G.K. Chesterton said, "The greatest of all illusions is the illusion of familiarity."
Familiarity is then the death of respect, wonder and awe! When our hearts and minds are no longer poised for surprise and astonishment... we have lost our sense of child-like faith, without which we can no longer worship. Or for that matter perhaps that is why some never worship.
The illusion that we can control our lives and our destinies has led humanity to turn away from the very "mystery," of knowing Him who formed us in His likeness and image.
I am expecting to be amazed by His "appearing." He came to earth as a child, He comes to us as Spirit and He will come again in great Power. And I know that He has promised us that He manifest Himself to those who gather in His Name to worship and adore Him.
I realize that much of the western church has reduced Him to a law to be obeyed, when in fact He is a Presence to be embraced. And that Presence is manifested by the union and unity of His People who are focused on being "grateful."
Familiarity.... thanks Him for granted. God forgive us!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
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2 comments:
Familiarity is the natural progression of a time-tested relationship where two individuals have chosen to persevere and remain by each other's sides through it all. It's the warmth of knowing what someone is going to say, without them saying it, knowing their reaction before it occurs and being secure in their love for you. It's not having to live under instability or walking on eggshells. It's knowing that when you've made a mistake, the other side sees your heart & responds accordingly.
When I didn't know God's heart, I was filled with fear in regards to Him. When I didn't know His heart, I never felt good enough, like I prayed enough... was never ENOUGH. Now I know better, I know he sees me as perfect, knows me inside out & while He's more familiar with me than I'll ever be with Him, I find warmth in the fact that he is now familiar & kindred to me & I'll never let that go.
"Familiarity is then the death of respect, wonder and awe!"
I see as the reason so many are coming back to liturgical congregations. Especially, think of the surge of people who went into Orthodoxy.
The world is looking for a God with whom they can identify (as in Jesus) and whom they can revere.
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