OK, this is the beginning of the re-compilation of my grey matter after having thoroughly filled every cell with fresh new information from the Forge “Dangerous Stories 2″ National Summit. It was an awesome time to hear some collossal concepts, and to break down some crazy ideas. Loved it, and thought that the scene was set for the entire conference by Mike Frost’s initial “plenary”.
Mike spoke about the temptation of Christ, (I’m pretty sure he was using Matthew 4). He highlighted that the temptation the devil threw at him was ultimately relatively harmless. There’s nothing inherently wrong in turning the stones into bread, but the point was that Jesus was deliberately choosing to deny himself. Frost spoke about the need for self-denial, not as self-flagellation, not because the thing you’re going without is inherently bad, but because you recognise the value of choosing to go without things; a concept that I’m pretty sure Mike delved into in “Exiles”.
Because choosing to go without, builds “spiritual muscle”. It turns the “dirt” of the missionary into “soil”. While Mike then went on to talk about the other two temptations, and a few other things around this passage, it was this idea that struck with me. Obviously it’s kind of nice that I’m in the middle of Lent-ing, so that made me feel like I’m choosing some of that. But more than that: it becomes about integrity – sticking to your choices and being honest with yourself about how you’re tracking with exercises like this. So, to pose a question for you: what are you doing to build “spiritual muscle” in your life?
Geoff is a 25 year old Database Administrator Consultant. He was a volunteer youth leader at Yarra Valley Vineyard Christian Fellowship for 6 years, but doesn't do that any more. He is cursed with barracking for Richmond. His favourite number is 17 and his favourite song is Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley
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hang on, aren’t blogs all about YOU, and never about us?
Great question to ask, and I will honour that with a serious response after all. Over at Riverside we’re in the midst of an ‘encountering God’ push at the mo: Pastor Andrew has been giving us some fairly practical suggestions for increasing the potency and frequency of quiet times (which might not be quiet per se): I’ve been finding by sacrificing that extra-late-night activity/rebelliousness/just want to stay up late thing, and getting up a little earlier more regularly God is rewarding me with some great quiet times. Sometimes I hear directly from him, sometimes he reveals and reminds through the word, and sometimes it’s that increased heart for someone you manage to pray for a couple of times running!
Either way, for me the act of sacrifice without benefit seldom resolves in a positive outcome: normally there’s a failure, a return to previous behaviour ahead of schedule, and some guilt: I think God gets through to me better with a dissatisfaction, some friendly or authoratative encouragement and a dirty great big open door.
So in this context, it’s the increased success of my quiet times that’s making the ‘training’ of getting to bed on time so I can get up early that much easier: and that’s the muscle.
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One of Mike’s earlier topics (I’m talking like 10 years ago here) was that all sin at its core is either laziness, fear or greed. Lent/sacrifice I think combats the laziness pretty well.
Well done you for lenting, well done for continuing to challenge yourself with this even in the midst of that.
ciao for now
Matt
Wow – Thanks for that Matt: there’s a HUGE amount of value in what you’re saying. I reckon I’m going to take on that whole ditching the “late-night rebelliousness” thing. Love it.
Enormous leaps of faith, that’s what keeps building my “spiritual muscle.” Like giving when you know you can’t afford it and leading people in large projects when you fear it can all come crashing down on you at any moment – stuff like that keeps me on my knees and nose in Bible.
Would have been great to hear Michael Frost talking.
I’ve just published a blog post that links to a radio interview I recorded with Mike. I really enjoyed chatting with him and exploring some of the concepts from Exiles.
http://www.rodneyolsen.net/2007/03/exiles-living-missionally-in-post.html