Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Friendship part 1)

Feel free to click the follow button here on the right and get notified when ➜   each new blog is posted.

But Ruth said [to Naomi], “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Ruth 1:16)

Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life. (Ibid. 1 Sam. 20:17)

            We are relational creatures, and the need for relationship is seen even in the Garden of Eden.  There the Lord God observed that the man should not be alone and when there was no suitable partner for the man, God created the woman (Gen. 2:18-22).  Thus, there was a right relationship between the creator and the creation and right relationship within the creation.  This is still a need we have today.  Why are there dating websites?  Why are there social media websites?  Why do most restaurants have tables with more than one chair?  Without giving tacit approval to dating websites, it is because we are social creatures and we seek relationships.  We seek to continue relationships, and we seek to nourish relationships.

As has already been cited, the Bible has many stories that revolve around relationships, and although, cultural norms may have changed, the basic concept remains the same.  There seems to have been an implicit spiritual connection between Naomi, who was an Israelite and Ruth, who was a Moabite.  Moabites were the descendants of Lot and his elder daughter (Gen. 19:37) and there was always war between the Israelites and the Moabites.  You may recall the episode when Balak king of Moab hired the Mesopotamia diviner, Balaam to curse Israel as they were trying to enter the promised land (Num. 22-24).  Although we are not told in detail why Ruth was willing to abandon her people and her god Chemosh, she chose to follow Naomi back into Israel, saying to her, “… your God [shall be] my God” (Ruth 1:16).

Notwithstanding, the fact that Naomi and her family had left the land of Israel due to famine (1:1) and when in the land of Moab, her husband and sons died, all of this would seem in the ancient mind to be a punishment from God.  Moreover, Naomi herself seems to have felt some distance from the God of Israel, since she wanted to be called Mara, which meant the Almighty has afflicted me (1:20).  Yet, there was something about Naomi’s faith in the God of Israel that attracted Ruth to the worship of Yahweh.

So, in this series, we’ll explore the topic of Spiritual Friendship and how it can relate to our Spiritual Formation. (Click here for Part 2)

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

http://ccvmontrose.org

Follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ccvmontrose

Or on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ccvmontroseco

Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Reading part 4)

Feel free to click the follow button here on the right and get notified when ➜   each new blog is posted.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1 Peter 5:8)

Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” (Ibid. Job 1:9-12)

I have not forgotten my promise to consider whether we should make the patient an extreme patriot or an extreme pacifist.  All extremes except extreme devotion to the Enemy, are to be encouraged (Lewis, Kindle 32)

            Spiritual warfare may be an overlooked topic in Spiritual Formation.  The goal of Spiritual Formation is to submit the self over to God, so that the character of Jesus may be formed within us.  If that is a person’s goal, do you not think that Satan would work in every way to obstruct or stop this purpose?  Although many of C.S. Lewis’ other works are associated with Spiritual Formation, the Screwtape Letters are not often cited.  This may be a mistake, since the Screwtape Letters are a fictional account of a demon giving instructions to a lower raking demon to prevent a person from becoming a committed follower of Jesus.  It must be understood, the work is fiction; however, Lewis brings out several real-world examples of ways that Satan may distract us from full devotion to God.

            In the above quote from the Screwtape Letters, the demon Screwtape points out to the lower demon, Wormwood, that there may be benefit to their cause regardless of whether Wormwood works to turn the person, referred to as the patient, into an extreme patriot or an extreme pacifist during World War II.  Take a moment and consider, how could Satan equally use a person from these seemingly opposite positions?

            In another letter, Screwtape explains that from the demon’s perspective, many positions are neither good or bad, and their goals may be accomplished by letting the humans argue over “… whether love, or patriotism, or celibacy, or candles on alters, or teetotalism, or education are good or bad” (Lewis, 101).  Consider how Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord with all you are, and the second commandment was to love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).  Has Satan be able to use the subjects that Screwtape names in this quote to convince Christians that they don’t need to love their neighbor who holds to a different position?  If so, then he has prevented the Christian from fulfilling what Jesus called the second commandment.  Moreover, where John wrote that Christians would be known for their love (1 John 2:5), if a Christian has been convinced not to love, what kind of damage does that do to the message of the cross?  This example illustrates why spiritual warfare should be a concern of Spiritual Formation.

