Today I am writing about the storms of this life that we all face, or will face, from time to time. And I must be honest here; my personal experience with them is very limited. I don't know what it is like to lose a child to disease, have my home burn down, or get beaten and thrown in prison for something I didn't do. I don't know real persecution, and I don't know real hardship. I only know to some extent what the Word of God says about these things. My own prayer tonight is that if, or when, big storms hit in my life, I can follow what I say here myself!
That said, here goes.
When tough things come our way in this life, our reaction is often to turn to God in prayer. That's good, we should come to God with whatever is weighing heavily on our shoulders. But what do we ask of God when we come to him in prayer with a trial that we are facing?
We might ask God to take away whatever burden is on our backs. That's understandable. I don't know it for sure, but I'll bet it is the most common reaction to our troubles, at least initially. There are definitely Biblical examples of it. I can think of two immediately. In 2 Samuel 12 David seeks the Lord on behalf of the dying child he had with Bathsheba. And in 2 Corinthians Paul asks the Lord three times to remove a "thorn in the flesh" he had been given.
In both of these cases, the Lord doesn't do what is asked of him. In David's case, the child dies. He stops fasting and petitioning the Lord, accepting the finality of the situation. In Paul's case, the Lord responds to him, saying "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." He also accepts the Lord's answer, welcoming the weakness because it shows how Christ can make him strong.
When we, like David and Paul, see the Lord is not going to lift the burden from us, I think there are two things we can continue to bring before the Lord in prayer. I think both are shown through Paul's response.
First, we may ask the Lord to give us the strength to get through whatever it is. The saying is true that sometimes the Lord calms the storm and other times the Lord calms you so you can get through the storm. Knowing that the storm is there to stay, we need help -- the supernatural power of Jesus Christ working in our heart and mind to get us through whatever difficult situation there is that we cannot face alone. This is what Paul recognized -- where he broke down, Christ stepped up to keep him going. Seeing such strength in believers going through the toughest trials of their lives makes people take notice. It points others to Christ. And it glorifies God.
Second, we may ask the Lord to show us how to use the trial for his glory. As pointed out above, God may be glorified simply through the demonstration of Christ's supernatural power working in our lives as we stand strong in the face of calamity that we could not face on our own. Or he may further use our trials to comfort others, to encourage others, to inspire others, or to provide a unique platform on which to share the gospel, for starters. Our trials today may not even be used for some time for God's purposes.
I remember as I write this the story of Nick Vujicic -- a man born with no arms and no legs. God has used him mightily to preach the gospel in parts of the world that the "typical" evangelist could not reach. Could God grow him some arms and legs? Yes. But instead of doing that, he's given Nick the power to accept his situation, the extra strength he needs day by day to keep moving forward and keep focused on the kingdom, and the wisdom to see how God is using his infirmity for His own glory.
It is the same way in many other stories. Young couples who lose their babies to disease that later start church support groups to help their brothers and sisters bear the same burden. Victims of various forms of abuse being able to empathize and talk on the same level with other similar victims and bring them the hope of Christ where others could not. People standing up for Christ in hostile lands and the cost of their lives who inspire the next generation of missionaries and strengthen the faith of all who hear their stories told. The list is virtually endless, but the method of operation is always the same -- the bad situation of today getting flipped around for good tomorrow.
So whatever we thorns of our own we are given, know that God has the power to remove them. Know also that he has his reasons for not doing so. We don't always know his plan and purpose for our lives. We don't always know what he's preparing us for in this life. We don't always know how he may use our hardships to further his kingdom and point people to Christ. But what we do know is that he is bigger than us, wiser than us, and that he loves us immensely. Our part is to seek his will for us, trusting that whatever he allows to happen in our lives is for a greater God-glorifying purpose that we may not be able to see this side of eternity. We just need to trust that he's in control and that he can see us through anything that comes our way.
Grace and Peace
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
What Do We Worship
What do we worship? Who do we love?
Things of the world or the father above?
A million gods around us every day
Innocent snares that pull us away
Do we shout praise to Giants and Eagles, Bears and Kings?
Or is our attention devoted to less sporty things?
Do we make idols of work, cars, children, and home,
When our top concern is ours and our own?
Do we make much of the lives of men?
Enquiring of the Stars and fawning over them?
Do we go Gaga over a Lady who really is not?
Or droll over a Rock because we think he's hot?
Do we daydream of having great power and fame?
Or just get sucked into an endless array of games?
Do we pay homage to the needle or the bottle?
