Rationalizations
But God...
Food for Thought
God in a Box
Submitted by Mark G. Pace
(Read Daniel 3)
Shadrach, Meschack, and Abednego were given a chance to save their lives by compromising their faith, here are excuses they could have used:
1) We will fall down but not actually worship the idol.
2) We won't become idol worshipers, but we'll go ahead and worship this once, and then ask God to forgive us.
3) The king has absolute power...we must obey him...God will understand.
4) The king appointed us, so we owe him.
5) This is a foreign land, so God will excuse us for following the customs of the land. We wouldn't want to insult them, so we ought to do as they do.
6) Our ancestors set up idols in God's temple, and this isn't as bad as that, so...
7) We're not hurting anybody, so...
8) If we get ourselves killed and some pagans take our high positions, they won't help our people in exile, so...
Although all these excuses sound sensible at first, they are dangerous rationalizations. To fall down and worship the image would have violated God's command in Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before me." It would also erase their testimony for God forever. Never again could they talk about the power of God over all the other gods.
What excuses do you make for compromising your faith? These three were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to Him no matter what happened they trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences.
If God were to always intervene and rescue those who were true to Him, Christians would not need to trust in faith. Christianity would become a great insurance policy, and there would be lines of selfish people ready to sign up for the free help. We should be faithful to serve God whether He intervenes on our behalf or not. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering that we may have to endure first, while here.
"To obey is better than sacrifice." (1 Sam 15:22)
"But Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? And God said, I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."
The setting is one of an old guy (pushing 80) named Moses as he stands before the Angel of the LORD (via the burning bush). This is the first time that Moses encounters the presence of God and interestingly enough, God gives the old guy a job, to go and rescue the people of Israel from slavery. Moses asks God this striking question, "Who am I..." Well, who is he?
Forty years earlier Moses had been the adoptive son of a Pharaoh's daughter. He obviously had clout and rank among the Egyptians, despite his Hebrew birth. His name is even a possible reflection of Egyptian royalty, for a potion of his name's etymology is linked to that of other Egyptian royalty as being indeed royal. Moses was somebody in Egypt, but that changed when he had stricken an Egyptian slave master for mistreating a Hebrew slave. It would seem that in his bold attempt to liberate Israel (at least this one) forty years earlier, he knew in addition to his royal position, that he was also a Hebrew. But, he failed to do anything significant for the cause of the Hebrews and went into exile.
Now, Moses is a married old man, tending his father-in-law's flock near Midian. He is no longer the Prince of Egypt, as the movie portrayed. He is a broken and different man than that bold, rags-to-riches, and young man he once was. So, he asks God who he is, knowing that now he isn't much of anything. In Exodus 4:10, Moses thinks himself inadequate & less than eloquent as well, so obviously here is a tired old man who is unsure of himself.
God gives Moses a simple and profound answer, "I will be with you." That's it? That still doesn't answer the question of who Moses is, does it? Maybe it does.
Here is the lesson: IT DOESN'T MUCH MATTER WHO YOU ARE AS MUCH AS WHO GOD IS.
In verse 14 God tells us who He is. God is "I AM WHO I AM." This name tells us that He is "it." He is all that matters and that will ever matter. God is sovereign and eternal. God..."IS." Ecclesiastes 5:2 tells to remember that God is in heaven and we are on the earth. He is bigger than us. Moses, and all of us, need to remember that He who has made us, when He tells us that He's going to be with us, He isn't going to let us down (see 1 Cor. 1:25). God made us for His purposes and when He reveals His plans for us to us (Jer. 29:11) then we need not make excuses and avert our attention to our inadequacies. If God made us to be vessels for Him and He says that He is going to be with us; well, shouldn't we trust and let Him fill our cups to the overflowing for His glory?
Sometimes, we fear going all out for God, because we get bogged down by our sins and quirks. Sometimes we feel either too weak or too unworthy to serve Him as He calls us (He calls all Christians for something). So, we make excuses for not getting off our bottoms, like, "I cant witness," or even better, "I don't like to slam dogma and religion down peoples throats." Me either, that's why I share my faith. Besides, Jesus told us all to tell the world in Matthew 28.Or even still, "But, I'm too shy." Yeah, so was Moses and God gave him the assurance of His Holy presence, which is strength. So, trust Him and act on faith in Him.
In the end run, the point is that it's all about God and not us; however, God uses us and that's a blessing to be trusted and called by the Almighty to do something. What a privilege it is to walk and work along side God. No, it isn't about us, but God still includes us, and that's where we'll find our self-worth and identity. We are nothing compared to God, but were not nobodies. And, if you still don't trust and believe, look at the last part of verse 12 where God says that the sign that God is with Moses won't be fully evident until Moses completes the call of leading the people out of Egypt. You may not see right now where you're going or what good you'll do by acting on Gods call; but, once you do and you see the results of your labor, you'll understand and see Gods plans clearer. It's not our place to question God, we just act on His words. Still, once we act and answer the call, we often find all the answers to those questions that keep us from doing. You are somebody because He "IS."
