Living-Deliberately.com

Going to church today was not unlike a birth passage. An hours’ drive with 3 hyper and super silly children who vascilated between loud joking and bickering is not exactly what one needs to prepare for an hour of worship. But as we drove through that “transition”, walked up the grassy hill to the door, and then walked through, we were greeted with smiling faces we’ve missed seeing and the opening music to our wonderful liturgy. I let it wash over me and be balm to a reddened soul. How’s that for dramatic? But that’s exactly what it felt like.

Bits and pieces that spoke to me today:

• from Psalm 24: Who shalll ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false….
• fragments from Hebrews 7: Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitcal priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise….? for the law made nothing perfect; but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

I sat listening today and a little glimpse of clarity came to me. What I miss, what I hunger for, is more importance placed on a life of sacrificial devotion. I think maybe the protestants have missed something while downplaying the kind of separation seen by monk’s, nuns, and other clergy. There is a seriousness, a value, a worth that shows when one dedicates their lives in such a visible way to the pursuit of a holier, closer to Christ, life. If we are not going to all become cloistered away, isn’t there still some level of set apart, obvious importance we should make evident in our lives and lifestyles? I’m sick of casual christianity that focuses on dumping our burdens off and handing God the grocery list we’d like filled. I’m sick of the message that says, “come as you are and stay as you are“. Sure, I like bare feet and t-shirts. But even grocery stores say, “no shirt, no shoes, no service”. Yet, we want a christianity that never gets dressed up, never scrubs behind it’s ears, never sweeps out under the bed and empties the closet? Why bother with that?
No. If this is real (and I’m not really doubting it is, just the way in which I approach it), it has to be bigger. Different. I’ve been saying that I want other people to take me seriously and if they don’t, I pretty much don’t hang around for what they offer. I think it might be the same way with my faith. I need to take it seriously. It can’t just be some kind of lifestyle I”ve adopted because it’s all I’ve known, how I was raised, what keeps those around me happy, or seems to have the fewest bumps and bruises along the way.

As we waited to go up to the table for the Lord’s Supper, we sang Psalm 119 (x)

Before Thee let my cry come near,

O Lord; true to Thy word, teach me.

Before Thee let my pleading come;

True to Thy promise, rescue me.

Since Thou Thy statutes teachest me,

O Let my lips Thy praise confess.

Yea, of Thy word my tongue would sing,

For Thy commands are righteousness.

Be ready with Thy hand to help,

Because Thy precepts are my choice.

I’ve longed for Thy salvation, Lord,

And in Thy holy law rejoice.

O let Thine ordinances help;

My soul shall live and praise Thee yet.

A straying sheep Thy servant, seek,

For Thy commands I ne’er forget.

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