Made For More (Chapter 7): Lady Wisdom -- Thinking God's Thoughts After Him

Biology: the science (study) of life.  Anthropology: the study of past human civilizations and culture. Theology: the study of God.

In this chapter, Anderson begins by pointing out that the translation of the root word "logos" (Greek) as "word" contains an inherent reference to the idea behind that word.  The Gospel of John identifies Jesus as the Logos, not only as the expression of God's thought (the "word") but as the perfect embodiment of the intent behind the thought.  In studying the person and life of Christ, we are actually studying the very nature of God.  This is precisely why our study of Scripture and understanding of Christ is essential to true Christianity.  

Unfortunately, time spent in practical "service" of God often crowds out opportunities for truly knowing Him. In Luke 10, the contrasting approaches of sisters Mary and Martha allow for Christ's instruction on what is "better".  While Martha was busy "doing" what she believed to be helpful to Christ, Mary was at His feet -- both learning and worshiping.  Anderson's comments on this story take into account the long, drawn out conflict between encouraging education or domesticity among women (as an aside, this should not be an either/or issue).

"... what if education -- what if learning and thinking and knowing -- is less about what you do  with your knowledge than it is about the person you become in the process?  What if learning is less about how to make a living and more about how to live?"

Approaching spiritual learning as a discipline rather than a hobby stands in direct contrast to the traditional women's ministry attempt to embody passages of Scripture addressed specifically to women ("pink passages", as Anderson calls them).  Without a doubt, certain passages help us understand what being a Christian woman (or man) looks like practically.  But many more Scriptures are dedicated to describing Christian life in general -- and these apply equally to men and women.  

"When we identify first and foremost as women, we can begin to believe that knowledge of ourselves will come primarily through passages that speak to women's issues or include heroines like Ruth or Esther. But when we do this, when we craft our learning and discipleship programs around being 'women,' we make womanhood the central focus of our pursuit of knowledge instead of Christ.  And we forget that those 'pink passages' were never intended to be sufficient by themselves... We forget that nothing about them will make any sense if they are not first grounded in the truth that we are destined to be conformed to His image through Christ." 

Think about your experience in women's small groups and Bible studies (or in reading Christian women's books and blogs).  Has the focus consistently been on being more Christ-like?  Or are there long, convoluted digressions into being more "Christian-woman-like"?  The Proverbs 31 woman is not our standard: Christ is.  And while there exist many beautiful aspects of Godly womanhood, these were not meant to take precedence over our pursuit of Christ.

Questions:
1. Does "acquiring Godly wisdom" make it to your to-do list on most days?  How would you act differently if your day's activities were viewed through this lens?
2. Do you find it easier to pursue "Christian-woman-like" accomplishments than Christ-like character?  How can you challenge this tendency in your life and the lives around you?

Made For More (Chapter 6): Good, Gracious Me -- Cultivating a Large, Generous Soul

"For a society that prides itself on tolerance, we are also a society that fundamentally lacks grace when we interact with each other.  You only have to read blog comments, listen to talk radio, or watch what happens when a scandal breaks -- when some public figure makes a mistake or fails at his duties or says something inappropriate.  If he's an ideological opponent, we quickly become rabid animals, gleefully watching his demise. If we are his supporters,we insist that he did nothing wrong, even as we know that he probably did.

"And in either case, there is no forgiveness; there is no redemption.  No public apology is sufficient.  No attempt to pay back is enough.  No acknowledgment of guilt or repentance will ever be adequate.  And we wonder why the people closest to us -- in our homes and churches and schools -- have a hard time acknowledging their own failures.  Could it be that we've faithfully demonstrated to them that there will be no grace when they do?" - Hannah Anderson

The centrality of the Gospel is that we (people) are not good.  We need a Savior.  When we mess up (and we will), we need grace.  When we practice extending grace to others, we are reminded of the grace that is daily (and hourly) extended to us by God.

As we go through our days, we should celebrate inconvenience and disappointments as opportunities to be gracious.  This perspective will remind us of the Cross -- of the grace upon grace poured regularly into our lives, and the love of God towards perfectly loved, imperfect people.

Questions:
Have you noticed a paucity of grace in your daily interactions?  How do you respond when things don't go as planned?  How do others respond when you make a mistake?  What would our world and our homes look like if we did not expect people to act perfectly all the time?

Made For More (Chapter 5): Looking for Love -- How Your Heart Makes You Who You Are

Think about the last time you were frustrated with someone you care about deeply.  Most likely, this interaction resulted from one (or both) of you wishing the other person was making different choices.

