Thanksgiving and Discontent

On this day where we reflect on the things that we are grateful for, I'd like to suggest that we should be discontent.

Yes, discontent. I'll explain.

grate⋅ful [greyt-fuhl] –adjective

1. warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help.

con⋅tent [kuhn-tent] –adjective

1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

"Not wanting more or anything else." At first glance, that seems like it would be a good thing. Aren't we supposed to be satisfied with what God has given us? Isn't contentment the opposite of greed, which we are to avoid? In material things, contentment is a virtue. However, when it comes to spiritual matters, we should always be striving for greater things. We should be grateful for what God has given us and done for us, but at the same time we are to continually draw closer to God and develop a stronger relationship with him. In doing so, we become more attuned to his Spirit inside of us and to the things he has called us to do. We cannot be satisfied with imperfection--with only seeing as through a glass, darkly. We cannot be satisfied with being less than what God has called us to be. Instead, we must have a discontent with where we are spiritually, both as individuals and as a world collectively. This means that, while always remaining patient and understanding that God moves in his own time, we should always be doing what we can to push forward and strive towards greater spiritual depth and connection with God. And now more than ever, our world needs the church to come fully alive in this way.

In my previous post, "Conflict in Worship Music," I wrote that in order for us to truly have honesty in our worship, we must first understand how far we have fallen from grace. This is essential in order for us to make a difference in our world as well. The world is, to put it somewhat crassly, a very screwed up place. War, death, poverty... the list goes on and on. All you have to do is look around to see evidence of the fall of man. And here's the thing... it's the church's job to stop the madness. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" (Edmund Burke). If the world goes to hell in the proverbial hand basket, it is only because the church has failed to be Christ in a world that so desperately needs him. We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14); we, the local church, are the only hope of a dying world. Jesus is no longer with us in the flesh, choosing instead to fill his church with the presence of his Spirit and live through us spiritually. As a result, we have a responsibility and a duty to be the conduit that God will work through in order to impact our world. If we are ever going to see real life change in the world, we together must step up, allow God to fill us with his Spirit, and come fully alive in the purpose that God has given to us.

There is another reason why we are to responsible to live our lives to their fullest potential. I believe at this point in time that God is awakening us to the truth that "the glory of God is man fully alive" (Irenaeus). He is glorified when we live our lives to their fullest potential. It is because we are his greatest creation (and we can make this statement without sinful pride because the statement brings glory to God the Creator, and not to us, the created. We have done nothing to bring us to this place of prominence) that this is true; nothing glorifies God more than for the sole part of his creation that was created in his image to reach its fullest potential--to be fully alive. Through Christ's death on the cross we are forgiven for our sins, and it is through his resurrection that we are given full, abundant life via his Holy Spirit. It is all because of Jesus that we live.

Not only does it bring God glory when we live fully alive, I believe that God is offended when we choose note to live from the strength that he's given us. We are more than conquerors, and we have the same power that raised Christ from the grave living inside us (Rom. 8). When we don’t live from this power, we’re not simply limiting our own potential… we’re limiting God’s potential to work in our lives. Of course he can simply move through other means, so ultimately his will is achieved. But what right do we have to deny God an opportunity to do what he loves to do most, and that is to enrich and fulfill the lives of his children. I’m not saying that we fulfill God or anything like that, God is already wholly complete in and of himself (the wonder of the Trinity), but we can’t overlook the fact that God chose to create us and later redeem us out of his desire for communion and fellowship (no one was twisting his arm… he wanted for us to live and be), and we’re taking that away from him when we don’t live from the power and authority of his Spirit. We’re stealing glory away from God and putting out the fire of the Gospel when we don’t live our lives to the full.

So, on this Thanksgiving weekend, I encourage you to take time to reflect on the things God has given us, but also to find in yourself a discontent at the state of the world in which we live and a burning desire to make an impact on those around you. As Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7). We are told in this passage to, while still doing everything in a spirit of thanksgiving, bring our requests to God--to take action. Let us push into his throne room boldly, bring our prayers to the Father, and make life change happen, bringing life and hope to a darkened world so desperately in need of a burning light. Go be the city on the hill.