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

http://ccvmontrose.org

Follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ccvmontrose

Or on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ccvmontroseco

Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Lewis, C. S. 2009. The Screwtape Letters. New York: HarperCollins e-books.

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Reading part 3)

Feel free to click the follow button here on the right and get notified when ➜   each new blog is posted.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Romans 12:9)

But how can I help believing it?  I have seen the truth – it is not as though I had invented it with my mind, I have seen it, seen it, and the living image of it has filled my soul for ever. (Dostoyevsky, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, Kindle location 96361)

           

           Fyodor Dostoyevsky is not normally associated with Spiritual Formation, nor do any of his works appear in Foster & Smith’s Devotional Classics.  However, the unnamed narrator in Dostoyevsky’s Dream of a Ridiculous Man embodies the change that is the goal of Spiritual Formation; moreover, perhaps his dream can be understood as formation.  Before you read this short story, be aware, it goes into very dark places and touches on sensitive subjects.

Dostoyevsky rightly expresses the pessimism and emptiness that is the logical consequence of a life without God.  We will refer to the unnamed narrator as the dreamer.  An ego-centric man has become numb to his existence and his surroundings, including the cries of a little girl for help (Ibid. 96180).  However, this numbness is then confronted with the idea of paradise.  A world untouched by sin and people living in harmony with each other, their surroundings and their animals (Ibid. 96260).  It’s the perfection of the world that affects the dreamer.  But when paradise is lost, these people change; they learn lying, form groups and shed blood and discover science.  Science becomes the new god of that formerly perfect world, and those formerly perfect people think that science will lead them back to perfection.  Something that science is incapable of doing.

Therefore, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man can be understood as a Spiritual Formation text, because we are in the same place as the dreamer.  When he awakens, he knows there is no amount of human effort that will restore what has been lost.  Human ways and sciences could not restore the dream world, nor can they restore this world.  The dreamer is now convinced, the truth is the only answer.  The dreamer’s world is our world.  His realization is our realization.  And his path is our path.  You see, we are the dreamer.

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

http://ccvmontrose.org

Follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ccvmontrose

Or on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ccvmontroseco

Works Cited

Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. 2015. The Complete Works, Novles, Short Stories and Autobiographical Writings. n.a.: E-artnow.

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Reading part 2)

Feel free to click the follow button here on the right and get notified when ➜   each new blog is posted.

[preface: Spiritual reading is not confined to authors from a specific denominational background.  Last week we looked at the works of Gregoryof Nyssa, an ancient Christian writer of the Catholic Church.  In the future, we’ll examine Bernard of Clairvaux, Brother Lawrence, Thomas Merton, and Henri Nouwen, all of who were also Catholics.  This week we are looking at some writings of Martin Luther, writings that are of Spiritual Formation in nature.  In this case, Luther’s works can aid a person’s Spiritual Formation.  Luther also wrote things of an anti-Semitic nature, writings that will not assist Spiritual Formation.  The point is, finding spiritual benefit from Christian literature, not agreement with everything an author ever wrote.]

But [Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on Bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Matthew 4:4)

            This coming Wednesday is October 31^st, and it will be 501 years since Martin Luther nailed his 95-theses to the church door in Wittenberg, an act that many call the spark of the Protestant Reformation.  However, the act was not rebellion, it was an invitation to debate [that’s how you did it back then, long before Twitter].  And the theses were not a breakup letter with 95 points. Take, for example, the 25^th theses, “The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like that power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way within his own diocese or parish” (Luther, kindle location 657).  It was a 1519 debate and the publishing of his 1520 tracts that led to his excommunication in 1521.

