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Wrestling God: Locking arms

Genesis 32:24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Am I the only one who reads the bible and thinks; “what the heck?”  I realize most everyone I know is more spiritual than I am, but still even those of you who are close to God will have to admit this is a weird story.  Even stranger is the position Jacob finds himself in, locking arms with God almighty.  A quick read can leave you thinking the aim of Jacobs grappling was to obtain a blessing but that’s not characteristic of the Jacob we read about in the previous chapters of Genesis.

Jacob isn’t out for a blessing, at first… He is out to push God away.
Who would push God away?
Who would resist God?
Who would???

Me.

Jacobs literal tangle provides an analogy for the struggle common to most all of us who believe in Christ.  Jacob has made his own path for years; secured his fathers blessing on his own at the cost of his family, worked for his wives, and now as he strikes out in fear of an enemy he is forced to face the greatest sin of his life, resisting God’s work and calling.

Wrestling with God is the spiritual place we find ourselves when we a resisting what God is calling us to.  So, it’s a weird story, I will give you that.  Ask yourself one question; is it my story?

I had lunch with a friend last week, we both have little kids.  He asked me what i was going to tell my son about Santa Claus.  To be honest, I hadn’t spent a great deal of time thinking about it.  I hadn’t formed a strategy or written any papers on the Christology of religious holidays.  As we talked I unpacked the rhythm in our home, not what others should do, but what I am doing with my family. I told my friend, “tell your kids the Santa story, but make sure you tell them there’s an even better story, a real story about God becoming a man.”

Couple of observations…

• Jesus was not born on December 25th
• Coca Cola commercialized the modern idea of Santa
• Santa is a worldwide cultural phenomenon
• People who don’t know Jesus don’t understand why Christians despise Santa.
• Santa is a fictional story like… Pinocchio, Cinderella, Elf, Natl. Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Cars, etc.
• Children can distinguish fact from fiction (any adults still believe in Santa? call your psychologist, or e-mail me and I’ll connect you with mine)
• Santa is a good story
• Those of us who know Christ have a better story.

We celebrate Christmas in my home, my family always has, with all the trimmings (we hunt for Easter Eggs too).  We put cookies out for Santa and hope the kids don’t figure it out until they are at least 5.  BUT, 365 days  a year we tell a better story.  The fictional idea of Santa is welcome in my house on the 25th because it’s just a story.  Every morning and every night of the year we pray together as a family.  We sing songs that praise our God.  We ask each other for forgiveness.

My hope is that families will enjoy being with each other on the 25th.  Even more so, parents will take time to tell the better story. When our hearts are focused on Christ year round we can enjoy a fictional story about the North Pole. Merry Christmas.

Already this ride has been exciting!  When I think through a new church community I immediately think of Acts chapter 2:42-47.

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Mostly I think of how amazingly different my experience is with the one described above.  Don’t get me wrong, I want to be an Acts Chapter 2 church… well at least an Acts chapter 2 church in 2010 terms.  But the reality of these first couple of weeks feels more like starting a small business than a church.  Don’t judge me, you try it.  My days are full of tax filing, space renting, equipment purchasing, lawyer talking, merch. accounting, etc.  So, I guess what I am saying is I haven’t been of one mind yet.

So is this business?
Most certainly not…

We met up to check out a possible location to begin meeting.   As we waited in the lobby, next to the buddha sculpture, we were 100% focused on the space, and wondering if we could afford it. The owner walked out and said, “wow, you guys are not at all what I expected.”  I asked her, “what did you expect?” She said, “white shirts, khakis, much older…”  We laughed and began touring the facility.  I have no idea where she is at with regards to faith, the buddha may not even be hers. However, what struck me was how she didn’t know how to take us.  I was quickly yanked from the world of church business to actually being the church.  As we walked I prayed, “Lord, let us live in such a way that the world says, you aren’t what I expected of Christians.”  I have no doubt God lead us to that space because He is on a mission for the owners heart, we are just fortunate to be along for the ride.    That’s about as Acts Chapter 2 as I know how to be.

But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. -Matthew 6:33

Seek then speak, that’s what kept going through my mind as i sat drinking coffee with a older friend yesterday. “Christ is life,” he said. I started thinking about the mountain in front of us as a church community; locations, finances, introductions, operations, etc and then just stopped. Seek then speak ran through my mind again.

We are building a church on three blocks: The passionate pursuit of God, overflowing compassion for people, and Godly wisdom. Before we serve, before we lead, we must first engage in our own passionate pursuit. Seek the speak, is what my life should be about.

My friend also quoted Matthew 16:18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” He looked at me and said, “God says that He will build His church.”

All this is to say… I want to first commit myself to the pursuit of God. In seeking Him all other things will be added.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6:33-34

Anxiety is something I am all to familiar with. When I take personality tests they always comment on how I am an internal processor. What that ends up meaning is I am the guy who lays awake @ night endlessly contemplating everything. I am not sure I will ever be able to turn my brain off but i have learned a few things I can do to calm anxiety…

1. Tell someone else
When I am worried that something may or may not happen I have found I can skip over my stress by just speaking the concerns out loud. When you tell a friend what you are thinking something powerful happens.

2. Consider the birds
What I need in this life and what i want in this life are two very different sets of things. I am not going to stress out over what i want, I am going to rest in the fact I will have what i need.