Friday, August 12, 2005

Lists and Bullet Points

There are so many formulas out there today. There are lists that say if you do these three things you’ll never have halitosis again, or if you follow this formula you’ll be able to win the cute young blond who just started working at the office. It appears as if someone has a five step program for just about anything we can think of. We seem to have that in the church as well. We “hear,” “believe,” “repent,” “confess” and “baptize” ourselves into salvation then heaven. And we’ve got those steps down pat. Ask anyone. But… What if, as we read the Bible, we discover that it isn’t lists, formulas, principles or bullet points that give us meaning and lead us to the high calling? What if it’s something less concrete – touch, feel, taste – and more abstract.

It seems to me that it isn’t obedience to a set formula that God is interested in. Remember David saying, “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:16-17 (ESV) The amazing thing is, just after saying God didn’t want any sacrifices David gave a sacrifice. Contradiction? No. David was doing what Jesus said we should, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15. The thing that gives meaning to life, including eternity in heaven, is love and relationships. To have it all, yet have no love no relationships is to drift through meaninglessness and end up broken, desperate and lost. God wants us and He sent His Son to seek us out, to woo us, if you will. He’s done all that He could to bring us back into a loving relationship. Falling in love with Him will give us meaning.