Bacon Or Eggs?

[DrRita]

Am I really committed to Christ or have I simply pledged my allegiance to his cause. I think of the way I pray, plan, and pursue my goals and I wonder if I am as committed as I say I am. Is God just a means to an end? Have I decided to follow God and join his family so he can help me meet my goals and aspirations? I dare say few of us would be as bold and honest to admit such a carnal focus and yet, if I examine my own life’s history I see a trail of broken dreams and failed goals, all mine. Is God to blame? No! Sadly, much of popular Christianity falsely advertises God as the fulfiller of our dreams. Isn’t it true that much of the preaching today focuses on what Christ can do for me? What about what he wants to do through me? It’s a question of commitment verses contribution, of living my life verses taking on Christ’s life.

A pastor friend of mine once used the illustration of bacon and eggs to drive home the point of commitment verses contribution. He said that if you look at a plate of bacon and eggs, you realize that the pig made a commitment while the chicken simply made a contribution. If I’m doing little more than contributing to Christ and his kingdom, hoping to reap some personal benefits then I shall reap what I sow; a few temporal rewards and successes here in this life. I might have some minimal success but as for anything lasting, I’ve simply missed the mark. However, if I make a commitment that pushes my own goals in the background and places the kingdom of heaven first, I might see greater things than my paltry aspirations realized. God has been uncovering some ugly truths in my life as of late. I’m shamed and humbled but thankful that he is allowing me time now to reconsider my own pledge to him. Commitment or contribution; bacon or eggs? I guess if I have to choose, I’d rather be a pig than a chicken.

[Merry]

Great article, Doc. Gave me a lot to think about.

[DrRita]

Thanks Merry, challenges me too!!

[SStypa]

!thumbsup!So very true. And we wonder why things happen the way they do! You have given me a lot to think about.

[revterry]

One of the families that I had opportunity to minister to occasionally were totally into organic farming. They raised pigs that were fed organic feed. Their purpose was to keep the chemicals that are normally added to pig feed out of their hogs. The stories in the Bible are organic in that we see the people as they really were. The Disciple Peter is a prime example of "inorganic" faith. The Gospels make no attempt to create a super-spiritual man out of Peter. The chemicals that kept Peter from being as pure as is humanly possible were "Pride and Position." The flaws in his character are blended right into every story when they are necessary to telling the whole story. Were those flaws included by writers who were anti-Peter? No, they were included so the reader could clearly see that inspite of our own imperfections and failings, Jesus can and will use us to be ministers of His Word.
But, we cannot forget that Jesus called Peter down when he allowed himself to challenge Jesus' will and way, i.e. "You will not wash my feet." He will hold us accountable, for our "inorganic" practices, as well.
Organic Bacon costs more, because it requires more effort on the part of the farmer. Organic faith costs more, because it requires us to not allow self-righteousness to be part of our faith practices.
O Lord, help us to keep the "Organic example of Jesus as our spiritual nourishment.

[johnnyg67]

Good article! My main burden in life is for the church I've seen and been part of the groups that do a lot of egg laying thinking that is what God wants, but many times we get a little afraid when it comes to being the bacon, after all most everyone else around us is in the egg business....I guess that makes us spiritual chickens!

Being the bacon means that I lay my entire life on the line for what I believe and for the God I follow. Sometimes I allow myself the comfort of being in the egg basket (church building) too long, but God knows my heart and I need his help to help me become the bacon again. Our heart is the key. Do we long for God to use us or are we happy little chickens pecking around the ground for worms? Okay I've confused everyone huh?

[revterry]

In your Bacon/Eggs article, you mentioned allowing Christ to work through us. You are absolutely right!. In my last pastorate I referred a number of times of Christ's Will, Word and Way as being the focus of our faith journey. I believe all the systems of the church should be based on these three principles. The Gospels lay these out so very clearly. In my opinion, too much pulpit time is spent on the teachings of Paul as stand-alone theology. Paul's teachings are applications to particular church situations of the teachings of Christ and admonitions against those who have allowed self-righteousness to supplant the teachings of Jesus. It the Church adopted as it's Creed Matthew 5,6,7 and John 14,15,16 and 17 from the very beginning, this would indeed be a different Church. "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me," tells me that the Will of Jesus is that we live out His Word, His Way. only then will we be accepted by the Father.
This my friends is the "Meat and Potatoes" of our faith!

[writegirl1949]

Great article. I would have questioned myself more five years ago ... maybe even just a few months ago. While I have long believed that God wants me to write, I think now that it's probably more of a contribution. But this past June I was astounded to realize God calling me to children's ministry. That was the last place I thought I'd be called -- well, maybe not. The choir is the very last place I would expect God to call me.:rolleyes: Now I see God's guiding hand in my job as preschool aide during the last school year and preschool teacher during the summer program as preparation for taking on the leadership of our church's preschool ministry. WOW. God sure surprised me. :eek: But maybe that's what we all need -- surrendering ourselves so that God can surprise us.

Now that the summer program is over, it's nice to have time to spend here at CW. I've missed it a lot.

You're a great writer, my friend.

Blessings, Francine

[kara]

Great thoughts! I am right there with you on that...but, do you ever struggle to find the line between that which is your own, and that which is divine calling? There are things which pound so heavily on my heart that it seems beyond human drive... always followed by frustration though because I don't know if it is me or HE...

any thoughts???

Thanks!!!

kara

[DrRita]

I've found that what is God's will for me grows and does not diminish. What is mine, usually is a flash in the pan or wavers. I also find that what God calls me to, he gives me a "slow burn" so to speak and that it's most often beyond me, beyond my ability, vision, sometimes even my faith. Those things that come from me are within my abilities, albeit a stretch but I am pretty certain I can do it. God's will often seems 1) exciting!! 2) scary 3) beyond my ability. Hope this helps.

[D.Alysse]

!thumbsup! WOW! I want to email this article to all of my friends. God bless you! And, thanks a lot!

[agathachristie]

Thanks for this great, very incisive article. Several years ago, I asked myself if I really love God, and the answers I found shocked me. Why do I tithe? Why do I want to fully obey the Lord and carefully follow Him? To my surprise, the answer I came up with was not because I love God, but because I wanted everything to work right. The reason I wanted to do things according to His instructions and live my life according to His will was I wanted the blessings; not because I love Him.