The title of this post is a Latin phrase. It may not at first seem like a very uplifting one-- it means "Remember you will die."
This phrase has been a motto of the Christian faith throughout its history. Does it sound morbid to you? It did to me at first... but as I've been thinking about it more I think it's one of the most important thoughts that has ever been expressed.
And believe it or not, it's in the Bible. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart."
Yeah, houses of mourning are pretty much our favorite places to be, right? I was trying to think about what these places would be today, and what came to mind was funeral homes. How do you feel when you go to a funeral? I know I just want to get out of there as soon as possible most times. If there's a choice between a funeral and a feast, I know which one I'd normally choose.
But Solomon is challenging us with something here, challenging us to deal with the real issues of this messed up world we find ourselves in. When we're partying, we often don't have to deal with any of this-- it's like the food and drink and entertainment are specifically designed to keep us from having to think. Actually it's not like that, it IS that in many cases. As Solomon points out elsewhere in his book, this isn't always a bad thing-- too much thinking can be just as bad as not enough. The lesson of the funeral, however, is said to have more lasting value.
What's the lesson? Essentially, it's that we are all going to die. And we don't know when-- could be tomorrow, could be fifty years from now. As Francis Chan said in his (excellent and highly challenging) book, Crazy Love, "You might not finish this chapter." Or this blog. Comforting, right?
Actually, I think it is. Here's why: something happens when we die. You might be thinking, "we go to Heaven!" and yeah, that's obviously what we're shooting for. (Remembering to live in the light of our future hope in heaven is really important too, but that's really a whole different post. I'm just talking about death here. Let's keep it focused on death.)
See, while our spirits are going to meet Jesus and face the last judgment, something is happening here on earth too. The best way I can describe it is that things are ceasing to matter. Think about it-- when you die, do you think anyone will care at all what clothes you wore, what job you had, how much money you made at it, or where you lived? I doubt it-- they'll care about who you were, not what you did. So all those other things will entirely cease to matter because the only person who ever really cared about them will have just left the premises.
Remembering that we will die just puts in perspective the things that are really important. Did we live life striving to become more like Jesus and to bless those around us, both our Christian family and the lost around us? Or were we too selfish? As I've been thinking about this for myself, I've realized that a lot of the things I'm focused on are so dramatically self-centered that they completely lack importance.
Remembering that we might die soon provides the impetus we need to do something about this self-centeredness. There really isn't time to deal with our own priorities and then move on to what God cares about and what will bless others. We have to do the important things NOW. I know I don't want to scrape my way into Heaven like someone escaping through the flames (see 1 Corinthians 3:11-16). I want to devote my time to things that will last.
Now, obviously this mindset could lead us into frenzied panic: we have to know right now what God wants and do all of it right away with no breaks because we could die any minute! But that isn't really the point. I'm convinced that almost anything can have eternal value... if it's offered to the Lord. We become more like him in our everyday work if we do it for him, in our resting if we rest in him, in our worship if our hearts are really inviting him. We also bless our community by working, our friends and family by resting and recharging, and our God and church family by worshipping with all our hearts and inspiring others.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" --1 Corinthians 10:31
The coolest thing that's been happening in my life recently is that I've started seeing how God desires to meet me and grow me up in all these different situations. I feel a lot of times like my thoughts and feelings are all over the map, but God pursues me in all of them. All of these things then become windows into his love and ways to become more like him. As I offer them to him, some he takes away, some he gives back, and some are multiplied several times over! But all of it matters-- yet only to the extent that it stops being about me and starts being about God's plan being worked out in my life and in the lives of those he has placed around me.
So, I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon, but I have to remember that I will die. I just don't want to waste my time alive on cares that will perish with me. My life will have impact on the future only as I care about the things the eternal God has always cared about: the rescue and restoration, salvation and sanctification, of broken souls in a fallen world. As I learn to live like this, I can be free from the stress of all my own plans and worries (which, incidentally, I don't have power to do anything about because God isn't terribly concerned about them) and begin to walk in the freedom that comes when you're working for the plans of the One who has the power.
And all that just from remembering that one unspecified day, I'll die. Not so bad, is it?