Or seek a thrill-a-minute life lived at full throttle?
Do we gather for worship together at the local mall?
Thinking of the new fashions, we've got to have them all?
Or do we seek to find true meaning far from home?
Believing that happiness lies closer the farther we roam?
Long ago from wood, stone, or silver, false gods were cast
We think they're ancient idols from days long past
What we so often completely fail to see
Are the gods today that tempt you and me
A million lay around us every single day
Everyone trying to pull us away
From the only one that will matter in the end
The one true God, our eternal best friend
Friends, there are so many things in this world that get between us and God -- and there is no one to blame but us. We are the ones who so often go chasing after things of this world, thinking in the end that they matter. But the saying is true. Only one life, and it will soon be past -- only what is done for Christ will last. We've been given great resources and gifts to be used for furthering God's kingdom, so let's use them! We must be wise with our money, and we must be wise with our time. The more we focus on mindless things to amuse us or get caught up in addictions that abuse us, the less we have to offer in service to God.
As I have heard a dear brother say recently, let us judge ourselves. We have a great measuring stick to compare our lives against, and that is God's Word. We may talk the talk, but let's compare against the Word to ensure we're walking the walk! Do we suppress our own freedoms in Christ for the sake of our brothers and sisters? Do we make the most of the time we have on this earth for the sake of the kingdom? Do we do our best to spiritually train our children and teach them to know, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ? These are just a few of the many questions we need to be asking ourselves as we compare our lifestyles against who we are called to be in Christ.
The measuring stick doesn't change and we don't stand still. Every day we're either shrinking or growing in comparison to it. Let us all strive to do the latter!
Grace and Peace
Things of the world or the father above?
A million gods around us every day
Innocent snares that pull us away
Do we shout praise to Giants and Eagles, Bears and Kings?
Or is our attention devoted to less sporty things?
Do we make idols of work, cars, children, and home,
When our top concern is ours and our own?
Do we make much of the lives of men?
Enquiring of the Stars and fawning over them?
Do we go Gaga over a Lady who really is not?
Or droll over a Rock because we think he's hot?
Do we daydream of having great power and fame?
Or just get sucked into an endless array of games?
Do we pay homage to the needle or the bottle?
Or seek a thrill-a-minute life lived at full throttle?
Do we gather for worship together at the local mall?
Thinking of the new fashions, we've got to have them all?
Or do we seek to find true meaning far from home?
Believing that happiness lies closer the farther we roam?
Long ago from wood, stone, or silver, false gods were cast
We think they're ancient idols from days long past
What we so often completely fail to see
Are the gods today that tempt you and me
A million lay around us every single day
Everyone trying to pull us away
From the only one that will matter in the end
The one true God, our eternal best friend
Friends, there are so many things in this world that get between us and God -- and there is no one to blame but us. We are the ones who so often go chasing after things of this world, thinking in the end that they matter. But the saying is true. Only one life, and it will soon be past -- only what is done for Christ will last. We've been given great resources and gifts to be used for furthering God's kingdom, so let's use them! We must be wise with our money, and we must be wise with our time. The more we focus on mindless things to amuse us or get caught up in addictions that abuse us, the less we have to offer in service to God.
As I have heard a dear brother say recently, let us judge ourselves. We have a great measuring stick to compare our lives against, and that is God's Word. We may talk the talk, but let's compare against the Word to ensure we're walking the walk! Do we suppress our own freedoms in Christ for the sake of our brothers and sisters? Do we make the most of the time we have on this earth for the sake of the kingdom? Do we do our best to spiritually train our children and teach them to know, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ? These are just a few of the many questions we need to be asking ourselves as we compare our lifestyles against who we are called to be in Christ.
The measuring stick doesn't change and we don't stand still. Every day we're either shrinking or growing in comparison to it. Let us all strive to do the latter!
Grace and Peace
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Who's Number One?
I suck.
Yeah, thanks for agreeing. But I suck for a particular reason today. First, let me tell you about my day. It sucked too. I got up early. I left quickly and got to work earlier than I have been. I stayed a little late and came home. But guess what I got done today? Nothing! Okay, at least nothing that was done efficiently and left me feeling my pay was justified today.
I put in some interview comments for someone I interviewed yesterday. That took a lot longer than I thought. I read through some FCC documents to figure out if something I implemented was done right. That took a lot longer than I thought. Then I phone interviewed someone. That took a lot longer than I thought. Then I put in some interview comments for that person. That took a lot longer than I thought. Then I documented some stuff I worked on. That took a lot longer than I thought. Then I left feeling both blah and unproductive. A day of inefficiency, yuck!
