Today’s Readings: Psalm 122; Nehemiah 2:1-20; Luke 4:1-8; Titus 3:1-15; Psalm 48
Featured Reading: Nehemiah 2:1-20. There is a process that many progressive people of faith go through. That process looks something like this. Early in our faith journeys we acquire information about our faith. The process of acquiring information is usually pretty black and white for many of us. We take in that information and sit with it for awhile. Eventually, however, something happens, and we begin to question the information that was first presented to us. This leads to a process called deconstruction where we leave behind those things we were first taught that no longer have value for us. Sadly, something happens at this point to some folks. In the process of letting go of those things that no longer hold value for them, they become bitter and jaded and remain stuck in that place of deconstruction. Rather than focus on what they do believe, they spend much of their time focusing on what they no longer believe. Ideally, there’s another process that should follow deconstruction. That process? Reconstruction! That is the place where a person begins to rebuild one’s theology based on one’s learnings/experiences. Today’s reading from Nehemiah gives us a healthy model of what this deconstruction/reconstruction process looks like - literally. At the start of the passage, we are introduced to Nehemiah – an individual living in a world that had been deconstructed for him through the destruction of Jerusalem and its walls. Instead of choosing to remain in that place, however, Nehemiah took a huge risk and asked King Artaxerxes if he could travel back to Jerusalem and participate in a process of reconstruction. The king agreed, and Nehemiah was able to return to Jerusalem and assist in its reconstruction. As a result of his willingness to help rebuild, thousands of other lives were blessed. During this Lenten season, I know that it would be so easy to stay in a place of deconstruction – focusing on those aspects of the journey toward the cross that no longer hold the same meaning for you as they did when you first encountered them years ago. If that’s where you are (stuck in a place of deconstruction), I would encourage you to follow Nehemiah’s example and do something radical: focus on reconstructing the foundational elements of your faith. Your committment to reconstruct your faith will provide you blessings beyond measure this Lenten season! Til next time…
Featured Reading: Nehemiah 2:1-20. There is a process that many progressive people of faith go through. That process looks something like this. Early in our faith journeys we acquire information about our faith. The process of acquiring information is usually pretty black and white for many of us. We take in that information and sit with it for awhile. Eventually, however, something happens, and we begin to question the information that was first presented to us. This leads to a process called deconstruction where we leave behind those things we were first taught that no longer have value for us. Sadly, something happens at this point to some folks. In the process of letting go of those things that no longer hold value for them, they become bitter and jaded and remain stuck in that place of deconstruction. Rather than focus on what they do believe, they spend much of their time focusing on what they no longer believe. Ideally, there’s another process that should follow deconstruction. That process? Reconstruction! That is the place where a person begins to rebuild one’s theology based on one’s learnings/experiences. Today’s reading from Nehemiah gives us a healthy model of what this deconstruction/reconstruction process looks like - literally. At the start of the passage, we are introduced to Nehemiah – an individual living in a world that had been deconstructed for him through the destruction of Jerusalem and its walls. Instead of choosing to remain in that place, however, Nehemiah took a huge risk and asked King Artaxerxes if he could travel back to Jerusalem and participate in a process of reconstruction. The king agreed, and Nehemiah was able to return to Jerusalem and assist in its reconstruction. As a result of his willingness to help rebuild, thousands of other lives were blessed. During this Lenten season, I know that it would be so easy to stay in a place of deconstruction – focusing on those aspects of the journey toward the cross that no longer hold the same meaning for you as they did when you first encountered them years ago. If that’s where you are (stuck in a place of deconstruction), I would encourage you to follow Nehemiah’s example and do something radical: focus on reconstructing the foundational elements of your faith. Your committment to reconstruct your faith will provide you blessings beyond measure this Lenten season! Til next time…
1 comment:
I have done a journey of deconstruction and reconstruction intellectually. Today and forward my challenge will a spiritual rebuilding
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