In today’s post I want to ask you THE question for gauging your spiritual health.
Are you ready?
Here’s the question: Do you enjoy God?
Are you surprised?
Perhaps you thought the question would be about you belief in certain doctrines and dogmas. You know what I mean…
Do I have the right understanding of the inspiration and authority of the Bible?
Do I believe that Jesus was really, honestly, truly born of a virgin mother?
Do I believe that there are actual places we call heaven and hell?
Do I believe that women are called and gifted to serve as pastor?
You know all the questions, right? Some folks believe that HOW you answer these questions determines your spiritual health and well-being.
Or maybe you thought the answer might have something to do with proper performance and action – accomplishing all the do’s on somebody’s “religious to-do list.”
By the way, what’s on your religious to do list?
Praying daily…Reading the Bible…Attending Worship…Giving tithes…Witnessing about the Gospel…Feeding the Hungry…Building Homes with Habitat for Humanity…Recycling papers and plastics
Understand that giving thought to your doctrine is important and religious deeds are a great thing to do. Still, it is possible to have all the “right” beliefs (whatever those might be) and to do all the “right” deeds (whatever those might be) and STILL NOT be spiritually healthy.
So, let me ask you again, what I consider to be the MOST important question for gauging our spiritual health. (By the way, this is an introspective question. You should not try to apply it to others. You should only ask it of yourself.). Okay, here’s that question again: “Do you enjoy God?”
One day Jesus spoke of the mission (purpose) of his ministry. He said, “I have come that you might have life and have it in all its abundance.”
Jesus did not say: “I have come that you might be burned-out doing church work.”
Jesus did not say: “I have come that you might have more religious rules.”
Jesus did not say: “I have come that you might have more rituals and regulations.”
Jesus did not say: “I have come to give you a few more doctrine and dogmas.”
Jesus did not say: “I have come that you might feel burdened and full of misery.”
Jesus speaks of life. When he does he is speaking about more than whether we have breath in our lungs and blood rushing through our veins. For Jesus, life meant being in an intimate relationship with God – and as God’s one and only Son, this is the gift Jesus came to bring us. “I have come that you might have life!”
Jesus is the means by which humanity finds wholeness, redemption, and salvation.
Jesus is the means by which we discover that God the Father is not an Ogre to be placated, but a Papa who seeks to embrace us in love.
Jesus is the means by which we are filled with the Holy Spirit’s life, power, and presence.
Ancient church leaders referred to this as “perichoresis.” This word was used to refer to the interconnectedness and relationship within the Holy Trinity which Jesus lifts us up into as our redeemer. Theologian Baxter Kruger calls this “the Divine dance.” It is a relationship of love, passion, and unmitigated joy.
So, here is that question again: “Do you enjoy God?”
When I was in junior high school, I remember a “Sadie Hawkins” dance. I was a shy guy and would have never asked a girl to dance. BUT if the right girl were to ask me to dance, I’d hit the dance floor with moves that would make John Travolta (from Saturday Night Fever and Grease) look like an amateur.
The right girl? She was a cute brunette named Kim. I’d had a crush on her since I was old enough to feel a crush. It was a crush that pretty much followed me throughout high school.
Well, there is stood. I so wanted to dance. Then came a tap on my shoulder. “Billy, would you dance with me?” It was Kim. We danced. It was my first dance. It was a “slow” dance. My heart was racing. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a JOYFUL experience. It was an experience of pure abundant joy. I had never felt more alive in my junior high lifetime.
Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it in all abundance.”
I think Jesus is saying: “I have come that you might have a joyful and fulfilling relationship with God the Father.” I think Jesus is saying that his reason for coming is to make it possible for us to enjoy God.
Since this was His mission and purpose, than I am sure that you can understand the reason why the most important question we can ask to gage our spiritual health is this: DO YOU ENJOY GOD?
Well, do you?
