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April 11, 2005
Why We're Here
[For those of you who used to read Sidesspot, this is, alas, a retread. However, it generated a lot of discussion and I hope it will here too.]
This post is aimed at Christians. Non-believers may read it of course (that's big of me, I know), but you're not the target. If you'd prefer, go check out today's day by day.
Now, one thing that we Christians need to get straight: We were made by God to serve Him--to worship Him and love Him with all our hearts. To hear some Christians talk, I wonder if we're not clear on this. Some act as if God's there to serve us and make sure we're happy. Got a problem? Call big daddy and he'll get it squared away for you. Lonely, unhappy, insecure? God's here to make sure you feel okie-dokie. Now, don't get me wrong, God is a loving father, and does actually help us out in times of trouble. But, that's not His purpose.
I was driving by a local church tonight, which had this sign: "Troubled? Talk to God, he's up all night anyway." Now, I know that this was a well-intentioned sign and is really speaking to each person's need to have a relationship with God. But, it does have a bit of a "God's there to make me happy" flavor to it. Happiness, or more accurately joy, is our response to God--not the duty he owes us. We owe Him worship, love and fealty. God owes us nothing. He gives us lots, but he owes us nothing. He's the alpha and omega. We're the created things.
On a related theme,Joe Missionary reminds us that Jesus isn't your boyfriend either:
My position is that romantic love toward any member of the Godhead is inappropriate. Perhaps the author of this song would say that s/he did not intend these words to imply romantic love towards God or Jesus, merely the depth of the personal relationship with him. However, "I've fallen deeply in love with You" means only one thing to me.
One would wish that Joe would not have to post on such a subject. Sadly, I have noticed this phenomenon myself and think Joe's right on the mark.
Thanks for letting me rant. Now back to the usual touchy feely kum ba yah drivel.
Posted by Mark at April 11, 2005 10:35 PM
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One thing that we've learned here in Thailand is that "Not my will, but Yours, be done" means that it's not about our happy endings. We tend to think that we're in this Christian thing to reach *our* happy ending - a successful career, a happy family, long life, and maybe we can make a few Christians along the way.
But God's will isn't about that. In God's Kingdom, our temporal happiness is not important - or rather, it's expendable - here on Earth. In God's Kingdom, success, money, and being liked are worthless - in many cases they are *bad* things to have because they take our eyes off God. In God's Kingdom, death is not the worst thing that can happen to you - in fact, it's just another step along the road.
The easiest way to prove this is to look at our Role Model, Jesus. He lived in poverty, with no home, lots of people hated him, and he died at the ripe age of 33(ish). That's the life we have to look forward to, folks. We just have to understand that none of that matters. All that matters is "Not my will, but Yours, be done."
All that to say, I agree with you, Mark :-) Wait a second... didn't I post a comment on your original post of this? Oh well, here's round two.
Oh, and I really liked this line: "God owes us nothing. He gives us lots, but he owes us nothing." That pretty much sums it up.
Posted by: Adam Heine at April 12, 2005 04:41 AM
Well said Adam! I hadn't realized that you had left already, but I've been in a bit of a cave the past few months. Hope all is well.
If you want to keep track of Adam's mission trip, check out his site:
http://www.firewatching.com/itsara/
Posted by: Mark Sides at April 12, 2005 08:43 AM
Joe's statement that "romantic love toward any member of the Godhead is inappropriate" is entirely correct. I've heard too many songs that cross that line. I also had the misfortune of visiting a church that played music during the Lord's Supper which would have been more suitable for "last call" at a honky tonk.
Slightly more on topic, you might appreciate this link: http://www.moltenthought.com/2005/04/what-it-means-to-be-child-of-god.html
Posted by: hatless in hattiesburg at April 13, 2005 10:18 AM