"How would you expect to find community while you intentionally withdraw from it at some point? The disobedient cannot believe; only the obedient believe."
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer -
Do we honestly think we can have a thriving and ALIVE relationship with Christ if we withdraw from the relationships that draw us nearer to him?
Do we honestly think that just because we are socially involved in a body of people and we “show up” to pay our faithful dues where we often give our intellectual understanding of the matters discussed, means that somehow we are intimately connected with the heart of God and those we live alongside?
Do we honestly think that we can overcome the darkness within by exerting our energies into subconscious higher priorities of work, wealth, success, and personal gain? All the while our obedience to Christ and the community of people he’s laid before us falls by the wayside; not because we fail to show up to gatherings and participate wherever possible, but because
our hearts are elsewhere.
Do we honestly think that just because we are aware of and confess our “brokenness” and “sin” or current state of disillusionment means that somehow we will be delivered from it?
Awareness and head knowledge about the state of our own heart doesn’t bring about transformation. Deep intimacy with God does.
And deep intimacy with God only comes when we let our hearts fully show up. With him and with others.
Do we honestly think we can call ourselves “Missionaries of Christ” whether fully supported financially by those who believe in our calling, or by working 9 to 5, and yet squander our money on expensive and impractical personal pleasures because “sometimes it’s just nice to do something for myself.”
Do we honestly think that being the “social one” amidst a community means that somehow we’re the relational one too?
The last time I checked, being social and being relational are two very different things.
Do we honestly think we can overcome temptation and demonic attachments if we fail to open our hearts to the very people who, by simply being who they are, call us out of our own muck and mire and into a life of freedom?
Do we honestly think we can live deeply and intimately with Christ if we don’t surround ourselves with others who do…and actually let them in?
Do we honestly think our obedience solely lies in doing all those faithful little deeds that God puts before our path, all the while neglecting the state of our own heart that only grows and finds freedom in communion with him and with others?
“The disobedient cannot believe; only the obedient believe."
If we constantly fail to remain obedient to the high calling of rich intimacy with Christ and therefore with those closest to us, then somewhere deep inside, we don’t believe. We can’t. How could we? We couldn’t believe that he’s in control. We couldn’t believe that he’s for our good. We couldn’t believe that famous saying by Calvin is even true, “Know God, know yourself. Know yourself, know God.” I’d like to take it a step further,
“Know God intimately, know yourself intimately. Know yourself intimately, know God intimately.”
But are we that brave?
But are we that brave?
The body of people that God gifts into our lives- our wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, best friends, friends of friends, family members, pastors, mentors...they are all placed their on purpose to draw us nearer to our self and therefore nearer to the heart of God so that we can, in turn, use it to outwardly bless others. If we witness another’s depth of intimacy with God as intimidating or inspiring, then God is calling us into something deeper with him. And if we withdraw from this calling-however it looks amidst our own circumstances- our disobedience to him proves our unbelief, and solidifies our worship in the worldly treasures we’ve stored up in our heart.
Just because we’re a part of a Godly community doesn’t mean we’re a better Christian, a better disciple, a better leader or closer to the heart of God.
Our deep intimacy with God doesn’t come by association or affiliation to someone or something that is "Godly."
It comes by seeking God in every means possible to us, while acknowledging and responding - in faith- the ways he’s moving in our lives. It means not backing out, backing down, procrastinating, shrinking back, or cowering under the truths of who we are and how he reveals them to us. And it means living this out, whole-HEARTedly, in the body of people he’s placed us in.
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