Wednesday, March 25, 2009
does God get disappointed with us?
ok, so this may be a long one, part from a book i'm reading:
If I ask someone, 'does God love you?' Most people would answer yes, of course. He has to love me. He made me. However, if I change the question and ask if God ever gets disappointed in you, I get a much different answer. Most, I'd guess over 90% of Christians would say, 'Oh, yes- There are many times when He is disappointed in me'. It is this disconnect between saying that I believe God loves me and yet not feeling unconditionally loved that challenges the modern understanding of the Gospel. The sense that God can be disappointed in me reveals the performance ideas still resident in my theology. On an emotional level, when we've disappointed someone we care about, there is an unsettledness that goes on inside of us. Depending on how sensitive we are, it can get pretty intrusive and most of us feel like we need to do something to repair the relationship. sometimes this sense of obligation motivates us to make it right or apologise or whatever because we want to feel at peace again inside; sometimes the motivation is self-serving like with those who cannot tolerate conflict and negative emotions. Either way, this feeling usually moves us to repair the relationship. Now while this works fine in human relationships, it is absolutely mistaken when it comes to the Gospel. Because, for disappointment to exist, there must be some sort of prior expectation. We live with appropriate expectations all of the time in human relationships, but the Gospel says that Christ has fully met ALL the expectations and requirements of God on my behalf. If there are no expectations, then there can be no disappointment.
So what do you think? I was brought up all the time being told (in?)directly that I was never doing enough for God and (perhaps even unintentionally?) that He was therefore disappointed in me (as supposed to an unconditional guilt-free inabilty to be disappointed crazy love)
If I ask someone, 'does God love you?' Most people would answer yes, of course. He has to love me. He made me. However, if I change the question and ask if God ever gets disappointed in you, I get a much different answer. Most, I'd guess over 90% of Christians would say, 'Oh, yes- There are many times when He is disappointed in me'. It is this disconnect between saying that I believe God loves me and yet not feeling unconditionally loved that challenges the modern understanding of the Gospel. The sense that God can be disappointed in me reveals the performance ideas still resident in my theology. On an emotional level, when we've disappointed someone we care about, there is an unsettledness that goes on inside of us. Depending on how sensitive we are, it can get pretty intrusive and most of us feel like we need to do something to repair the relationship. sometimes this sense of obligation motivates us to make it right or apologise or whatever because we want to feel at peace again inside; sometimes the motivation is self-serving like with those who cannot tolerate conflict and negative emotions. Either way, this feeling usually moves us to repair the relationship. Now while this works fine in human relationships, it is absolutely mistaken when it comes to the Gospel. Because, for disappointment to exist, there must be some sort of prior expectation. We live with appropriate expectations all of the time in human relationships, but the Gospel says that Christ has fully met ALL the expectations and requirements of God on my behalf. If there are no expectations, then there can be no disappointment.
So what do you think? I was brought up all the time being told (in?)directly that I was never doing enough for God and (perhaps even unintentionally?) that He was therefore disappointed in me (as supposed to an unconditional guilt-free inabilty to be disappointed crazy love)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
so far...
wow, not only 12 hours since i've started blogging and already I've seen it's (indirect) effects!! As I got off the freeway coming home from work there was a homeless guy standing on the exit under the bridge. I've seen this guy there before, not only him, but others too. Normally I will feel bad that I have no food to give him (I don't want to give him cash). Sometimes I will feel bad that I don't want to give him the food I am taking home from work. I never give him food. I just ignore his gaze. But today was different
I was thinking on the way home about what I was going to write here as a way to introduce myself a little more. I was remembering and thinking about my life (zakaring if you will- we will definitely get to that later). I felt tremendously lucky and very blessed (I hate that word for some reason). I was in a good place. So I gave him my food.
I even talked to my neighbour when I got home- I usually make any excuse to run inside and ignore her
beautiful
I was thinking on the way home about what I was going to write here as a way to introduce myself a little more. I was remembering and thinking about my life (zakaring if you will- we will definitely get to that later). I felt tremendously lucky and very blessed (I hate that word for some reason). I was in a good place. So I gave him my food.
I even talked to my neighbour when I got home- I usually make any excuse to run inside and ignore her
beautiful
more about the tone
So at last I have created a blog...
I'm not completely sure why I have, but I think most of the reasons are selfish! Here are some thoughts I have from the outset:
1. I will probably end up talking mostly about football and God (and probably in that order)
2. I really have created this mainly for myself- as an outlet for the endless thoughts that seem to refuse to leave my brain, especially as I try to fall asleep. Also, because this is really an online journal, I won't feel sad or neglected (I probably will) if and when (when) no-one journeys with me on this blog
3. I process the best through dialogue and conversation- so I thought a blog obviously lends itself more to other people's inputs and opinions than a journal does.
4. One of the ways I feel most connected to God is through studying Him, studying about Him, studying with Him, debating (arguing?) and thinking. I used to do this through a journal for years, but stopped some time ago. I want to start again...an act of worship perhaps?
The last part kind of leads me to a sad James Richardson-esqe tangent to the name of the blog- 'more about the tone'. Let me explain this.
