Imagine for a moment that I brought flowers home to my wife because I should do so, or that I played with my son and daughter because I was obligated to do so? Kind of minimalizes the relationship and the act regarding that relationship. This is what happens in our relationship with God when we live under a system of religious obligation.
Obligation does NOT equal relationship. If, as a part of my marriage, I take care of maintaining our house, take out the trash, wash the dishes, and go to work to pay the mortgage, these are obliagtions to my family and might be considered expressions of my love. However, I can teel you right now, none of these things would be relationship.
The same goes with God. Just because I might do devotions, going to church, praying a certain amount of times a day, that doesn't mean I have relationship with God. God wants relationship; not actions replacing it.
Scott
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A Thought By Father Leo
So my blog post earlier this week elicited a variety of responses, some who misread the post thinking I was talking about whether we should go to a church building or not. That was not my intent. My intent was and remains with that post to talk about why we gather. What is the reason we meet together, whether that occurs on a Sunday Morning or is an organized setting or at home.
Father Leo, whom I mentioned in the prior post, was kind enough to email a response. I thought I'd post it here to hear your thoughts on what he is saying. There was a small section about raising kids that didn't really apply so I took it out. But I love how you can sense his heart for the people and how he allows for further discussion on the topic.
Father Leo, whom I mentioned in the prior post, was kind enough to email a response. I thought I'd post it here to hear your thoughts on what he is saying. There was a small section about raising kids that didn't really apply so I took it out. But I love how you can sense his heart for the people and how he allows for further discussion on the topic.
I certainly enjoyed reading Scott’s blog and his reflection on Hebrews and a snippet of your family’s worship experience at St. Mary’s. Thanks Scott for you kind words, keep me in your prayers.
The question of spurring each other on is an important one. Some would say that we do this to a degree by just participating in the worship. No doubt many need encouragement, a kind word or even an opportunity to discuss their journey of faith and their discipleship. While some don’t individually feel the need for this, they are fed in other ways. Still they feel the calling to offer to others the words of encouragement, the listening ear or the discerning guidance others are seeking. Of course this can take place on Sunday or at other times during the week at meetings and ministry opportunities. Either way, I see worship as a communal event, the Body gathering together. Still… I know what it’s like to be part of a busy family. I suppose that in the Catholic Church we too often leave it up to the individual to discern their needs and then place the responsibility on the individual’s shoulders to seek out and find what they hunger for. I’m not sure… I ponder this myself at times and have brought it up to the Parish Pastoral Council for discussion… we still touch on it from time to time… without conclusive results. Offering hospitality after all our services flowed out of these discussions. I’m certainly open to ideas. In the past, most Catholic’s lived in Catholic communities and shared a common life… they came to Church to worship. They socialized, worked together and ministered throughout the week not at the Church, but in their communities. Times have changed.
In choosing Hebrews, I believe you touch on something that can open a conversation about something that is uniquely Catholic in our Worship. Obviously our worship is “different” from most of the services in other Churches. For us, Mass is a participation in the divine liturgy; it’s being drawn into the very life of God… the Father’s eternal begetting of the Son, the Son’s eternal gift of self to the Father, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As in Hebrews, we see ourselves entering the “Most Holy Place” at every Mass. As a priestly people we all come to the Altar of God for the curtain that was in the Temple has been removed… that which separates us from God has been removed by the blood of the Lamb. Christ is our High Priest… the ordained priest (Me) is only and instrument of what Christ is doing in our midst as we join Christ’s sacrifice (His gift of Self) by offering ourselves to God. Through this liturgical action we are drawn into the eternal liturgy in heaven… or as many have said… heaven touches earth at the Mass.
I just see this as such a beautiful passage. One of my favorite biblical commentaries that unveils what takes place at Mass was written by Scott Hahn, The Lamb’s Supper. It deals with the book of Revelation, John’s vision… on a Sunday… at what appears to be taking place in heaven and on earth during the Mass.
Anyway, I mention these things because I think that the Mass, which in our tradition is all about becoming one Body with Christ (a Liturgical action of entering into union with God… and in turn through Christ being united with one another), may not have the same initial goal of gathering together to support one another in discipleship and on the path. When Hebrews implores us to “consider how we may spur one another on…” is he imploring us to do so within the context of their liturgical experience… which was well formed from the old into the new testament or was he saying that this needed to be added to and added for the purpose of encouraging one another to “enter the Most Holy Place”? I would lean to the latter… which suggests in my mind that the Body of Christ needs to gather not only for true worship, but to support one another in the ongoing mission. Of course, husbands and wives support one another… friends at work can… I’m not sure there’s a one way fix. But with the author of Hebrews and after your encouragement, I’ll continue “considering how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up…”
Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week.
