We are skipping over this paragraph in our worship gathering (for the sake of time). But I wanted to give you some of my thoughts. So for all you two-cents-ers, here's a special bonus blog entry. Bon appetite!
This paragraph really serves as a conclusion and cap on the end of the section we discussed last week. Last week we talked about the kinds of behaviors that build up community and the ones that break it down. Paul calls Christians to stop following the patterns of the wider Gentile world, and to live consistent with the new identity they’ve received from Christ: the people of God. Instead of imitating the damaging and self-seeking behavior of the world, Christians should imitate God.
Here, Paul sums that up by saying, “Don’t live like fools.” “Don’t act thoughtlessly.” “Don’t get drunk on wine.” In other words, stop being passive participants in your own lives! Don’t treat your life as if it was something cheap, something to let flow along with the current of the world. You are so valuable. So live “like those who are wise.” “Make the most of every opportunity.” “Be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
He’s not saying to not have any fun or do anything enjoyable (a common misinterpretation of Paul). He’s saying to live life to the full! Live full of joy! Celebrate! Sing songs of praise to God! And instead of filling your life with wine to dull your senses and pass the time, fill yourself with the Holy Spirit, with celebration, songs, and loving gratitude to God.
This reminds me of all the alternative fuels we’re trying to create: biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen-fuel-cells, solar, etc. There are many fuel options for our lives. What drives you? What octane are you using? Do you fuel your life with alcohol (Paul’s example) or drugs? Are you fueling it with work? With romance? With sex? With religion? With morality? Well (says Paul) what about fueling your life with gratitude? What if loving gratitude to God was the driving force in your life? Do you think that would make a difference?
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11 years ago
The concept of being "filled with the spirit" raises many questions for me.
ReplyDeleteIn the context of this passage, Paul says, to paraphrase, "Don't get drunk, instead be filled with the Spirit." This suggests the possibility that being filled with the Spirit creates a euphoric experience, an otherworldly experience in the possessed.
This chafes against my sensibilities. I think that God is in the midst of the ordinary, not in either monasticism or emotional highs. Why do I feel that way? Perhaps temperament, I'm not sure, but I do sense that it is a deeply held value for me.
One could also paraphrase the passage (using minimally intrusive framing and editing), "Be filled with the spirit; commune and communicate with the baptised by means of psalms and hymns. Be filled with the spirit; live an interior life of song to God. Be filled with the spirit; fuel your life with gratitude to God." In this three sentences God is an outside force, one that intercedes in human life.
What I would like to read, because it corresponds to my desire is- "Be filled with the spirit, realize and feel that the humane is at its profoundest level God in this temporal, finite world."
I hope it is not too much of a stretch to read my desired interpretation into this concept of being filled with the spirit.
I think gratitude for God (or a creator) is the part that is hard to sense in any conversation with people - whether Christian or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteIt's not hard to hear people gush on and on about their friends, family, loved-ones, public figures, non profit organizations, charities, church families. But it's harder to hear someone cut straight to the point of saying, "yes, I believe God made this possible. And I am thankful for that first and foremost"...and I'm NOT talking about someone accepting an academy award. I mean in our general observations of life to those around us.
At least in our generation, I think this is increasingly rare (I am 32). I can hear the sentiment that "god makes it possible..." from those in my parents generation. Not that they are perfect worshipers either but they are not afraid to give credit to God first. I see this as gratitude.
I feel like if we don't aspire to be good humanists in our times (by first telling people they are fundamentally good and they make it possible for great things)...we are sniffled at as being mystics and unrealistic people. We are quietly shamed for not giving people and humanity the credit they deserve...first. Then and only then are we allowed to give a tangential reference to God in relation to our goodness and efforts.
Try mentioning Jesus Christ without mentioning Ghandhi and MLK jr. I'm serious. Once you mention Jesus of Nazareth, you can see people shifting in their chairs until the inevitable Ghandi or MLK jr reference. Then everyone is at ease again. People are insulted if you put God above them.
I'm going on a little rant there. I'm just striving (and failing a lot) to give God his due place in my celebrations and successes. I don't want to just give lip service but I want to sincerely and reflexively think "thank you God" when good fortune smiles upon the world...not "thank you altruistic leader" or "thank you friend"...then incorporate God into my thoughts as an afterthought later that day.
Does that seem an unrealistic goal to have? Can I train my mind to be grateful to God and how can I do that?
I think I see where you're coming from Matt. God can be found in all things and through all things and therefor can be experienced in great ways in what may seem like mundane settings. That's something I think about a lot and I feel its comforting because it puts down the idea of "connecting" with God. We are always connected to God. Whether we can acknowledge His presence at any given time is up to us.
ReplyDeleteI WOULD like to say however, that encountering God in a powerful, euphoric way is not an anomaly. Even on a somewhat regular basis. No matter what type of personality you may perceive in yourself, it's no match for the power of the Holy Spirit. From my own personal experience I've learned that, upon letting the spirit in and allowing it to do its work, an indescribable feeling of joy can fill you from head to toe. It led me to change my life.
So I dont think that filling yourself with the Holy Spirit is a romanticized way of living as a follower of Jesus. It's VERY real and VERY cool! The same goes for acknowledging God in all aspects of this temporal, finite world.