The Definition of Insanity?

 It has been proposed that a (or the) definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.  I can buy into this in many situations.  Heck, we are all a bit insane at times then aren’t we!  Reading in Ezekiel made me think of this definition….

The Israelites have once again turned their backs on God.  They have once again decided that their way is better than God’s way.  They are once again in exile, slavery, or simply put, they are NOT where they want to be.  Do they keep expecting a different result upon rebelling from God?  It would seem so….. 

It would also seem to be in our nature to rebel from God, whether we think there is a God or not.  The very idea of Atheism is pretty much rebellion if you factor in God.  The idea of selfishness is rebellion in a form.  So here I am reading Ezekiel, where Ezekiel has this amazing vision.  I read about all these weird faces, wheels, wings and bright metal and my first thoughts are that Ezekiel is seeing something that he simply cannot fathom, nor accurately describe in terms that make a lot of sense.  That is my opinion, obviously, and you are free to think Ezekiel knew exactly what he was seeing, but it doesn’t read that way to me.  So, the Israelites are in rebellion, and Ezekiel is getting some advice from God.  The details are intriguing enough to mention above, but really have nothing to do with my point – sorry!

This great advice includes the vision that he gets this scroll to eat, yep eat.  Now that’s hard to swallow – ha.  But he eats it as God explains this scroll, in essence, will give him “God’s word” and it “will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.” (they meaning the Israelites – all from Ezekiel 3).  Stay with me, there IS a point.

So, this is where I leave off my reading for the day.  Ole Ezzy is off to the Israelite camp to sit among them as he processes all of this vision for 7 days.  Believe it or not, this reading really made me think.

You see, the last few days I’ve been in some back and forth commenting with some seemingly good willed Atheists.  We’ve been discussing same-sex marriage, as well as how I word my comments.  Actually, mostly how they felt insulted by my wording of comments and me apologizing.  Questions like, “Have you thought XYZ through?” were insulting….  I never really expected to get much straight talk, but I tried.  I had to be hardened in order to take all of the sarcasm and negative backtalk.  I was even compelled to present the Gospel in a comment.  Hopefully, God will use that comment some day.  My point is that I’ve repeatedly entered into conversations with Atheists, Agnostics, Christians with different beliefs and others.  Have I been unyielding in my faith?  Am I expecting a different result?  Does it even matter what result I expect?  Do I need to let go a bit more and just let God handle these things?  Should I even try?  I think the answer to all of these is YES.  So that means I must be insane for Jesus.  Not a bad label I think.  Are you insane for Jesus?

Blessings,

Jeff