Excerpt from the Real Journal

December 7, 2007, 9:30 am; posted by
Filed under Articles, David, Featured  | No Comments

Monday, December 3rd, 2007 — lunch in the library at home

December, almost another year gone. I read Mark 1 through 4 today; in Mark 4:39-40, Jesus is awakened by His disciples and rebukes the wind and sea. He then rebukes them, saying, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”Jesus Calms the Storm

The result?

“And they feared exceedingly and said one to another, ‘What manner of man is this, that even the wind and sea obey Him?’ ”

We go from fear to fear. We’re afraid, when God leaves, that the world will crush us. Then when He returns, and we see the extent of His amazing power, we stop fearing the world and fear Him instead. Puny, frightened creatures we are.

We fear both the absence of God and the presence of God. We fear what will happen while He’s gone and what He will do to us upon His return. We are afraid to be away from Him and terrified of walking with Him. We long for His presence, assured that His coming will set all things right — and then run like scared rabbits when He tries to move in our churches, or our lives.

We can’t live without Him, and we can’t live with Him.

What is this safe distance we seek in ritual, tradition, the priesthood, the hierarchy, but a manifestation of our fears? John said, that in Him there is no fear, for perfect love casts out fear. We are like the Israelites, who said to Moses, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us — lest we die.”

We cling to the Old Testament types of the Sabbath and the tithe because they limit our obligations — and our contact — with God almighty. We embrace the priesthood and the ritual for the same reason.

Derek Webb has a song called A New Law that expresses it quite well.

Don’t teach me about politics and government; just tell me who to vote for
Don’t teach me about truth and beauty; just label my music
Don’t teach me how to live like a free man
Just give me a new law
 

I don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
So just bring it down from the mountain to me
 

I want a new law . . .
 

Don’t teach me about moderation and liberty; I prefer a shot of grape juice
Don’t teach me about loving my enemies
Don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
Just give me a new law . . .
 

What’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
For one you can — that cannot get you anything
 

Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
 

Do not be afraid . . .


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