Later in the evening I realized my problem. Sin. End of post.
Okay, I'll elaborate since sin is big problem causer in all kinds of ways and copping out like that just doesn't help. I failed to mention that I started giving God the first part of my day in the Word. Technically not the very first part. Wake up, stretch, brush teeth, change, get some food, and then come to the Word. But still, its a special time of the morning to spend with the Lord, and the days I have done that have been great.
This morning, I blew it. I consciously decided to skip it in favor of getting to work early. I took my Bible with me thinking I'd read it outside at lunch, which I totally forgot about. I was also distracted on the way to work and didn't really get anything out of the preaching on K-Wave and didn't really spend any time with the Lord in prayer. God was far from my heart and far from my mind for the bulk of the day, and that was absolutely sinful. And, rightfully, my day sucked.
Never, ever, put other things before the Lord. That doesn't mean you have to make a hard rule to this or that every day, but when you willfully tell the Lord "Not now, I'll get to you later" it is a slap in the face and ALWAYS a bad idea.
Grace and Peace
Yeah, thanks for agreeing. But I suck for a particular reason today. First, let me tell you about my day. It sucked too. I got up early. I left quickly and got to work earlier than I have been. I stayed a little late and came home. But guess what I got done today? Nothing! Okay, at least nothing that was done efficiently and left me feeling my pay was justified today.
I put in some interview comments for someone I interviewed yesterday. That took a lot longer than I thought. I read through some FCC documents to figure out if something I implemented was done right. That took a lot longer than I thought. Then I phone interviewed someone. That took a lot longer than I thought. Then I put in some interview comments for that person. That took a lot longer than I thought. Then I documented some stuff I worked on. That took a lot longer than I thought. Then I left feeling both blah and unproductive. A day of inefficiency, yuck!
Later in the evening I realized my problem. Sin. End of post.
Okay, I'll elaborate since sin is big problem causer in all kinds of ways and copping out like that just doesn't help. I failed to mention that I started giving God the first part of my day in the Word. Technically not the very first part. Wake up, stretch, brush teeth, change, get some food, and then come to the Word. But still, its a special time of the morning to spend with the Lord, and the days I have done that have been great.
This morning, I blew it. I consciously decided to skip it in favor of getting to work early. I took my Bible with me thinking I'd read it outside at lunch, which I totally forgot about. I was also distracted on the way to work and didn't really get anything out of the preaching on K-Wave and didn't really spend any time with the Lord in prayer. God was far from my heart and far from my mind for the bulk of the day, and that was absolutely sinful. And, rightfully, my day sucked.
Never, ever, put other things before the Lord. That doesn't mean you have to make a hard rule to this or that every day, but when you willfully tell the Lord "Not now, I'll get to you later" it is a slap in the face and ALWAYS a bad idea.
Grace and Peace
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Be Ready
We have dogs.
When the dogs come to greet me when I get home, and have not peed on the floor -- there is a lot of tail wagging, standing up on two legs, tongue hanging, barking, whining, running around, and so on. Why? They are excited to see me.
When the dogs chew on something they are not supposed to or pee on the floor, do you know what they do? They get real low to the floor. They hang their heads in shame. They go into their boxes in the laundry room. They're not completely stupid. They're not completely without understanding. They know they've done badly and are in trouble.
I think perhaps people are both a lot smarter and a lot stupider than animals. Really! Consider the following:
How many people know the miracles of the Bible are true yet live like practical atheists?
How many people know they should put God first in their lives yet don't have evidence of it in their checkbook register or on their calendar?
How many people know the time is short and the days are evil, yet fritter it away on meaningless pursuits or sitting lethargic in front of the television watching shows about nothing?
How many people know they have a responsibility to teach the Word to their children, yet put far more importantce on after school sports or family game night?
A number of passages in the Bible carry the same theme -- be ready, be vigilant. The Lord could return at any moment. Are you prepared? It's a worthy question to think about -- what kind of reaction do you want to have when he returns? One where you hang your head in shame because you have known the Word but down a half baked job at best in keeping it? Or one where you are so excited you can't contain yourself?
Grace and Peace
When the dogs come to greet me when I get home, and have not peed on the floor -- there is a lot of tail wagging, standing up on two legs, tongue hanging, barking, whining, running around, and so on. Why? They are excited to see me.
