A Better Way: To Give, Fast, and Pray
If you haven't seen the 1986 movie The Mission, it's worth a watch. In addition to an oboe solo that will stick with you for days, the story puts into contrast 2 sides of religion that we've been highlighting in our Midweek gatherings for the last few weeks.
On one side is the arrogant and legalistic (yet incredibly corrupt) church leader who is primarily focused on church profits and external appearances, and on the other is the humble missionary who gracefully accepts his enemy and gives his life to the people he serves.
My favorite scene shows a guilt-ridden mercenary climbing a treacherous waterfall, carrying his heavy burden, eventually finding freedom from that burden.
As you watch the film, the contrast between the missionary and the Cardinal could not be more significant. The missionary operates from a completely different motivation.
In what we call the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, Jesus spends an extended portion of the message on recalibrating the Mosaic Law to address the motivations at the heart of the Law, and of our following that Law.
Why do we follow the rules? Is it so God will like us better? That's pointless, because His love toward us is already complete. Is it so we can outweigh the bad in our lives and make it to Heaven? That's impossible, because the standard is perfection and we can never get there.
Is it so we can get recognition for the good things we do?
This is what we're addressing this week in Midweek. Jesus points to those who pray loudly and eloquently, who give publicly and draw attention to themselves as they do, and those who make themselves look as hungry as possible when they fast so people will see how holy they are. He says, "They have their reward."
This reward sounds a lot like a person clapping.
Like the end of a performance, even when there's a standing ovation of a vast audience, the applause ends and the people gather their things and go home.
The better way is to keep these things private. To give generously, not for the recognition but for the love of God and other people. To fast privately, not to gain attention but out of genuine sorrow for sin in the world and desire to exercise self-control. To pray fervently, not to get people to notice but to submit to the Will of God and beg His favor.
This better way draws the attention of the One that matters, and brings an eternal reward that is more fulfilling, longer lasting, and leads us to joy.
On one side is the arrogant and legalistic (yet incredibly corrupt) church leader who is primarily focused on church profits and external appearances, and on the other is the humble missionary who gracefully accepts his enemy and gives his life to the people he serves.
My favorite scene shows a guilt-ridden mercenary climbing a treacherous waterfall, carrying his heavy burden, eventually finding freedom from that burden.
As you watch the film, the contrast between the missionary and the Cardinal could not be more significant. The missionary operates from a completely different motivation.
In what we call the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, Jesus spends an extended portion of the message on recalibrating the Mosaic Law to address the motivations at the heart of the Law, and of our following that Law.
Why do we follow the rules? Is it so God will like us better? That's pointless, because His love toward us is already complete. Is it so we can outweigh the bad in our lives and make it to Heaven? That's impossible, because the standard is perfection and we can never get there.
Is it so we can get recognition for the good things we do?
This is what we're addressing this week in Midweek. Jesus points to those who pray loudly and eloquently, who give publicly and draw attention to themselves as they do, and those who make themselves look as hungry as possible when they fast so people will see how holy they are. He says, "They have their reward."
This reward sounds a lot like a person clapping.
Like the end of a performance, even when there's a standing ovation of a vast audience, the applause ends and the people gather their things and go home.
The better way is to keep these things private. To give generously, not for the recognition but for the love of God and other people. To fast privately, not to gain attention but out of genuine sorrow for sin in the world and desire to exercise self-control. To pray fervently, not to get people to notice but to submit to the Will of God and beg His favor.
This better way draws the attention of the One that matters, and brings an eternal reward that is more fulfilling, longer lasting, and leads us to joy.
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