Memento mori.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Humanism vs. Glory
I recently heard an excellent message from a preacher to whom I would love to give credit for it, except I don't know his name. Anyway, I wanted to share the general gist of it in the hopes that it can spur others on to have some of the same thoughts and questions it sparked in me. (By way of at least some credit being given, I heard this message as part of a video compilation called the revival hymn which you can google and I encourage you to watch if you're feeling ready to be pummeled with convicting truth and challenging ideas for about 40 minutes. This thing rocked my world.)
Basically, this preacher started by describing how humanism has become the predominant worldview of our time. A quick and dirty definition of humanism: a philosophy that states that the ultimate goal of life/existence is the happiness of humankind. A lot of people (including Christians... we'll get to that in a moment) live like this is the case. Even if they don't think their position out philosophically all the way to full-on humanism, many at least arrive at its cousin, hedonism (or simple pleasure-seeking) as the driving principle of their lives.
All this is simply a natural part of humanity's ongoing attempt to flee from God as the source of meaning or reason in life. However, the problem as it relates to the church, to those of us who try to shine a light into the darkness, comes when this humanist influence starts seeping into Christianity. Biblical Christianity teaches that the purpose for our existence is to bring glory to God. The process by which we abandon God's glory and start living for happiness (either for all: humanism, or just for us: hedonism) is certainly a subtle one, and I don't really feel qualified to explain how it happens. I see in my own life that it does, though. Let me just share some questions that have been kicking around in my heart to hopefully shed light on what I mean.
Do I ask God for forgiveness because I want to feel better about myself or because I am really sorry for attempting to steal his glory through whatever prideful sin I indulge in?
Do I want God's guidance in my life because I want to feel safe, or because it will result in me taking part in his perfect plan to maximize his own praise?
Do we "do evangelism" as a means to fix the problems of the world and its broken inhabitants or because the Lamb of God shed his holy blood for these people and deserves to see them claimed by his love?
Do I even believe that God is justified in caring much more about his glory than our temporal well-being?
How would my life be different if I lived for God's glory instead of my own happiness?
See where I'm going with all this? The problem of humanism seems to be everywhere I look... all these ways that I've subjugated true Christianity to my own quest for ________ (fill in the blank: completion, happiness, fulfillment, simplicity etc.). The problem is not that God doesn't want to give me those things! It's just that pursuing them instead of God himself is like taking a medication because you want the side-effects, not the cure. We can get so distracted that we completely lose sight of the fact that we've been set free from the sin and bondage that was killing us.
And what is freedom, anyway? Not the ability to do whatever we want... but the ability to walk in the healing light of God's glory. The light we shine into the dark can't be our own, and it can't even be the elusive glow of happiness, whatever that is.
The only light that can really illuminate the dark streets of our city and our world is the light of the glory of God revealed in Christ.
We need to be preaching God as the all-consuming righteous lover of our souls, the glorious Lord of all things who rightfully deserves their obedience, NOT the means to happiness, not something to add to the lives we already have to make them better.
But first, before we start preaching it... we need to start living like it's true.
I've often heard it said that people are looking for something bigger than themselves to belong to that will give them meaning. Personal happiness is too self-centered-- I think many would willingly lay down most of life's comforts to really feel that they had meaning. No wonder people don't buy what the church is selling: if it's all about happiness it just isn't that different from all the other scams they've already gotten burned on. Only the overwhelming glory of God is enough bigger than us to be worthwhile.
How do we live for THAT? And how do we share it with others in such a way that they want it too? Although I have so far to go to really live this way, I long to pursue these things and see the church reflect them. How can we start living for God's glory in fuller measure?
Maybe if we loved unselfishly... not for what we could get out of it.
Maybe if we worshipped God... not music or a song or the show.
Maybe if we truly gave up our lives to God... instead of trying to fit him into our plans.
Maybe if we prayed God would save us from the ways we don't honor him... instead of the ways we aren't happy.
Maybe if we stopped chasing happiness long enough to truly be still in the presence of God.
"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)
God's glory WILL win in the end. I'd just like to be part of making that happen instead of getting myself in the way.
