I have found nothing can divide a room of Christians more than mentioning "the Law". Wait isn't true, it doesn't truly divide the room - it causes everyone to be in agreement about one key thing - we are not, under any circumstances, never, never ever, did I mention never - to obey "the Law". When I inquire as to why exactly I get the "we are not under the Law, we are under Grace" comment. So, Christians are "lawless"? I am told we are not really lawless, we are just not "under the law". What exactly does that mean? We either have to follow the Law or we don't have to follow the Law. Am I to believe that a God who was very clear in the "Old Testament" somehow became a bit muddled in His ideas in the "New Testament". Do we follow the Law or do we not?
I know, Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law - but what does that mean? Many Christians interpret this to mean that He finished it, since He obeyed it we are exempt from obeying it. Okay. This comment makes sense only if we chose not to define exactly what this Law is.
The Law is often referred to as the Torah. Many Christians fail to realize there are two different "Laws" mentioned in the New Testament. The first is God's Law, that is the Torah. The second, commonly referred to as the Oral Torah was man's law. In an effort to keep people from disobeying the Torah, rabbis' and priests over the years chose to put a "fence" around the Torah. These were rules that were more strict than the Torah to keep people far enough away from the Torah that they would never transgress it.
This introduced a couple of problems. The first is that one command in the Torah is to not add or take away from it. So, in adding the "fence" around the Torah those Hebrew leaders were in fact - breaking the Torah! The second is Moses was already clear that the Torah wasn't too hard for people to obey. They didn't need any help in obeying it, it wasn't too high, too hard, or too much. The third is that God never puts a "fence" around sin. When God put Adam and Eve into the garden He didn't put a fence around the tree of knowledge of good and evil. His Word should be fence enough. If you love Him you obey. Finally, many rules added to "fence" the Torah would automatically require people to break the Torah to obey them and they even made the Torah too hard to obey!
When I first started my journey to understand the foundations of my faith, I didn't know much about the Torah. Yes, I can admit I didn't even know the "Laws" I could now freely break or not break or kind of break or break but be forgiven - well, I didn't know the Torah! I thought the Torah was just about sacrificing birds and bulls on an alter so that my sins could be "forgiven" and of course Jesus did that! Well, that actually isn't what the Torah is about. Yes, there are sacrifices - but those don't "forgive" your sins - was was just an atonement until Jesus came. Also, you couldn't sacrifice just anywhere, you could only sacrifice in the temple. So, today there is not temple and hasn't been for almost 2000 years. So, no burning birds on the alter.
However, the other rules for living according to the Torah are, for lack of a better word, brilliant! They discuss how to conduct business, how to treat your employees, how to treat your neighbor, how to treat your spouse. They discuss keeping God's appointed times (those things we refer to as Jewish holidays - when they were created before there was a people called "Jews").
So, if Jesus came to "fill all the requirements" of the Torah, does that mean one no longer has to pay their employees on time? Does that mean one no longer has to lend to the poor? Does that mean it is now good and acceptable to touch dead bodies? See, when you become familiar with the Torah you begin to see the absurdity of thinking it was done away with. The Torah doesn't even mean "Law", that was a Greek to English translation error. Torah refers to the first five books of the Bible and there were 613 Torah commands within those five books.
As a note - Jesus never broke one Torah command in his life. Some might say - no, the Bible says he healed on the Sabbath and that was against the Torah. No, it wasn't. There is no command in the written Torah, the Torah given by God that one cannot heal on the Sabbath! Now, the oral law created by the Pharisees, did have such commands. Jesus often did things that were against the Pharisee additions to the Torah (the Oral Torah) just to show that one needs not obey man, but one must obey God. Jesus was our example, our guide, and our example.
Another point before I go from this blog posting - the Torah never saved! To say that we no longer need to obey the Torah because we have Jesus is crazy. Jesus said He alone was the Way, the Truth, and the Light and NO MAN can go to the Father except through Him. Period. Even if Abraham and Moses kept EVERY statute of the Torah, they still could not ascend to the Father until after Jesus died and rose and took dominion over death and hell. Abraham, Issac, and Jacob all needed the Messiah just as you and I. Jesus stepped out of time and redeemed all the people of God - those who died before He came and those who died after He came. Obedience is not salvation. Obedience is our outward manifestation of our hope of and belief in our salvation. How can we get more clear than the words of Jesus Himself: If you love Me, keep my commandments. John 14:15. Interestingly - when Jesus spoke of the greatest two commandments "Loving God with all your heart and strength and loving your neighbor as yourself" - He was speaking of two specific commands in the Torah. And yes, that does sum up all the Torah. The rest of the Torah (including the Ten Commandments) go on to tell us HOW to do those two things.
For those wondering - I do not at this time obey the entire Torah. The reason is because I am still learning the Torah. I belong to a religion that has neglected not only the following of, but the teaching of the Torah for over 1500. The more I learn, the more I try to do. I honestly don't even know if I am doing it "right", I am hard pressed to find Christian resources on following the Torah, even our of choice and not obligation.
Again, let me be clear that obeying the Torah will NOT get me into Heaven. The ONLY way to the Father is through Jesus and there is nothing I can do to earn that. However, like any child - I still have to obey my Father. He saved my life, now He gets to tell me how to live that life, which belongs to Him. I don't have to wonder how God wants me to live - He was clear about that thousands of years ago. I don't assume perfection even when I learn it - the children of Israel disobeyed shortly after being delivered miraculously from Egypt. I don't have to be perfect, but I do need to try. I only need to work to stay within the guidelines of the written Torah, not the additional man made commands clearly demonstrated by Jesus to be outside the Torah. And again, even if I were to be perfect in each and every one - they would NOT make me "saved" and it wouldn't make me any more "saved" than a person not following any of the Torah. The Torah is not about salvation, it is about how God expects His people to live on the earth. It is Creator detailing how He expects His creation to interact with Him and with their fellow man. Yes, someone can follow the Torah and not be saved because Jesus said He was the Way and no one gets to the Father except through Him. Yet He also clearly indicated in John 14 that a sign of our love for Him was following the Torah. The Torah is a bit like an engagement ring. It simply identifies to others that you belong to someone. It is a sign of your love, not your love itself. Once can be engaged without a ring - but it makes people suspect about that love. One can also wear a ring and be unfaithful and even have no intention in truly going through with the wedding. The ring isn't magic just as the Torah isn't magic. The ring can change the heart and God looks at the heart. However, it is from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks and when we loudly declare we are not subject to the commands of God - well, I will leave that to the reader to decide.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
How I became a pagan worshiper!
Okay, my goal was never to be a pagan worshiper. Nothing, absolutely nothing could be further from the truth. So, I almost fainted, died, then fainted again when I found out some of the "traditions" I had been celebrating as part of my religious beliefs and expression were in fact - pagan worship!
I will cover the one that was the most revealing, most stunning, and caused my heart the most pain - the celebration of the Easter holiday. I had always been taught we celebrated Easter in honor of Christ rising on the third day. Easter has been celebrated in every religious denomination I have ever encountered. I remember being absolutely offended when people would be going about selling chocolate bunnies (although I remember eating them, loving them, and even looking forward to receiving them as a child). I remember not really understanding that the egg thing was about - but gladly went about finding eggs, taking my kids to find eggs, and even hosting eggs hunts at my home.
