it's hard for packrats to find Jesus

"The thief comes only to steal, kill, & destroy; I come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." 

~ Jesus of Nazareth (John 10:10)

The common American take on the season of Lent bothers me.  If our view of Christianity is of giving up things, we have it all wrong.  The things we feel we are "giving up" are our idols even in their esteemed absence, and show us that we don't yet understand the joy and freedom of a life lived with Christ.  Like packrats, we keep things to protect ourselves because we fear the worst, hoarding junk designed to prevent or ameliorate loss, death, and destruction.  We think we are living because we aren't dying.  But our protection, fences, and hedges make it hard to run freely after Christ.  He wanted us to live life more fully - or abundantly - in the present. Sure, running means giving up some things - the last guy who tried to run a marathon in full armor died - but anything we give up is for a greater freedom, not just sacrifice for its own sake.  If we're still bemoaning what we gave up, we aren't yet free. 

"When people talk about coming to Christ, they often talk about what they gave up, as if they made a heroic sacrifice.  If it still seems like sacrifice, we don't get it yet - whatever we sacrificed is so much bullshit.  Take the trophies off the mantle, throw them in the trashcan, have a good laugh, and follow the Yes, the Amen."

~ Ray Ortlund (08.mar.11)

We think a full life is all about us and what we've done - or not done.  Christ made the only heroic sacrifice.