When the dogs chew on something they are not supposed to or pee on the floor, do you know what they do? They get real low to the floor. They hang their heads in shame. They go into their boxes in the laundry room. They're not completely stupid. They're not completely without understanding. They know they've done badly and are in trouble.
I think perhaps people are both a lot smarter and a lot stupider than animals. Really! Consider the following:
How many people know the miracles of the Bible are true yet live like practical atheists?
How many people know they should put God first in their lives yet don't have evidence of it in their checkbook register or on their calendar?
How many people know the time is short and the days are evil, yet fritter it away on meaningless pursuits or sitting lethargic in front of the television watching shows about nothing?
How many people know they have a responsibility to teach the Word to their children, yet put far more importantce on after school sports or family game night?
A number of passages in the Bible carry the same theme -- be ready, be vigilant. The Lord could return at any moment. Are you prepared? It's a worthy question to think about -- what kind of reaction do you want to have when he returns? One where you hang your head in shame because you have known the Word but down a half baked job at best in keeping it? Or one where you are so excited you can't contain yourself?
Grace and Peace
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
You And Your Household
I love the account from the middle to the end of Acts 16, for a few reasons. There's a particular part of it that has more meaning to me these days than it has in the past. I'll share that in a minute, but first, here's the gist of the account.
Paul and Silas are in Phillipi. A slave girl with a spirit of divination (future telling) ends up following them around crying out about them. Paul finally gets fed up with her and casts out the demon. This is bad news for the slave girl's masters, because they were using her to make money. This ends up causing a ruckus; Paul and Silas get attacked, beaten, and thrown in jail. An earthquake busts up the jail so prisoners can escape, but Paul and Silas don't run away. They hang around and are used to convert the surprised jailer, telling him "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Awesome story.
One thing I think is interesting is that Paul doesn't cast the demon out of the girl right away. That has some implications of its own I think, but that's now what has more meaning to me these days. Rather, its the last line, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
First, let's clear something up, because this trips some people up. You're not saved because of who you know, unless its Jesus Christ. Your mom's faith doesn't save you. Your dad's faith doesn't save you. Your brother or sister's faith doesn't save you. Each person's own relationship, or lack of it, with God through Christ is what saves them or condemns them.
That said, I look at that verse in the context of my own life and can only respond with praise and thanksgiving that I was saved at a time when my children were/are young enough to have a meaningful impact on their spiritual life and worldview.
What did my home look like before God saved me? There was no Bible reading or teaching that I am aware of. There was no church attendance despite the longing in my wife's heart, due to my own sinful stubbornness. There were no acts of serving the Lord by serving others. There was no mealtime or bedtime prayer. There was no desire to separate from the public school system and its exclusion of God and promotion of evolutionary nonsense. The list could go on, but I think you get the point!
After God saved me and transformed my heart and mind, various things in our home changed over time to be more focused on what the Lord would have us do. Now, don't get me wrong here -- this is not my doing for which I claim any credit. I am simply pointing out that Jamie and I needed to be of common mind and common focus when it comes to raising our children to know, love, and serve the Lord. That couldn't possilby happen when I was in bondage to sin and thinking I loved it.
In the context of the Phillipian jailer, I'm not sure exactly what Paul meant by his statement, but I can certainly see in my own life how the things of God begin to take over once the parents in the home are both committed to Christ and to raising godly children. So, for any similar type of situation, I can certainly understand how one could legitimately say to one or both parents "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
It is my prayer for any lost family and friends out there tonight, especially parents of young children, that they investigate the claims of Christianity, come to know the truth, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ while they can still be a great influence on the lives of their kids!
Grace and Peace
Paul and Silas are in Phillipi. A slave girl with a spirit of divination (future telling) ends up following them around crying out about them. Paul finally gets fed up with her and casts out the demon. This is bad news for the slave girl's masters, because they were using her to make money. This ends up causing a ruckus; Paul and Silas get attacked, beaten, and thrown in jail. An earthquake busts up the jail so prisoners can escape, but Paul and Silas don't run away. They hang around and are used to convert the surprised jailer, telling him "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Awesome story.
One thing I think is interesting is that Paul doesn't cast the demon out of the girl right away. That has some implications of its own I think, but that's now what has more meaning to me these days. Rather, its the last line, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
First, let's clear something up, because this trips some people up. You're not saved because of who you know, unless its Jesus Christ. Your mom's faith doesn't save you. Your dad's faith doesn't save you. Your brother or sister's faith doesn't save you. Each person's own relationship, or lack of it, with God through Christ is what saves them or condemns them.
