Tuesday, June 26, 2007

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH CHRISTIANITY?

So much seems a stir these days. We live, seemingly, in turbulent times. Do we? I think not. I believe we live in upsetting times which are not the same as turbulent. Individual faith is suffering severe and wonderful shipwreck. Those old standards of which we once relied seem to be losing there formidable presence. Where we could count on some things as absolutes in our religious world; now we aren't so convinced. Hearts are growing cold in the process because the value of such experience is not clear.

Let's work at making it clearer. From Baptist to Presbyterian to Catholic to, yes, even the Church of Christ some of the pertinent issues of Christendom seem to have grown cold. Some question their faith even to the extent they wonder if they have or even want faith any longer. What's going on? God is working. He is upsetting our traditions right and left. He's leaving no Christian body out.

During biblical times the wine making process involved pouring the new wine from vat to vat as sediment settled. Each transition shook up the sediment, known as lees, so that as the vat was tipped fewer lees would transfer as they would stick to the bottom and the wine became purer and finer at each new pouring. So it is with us. Christians are being tipped over in order to get the old crud out. We are not becoming more confused and less interested. We are having the dull stuff strained from our spirits in order to be renewed........upset by upset.

Moab has been at ease since his youth; He has also been undisturbed on his lees. Neither has he been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile. Therefore he retains his flavor, and his aroma has not changed. Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I shall send to him those who tip vessels, and they will tip him over, and they will empty his vessels and shatter his jars (Jeremiah 48:11-12).

Don't be discouraged if your spirituality feels challenged. It most likely is. But, such a sense is not without God at the root. Too many faiths look more like flat tires. They are out of air, out of punch, and a total drag to the system of daily living. God is rocking our boats. Be glad. He still cares. You are not becoming duller in your faith. You are on the brink of breakthrough. Don't give up!

4 comments:

Mary Lou said...

Oh I needed to hear that. My faith is being shaken and from what I am not sure. I pray this is the brink of a breakthrough.
Great post. Thank you.

Shawn said...

Clearly you have gained the ability to read my mind. I feel the same way that we are being pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned. Just when we think that we have something figured out, we then have our eyes opened to the depths of our "not knowing-ness" - haven't you used that word before?

Anyway, thatnks for the reminder that we must love being shaken and reminded of how we must cling to Him and not to our theories.

Shawn

Anonymous said...

I struggle at times with is it God or my selfish desires, but I do agree that the Spirit is working in the church today.

Liz Moore said...

Once again you have brought us something that seems to be tugging at the hearts of everyone. And once again, scripture has been made fresh as if reading it the first time. That was a verse of wow!... I didn't know that was there! Thanks Terry! I needed to read that today.

And thanks for the sweet comment you sent me this morning. You and another friend just made my day!! You always make me smile! Love ya!