One of my goals for this blog is to express the specifics of my belief in Christ in the hopes that my understanding of him would be helpful for others, both believers and nonbelievers. But for a while now I’ve obsessed about how exactly to go about doing this. I’ve been putting it off because I don’t know how to begin. It has sometimes seemed so egotistical – this idea that I can somehow preach truth into other’s lives when I don’t have things figured out myself. But while listening to the sermon today and in my morning devotionals I had the Holy Spirit impress on my heart that it’s time.
Heather Thomas spoke today at my church on I Corinthians 12:1-11. There were two things she shared that especially stuck with me. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (v. 7) She put this forward as Paul’s explanation of the purpose for our gifts. In giving us these gifts God’s purpose is that we use them for the good of the whole community – to build up the Church as well as humanity at large. Just as Abraham we are blessed to be a blessing, chosen not because of our good graces but because of the part we are to play in expanding the fellowship of Christ and the joy of being one with the Triune God. (I John 1: 1-4) I pray that in my postings here I will do this – that through the Holy Spirit I may draw others into community with the God who exists in triune community.
The other word from the sermon that struck my heart was a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
As Kingfishers Catch Fire, Dragonflies Draw Flame
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies dráw fláme; As tumbled over rim in roundy wells Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name; Each mortal thing does one thing and the same: Deals out that being indoors each one dwells; Selves--goes itself; myself it speaks and spells, Crying Whát I do is me: for that I came. Í say móre: the just man justices; Kéeps gráce: thát keeps all his goings graces; Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is--Chríst--for Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his To the Father through the features of men's faces.
This poem was very influential for me during my first couple of years at SPU. It reminded me of the presence of God that can be felt in everyday things. Worship is not just something that happens on Sunday with acoustic guitars in the background. Worship is an attitude of the heart towards God. Because of God’s presence in creation it is possible for us to worship God in everything that we do. When we are in this world doing everyday things, if they are done with the correct attitude towards God they can be worshipful acts. This devotional attitude is not just for later in heaven. We are to start on the process of living worshipfully in the here and now.
It seems like a tough bill. I know I don't usually live my life in worship of God. The characteristics of God (all forgiving, all loving, perfectly just) seem so separate from the traits of humanity. But I think we have some help here. I believe that Jesus was (and is) both God and Man. And if we really believe that the traits of God as well as the fullness of humanity were united in Christ then the unity of God and man becomes possible in our lives. Jesus Christ can live through us by the working of the Holy Spirit. So to bring it all home I hope that my words on this screen will, in some small and still incomplete way, be the Words of Christ to you. I'm not perfect and it's likely that you aren't either, but we're getting there.