That said, I look at that verse in the context of my own life and can only respond with praise and thanksgiving that I was saved at a time when my children were/are young enough to have a meaningful impact on their spiritual life and worldview.
What did my home look like before God saved me? There was no Bible reading or teaching that I am aware of. There was no church attendance despite the longing in my wife's heart, due to my own sinful stubbornness. There were no acts of serving the Lord by serving others. There was no mealtime or bedtime prayer. There was no desire to separate from the public school system and its exclusion of God and promotion of evolutionary nonsense. The list could go on, but I think you get the point!
After God saved me and transformed my heart and mind, various things in our home changed over time to be more focused on what the Lord would have us do. Now, don't get me wrong here -- this is not my doing for which I claim any credit. I am simply pointing out that Jamie and I needed to be of common mind and common focus when it comes to raising our children to know, love, and serve the Lord. That couldn't possilby happen when I was in bondage to sin and thinking I loved it.
In the context of the Phillipian jailer, I'm not sure exactly what Paul meant by his statement, but I can certainly see in my own life how the things of God begin to take over once the parents in the home are both committed to Christ and to raising godly children. So, for any similar type of situation, I can certainly understand how one could legitimately say to one or both parents "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
It is my prayer for any lost family and friends out there tonight, especially parents of young children, that they investigate the claims of Christianity, come to know the truth, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ while they can still be a great influence on the lives of their kids!
Grace and Peace
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Give Well
What's behind our giving? Of time. Of money. Of things. Of whatever. There's a few good motives and a lot of bad ones.
Do we give because God wants us to give, but do it grudgingly? "Bah, they're asking for money again!" Would we rather spend the money on new toy for ourselves? Would we rather spend the time hanging out with friends, watching television, or playing sports? If that's your motive for giving something, keep it. God doesn't want it.
Do we give because we feel a sense of duty? "Well we're Christians so we better give; its the thing to do." Maybe we're not reluctant about it, but we're not fired up about it either. It's just another check box to tick off on our list of things to do to look like we're good little Christians keeping our i's dotted and t's crossed. If that's your motive for giving something, keep it. God doesn't want it.
Do we give because we feel guilty? "We have so much and they have so little. That's not cool. Let's give them something so we don't feel as bad." This one is probably most common in rich western cultures. We recognize there is an imbalance in the world and that we didn't end up with the short end of the stick. We have some recognition of where all that we have comes from and don't feel entitled, but we still squander it and know it. Giving is a way to suppress that feeling we don't like. If that's your motive for giving something, keep it. God doesn't want it.
Do we give because we don't want something bad to happen to us? "If I do this for God, then God will be nice to me." If we do this, what god do we think we worship? Some pantheistic God-is-everything nonsense? Some other false god in a false system that demands we "earn" salvation through good works? Do we actually think we can bribe God? If that's your motive for giving something, keep it. God doesn't want it.
Or do we have a real reason for giving? How about giving generously because God first gave to us so generously -- showing love because he first loved us? How about giving because we are so thankful that he paid a debt for us that we could never pay ourselves? When we give for these reasons, we give well.
I have given both out of proper motive (as far as I can tell anyway!) and wrong motive, and I can say with certainty that there is no reward, eternal or temporal, for any work done from a heart that isn't in the right place.
Give often, give much, and, most importantly, give well.
Grace and Peace
Do we give because God wants us to give, but do it grudgingly? "Bah, they're asking for money again!" Would we rather spend the money on new toy for ourselves? Would we rather spend the time hanging out with friends, watching television, or playing sports? If that's your motive for giving something, keep it. God doesn't want it.
Do we give because we feel a sense of duty? "Well we're Christians so we better give; its the thing to do." Maybe we're not reluctant about it, but we're not fired up about it either. It's just another check box to tick off on our list of things to do to look like we're good little Christians keeping our i's dotted and t's crossed. If that's your motive for giving something, keep it. God doesn't want it.
Do we give because we feel guilty? "We have so much and they have so little. That's not cool. Let's give them something so we don't feel as bad." This one is probably most common in rich western cultures. We recognize there is an imbalance in the world and that we didn't end up with the short end of the stick. We have some recognition of where all that we have comes from and don't feel entitled, but we still squander it and know it. Giving is a way to suppress that feeling we don't like. If that's your motive for giving something, keep it. God doesn't want it.