Basically, this preacher started by describing how humanism has become the predominant worldview of our time. A quick and dirty definition of humanism: a philosophy that states that the ultimate goal of life/existence is the happiness of humankind. A lot of people (including Christians... we'll get to that in a moment) live like this is the case. Even if they don't think their position out philosophically all the way to full-on humanism, many at least arrive at its cousin, hedonism (or simple pleasure-seeking) as the driving principle of their lives.
All this is simply a natural part of humanity's ongoing attempt to flee from God as the source of meaning or reason in life. However, the problem as it relates to the church, to those of us who try to shine a light into the darkness, comes when this humanist influence starts seeping into Christianity. Biblical Christianity teaches that the purpose for our existence is to bring glory to God. The process by which we abandon God's glory and start living for happiness (either for all: humanism, or just for us: hedonism) is certainly a subtle one, and I don't really feel qualified to explain how it happens. I see in my own life that it does, though. Let me just share some questions that have been kicking around in my heart to hopefully shed light on what I mean.
Do I ask God for forgiveness because I want to feel better about myself or because I am really sorry for attempting to steal his glory through whatever prideful sin I indulge in?
Do I want God's guidance in my life because I want to feel safe, or because it will result in me taking part in his perfect plan to maximize his own praise?
Do we "do evangelism" as a means to fix the problems of the world and its broken inhabitants or because the Lamb of God shed his holy blood for these people and deserves to see them claimed by his love?
Do I even believe that God is justified in caring much more about his glory than our temporal well-being?
How would my life be different if I lived for God's glory instead of my own happiness?
See where I'm going with all this? The problem of humanism seems to be everywhere I look... all these ways that I've subjugated true Christianity to my own quest for ________ (fill in the blank: completion, happiness, fulfillment, simplicity etc.). The problem is not that God doesn't want to give me those things! It's just that pursuing them instead of God himself is like taking a medication because you want the side-effects, not the cure. We can get so distracted that we completely lose sight of the fact that we've been set free from the sin and bondage that was killing us.
And what is freedom, anyway? Not the ability to do whatever we want... but the ability to walk in the healing light of God's glory. The light we shine into the dark can't be our own, and it can't even be the elusive glow of happiness, whatever that is.
The only light that can really illuminate the dark streets of our city and our world is the light of the glory of God revealed in Christ.
We need to be preaching God as the all-consuming righteous lover of our souls, the glorious Lord of all things who rightfully deserves their obedience, NOT the means to happiness, not something to add to the lives we already have to make them better.
But first, before we start preaching it... we need to start living like it's true.
I've often heard it said that people are looking for something bigger than themselves to belong to that will give them meaning. Personal happiness is too self-centered-- I think many would willingly lay down most of life's comforts to really feel that they had meaning. No wonder people don't buy what the church is selling: if it's all about happiness it just isn't that different from all the other scams they've already gotten burned on. Only the overwhelming glory of God is enough bigger than us to be worthwhile.
How do we live for THAT? And how do we share it with others in such a way that they want it too? Although I have so far to go to really live this way, I long to pursue these things and see the church reflect them. How can we start living for God's glory in fuller measure?
Maybe if we loved unselfishly... not for what we could get out of it.
Maybe if we worshipped God... not music or a song or the show.
Maybe if we truly gave up our lives to God... instead of trying to fit him into our plans.
Maybe if we prayed God would save us from the ways we don't honor him... instead of the ways we aren't happy.
Maybe if we stopped chasing happiness long enough to truly be still in the presence of God.
"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)
God's glory WILL win in the end. I'd just like to be part of making that happen instead of getting myself in the way.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Mushrooms, but No Shortcuts
I recently took some time off from all my responsibilities and went on a road trip by myself, something I highly recommend doing if you can find the means to do so. (A hint: it's a lot easier if you quit your job.) It's just good to get out and remember that this is a huge world that God is holding together, and it's also great to catch up with old friends (and relatives)! More than all that, though, I went looking for some direction and set aside some serious time to seek God for that purpose on the trip. I didn't keep this a secret, so since I got back a lot of people have been asking what God showed me.
It sure wasn't what I was expecting.
In fact, it wasn't direction in the sense I was asking for at all. The best way I can actually think of to explain it is just with this story that happened on day 2 of the trip.