I saw over the past few years some churches move from calling the holiday "Easter" to calling it "Resurrection Sunday". I thought - oh good, we are taking back "our" holiday! Well, imagine my surprise when I found out that calling Easter "Resurrection Sunday" still wasn't "taking it back" or making it Christian - it was still very much in line with the pagan worship that was involved in celebrating Easter - even before the time of Christ.
While most of my research has been on the internet - secular and religious websites all agree on the history of the Easter holiday and how it became a part of Christian religious tradition. I will share what I learned. Most of this outline comes from the page titled "Pagan Origin of Easter" from www.lastrumpetministries.org. However, this timeline is consistent with four other religious and secular websites and is not disputed on any Christian website.
Ham, the son of Noah, had a son name Cush. Cush married a woman named Semiramis and they had a son named Nimrod. After Cush died, Nimrod married his mother (Semiramis) and became a powerful king. The Bible speakd of Nimrod in Genesis 10:8-10. Nimrod became a "god-man" to the people and with wife/mother became Queen of ancient Babylon. Nimrod was killed by an enemy and his body was cut into pieces and sent away. Semiramis gathered all the parts except one - his reproductive organ. Semiramis said that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of Babylon that Nimrod ascended to the sun and was now to be called "Baal", the sun god.
Semiramis called she was the result of immaculate conception and that the moon was her mother. She claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant - Egg! Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounce "Easter" and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's egg". Get it - "Easter's egg".
Isthar had a son Tammuz and she claimed it was Baal who impregnated her. Tammuz liked hare's (or rabbits) and they became sacred in the ancient religion because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god Baal. Tammuz was killed by a wild boar (pig). Ishtar claimed some of Tammuz's blood fell on a stump of an evergreen tree and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. Isthar told the people Tammuz has now "ascended" to his father the "sun-god" Baal. They were to celebrate this occassion every year on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Ishtar's Sunday was celebrated with rabbits and eggs. It was always about a "resurrection". The word "Easter" appears in the King James Bible in Acts chapter 12:4 - but it was Herod that was about to celebrate Easter! Herod was a pagan and he was waiting until after celebrating his pagan holiday to kill Peter.
So, how did this pagan holiday get into the Christian church? Christians and Jews used to worship in the same temple and celebrate the same holidays. They would normally be celebrating passover. However, as tensions rose between Christians and Jews there was a separation. More and more "gentiles" - which means a pagan worshiper, began to join the congregation of believers. However, instead of instructing them to leave their pagan worship and worship as God alone instructed, it is believed they allowed them to continue with their former pagan worship and simply make it "Christian". This is similar to the golden calf situation that happened after God lead the Isralites out of Egypt. They wanted to offer a golden calf to God. Golden calves were a large part of pagan worship and God wanted none of it. He never authorized pagan holidays to be simply "turned into" Christian holidays. We are to leave the old man and embrace our new identity. Celebrating a pagan holiday, in a completely pagan way, and simply changing the name. They were doing what God never said do, doing what Jesus never said do; they decided to bring their pagan religion into the church and force God to accept it by claiming Tammuz now represented Jesus and Baal represented God.
I am beginning to see much more clearly why God was so specific in His commands and also why He told us to put off the "old man". It is at least time for me to listen to God and do what He said. We were commanded to not add to His law nor take away. So, I will still be worshiping - just observing the things God instructed. So - Happy Passover!
I will cover the one that was the most revealing, most stunning, and caused my heart the most pain - the celebration of the Easter holiday. I had always been taught we celebrated Easter in honor of Christ rising on the third day. Easter has been celebrated in every religious denomination I have ever encountered. I remember being absolutely offended when people would be going about selling chocolate bunnies (although I remember eating them, loving them, and even looking forward to receiving them as a child). I remember not really understanding that the egg thing was about - but gladly went about finding eggs, taking my kids to find eggs, and even hosting eggs hunts at my home.
I saw over the past few years some churches move from calling the holiday "Easter" to calling it "Resurrection Sunday". I thought - oh good, we are taking back "our" holiday! Well, imagine my surprise when I found out that calling Easter "Resurrection Sunday" still wasn't "taking it back" or making it Christian - it was still very much in line with the pagan worship that was involved in celebrating Easter - even before the time of Christ.
While most of my research has been on the internet - secular and religious websites all agree on the history of the Easter holiday and how it became a part of Christian religious tradition. I will share what I learned. Most of this outline comes from the page titled "Pagan Origin of Easter" from www.lastrumpetministries.org. However, this timeline is consistent with four other religious and secular websites and is not disputed on any Christian website.
Ham, the son of Noah, had a son name Cush. Cush married a woman named Semiramis and they had a son named Nimrod. After Cush died, Nimrod married his mother (Semiramis) and became a powerful king. The Bible speakd of Nimrod in Genesis 10:8-10. Nimrod became a "god-man" to the people and with wife/mother became Queen of ancient Babylon. Nimrod was killed by an enemy and his body was cut into pieces and sent away. Semiramis gathered all the parts except one - his reproductive organ. Semiramis said that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of Babylon that Nimrod ascended to the sun and was now to be called "Baal", the sun god.
Semiramis called she was the result of immaculate conception and that the moon was her mother. She claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant - Egg! Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounce "Easter" and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's egg". Get it - "Easter's egg".
Isthar had a son Tammuz and she claimed it was Baal who impregnated her. Tammuz liked hare's (or rabbits) and they became sacred in the ancient religion because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god Baal. Tammuz was killed by a wild boar (pig). Ishtar claimed some of Tammuz's blood fell on a stump of an evergreen tree and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. Isthar told the people Tammuz has now "ascended" to his father the "sun-god" Baal. They were to celebrate this occassion every year on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Ishtar's Sunday was celebrated with rabbits and eggs. It was always about a "resurrection". The word "Easter" appears in the King James Bible in Acts chapter 12:4 - but it was Herod that was about to celebrate Easter! Herod was a pagan and he was waiting until after celebrating his pagan holiday to kill Peter.
So, how did this pagan holiday get into the Christian church? Christians and Jews used to worship in the same temple and celebrate the same holidays. They would normally be celebrating passover. However, as tensions rose between Christians and Jews there was a separation. More and more "gentiles" - which means a pagan worshiper, began to join the congregation of believers. However, instead of instructing them to leave their pagan worship and worship as God alone instructed, it is believed they allowed them to continue with their former pagan worship and simply make it "Christian". This is similar to the golden calf situation that happened after God lead the Isralites out of Egypt. They wanted to offer a golden calf to God. Golden calves were a large part of pagan worship and God wanted none of it. He never authorized pagan holidays to be simply "turned into" Christian holidays. We are to leave the old man and embrace our new identity. Celebrating a pagan holiday, in a completely pagan way, and simply changing the name. They were doing what God never said do, doing what Jesus never said do; they decided to bring their pagan religion into the church and force God to accept it by claiming Tammuz now represented Jesus and Baal represented God.