Peace, Fr. Leo
Monday, February 7, 2011
Purpose of Church
My wife and I have been having this on going discussion as to the purpose of believers meeting together. While I would certainly never ask someone to take sides, I am interested is hearing your thoughts as to the purpose of church.
She attends Saint Mary's in the city which is absolutely a gorgeous church with a wonderful, spirit-filled priest. If you ever get the chance to meet Father Leo, you will find one of the most caring, honest priests I have ever known. He certainly broke my stereotypes of priests. When we attend, we skirt inside the door at 11 AM and most time dash back out as the service is ending at 12 Noon. Every once in a while we do stay and chat with a few of the people we know. For the most part, however, there is little connection to people or fellow believers.
Outside of the Sunday morning experience, she has no other connection to her church. When pressed on why this is, she says she goes there to connect with God and get taught. Believe me when I say I can understand this. With a three year old chugging around the place and a nine year old adopted girl and then on top of it all starting a nonprofit, things can get quite chaotic and it is hard to find time to breathe. It is hard to get that one on one time with the Father sometimes.
Now my purpose in this post is not to debate the regularity of meeting together, or how and where Christians meeting together should look and be, or even whether it should be in a certain established building or not. However, if all we are doing is going to church to connect with God or being taught, I can do both of those from home. After all, we all have the Spirit that teaches us all things, right? In my mind and understanding, it seems like our meeting and gathering should be more than just that.
My wife and I sat with my cousins at Christmas, and when they found out I had not been a part of a church for over a year, one of the verses thrown out as to why I should be in church was the one in Hebrews. Here it is in context:
For the sake of this argument, the one I started this post with, let's put aside whether this scripture is chatting about a physical location of gathering on a Sunday mornings, and instead focus on the purpose of gathering and getting together.
The first part of this passage seems to be talking about the free and unhindered access we have to God. The verses typically pointed to for gathering are verses 24 and 25. Let's break them down a bit. "Let us consider..." This part of gathering suggests first off that it is a collective considering, not just one person guiding our leading. Secondly, it says "consider" which when defined means to "think about carefully." So when we gather we are as a group supposed to consider carefully how we might "spur one another on toward love and good deeds..."
The writer of Hebrews then encourages believers not to give up meeting together. It seems a no brainer to me that it would be difficult to spur or urge one another on to love and good deeds if we don't meet together. We can't encourage each other either.
But is it not just as bad to meet together and not encourage or spur each other onto good deeds? If we go to church and all it is about is us and God, then where does Hebrews fit it? Where do we as the body of Christ fit in? And if the Sunday morning church meeting is relegated to just teaching, what makes that teaching any more inspirational or godly than listening to Charles Swindoll or the guys on The God journey podcast?
Anyway, something to think about.
I welcome your thoughts.
Scott Hertzog
She attends Saint Mary's in the city which is absolutely a gorgeous church with a wonderful, spirit-filled priest. If you ever get the chance to meet Father Leo, you will find one of the most caring, honest priests I have ever known. He certainly broke my stereotypes of priests. When we attend, we skirt inside the door at 11 AM and most time dash back out as the service is ending at 12 Noon. Every once in a while we do stay and chat with a few of the people we know. For the most part, however, there is little connection to people or fellow believers.
Outside of the Sunday morning experience, she has no other connection to her church. When pressed on why this is, she says she goes there to connect with God and get taught. Believe me when I say I can understand this. With a three year old chugging around the place and a nine year old adopted girl and then on top of it all starting a nonprofit, things can get quite chaotic and it is hard to find time to breathe. It is hard to get that one on one time with the Father sometimes.
Now my purpose in this post is not to debate the regularity of meeting together, or how and where Christians meeting together should look and be, or even whether it should be in a certain established building or not. However, if all we are doing is going to church to connect with God or being taught, I can do both of those from home. After all, we all have the Spirit that teaches us all things, right? In my mind and understanding, it seems like our meeting and gathering should be more than just that.
My wife and I sat with my cousins at Christmas, and when they found out I had not been a part of a church for over a year, one of the verses thrown out as to why I should be in church was the one in Hebrews. Here it is in context:
Hebrews 12:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
For the sake of this argument, the one I started this post with, let's put aside whether this scripture is chatting about a physical location of gathering on a Sunday mornings, and instead focus on the purpose of gathering and getting together.
The first part of this passage seems to be talking about the free and unhindered access we have to God. The verses typically pointed to for gathering are verses 24 and 25. Let's break them down a bit. "Let us consider..." This part of gathering suggests first off that it is a collective considering, not just one person guiding our leading. Secondly, it says "consider" which when defined means to "think about carefully." So when we gather we are as a group supposed to consider carefully how we might "spur one another on toward love and good deeds..."
The writer of Hebrews then encourages believers not to give up meeting together. It seems a no brainer to me that it would be difficult to spur or urge one another on to love and good deeds if we don't meet together. We can't encourage each other either.