I was at my grandparents' house for this early stage of the voyage. They live on like 120 acres of wonderful land in the middle of not much (central Illinois). Part of my trip's mission was to take long walks in their woods and talk to God out in his creation. As I told them that, and almost before the words had finished leaving my mouth, my grandma said "maybe you'll find some mushrooms!"
See, I didn't know this, but my trip directly coincided with the beginning of wild mushroom season in Illinois. Something else I didn't know was that this is a *big deal* around these parts (perhaps due to the lack of too much else going on). I mean, I've never seen people get so excited about fungus before! More on that later. Anyway, it was clear that on any walk I took in my time there, I was going to be equipped with a "sack" (which is what people in Illinois call plastic bags) for the purpose of retrieving any mushrooms I happened to find.
I wasn't really thinking too much about the mushrooms at first. I stuffed the sack into the pocket of my jacket and started off down the hill toward the creek behind my grandparents' house with my eyes only occasionally straying downward to check for the ugly, wrinkly morel mushrooms that were supposed to be there for the picking. They don't really look like anything you'd want to eat, actually. Anyhow, I walked for a long time, stopping occasionally to rest and pray and bring the things on my heart before God.
I kind of thought, I guess, that there would be a lot of these mushrooms around. I was looking forward to making my grandma's day since she was clearly pretty excited about my search. After two and a half hours or so of my walk, though, I still hadn't found a single one of the elusive fungi. My prayers actually started to shift from my requests for general life direction into requests to be directed toward mushrooms. I hadn't really felt like I was hearing God answer my other prayers anyway, so I was starting to get a little bit frustrated.
I don't know why he was waiting for this, but almost as soon as I started praying about the mushrooms, God started to speak. What I felt him say, though, was not what I was expecting or even wanting: "why don't you forget about the mushrooms and just walk with me in my woods?"
So I did. It's funny: I always ask God for answers when he really likes to give me questions. And the really amazing thing is that they always end up being the answers too. Anyway, my walk suddenly got much better. The sun came smiling through the trees after hours of overcast, and either a great variety of birds started suddenly singing... or I just started to notice them. I felt God just show me his love. Finally, I got pretty tired and hungry and sat down to rest beside the creek a little before turning back toward the house.
I turned around, put my hand down to get up... and there it was. Yup, a mushroom. A big, ugly wrinkled one. I picked it and thought I would at least have something to show for my time... but that wasn't it. I looked around a little more, and I kept finding more and more! In one little area about the size of my apartment, I found so many that I almost filled the sack. I was unreasonably happy for someone carrying a bag of fungus. I started to understand maybe why the locals were so into this... maybe.
After the initial euphoria wore off, though, I realized that the mushrooms were just the next part of what God was trying to tell me. I was so concerned about my own life and my own stuff, when God just wanted me to spend time with him. What a crazy shortcut to attempt, getting God's direction without taking time to invest in relationship with him. But I do that all the time. The mushrooms were just a symbol of that, and really--he had been leading me towards them the whole time. The blessing was only revealed in fellowship with him, though.
Now, I don't think it's wrong to ask God for specific direction, just that it wasn't God's plan for my trip. David asked for very specific guidance, as did many others, and God answered them. You don't really read about Jesus asking the Father for directions, though. The model he gave is in John 5:19: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." Jesus just lived life as close to his father as possible, and then he could easily see what the Father was doing and join him in it. He didn't ask, he just walked in fellowship with his eyes open... and he saw.
That's what I think God wants me to do for the direction I need for my future: draw close to him and keep my eyes open. It just takes the trust that he really is leading me all the while to things I can't currently see. Otherwise, the request for direction is just about me, not about him... and he doesn't do shortcuts like that.
By the way, everyone at my grandparents' church was very impressed with my mushroom find... apparently I passed some obscure Midwestern initiation rite without even knowing it! I wasn't just a city kid anymore, now I was a mushroom hunter and better, a finder. Only God could come up with something like that. Oh, and my grandma was so excited as she fried up the mushrooms and made me eat most of them in honor of the find. I guess mushrooms can be significant after all... and they were delicious :)
It sure wasn't what I was expecting.