I am beginning to see much more clearly why God was so specific in His commands and also why He told us to put off the "old man". It is at least time for me to listen to God and do what He said. We were commanded to not add to His law nor take away. So, I will still be worshiping - just observing the things God instructed. So - Happy Passover!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Christians and the Sabbath - Part 3
So, should Christians honor the Sabbath? This is only my opinion from the research that I have done. I believe Christians, should in fact, honor the Sabbath. The Sabbath honors something that wasn't simply Jewish Law, it honors something that happened before there was a such thing a Jews - it honors God as the Creator of the universe. In fact, I am actually perplexed that many Christians find the concept of the Sabbath so offensive. To me, the Sabbath represents the realization that all Power is in the hands of God and what will happen in our lives will be the will of the Father. We cannot toil long enough, hard enough, or good enough - we are living under the grace and mercy of a Loving God and has all power in His hands.
Now, when should one celebrate the Sabbath? Well, on the Sabbath! The Sabbath was about rest, not about church. The Sabbath was designed before the church on a pattern that took place before the church began. There is nothing stopping a Christian from honoring the Sabbath on the Sabbath and worshiping in church with other believers on the Lord's Day - on Sunday. I think the debate on this is a bit ill conceived, one can do both. I am not okay with man thinking he can change the Commandments on God to suit his own needs or correlate with man made tradition. Many people worshiped in the temple on more than one day - not just the Sabbath. So, going to church on Sunday is also not a violation of God's Law. There is nothing that says one should only get involved in corporate worship on day a week or one particular day a week. The Sabbath isn't a "church day", it is a rest day.
How should a Christian celebrate the Sabbath? I believe this is personal. We have traditional Jewish and Adventist practices as a model. However, the stipulation that God gave was simply that one should cease from their labor. Labor was a way in which people earned their living and provided for their home. What is labor to me may not be labor to you. For instance, a woodworker earns their living from working with wood - they should probably not do work for profit on the Sabbath. However, a family may enjoy woodworking as a family activity - I don't think they should be forbidden from having family time doing wood crafts. However, if the focus of the craft is finishing a "honey do" list - then it probably shouldn't be done. For some women, cooking is their labor. They don't really enjoy it, but do it simply because it must be done. They should probably put on a crock pot, buy a meal, or fix something that doesn't involve cooking so they can have a Sabbath rest. For others, it may be they enjoy cooking and spend time together as a family preparing a meal together. The consistent thing from all Sabbath traditions is being with ones family and being reminded of "why" they are resting. Not because they are tired, not because God was tired. They should remind themselves that on the seventh day God rested because what He had set in motion was completed for all eternity - we should be reminded of this each and every Sabbath.
Some people don't go to parties or do anything out of the house on the Sabbath. That is fine for them and I don't think it is bad. However, if there is a party that wouldn't be "work" that the entire family could enjoy - I would think it would be fair game. Again, honoring the Sabbath isn't about what you "can't do", its about being reminded in our entire being as to what God DID, and finished (meaning the end of days was completed, it is all in the Hands of God). Let's keep the Sabbath what is was intended for, a time for man to cease from laboring and striving for what God has already determined, provided, and accomplished.
However, lets not get into legalism (yes, I said it - LOL). Yes, going to the hospital and praying for someone might be work, and hard work - that doesn't mean you say "no, its the Sabbath". Your neighbor needing a hand, someone getting a flat tire in front of your house, the boy down the street losing his dog and seeking someone to help him find it, and even your child attending a birthday party for someone that doesn't have a lot of friends and has been feeling depressed, sad, and unloved - do it. Remember, Jesus said the highest Commandment was to love God with all your heart and the second was to love our neighbor - show love, even if it means doing some work on the Sabbath!
How my family plans to celebrate the Sabbath is to be together as a family. No mommy grading papers, no daddy putting up shutters on the house. The kids love cutting the grass with daddy - so you might see everyone outside cutting the grass. For us, that isn't work (okay, for my husband and kids - I am not a big nature girl!) This Sabbath, my husband will be taking my eldest to watch a robotics competition. Yes, I said we do things as a family; however, there is life involved. Even in biblical times women with babies were not expected to participate in some things. We also know that a baby was considered a child 5 and under. My twins are 4, they are still babies. This means some things we need to be exempted from so that I can tend to my babies. My babies (thankfully) still nap daily (God is SO GOOD). They need a nap for their health as babies need more sleep than others. If, in trying to be a Sabbath family - I neglected my duties as parent, that wouldn't be showing love nor honoring God. So, we will not all be together for part of the day. However, I think we are still honoring the Sabbath as I will allow the twins to take their nap in my bed while I read a book. I LOVE reading - it is restful! They love sleeping in our bed. My husband and my eldest love robots - its works. However, once my twins have passed the baby stage, everything will be entire family based for the day.
I look at the Sabbath as a wonderful gift from God. Its beautiful and lovely - and so needed in this time where is seems we are all going a million miles a minute!To have a day when we can just stop! Stop striving, stop climbing, stop trying to navigate our way and remind ourselves that God is in control - how wonderful! A day when I don't have to be superwoman - yippee! Yes, superwoman homeschooling the kids, teaching college courses, cooking, cleaning, etc., etc., etc. It's exhausting! Being able to say - thank you Lord, I can sit down. I can't sit down because "I" am finished, but because "He" is finished. It reminds me that if I don't get to that math lesson - its okay, God will make sure my children learn it in due time - whether it be from me or School House Rock it will get done.
Of course, there is preparation for the Sabbath! Remember when the children of Israel were in the wilderness - God had them gather a double portion of manna on the six day. This was to ensure they could rest on the Sabbath. That means I probably need to do an extra load of laundry on my six day, or get those papers graded NOW, or get the roast defrosted and in the oven pronto! So, another thing the Sabbath does is keep us from procrastinating! Isn't God so smart! I don't get to say "hey, I didn't get that done and since its the Sabbath you have to wait!" That isn't right and it isn't showing love to the people I promised I would get things to. It means I need to get moving to honor my commitments. It also means I should NOT over commit! We are working seven days a week because we are committing all of our time and being too busy. I need to be cognizant of the time I am allowed to give others - six days. I need to make sure I am not committing to seven, not promising seven, and I shouldn't even try to sneak seven days of work into six days. In neglecting the Sabbath we have been exhausting ourselves and this was never the plan of God. This isn't legalism, its sanity! How many Christians today have illness because they are tired and overworked? How many are so stressed it is taking a toll on their marriage? How many so tired from laboring they are taking it out on their kids? Even children today are busy seven days a week - enough already. Lets get back into God's plan by first reminding ourselves whom is really in control - God!
Now, when should one celebrate the Sabbath? Well, on the Sabbath! The Sabbath was about rest, not about church. The Sabbath was designed before the church on a pattern that took place before the church began. There is nothing stopping a Christian from honoring the Sabbath on the Sabbath and worshiping in church with other believers on the Lord's Day - on Sunday. I think the debate on this is a bit ill conceived, one can do both. I am not okay with man thinking he can change the Commandments on God to suit his own needs or correlate with man made tradition. Many people worshiped in the temple on more than one day - not just the Sabbath. So, going to church on Sunday is also not a violation of God's Law. There is nothing that says one should only get involved in corporate worship on day a week or one particular day a week. The Sabbath isn't a "church day", it is a rest day.