But is it not just as bad to meet together and not encourage or spur each other onto good deeds? If we go to church and all it is about is us and God, then where does Hebrews fit it? Where do we as the body of Christ fit in? And if the Sunday morning church meeting is relegated to just teaching, what makes that teaching any more inspirational or godly than listening to Charles Swindoll or the guys on The God journey podcast?
Anyway, something to think about.
I welcome your thoughts.
Scott Hertzog
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Irony of Church
So yeah, yesterday I felt prompted to go to church...sensed it...or whatever terminology you get when you know God is urging you to do something. It wasn't just any church mind you; I sensed I was supposed to pack up the kids and head on over to Lancaster County Bible Church, a mega-church in my area. This was the first time that I voluntarily said I was heading to church since I last left the church more than a year ago (other than supporting my wife at her church or going to church with the in-laws when in town and the like).
Had an interesting conversation with Bill before I went. I had Facebooked that I sensed God urging me to this church this morning and was wondering what He had to show me. He encouraged me that maybe I was going not just for myself, or to learn something, but perhaps was going to meet someone or for the sake of someone else.
That made me step back. Whenever God tells me something or leads me into something, I tend to look inward, instead of outward. What's in it for me? Certainly God is concerned with my spiritual well being, but He also has this whole Love Your Neighbor thing He likes to throw around.
Anyway, I went. Saw some acquaintances; met a current student. Those were really my only outward experiences. Nothing really seemed significant although perhaps that will connect me to the student in a different way. I was impacted inwardly though.
I knew none of the songs; I felt burdened by all the personnel and money it took to run the machine. It definitely was a well-oiled machine. Knowing my life now and all the work that goes into it, I am glad I am no longer a part of it.
The key to the entire experience was that I heard God's voice and listened. The sermon was on hearing God's voice and paying attention to the nudges of the Spirit. Ironic since it was because of these nudges that I was there. The pastor shared a verse form 1 Kings that struck me. "When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?”"1 Kings 19:13 The teaching in this verse is mostly focused on that still small voice of God, listening and hearing. That we don't need a booming voice from the clouds to hear Him nor an earthquake to get our attention.
And while I was reminded of this, I sensed God saying to me the final five words: "What are you doing here?" Well, God, see I am here at this church because you told me to come. Never say God doesn't have a sense of humor. I also took this to be more analytical. Why am I where I am at currently? Kind of a call to take stock and to know and understand where I am at in my journey.
Why couldn't He have pointed me to this scripture outside of church? (Shrug) I don't know. Does this mean I am now going to church again? I don't think so.
The message though is important. Listen for the still small voice, tune into what God wants to do in the moments of your life. All moments. Not just the set-aside times for God. And take stock of where you are at. It reminded me of this verse in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 6:16
"This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
Lord, teach me to trust in you.
Scott Hertzog
Had an interesting conversation with Bill before I went. I had Facebooked that I sensed God urging me to this church this morning and was wondering what He had to show me. He encouraged me that maybe I was going not just for myself, or to learn something, but perhaps was going to meet someone or for the sake of someone else.
That made me step back. Whenever God tells me something or leads me into something, I tend to look inward, instead of outward. What's in it for me? Certainly God is concerned with my spiritual well being, but He also has this whole Love Your Neighbor thing He likes to throw around.
Anyway, I went. Saw some acquaintances; met a current student. Those were really my only outward experiences. Nothing really seemed significant although perhaps that will connect me to the student in a different way. I was impacted inwardly though.
I knew none of the songs; I felt burdened by all the personnel and money it took to run the machine. It definitely was a well-oiled machine. Knowing my life now and all the work that goes into it, I am glad I am no longer a part of it.
The key to the entire experience was that I heard God's voice and listened. The sermon was on hearing God's voice and paying attention to the nudges of the Spirit. Ironic since it was because of these nudges that I was there. The pastor shared a verse form 1 Kings that struck me. "When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?”"1 Kings 19:13 The teaching in this verse is mostly focused on that still small voice of God, listening and hearing. That we don't need a booming voice from the clouds to hear Him nor an earthquake to get our attention.
And while I was reminded of this, I sensed God saying to me the final five words: "What are you doing here?" Well, God, see I am here at this church because you told me to come. Never say God doesn't have a sense of humor. I also took this to be more analytical. Why am I where I am at currently? Kind of a call to take stock and to know and understand where I am at in my journey.
Why couldn't He have pointed me to this scripture outside of church? (Shrug) I don't know. Does this mean I am now going to church again? I don't think so.
The message though is important. Listen for the still small voice, tune into what God wants to do in the moments of your life. All moments. Not just the set-aside times for God. And take stock of where you are at. It reminded me of this verse in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 6:16
"This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
Lord, teach me to trust in you.
