No Bumper Sticker God

by Phil Ware

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

    It's kinda of nice to retreat to a world where all the most difficult problems can be solved in 30 minutes with time for commercial and bathroom breaks. It's made us impatient for explanations that are long and complicated and quandries for which it is difficult to pigeon hole an answer.

    Life, especially viewed from the will and work of God, suddenly becomes too boring or tedious to address, much less master! We want our theology on bumper stickers. Give the "Christian" community credit; we've sure tried to use that medium to get the message across. Problem is, God's will doesn't quite fit into pigeon holes, comforting truth can't be contained very well on a bumper sticker, and many of life's stickier realities can't be captured by four or five words on a bumper sticker.

    One of my favorite book titles ever written is this: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society. The book was written by Eugene Peterson and focuses on the themes of community, work, joy, worship, and service. Like much of what Peterson writes, he takes the heart of his message from the Psalms.

    The Bible's collection of psalms is the songbook of Scripture. Without written music, the psalms are adaptable to the music of almost any culture. Their themes cover a wide variety of human experience from the exhilarating to the devastating. Celebrated in the Psalms, in good times and bad, is a deep conviction that we are on a journey and to make it home, we need the help and presence of God. Not only that, God longs to hear from us on our journey. He wants us to be honest with him about where we are and how we are doing. He is not interested in religious fluff, but instead, God wants to hear from our hearts about the real rigors of our journey.

    What's more, these psalms have stood the test of time and of faith. They're reminders that we are not the first to have passed this way. They confirm to us that God is looking for faithfulness over the long haul and through all the variegated and multifaceted experiences of life. Rather than a snapshot or a 30-minute sitcom, life is a long journey. God is not just concerned about the quick fixes or the ultimate outcome; he also cares about us and our long journey back to hi

    I'm not sure where you are on your journey. I hope you have learned that quick fixes are nearly always wrong and that shortcuts to spirituality are nearly always Satan's traps. Instead, enjoy the journey. Speak openly to God about the matters of your heart. Look for the wide sweep of your story and remain faithful for the long haul. And when it is hard to find the words to express your joys, sorrows, reservations, frustrations, delights, praise, loneliness, confidence, and fear? Open the Psalms and let them help you pour our your heart, in faith, to the God of the beginning, the end, and the journey.

Posted: 03/19/2001
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200103/20010319_bumpersticker.html

(c) 2001 Heartlight, Inc.

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