I was just reading an article at ALLELON called Chocolate Chip Spirituality by Brian Turner. I love how he starts off:
"Aunty Gladys' Chocolate Chip Cookies
½ cup butter, softened
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped pecans
1 (6 ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels
Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add vanilla and egg, beating until blended.
Combine flour, soda, and salt; add to butter mixture, mixing well. Stir in pecans and chocolate morsels. Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool slightly on cookie sheets; transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
Yield: 5 dozen
So often, we look at spirituality as though it were a recipe. Let me see if I can illustrate:
½ hour prayer, daily
1/4 chapter plus two verse memorization Bible study
15 minute morning devotion
½ page entry in daily journal
1 gospel presentation
1 hour small group per week
3/4 hour service in local church
1 ½ hour weekly corporate worship
10% gift of weekly income
1 large act of love to a complete stranger
Yield: Spiritual Maturity
Sound familiar? If you have been a Christ follower for over a week, it is likely you have been given the Chocolate Chip Spirituality recipe. "
How many times have I seen this on people's web sites or in bible studies where we pull out our recipe for Spiritual Maturity? For me I see it way to often and really all I see is a weak recipe anyway. Because just like Brian says in his article:
"The anthem of Chocolate Chip Spirituality is, 'A-B-C it's easy as 1-2-3. So simple as Doe-Ray-Me. A-B-C, 1-2-3, Follow Jesus but do it exactly like me.'"
Although any church can claim to have this there is a guru side to all of this. We have our local guru, our state guru, and last but not least our national guru. They spoon feed us, we allow them to mind you, and they make as simple as 1-2-3 just as Brian says. Wonder as a community when we are going to stand up to this model and say no more? I wonder when we are going to say it just isn't that simple and your cookie cutter doesn't fit me! At the very least the power we have given these people is out of control. Especially on a local level. This is where this "plain and simple gospel" and "plain and simple lifestyle" becomes very abusive. We also need to realize that God made us each different to serve different parts of the body and if anything this article at least made me think of how dangerous it is when we keep a "plain and simple" mentality around us.
PS: You can click on the title for the article.
6 comments:
While Bible reading, prayer, worship, giving, servant-hood, etc. are definite disciplines we should be engaged in, they are not to be viewed as a recipe or formula that will bring about an absolute desired result. There are many believers who are actively involved in every Christian discipline imaginable but have remained immature spiritually. However, I do not want my last statement misconstrued into meaning that spiritual disciplines are unnecessary. Every strong believer is participating in spiritual disciplines. But spiritual disciplines do not guarantee a victorious disciple of Jesus."
I liked that paragraph in the article. I have found that in my own life. I get bogged down thinking, "I'm such a bad Christian" because i'm not doing things the way they are supposed to be done, not following the formula. Then i don't want to do any of those things.
this is very true. I think its the consumer way we have made christianity. like everything is like Dr. Phil, if we do the whole formula we will be spiritual champions just like _______.
The thing is those spiritual champions in the background might be the immature and only have a good public persona.
the thing is, our relationship with God can be different with each one. someone who is like my husband might have one "formula" that spurs him to a deeper level with God, and someone like me has another one. there isn't a recipe. God has shown us way too many times if we try to box Him up that He will tear it down. that is why I love articles like this. so powerful!
Your entry just reminded me of something. I was saved when I was 17 1/2 years old. I went to KLBC* right after high school. When I was there, I heard all kinds of talk about "devotions". I had no idea what devotions were, or why everyone thought they were so important. I had never read that word in the Bible. I learned about lots of other "recipes" from socializing with the other students (not from classes). It all seemed like empty ritual to me.
*KLBC is Kawartha Lakes Bible College, the Brethren Bible college in Peterborough, Ontario, for those comment readers who may not know.
Would anyone like to share what things you "do" that bring you into closer relationship with God? I am really struggling to read the Bible and pray right now. But, I am finding that I feel connected to God through my radio, and when I talk to my neighbors. I know that I need to be reading my Bible and praying, right? I just can't seem to get over the burnout of having to do it in such a particular way for so long (as Sunday school and college teacher voices echo in my mind, "Ye must do this, this and this at this time is best..."). I feel that anything is better than nothing right now.
hey soda!
I have some thoughts for you, but I'm heading to work. when I get another moment I will post to ya.
:)
Hi Sodacoaster,
I'm not sure if this is what you're getting at, but here is what it is like for me.
I am not a morning person at all. I have been told by many, many people that I have to have "quiet time" with God in the morning, first thing when I wake up. This had been a HUGE discouragement for me. Basically, people had drilled into me that if I didn't have my "time with God" in the morning, then I was not a good Christian. Since I have trouble getting up in the morning, I would not have time, or I would be so tired that the time spent would be worthless. I felt like I was letting God down.
Now, I don't think that the time of day is important. For me, later in the day makes much more sense. I agree with your statement "I feel that anything is better than nothing right now."
I like Psalm 127:2:
"It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep."
As for prayer, I like 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "pray without ceasing". I pray in the car when I'm driving to work. I pray while I'm making my lunch. I pray while I'm sitting at my desk. I think formal times of prayer are also good, but that shouldn't be the only time I pray.
I'm not sure if this is what you were getting at. I hope I've been helpful.
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