Showing posts with label Scripture Reflections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scripture Reflections. Show all posts


What Are We Inviting People Into?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

I often wonder what we are inviting people into when we invite them to live for Jesus Christ. In a sense, we are inviting them first into our own lives as individuals and communities. Do we invite them into a kingdom of guilt-driven, over-committed, stressed, distracted, busybodies? This is the typical picture I have of people involved in full-time ministry, and it is a tragic picture. It seems than in many Christian circles, burnout has become an accepted side-effect of ministry, even a battle scar worn proudly by those who have learned to burn the candle at both ends. This too, is tragic.

One of the main differences in being a part of an order like InnerCHANGE as opposed to a missions agency or organization is that our people (interns, apprentices, staff, etc.) are more valuable to us than the task. In other words, the spiritual and personal formation that is taking place in each of us in the long run is as important as the "work" itself. This is a value that I have seen modeled over and over again throughout my life with InnerCHANGE. My spiritual, physical, and emotional health are not simply private matters that I am personally responsible to care for outside of, and top of my regular ministry.

Is it possible to minister out of fullness? Is is permissible to build into our ministry schedules times of solitude and prayer? Is it profitable to invest as much time in our own spiritual formation as we give to others? Is a sabbath worth what it costs? For the sake of those who must look to us to see the kingdom of God, I pray the answer is yes.

Lord Jesus Christ, make our communities and lives into winsome parables. May we demonstrate the reality of the peaceable kingdom you said was near at hand. Keep us from trusting in hurry and success rather than in your Spirit "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8

Posted by Benjamin Washam 12:48 AM 2 comments  

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Deserts of Snow and Voices of Silence
Wednesday, January 17, 2007

(photo credit)
The Russian word for desert is "poustinia." In traditional Russian culture, poustinia not only refers to an isolated, arid landscape, but it also means a special place, usually some sort of rough cabin, set apart for a man or woman to go and meet with God in intensive solitude. In previous centuries in rural Russia, it would not have been strange for a man or woman, compelled by the inner-voice of God in their spirit, to leave everything in their life behind for a time and with permission from the local bishop, go construct a poustinia, and wait on the Lord.

This last weekend I attempted four days of poustinia in the barren winter woodlands of central Minnesota. The nearest town was named St. Francis, incidentaly. My shelter had graciously been built and maintained by the third order of the Franciscan Brothers at Pacem In Terris. My hermitage had a gas heater and a few sparse furnishings. I took warm clothes, a few books, and a flashlight for the biffy.

The only noise for four days was the occasional crack of water freezing inside a tree that would shatter the silence and make me jump in my chair. The sub-zero temperature and blanket of sound-absorbing snow turned my world into a black and white photograph - all the colors were faded to a grayscale pallette, and the world I could see was frozen still. I could not sense the slightest movement of a single twig on a tree. When I sat still, the only thing that reminded me time had not stopped was the beating of my heart. At night everything was wrapped in pitch darkness except for the sky, which emitted a faint pure glow from the stars that pierced its canopy.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5

It was into this setting that I entered, trying as best I could to have no agenda whatsoever, only to be still and wait expectantly in faith on the Lord. As the hours and days passed by, boredom and impatience slowly merged into a peace. The constant disturbance of waves started to subside over the deep pools of my soul, and I was able to catch momentary glimpses into the true desires of my heart - desires that were holy becuase they were the desires of God himself. I believe all people who have responded to the call of Jesus and recieved His gift of the Holy Spirit have these desires placed in them by God. One of the roots of our discipleship and transformation into Christ-likeness is to grow into these desires by quieting the raging sea around them of the expectations of others, wounds and failures, intellectual knowledge, insecurities, and our weakness towards ignoring God's reign in our minds, hearts, and actions.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Matthew 16:24

It was this verse that I sensed as the response to my question: "Jesus, what do you want me to do?" I realized how precious these years of my life are right now, and how my singleness is not a burden, but a blessing of singleness of heart towards Christ! I recieved no insight into the future, no direction for this year or next; only an invitation to a journey inward, an invitation into a courtship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The goal is a divine union; the result is true compassion for all people. This is the desire of my heart.

