Teacher Forum
We are surrounded on all sides by an instantaneous society. Like the fast food restaurants found on every street corner and the delivery pizza that comes piping hot to your door in 30 minutes or less, we demand results – and fast! We now carry cell phones so that we can be reached immediately, at any time of the day. Many of these phones have internet access so we always have the answers at our fingertips. We have 30 minute work outs and 30 day diets promising us life changing results. Deliver now! is our mantra. No hard work is required.
Is it any surprise then, that this mind set as made its way into every part of our American lives? The church is not immune to this line of thinking, either. It too is susceptible to the “get rich quick” way of thinking, always anxious for the next thing that will bring excitement to the congregation and the next program that will enlarge its reach. The motivation for such thinking is many times genuine and valid. Its the means by which congregations believe they can accomplish these goals, however, that are deeply flawed. And it quickly wears on its leaders – ministers, deacons, teachers, etc.
This issue of instantaneous results is really an ancient one. You can go all the way back to the birth of the nation of Israel to see how quickly our attention wanes and new miracles are desired. After God lead the Hebrews out of Egypt – after all the plagues, the parting of the sea, the quail and mana, after the giving of the ten commandments, what happened when Moses stayed on the Mountain with the LORD to long? Exodus 32 gives us the details. “When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses … we do not know what has become of him.’”
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction is about the part in each of us that desires to say to the church, “come, make gods for us.” We are tempted to say this because the way of Christ is long and the results many times are slow in developing. Therefore, like Aaron, leaders of the church are constantly bombarded with the plea for something new. What Eugine Peterson reminds us in his book is that while Christ comes to give us a new heart and a new life, his road of discipleship is long. As his disciples, our obedience is to stay the course Christ has laid out for us. “For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)
The good news is that our life as a disciple is less about a destination and more about the journey we take with our Lord. Our responsibility as teachers of the gospel is that we must model this truth. We will be battered, by our own desires and those of our fellow congregants, to stray from the path God calls us to. We must stay the course, being open to new ways that keep Christ as our center and avoiding those urges that pull us off of our journey with God.
My hope is that as you read this book, this space can become a community of sorts for those who are encouraging others down the narrow path of discipleship. Twice a month I will pose just a few questions to this group based on the chapter we are reading. You are encouraged to respond to these questions on the discussion box below and then to respond to one another’s comments in turn. It is my prayer that you will find encouragement, hope, and even challenge in this place.
Grace and Peace on your Journey
Rev. Matthew Hensley
Chapter 1 – “What Makes You Think You Can Race Against Horses?”
1) Do you agree with Peterson’s assertion that the world acts as if “anything worthwhile can be acquired at once?”
2) How do you react to the statement, “It is not difficult in such a world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest.”
3) If this is the case, how has the church unwittingly bought into such a notion? How do congregants behave as tourists?
4) Peterson suggests that instead of having a tourist mentality, congregants must be called to discipleship as a pilgrim. How might the church call people from a consumer tourist mentality with a destination or result in mind to an obedient pilgrim on a life-long journey? Is this attainable?
I’ll try to keep these responses brief. These are some really great questions and I’m sure I won’t be doing them justice.
1) Do you agree with Peterson’s assertion that the world acts as if “anything worthwhile can be acquired at once?”
We’ve all learned through experience that anything worthwhile cannot be acquired at once. We know the dangers of get rich quick schemes. We’ve witnessed a number of bubbles burst within the past couple of years alone. I think we’re well aware that anything of value comes at a dear cost. However, that doesn’t seem to stop us from acting as if anything worthwhile can be acquired at once. We seem to think that somehow this time will be different and we ignore past experience.
2) How do you react to the statement, “It is not difficult in such a world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest.”
That’s spot on. Who wouldn’t be interested in Christianity they way it’s often wrongly presented.
“You mean all my sins can be forgiven and I can have eternal life and I don’t have to do anything on my part except say a little prayer? Sign me up.”
The problem is that’s not all there is to it. It’s too often presented that all you have to do is say this sinner’s prayer and your in the club. When people find out that there’s more to it they hit the door running. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating a works based salvation. I’m just saying there’s a lot more to it than just whispering a prayer and signing a card.
3) If this is the case, how has the church unwittingly bought into such a notion? How do congregants behave as tourists?
The church has bough into such a notion by misrepresenting the Gospel. The most popular pastors seem to be those that are preaching the prosperity gospel or word of faith movement.
Congregants behave as tourist when they compartmentalize their lives into the secular and non-secular. Too often we check our faith at the door of the church.
Someone stated it brilliantly recently when they said that the American Christian experience is a thousand miles wide and one inch deep.
4) Peterson suggests that instead of having a tourist mentality, congregants must be called to discipleship as a pilgrim. How might the church call people from a consumer tourist mentality with a destination or result in mind to an obedient pilgrim on a life-long journey? Is this attainable?
The church can call people to a life-long journey by setting the example. For example, doing mission work that focuses on long-term results. The church should place a greater emphasis on discipleship.
Chapter 2 – Repentance: “I’m Doomed to Live in Meshech”
1) Do you think Christians are required to be dissatisfied with the world? What does such dissatisfaction mean to we Americans who live in relative comfort and adhere to self-help philosophies?
2) Are we being lied to? Who is doing the lying?
3) How does God expose the lies?
4) Peterson talks about repentance being a practical action that puts us in touch with God. He also says repentance is painful. Are there lies that we have bought into and hold dear? What would it be like to hold them up to God’s light and then turn from them and trust God instead?
