Weird

I know it's always been part of the game but for some reason a migration really bugs me.  It's not a migration of bugs or birds (not literally anyway).  It's a migration of people… politicians.

It doesn't matter which side of the political aisle you sit on; "Everyone's doing it" is just as thick of wall to hide behind as an adult as it was when we were in Jr. High.

Now that it's a sure thing who the Republican nominee is going to be the headlines are reading, "_________ supports Romney."

I think that should have to be declared at the beginning.  An "out of the six that are going to campaign for the nomination I support_______ for the following reasons" statement would tell me more about what you believe and why.

As it is, it feels like filling out a bracket for March Madness in May.  "After careful thought, deliberation, and weighing the stats, I believe that I will vote for the team that won."

Before I throw a stone too hard I have to realize there's a mirror in the direction I am aiming.

It's easier to assume and proclaim, "that was God's will," leaving a situation than it is to seek Him and discern His will before I get there.  Romans 12:2 tells me that submitting to the transformation of God is so that I would know His "good, pleasing, and perfect will."

Wading into the pool of discovering the will of God is more work, requires more faith, and takes more time.  But isn't that what we're supposed to do?  Watching for signs, listening for confirmation, knowing the leading, waiting for direction, following the will - those are actions that require faith in and communion with God.

I wonder how many of my decisions would be different if they were made after a season of seeking God.  I wonder if I could risk being confident in Him before rather than blaming His sovereignty after.  I wonder how that would impact other people.

But, that's kind of weird.

God and I like weird.

Seeking His Will,
Pastor Dave

spectatorism

Last week I read that one of the former executive chairman of Google claimed that today more content is created in forty-eight hours than was produced from the beginning of history to 2003 (Len Sweet, Viral).

 

The web world has made it so anyone with a decent cell phone has volumes of information about Athanasius, Menno Simmons, and Karl Barth.  It's easy to find out about people who influenced Christianity.

 

We can read about some of the core theological doctrines that have sparked debate from the foundation of the church.  Today anyone with a connection to the web has more content about humanity, God, faith, and life than ever before.

 

Here's my concern for young and old in the age of limitless information at our fingertips- it's still human nature to not allow transformation.

 

Every generation has had a hard time with "spectatorism."  Insight without fruitful activity.  We learn to be active enough to have an opinion and… that's all. 

 

Now, imagine that infecting the church and followers of Christ.  I respond to the death of Christ the same way I do the death of Dick Clark - information and opinion.  I understand who God is the same way I understand who a presidential candidate is - information and opinion.  I surrender to the Holy Spirit the same way I surrender to my favorite social media - information and opinion.

 

I am not anti-technology; I believe it is a tool that could be used to touch the world with faith (as well as it being a trap that would drown a person in sewage).  

But, isn't habitual "spectatorism" in the church hypocrisy?  

 

Philippians 3.16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  Paul's call to the church was to live what you know and keep learning more.  The problem has never been the information or the medium that information is transferred through - the problem has always been getting us to live it well. 

 

This morning my thoughts are questions - Am I overreacting?  Where does grace fit in this?  How do I know when I'm stuck in "spectatorism?"  What should be done?

 

Questioning,

 

Pastor Dave