Do we give because we don't want something bad to happen to us? "If I do this for God, then God will be nice to me." If we do this, what god do we think we worship? Some pantheistic God-is-everything nonsense? Some other false god in a false system that demands we "earn" salvation through good works? Do we actually think we can bribe God? If that's your motive for giving something, keep it. God doesn't want it.
Or do we have a real reason for giving? How about giving generously because God first gave to us so generously -- showing love because he first loved us? How about giving because we are so thankful that he paid a debt for us that we could never pay ourselves? When we give for these reasons, we give well.
I have given both out of proper motive (as far as I can tell anyway!) and wrong motive, and I can say with certainty that there is no reward, eternal or temporal, for any work done from a heart that isn't in the right place.
Give often, give much, and, most importantly, give well.
Grace and Peace
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Primary Issue
I've observed something and learned something over time. Sometimes believers can get overly concerned about the behavior of non-believers. I can understand this, especially when the overt practicing of sin makes it more difficult to instill a proper worldview in my children or when other, particularly innocent, people get hurt as a result.
But when we get to the point where we challenge an unbeliever's actions or moral perspective only, maybe pointing out they don't line up with the Bible, I think we do the gospel a disservice. Think about the effect that has. What does it say to someone? I think the main thing it says is "You get to heaven by your own efforts in being good, but you're screwing it up." This inevitably leads to a response of "You just want to use that book to control how I live. Screw that."
Bummer. That's not the message. Behavior is a secondary issue. Yes, its important. Yes, the Bible tells us how we should live. However, that doesn't matter one bit for the person that hasn't dealt with the primary issue! And the primary issue is in the heart of man. We don't live up to our own standards, let alone God's infinitely higher ones. Changing our behavior on our own terms isn't going to help fix that. The only things that will help fix it is 1) agreeing with God's analysis of our condition -- we're broken sinful people that can't earn our way into his favor and 2) accepting his solution to the problem by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, recognizing that on the cross he took the punishment for our sins, paying a debt we could never pay.
So, for unbelievers who live together and are not married, there is only one solution
For unbelievers who practice homosexuality, there is only one solution.
For unbelievers who condone abortion, there is only one solution.
For unbelievers who railroad God out of school, there is only one solution.
For unbelievers who drunk themselves stupid every night, there is only one solution.
For unbelievers who waste their lives on trivial pursuits, there is only one solution.
The list could go on, but the one solution to all the bad behaviors we tend to get vocal about, and more, is Christ crucified. Period. That's it. We don't get our actions right and then come to Christ. Rather, we take care of the primary issue by coming to Christ as we are, in humility and faith, and then letting him do the cleaning up from the inside out -- bogus behavior on the outside vanishes when we have a new heart on the inside that wants nothing more than to live for Christ!
Grace and Peace
But when we get to the point where we challenge an unbeliever's actions or moral perspective only, maybe pointing out they don't line up with the Bible, I think we do the gospel a disservice. Think about the effect that has. What does it say to someone? I think the main thing it says is "You get to heaven by your own efforts in being good, but you're screwing it up." This inevitably leads to a response of "You just want to use that book to control how I live. Screw that."
Bummer. That's not the message. Behavior is a secondary issue. Yes, its important. Yes, the Bible tells us how we should live. However, that doesn't matter one bit for the person that hasn't dealt with the primary issue! And the primary issue is in the heart of man. We don't live up to our own standards, let alone God's infinitely higher ones. Changing our behavior on our own terms isn't going to help fix that. The only things that will help fix it is 1) agreeing with God's analysis of our condition -- we're broken sinful people that can't earn our way into his favor and 2) accepting his solution to the problem by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, recognizing that on the cross he took the punishment for our sins, paying a debt we could never pay.
So, for unbelievers who live together and are not married, there is only one solution
For unbelievers who practice homosexuality, there is only one solution.
For unbelievers who condone abortion, there is only one solution.
For unbelievers who railroad God out of school, there is only one solution.
For unbelievers who drunk themselves stupid every night, there is only one solution.
For unbelievers who waste their lives on trivial pursuits, there is only one solution.
The list could go on, but the one solution to all the bad behaviors we tend to get vocal about, and more, is Christ crucified. Period. That's it. We don't get our actions right and then come to Christ. Rather, we take care of the primary issue by coming to Christ as we are, in humility and faith, and then letting him do the cleaning up from the inside out -- bogus behavior on the outside vanishes when we have a new heart on the inside that wants nothing more than to live for Christ!
Grace and Peace
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)