Hannah Anderson summarizes this situation nicely. "[People do what they want]. You can discover what a person loves -- where she finds identity -- by observing the choices she makes. More significantly, you can discover what you love -- where you find identity -- by observing the choices you make."

This is a compelling line of logic.  If examining our choices can tell us what we love (and ultimately, who we are), perhaps our search for identity has been merely an excuse for not facing what we could easily know about ourselves.  Anderson suggests asking the following questions:

"What do I spend my time doing?
What do I think about most?
What do I talk about?
What do I fight to protect?
What can make me angry?

What will I sin to achieve?"

Take a few minutes now to respond to each of these questions.  Which one(s) made you most uncomfortable?  Did you discover anything about your values that you had not previously realized?

If we are honest, our efforts and affections are more often directed towards self-gratification than glorifying God.  When Jesus taught the two greatest commandments were loving God supremely and loving our neighbors as ourselves, He knew we were incapable of such selflessness.  Of course, we try.  We invent all kinds of programs and self-help approaches to becoming "better" people.  But the message of the Gospel is that while we can never achieve God's standards, Christ satisfied God's demands on our behalf.  Furthermore, His sacrifice empowers us to live God-honoring lives.

Anderson concludes, "When we talk about love and law, then, we are not talking about two different things that must balance each other out.  When we talk about law and love, we are talking about the depth and fullness of God's character: a character we are intended to reflect in all its complexity... Those who rely on legalistic rules as a way to gain God's love miss that He already loves them.  And those who insist that God's love transcend His rules miss that those very rules were given because He loves them.  In this sense, legalism and sentimentality are branches of the same tree; at root, they are attempts to find identity -- to love -- apart from God." 

In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul outlines the antidote to false identity.  "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." 

When we are rooted in Christ, our faith will be strong and our hearts thankful.  When we are not, our choices will reflect the wanderings of our hearts.  And if we repent, Christ is both able and eager to save us -- even and especially from ourselves. 

Made for More (Chapter 4): Made Like Him -- Finding Your Life by Losing Yourself in Him

The phrase "born again" conjures up a variety of feelings and thoughts for most people.  It has been used both as a categorical insult and a "members only" badge of sorts.

But what did Jesus really mean when He said "you must be born again?"

"Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again'." - John 3:5-7 (NIV)

Not be surprised?  Had anyone ever been born twice?  This was the question Nicodemus had asked immediately prior to hearing the verses above.  In His response, Jesus was differentiating for the Jewish ruler the difference between physical and spiritual life.  Both must begin at a distinct time.

As Anderson wisely points out, however, being born is not all there is to life.  Indeed, it is only the beginning.  The emphasis among Christians is often on a one-time spiritual rebirth, when in fact there is so much more to Christian life.

"When Jesus said that 'you must be born again', He was speaking about when and how spiritual life begins, not where it ends.  Because while it is true that we cannot live unless we are born, it is also true that our lives cannot be reduced to the moment we enter this world and breathe our first breath. Finding identity in Christ cannot be confined to one moment, because union with Christ is not simply an event; it is a state of being, a way of existing.  When we are united with Christ, He becomes the source of our life.  He is our lifeblood, pulsing through our veins; he is our breath and the air we breath.  We are not only reborn in Him.  We live in Him (Anderson)."

This is brilliant imagery.  As we grow and mature in our faith, we are becoming less like we were, and more like Christ.  

"When you commit yourself to Christ, He will make you the purest, most authentic version of yourself.  As He removes your sin, He will strip away the things that have kept you from reflecting His glory and having your existence illuminated by His.  And as He does so, you will regain a complete sense of self (Anderson)."

When we find ourselves in Him, we are no longer bound by legalistic demands or personal striving.  And such is the Good News!  We are not on our own, struggling to become more like a perfect Savior.  That Savior is working in us daily to make us more like Him.

As Anderson concludes, "God intends to reflect His identity through your identity.  What He is, you will become. He is holy; you must be holy.  He loves; so you must love.  He forgives; so you must forgive... And yet, these are no longer legalistic demands placed upon us, demands that constantly mock our failure and inadequacy. They are not demands; they are His promises -- promises that He is fulfilling through Jesus Christ."

Questions:

1. What does the metaphor of being "born again" mean for us, in light of an ongoing life (not a one-time event)?
2. How does an identity shaped by the work God is already doing in us (as Christians) provide freedom from legalism and striving?