--The Importance of Reading the Bible--
by: Patrick M. Pace
LUKE 4:3 & 4 (NIV)-- The devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. Jesus answered, It is written (see Deuteronomy 8:3) Man does not live on bread alone.
In this passage we find Jesus being tempted to satisfy His human hungers for food. Jesus had been in the desert fasting and was surely weak and hungry, assuming that He had spent the majority of His time fasting already. Jesus answers Satan with a piece of a passage taken from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 8:3) which says that man does not live on bread alone, but rather on...every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Now, this isn't Jesus' way of saying that man should fast in order to hear God, although there is validity in that. This is Jesus' way of saying that just as material food is eaten to gain strength and energy, the word of God is consumed to provide spiritual energy and strength. This is obviously common sense for the Christian; however, I wonder why many Christians fail to eat. We live in a hectic world with many cares and concerns that often distract us. Christians, like non-Christians, are just as susceptible to these distractions, and often permit these things to take priority even over reading their Bibles. Surely, no person--having the choice--would forsake food which sustains life. Well, Jesus says that man doesn't live on bread alone, or in other words, mans' life needs more than one kind of food to be sustained. Yes, it's good to eat material food to stay alive, but what's the purpose to life anyway. I suspect that life's purpose is to serve and live in relationship with God, which is largely spiritual. So, isn't spiritual food just as important as material food?
What happens when we stop eating? Well, we become anorexic and our bodies begin to devour muscle and we grow unhealthy as we kill ourselves from within. Eventually, without food, we die. Is the same true for not reading our Bibles and having a consistent prayer life? Yes. If we stop eating up Gods word we become spiritual anorexics. Our spiritual muscles get weak as we grow apathetic and bored with our relationship with God. If we don't eat spiritual food we have no energy to do the things that God wants us to do as we relate to Him. This is the optimum time for Satan to tempt us, isn't it? "Hey, I got some worldly food that will give you just as much energy as that old Bible there. Come and eat with me, will you?" And, that's exactly what happens when we're not strong in the Word; we get weak and try to supplement real food with artificial and perhaps worldly vitamin supplements, which don't work, regardless of how well we try to convince ourselves that we're as healthy as ever.
How do you know when you're spiritually anorexic? Well, I've found that it's when we begin to tell ourselves excuses to legitimize not reading our Bibles. "I haven't time." Well, make some. You have time to eat at McDonalds don't you? "I haven't got the energy." Duh! More reason for food, eh? "I just don't have the focus." Every baby starts out with milk and works up to solids; likewise, begin small and your palate and appetite will grow. Or, my favorite, "Its boring." No child likes vegetables, though every child knows that they're good for them. Sometimes, we got to suck it up and eat. Besides, your taste will adapt and you'll want to pig out on God's word once it becomes tasty to you. The point is, of course, not to starve ourselves from something we need. So, eat up all and God bless.
By Patrick M. Pace
Recently, I had a very profound and intense conversation with a person quite close to me. This talk left me quite unsettled and pained. We had talked about our individual relationships with God, and sadly, I was left somewhat depressed by her revelations of a personal theology or philosophy that to me seemed to contradict what the Bible says about what our relationships with Him should be like. Now, I cannot and will not say that she was incorrect in everything she said, but she certainly wasn't seeing the complete picture. I would say that this friend was only half right in her approach to a godly relationship, and as I told her, there are two sides to every coin and that God expects us to know both, which comprise His perspective. And so, thinking about my friend's position I became painfully aware that most Christians in my opinion, like my friend, have a very limited view of what a relationship with God is supposed to be like. Perhaps these brothers and sisters know about the whole picture, but because they live in a very inward focussed society, maybe these myriads of fellow Christians have begun to conform their ideas about God to their own personal perspectives, making their relationships somewhat existential in nature. I know that this is often the case, because even with myself, feeling as though my relationship is currently stronger than ever, I still have the propensity to place God in my own box, designed around my own desires and wants.
Now, like the author of Ecclesiastes says, "...there is nothing new under the sun," (1:9). Nothing has changed since we had our first taste of knowing free will. We are still seeking our own selfish interests, even us Christians who know that we should die to ourselves daily (Luke 9:23). Yet today the distraction of self is compounded and made seemingly more severe by this new philosophy of existential post-modrernism, which says that there is no up or down, except of course the up and down you perceive. And so, religion is also relative; thus, religion can be manipulated to meet our own individual criteria. Sadly, even with the relationship that God calls us to with Him, we tend to manipulate and conform to meet our so called needs (wants really). With the modern conception of that age old sin of self, Christianity seems to be bending like a reed in the wind, toward every whim and ideology that liberal theology might throw its way. And yes, even us who live under the banner of conservatism and orthodoxy have begun to question what God says. The serpent is still alive and is spewing out the same old lie that he used with our ancestors (Adam and Eve); "Did God really say _______(fill in the blank)." Yes, we should all know, God really did say and the Bible is that claim.