Scott Hertzog
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Struggle to Connect
This morning, I met with an acquaintance I have known for a long time. Initially set up the meeting to reconnect with him since it had been some time since we last connected. I was hoping it could potentially be something more. It wasn't.
What really wanted to do was to share about my struggles, my inability to connect with my daughter, my feeling misunderstood by my wife, cousins misunderstanding my hunger for God, and my loneliness from being disconnected. Though At times I steered the conversations that direction, the discussion always were about him, his business, his family, his investments,... While I still have great respect for the man, I wonder when he goes home tonight what he will tell his wife he learned about me? Only the most casual surface stuff, that is for sure.
I am an alien in my own household. I know God is here and in the midst of the weight of financial chaos, disconnection, he remains. Lord, lead me.
What really wanted to do was to share about my struggles, my inability to connect with my daughter, my feeling misunderstood by my wife, cousins misunderstanding my hunger for God, and my loneliness from being disconnected. Though At times I steered the conversations that direction, the discussion always were about him, his business, his family, his investments,... While I still have great respect for the man, I wonder when he goes home tonight what he will tell his wife he learned about me? Only the most casual surface stuff, that is for sure.
I am an alien in my own household. I know God is here and in the midst of the weight of financial chaos, disconnection, he remains. Lord, lead me.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Struggle
The most difficult thing in this entire journey has not been understanding what it means to live in authentic relationship with God and others, but in living it out in the understanding that others do not need to understand where I am at and do not need to agree with it. Nor do I need to convert them, but allow them to be where God has them. This is the most difficult thing in communication with my wife. And in walking out living loved with my family.
Scott Hertzog
Scott Hertzog
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Invitation...
It has been a heck of a while since I last posted. My life has revolved much around my children and a local Biggest Loser Contest that is winding up this week. I have lost a whooping 57 pounds through diet and exercise. Needless-to-say, my life has been treadmill morning, treadmill evening with some other exercise thrown in between.
This is not to say that my spiritual journey has been dormant. In the past month, my wife and I have started family devotions and prayer times with the kids. I have read through "He Loves Me" once and "So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore" again. I have also read "Wide Open Spaces", a book that both challenged my thinking and disturbed me at the same time. I have spent time in oindividual reflection. I haven't spent as much time as I would like connecting to others.
What does it mean to live in God's love? Some days I feel no closer to this than the day I made the decision to leave the organized religion. Others I get a guilt complex, feeling I "should" be reading the Bible more (mind you I stopped reading it in January except for the children's Bible I am using with my kids) or I should be praying more.
I think one thing that has hit me recently was that wherever Christ went, he presented an invitation to walk with him. There was no coercion; he didn't tell the crowd turn or burn. He invited those around him to walk with him a share his life. He gave them good news "The kingdom of God is here," but what exactly did that mean? The disciples spent three years trying to figure that out. Paul got saved, then disappeared for around a decade or so.
So I guess what I am thinking is that I am on a journey. If I don't get it right away, if God needs to work through the religion that has infused my life for 38 years, if I screw up, that is ok. God is bigger than that. God is able to break through my inability to hear him at times. Trusting God's love will take a lifetime.
I leave this post with a quote I heard on "The God Journey" Podcast this weekend.
"Who wants to live a life imprisoned in safety?" from the movie Amelia.
S. Hertzog
The Wandering Soul
This is not to say that my spiritual journey has been dormant. In the past month, my wife and I have started family devotions and prayer times with the kids. I have read through "He Loves Me" once and "So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore" again. I have also read "Wide Open Spaces", a book that both challenged my thinking and disturbed me at the same time. I have spent time in oindividual reflection. I haven't spent as much time as I would like connecting to others.
What does it mean to live in God's love? Some days I feel no closer to this than the day I made the decision to leave the organized religion. Others I get a guilt complex, feeling I "should" be reading the Bible more (mind you I stopped reading it in January except for the children's Bible I am using with my kids) or I should be praying more.
I think one thing that has hit me recently was that wherever Christ went, he presented an invitation to walk with him. There was no coercion; he didn't tell the crowd turn or burn. He invited those around him to walk with him a share his life. He gave them good news "The kingdom of God is here," but what exactly did that mean? The disciples spent three years trying to figure that out. Paul got saved, then disappeared for around a decade or so.
So I guess what I am thinking is that I am on a journey. If I don't get it right away, if God needs to work through the religion that has infused my life for 38 years, if I screw up, that is ok. God is bigger than that. God is able to break through my inability to hear him at times. Trusting God's love will take a lifetime.
I leave this post with a quote I heard on "The God Journey" Podcast this weekend.
"Who wants to live a life imprisoned in safety?" from the movie Amelia.
S. Hertzog
The Wandering Soul
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