Chapter 3 – Providence: “God Guards You from Every Evil”
1) Do you think that society in general believes that Christians do not experience troubles and sorrow?
2) Even though Christians realize that following Christ does not exempt them from troubles, how do you think this popular thinking plays into our everyday lives?
3) How have you felt God present in your life, guarding you from every evil, even when you experience trouble?
4) How does this Psalm and chapter provide you hope?
Chapter 4 – Worship: “Let’s Go to the House of God”
1) Do you find that worship orients or frames the way you see and live your life? If so, how? If not, why?
2) In an age that puts emphasis on worship experience and entertainment, how do you react to Peterson’s quote: “Worship is an act that develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God that is expressed in an act of worship.”
3) Do you experience worship – all 0f it- as containing decisive words from God to our corporate and personal lives?
4) How has a commitment to weekly corporate worship effected the way you live your life?
Chapter 5 – Service: “Like Servants… Were Watching and Waiting” 2/8
1) Peterson speaks of postures toward God. What is your common posture toward God? Do you view God as a servant waiting to swoop to your rescue when you are in need or do you view God as commanding our service?
2) Peterson spends some time on God’s mercy toward we, his feeble and frail creation. How does God’s mercy inform our attitude of service?
3) Did this chapter take you in the direction you first expected?
Chapter 6 – Help: “Oh Blessed Be God! He Didn’t Go Off and Leave Us!” 2/15
1) Peterson says the proper work of a Christian is witness (your life as a testimony) and not apology (defending God). Do you agree? Why?
2) Why might the Christian life, rightly lived, be hazardous work?
3) Peterson implies that God calls us to do something we are not very good at doing (loving) and will often fail at doing. Why does God ask us to do something we are “very clumsy” at doing?
4) Psalm 124 reveals that God’s help can be counted on all the time – especially in times when we are “defenseless, helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.” How do you seek God’s help in times of trouble?
Chapter 7 – Security: God Encircles His People 3/16
1) What images come to mind when you hear the word “backslider?”
2) The Bible (and our lives) point to the fact that we are inconsistent people – up one day and down another. Ready to keep our commitments one day and quickly breaking our commitments the next. But the Bible also reveals that God is steady when we are n0t, always keeping his commitments. Do we sometimes make the mistake of thinking God’s commitment to us are like our commitments – dependent on our mood or how we are treated by others? If so, how does that effect our ability to trust God?
3) Peterson confronts an anxiety that befalls people of faith: Will God abandon me or will my sinfulness drive God from me? In discussing God’s steadfast love for us, he uses the example of mountain climbers. Mountain climbers are tethered together by a rope. If one slips, the others hold firm, preventing them from falling. Jesus is our lead climber and is at the top. How does this example speak to you? What is the importance of being tethered to Jesus? What about the importance of being tethered to fellow climbers/Christians?
We are surrounded on all sides by an instantaneous society. Like the fast food restaurants found on every street corner and the delivery pizza that come piping hot to your door in 30 minutes or less, we demand results – and fast! We now carry cell phones so that we can be reached immediately, at any time of the day. These phones have internet access so we always have the answers at our fingertips. We have 30 minute work outs and 30 day diets promising us life changing results. Deliver now! is our mantra. No hard work is required. Is it any surprise then, that this mind set as made its way into every part of our American lives? The church is not immune to this line of thinking, either. It too is susceptible to the get rich quick way of thinking, always anxious for the next thing that will bring excitement to the congregation and the next program that will enlarge its reach. The motivation for such excitement and programs is many times genuine and valid. Its the means by which congregations believe they can acomplish these goals that are deeply flawed. And it quickly wears on its leaders – ministers, deacons, teachers, etc. This issue of instantaneous results is really an ancient one. You can go all the way back to the birth of the nation of Israel to see how quickly our attentions wanes and new miracles are desired. After God, through Moses, lead the Hebrews out of Egypt – after all the plagues, the parting of the sea, the quail and mana, after the giving of the ten commandments, what happened when Moses stayed on the Mountain with the LORD to long? Exodus 32 gives us the details. “When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses … we do not know what has become of him.’” A Long Obedience in the Same Direction is about the part in each of us that desires to say to the church, “come, make gods for us.” We are tempted to say this because the way of Christ is long and the results many times are slow in developing. Therefore, like Aaron, leaders of the church are constantly bombarded with the plea for something new. What Eugine Peterson reminds us in his book is that while Christ comes to give us a new heart and a new life, his road of discipleship is long. Its end will not be experienced in this lifetime. As his disciples, our obedience is to stay the course Christ has laid out for us. “For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few that find it.” (Matthew 7:14) The good news is that our life as a disciple is less about a destination and more about the journey we take with our Lord. Our responsibility as teachers of the gospel is that we must model this truth. We will be battered, by our own desires and those of our fellow congregants, to stray from the path God calls us to. We must stay the course, being open to new ways that keep Christ as our center and avoiding those urges that pulls us off of our journey with God. My hope is that as you read this book, this space can become a community of sorts for those who are encouraging others down the narrow path of discipleship. Twice a month I will pose just a few questions to this group based on the chapter we are reading. You are encouraged to respond to these questions on the discussion box below and then to respond to one another’s comments in turn. It is my prayer that you will find encouragement, hope, and even challenge in this place. Grace and Peace on your Journey Rev. Matthew Hensley