So what is communion? It's this word that's thrown around, I think like most words we use in the English language, fairly flippantly. It's quite unfortunate because even in Christian circles, groups of people still have no idea that communion is more than the eucharist or sacrament of taking a piece of bread and wine to remind us of Jesus' death. Communion definitely serves this purpose, and I have no reason to deny that claim, but what I am pointing at is the fact that communion as an idea very infrequently gets put into the category that it rightfully belongs in. If you look at the root word, you should immediately see that "commune" and "communion" have similar roots, which in terms of English should draw out similar words like "community", "communism", and maybe even the idea of "togetherness". The idea of the word is not just to have a community, but to have a community that surrounds you and shares with you. It's not a political statement, but a familial statement. It isn't about territory or dominion, it is about intimacy and relation.
So how do you "take" communion? What I'd like to point out is we often refer to "communion" as a noun of sorts, and you simply cannot "take" community, you must "have" community or "participate within" a community. It's not an act of righteousness, it is an act of love first and foremost. Actually, it's not about taking at all, but about receiving and giving. We are incredibly quick to assign words of warfare, of political charge to situations that simply do not fit into that category of thinking. It is not only a dishonor through language, but I think shows the condition of the heart. When you are given the opportunity to have communion, ask yourself: "Am I taking this to be closer with Jesus, to be reminded of His good sacrifice, or am I taking this to remind me of my purity, to atone for my sins, to remind me of the authority that I have in Christ?" Then throw both questions out, because to "take" is to have an action that you are somehow involved in. To receive, however, is the most graceful of stances that you can have.
This is what I'd like for all of us to think about. How can I best receive what the Lord has freely given? How can I best receive and host the presence that the Lord is all too quick to give? We are not worthy because we can take communion, or perform some act of righteousness, but we are worthy because the Lord Himself has demonstrated our worth through His own act that brings us back into communion with Him. One word that is also closely rooted in "communion" in semantics is the word "communication". We have been invited back to the communication with our Lord Jesus, and it's a beautiful thing. This is what we have the Son heart of God. If you've ever listened to the "groans too deep for words" from the Holy Spirit, or even let these out yourself, then you know that you are in communion with the Most High. That is how I'd like to define communion, as not just an act of taking a piece of bread and drinking some wine, but to really accept the invitation to interact and live in the relationship of the Trinity. To not just have a theological precept that defines our expectations, but to sit down as a Son and be rejoiced in by the Father, and then participate in the rejoicing in the Father as a Son. This, is where it starts and it ends, and to be frank, is where eternity is.
So next time you're eating bread and drinking wine, do it with Jesus. Accept the invitation to see Him in all His glory and seek His face wholly and truly. Stand with Him and explore His heart for you, allow Him to gaze into your soul and spirit vulnerably. Allow Him to show you the way the truth and the life He has for you.
And don't forget to swallow.
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Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
How do you express yourself?
I hope that you're enjoying reading these blog posts, I heartily enjoy writing them, as they both give me something to do that's not wasteful, and provide an outlet to get some ideas onto paper that are jumbling around in my skull. I want to talk about self-expression and how it is that we as humans are expected to express ourselves. If you are human, you might think of self-expression as a beautiful thing, whilst you may not exactly agree or necessarily enjoy all forms of expression, I think there is something we must begin to take both more seriously and stop taking too seriously. If there was an easy way to describe this I would attempt to do that, however, because this is such a finicky thing for an observer to place his finger on don't expect a 100% well-baked thought.
While I will refrain from using too many "I think" statements, in the interest of persuading you to think about it for yourself, I will lean toward more confident statements. So don't let that sway you. Now, let's take a step back and try to separate into ingredients what it is about self-expression that is both so beautiful and very controversial. The first form that is thought of upon reading that sentence is the form that is expressed via art. While there are many different forms of art, we must take into consideration things that are not generally recognized as art. Business, for instance, and how one writes their emails, ought to be seen as an art form simply due to the fact that if we considered it an art form it would become higher quality as an overflow of the expression of professionalism. Not only would it allow for more personality and therefore more personableness, it would also create a desire within customers to keep coming back because they were either: Treated extremely well, or made to feel like they were known personally. This is an art-form that could use a little less rigid thought and scripted guidelines and would benefit from more freedom in the way that people are managed and directed.
The second form is the expression of our bodies as humans. This can be found in dancing, singing, laughing, crying, sex. This can also be found in unhealthy expressions such as alcoholism, abuse, depression, pornography. To the naked eye, it is not so obvious why any of these things are considered "bad or good" and one can definitely make the argument that too much of any one of these would give way to the chase of something that is very obviously not God. Yet the thing that we forget is that these are all art forms at some point. Some more obvious than others, but because they are expressions of our overflow of what we do as humans, they are still art. Some might click off of this because I seem to be making the case that art is acceptable. That is simply not the case, but I do want to make the case that we ought to consider it art nonetheless because then we would at least appreciate the power that all of these activities hold in our hearts. Just because we can make the argument that it is art does not automatically concede the fact that it is "good art", or "art we ought to check out."