How should a Christian celebrate the Sabbath? I believe this is personal. We have traditional Jewish and Adventist practices as a model. However, the stipulation that God gave was simply that one should cease from their labor. Labor was a way in which people earned their living and provided for their home. What is labor to me may not be labor to you. For instance, a woodworker earns their living from working with wood - they should probably not do work for profit on the Sabbath. However, a family may enjoy woodworking as a family activity - I don't think they should be forbidden from having family time doing wood crafts. However, if the focus of the craft is finishing a "honey do" list - then it probably shouldn't be done. For some women, cooking is their labor. They don't really enjoy it, but do it simply because it must be done. They should probably put on a crock pot, buy a meal, or fix something that doesn't involve cooking so they can have a Sabbath rest. For others, it may be they enjoy cooking and spend time together as a family preparing a meal together. The consistent thing from all Sabbath traditions is being with ones family and being reminded of "why" they are resting. Not because they are tired, not because God was tired. They should remind themselves that on the seventh day God rested because what He had set in motion was completed for all eternity - we should be reminded of this each and every Sabbath.
Some people don't go to parties or do anything out of the house on the Sabbath. That is fine for them and I don't think it is bad. However, if there is a party that wouldn't be "work" that the entire family could enjoy - I would think it would be fair game. Again, honoring the Sabbath isn't about what you "can't do", its about being reminded in our entire being as to what God DID, and finished (meaning the end of days was completed, it is all in the Hands of God). Let's keep the Sabbath what is was intended for, a time for man to cease from laboring and striving for what God has already determined, provided, and accomplished.
However, lets not get into legalism (yes, I said it - LOL). Yes, going to the hospital and praying for someone might be work, and hard work - that doesn't mean you say "no, its the Sabbath". Your neighbor needing a hand, someone getting a flat tire in front of your house, the boy down the street losing his dog and seeking someone to help him find it, and even your child attending a birthday party for someone that doesn't have a lot of friends and has been feeling depressed, sad, and unloved - do it. Remember, Jesus said the highest Commandment was to love God with all your heart and the second was to love our neighbor - show love, even if it means doing some work on the Sabbath!
How my family plans to celebrate the Sabbath is to be together as a family. No mommy grading papers, no daddy putting up shutters on the house. The kids love cutting the grass with daddy - so you might see everyone outside cutting the grass. For us, that isn't work (okay, for my husband and kids - I am not a big nature girl!) This Sabbath, my husband will be taking my eldest to watch a robotics competition. Yes, I said we do things as a family; however, there is life involved. Even in biblical times women with babies were not expected to participate in some things. We also know that a baby was considered a child 5 and under. My twins are 4, they are still babies. This means some things we need to be exempted from so that I can tend to my babies. My babies (thankfully) still nap daily (God is SO GOOD). They need a nap for their health as babies need more sleep than others. If, in trying to be a Sabbath family - I neglected my duties as parent, that wouldn't be showing love nor honoring God. So, we will not all be together for part of the day. However, I think we are still honoring the Sabbath as I will allow the twins to take their nap in my bed while I read a book. I LOVE reading - it is restful! They love sleeping in our bed. My husband and my eldest love robots - its works. However, once my twins have passed the baby stage, everything will be entire family based for the day.
I look at the Sabbath as a wonderful gift from God. Its beautiful and lovely - and so needed in this time where is seems we are all going a million miles a minute!To have a day when we can just stop! Stop striving, stop climbing, stop trying to navigate our way and remind ourselves that God is in control - how wonderful! A day when I don't have to be superwoman - yippee! Yes, superwoman homeschooling the kids, teaching college courses, cooking, cleaning, etc., etc., etc. It's exhausting! Being able to say - thank you Lord, I can sit down. I can't sit down because "I" am finished, but because "He" is finished. It reminds me that if I don't get to that math lesson - its okay, God will make sure my children learn it in due time - whether it be from me or School House Rock it will get done.
Of course, there is preparation for the Sabbath! Remember when the children of Israel were in the wilderness - God had them gather a double portion of manna on the six day. This was to ensure they could rest on the Sabbath. That means I probably need to do an extra load of laundry on my six day, or get those papers graded NOW, or get the roast defrosted and in the oven pronto! So, another thing the Sabbath does is keep us from procrastinating! Isn't God so smart! I don't get to say "hey, I didn't get that done and since its the Sabbath you have to wait!" That isn't right and it isn't showing love to the people I promised I would get things to. It means I need to get moving to honor my commitments. It also means I should NOT over commit! We are working seven days a week because we are committing all of our time and being too busy. I need to be cognizant of the time I am allowed to give others - six days. I need to make sure I am not committing to seven, not promising seven, and I shouldn't even try to sneak seven days of work into six days. In neglecting the Sabbath we have been exhausting ourselves and this was never the plan of God. This isn't legalism, its sanity! How many Christians today have illness because they are tired and overworked? How many are so stressed it is taking a toll on their marriage? How many so tired from laboring they are taking it out on their kids? Even children today are busy seven days a week - enough already. Lets get back into God's plan by first reminding ourselves whom is really in control - God!
Christians and the Sabbath, Part 2
So what is the Sabbath?
It is well documented and universally understood that the Sabbath is from sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday. In Genesis the Bible says that "the evening and the morning were the first day" and so on. Its interesting the note that first century Christians, who were mostly Jewish Christians (known today as Messianic Jews) worshiped in the same temples as non-Christian Jews. Gentiles that came to know Christ also worshiped in the same temples. In fact, many of the discords found in the Bible, and many scriptures that are confused today (like dietary laws) are often a result of non-Christian Jews setting up additional requirements before a Gentile would be considered "clean" enough to enter the temple. Christian Jews understood it was Jesus that cleansed both the Jews and the Gentiles and anyone that wanted could enter the temple. However, this didn't mean one no longer needed to follow the Commandments of God! It was just that following those Commandments didn't lead to salvation. The question is - can a murderer get to heaven? Yes, they can. However, that doesn't mean Christians (Gentile or Jewish) should go around murdering people! Paul clearly dealt with this fallacy! We are not to offend the Law purposely or not due to our "get out of hell free card". We must still work to keep the Law (all the Law) while we acknowledge even being perfect in this regard is not enough - only Jesus can cleanse us. In fact, keeping of the Law for Christians isn't about cleansing, its about being obedient to one True and Living God and acknowledging that we realize we belong to God - its He that made us and we no longer belong to ourselves. In keeping of the Law I would be saying to myself, my family, my God, and showing the world that I am a child of God. If asked why I keep the Law my answer is to be simply - because God said so. Its not about sacrifice, its about obedience. Its not about cleansing or holiness or self-righteousness - again it is simply about being obedient to my Father.
