstation!” I wonder which one will end up in the movie…)
As you can imagine, Tess does not like Finn’s answer. I mean, seriously, who would want to fly with a pilot who had only flown airplanes on a video game? In reality, who would want to fly with a pilot who had only read about flying and practiced in simulators? We want pilots with experience – pilots who had spent time learning to fly with more experienced pilots – pilots who had worked as navigators and co-pilots long before they took the controls of the plane that we’re in, right?
We want the same thing from our surgeons. Yes, we want our doctors to study books in medical school. But, we also want them to have practiced and successfully completed any surgical procedures that they are about to do on us. We want them to have worked with more experienced surgeons, learning from them, watching them operate, doing simple procedures, and working up toward the more complicated. We would not want a surgeon to operate on us if he had only read the books – even if he earned high marks in medical school.
What about preachers and teachers and disciplers? Do we expect the same thing from them? I mean, sure, we expect them to be educated and trained in communication and hermeneutics. But, is biblical teaching carried out when information is properly communicated? Can we limit the teaching and discipling function to doling out knowledge in an efficient or entertaining manner?
It seems that teaching, preaching, and discipling as described in Scripture are much more associated with living than they are associated with studying books. They are much more associated with demonstrating how to walk with Christ than they are associated with speaking in an eloquent and systematic manner.
Thus, when we are listening to someone teach, we are not simply listening to their words, but we are also learning from their lives. When someone disciples us in what it means to love others, we do not simply need an explanation from lexicons, commentaries, and theology books, we need an example from someone who has gotten his or her hands dirty while actually serving someone in love. When someone preaches about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the world does not need to simply hear a logical and rational explanation of passion, they also need to see someone whose life has been changed by that gospel.
In other words, whether we realize it or not – and whether the preachers, teachers, and disciplers realize this or not – when someone is speaking to us about following Jesus Christ, we are always asking ourselves, “How do you know how to do this?” We should never be content with an answer that rests on study and reading. Instead, we should listen to those who have lived the gospel in their lives. These are the true teachers, preachers, and disciplers.
Sharper than any two-edged sword
Most of us are probably familiar with Hebrews 4:12 –
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
I memorized this passage many years ago. I was taught that this verse teaches us about the power of Scripture – the written word of God. But, does the phrase “word of God” in this verse reference written Scripture? Let’s look at the passage in context.
In chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 4, the author of Hebrews explains that Jesus is the Sabbath rest for the Christian. He wraps up his discussion in the final part of chapter 4:
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:9-16 ESV)
Do you see it? If the phrase “word of God” references Scripture in Hebrews 4:12, then it is completely out of context. There is no indication in this passage that written Scriptures are in view here.
The author of Hebrews is talking about the word of God, but not the written word of God. It is Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The one who is our Sabbath rest is also the one who knows our heart. He is also the one to whom all are naked and exposed. He is also our high priest, who has been tempted but did not sin. He is the one who sits on the throne of grace and the reason that we can approach that throne in confidence. He is here (living and active) “that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”! What a reason for confidence!
We do not find this confidence in written words, but in the living word, Jesus Christ himself. I did not say this to take away from Scripture. For it is Scripture that gives us this description of Jesus Christ. However, our faith is in a person, not in a description of a person.
I sought him…
Did you see this poem/hymn at Dave Black’s blog? I think it is a hymn called “Carol of the Epiphany” by John Bell. I think it goes along well with my post called “Won’t Get Fooled Again“.
I sought him in the safest place,
I sought him where the spotlights glare,
Then, in the streets, we heard the word
And so, distinct from all we’d planned,
So, where do you seek him?
Is there a fungus among us?
Just over a month ago, the huge oak trees on the seminary campus shed their autumn leaves. For several weeks, they were completely bare. Of course, it is normal for oak trees and other types of trees to remain bare during the winter.
However, today, when I looked up into the branches of one of the largest oak trees on campus, I noticed new growth. There were tufts of green springing out throughout the brown and grey branches.
As I looked closer, I realized that the growth was not oak tree growth. Instead, the growth that I saw was Mistletoe, a parasite that had attached itself to the oak tree. So, while growth was taking place, it was not oak tree growth, but parasitic growth. The mistletoe was pretty to look at, and it may have indicated that the tree was alive, but the presence of mistletoe did not indicate that the tree itself was growing. It looked good from a distance, but there was nothing of substance there.
