There is a strange dichotomy living within me. I see it
present not only in me but with pastors who I served alongside and members in
whom I try to shepherd. It is not one I
want to admit or readily deal with, but it is the struggle between theoretical
obedience and applied obedience. As I
was reading the book of Jeremiah. In the
42nd chapter the Israelites
come to Jeremiah seeking God's counsel.
In the first six verses they seem it as if they are willing to follow
God anywhere, anytime to any place even if it means staying at home. But when Jeremiah goes to God and seeks God's answer for their question and
later reports to the people, these Israelites stiffened their necks and go to
Egypt anyway.
I'm honestly in the midst of the struggle. I find myself in
a deep struggle of obedience, everyday in many ways. This
has become a huge dichotomy for me. I
fear it is a pervasive problem throughout the body of Christ. A problem few address
and even fewer acknowledge.
Here is a very piercing question: Do you want to worship Yahweh or waste time
and effort on a deity we have constructed in our own image?
This construction of an image of God is nothing more than an
idle, and I fear it is exactly what the Israelites faced in Jeremiah 42. A false construction of what they wanted God
to be, respond, or say. Likewise, many
in the church today have constructed a “theology of obedience” but have not
taken steps to actually weave that theology into the fabric of our lives. I think this is the issues keeping us from experiencing
revival today in America.
It's not enough for me or for anyone else to have a theology
of obedience, what is required is not some superficial supplement, but the right
response is “applied obedience” to God's revelation this becomes our pure
posture of worship, devotion, and commitment to Christ. Without it we are only playing church and
fooling ourselves, but we are certainly not fooling God!
