Luke 4--Shopping Cart Spirituality
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Jesus ate nothing during those 40 days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
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These days all the cool folks want to be spiritual but not religious. People push their mystic buggy around the aisles of spirituality and choose whatever looks appealing.
“I’ll take a little Tantric Yoga (I look good in tights), some Buddhist meditation (I like bells and incense), a healthy dose of Kama Sutra (I like other things too), and a slice of Native American Vision Quest.”
There are a couple of problems with this shopping cart spirituality. When we invent our own spiritual smoothies we become the popes of our own little religions. Not many of us are created to be our own Messiah. It is not healthy to answer only to yourself. That's why God gave you elders.
But there is another problem. We tend to leave the things we DON’T like on the shelves. We skip things like sacrificial giving, selfless living, limitless forgiveness, boundless compassion… and fasting.
We Christians believe Jesus had an inside track to spirituality, but even he had to spend a long time in fasting, prayer, and self-denial, listening to the voices of his elders.
It is not quick or easy or hip or cool or fun--not even if you really ARE the Messiah. Vision quest calls us to remember our spiritual heritage and walk with our elders. The road to glory leads through self-denial... humility... and listening.
(No shopping carts allowed)
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Creator, I have a constant urge to take your throne, and make myself the ruler of all things. Today I honor the elders who have come before me, and so I honor you. Show me the sacred road of fasting and self-denial. Today I wait for you.