40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast.

by Alicia Britt Chole

Christian spirituality, the contemplative life, is not about us. It is about God. The great weakness of American spirituality is that it is all about us: fulfilling our potential, getting the blessings of God, expanding our influence, finding our gifts, getting a handle on principles by which we can get an edge over the competition. The more there is of us, the less there is of God. —EUGENE PETERSON1

We weaken—not strengthen—our faith when we silence sincere questions. Faith in Christ is not an airy substance that rests on unquestioning souls. Biblical faith is muscular, thickened more through trials than ease. The Author of our faith is more than able to address the identity crises His unexpected words and ways may trigger.

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality.” — MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (1929–1968)1

What does it mean to be holy and human? Though I respect the purpose and appreciate the symbolism of nimbuses in religious art, when the “Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14), He was not born with a halo. Of course He cried. Crying is not sin. Of course He did not have perfect backlit hair. Messy is not sin.

Evidently, valuing something more than truth limits our interaction with Jesus. Taken seriously, this is rather sobering. Do we value something more than truth? Have control and position become more precious to us than sincerity? Are we committed to the pursuit of emotional and intellectual honesty in God’s presence? Jesus did not ask the leaders for polite acquiescence or polished theology. He simply asked them to be true.