            However, today we’ll focus on one of Luther’s thoughts related to repentance and how that affects our formation.  Luther brought up the subject with a former teacher that he refers to as a dear Father in the Augustinian Order (Ibid. 775).  He wrote that love of God is the start of repentance, and this may be different from a modern view.  Do we begin our repentance with the knowledge that God loves us, or do we want to repent of our sins because of our love for God?  This is an essential thought because it brings up our relationship with sin and with God.  The goal of our formation is to be conformed to the image of the Son.  When Jesus was tempted by the devil, one of His clear motivating factors was His love for the Father.  It is this love that Luther is talking about when we consider our sins, and are moved to repentance.  Moreover, that repentance is directly tied to the change of our hearts and mind when we come to our senses in realizing our errors (Ibid. 782-3).

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

http://ccvmontrose.org

Follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ccvmontrose

Or on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ccvmontroseco

Works Cited 

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Luther, Martin. 2018. The Collected Works of Martin Luther. Prague: e-artnow.

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Reading part 1)

Feel free to click the follow button here on the right and get notified when ➜   each new blog is posted.

♫ I am a friend of God

I am a friend of God

I am a friend of God, He calls me friend ♪ (Houghton 2004)

“… encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,”… (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Hebrews 3:13)

            For close to 1,985 years there have been Christians trying to follow Jesus.  Throughout those years, many Christians have left their writings, telling of their Spiritual Formation; although we may not agree on some issues, their writing can still inspire and instruct our lives today.  Without neglecting the nourishment that comes from personal time in the word of God, let us explore some of the writings that have come down to us from these Christians.  Many of them never knew what a car or an airplane was, some of them would not understand the internet; but they knew what it was to try to live their lives for God.

            Gregory of Nyssa was a Christian who lived during the fourth-century AD, and was known for his work, The life of Moses.  In this he wrote that Moses was God’s friend and serves as an example for us to copy (Gregory of Nyssa, 136).  Consider this passage:

… it is time for you, noble friend, to look to that example and, by transferring to your own life what is contemplated through spiritual interpretation of the things spoken literally, to be known by God and to become his friend.  This is true perfection: not to avoid a wicked life because like slaves we servilely fear punishment, nor to do good because we hope for rewards, as if chasing in on virtuous life by some business-like and contractual arrangement.  On the contrary, disregarding all those things for which we hope and which heave been reserved by promise, we regard falling from God’s friendship as the only thing dreadful and we consider becoming God’s friend the only thing worthy of honor and desire (Ibid. 137).

Although specifically Gregory was focused on Moses’ friendship with God (Exodus 33:11), we also hear Jesus’ words, “You are my friend, if you do what I command you” (John 15:14).  Motivation is a powerful tool and Gregory points out that there can be wrong motivations regarding our friendship with God.  The scriptures say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), but Gregory did not think that fear of punishment was an adequate motivator for seeking God’s friendship.  Instead, friendship with God was the only thing worth seeking and this not merely motivated by hope of gain, but because it can lead to what Gregory called the perfect life.

            

            Perhaps, you can reflect on this thought of God’s friendship as you also reflect on “[God] who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, 2 Timothy 1:9). Consider reading the Life of Moses by Gregory of Nyssa and next week, we’ll look at another Christian’s writings.

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

http://ccvmontrose.org

Follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ccvmontrose

Or on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ccvmontroseco

Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Houghton, Israel. 2004. "Friend of God." Live from Another Level.

Nyssa, Gregory Bishop of. 1978. Gregory of Nyssa. New York: Paulist Press.

Spiritual Formation (Prayer Life Part 6 Unanswered) Final

Feel free to click the follow button here on the right and get notified when ➜   each new blog is posted.

But now, O Lord, You are our Father,
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all of us are the work of Your hand. (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Isaiah 64:8)

In the United States, you can go to a bank or other lending institution and apply for a loan.  If the institution rejects your application, they are required to give some indication as to why they rejected your application.  God on the other hand, is not required to give any reason why one of your prayer requests was denied.  How many parents in world history have said no to something their child has asked for?  If you’re a parent, have you always given a full and detailed reason to your child?  If you’re a child or have been a child and had a parent deny your requests, did you always understand why?  Moreover, if they did explain why, were you always satisfied with their answers?

