There were lots of reasons that were given for why this is the case.  The church doesn’t really focus on the necessity, we haven’t seen God face to face, nothing life threatening has ever happened to us that would make us terrified of His power, and many others.  There were a lot of honest points raised, and one of the most telling in my opinion was when a group said that in church we often go through the motions instead of the emotions.

To see Mr. Bean illustrate this for me, check out this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bm9mhX1q4o

That’s catchy, the motions not the emotions.
Beyond it’s obvious preachable quality, this sticks with me because it might actually be a huge barrier to fearing God.

If we can create a church experience where most of the people can come and worship God without ever encountering Him, without ever feeling His presence or seeing Him move; then we are in danger of replacing the curtain that Jesus Christ died to tear apart.  

In Moses’ day, the people were so terrified of God that they didn’t even want to look at Moses’ face after he had been on the mountain speaking with God.  Moses’ face had a glow that frightened the people, so they told him to put a bag on his head.  Later this bag on Moses’ head was replaced with a huge veil that ‘protected’ the worshipers from the Holy of Holies, the most sacred place of the temple where God’s presence was.  Only the chief priest was ever allowed to enter, and only once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Jesus’ main mission was to restore humans relationship with God, and as a symbol of this, when he died the Temple Veil was torn in two.  The veil that had separated the people from God’s glory and power had been removed on purpose.  It was time for God’s people to encounter Him directly.   (Matthew 27:51)

Let’s be honest, encountering God can still be frightening even when Jesus is in our corner.  Our sins are lay bear before Him, the expectations on us increase dramatically when the Holy Spirit enters our lives, and we gain access to a new world of supernatural power through the gifts of the Spirit.  
I think that’s why we create services where our people can go through the motions instead of the emotions.  In our cowardess, we would rather have the Temple veil separating us from God, we like the Israelites before us would rather God put a bag on his head, because then we wouldn’t have to deal with the fact that God is terrifyingly powerful and that He has a purpose for our lives that asks more of us than we think we can give.  

I encourage you to be people of courage, to be brave.

^“16Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].”  Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified version).

rest in a weary land

In a couple of different ways I’ve been feeling tugged to explore God’s prescribed Sabbath.  Probably the catalyst was in finding out that our senior pastor’s were considering taking a sabbatical, which is a form of extended sabbath.  However, that alone didn’t do it, there are a bunch of other reasons why I’ve been wanting to explore this phenomenon.

From a practical perspective: as I’ve been asked to help revise  the sabbatical policies for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada as part of my role on their Leadership Council.
From a lifestyle perspective: because I have a growing disdain for the lifestyle I’m being told to pursue and enjoy…largely involving an embrace of consumerism, materialism, and having more and better things.
From a vocational perspective: because as a pastor myself, I have a responsibility to present a biblical worldview to those I have been called to lead, and, increasingly, I’m beginning to wonder if God’s creation of sabbath has a bigger part to play in such a world-view.

And finally, this morning as I was going about my business I glanced at a book in our church’s library, picked it up and was drawn to a few chapters that asked the same questions I was asking.

Usually when a thought is reinforced in this many ways it’s a good idea to give it some time and attention.  So that is what I endeavor to do, slowly and intentionally, meditatively and practically, for as long as it takes.  It just wouldn’t do to work for a deadline, or work too vigorously at learning about rest.

For starters, I’m going to think about what I read this morning.
I invite you to do the same.

“We must Redefine the good life,” Sider.

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Excerpts from Ron Sider’s “I am Not a Social Activist”

Redefine the good life.

I love that line because it tells me that the answer lies in a change of my heart, a change of desire.
It reminds me of something Jesus said.  At the end of a long teaching about worrying, about a correct perspective on worldly possessions and about chasing after security, he makes this simple and powerful statement.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Luke 12:34

I am hoping that as I explore God’s rhythm of sabbath and learn how to practice it in my life, that I will begin to change.  I trust that my idea of what ‘treasure’ is will change, and flowing from that, my heart will learn to rest in enough.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

In this descriptive sentence, Christ’s example of how to live with a quiet heart in a noisy world is captured.  In Part 1 of our series, we introduced the relevance and importance of this verse.  In this entry, the background and context will be explored, in order to form a foundation from which to build on in future entries.   

To understand the relevance of the teaching principles in this passage, we need to survey where it is placed in the book of Mark….where we find it in the story of Jesus’ life.  

A quick glance at the context reveals that this verse is sandwiched between two desciptions of ministry heavy, and likely exhausting, days.  Mark’s gospel at this point has Jesus beginning his ministry work, perhaps establishing long term patterns for his daily schedule.  From what we read, it begins with teaching in the synagogue in the morning (Mk 1:21-22), followed by the casting out of a demon (vs. 25), continuing with a miraculous healing (vs. 31), and into the evening He was healing many sick people (vs. 32).  A heavy day to be sure!  For me, an exhausting day is merely preaching a message in the morning and following it up with teaching in the evening.  

Immediately after our passage, Mark makes it clear that there was much more work for Jesus to do the following day.  Verse 36 says, “Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’”

Our focus verse comes to us in the midst of these 2 intensely demanding days in Jesus’ ministry.  It is this context that allows us to ask some incredibly relevant questions of Jesus.  

How does the Christ follower handle the busyness of life?  How do we avoid the pitfalls of other peoples expectations in our calling?  How do we prioritize what is most important in our work life?

Mark’s ordering of the rhythm of Christ’s ministry offers us priceless principles to base our lives on, and as the passage continues we see why…

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”  Mark 1:37

After a long day and evening of intense ministry Jesus awakes the next morning with the vision, insight, and discipline to remian focused on His purpose.  Not even the tempting call of need and popularity could disuade Him.  How was Jesus able to remain focused and purposeful in the midst of the hectic pace of daily ministry?  Answering that question is the task of this series, ‘Quiet the Noisy Heart’, and it begs to be continued.  

Lord of all, creator of the rythm of life, teach us to live as You intend.  Teach us to enter into Your rythm, Your clarity of purpose, Your presence.  As the busyness of life tempts us away from You, cling to us and call us again and again.  For Jesus’ sake, Amen.  

That question is relative, and depends primarily on what I believe needs to be accomplished in a day. The real question is, ‘what do I have the time to do today?’

This puts the onus on me, on my decisions and my priorities. It takes the onus off something as unchangeable and uncontrollable as the hours in a day. I think we humans are quick to blame the things we can’t control for our trouble, and slow to recognize that we are largely responsible.

Each day has enough time to do a considerable amount of living. 24 hours is a long time. Don’t believe me…start counting the seconds. The question of how we should live in those hours now takes priority. The answer we come to will be different depending on what we have set up as our guiding principles.

In an ideal day, mine would come from Christ’s call that:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”    
Luke 9:23

If I am do take this seriously, die to my selfish needs and instead live for Christ, then how would I live in this day?

1) Love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength.
2) Love my neighbor as myself

These are the guiding principles for the activities of my day. The question then becomes, ‘is this task accomplishing those ends?’
If not, it should be left at the foot of the cross.