Can Our Actions Bring Us Closer to God?

This question stuck in my craw as I read through a blog post highlighted by Living Lutheran.

The post was titled: "Failing at our Lenten Disciplines."

Here are some pertinent quotes:

We have lived in the land of self-loathing long enough. Hopefully, we chose our Lenten disciplines because we wanted to become closer to God. We didn't choose them so that we'd have additional reasons to hate ourselves. - See more at: http://www.elca.org/Living-Lutheran/Blogs/2015/03/150305-Failing-at-our-Lenten-disciplines#sthash.aOdtyMkY.dpuf

We have lived in the land of self-loathing long enough.  Hopefully we chose our Lenten disciplines because we wanted to become closer to God.  We didn't choose them so that we'd have additional reason to hate ourselves.

Our failed Lenten discipline will bring us closer to God, as we try again, as we ask for help and guidance, as we try to be resolute again.

It is tempting to agree.  In fact, there is great danger in disagreeing. 

I mean, if we say that our actions do not have any merit in getting us closer to God, then what would be the point of praying, fasting, acts of service, kindness, Bible study, meditation, and the like?  If these things do not draw me closer to God, then why should I set aside any time, energy, and effort to engage in them? 

Surely when I pray, I draw myself closer to God.

Surely when I fast, I draw myself closer to God.

Surely when I engage in Bible study, I draw myself closer to God.

Surely when I act kind toward others, I draw myself closer to God.

Part of me says, "Yes."  But there is an important caveat to this, something that has actually plagued Christianity.  For if I am drawing myself closer to God with all these disciplines, and I feel like I am achieving such closeness, then why aren't others doing it too?  Why aren't others praying like I pray?  Why aren't others fasting like me?  Why aren't others studying the Bible like me?  Why aren't others being kind like me?  I am drawing closer to God every time I do these things.  Shouldn't others want to be close to God like I am close to God?

The idea that my actions are drawing me closer to God in this fashion leads to self-righteousness.

Bishop Eaton in her Lutheran Magazine article this month hits the proverbial nail on the head regarding this.  The money quote:

These practices serve to draw us closer to and make us more aware of the love of God shown through Jesus’ death and resurrection that justifies sinners, but they aren’t what justifies us.

These practices serve to draw us closer to...the love of God shown through Jesus' death and resurrection.

There is a subtle, but very, very important distinction between the blog on Living Lutheran and Bishop Eaton's statement.  Bishop Eaton grasps it.  Our actions do not draw us closer to God.  Our engagement in the disciplines of Lent or otherwise do not draw us closer to God--they draw us closer to the love of God as it was expressed in Jesus' death and resurrection.

These actions makes us aware that (excuse me for shouting):

GOD HAS ALREADY COME CLOSE TO US!!!!  GOD HAS ALREADY COME DOWN TO US!!!  GOD IS STILL WITH US AND HAS NEVER DEPARTED FROM US!!!

Now, I could cite a whole lot of Bible verses to back up this point, but I will refrain for now.  The point is this: our actions do not draw us closer to God, but they do make us aware of what God has already done.  They draw us closer to the knowledge of the grace and mercy poured out for us through Jesus.  They draw us into the mystery of God's great reconciliation project wherein we could not work our way to Him, but He worked His way to us at great cost to Himself.

So often, our disciplines fail for the very reason they are not focused upon Jesus.  They are not focused upon what He accomplished, but they are focused on our own desires and wants.  I desire to come closer to God.  I want to walk closer with God.  Two things: 1) If it is my self-driven desire instead of loving obedience and thankfulness, it will fail.  2) If I think I can achieve it because of my desire and because of my actions, I will fail. 

However if my desire comes not from me but from Jesus, I cannot tear myself away from it.  If I am engaging in a discipline because of obedience to Him and a response to what He has done, then I will happily engage and continue.  If I am aware of the great love of Jesus who is already close to me, and I know that in my prayer I am entering into that awareness that Christ is there beside me listening to my voice and speaking in return, I cannot wait to engage Him.  There is no amount of busy-ness that can ever tear me away.  (For all I know, the original author may have this intent, but it is unfortunately not expressed in her writing.)  

Thank you, Bishop Eaton for your powerful, strong statement.  May we all be drawn to the love of God in Jesus Christ who comes close to us.  May our actions ever make us more aware of His action on our behalf that we may live in the knowledge, hope, and abundant life that God is already with us!