            As was pointed out in Part 3, one of the most common illustrations of our relationship with God found in scripture is the father-child relationship.  In fact, in the sermon on the mount, Jesus uses this illustration regarding prayer, “…[W]hat man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? … If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him”(Matthew 7:9 & 11 NASB).  Jesus’ words paint a picture of God as a good and loving Father who wants to provide for His children.  So, again, why does it seem that some prayers go unanswered?

            We’ve seen from Biblical passages, that prayers may be unanswered because we pray with wrong motives.  Also, sins and lack of repentance separates us from God, so much so, He’s even said that He won’t listen to some people’s prayers.  Some passages portray prayer as a struggle and like other spiritual disciplines (fasting, scriptural meditation, sitting quietly with God, etc.) there is purpose in the struggle.  Moreover, prayer is not an Aladdin’s lamp and God is not a genie just waiting for wish requests.  In His Gethsemane prayers, Jesus submitted His requests to the will of God; that is, He did not demand His own way, but accepted the will of His Father.  From this, we should also see that our prayers should always be submitted to the will of God.

            Therefore, perhaps, we experience unfruitfulness in our prayers for one or more of these reasons.  Examining our prayers based on scripture is one way for us to submit our minds, our desires and our lives to God.  If Spiritual Formation (Christ being formed in us) is our goal, then as difficult as it may be, unanswered prayers can be how God is reaching into our inner selves.  Keep praying.  Examine your prayers in the light of scriptures.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.*

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

http://ccvmontrose.org

Follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ccvmontrose

Or on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ccvmontroseco

Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

* There are other scriptures that we did not cover, such as 1 Pet. 3:7 that suggests the way a man treats his wife may hinder his prayers.  And Daniel 10:12-14, where something, likely a satanic force impeded the response to Daniel's prayers.  Therefore, we must not forget, we have an enemy of our souls, who is not flesh and blood and his goal is the kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).

Spiritual Formation (Prayer Life Part 5 Unanswered)

Feel free to click the follow button here on the right and get notified when ➜   each new blog is posted.

[Jesus said] “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you” (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Mark 11:24)

          Some passages in the New Testament, like the one cited above, can make prayer sound like carte blanche; however, the context of this passage explains its meaning.  Jesus makes this statement on the Tuesday morning after the Triumphal Entry.  On Monday morning, Jesus and the disciples were walking from Bethany to Jerusalem and on the way, Jesus cursed a fig tree that He found to be without fruit.  When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus saw the corruption of the religious system and in reaction, He drove out the people selling animals inside the temple.  In His zeal, He shouted passages from the prophets, saying that the temple was meant to be a ministry to all the nations, but the ruling religious system had changed it into a den of robbers.  It is the next day, when Jesus and the disciples are making the journey again, that Peter notices the fig tree had withered.

           These events have led to this scene, and Jesus’s statement is made in that context.  The religious system, that had been instituted by God, had failed to reach out to the nations.  John the Baptist had cried out to Israel to make ready the path of the Lord, fill in the ravines and lower the hills and mountains (Luke 3:4 & 5).  The religious system had become a mountain in the path of the Lord.  Because of that, Jesus tells the disciples that by prayer, mountains can be moved.  The disciples, 12 men from the middle of nowhere, with no political connections and no money, cannot undo the religious system.  It’s possible that 11 of the men Jesus is talking to are under 20 years old [only Jesus and Peter paid the temple tax in Matthew 17:27] and the Pharisees/Sadducees have been ruling in second-temple Judaism since late Hasmonean period.  In other words, this mountain is well established, and the disciples are nobodies, with no power to move a mountain themselves.

           In that context, Jesus is telling them that prayer can move mountains standing in God’s way.  This mountain needed to be moved.  It was blocking the Abrahamic promise of blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:3c).  Therefore, prayers offered in accordance with God’s purposes can be prayed with confidence[1].  This understanding is in harmony with John’s explanation, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1 John 5:14-15).

Growth through unanswered prayers 

Written by Pastor Ozzy

For more information, visit our website

http://ccvmontrose.org

Follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ccvmontrose

Or on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ccvmontroseco

Works Cited

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

---

[1] Mark 11:25-26 goes on to discuss a person’s prayer and their relationship to forgiving others.