The Falsity of the Fig Leaf

Time for a seemingly random and unrelated confession. I have trouble talking to God. Oh I can pray aloud with no issues. "God thank you for this food I'm about to receive." "God please watch over my children and keep them safe from harm and danger." I'll be able to spout random "Christianeese" phrases until "that day of His return"...."God willing." I've got no problem speaking words of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and or supplication. My problem lies, not in my ability to pray, but my ability to talk to God. It's almost fitting that I do this through a blog as I'm a lot better talking about God than I am talking to him. Maybe I should say, I'm a lot more comfortable talking about God than actually talking to Him. In my time alone where it would be beneficial for me to bow my head, humble my heart and seek God's face I often look to busy myself with the cares of the world. Either that or what begins as prayer ends simply as a collection of jumbled thoughts morphing into a day dream, a day's to do list or a restful night sleep. That's right, I've fallen asleep many times talking to the God of the Universe. Even with this blog entry, my first mind was to type before praying. The result was me forcing myself to pray before I continued to type.





Why has prayer become so difficult? How do I get out of this prayerless funk? Do I need Kerney Thomas' personal prayer package? Or maybe I need a prayer catch phrase? What I honestly lack in my prayer life is intimacy with God.

Remember for a second the account of original sin. Adam bites the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and suddenly he and Eve are made aware that they are naked. Here Adam and Eve sit in a unique situation. Adam and Eve were crafted by God's hands outside of the womb. In their disobedience, they were made aware of their vulnerabilities. Being as it was, they chose to cover themselves and to hide. The reality of the situation is that God created all of their tender little bits and pieces. They were hiding from Him, pieces of themselves that God included when He designed them. Secondly, they saw fit to hide their vulnerabilities behind a fig leaf, as if the leaf provided adequate protection against God. The truth is, they were as vulnerable covered in leaves as they were naked, but for some reason they saw fit to cover their most intimate parts with a flimsy leaf.

That is where I am in my prayer life. I have reached a point where I have hid the most intimate regions of myself from God. I have used flimsy logic to fool myself into thinking that somehow, by praying, I am more vulnerable when in reality my theories behind not praying are no more flimsy than a fig leaf. I know my logic is faulty, not able to protect me in any form or fashion; a leaf that will blow away at the order of a strong wind. Even with that said, I cling to my leaf simply hoping to not be exposed, but writing a blog to expose myself.

For further study, let's examine some of the aspects of prayer. For each aspect of prayer let's take a look at what Jesus said when he taught us to pray, what the bible says regarding the issue, the foothold for the flesh, and some ways to get back on the right track.

Adoration - To worship or honor as a deity or divine

Jesus says: Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

The Bible says: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)

Foothold of the flesh: There are a lot of things that oppose our feelings of adoration toward God; pride, stagnation, pleasure, worship of things other than God. The truth is that it's hard to go through everyday of your life seeing God as both your Father and the being in heaven with the hallowed name. The truth is that unanswered prayer can make you question whether or not God is listening. It can make you question how attentive of a Father He is. In certain circumstances, unanswered prayer can make you question whether or not He is at all. We typically don't like to think these things aloud, but we wonder if we are praying to an inattentive God, or if we are simply hoping out loud.

Corrective measures: Adoration for God is easy to fake, but difficult by comparison to recapture. In some measure, all solutions involve being able to encourage yourself in the Lord so that you can reflect on the aspects of God that we ought to adore. When speaking of the goodness of God, in the book of Psalms the term Selah is often used. Think of Selah as meaning, "Pause and listen to what was just said." Take time to think on the goodness of the Lord. Make a prayer list and update it as God answers your prayers. Find adoration in understanding the price of prayer. Our access to God wasn't granted until the curtain was torn during the death of Jesus. There are many reasons to adore God, we just have to take the time to think on them. Selah.

Confession- Admitting wrong to get right:

Jesus says: And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

The bible says: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Foothold of the flesh: There are two places were confession and forgiveness break down. The first is a person's ability to examine himself and identify a need for confession. Many times we pray and offer up a simple request to be forgiven for all sin in our lives. The second breakdown in forgiveness is our ability to forgive others. Jesus didn't have a need to ask for any one's forgiveness; God or man. When he taught the disciples how to pray though, he said that we be forgiven as we forgive. In our hedonistic society, the idea of things like sorrow and conviction seem out of place. The truth is that there is a purpose behind Godly sorrow.