So, if Christian and Non-Christian Jews, as well as Christian Gentiles were all worshiping together in the temple, honoring the Sabbath together - what changed? Why did Christians stop worshiping on Sunday. It took searching, but I finally found the answer. The answer is consistent in both Jewish, Christian, and Secular accounts. From 66 - 73 there was a revolt against Rome by a Non-Christian Jewish sect. Although at first successful in driving Rome from Jerusalem, the revolt was brutally crushed by Rome with men, women, and children being slaughtered. Not wanting to be wrongly identified as being a part of this revolt, Christians (Jewish and Gentile) tried to distinguish themselves from those Jews that has revolted against Rome. With the Sabbath had traditionally been the Christian day of worship, it was decided that Jewish and non-Jewish Christians would worship on Sunday. Why Sunday? Sunday was already a "holy" day in Rome. It was known as "the Lord's Day". However, the "Lord" they were referring to was actually the Emperor! Christians felt they could begin to worship on the "the Lord's Day", but actually be worshiping the true Lord, and not the false god of Nero and later Vespasian. Of course, this was the first time there was a distinguishing between Christians and Jews in terms of worship. They had always been worshiping the same God.
After the revolt was crushed and the temple destroyed - Jews and Christians were dispersed throughout Rome. The temple had always been "home base" until that time. After this dispersment did such strong distinctions come between Jews and Christians, not just about Jesus Messiah - but even in the interpretation of scripture. This led to quite a bit of, for lack of a better word - antisemitism in the Christian Church. The Christian Church, now centered in the heart of Rome (due in large part to Roman Emperor Constantine) began to advise strongly against "jewdising" of Christianity. It was from this point forward that Christians have looked not to Jerusalem for the foundations of their faith, the interpretation of scripture, and the promises of the Bible - but to Rome. This was the time in which Christian interpretation became not the joining in with the chosen people of God in the abundant blessings of God - but in the usurping of and taking away. It actually reminds me of the old testament story of Jacob and Esau. It is how I more fully understand why there is a fraction between Messianic Jews (or Christian Jews) and other Christians.
I am in no way saying Christians should become Jews. I am saying the Bible was set in a time even before there was a people called "Jews", it is a Hebraic history. We must look to accurately divide the Word of God, basing it not upon Rome or Israel - but upon the roots for which is stands. I am not disparaging my Catholic brothers and sisters, just as I am not disparaging my Jewish brothers and sisters. I am saying our God is not Catholic or Jewish (although our Savior was indeed raised as a Jew and lived as Jew, died as a Jew, and rose as a Jew) - He is before time and He put the words in the Bible that He wanted to be there. The Bible also allows for debating of scriptures (the men used to set upon the city walls a debate all the time), but our debates must be grounded in God and His word.
Back to the Sabbath - LOL! I hope I have given a good (though not perfect and not nearly enough references, so please do your own searching) history on why Christians stopped honoring the Sabbath and how Sunday became the standard day of worship for Christians. My last post will be if Christians should indeed honor the Sabbath, and what that actually means.
It is well documented and universally understood that the Sabbath is from sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday. In Genesis the Bible says that "the evening and the morning were the first day" and so on. Its interesting the note that first century Christians, who were mostly Jewish Christians (known today as Messianic Jews) worshiped in the same temples as non-Christian Jews. Gentiles that came to know Christ also worshiped in the same temples. In fact, many of the discords found in the Bible, and many scriptures that are confused today (like dietary laws) are often a result of non-Christian Jews setting up additional requirements before a Gentile would be considered "clean" enough to enter the temple. Christian Jews understood it was Jesus that cleansed both the Jews and the Gentiles and anyone that wanted could enter the temple. However, this didn't mean one no longer needed to follow the Commandments of God! It was just that following those Commandments didn't lead to salvation. The question is - can a murderer get to heaven? Yes, they can. However, that doesn't mean Christians (Gentile or Jewish) should go around murdering people! Paul clearly dealt with this fallacy! We are not to offend the Law purposely or not due to our "get out of hell free card". We must still work to keep the Law (all the Law) while we acknowledge even being perfect in this regard is not enough - only Jesus can cleanse us. In fact, keeping of the Law for Christians isn't about cleansing, its about being obedient to one True and Living God and acknowledging that we realize we belong to God - its He that made us and we no longer belong to ourselves. In keeping of the Law I would be saying to myself, my family, my God, and showing the world that I am a child of God. If asked why I keep the Law my answer is to be simply - because God said so. Its not about sacrifice, its about obedience. Its not about cleansing or holiness or self-righteousness - again it is simply about being obedient to my Father.
So, if Christian and Non-Christian Jews, as well as Christian Gentiles were all worshiping together in the temple, honoring the Sabbath together - what changed? Why did Christians stop worshiping on Sunday. It took searching, but I finally found the answer. The answer is consistent in both Jewish, Christian, and Secular accounts. From 66 - 73 there was a revolt against Rome by a Non-Christian Jewish sect. Although at first successful in driving Rome from Jerusalem, the revolt was brutally crushed by Rome with men, women, and children being slaughtered. Not wanting to be wrongly identified as being a part of this revolt, Christians (Jewish and Gentile) tried to distinguish themselves from those Jews that has revolted against Rome. With the Sabbath had traditionally been the Christian day of worship, it was decided that Jewish and non-Jewish Christians would worship on Sunday. Why Sunday? Sunday was already a "holy" day in Rome. It was known as "the Lord's Day". However, the "Lord" they were referring to was actually the Emperor! Christians felt they could begin to worship on the "the Lord's Day", but actually be worshiping the true Lord, and not the false god of Nero and later Vespasian. Of course, this was the first time there was a distinguishing between Christians and Jews in terms of worship. They had always been worshiping the same God.
After the revolt was crushed and the temple destroyed - Jews and Christians were dispersed throughout Rome. The temple had always been "home base" until that time. After this dispersment did such strong distinctions come between Jews and Christians, not just about Jesus Messiah - but even in the interpretation of scripture. This led to quite a bit of, for lack of a better word - antisemitism in the Christian Church. The Christian Church, now centered in the heart of Rome (due in large part to Roman Emperor Constantine) began to advise strongly against "jewdising" of Christianity. It was from this point forward that Christians have looked not to Jerusalem for the foundations of their faith, the interpretation of scripture, and the promises of the Bible - but to Rome. This was the time in which Christian interpretation became not the joining in with the chosen people of God in the abundant blessings of God - but in the usurping of and taking away. It actually reminds me of the old testament story of Jacob and Esau. It is how I more fully understand why there is a fraction between Messianic Jews (or Christian Jews) and other Christians.
I am in no way saying Christians should become Jews. I am saying the Bible was set in a time even before there was a people called "Jews", it is a Hebraic history. We must look to accurately divide the Word of God, basing it not upon Rome or Israel - but upon the roots for which is stands. I am not disparaging my Catholic brothers and sisters, just as I am not disparaging my Jewish brothers and sisters. I am saying our God is not Catholic or Jewish (although our Savior was indeed raised as a Jew and lived as Jew, died as a Jew, and rose as a Jew) - He is before time and He put the words in the Bible that He wanted to be there. The Bible also allows for debating of scriptures (the men used to set upon the city walls a debate all the time), but our debates must be grounded in God and His word.
