Re "faith" in Jesus: In what does it consist? Is it worship as a flamboyant waving of our hands or is it obeying the commands of Jesus - If you love me, you will tend my lambs and feed my sheep. Instead of doing so much raising our hands in the air, how about raising our hands to the plow a little more. I am so sick of gabby Christianitty and yearn to hear more teaching under our obligations of love. It is, of course, not "If, then" but it should be more of the simple but profoundly deep words of Jesus: "Sup with me and I will sup with you". In other words, we recline at the table with Jesus feeding us and taking care of our needs but also we inviting Him to sup with us.
How amazing is the love of Jesus contrasted to human love: Human love says "If you love me, do this for my personal gratification but Jesus says, to be redundant, "If you love me, you will tend my lambs and feed my sheep". Any comments on this?
I definitely think our faith in Jesus pushes us to "do" things. It pushes us to raise our hands in worship, recline with Jesus, and go out in loving service to our neighbors.
My main concern in this reflection is on how the things Christians do tend to be reduced to ourselves as the primary ones in the driver seat. "We've got to do xyz thing. It all comes down to us!" But anything we do is wrapped in a larger narrative, a larger salvific work. A larger "because, therefore....."
When we lose sight of this larger schema, the good things we "should do" as Christians can dissolve into Idolatry. Our God is no longer Jesus Christ but our favorite cause or doctrine. This brings bitterness, burnout, and robs Jesus of the glory.
"Because, Therefore" Faith... Yes....."Amen"
Re "faith" in Jesus: In what does it consist? Is it worship as a flamboyant waving of our hands or is it obeying the commands of Jesus - If you love me, you will tend my lambs and feed my sheep. Instead of doing so much raising our hands in the air, how about raising our hands to the plow a little more. I am so sick of gabby Christianitty and yearn to hear more teaching under our obligations of love. It is, of course, not "If, then" but it should be more of the simple but profoundly deep words of Jesus: "Sup with me and I will sup with you". In other words, we recline at the table with Jesus feeding us and taking care of our needs but also we inviting Him to sup with us.
How amazing is the love of Jesus contrasted to human love: Human love says "If you love me, do this for my personal gratification but Jesus says, to be redundant, "If you love me, you will tend my lambs and feed my sheep". Any comments on this?
Thanks for taking the time to read and engage!
I definitely think our faith in Jesus pushes us to "do" things. It pushes us to raise our hands in worship, recline with Jesus, and go out in loving service to our neighbors.
My main concern in this reflection is on how the things Christians do tend to be reduced to ourselves as the primary ones in the driver seat. "We've got to do xyz thing. It all comes down to us!" But anything we do is wrapped in a larger narrative, a larger salvific work. A larger "because, therefore....."
When we lose sight of this larger schema, the good things we "should do" as Christians can dissolve into Idolatry. Our God is no longer Jesus Christ but our favorite cause or doctrine. This brings bitterness, burnout, and robs Jesus of the glory.