As I searched the Scriptures for a good example of what a relationship is supposed to be like, I came to one of my favorite passages time and time again. I have preached on this passage twice, and it remains God's word and is still, in my view, a profound and inspiring place to return to when we need a relationship check. I will try to simplify the message of the text and compare it to what I see with Christians in our modern context. The passage is Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, which says:
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. (verse 1)
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (verse 2)
As a dream comes when there are many cares. So the speech of a fool when there are many words. (verse 3)
When you make a vow to God , do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. (verse 4)
It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. (verse 5)
Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the works of your hands? (verse 6)
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God .(verse 7).
Now, there are many complexities to this particular passage that would require a lengthy dissection of what went on behind the scenes, so I'll only skim the surface here and approach this from a very general point of view. So, in a general way this passage speaks about the appropriate approach to God as we relate to Him. The author (Solomon) alludes to one cultural particular behind the scenes, being that of a cultic or repetitious handling of one's spiritual life. With this comes ritual and thus insincerity of relationship, or in other words a religion more so than a real relationship. This is evident in comments about making poorly chosen vows and offering sacrifices that are foolish. God seeks out for us a place of appropriate standing, knowing that He is God and not man (verse 2) and that because of that he is the senior partner in the relationship, not us. We are told to come with an open ear and not the quickness and rush that comes with a slam bam, in an out, repetitious act of placation that is a religion. God seeks sincerity of our hearts and attentiveness. There can be no relationship without hearing out what the other person says (verse 1). God wants us to listen, which we need to do when we offer our sacrifices and worship. This whole passage gives us the appropriate pattern of worship, which is not solely giving or singing a song or two, but rather an act of the heart that not only praises, but also one that listens for what God is trying to tell us.
Knowing the appropriateness of approaching God is the one thing that I feel most Christians see. It is the one side of the coin that we see, do, and sometimes fake the best. What we fail to see and what this passage alludes to is sincere action. In verses four through six we find that it is inappropriate to vow and not complete what we've vowed. this implies that what we give in sacrifice and worship needs to be followed up and followed by action, which is also a form of worship. And besides, if we're to truly listen to God in our relationships with Him, isn't it probable that He doesn't merely want to pat us on our backs and bless us for worshiping? It is, however, quite possible that He wants to get His word in and His voice heard as He tells us in our hearts what we need to do, both for ourselves in refinement and for Him in service. A relationship must have two voices heard, otherwise there is no relationship at all.
So, what is it that we do cultically or with religiosity? Well, we worship in the churches and we pray and praise, but this is only a segment of a relationship with God. This is the easiest part of the relationship to witness with publicly, and so even when we're insincere, we can hide our misplaced hearts while at church. And, while outside the walls of church all we need to do is claim that we're walking strong with God and convince ourselves that we're walking the straight and narrow path with integrity and that we're doing fine. When we do these things we conform God around us, and in our boxes we disguise our lack of sincerity and commitment. So, when do we really bring God out and permit Him to lead? Verse two alludes to His position as sovereign, and when we fail to recognize that, we become guilty of reinstating our free-will gained rule. God simply wants our true heart's focus and our attentiveness, waiting to respond to His position as King. This is relationship; a two way street.
So, in conclusion and advice, I suggest and implore anyone who reads this, "Let God out of your box." It's not a matter of whether or not we are failing to include God into our lives right now. Many people who read this may very well be on target, but there will come a time in the future, and quite possibly the near future, when those same people will once again place Him to the side as they commit to their own wants. We are all human and so we are all still frail when compared to God. His strength is greater in our weakness, but we are none-the-less susceptible to human sinful nature. So, to the reader, be aware of your environment and take note when you're possibly excluding God from your life (If He truly is King, let Him rule everywhere in your life), and ask yourself that trendy question, "What Would Jesus Do?" And, don't stop there, and "Do What Jesus Did." A relationship is a series of giving and receiving. As Christians, you were given a return to life (God) and so, if we're talking about a relationship, what do you give in return? the answer should be 1) focus (listen), and 2) response, or giving back in time, service, commitment, praise, worship, thanksgiving, living a life honorable and in emulation of Christ's (Philippians 2), and loving people as God does and share the gift He gave us. In other words, make new friends for God through Christ (Matthew 28), for we want more relationships returned to Him. Christianity has a personal element, but when we take into account the other side of the coin, we find that the personal element is God's gift to us, of which He wants us to share with everyone else. So, if we're taking this gift outward, it isn't a personal religion, but rather a commitment to a relationship. I could continue with this forever and provide proof texts for all I could ever say, but this should become common Christian sense. Being a Christian means laying down our crowns in honor of His. So, let Him out, and come into a more real relationship with Him.