I wonder if our church growth paradigms have taught us to count parasitic and fungal growth in churches even when there is very little or now real spiritual growth taking place. We count noses and programs and activities. We measure buildings and offerings and staff sizes.
But, are these indicators of spiritual growth, or simply measurements of organizational growth that may or may not accompany spiritual growth? Do these things help us discern our walk with Christ, or do they simply indicate that our institution is function efficiently? Do they measure real spiritual life, or do they simply measure parasitic and fungal growth that we’re attached to?
I’m learning to be less concerned with numbers and attendance, and more concerned about the people themselves. I’m learning to be less concerned with programs and activities, and more concerned about serving and helping.
I’m trying to learn how to discern spiritual growth without being fooled by the parasites or fungus that are among us.
Do you agree that organizational activities and characteristics can distract from the ability to ascertain true spiritual growth? Why or why not? If you agree, what are some ways that we can discern spiritual growth without being sidetracked by organizational activities?
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Once upon a time, God used a donkey. How foolish! Not today. Today, God has other means of transportation available to him. He uses nice cars – Cadillacs, BMWs, Mercedes, even limos. God even uses jet planes. Why would God want to use something as foolish as a donkey when he has planes available to him?
Once upon a time, God used pagan prophets and philosophers. How foolish! Not today. Nothing good can come from culture. Today, God wants his people to read Christian books, watch Christian movies, and listen to Christian music. If God has something to say, he would never be so foolish as to speak through a pagan.
Once upon a time, God ate with prostitutes, drunks, thieves, and other malcontents. How foolish! Not today. God has enough good people now that he doesn’t need to hang out with that sort anymore. It would be foolish for God to be found among the dregs of society today.
Once upon a time, God gathered people in fields, and on a mountain, and in a valley, and in homes, and in a school. How foolish! Not today. If people want to meet with God today, they can come to his house – a church building. Wouldn’t it be foolish for people to think that God would come to them when he has beautiful buildings now?
Once upon a time, God spoke through untrained people. How foolish! Not today. There are plenty of college- and university- and seminary-trained people for God to speak through today. He doesn’t need to speak through the unlearned. What if they said something wrong? How foolish to think that God would still speak through uneducated people today.
Once upon a time, God called the foolish, weak, and unknown – the nobodies – of society. How foolish! Not today. Now God calls the smart, the powerful, and the celebrities to speak on the lecture circuit, write books, and hold conferences. How foolish to think that we could make it without our Christian celebrities!
Once upon a time, God asked people to drop everything and follow him. How foolish! Not today. God realizes that today we need a steady job with a good salary, a home, two cars, health and life insurance, a good dental plan, excellent schools, vacation, and a retirement plan. Do you foolishly think that God would ask us to follow him without these necessities?
Once upon a time, God expected his people to encourage one another when they met together. How foolish! Not today. Now God has provided us with professionals to handle all the dirty work, to study, to teach, to sing, to deal with problems. How foolish to think that God would expect us to do these things today.
Once upon a time, God wanted his people to trust him completely without relying on their own ability to understand. How foolish! Not today. God knows that people today need to think logically about things, to make reasonable decisions. God knows that we need all the details of his plans, especially the outcome. Do you foolishly think that God still expects us to trust him completely?
Once upon a time, God created and enforced covenants. How foolish! Not today. God now expects us to write our own covenants and to hold people accountable to them. If we don’t hold people accountable, then who will? How foolish it would be to think that God is still capable of taking care of his covenants and his children.
Yes, once upon a time, God used a donkey. But we can all see how foolish that would be now. We won’t get fooled again.
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This post is part of a synchroblog on the topic “God’s Call to the Fools”. Click below to read additional posts on the same topic.
