Prophetic Voices 1

Our purpose in developing a personal practice of prayer is to discern God's will, not only for ourselves but for the greater community of the Faithful, the Church, of which we are a part. The commission which Jesus has given to the Church is to be prophet, to be his voice, announcing God's plan of salvation for the whole world.

As we listen to hear His voice, we also seek to learn what others in the Church are hearing, thus joining our voice to theirs as one prophetic voice for all to hear. In the next posts, I will suggest some connections to other sources and other prophetic voices.

IS THE CHURCH IN DECLINE?

In the scriptures, a true prophet was one who's eyes and ears were attuned to those of the Lord. They were given to see things as the the Lord saw them. They could see the true state of affairs that prevailed, and if nothing was to change, the dire consequences that would inevitably result. They were sent to be the voice of the Lord, warning, and calling for change.

One such voice was the prophet Haggai. He lived ca. 520 B.C. during the time of the Israelite's return from the Babylonian captivity. Haggai received this word from the Lord.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.      1:7-9

It is not uncommon to see signs in front of churches announcing various kinds of fundraising sales they are conducting. But when the sign is announcing that the church itself is for sale - well that's quite another matter to get your attention.

A church building, standing tall in a neighborhood, is a sign of the presence of a faith community in its midst. It is their home, the place where they come together to learn and grow in their faith. The church is God's house and they are his family. Here they receive the Good News of God's love. They are built up in faith and made ready to go out into the world to be witnesses of that Good News by their lives.

Now the church building is not "the Church", it is the people, the faith community themselves, who gather within it, who are the Church. Yet, a church building is an important sign of the presence of such a viable faith community. Churches of the past stood tall and majestic among all the other buildings, their steeples pointing heavenward, their bells announcing the presence of the Redeemer come into the world for the salvation of all the people. Now churches are dwarfed by the great "cathedrals" of the secular world. The question then: is the Church in decline, together with faith in God?

Here is a link to a website that looks at this question from a statistical perspective. 
Papers by Reginald Bibby *** His Website address

The Practice of Prayer - Six

BONDING & LOVE

Encounter = True Goodness = Attraction = Motivation = Bonding = LOVE

The conclusion of this series of posts with the following paradigm for the PRACTICE of PRAYER. 

In Jesus time, the most common way a person would seek out higher learning would be to find someone who had gained much knowledge, so that they might learn from them, person to person, to be their student. They would then be known as a disciples. The Greek and Latin origins of the word disciple means: a pupil of a teacher, apprentice to a master craftsman, a learner, a student.

But to be a disciple meant they had to uproot themselves and go and attach themselves to their teachers, and remain with them wherever they went.

In chapter 10:17, of Marks gospel, we have the story of a young man who comes to Jesus with some questions about inheriting eternal life. Jesus directs him to the Commandments, but he wants to know if there is more he should know. It tells us that, "Jesus looked at him and loved him". Jesus could see that he had an open mind, seeking to learn, fertile ground to receive the first seeds of the gospel. So Jesus invites him to become his disciple. But there is a problem. His mind may be open, but his heart is divided. He is rich, with many possessions. To become a disciple of Jesus, he would have to leave behind all his possession and follow Jesus where every he went. His head may have been ready but his heart wasn't.

The gospels tell us that often there would be large numbers of people who would gather to hear Jesus teaching. But not all were actual disciples. They may be the sick seeking healing, or others looking for miraculous signs. At one point it lists the number of actual disciples at seventy-two. Later, in chapter 6: of John's gospel, when Jesus speaks of eating his body and drinking his blood, it tells us that many of the then disciples could not accept what he was saying, and so quit being disciples and left Jesus.

One who is serious about the PRACTICE OF PRAYER, must recognize that it is not an on again, off again, when I have time and interest, matter. It is a matter of discipleship - of BONDING with Jesus and becoming his student. The PRACTICE OF PRAYER, is school where one goes to learn, to be with the Master, learning the mysteries of the spiritual life and how to apply them to one's daily life.

