This blog is an attempt to continue the conversation between 4 friends that was once held nearly every Saturday morning at a local coffee shop in Lincoln, NE. The “conversation” (not trying to emergent here, just the best description) consisted of an exploration of God through Jesus Christ, His Word, and His supremacy in all areas of life. The meetings lasted for more than a year until marriage, graduate studies, and job opportunities split the group apart.
In case you were wondering what the title means:
WHEAT
The use of the word “wheat” is twofold.
First, wheat must be crushed in order to make bread. Metaphorically, this means that we must be broken, like a wild horse, in order to be fashioned after Christ’s character. It is God’s intent that we live a Christ-centered life – which does not happen naturally. In order to be broken of our bad habits we have to be crushed, (disciplined/instructed) like wheat, by God.
Secondly, Deuteronomy 8:3: The Lord taught the Israelites “that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” In the scriptures the Word of God is likened to solid food and bread, as those things nourish our physical bodies, the Word of God nourishes our souls. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 when He was being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:4).
Just as our physical bodies become weak and famished without food, if our souls are deprived the Word of God they become weak, because this is the food we were designed to run on. In John 6:35 Jesus declared Himself “the bread of life,” the only food that can nourish our soul. All we need to live is our daily bread; (Proverbs 30:8, Matthew 6:11) with it we have everything, without it we have nothing.
ART
Art is ultimately God’s expression of creativity through His creation. As imitators of God, we create visual and intellectual art, among other types. Wheat Art Reform is about art, mostly about the intellectual type. Which, when planted well, becomes the art of practical living.
From a limited human perspective it is hard to imagine invisible things to be considered art. We are going to call invisible things, as well as visible things, art. Those things that are currently unseen by the naked eye are surely the most beautiful works of art.
The main thought here is that, as imitators of the Author of Life, we are seeking to reveal God through words, just as He has done through His Word, the Bible.
REFORM
Forming again, to re-form.
As we progress on our spiritual journey there are transformations that take place in our hearts and minds. Transformations are reformations. In C.S. Lewis’, The Chronicles of Narnia, there is an exchange between a young girl, Lucy, and Aslan the lion, the Christ-figure that demonstrates this.
“Welcome, Child,” said Aslan.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” he answered.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
This dialogue shows how Lucy’s view of Aslan (God) was reformed and improved (closer to truth) as she matured. Christians are in a state of reformation (growth, sanctification) with the power of God. Just as Aslan seemed bigger to Lucy, God will seem bigger to us as we decrease and He increases.