In fact, it wasn't direction in the sense I was asking for at all. The best way I can actually think of to explain it is just with this story that happened on day 2 of the trip.
I was at my grandparents' house for this early stage of the voyage. They live on like 120 acres of wonderful land in the middle of not much (central Illinois). Part of my trip's mission was to take long walks in their woods and talk to God out in his creation. As I told them that, and almost before the words had finished leaving my mouth, my grandma said "maybe you'll find some mushrooms!"
See, I didn't know this, but my trip directly coincided with the beginning of wild mushroom season in Illinois. Something else I didn't know was that this is a *big deal* around these parts (perhaps due to the lack of too much else going on). I mean, I've never seen people get so excited about fungus before! More on that later. Anyway, it was clear that on any walk I took in my time there, I was going to be equipped with a "sack" (which is what people in Illinois call plastic bags) for the purpose of retrieving any mushrooms I happened to find.
I wasn't really thinking too much about the mushrooms at first. I stuffed the sack into the pocket of my jacket and started off down the hill toward the creek behind my grandparents' house with my eyes only occasionally straying downward to check for the ugly, wrinkly morel mushrooms that were supposed to be there for the picking. They don't really look like anything you'd want to eat, actually. Anyhow, I walked for a long time, stopping occasionally to rest and pray and bring the things on my heart before God.
I kind of thought, I guess, that there would be a lot of these mushrooms around. I was looking forward to making my grandma's day since she was clearly pretty excited about my search. After two and a half hours or so of my walk, though, I still hadn't found a single one of the elusive fungi. My prayers actually started to shift from my requests for general life direction into requests to be directed toward mushrooms. I hadn't really felt like I was hearing God answer my other prayers anyway, so I was starting to get a little bit frustrated.
I don't know why he was waiting for this, but almost as soon as I started praying about the mushrooms, God started to speak. What I felt him say, though, was not what I was expecting or even wanting: "why don't you forget about the mushrooms and just walk with me in my woods?"
So I did. It's funny: I always ask God for answers when he really likes to give me questions. And the really amazing thing is that they always end up being the answers too. Anyway, my walk suddenly got much better. The sun came smiling through the trees after hours of overcast, and either a great variety of birds started suddenly singing... or I just started to notice them. I felt God just show me his love. Finally, I got pretty tired and hungry and sat down to rest beside the creek a little before turning back toward the house.
I turned around, put my hand down to get up... and there it was. Yup, a mushroom. A big, ugly wrinkled one. I picked it and thought I would at least have something to show for my time... but that wasn't it. I looked around a little more, and I kept finding more and more! In one little area about the size of my apartment, I found so many that I almost filled the sack. I was unreasonably happy for someone carrying a bag of fungus. I started to understand maybe why the locals were so into this... maybe.
After the initial euphoria wore off, though, I realized that the mushrooms were just the next part of what God was trying to tell me. I was so concerned about my own life and my own stuff, when God just wanted me to spend time with him. What a crazy shortcut to attempt, getting God's direction without taking time to invest in relationship with him. But I do that all the time. The mushrooms were just a symbol of that, and really--he had been leading me towards them the whole time. The blessing was only revealed in fellowship with him, though.
Now, I don't think it's wrong to ask God for specific direction, just that it wasn't God's plan for my trip. David asked for very specific guidance, as did many others, and God answered them. You don't really read about Jesus asking the Father for directions, though. The model he gave is in John 5:19: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." Jesus just lived life as close to his father as possible, and then he could easily see what the Father was doing and join him in it. He didn't ask, he just walked in fellowship with his eyes open... and he saw.
That's what I think God wants me to do for the direction I need for my future: draw close to him and keep my eyes open. It just takes the trust that he really is leading me all the while to things I can't currently see. Otherwise, the request for direction is just about me, not about him... and he doesn't do shortcuts like that.
By the way, everyone at my grandparents' church was very impressed with my mushroom find... apparently I passed some obscure Midwestern initiation rite without even knowing it! I wasn't just a city kid anymore, now I was a mushroom hunter and better, a finder. Only God could come up with something like that. Oh, and my grandma was so excited as she fried up the mushrooms and made me eat most of them in honor of the find. I guess mushrooms can be significant after all... and they were delicious :)
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