Personal Symbolism

So, I suppose the first question is what do I mean by personal symbolism? I think I can safely say that the universal symbol for Christians or Christianity is 'the cross'. Many take that one step further and take the crucifix but that too is the cross, just with Jesus still on it.

We, each of us, have things - images, symbols, objects - which remind us of something else. This is symbolism. Within the church we use a lot of symbolism - more so I think, or perhaps just different, in traditional services. The cross up the front to remind us of what Jesus has done for us. Holy Communion is also symbolism - the bread, his body; the wine, his blood. In traditional services, the incence and ringing of bells as a symbol (what the symbolism is here can differ between denominations).

The thing with symbolism is that care always needs to take place that it does not become idolatry (particuarly in regards to the church and matters of faith), that is putting all your care and praise towards the image rather than what the image is representing. The purpose of symbols is to remind us of something more, not just get caught up in it.

Now to address the 'personal' part of this blog. We choose our own symbols to remind us of different things. You may have 10 people with 10 different symbols all representing or reminding them of the same thing. Or similarly have 10 people all with the same symbol reminding them of 10 different things.

One way in which people show symbols is through body art, or tattoo's. Initials of a person you love, a flower to remind you of the field where you were engaged, southern cross because you are australian, a snake or tiger because that's the year you were born in (chinese calendar), or perhaps a word like destiny because that's what you believe in. There are many, but when it comes down to it, it is only things which people see as important to them which they get tattooed on them. Sometimes, this might just be because it looks cool and that is what is importat to them but more often than not, it is a symbol, and what is behind the symbol is why they have it.

This is a picture of my tattoo and next week I will tell you the symbolism behind it. Take a guess at it if you like in the comments - see if you can cover everything.

In this blog we've looked at different kinds of things which people have for personal symbols to represent different things, my question for you is what do you have a symbol for?

Coming up: 'Unpacking Personal Symbolism'

God Bless

'God's Will'

A little while ago at church we went through a series on Divine Guidance looking at What is 'God's Will'?, Why is Decision Making so Hard?!?, and A Guide to Godly Decision Making. I was reflecting on what was spoken about during this time and a previous blog and thought that I should clarify or correct something which I had said in case it is taken the wrong way.

On June 14 of this year in Gods Guidance I wrote the following in the last paragraph.

'Who better to turn to when we have questions, are in grief, or are so relieved, happy, or joyful about something? I know God has something planned for me to do and in His time this will be revealed to me but for now it is best to do what you can while that time is still on its way. I'm waiting for that time but in this waiting, it is a preparation time and God is teaching me many things.'

God's will for us is quite simple and is given to us in the bible. That we live godly lives. This first means that we know Him and are in Christ.

'And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.' (John 6:40)

Then the question beckons, what does it mean to live a godly life? Is a missionary more godly than the old lady cleaning up after church, or a pastor more godly than those they serve? Based on their positions, the answer is no. Godliness as we read in the bible does not depend on what you do, but how you act. It is to do with our character, the motives behind what we do.

Paul tells the Colossians to

'put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another... but above all these things put on love' -3:12-14

And in his second letter to Timothy to

'Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.' -2:22

This is not to say that God does not also have a personal plan for each of our lives, he does! We read in Psalm 139 (1-4, 16)

'O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.  

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether...  

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was  none of them.'

God knows us personally, intimately, even before we ever know ourselves! And he has a plan for us but the wonderful thing is that we don't need to know what it is, and we can't stuff it up, no matter what! Even if we knew it, we couldln't stuff it up. When making decisions don't assume that one path is the one that God wants you to go on and the other is against God. Most of the decisions we agonise over are those where both paths are for God.. just choose one!

This brings me to the other point I wanted to make in response to what I wrote. God reveals things to us over time but everything we need to know he reveals to us through His word, the Bible. In the Old Testament we read of how God appeared to Noah, Moses and Abraham and told them what to do, and in the New Testament how he appeared to Saul. We read this and ask for the same thing, 'God, tell us what to do?' If we really read these stories though we will notice that these are the exceptions, not the norm. And they were not asking God to tell them what to do, in fact, most of the time it was quite unwelcome - they didn't want it, although they followed once it was given.

God reveals things to us through His word. The more we read, the more we spend time with God, the more we get to know Him and His character and are able to make decisions which align themselves with what we know of God. I find that most of the time I see things which have been revealed to me and the way God is helping me to make decisions and direct my life, after they have already happened. There is something to be said about looking back, and considering how God has lead you to where you are now.. just be sure not to dwell on the past.

So, this weeks question is what is something that you have learnt of God Character?

Coming up: a look at 'Personal Symbolism'

God Bless

Suffering

Sooo... I was a little pre-emptive with my last blog, it seems that I have not started back up again as soon as I thought I would. Anyhow, not to dwell on what's been.

As I mentioned in my last blog I thought I'd have a look at suffering. As it so happens I don't actually have much to say on the subject... I don't think.

We often view suffering as some kind of punishment, as though since we're suffering we must have done something wrong in order to have deserved it. This has some grounding in that if we sin and continue to turn from God than we should not be surprised if we find that we are undergoing some kind of suffering. But the assumption behind this is that you only suffer if you have done wrong and this is where it is incorrect.

Think back to when you were just a child. What made you suffer and what were the motives behind it? If you are honest with yourself it is probably your parents in rebuking and disciplining you that caused much of your 'suffering'. The motives behind this should have been out of love, to show you the error of your ways that you might learn what is right and wrong, and build good character. If our earthly parents do this how much more than will our Father in Heaven do this? That we might be built up in Him with godly character through those tests and trials.

In talking of this let us not get confused with temptation though. For to tempt us is not in line with what we know of Gods character. To tempt is to call us to sin, calling us to turn to our sinful nature and not fight against it to be as we were created to be, in Gods image. Temptation comes from the devil but there is hope against it as we hear in 1 Corinthians 10:13

'No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.'

God is almighty, more powerful than the devil or any temptation.

There is but a third type of suffering. We read of Paul in Colossians 1:24

'I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church...'

 and again in 2 Timothy 1:8

'Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God...'

We are promised that as long as we are in Him and doing His work, there will be suffering. Jesus said

'If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own, Yet because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you.' (John 15:18-19)

We are no longer of the world living and revelling in our sinful ways but have turned from them, repenting, to live a life of worth. We are different, we stand out, we are not accepted.

How then, why then, do we expect to be both? To live as a child of God but also enjoy comfort on a worldly scale, free from suffering on a worldly scale. We must understand that these are different. Suffering is in the world, and everyone will suffer as we are all sinful, living in a creation which is also suffering. The real question is what are we suffering for? We can suffer as the world suffers or we can suffer for the gospel in the world.

My question to you then is.. What do you think about suffering.. and what are you suffering for?

Coming up: a look at 'God's Will'

God Bless