secret ingredient

People love secrets. I learned that from my years of youth ministry. If I had a secret, any secret, those kids wanted to know. I love preaching sermons while some object is covered up. I have some great stories with secret, surprise endings. Even websites with secret “Easter eggs” are more fun and popular. I think we feel special somehow, in-the-loop, when we know a secret. Well, I want to share one with you today.

I believe there’s a secret ingredient that is missing from the spiritual lives of most people. Like trying to follow a recipe without knowing that key, missing ingredient, we get frustrated because it’s just not turning out right. The cookies just don’t taste the same. The marinade is good, but it’s obvious that something is strangely absent. Wouldn’t you want to know? Wouldn’t you pull out your cook books, jump on Google, call your mom…whatever you needed to do to figure out that key, missing, secret ingredient?

Now, before the dramatic reveal, here’s one more rather frustrating truth. This secret isn’t really a secret. It’s actually quite obvious once you start looking for it. As the old saying goes, it’s hidden in plain sight. It is a major thread woven throughout Scripture. It is the common denominator in history’s greatest spiritual giants. It has even probably been strangely present and helpful in your own life, yet you haven’t recognized the depth of its influence. Simply said, the secret ingredient to a fulfilling, growing, successful Christian journey is this: prayer.

It makes sense now, huh. As soon as it’s pointed out, we can see it. “Of course!” we might say. “How could I have missed it?” we wonder. Well, quite frankly, because prayer is hard. It’s not called a “discipline” for nothing. In fact (I’ll say this as kindly as possible), I would venture to say that many of our “prayers” are not really prayer at all.

If it’s just a repetitive statement at the beginning of a meal because you’re hungry and want to get on with it, is that really prayer? If we only bow our heads and close our eyes because the pastor tells us to, is that really prayer? If we only remember to call on God when the money is tight or a loved one is sick, is that really prayer?

There is very obviously a difference between being a person who prays and a person of prayer. Jesus was a person of prayer. Those who were closest to Him, the Twelve Disciples, were completely humbled by the gap they saw between His prayer life and their own (see Luke 11:1-13). Jesus had a funny habit of getting up “very early in the morning, while it was still dark” (Mark 1:35) to spend time in prayer alone (see also Matt. 14:23). To Jesus, prayer was so much more than a sporadic, half-hearted string of words. To Jesus, prayer was a lifestyle.

Going to church is crucial, but it’s not the secret. Obeying the Ten Commandments is fantastic, but it’s not the secret either. Even reading and studying the Bible, as essential as that is, is not the secret. Prayer is the secret ingredient. If we become people of prayer, we will go to church, obey the commandments, study our Bibles and so much more. And they will not be painful, begrudging chores, but joyful, fulfilling experiences. They will flow from a love relationship with a personal God who listens and speaks back—who communicates with His people in a beautiful dialogue we call “prayer.”

What if you discovered or rediscovered this secret ingredient? How would your life look different if it were marked by a daily dose of prayer? What would a lifestyle of prayer look like for you? I believe it’s the key, the secret ingredient, for me and for you and for us. Let’s start today. Let’s be people of prayer today.

acceptance vs endorsement

I’m currently re-reading a fantastic book called Prayer by Richard Foster. The other day it got me thinking about the very heavy theological doctrine of Original Sin. Without being too technical or academic, the basic idea is this. Due to Adam and Eve’s sin/fall in the Garden of Eden, all of humanity is inherently sinful. At our core, we are broken and can do absolutely nothing to fix that. Sinful humanity requires a Savior and Jesus is He. His saving grace reconciles (bridges the gap of sin between) us and our Creator God. Heavy, huh. Well, I completely agree with this ancient Church doctrine and see it fleshed out constantly. It seems to me that most people sense their sinfulness, but, for many varied reasons, refuse to turn to God. So, the only Source of healing and wholeness becomes yet another thorn in their sides and prick in their conscience.

Most people tell me they don’t like the Church. Surprise, surprise! They say things like “those people are all hypocrites” or “I tried going a couple times, but no one even said ‘hello’ to me.” The general feeling is that the Church is just a big clique that is really tough to break into. Normally, though, when I do some digging, the issue is much deeper than that. These people (and I would include myself here) are really not looking for acceptance. They’re actually looking for endorsement. They are searching anywhere and everywhere for someone or, ideally, some group of people to endorse, support and approve of them.

The problem, of course, is that we can’t ever truly know a person, can we. Even if we’re life long friends. Even if we’re married. Even if we spend every hour of every day together our entire lives, we cannot truly know what is inside a person—how they genuinely feel, think and act when no one else is around. That’s why trust is so critical to any relationship. That’s why we talk and yearn so much for unconditional love—the kind that stays no matter who we are deep down. Because we all know that deep down we’re dirty and evil and disgusting and broken.

Our best friends certainly don't agree with everything we say and all our decisions. But they love and accept us anyway, right? They maintain and even pursue a continued relationship with us not because we're some super-friend who never messes up, but simply because they choose to. They love and accept us because...they love and accept us.

Actually, we don’t even really know ourselves, do we? Have you ever done or said something you were ashamed of later? Ever made a “mistake” that wasn’t really a mistake, but a flat-out sin? Do you ever wonder “what came over me?” or “why am I so angry?” or “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” There’s only One who knows us - truly, knows us. And it ain’t us! The only One who really understands us is the One who created us. He knows all the deep, dark secrets. Nothing is hidden from Him. NOTHING! Even if it seems like we’ve gotten away with something, it’s only a matter of time.

Now here’s the best part. The One who knows all the garbage and sin and evil and junk in our lives... He loves us anyway. Yup! It’s not an issue of trust because, well, He doesn’t need to trust us. He knows it already. It’s not a matter of performing well or saying the right things because He’s everywhere at all times. That is unconditional love! That is the kind of acceptance we all crave so deeply! Isn’t that amazing news?! This is the reason that throughout history God is known by one primary trait: love. He knows it all and still He loves.

God accepts every one of us, sin and all. But He does not endorse it. I know...this is a fine line, huh. I believe the message of Jesus to all of us is, “come as you are, but don’t stay that way.” He has a better way. He knows what life is actually supposed to look like. He can show us the way to true freedom. And, of course, He’s the only One who can help. No one else, including us, knows how broken we are. The Creator is the only One capable of being the Repairer.

If we’re looking for endorsement, find a club. Search for a social organization of some kind with similar values. But know this: you’ll never be whole. It might feel good to be with like-minded people for a little while, but it won’t last. It never does. But if you’re looking for acceptance, try Jesus. I can guarantee He’ll meet you there. He always does.