One of my biggest struggles is to remember that I am nothing and Christ is everything, and, if I am to be anything, I need Him to fill me. Is this in the Christianity you hear about? See? Is it in your churches? What does the world say about weakness? Share your thoughts...
Alright, this is just my attempt to get something going here. I am fully prepared to fall flat on my face.
The weak are meat and the strong like to eat! 😡
ReplyDeleteHaha, sick but true. Here is a video on that. My brother-in-law sent it to us and, well, not sure what you'll think. Kind of dark... But it makes me think of what you said. 'Specially in 'Merica!
Deletehttp://vimeo.com/78325598
'MERICAA!!!
DeleteShifty :/ I fail to see how that video has anything to do with the concept of strong people surviving or thriving in this lifetime by trampling over and using "weak" people to get what they want. Maybe I'm not artsy fartsy enough to understand what the creator of that video had in mind. Seemed like the message had something to do with our consumption of meat products specifically pig and chicken since the dude was MADE out of bacon and was feeding himself to a giant chicken leg with teeth.
DeleteNom Nom Nom.
And the word you were looking for wasn't dark, it was weird, as in that video is kind of weird. I feel like it was weird just for the sake of being weird. The lighting WAS dark. Judges? ...... Ok, i'll give that it was kinda dark too.
Yeah, I understand what you are saying. I think you are correct about the video's intentions. Probably a waste of your time. Will you forgive me?
DeleteI do, however, want to continue this idea of weak and powerful but I need to bring a book tomorrow night and talk about the ideas presented.
I think that being weak is realizing how limited we are in our control of the outcomes of life thereby giving way for God's control or strength to take center stage. I'm weak and powerless to save myself from my sin. The lion of Judah comes roaring forth, heralding His victory and by faith, my victory. When I am weak then I am strong. When I get out of my own way God's control and power are clearly seen.
DeleteI struggle with that. Some might think your a little weird or stupid for even suggesting that. From what I've seen and read lately it doesn't seem the popular churches are saying that.
ReplyDeleteYeah. In the mega churches it's about being a bad ass Christian (in the sense of being strong and a strong Christian, not sinning ever). This seems to go completely contrary to what Paul/Jesus/Everyone teaches in the Bible. When we are weak, then we are strong...Also, Philippians 2. I am not dismissing sanctification, that is so important and probably under-taught in our particular circles. The idea, though, for sanctification is not to be saved, but a reflection of what Christ's gift has done to us.
DeleteIn churches like ours, maybe it's a temptation to act like we've got it all together (family knows everything about the chatechism and they dress nice for church and smile and act polite) and never have any questions or doubts about the faith. I know I am a jerk about getting to church on time and this can be super idolatrous. Or, that we never talk about being excited or having had a prayer answered or needing prayer or needing a friend/elder/pastor to talk to, etc...
I have the day off and it is crazy cold and blizzardish out. I was feeling kind of frontiersman-like, shoveling the car off, and I thought I might go for a walk in this later...being tough and all. The next moment I had a strong craving for some Starbuck's coffee and I was like, "whoa, you aren't some grizzly adams, Brent, you are a woosie." Also, I thought on the fact that my wife was busting her tail while I had yet another day off... I laughed at myself and made this connection to faith. Man, when we are empty, we can only be filled. When we are filled with HIM, how glorious!!!
Alright, sitting here in my pajamas, I am going to have some coffee...
Grace and peace.
On my ride to work if I'm not listening to my own stuff I'll put on some Christian radio from time to time. A majority of the time, majority, they will go so far as to say, "well, were not perfect" but they will almost never say, "we are sinful" "we are rebellious towards our Maker and because of that we deserve death and damnation, we brought it on ourselves" They come across, to me at least, as not wanting to 'offend' anyone. They and mega churches are trying to hard to make Christianity cool. Christianity is not cool its offensive when taught correctly.
DeleteHopefully my bad grammar and punctuation errors give off that intimate vibe you were looking for shifty. You had better not pull a super tramp on me davy crockett. Stay inside when its that cold out.
DeleteHey, I did venture out. I was bundled up, though. As I was out in that snow, I couldn't help but think of times in scripture when God explains how our sins, that were once as scarlet, are made white as snow. It is such bright stuff. Even though it seemed somewhat cloudy, I was blinded by it. I stumbled inside and could hardly tell the difference between lights on and off. Isn't that like God's grace pouring into our lives? It illuminates everything and all the artificial light is seen for what it is...
ReplyDeleteThey call that snow blindness shifty.
ReplyDelete