We have lived in the land of self-loathing long enough. Hopefully, we chose our Lenten disciplines because we wanted to become closer to God. We didn't choose them so that we'd have additional reasons to hate ourselves. - See more at: http://www.elca.org/Living-Lutheran/Blogs/2015/03/150305-Failing-at-our-Lenten-disciplines#sthash.aOdtyMkY.dpuf

We have lived in the land of self-loathing long enough. Hopefully, we chose our Lenten disciplines because we wanted to become closer to God. We didn't choose them so that we'd have additional reasons to hate ourselves. - See more at: http://www.elca.org/Living-Lutheran/Blogs/2015/03/150305-Failing-at-our-Lenten-disciplines#sthash.aOdtyMkY.dpuf

I Have Been Ruined

I know that sounds like a strange title, but I found out something about myself this past weekend.

On Saturday, the family and I traveled to Camp Lutherhill in La Grange, TX.  This year, my oldest will be attending summer camp, and we wanted to give her the chance to see camp and become a little more comfortable before leaving the nest for a week.  It just so happened that Lutherhill was having "Open Camp" this Saturday, so not only did we get to see the camp, we got to experience it.

Open Camp gives folks the opportunity to engage in camp activities including swimming, archery, ropes, worship, and dining--all for free.  It's a fantastic idea and one that really put my eldest at ease.  As we were leaving, she even remarked, "I want to stay for two weeks!"

Now, enough of the advertisement for camp.  Let's address the title of this post.

At 11:00 a.m. we gathered at the main outdoor chapel for worship and a sing-a-long.  The camp counselors provided the music as we sang a host of camp songs, and in the midst of that sing-a-long, I discovered I had been ruined.

The song leader would get up to lead a song.  He played guitar.  He would play in one key, and he would sing in another key. 

Musicians are cringing at this moment.

Those with little to no musical background are probably thinking, "What's the big deal."

Well, for those who have trained ears, having someone play in one key and sing in another is tantamount to:

nails on a chalkboard
rubbing a cat the wrong way
squeaking a balloon for hours
rubbing sandpaper on your bare butt

Yes, it's that bad.

I found that I couldn't sing along.  I couldn't get into the music.  I was ruined.

Years ago, this wouldn't have made a difference at all to me.  I'd have simply followed the voice and not worried about the music.  Heck, I'd have probably even sung in a third key, but things have happened to me over the years.

I began playing the guitar.
I began singing in a choir on a regular basis.
I began singing in a gospel band on a regular basis.

My ears began to change. 

• Whereas I used to have difficulty finding my part in singing in a choir--it comes with much more ease.
• Whereas I used to strum my guitar without worrying if a string were a little off--because I couldn't hear it, now, I stop and adjust if things are wonky.
• Whereas I used to sing and not worry about hitting pitch, I can immediately tell when I am off, and I have to adjust.

Because of all these things, my ears have become sensitive to music.  And when things are off, I have difficulty joining in.  I know I'm not alone in this.  As the sing-a-long was going on, I looked at my wife only to see her cringing as well.

Perhaps this is a stretch theologically, but I don't think so.

I believe developing an ear to listening for God and developing an ear for music have several similarities:

• The more you are around music, the better you become at hearing the harmony.  The more you immerse yourself in Christian disciplines--prayer, study, worship, fasting, etc.--the better able you become at distinguishing God's voice in the crowd.
• The more you are around music, the better you become in hearing that which is off key and out of tune.  The more you have immersed yourself in disciplines--leading to distinguishing God's voice--the more you can tell when something is out of tune and out of line with God's will and desire.
• To truly develop your musical ear, you need to work with people--in a choir, in a band, with a coach.  Going it alone only gets you so far.  Ditto with developing your relationship with God; we need worship, coaches, pastors, scholars, those who write books, spiritual directors, and others who help in discerning God's voice.
• When you develop that ear, you are ruined.  No longer do certain things satisfy.  No longer is singing off key acceptable.  No longer is it acceptable to allow a guitar string to be flat or sharp.  Constant adjustment is needed.  Same with living a live tuned into God.  Constant adjustment is needed (repentance, forgiveness, absolution).  No longer do the same things satisfy--"Man does not live by bread alone."  You can see things which are out of tune with God--injustice, hunger, sickness, suffering.  You desire to bring things back into tune and do so to the best of your ability.

I've been ruined in one respect when it comes to music, but it is because I have become a better musician.  I've been ruined in one respect when it comes to growing in the life of faith, but I hope it is because I have become a better Christian.