Back to the Sabbath - LOL! I hope I have given a good (though not perfect and not nearly enough references, so please do your own searching) history on why Christians stopped honoring the Sabbath and how Sunday became the standard day of worship for Christians. My last post will be if Christians should indeed honor the Sabbath, and what that actually means.
Christians and the Sabbath Part 1
I have found the Fourth Commandment (Remember the Sabbath day, keep it holy) to be one of the most divisive and emotionally charged issues one can face in Christian circles (at least in the United States) today. I grew up in a Missionary Baptist Church, spent my late teens and early twenties in a non-denominational church, then returned to the Baptist Church in my thirties (first Southern Baptist, then Primitive Baptist). We also attend a Methodist Church once a month. This traveling amongst denominations wasn't "searching" in a sense, most changes were due to geographic moves (although we have left a couple of churches based on scriptural differences). We always chose a church based on if the Word of God was preached. However, in all my years as a Christian I have yet to hear one sermon on the keeping of the Fourth Commandment.
When we moved to Alabama, we didn't realize we were moving to the "Seventh Day Adventist Capital of the World". For those unaware, Seventh Day Adventist take honoring the Sabbath as one of the primary foundations of their faith - they are very serious about this commandment. While finding such good friends who were practicing Adventist didn't lead me to want to abandon my faith, it did lead me to ask questions of why this Commandment was so ignored in larger Christian circles. I also began a journey of exploring the basic foundations of my Christian faith. Never questioning my Lord the Christ, but questioning what I believed about the Bible, about being a Christian, about what salvation meant. Most of this was in an effort to teach my children our faith (how can one teach what one doesn't intimately understand!) and also because I felt I wasn't walking a strong Christian life - mainly because I didn't really know what that meant.
Now, I have heard and read the contemporary reasons for why many Christians in America don't honor the Sabbath. Some of the most commons things I heard were:
1. Jesus was our Sabbath, our rest, so every day is the Sabbath
2. Honoring the Sabbath is legalism and should be avoided
3. After the death of Jesus we were no longer bound by the "law", thus we didn't need to honor the Sabbath anymore
4. Are you trying to be a Jew or something? Make sure you don't get into error!
The first thing I did was examined each of these answers. Dealing with answer number one I looked to see if Jesus really was considered our Sabbath. What I found was Jesus is our Savior. He is the ultimate sacrifice that allows us to get back into right relationship with God the Father. We could never on our own be good enough to stand before God. Animal sacrifices were good for a time, but always limited. They could only last for a time. Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice was enough for all humanity for all of our time on earth before His return. While we are to cast our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us, this really has nothing to do with the Sabbath. This answer just didn't bear up scrutiny.
The second answer always made me laugh - avoid legalism. Legalism is thinking that one is made right and whole by performing certain tasks, including following the Ten Commandments. A person can follow Commandments 2 - 10 with perfection, but even through works one can never follow the First without first looking to Jesus Christ. He is the only way to God. However, saying Commandment Four leads to legalism is as silly as saying Commandment Nine or Ten does! While any Christian act of obedience can lead one to "legalism", that doesn't mean we wallow in disobedience! Can you imagine standing before God saying "well Father, I know you said not to steal; I chose to life life as a bank robber so I wouldn't get into legalism!" Again, this argument doesn't stand up!
Answer Three I call the mixing up of scripture answer. Yes, Jesus came to fulfill the law, but that doesn't mean we get to disobey the Commandments of God. Those Christians that tell me we no longer need to honor the Sabbath will also tell me that my kids should Obey me because of the Commandments and that we shouldn't murder or commit adultery. Oh really, I thought the Law was fulfilled and we didn't have to Honor it?
The Fourth answer actually lead me to the true reason why many Christians don't honor the Sabbath! The first thing we should deal with is that the first time the Commandment of Honoring the Sabbath was given - it wasn't to the Jews! It was to Adam in the Garden of Eden. This isn't a Commandment about religion, it is a Commandment acknowledging God as the Creator of the universe! As I heard a preacher say (funny, not talking about us Honoring the Sabbath, but the magnificence of God) God didn't rest because He was tired, He rested because He was finished! We are to rest on the Seventh day as a constant reminder of who our Creator is, what our Creator did, and that God is always in charge and never man.
When we moved to Alabama, we didn't realize we were moving to the "Seventh Day Adventist Capital of the World". For those unaware, Seventh Day Adventist take honoring the Sabbath as one of the primary foundations of their faith - they are very serious about this commandment. While finding such good friends who were practicing Adventist didn't lead me to want to abandon my faith, it did lead me to ask questions of why this Commandment was so ignored in larger Christian circles. I also began a journey of exploring the basic foundations of my Christian faith. Never questioning my Lord the Christ, but questioning what I believed about the Bible, about being a Christian, about what salvation meant. Most of this was in an effort to teach my children our faith (how can one teach what one doesn't intimately understand!) and also because I felt I wasn't walking a strong Christian life - mainly because I didn't really know what that meant.
Now, I have heard and read the contemporary reasons for why many Christians in America don't honor the Sabbath. Some of the most commons things I heard were:
1. Jesus was our Sabbath, our rest, so every day is the Sabbath
2. Honoring the Sabbath is legalism and should be avoided
3. After the death of Jesus we were no longer bound by the "law", thus we didn't need to honor the Sabbath anymore
4. Are you trying to be a Jew or something? Make sure you don't get into error!
The first thing I did was examined each of these answers. Dealing with answer number one I looked to see if Jesus really was considered our Sabbath. What I found was Jesus is our Savior. He is the ultimate sacrifice that allows us to get back into right relationship with God the Father. We could never on our own be good enough to stand before God. Animal sacrifices were good for a time, but always limited. They could only last for a time. Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice was enough for all humanity for all of our time on earth before His return. While we are to cast our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us, this really has nothing to do with the Sabbath. This answer just didn't bear up scrutiny.
The second answer always made me laugh - avoid legalism. Legalism is thinking that one is made right and whole by performing certain tasks, including following the Ten Commandments. A person can follow Commandments 2 - 10 with perfection, but even through works one can never follow the First without first looking to Jesus Christ. He is the only way to God. However, saying Commandment Four leads to legalism is as silly as saying Commandment Nine or Ten does! While any Christian act of obedience can lead one to "legalism", that doesn't mean we wallow in disobedience! Can you imagine standing before God saying "well Father, I know you said not to steal; I chose to life life as a bank robber so I wouldn't get into legalism!" Again, this argument doesn't stand up!
Answer Three I call the mixing up of scripture answer. Yes, Jesus came to fulfill the law, but that doesn't mean we get to disobey the Commandments of God. Those Christians that tell me we no longer need to honor the Sabbath will also tell me that my kids should Obey me because of the Commandments and that we shouldn't murder or commit adultery. Oh really, I thought the Law was fulfilled and we didn't have to Honor it?