My prayer is not for them [his 12 disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:20-23

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

Posted by Benjamin Washam 7:21 PM 3 comments  

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Christmas Reflection no.1
Saturday, December 16, 2006

Christmas, more than anything else, reminds me every year that this thing I'm in - this movement of people after Jesus, this insitution called Christianity - is for the whole world. I can spend an entire year drawing lines, defining boundaries, treating "non-believers" different from "believers", and shoring up the flying buttresses of Christianity. But the minute December rolls around and I start reading again what the Prophets had to say about the Messiah, and what He actually said, I've got to throw away my boxes and categories and open my arms just a little wider than the year before. God did it so many times that by the time John wrote his gospel, He had His arms around the whole world in love. This is not an argument for universalism, as I hope you can see - this is simply a call to the Church and myself to BE the good news we talk so much about - to obey Christ and fulfull God's promise that His people would be a blessing to all peoples, not just those on "our side."

Posted by Benjamin Washam 10:22 PM 1 comments  

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For 9/11 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006

Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Posted by Benjamin Washam 6:30 PM 0 comments  

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Are Monks Christians?


When I say "monk," I think most people would imagine one of the two images above. If you call yourself a Christian, then you might even add on the third guy in the long robe.brown Many Christians (especially evangelicals) I talk to today consider monasticism a waste; even an unbiblical practice. I find this unfortunate, considering the incredible weight of evidence for its practice in the New and Old Testament and the history of the Christian church. The pattern is set by Moses, the people of Israel, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth, Paul of Tarsus, and many others in Scripture, not to mention the Desert Fathers and the thousands of men and women who followed in their footsteps even to this day.

The question of the "wastefulness" or "practicality" of the monastic or ascetic life is an important one that I would love to discuss in another post soon, but for now, the issue of Scripture - is it biblical? Sound arguments can be made (and have been made by myself on occasion) for finding fault in current or ancient forms and practices, but I maintain that the practice in principle is good, sound, and alligned with Scripture.

To start, an interesting theme throughout the Scriptures is the period of 40 days or years. This period of time occurs frequently throughout the text and refers to a long period of time in a wilderness or isolated area, usual with special significance in the plan of God. It is also often accompanied by some form of denial, whether that be fasting, a strict diet, or other physical constraints. Below is a preliminary (incomplete) outline I've done of these events in scripture. Notice the common themes of wilderness, solitude, fasting, interaction with angels, and closeness to the presence of God. After this list I have included some comments/questions on its relation to monasticism through the ages and new monasticism.

GEN 7:12 Rain falls for 40 days and 40 nights as Noah and his family escape into the ark.

EX 3:2; ACTS 7:30 Moses flees Egypt into the wilderness of Midian. He lives there for 40 years before the Lord appears to him on the back side of the wilderness at Mount Horeb in a burning bush.

EX 16:35 The Israelites eat manna in the wilderness for 40 years as they wander in the desert according to the command of God led by the cloud and pillar of fire.

EX 24:18 The glory of the Lord rests on Mount Sinai and God calls Moses to come up the mountain alone. The glory of the Lord appears as a consuming fire, and Moses enters the cloud for 40 days and 40 nights.

EX 34:28 After renewing His commitment to Israel after their disobedience of worshipping the golden calf, the Lord calls Moses again up the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights where He reveals his glory to Moses and gives him the ten commandments on the stone tablets. During this time Moses neither eats nor drinks. When Moses comes down the mountain, the skin on his face shines because of his conversation with God (34:29) and he must put a veil over it to speak with the people.

NUM 32:13 The Lord sends the Israelites back into the wilderness for 40 years of wandering and relying on God for manna that He might humble them and test them and find out what was in their heart (DT 8:2). Their feet did not swell, and their sandals and clothing did not wear out all those 40 years (DT 8:4, 29:5).

1 KING 19:8 Elijah flees from Jezebel into the wilderness and prays in desperation for the Lord to take his life. The angel of the Lord appears to him and gives him a bread cake and jar of water that sustains him for 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

MATT 4:2; MK 1:13; LK 4:2 After Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, He goes into the wilderness for 40 days and fasts. During this time of temptation the angels minister to Him.

GAL 1:17 It appears that even Saul/Paul, after his conversion and baptism fled to Arabia for a time in the wilderness.

There is something here, ^ and I am going to attempt to found out what it is, and what it requires of me.