I didn't want to name it something boring with my name (although I could have had a lot of fun with my last name!!) (I tend to type what I think are funny, snyde comments to myself in these brackets...as you will see!). I also didn't want to name it something cheesey that had something to do with God and/or the bible. I support Leeds Utd and so that's not an option either!
I was reading a book last night (which is also another reason for blogging- I figure if I'm blogging then I'll need to read as well...which is something I really enjoy but rarely make time for. Time to change). The book is called 'The Colours of God' (and I've just realised they spelt colours correctly!). I don't know how to post links on this yet, so if someone wanted to tell me that'd be great. It's by three authors, but I won't go into much detail, because I'm sure I'll be blogging a lot on it soon. Anyways, let me simply quote you part of it that may help explain the name of the blog (and it'll probably piss some of you off, which is great):
"I remember [doug] Pagitt was on a panel discussion and there was a debate going on about theological imperatives. Someone from the floor challenged him- 'it seems like so much is up for grabs with you Emerging people. You must have some non-negotiables. I mean, certainly, we must maintain the deity of Christ beyond all other things, right? ' And Pagitt in his whimsical sort of way looked at him and said 'or not'. And although this sparked a lo of anger from the floor, we looked at each other and said 'I like that answer'. 'Or not' says that we can allow these issues to be re-worked and re-shaped. It said that he was more interested in having a conversation than about the final outcome. It had less to do with whether at the end of the day we held onto the Deity of Christ. IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE TONE OF VOICE WITH WHICH WE WERE APPROACHING THESE CONVERSATIONS"
Beautiful- From this I hear something important- that our relationships with one another, the love we share, is more important than any theological debate/argument/doctrine. Now, I'm going to put a rare disclaimer in here (normally I'll just leave them out and let people assume what they like, hopefully because it will lead to interesting conversations)...I am NOT saying that what we believe is not important and I am not saying there is no objective theological truths (I will say that I don't know if there are)...I'm just saying that when I look at the life of Jesus- loving people around Him seemed more important than theological doctrine and proving people wrong.
Hopefully here, not only will people notice the content of conversation, but they'll also hear the tone
yours tonefully,
Matthew
I'm not completely sure why I have, but I think most of the reasons are selfish! Here are some thoughts I have from the outset:
1. I will probably end up talking mostly about football and God (and probably in that order)
2. I really have created this mainly for myself- as an outlet for the endless thoughts that seem to refuse to leave my brain, especially as I try to fall asleep. Also, because this is really an online journal, I won't feel sad or neglected (I probably will) if and when (when) no-one journeys with me on this blog
3. I process the best through dialogue and conversation- so I thought a blog obviously lends itself more to other people's inputs and opinions than a journal does.
4. One of the ways I feel most connected to God is through studying Him, studying about Him, studying with Him, debating (arguing?) and thinking. I used to do this through a journal for years, but stopped some time ago. I want to start again...an act of worship perhaps?
The last part kind of leads me to a sad James Richardson-esqe tangent to the name of the blog- 'more about the tone'. Let me explain this.
I didn't want to name it something boring with my name (although I could have had a lot of fun with my last name!!) (I tend to type what I think are funny, snyde comments to myself in these brackets...as you will see!). I also didn't want to name it something cheesey that had something to do with God and/or the bible. I support Leeds Utd and so that's not an option either!
I was reading a book last night (which is also another reason for blogging- I figure if I'm blogging then I'll need to read as well...which is something I really enjoy but rarely make time for. Time to change). The book is called 'The Colours of God' (and I've just realised they spelt colours correctly!). I don't know how to post links on this yet, so if someone wanted to tell me that'd be great. It's by three authors, but I won't go into much detail, because I'm sure I'll be blogging a lot on it soon. Anyways, let me simply quote you part of it that may help explain the name of the blog (and it'll probably piss some of you off, which is great):
"I remember [doug] Pagitt was on a panel discussion and there was a debate going on about theological imperatives. Someone from the floor challenged him- 'it seems like so much is up for grabs with you Emerging people. You must have some non-negotiables. I mean, certainly, we must maintain the deity of Christ beyond all other things, right? ' And Pagitt in his whimsical sort of way looked at him and said 'or not'. And although this sparked a lo of anger from the floor, we looked at each other and said 'I like that answer'. 'Or not' says that we can allow these issues to be re-worked and re-shaped. It said that he was more interested in having a conversation than about the final outcome. It had less to do with whether at the end of the day we held onto the Deity of Christ. IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE TONE OF VOICE WITH WHICH WE WERE APPROACHING THESE CONVERSATIONS"
Beautiful- From this I hear something important- that our relationships with one another, the love we share, is more important than any theological debate/argument/doctrine. Now, I'm going to put a rare disclaimer in here (normally I'll just leave them out and let people assume what they like, hopefully because it will lead to interesting conversations)...I am NOT saying that what we believe is not important and I am not saying there is no objective theological truths (I will say that I don't know if there are)...I'm just saying that when I look at the life of Jesus- loving people around Him seemed more important than theological doctrine and proving people wrong.
Hopefully here, not only will people notice the content of conversation, but they'll also hear the tone
yours tonefully,
Matthew
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