- Fools Rush In by Sonja Andrews
- The Power of Paradox by Julie Clawson
- That Darn Ego by Jonathan Brink
- Won’t Get Fooled Again by Alan Knox
- Strength on the Margins by Igneous Quill
- Foolish Heart by Erin Word
- A Fool’s Choice by Cindy Harvey
- Quiet Now, God’s Calling by Jenelle D’Alessandro
- Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right… By Mike Bursell
- Ship of Fools by David Fisher
- Hut Burning for God by Father Gregory
- God Used This Fool by Cobus van Wyngaard
- Fool if you think its over by Paul Walker
- Blessed are the foolish — foolish are the blessed by Steve Hayes
- What A Fool I’ve Been by Reba Baskett
- What a Fool Believes by Sue
- My foolish calling by Lisa
- God uses foolish things by Sally Coleman
- The Holy Fool by Phil Wyman
- The foolishness of God and the foolishness of Christians by KW Leslie
19 Years
As of Monday, January 14, 2008, Margaret and I have been married nineteen years. I realize that this fact may cause you – my readers – to react in disbelief that 1) I am old enough to be married for 19 years, and 2) that someone would be willing to put up with me for 19 years. But, I assure you that it is true. We have been married for 19 years.
Margaret is an amazing woman and an amazing wife. I’m not saying that she’s perfect. We both learned long ago that neither one of us is perfect, and therefore, our marriage is not perfect. But, even though she is not perfect, she still amazes me. Besides taking care of our home and children – which includes homeschooling our children – she also takes care of me. The main benefit for me is that Margaret knows when we need time alone together. While I can get bogged down in work and school and forget about the world, Margaret knows when we both need to stop and take time to treasure one another.
She also cares about other people. She has taught me tremendously in this area. I have seen her give and give of herself to the point of exhaustion because someone else is in need or hurting or lonely or discouraged. Many of the things that I write on this blog concerning loving others comes from watching the way that Margaret loves other people. She loves them with her actions, not just her words.
Honestly, I do not know how we’ve made it for nineteen years. There is no good explanation for our success in marriage except for the grace of God. In fact, as we’ve been talking about marriage recently, we’ve realized how important grace, forgiveness, and friendship are for our marriage. When we were going through pre-marriage counselling, we spent most of our time talking about communication and planning. But, we were never told that, at some point, even the best communicators and planners fail. We’ve learned how to offer one another grace and forgiveness when we fail – and that has happened often.
But, how did we survive during those early years, when we did not understand love, grace, or forgiveness? It had to be God’s grace. We survived living in Atlanta (for me to obtain a master’s degree) during our first year of marriage without knowing anyone. We survived having a child in our fifth year of marriage. We survived building a house (what we thought would be our dream home) in our sixth year of marriage. We survived the birth of another child in our eighth year of marriage. We survived moving back to Atlanta and three hours away from all of our family and friends – and our “dream home” – in our tenth year of marriage. We survived moving seven hours away to North Carolina for seminary – and all that entails – during our thirteenth year of marriage. And, now, five years later, we remain in North Carolina and I still have at least two more years of school ahead of me – and we’re still surviving. Why? God’s grace. There is no other explanation.
So, over the last few months, as friends have been going through difficulties in their marriages, we have been thinking about our marriage. As we have been asked to offer pre-marital counselling to a young couple, we have been thinking about our marriage. As we have approached our nineteenth wedding anniversary, we have been thinking about our marriage. And, since we’ve been thinking about our marriage, I thought that I would put some of those thoughts down on (virtual) paper.
We love each other – and now we think we know a little bit about love – at least we know more than we did 19 years ago. We also like one another – which is saying alot. We do not expect one another to be perfect, and we offer grace and forgiveness when the other person fails. We trust that the other person has our best interest at heart.
And, we rely on God’s grace.
Last Friday, we celebrated our anniversary by going to a new, local restaurant – just the two of us. Tonight – Monday evening – we’ll celebrate with our children with our annual anniversary dinner – steak and sweet potatoes on our china – Jeremy and Miranda will help prepare the meal and set the table. And, we’ll start our twentieth year. I’m looking forward to this year, and to every year to come.
Happy 19th Anniversary, Margaret. I love you! Here’s something just for you – I’m sorry that I didn’t write it.
I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
Far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Well, every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasureI don’t wanna close my eyes
I don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I’d still miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thingLying close to you
Feeling your heart beating
And I’m wondering what you’re dreaming
Wondering if it’s me you’re seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we’re together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and everI don’t wanna close my eyes
I don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I’d still miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thingI don’t wanna miss one smile
I don’t wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just wanna hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And stay here in this moment
For all the rest of timeDon’t wanna close my eyes
Don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
‘Cause I’d still miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
Calvin, Doctrine, and Life
Over at Eric’s blog, “Hammer and Nail“, in his post called “Church Reform – Doctrine“, he says, “Doctrine must be lived out”. A commenter by the name of “Crazy Calvinist” said the following in agreement:
John Calvin said thus: “Doctrine is not an affair of the tongue, but of the life; is not apprehended by the intellect and memory merely, like other branches of learning; but is received only when it possesses the whole soul, and finds its seat and habitation in the inmost recesses of the heart”.
