Me: God, I don't have time for my quiet time this morning bc i really need to get started on baking my rolls.
God: Don't worry... i love you no matter what
Me: God, I know i shouldn't get angry at my kids for stretching my patience, but sometimes i just have had enough!
God: Don't worry.... i love you no matter what
Me: God, I know that my husband likes to have a clean house, but the kids need me now and... isn't it more important to read a book to the kids than to worry about the mountain of dishes?
God: Don't worry... i love you no matter what
Me: I know it's Sunday, but i really don't feel like seeing anyone or talking to anyone today at church. I can just stay home and have a private and personal worship time. right?
God: Don't worry.... i love you no matter what
So... you read all that and perhaps an impression you have is that it's not a big deal. None of these transgressions are serious. It's all a matter of relativity and prioritization.
But this is exactly where I feel God's squeezing of my heart and mind... And even though I feel his words speaking to my soul, i'm not quite sure i have words to describe them adequately. In a sense, i feel that letting myself listen to God's supposed answers (*the ones you read in my previous fictional conversation*) supports my spiritual laziness. My faith stands strong on the knowledge that no matter what I do, he'll still love me... but just because he always will doesn't mean that i can just "let myself go."
My sister is a Methodist. They congregationally pray the Lords Prayer and partake of Communion every Sunday. When i first found that out i thought it was a cute liturgical detail for their order of service. However, i questioned how they could ensure it's lasting significance. In other words, "How can you make sure these elements remain special if you do them all the time?" My Mennonite faith only does Communion 3-4 times a year! She assured me that it's uniqueness and special-ness depend on the condition of your heart and the importance you give it. You don't let it lose it's uniqueness.
I'm missing something from my faith. I'm missing the compunction, the obligation, the "hoops" (if you will...).
I joined the blog of a Jewish Rabi yesterday. His blog is called The Fly Fishing Rabi. In his entry entitled: Why do Jews not eat Pork he answers this questions with a unsuspectingly satisfactory answer:
As with many of the laws of the Torah, there is no real reason given for why Jews cannot eat pork. The Bible only states that the pig is unclean. Here God tells us what we cannot do, and the reason seems to be: “Because I told you so!”For you non-legalists reading this right now, you probably feel averse to this line of thought. You'd probably quote Paul to me and his sermons on how we have been set free from slavery. Or you could argue the New Testament and how Jesus' death and resurrection basically nullifies the Old Law... Personally, i feel challenged to hold tight to some of the "Old-ness."
Read what else Rabi Eisenkramer had to say (specifically to Reform Judaism):
The beauty of Reform Judaism is that each person can choose his or her own level of ritual practice. The danger of Reform Judaism is that we must have some level of Jewish practice to keep our religion meaningful and alive. Informed choice does not mean wholesale rejection.I'm not Jewish by faith, but i think the Rabi has a point... As a Christian, I also have the choice to choose my own level of ritual practice. The Mennonite Faith doesn't have many ritualistic forms of expressing its faith, but (as the Rabi said) I DO get to choose how deep I go. Perhaps this is where a personal side-note is fitting: My faith needs more Ritualness and/or Symbolism. I have a deep desire to do something that reflects the depth of my love and faith in Him. An action that reflects obedience in a physical & tangible form. I love pork and i'm not planning on giving that up in sign of obedience (as the Jewish faith does)... but then again i ask myself... why not?
This is how the Rabi concludes his essay:
People sometimes ask me if I miss eating pork, and I always say: “Yes, sometimes I do.” But my refraining from pork is a way of acknowledging the laws of keeping kosher, and it makes me feel closer to my Judaism and Jews stretching all the way back to the Bible.I'm not sure what my next steps should be. I'll definitely be examining my heart to find something I can symbolically give up (sacrifice) in obedience to Him. Not because i think that God is a legalist and wants me to live word by word what the Old Testament says... But because i think that by giving something up, i acknowledge that i can live without it because He is more important. Hopefully through the process I will feel closer to my faith and to my other Brothers & Sisters in Christ in the present and throughout history.
Dear Reader:
What are you opinions?
Have you ever felt that there was something more you could do to show God your complete submission to His purpose in your life?
Is there something you'd be willing to symbolically give up in obedience to Him? For example: Coke - bc it's all sugar and really not a necessary dietary need. Giving it up you are contributing to "caring for the body of the Holy Spirit."
