STOP working on your relationship with God

Bet that title caught your attention, eh?

Today I read an excellent blog posting by Richard Beck, a professor at Abilene Christian University. Beck's article, titled, "The Bait and Switch of Contemporary Christianity", argues that contemporary Christians often substitute certain spiritual activities, such as having a daily quiet time, going to church, and reading religious books (things we consider "working on our relationship with God") in place of actually trying to live as a "decent human being." In other words, a lot of us Christians work on our relationship with God on our own through certain accepted spiritual methods but fail to actually be transformed inwardly by God through these methods.

I think Beck is scarily accurate. In fact, I highly recommend that you read his article in full (see above link). I have met Christians who are borderline obsessed with working harder at praying, reading Scripture, practicing spiritual disciplines - at practicing personal devotional piety - yet who are more concerned about themselves than about their neighbors. Yet in Scripture, active love for God and active love for neighbor are intricately connected! And in my experience, both kinds of love, while ultimately inspired in us by the Holy Spirit, must be worked at -- practiced -- just as we have to practice playing the piano or throwing a football.

Most likely, no Christian would deny that we are called to love other people. However, sometimes we have a blind spot when it comes to which is more important, "working on our relationship with God" or working on our relationships with our fellow human beings. God desires BOTH, and I truly believe that sometimes it is more pleasing to God for me to go spend time with another human being -- or even, as Beck suggests, to tip restaurant servers well -- than to pound out my relationship with God on my own, alone in my rooms. Remember Jesus' words (yes, I know they are out of context, but I think they still apply):

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24).

Relating with human beings does not replace our personal devotion, but neither does personal devotion replace our relationships with our fellow human beings!

Image found at http://wordincarnate.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/13-pharisee.jpg.