Posted by Benjamin Washam 2:07 PM 0 comments  

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Monks, Friars, Prophets, and Me
Saturday, June 18, 2005

No, it's not Martin Luther, it's not Robin Hood, and it's not ancient Israel, but it IS very interesting. The Prophetic Conference has kicked off and I have been been hearing invaluable teaching from a monk with a Doctorate in Christian Spirituality, a Franciscan Friar, and many other ordinary people who have taken a prophetic posture in life by seeking, seeing, and resisting the forces of evil that exist in our society.

After hearing their stories and testimonies, I was able to read Isaiah 58 with fresh eyes, and to hear it for the first time as alive, Spirit breathed words to me from the mouth of God. For the first time, I think by the power of the spirit alone I was able to connect it to my own journey. Here is what I am hearing:

"They seek Me day by day and delight to know my ways...they ask Me for just decisions, they delight in the nearness of God. 'Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?' " In my spiritual journey over the past 4 or 5 years, I have traveled through a time of darkness and silence between me and God, where I have not been able to hear Him in prayer or the written Word, and I have been in a very dry place, spiritually. I know God is with me and I am able to speak of His goodness with conviction, but this testimony, though honest, is based on emotions and experiences from the past, now only taken by faith. I have enjoyed the blessings of God without hearing His voice, and as such, without the ability to obey. I have been (am) frustrated and confused by God's silence and apparent distance.

"Is this not the fast which I (the LORD) choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" I have seen and heard and now believe that it is possible to live this way. This is not charity out of the goodness of my heart, it must be out of a desperation for God from my profound and utter poverty. This is not a result of my training or education or intelligence or privaleged postion, it is by the grace of God only by the annointed power of the Holy Spirit within me.

(If the above described fasting takes place) "Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am'... and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." The Word of the Lord. Could God be teaching me the way to hear His voice again?

Three chapters later, (Isaiah 61) Christ said about himself "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted/humble; He has sent me to bind up the brokenheartred, to proclaim libtery to captives and freedom to prisoners, etc...." I can no longer plead ignorance of the oppression and injustice that is taking place within my own country, within my own neighborhood, and for the first time I am seeing it as wrong! I cannot stand idly by anymore with a clean conscience. I do not know what I am supposed to do yet, but I wait for the same Spirit of the Lord God that annointed Christ to annoint me and give me a message or a task. Please pray for that I would be able to listen and obey.

Posted by Benjamin Washam 12:16 AM 1 comments  

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Visiting Jesus in Jail
Thursday, May 26, 2005

The last place anyone would naturally want to go - juvenile hall in San Francisco. Gang members, drug dealers, and murderers, all between the ages of 14 and 18.

I've started going to jail every Monday night with a Catholic group called Casa San Dimas (Saint Dimas is traditionally known as the penitent thief on the cross) through the security checkpoints at the "Youth Guidance Center." The purpose is to visit. Our first priority is to be a friend and someone to talk to for the guys who often have no friends or family to visit them; if there is an interest, we will sing some songs and go through a very personal Bible study with them. Last Monday I went with two workers Casa San Dimas and met with two young men who only spoke Spanish. We conversed in Spanish, sang some songs they were familiar with, and went through a quick study of Jesus' statment "I am the bread of life."

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Mt. 25:31) The rubrik for this separation? -feeding the hungry, welcoming in the outcast, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting the incarcerated. Can it really be that simple?

I can easily swallow the parable directly preceding this in Matthew: the parable of the talents. It's very nice to be affirmed in investing the gifts God has given me in productive ways - to see the visible results of my work for the Kingdom of God. However, if I am to be a faithful and consistent reader of the scriptures, I must read the next parable of the sheep and the goats the same way - to realize that inasmuch as I am called to use my talents for God in the way I choose, I DO NOT have the choice to opt out of caring for the poor, sick, and incarcerated. For when I care for the least of these - those cast off by everyone else, I am not only following directly in the footsteps of Jesus' earthly ministry, but I am serving Christ himself.

Lord, may I never assume the posture of investing my time without consulting your calender, investing my money without looking at your economy, or choosing my ministry outside of the pattern you set while walking the earth.

Posted by Benjamin Washam 1:51 PM 1 comments  

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