The Fourth answer actually lead me to the true reason why many Christians don't honor the Sabbath! The first thing we should deal with is that the first time the Commandment of Honoring the Sabbath was given - it wasn't to the Jews! It was to Adam in the Garden of Eden. This isn't a Commandment about religion, it is a Commandment acknowledging God as the Creator of the universe! As I heard a preacher say (funny, not talking about us Honoring the Sabbath, but the magnificence of God) God didn't rest because He was tired, He rested because He was finished! We are to rest on the Seventh day as a constant reminder of who our Creator is, what our Creator did, and that God is always in charge and never man.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
"Room for Growth"
I recently read a survey on "the most hated jobs in America" (via yahoo news). One common theme that frustrated individuals was "no room for growth". This was not so much shocking, but sad. It showed just how backwards our world has become. In America today, many peoples feelings of self worth are tied into their job and how "high up" they have been able to climb. This is unhealthy for several reasons.
The first reason this is unhealthy is because a job is a business contract between an individual and an organization. An organization that was created to make a profit by filling some need or niche. This is important because if one of those things stops happenings (profits or filling needs), the company is required to make changes, some of which may include laying off an employee, dropping salary, eliminating jobs, or relocating in an effort to reduce costs. If those interim steps don't work, the company may shut down altogether. Since this is an ever present risk, why would we tie our feelings of self worth, achievement, and accomplishment to this possibly temporary life experience?
The second reason it isn't good to tie your personal feelings of worth and and satisfaction to your employer is due to the fact that apart from choosing to accept the job or reject it, you get little choice in the actual individuals that make up your work environment. Due to bad hiring practices, nepotism, and a number of other situations - you could end up working for and/or with a jerk. More than a jerk, these individuals can be down right bullies and create an emotionally abusive and hostile work environment. I know people who although they would never enter an abusive marriage, stay in just as an abusive work environment. I get that we all need to eat and sometimes we don't get a chance to break away from a bad work environment, but that doesn't mean you should had over your most intimate emotions and your emotional stability to others you had absolutely no control in choosing to have such a role in your life.
A final thing that was disturbing was the focus on the "opportunity for growth", but growth is more often defined as more money, a better title, and a bigger office. For your professional life's work to be defined in dollars and square footage is sad, mainly because it makes your akin to nothing more than a harlot. The number of people will to wave ever increasing dollar bills in your face tells the world how "good" your are, really? Some of the individuals who have made the most amazing professional contributions to our world weren't necessarily rolling dough - especially at the times they made those contributions. Einstein didn't go to work for the people that paid him the most, but the ones that allowed him the most opportunity to reach professional greatness and impact the world. Dr. George Washington Carver didn't open a bidding war for his expertise, he followed the need. Their worth was internal to themselves and they saw their jobs as an opportunity to be contribute, they didn't allow their jobs to define them and they certainly didn't need to be lap dogs for others, craving external acknowledgement that they were indeed "somebody".
However, the saddest part about this ever increasing phenomenon is that instead of our worth being tied to the people and things that matter, its tied to impersonal business deals, contracts, and employment negotiations. You get to choose your spouse, your friends, and even get to determine the level of relationship you will have with extended family members - wouldn't it make more sense to invent emotional energy into these areas. People often times are willing to sacrifice their marriage and especially their children on the alter or work in hopes of "growth" or a promotion. These same people are then shocked when they get laid off after twenty years - which is usually once those same children whom they barely noticed as they climbed the corporate ladder have left the nest. Its only then that they realized that made the wrong choice. Companies come and go, but relationships "can" live forever. However, they can only live forever in a healthy way if you invest the necessary time, energy, in effort into making them and keeping them healthy. That might mean sacrificing some material wants as you don't put in overtime for a few more dollars. That might mean turning down a promotion that will keep you from seeing your own family for weeks at a time. That might mean taking a job for less pay, but more flexibility. That might mean choosing a healthier work environment - even though it means a less fancy title and prestige.
I am not saying "don't work". Not everyone gets the choice to walk away from their day job to focus on their family. However, once the basics are taken care of, think twice about the things you are doing in order to rise up the ranks in an organization. Is that raise worth it? How much is time with your children worth? How much is a healthy relationship with your spouse worth? How much is your own emotional stability worth? Wouldn't you rather find your peace in the people you have chosen to be in your life, rather than constantly seeking the approval of those who have been assigned to you?
Its funny, this is one of the reasons we chose to home school (not that these should be the choice for everyone). We didn't want our children's lives to revolve around people randomly assigned to them - either as teachers or classmates. We wanted the ability to choose healthy environments for our children to learn in - with teachers we could determine in advanced had not only the knowledge, but the skills to pass on that knowledge to our children in a healthy way. We wanted to be able to choose if an experience with others children was healthy - yes, children will run into bullies and jerks in all kinds of environments. However, what we get to teach our children is they have a choice. If that bully is causing your physical pain or emotional harm - you can quit - you can remove yourself from that situation. Having read too many stories of children that chosen to take their own lives because they couldn't get away from the assigned bully, I embrace and stand by our decision. Having seen many, many adults suffer greatly from bullies and jerks in the workplace - feeling frozen in an unhealthy work environment, not realizing they can quit, they can walk away, that their own lives are more important than money - I again embrace the skills we are imparting in our children from the beginning.
Having started my own journey, where I walked away from the prestige, the money, the titles, and the accolades to embrace my family and the important roles in my life as wife and mother (even with a PhD), I am here to proclaim their is life after the rat race. While I'm not getting that big fat direct deposit every two weeks, my payments come more frequently and have a more lasting value. Watching my children grow, learn, and experience life is something I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world. Being able to support my husband while he supports me back trumps any "contract" - we have covenant which never fails. I think I just might be the richest woman in America today.
The first reason this is unhealthy is because a job is a business contract between an individual and an organization. An organization that was created to make a profit by filling some need or niche. This is important because if one of those things stops happenings (profits or filling needs), the company is required to make changes, some of which may include laying off an employee, dropping salary, eliminating jobs, or relocating in an effort to reduce costs. If those interim steps don't work, the company may shut down altogether. Since this is an ever present risk, why would we tie our feelings of self worth, achievement, and accomplishment to this possibly temporary life experience?
The second reason it isn't good to tie your personal feelings of worth and and satisfaction to your employer is due to the fact that apart from choosing to accept the job or reject it, you get little choice in the actual individuals that make up your work environment. Due to bad hiring practices, nepotism, and a number of other situations - you could end up working for and/or with a jerk. More than a jerk, these individuals can be down right bullies and create an emotionally abusive and hostile work environment. I know people who although they would never enter an abusive marriage, stay in just as an abusive work environment. I get that we all need to eat and sometimes we don't get a chance to break away from a bad work environment, but that doesn't mean you should had over your most intimate emotions and your emotional stability to others you had absolutely no control in choosing to have such a role in your life.
A final thing that was disturbing was the focus on the "opportunity for growth", but growth is more often defined as more money, a better title, and a bigger office. For your professional life's work to be defined in dollars and square footage is sad, mainly because it makes your akin to nothing more than a harlot. The number of people will to wave ever increasing dollar bills in your face tells the world how "good" your are, really? Some of the individuals who have made the most amazing professional contributions to our world weren't necessarily rolling dough - especially at the times they made those contributions. Einstein didn't go to work for the people that paid him the most, but the ones that allowed him the most opportunity to reach professional greatness and impact the world. Dr. George Washington Carver didn't open a bidding war for his expertise, he followed the need. Their worth was internal to themselves and they saw their jobs as an opportunity to be contribute, they didn't allow their jobs to define them and they certainly didn't need to be lap dogs for others, craving external acknowledgement that they were indeed "somebody".
