Are You Satisfied?
I find today’s question at ON FAITH, hosted by the Washington Post and Newsweek interesting. This is the question that they posed to people of various faith’s.
THE QUESTION
Are you satisfied with where you are now in your life?
SOME RESPONSES
Satisfied? Never. Grateful? Forever. – George Stephanopoulus
There are a whole lot of things about my life I wish I could change, improve, alter or eradicate.
I am content, but not satisfied – Cal Thomas
I can always do better in my work, as well as be a better person in my inner character and outer relationships. If you’re satisfied, you will never grow.
Of course I am, Of course I’m not. – N.T. Wright
Am I ‘satisfied’? Of course I am; I’m not grumbling; many people would cheerfully change places with me. But of course not, not at all. I would love to be able to pray for longer and with more depth. I would love to know the Bible much, much better. I would love to be a wiser pastor…
Satisfied and Full of Gratitude - Chuck Colson
The answer is an unequivocal yes. Thirty-four years ago, after the shame and tragedy of Watergate, I was converted to Jesus Christ.
The Journey is the Destination – Salman Ahmad
I’m constantly challenged by the unpredictability of life, but this 3-step method helps me to refocus towards my purpose.
Here you can find the other responses from the panel.
MY RESPONSE
For me, I would say I am thankful for so many things, yet I have what some have called a holy discontentment.
I’m thankful that God was able to break through to my life in a dramatic way, over twenty years ago, and begin to help me become a more like the hero of my life – Jesus Christ. I’m grateful for God’s rich provision of friends and family here in Los Angeles and around the world. I’m thankful for the many ways that God has used me and provided for me. God has certainly given me more than what I deserve.
Yet, I hate the fact that right now so many people are suffering in the world; whether it be hunger, disease, war, loss, emotional wounds or interpersonal conflict. I hate the fact that I am not doing more to relieve the pain in the world.
I have a hunger to know Jesus better, a desire to be more self-aware, to be more like Christ and to be used to bring more of heaven to earth. I want to be a greater blessing to my local congregation, and to the neighborhood in which I live. I want to exercise more, surf more, learn more, create more, care more, pray more, plant more churches and live more authentically.
I want to see more of the world, meet more people, and grow in the art of photography. I want to help see more churches in the west partner with churches in developing countries, in a way that makes the both of us richer. I want to tend "the garden" better and consume less. I want to be a better friend, a better pastor and a better coach of churches and church planters. And last, but not least, I desire to become a better writer and blogger.
While I experience a holy discontentment, I have to say that I am enjoying the journey. God is good, and I know He will continue to do his work in and through me until the day I see Him face to face.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
What about you? How would you answer the question?
I LOVE IT!
I have always enjoyed thinking of (healthy) dis-satisfaction as a form of holiness.
Its not something that we hear preached too often though and i think many Christians live with a sense of guilt for being unsatisfied/discontent etc.
Too often i have heard people apologise for feeling frustrated about something in God – and when we speak of it as a form of holiness, a longing/hunger for more of Him and less of ourselves it brings a new light on it…it frees us and brings hope!
I think we should
- be discontent when we DONT hear the voice of God – instead of only reacting when we do.
- live longing for His justice, not just praise God when mercy does happen
- encourage others to see the Godly character reflected in their discontentment – bring correct exegesis of God in scripture as one who feels dissatisfied – clarifying when discontentment is positive or negative
- HOPE to feel holy discontentment everyday with ourselves..so that we may renew our minds and grow in our hunger for Him
sorry for the wordy comment – your post has excited me as it’s just not something i hear spoken of in church and am tired of too many christians walking around feeling guilty
great thoughts again JR!
hey JR – just a reminder (you said i could..)
- any thoughts on church critics and people in the middle of church..bringing critics to the center of church instead of being fringe-dwellers?
Please remember i asked previously about those who are church critics so that it may grow in being a healthy Body of Christ in the community, not simply to be a soapbox finger-pointer at the church!)
hope that makes sense!
thanks so so much again for the daily inspiration!
Chris
Chris,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I love your thoughts of holy discontentment in particular.
As far as critics being in the center or the middle. It seems to me that out of all the gifts, and especially the equippers that are found in Ephesians 4, the prophet would be the chief critic or truth teller.
I think that it is helpful for any church to create a climate where truth can be heard. This means they have to learn to ask the hard questions and to make space to engage critics in dialogue. When there are problems, it is good for the leaders to look themselves in mirror instead of out the window at others. But as you know this can be difficult for those “in the middle” to do. It is also helpful to remember that it is easier for people to hear the truth when it is wrapped in love.
That being said, if you scan the scriptures, you will notice that the prophets, though inside the body, tend to live on the periphery, because we often don’t like to hear the truth. It was typically the prophets who were stoned and sawed in half. Jesus made it clear that a prophet will not be welcome in their hometown. So thus seems to be the path of a prophet.
I trust some of these thoughts might prove helpful. You can push back on me if this doesn’t get to what you wanting. Peace.
Thanks JR!
YES – i love the name ‘truth teller’
perhaps this helps me answer my own question like this: the art/film critic doesnt require me to change whereas the church critic/prophet does.
With a film critic i can still feel what i choose about a film – and be right!
But with a prophet – or a person who continually holds up scripture as a point of comparison to our choices – we are required to respond and change. That role is far more confronting and thus ‘not welcome’
I love how you say the challenge for the church is ‘to make space to engage critics’ – i fear it is insecure church leaders who do not open up for this kind of voice in church. Perhaps this kind of leadership has been around so long that we have a model of leadership that is criticised when it does engage critics?
I think ‘making space’ is what we should continually in worship, prophetic, communion and so on – and expect the same as God honours us in our sense of commission.
I think i just struggle when a person, who has a point of truth about church, may be right but is questioned in terms of holding weight or having their heart in the right place…
Okay, i have rambled enough – sorry for writing so much on your awesome blog, thanks for the opportunity to have a conversation with you!
Again, your teachings are great and the blog is inspiring
Cheers mate
Chris