Corrective measures: Take the time to truly confess your sins as we've been told to do. Don't take the easy way out and just ask for forgiveness for all your trespasses. Name them to God, and tell him you are sorry for each one. That shame, embarrassment, and sorrow are humbling. That humility however goes a long way toward repentance and aids us in our ability to forgive others. If we made the effort to be more aware of exactly what God is forgiving us for, it could help us be a better forgiver of others.

Thanksgiving - Praise for what You have done:

Jesus says: There are no words in the Lord's prayer expressing thanksgiving, but read here about the attitude of giving thanks as it pertains to prayer.

The Bible says: See reading above

Foothold of the Flesh: Thanksgiving is not as simple as it seems. By nature we as humans are often unappreciative and always longing for more. It's hard to give thanks for what you have when you constantly focus on what you don't have.

Corrective measure: Similar to adoration, we have to force ourselves to count our blessings. Try keeping a prayer journal. Write down everything you petition God for. When a prayer is answered, write how it is answered. When a request is no longer valid, write what has changed. Doing this will provide an interesting study of how God works in your life, and give you reason to say thanks.

Supplication - Why I still need you:

Jesus says: Give us this day our daily bread.

The Bible says: Seek and ye shall find (Luke 11:9-13)

Foothold of the Flesh: We often confuse wants for needs. God knows our wants, and he knows our needs. As a perfect father however, he won't let our wants get in the way of our needs. Often time we diligently pray for wants and become hard hearted toward God when he doesn't meet each of our self centered requests.

Corrective measure: Supplication and thanksgiving go hand in hand. We are allowed to come to God and ask Him for all things. Don't be fooled into thinking that God is your genie. When we ask for things we need for His name sake, the bible lets us know that God will give us those things. Sometimes we won't understand and are put in positions where we just have to have faith that , "Father knows best."

Bullying; The Epidemic vs. the Opportunity

Bullying is nothing new. It's been more than 30 years since Arnold undertook learning Kung Fu in an effort to defend himself against "The Gooch". The 90's were marked with Jenny Jones episodes of the bullied seeking to rub any and every ounce of "success" they've experienced since high school in the face of anyone who bullied them. Recently, a light was shone on bullying when video of Nadin Khoury being hung from a fence by a group of older, bigger misfits went viral. It is evident that the internal scars of bullying need a salve deeper reaching and longer lasting than a bag of frozen peas.

As the 2011-2012 school year began, I as a parent was inundated with updated bullying statutes. We were told by those in charge that these statutes were inspired by the suicide of Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers student who was secretly and illegally taped and having gay sex.

I think that labeling these discussions as bullying is a misnomer. While the bullying discussions cover topics like "mutual respect", there is also an onus on topics such as "dealing with same sex attraction." I see it as a direct affront to me as a parent. I am supposed to ensure that my children watch age appropriate television, listen to age appropriate music, read age appropriate books, but I have no say on them having an age appropriate discussion.

What adults do in the privacy of their own homes is not the business of my five year old regardless of sexual preference. I would not be accepting of the school discussing a heterosexual sex, attractions, positions, or fetishes with my children, so why should I feel any different about homosexual themed discussions.

What bothers me enough to write a blog about it is the misleading nature. These bullying discussions were structured with an agenda in mind. Some have been bothered by the epidemic of bullying. Others however have found it to be an opportunity to spread their own agenda.

What's in a Name?

Shakespeare posed the question whose answer is at best rhetorical. After all, I agree with him in most cases. If the word 'garbage' was used to describe the flower we know as a rose and the word 'rose' was used to describe waste and discarded useless materials; then the phrase, "Wow you smell like garbage" would have different connotations. As it relates to people, most parents name their children before they ever get to know a child's personality. And will someone please explain to me how a fragrance can be marketed as "Eau de toilette?" I've never taken French, but unless "Eau de" is translated as "doesn't smell like" I don't think they'll be getting my hard earned money.

As random and meaningless as the convention of naming may be, it is almost impossible to escape the effects of sullied name. Don't believe me? Just ask Baltimore sports caster Gerry Sandusky how former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky's child sex allegations have affected him. Gerry took to twitter tweeting, "My late father, John, left me a good name, and I will not allow anyone to take that away. Gerry with a G. Sandusky with pride." In addition to Sandusky, consider the Ruth and Andrew Madoff interviews related to their swindling husband and father.