"Jesus looked at him and loved him". In the end it all comes down to love. 

You did not choose me, but I chose you … No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. Jo.15:15

Everyone is called to live by the Commandments of God so that they may inherit eternal life. But it would appear that God has placed in the hearts of some a desire for something more personal - not only to know, but to "know why", - because you are loved personally.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:

THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER

BONDING IN LOVE

The Rich Man

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’”

He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” MARK 10:17-27

The Practice of Prayer - Five

ATTRACTION & MOTIVATION

We began this series of posts with the following paradigm for the PRACTICE of PRAYER. 

Encounter = True Goodness = Attraction = Motivation = Bonding = LOVE

The Book of Genesis tells the story of creation, how God created everything that exists. When the work of creating was complete, it says, "God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good." Gen. 1:31 

...... VERY GOOD ......

Then in chapter two, in the middle of God's good creation, we have this: Out of the ground the LORD God made grow every tree that was delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gen. 2:9 

...... DELIGHTFUL TO LOOK AT - GOOD FOR FOOD ......

Now our role in this work of creation is given; "The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it." vs.15 Creation is not ours to do with it as we please. Our role is to be stewards and protectors of what is God's creation, not our doing.

...... CULTIVATE and CARE FOR IT ......

Finally the purpose for the two trees in the middle of the garden is revealed. "The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die. Vs. 16-17 

        NOT GIVEN                                  GIVEN
    TO DEFINE  GOOD & EVIL          TO CHOOSE LIFE

What is given to us is LIFE and God's good creation in which to live life; creation which is: - delightful to look at and good for food - What is not given is the freedom to alter and change, either the specific design or the intended purpose which God has given creation. We are to live life to the full, to delight in and explore the full beauty of God's creation. 

Is it not delightful to watch a small child discover its world. It is attracted by everything, everything looks delightful and good to eat, and so - into hand, into mouth. But not everything is meant for the mouth. What the child must learn is the intended purpose for all these wonderful things that surround it.

By  THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER one enters the school of life to discover and learn what God's good purpose is for their life - why he created me. God has sown in our hearts the ATTRACTION for life. This in turn becomes my MOTIVE in prayer, my goal - to discover who I am in God's eyes, what wonderful and good things God has in store for me - in this life and for all eternity - and by contrast, what may be harming me and preventing me from knowing and fulfilling God's purpose for me.

>>> THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER - SIX <<<

The Practice of Prayer - Four

TRUE GOODNESS

We live in a time that prides itself for having discovered, and for living by, the Scientific Method. 

Ask a Question <> Do Background Research <> Construct a Hypothesis <> Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment <> Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion <> Communicate Your Results. 

It must be strictly followed if one hopes to discover the TRUTH about how things work in this world. How often do you hear that after extensive research, something has been proven to be good or bad. Then a warning is issued. If it is not true, it is not good for you. 

We might say, that one of our goals in the PRACTICE of PRAYER is to discover the truth about our selves, what is good and what is not, so that we might embrace God's Truth and live by it. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Jo 8:31

It is quite paradoxical, that in this generation that prides its self in strictly adhering to scientific truth for engagement with the physical world, chooses to embrace a subjective moral worldview for its social living. In other words, truth is what you say is good for you.

God is not only the author of all that exists, but it is God who assigns creation its very purpose for existing. When in creation something fulfills the purpose for which it is created, it is called true and good. It is not true and good when it fails to live up to God's purpose. 

People will say, it is my life, I can do with it as I wish. In truth, only God can give life. We are given our lives by God for a purpose with which we can cooperate or not. A good life is a life lived in harmony with God's will. A failed life is a life lived in rebellion to God's will.

The purpose for embracing the PRACTICE of PRAYER is to engage in a dialogue with the Lord, to learn and understand God's creative plan for our lives, and to measure the present reality of our lives by the truth of this standard.

"Speak Lord, your servant is listening. So, how am I doing?"

>>> THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER - FIVE <<<