If I were to tell you "hey you should check out this cool ritual my buddy and I did to summon an ancient Greek God, it was a pretty weird chat, but I think you'd like it." most of us would have the good sense to step away from that, and not check it out. However, that's because I am purposefully serving this blog to a Christian audience. If you were somebody who has not accepted their identity as a Son of God, then how would you be able to tell what's a good idea and a bad idea? Even if you have discernment about people, that doesn't necessarily mean you have any discernment spiritually, and that can be said for Christians and non-Christians alike. Yet if we have discernment we still may not see that a ritual is also a form of expression and art.
So WHY am I making the argument that art is all around us? Well, that much should be obvious; because it is. But the real question should be this: "Why am I making the argument that we ought to respect these things simply for the fact that they are art?" Because art inherently holds the heart, focus, and power that the creator holds, and that authority according to Genesis is immense. That would mean that our expressions have the power to subdue and rule over all the earth, and yet we don't realize that the creators are the ones in this world that are ruling over it. We must start to see each and every person as a creative individual that is specifically designed to have dominion over an art form that is precisely theirs. Then and only then will we conceive the value that every person inherently has, the beautiful and breathtaking thing that each of us not only has the potential to become but is. I believe as Christians that is what we should be spending much more time doing. Not calling people out and explaining why they're wrong, but instead providing guidance, a foothold, a foundation to their creative force, and the source of that force. To give someone power that great is one of the most generous things we can do, and it is also the most life-giving, loving action we can perform. So you, reader, go and be creative, write that poem you've always wanted to write, sing/record that song that's stuck in your head, knit that sweater for your kids, write that card or letter.
Express yourself, and walk in the authority that God is calling you to!
While I will refrain from using too many "I think" statements, in the interest of persuading you to think about it for yourself, I will lean toward more confident statements. So don't let that sway you. Now, let's take a step back and try to separate into ingredients what it is about self-expression that is both so beautiful and very controversial. The first form that is thought of upon reading that sentence is the form that is expressed via art. While there are many different forms of art, we must take into consideration things that are not generally recognized as art. Business, for instance, and how one writes their emails, ought to be seen as an art form simply due to the fact that if we considered it an art form it would become higher quality as an overflow of the expression of professionalism. Not only would it allow for more personality and therefore more personableness, it would also create a desire within customers to keep coming back because they were either: Treated extremely well, or made to feel like they were known personally. This is an art-form that could use a little less rigid thought and scripted guidelines and would benefit from more freedom in the way that people are managed and directed.
The second form is the expression of our bodies as humans. This can be found in dancing, singing, laughing, crying, sex. This can also be found in unhealthy expressions such as alcoholism, abuse, depression, pornography. To the naked eye, it is not so obvious why any of these things are considered "bad or good" and one can definitely make the argument that too much of any one of these would give way to the chase of something that is very obviously not God. Yet the thing that we forget is that these are all art forms at some point. Some more obvious than others, but because they are expressions of our overflow of what we do as humans, they are still art. Some might click off of this because I seem to be making the case that art is acceptable. That is simply not the case, but I do want to make the case that we ought to consider it art nonetheless because then we would at least appreciate the power that all of these activities hold in our hearts. Just because we can make the argument that it is art does not automatically concede the fact that it is "good art", or "art we ought to check out."
If I were to tell you "hey you should check out this cool ritual my buddy and I did to summon an ancient Greek God, it was a pretty weird chat, but I think you'd like it." most of us would have the good sense to step away from that, and not check it out. However, that's because I am purposefully serving this blog to a Christian audience. If you were somebody who has not accepted their identity as a Son of God, then how would you be able to tell what's a good idea and a bad idea? Even if you have discernment about people, that doesn't necessarily mean you have any discernment spiritually, and that can be said for Christians and non-Christians alike. Yet if we have discernment we still may not see that a ritual is also a form of expression and art.
So WHY am I making the argument that art is all around us? Well, that much should be obvious; because it is. But the real question should be this: "Why am I making the argument that we ought to respect these things simply for the fact that they are art?" Because art inherently holds the heart, focus, and power that the creator holds, and that authority according to Genesis is immense. That would mean that our expressions have the power to subdue and rule over all the earth, and yet we don't realize that the creators are the ones in this world that are ruling over it. We must start to see each and every person as a creative individual that is specifically designed to have dominion over an art form that is precisely theirs. Then and only then will we conceive the value that every person inherently has, the beautiful and breathtaking thing that each of us not only has the potential to become but is. I believe as Christians that is what we should be spending much more time doing. Not calling people out and explaining why they're wrong, but instead providing guidance, a foothold, a foundation to their creative force, and the source of that force. To give someone power that great is one of the most generous things we can do, and it is also the most life-giving, loving action we can perform. So you, reader, go and be creative, write that poem you've always wanted to write, sing/record that song that's stuck in your head, knit that sweater for your kids, write that card or letter.
