Sometimes when things get busy during this Advent season instead of feeling like a whole complete life looking to Jesus’ coming we feel like “hole persons.” Things are missing, too many things are happening, and there are things falling through the cracks—or the holes.
Spiritual Formation needs to be about the Whole Person. God doesn’t want as to have split personalities or compartmentalized lives. It is being you and being comfortable with being you no matter where you are and what you’re doing, even when the circumstances are difficult and uncomfortable. God wants to fill us with His peace that surpasses all understanding that will withstand the stress of the Advent preparation, the ups and downs of the coming 12 days of Christmas and into a New Year, no matter what resolutions come along.
Spiritually how do we become that whole person, person and life of theological integrity, sound belief, and spiritual vitality, God touching our lives and we touching God’s life? These two need to go together if we are to be whole. We need the words of Jesus to enter not just our thoughts but to bring forth results by the actions of our lives. Here is how Jesus describes being whole:
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. (Luke 6:47-48 ESV)
Jesus wants your life dug deep and solid on the rock foundation that will weather anything that comes your way in this life and will have you ready for life in eternity.
This week I baptized my grand-niece and nephew—the M&M’s for those of you following on Facebook; Melia and Makana. I explained just getting them wet wasn’t the fullness of life Jesus calls these two new members of his Church. It is life as part of the community of the Blessed Trinity, in Christian community where God is part of everyday life. The M&M’s older brother, Jacob (4 years) prayed for others at the end of the Baptism. Like Jacob, Melia, and Makana our spiritual life should be one where we know and experience the presence of God as He was always there even when God seemed far away or we weren’t able to see the love of God working in our lives.
So what will give us this Theological Integrity and Spiritual Vitality in Christ? We need God’s help beginning with the grace of baptism and immersion into the community of the faithful, but we have to participate, we have to do and be part of what God is doing that we might become whole. Yes, some of these things are unpopular today. I have never thought of myself as counter-culture, but as Christians we are NOTW—not of this world—as we’re reminded on car windows.
Wholeness in Jesus requires our obedience. If your life in Christ doesn’t begin with doing what Jesus asks it will never be transforming. My problem is not with the Big Idea obedience—loving God with all my heart, soul, and mind—I want that kind of obedience to Jesus; it’s a slam dunk. But where it starts to get grey is in the smaller things. Every time I drive out on the highway, am I really blessing those who curse me; and glossing over my kind words to the guy who crosses three lanes of traffic to take the exit. Or what about my giving a cold cup of water, my obedience is being put to the test with the guy holding the sign standing at the stop sign or signal light. Am I obedient and set to receive a reward?
I find lots of holes in my life. But that is when Jesus can say, “Now, we’re getting somewhere. We have a place to begin.” It is more than ok to begin with the holes in making Jesus making you whole. Theological integrity isn’t about our being right. It is about our doing, obeying Jesus in the ordinary things of our life. It isn’t ignoring the holes, but wanting and allowing God to repair the hole. The spiritual vitality comes when the life of God makes our lives new, refreshed, and restored. John the Baptist’s life wasn’t about pointing out the holes, but about looking and going to the one who can make you whole.
Jesus specializes in new beginnings. You have a chance today to be whole, to have the peace of God touch your life, to bring theological integrity and spiritual vitality that will surpass our understanding. God is doing more than we can ask or imagine…
To him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20 ESV)
and God will dig to make your foundation deep and build upon rock that you might be the whole person as God truly sees you.