I have been thinking a great deal lately about God, the church, and society. I have been thinking especially about how the gods of government, corporation, not-for-profit, and charitable secular and religious concerns, have captured, if not usurped, the God of the ages.
We have come to look to all these other gods to wave their magic wands and make all things right, rather than look to the God who created the world and all that is in it, the God who existed before any human government, corporation, not-for-profit, or secular or religious charity.
Was it not the God of Moses who led the children of Israel from captivity to freedom? Who established kingly, governmental rule through leaders like Saul, David, and Solomon? Who raised up prophets like Jonah to preach deliverance to the people of Nineveh so that they would repent and believe? Who took God's very embodiment, broken and dead, raising Jesus to new life?
We are a people freed by God, ruled by God, delivered by God, and resurrected by God. Yet we are looking to the gods of government, corporation, not-for-profit, and charities to make it right?
Let me suggest to you that we have missed the mark, hamartia. We have sinned. And we have settled for the lesser gods of our own making, rather than the God who made us, to set the direction for the world to find healing and wholeness.
The focus of congregational life is to help people get in touch with God. The purpose of congregational transformation is to help people hunger and thirst for righteousness rather than the junk food of cheap religion and empty spirituality. This advent season gives you a change once again to get serious about God.
As I heard somewhere over the years, Christianity is not the truth on ice, but the truth on fire. We are not God's frozen people, but God's chosen people. Let's get baked. Let's turn on the oven. Let's rise to the occasion of a 21st century frontier. There is greater power in communion and communication with God than anything. And it is this power that can transform the world.
The journey is long and the road is hard. The greater the pressure upon us, the greater our realization of helplessness and our need for God. As the Apostle Paul said: "We were pressed out of measure, above strength," that is human strength. When so pressed, we press closer to the One whose "strength is made perfect in weakness," and who gives us peace.
The poet says it much better than I:
Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length,
Pressed so intensely it seems beyond strength;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll;
Pressed by foes, and pressure by friends,
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod,
Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings,
Pressed into faith for impossible things;
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life out-poured!
Pastors and congregations, press into God and God will press into you!
Pressingly yours,
based meditations for each day beginning on Thursday, November 26th through Christmas Day were written by Rev. Dr. Beth Rupe, Senior Minister at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Moline, IL. Please download this revised edition.