Express yourself, and walk in the authority that God is calling you to!
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Pick the fruit you're given.
This week I've been struggling to put a string of thought into one cohesive story. I feel like everything I write has been fragmented and hard to follow, and it could be because I'm traveling and enjoying Spain, or it could be because I'm distracted. Those of you who do read this, please pray for me and my family. There are a few things that are more conducive to my person than being totally encompassed by God. I've been writing a lot about where our authority starts, but I was recently asked "Where does your authority go?" If you've read Ephesians one of the most popular verses is 2:8, where it says that we are seated in Christ. It would seem to imply that our place of leadership is done in the lap of our Bridegroom. What it does not imply is the fact that this throne is a mobile throne, that flies around on the wings of Cherubim. Take into consideration the fact that in heaven there is no mention of stationary thrones, but that the people stay stationary on the throne. Who's to say that the thing that moves in heaven is the buildings, and not the people?
How else could I begin to answer than "Where does my authority go?" Well, we can start by saying "My authority begins and ends with intimacy and God's grace." Meaning while we are following God's grace and keeping track of where He takes us, we are under His authority, which is how we have authority. So to put it simply, when the throne moves, I move. When God's grace is poured out on the land, I am poured out on the land. When God prays I listen, and then I pray and agree with Him what He says. I have been deep in pondering about my relationship with the Holy Spirit. To me, while Jesus himself gave his life for us, what we have to interact with of His promise is the Holy Spirit. This is essential to our walk. The Holy Spirit is the one doing the work inside of us, through us, and with us, and yet we can't accurately say that the Holy Spirit has a gender. While Jesus himself says "He is called the comforter." Seemingly referring to the Spirit as a He, the first time the Spirit is mentioned in Genesis 1:2, the author uses a genitive feminine noun in the original Hebrew for "Breath." However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Holy Spirit is referred to as a she, simply because of the fact that Hebrew nouns have Genders, like most languages besides English. Now, with the case of Mother Mary, who around there is a lot of controversies, because of her conception of Jesus, who is God, and the fact she has been worshipped as the mother of God it brings in a new nuance. In other religions such as Zoroastrianism, Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, Indian Hinduism, Thai Buddhism the most powerful gods always follow the formula of a godly Father, a godly mother, and a godly Son. There are different stories and myths with each of them, but the formula stands in most traditional beliefs.
Why is this significant? Because it is a trinitarian formula, one which every professing Christian believes, and one which our own religion has tried to follow, except it gets messy when we realize that the Holy Spirit is a 'He'. Because with our new formula, we have a Father, a Father, and a Son, as far as who is to be worshipped and praised. Now with that being said, that's what we see as far as being able to with our earthly eyes, but it's not entirely accurate, and if you are sensitive, really does not feel intuitive. So we must take it a step further. God through the prophet Moses says "like a mother eagle I will stir up your nest." Jesus Himself says "O, Israel how I desire to gather you under my wings as a Hen gathers her brood." There are many other times that God says He is 'like' a mother to us. Therefore we must take into consideration that this whole trinitarian thing is a much more layered subject to the traditional formula than even Christian's have figured out. It doesn't necessarily need to be controversial, we just need to realize that God has all the good qualities of both Father's and Mother's and Sons. You can say the same for Daughters in that matter. Often times in my own dreams the Holy Spirit shows up as a woman, whether she is old or young. To me, this simply means that I have a better outlook on women than I do men. It is who I prefer to talk to and receive advice from. It does not change the fact that I see God as my Father. However, it does tell me that God is more than willing to make a point. He's also very willing to meet you where you're at.
This is something that we as Christians must begin to learn, and really seek to understand. As a disciple I was very favorably met where I was at, and now that I've grown God has continued to show me his faithfulness in meeting me where I'm at with the introduction of new and interesting topics. The work has got to start somewhere, and I must be willing to do it. However, because I know that my God is in the work, it makes me all the more willing to do it and to keep treading. Because then, I know that what I'm doing truly has a purpose, and I'm not just doing meaningless things without Him.
This is something that we as Christians must begin to learn, and really seek to understand. As a disciple I was very favorably met where I was at, and now that I've grown God has continued to show me his faithfulness in meeting me where I'm at with the introduction of new and interesting topics. The work has got to start somewhere, and I must be willing to do it. However, because I know that my God is in the work, it makes me all the more willing to do it and to keep treading. Because then, I know that what I'm doing truly has a purpose, and I'm not just doing meaningless things without Him.
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