Unfortunately, the answer to Shakespeare's question is multi-pronged and usually not evident until it is too late. What is in a bad name? In a bad name is a burden. What is in a bad name is hardship and prejudice. Unfortunately, the perils of having a bad name are often not considered until the aftermath of negative actions. What is in a good name? The bible says that a good name is more precious than silver and gold (Proverbs 22:1). What is in a good name is a very precious standing that needs constant maintenance. It takes a lifetime to maintain a good name, but one misstep to lose it. What is in a name that is neither good nor bad? In that name is opportunity to define.

So a good name is precious and valuable, but what about a name that is more than good? What about a perfect name? What about the name of God himself? God cared enough about his name to instruct us not to use it in vain.

God has opened up our lines of communication with him. Opening those lines were not cheap. Remeber that before Jesus' death priests would communicate with God in the tabernacle/temple under strict guidelines. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the door was opened to where we could be adopted as heirs if we choose to believe in Christ as the only way to God. That adoption allows us to become part of his family, similar to accepting his last name.

For those of us who have accepted Christ, accepted God's offer of adoption, and accepted to be under the umbrella of his name; what is our affect on the name of God? God was not disillusioned when he adopted imperfect people, but God does expect our best; if for no other reason than because he's already given us his best. But some of us, through our actions cause the name of God to be blasphemed. We, in large groups participate in the show of church and reject Christ's way of life. We as Christian's follow the money, the fame, the power of influence and do not acknowledge in our lives the God who has allowed us to take his name. Some of us blindly support demagogues with cliches like, "Keep your mouth off the man of God." In the midst of false teachers, preachers, apostles and in this age where even the church sometimes waivers on calling evil good; it's time for us who are true followers of "The Way" to make sure we are properly representing the family we've been adpoted into and the Father and Son who paid the price. It's a challenge to submit to the foolishness to experience the power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amPgt8WhjRk

Destroying the Nehustan

Even if you don't know the name or the origin of this image, chances are you've seen it before. The name for this symbol is the Nehustan. The original Nehustan was built by Moses on orders from God. In Numbers 21:4-9 the Jews tired God with their complaining and ungratefulness. When God had heard enough he sent a brigade of serpents into the camp. At the behest of Moses, God called off his serpentine troops and ordered Moses to construct a pole with a bronze serpent wrapped around it; the Nehustan. Anyone who looked upon the Nehustan was instantly healed. The Nehustan was an instrument of God's power.

After the snake bites healed and the Jews left the wilderness, what happened to the Nehustan? In God's eyes the Nehustan became obsolete. It was a vehicle for Him to show His power and mercy, but the Nehustan had served its purpose. To God it was nothing more than a pole with a snake on it, but to the Jews it became a relic, a holy object worthy of worship.

Many of us of Nehustans in our lives. I don't think many of us have actual snakes on poles, but we have objects and rituals that we worship because of times in the past where God used those things to further His will. What we tend to do is use those things in an attempt to compartmentalize God. We hold up our Nehustans as though they are God's only vehicle to work in our lives.

The truth about or Nehustans though are that they impede our Spiritual Growth. Consider, for instance the use of Tongues and Prophecy. On the day of Pentecost, God allowed his followers to speak in tongues for the benefit of all listening; so that they may hear the truth in their own language. In Acts 10:44-46 the Holy Spirit was poured out onto Cornelius and his household and they magnified God. Acts 19:6-8 shows the Holy Spirit being poured out on believers and once again the Truth being magnified. In God's word he tells us to test every Spirit and know that the one that testifies that Christ in the flesh is God is from God. The scriptures do not tell us that God's spirit will make us speak in tongues. Using tongues as a Nehustan has caused many Christians to feign holiness and others to stumble in their attempt to walk by faith. An insistence for all to speak in tongues openly contradicts the bible's guidelines for tongues, prophecy, and orderly worship.

For some Christians, the objects we associate with God the most are often the biggest Nehustans in our lives, sometimes including pastors and the very churches we worship in. Ask God to identify the Nehustans in your life, and ask Him to break you free from their grasp and artificial sense of Holiness. Embrace the fullness of Christ as sufficient for all things and continue to give yourself over to the Cross, that it's foolishness maybe manifested as power in your life.