However, the saddest part about this ever increasing phenomenon is that instead of our worth being tied to the people and things that matter, its tied to impersonal business deals, contracts, and employment negotiations. You get to choose your spouse, your friends, and even get to determine the level of relationship you will have with extended family members - wouldn't it make more sense to invent emotional energy into these areas. People often times are willing to sacrifice their marriage and especially their children on the alter or work in hopes of "growth" or a promotion. These same people are then shocked when they get laid off after twenty years - which is usually once those same children whom they barely noticed as they climbed the corporate ladder have left the nest. Its only then that they realized that made the wrong choice. Companies come and go, but relationships "can" live forever. However, they can only live forever in a healthy way if you invest the necessary time, energy, in effort into making them and keeping them healthy. That might mean sacrificing some material wants as you don't put in overtime for a few more dollars. That might mean turning down a promotion that will keep you from seeing your own family for weeks at a time. That might mean taking a job for less pay, but more flexibility. That might mean choosing a healthier work environment - even though it means a less fancy title and prestige.
I am not saying "don't work". Not everyone gets the choice to walk away from their day job to focus on their family. However, once the basics are taken care of, think twice about the things you are doing in order to rise up the ranks in an organization. Is that raise worth it? How much is time with your children worth? How much is a healthy relationship with your spouse worth? How much is your own emotional stability worth? Wouldn't you rather find your peace in the people you have chosen to be in your life, rather than constantly seeking the approval of those who have been assigned to you?
Its funny, this is one of the reasons we chose to home school (not that these should be the choice for everyone). We didn't want our children's lives to revolve around people randomly assigned to them - either as teachers or classmates. We wanted the ability to choose healthy environments for our children to learn in - with teachers we could determine in advanced had not only the knowledge, but the skills to pass on that knowledge to our children in a healthy way. We wanted to be able to choose if an experience with others children was healthy - yes, children will run into bullies and jerks in all kinds of environments. However, what we get to teach our children is they have a choice. If that bully is causing your physical pain or emotional harm - you can quit - you can remove yourself from that situation. Having read too many stories of children that chosen to take their own lives because they couldn't get away from the assigned bully, I embrace and stand by our decision. Having seen many, many adults suffer greatly from bullies and jerks in the workplace - feeling frozen in an unhealthy work environment, not realizing they can quit, they can walk away, that their own lives are more important than money - I again embrace the skills we are imparting in our children from the beginning.
Having started my own journey, where I walked away from the prestige, the money, the titles, and the accolades to embrace my family and the important roles in my life as wife and mother (even with a PhD), I am here to proclaim their is life after the rat race. While I'm not getting that big fat direct deposit every two weeks, my payments come more frequently and have a more lasting value. Watching my children grow, learn, and experience life is something I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world. Being able to support my husband while he supports me back trumps any "contract" - we have covenant which never fails. I think I just might be the richest woman in America today.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
The Mission Field of the home
I read two books by Sally Clarkston "The Mission of Motherhood" and "The Ministry of Motherhood" and thoroughly enjoyed them. The books were really neat in speaking softly to the voice on the inside of many mothers. While many people are not religious, please take a moment to read beyond and hear the heart of this post.
When missionary's go our into the world, they goal is to bring a message to people that have never heard it before. They understand that before people are ready to hear that message, those people must first have their basic needs met. This is why most mission trips begin with the installation of water treatment facilities, food pantries, or schools and orphanages. Once those basic needs are taken care of, people are ready and open to heart your message. This is known by both saints and tyrants. Go into any area controlled by drug lords or mobsters and you will soon find the generous donations these people make - huge investments in forgotten areas. Once they invest - they generally have safe havens for crime and a ready slew of "foot soldiers" to carry out their bidding. So, this isn't a foreign concept on any soil. Most people with hearts set on winning the lost and better the lives of people know that one must be gentle, kind, caring, compassionate, and patient. Missionary work can be hard, dangerous, at times thankless, and a full life investment. You aren't thinking about sneaking away for a day on the beach or the hole up in a five star hotel - you live right along with the people you are serving, you eat last, you go to bed last, and you bear the weight of the responsibility of the people in your care.
This is why I like the concept of seeing ones home as a mission field. These people, these children - are not born with the knowledge of your culture or customs, don't have completely innate skills for survival and the ability to thrive in their environment. It is you with the burden to first feed and clothe them, then bring them into the knowledge.
When I look at my home as my mission field - it really opened my eyes. This is my ministry, my calling, my circle of influence. My charges are three of the most beautiful, compassionate, loving, caring, and kind people in the entire earth - and I have been trusted with their care. My husband and I have been chosen - out of billions of options - to look after these three. To teach them, instruct them, guide them, develop them, and most importantly, to love them. It was then that it became clear that I was not allowed to pass this responsibility off on others. I could not subcontract this responsibility. While I might "hire out" for a couple of tasks (hey, if you can't make a water purification system - you had better make sure you have someone on the team that can) - it should be occasional. However, the end results, the day to day operations, the heart and soul of it all rests with us.
When missionary's go our into the world, they goal is to bring a message to people that have never heard it before. They understand that before people are ready to hear that message, those people must first have their basic needs met. This is why most mission trips begin with the installation of water treatment facilities, food pantries, or schools and orphanages. Once those basic needs are taken care of, people are ready and open to heart your message. This is known by both saints and tyrants. Go into any area controlled by drug lords or mobsters and you will soon find the generous donations these people make - huge investments in forgotten areas. Once they invest - they generally have safe havens for crime and a ready slew of "foot soldiers" to carry out their bidding. So, this isn't a foreign concept on any soil. Most people with hearts set on winning the lost and better the lives of people know that one must be gentle, kind, caring, compassionate, and patient. Missionary work can be hard, dangerous, at times thankless, and a full life investment. You aren't thinking about sneaking away for a day on the beach or the hole up in a five star hotel - you live right along with the people you are serving, you eat last, you go to bed last, and you bear the weight of the responsibility of the people in your care.
This is why I like the concept of seeing ones home as a mission field. These people, these children - are not born with the knowledge of your culture or customs, don't have completely innate skills for survival and the ability to thrive in their environment. It is you with the burden to first feed and clothe them, then bring them into the knowledge.
When I look at my home as my mission field - it really opened my eyes. This is my ministry, my calling, my circle of influence. My charges are three of the most beautiful, compassionate, loving, caring, and kind people in the entire earth - and I have been trusted with their care. My husband and I have been chosen - out of billions of options - to look after these three. To teach them, instruct them, guide them, develop them, and most importantly, to love them. It was then that it became clear that I was not allowed to pass this responsibility off on others. I could not subcontract this responsibility. While I might "hire out" for a couple of tasks (hey, if you can't make a water purification system - you had better make sure you have someone on the team that can) - it should be occasional. However, the end results, the day to day operations, the heart and soul of it all rests with us.
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