I don’t quote Calvin often, but I think this quote is one that deserves quoting. I’ve been meditating on what Calvin says here for the last few days, and I want to add a few comments of my own.
As John Calvin and Eric and Crazy Calvinist rightly point out, doctrine is not simply a matter of the tongue or the intellect. Instead, doctrine is a matter of the life – of practice. We can say that we believe something and we can think that we believe something, but unless we live it, we do not actually believe it.
Jesus says something similar at the end of the sermon on the mount:
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)
Jesus does not say that you are wise if you hear his words and repeat them, or teach them. He does not say that you are wise if you hear his words and mentally agree with them. He says that you are wise if you hear his words and DO them – put them into practice.
I like the way Eugene Peterson interprets this passage in the Message:
These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards. (Matthew 7:24-27 The Message)
When I first read this passage, I didn’t particularly like it because it hits too close to home. Being in seminary, I know many people who “use [Jesus’] words in Bible studies and don’t work them into [their] life”. Of course, that has been me too many times as well. It is foolish – stupid – ridiculous – worthless.
If I say that I believe that I should love God, but I do not put that into practice – if it does not make my life different from the lives of those around me – then I do not actually believe it. It is not a doctrine in my life.
If I teach that I should love other people, but I do not practice love – if I do not genuinely demonstrate love for those around me – then that teaching means absolutely nothing to me. It is not a doctrine in my life.
If I think that I should proclaim the good new of Jesus Christ to those around me, but I do not practice this – if I never find myself speaking this good news to my neighbors or friends or coworkers – then this is not something that I truly believe. It is not a doctrine in my life.
I wish doctrine were easier. If doctrine were easier, then I could sit around and chew on the finer points of these teachings and separate myself from those who disagree with my decisions and proclaim myself to be the keeper of all things godly and true. But, of course, sitting around and chewing on the deep things of God does not constitute obedience. Practice constitutes obedience.
I think this is what Calvin – oh, and Jesus – was saying.
Church busyness
Thanks to Bob Hyatt at “bob.blog” for this quote:
We simply haven’t taken time. We’ve not been still long enough, often enough, to know ourselves, our friends, our family. Our God. Indeed, the worst hallucination busyness conjures is the conviction that I am God. All depends on me. How will the right things happen at the right time if I’m not pushing and pulling and watching and worrying? – Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God
I’ve been thinking about busyness lately. I haven’t met many people who have deceived themselves into thinking “I am God” because of their busyness. However, I have seen some results of busyness, especially when that busyness ends. What results? A failure to consider the person’s relationship with God.
Within society, work, entertainment, and other forms of busyness keep people from considering God or their relationship with God. But, what about within the church? Could church busyness allow people to feel they are doing good things for God while at the same time they are growing distant from him? I think so. And, I’ve seen what happens when “church busyness” is gone.
What happens when the church stops offering Bible studies, visitation, children’s programs, youth nights, etc. every night of the week? Well, some people replace these church activities with other types of activities and entertainment. But, others realize that they want to relate to God with their extra time. This is when some realize that they have not been relating to God at all, or if they have been relating to God, it has only been at a surface level. Feelings of bitterness, anger, apathy, or sadness that have been lurking below the surface for years finally have the chance to present themselves. People then have the opportunity to deal with these issues that have been hindering their relationship with God.
But, dealing with these issues is not easy. The person’s attention turns from “church busyness” and the Spirit is able to bring these issues to light. But, dealing with these issues is another matter. Some try to hide them; some try to project them onto other people; but some actually deal with the issues. Occasionally, this means delving into parts of their lives that they thought were healed, but were actually only covered by layers of “busyness”.
Regardless of how the person deals with the issues, removal of “church busyness” actually allows them to deal with these issues and to begin to relate to God. However, as long as “church busyness” stays in the picture, people are able to feel that everything is right with God because they are doing so much for God, by doing things for the organization of the church.
So, while church leaders are busy promoting activities and programs in order to disciple people, they may actually be harming those who overdose on “church busyness” and do not deal with the real issues of their lives.