Sunday, August 3, 2008
The Gospel
I’m watching this series called "Into the West." It’s about the settling of America and all that... about how we moved west and kicked Indians off their land. Just now, an Indian guy went back to his people and told them about God... he didn’t get all freaky about needing them to agree with certain points... he just told them about God and told them they needed to love and simple stuff like that.
Got me thinking you know--and none of this is new thought via myself or anyone else--but the truth is that our churches expect people to buy into our theology. People are almost required to agree with our doctrine in order to be "saved". Of course, I don’t think God’s into that, but lots of people seem to think that salvation is equivalent to agreeing with concepts. It’s not. Believe in God and you’ll be saved... that’s the promise scripture gives us.
Now, I think that figuring out concepts and theology is kinda fun, but we shouldn’t be forcing people to agree with concepts just so they can have an assurance of salvation!!
Got me thinking you know--and none of this is new thought via myself or anyone else--but the truth is that our churches expect people to buy into our theology. People are almost required to agree with our doctrine in order to be "saved". Of course, I don’t think God’s into that, but lots of people seem to think that salvation is equivalent to agreeing with concepts. It’s not. Believe in God and you’ll be saved... that’s the promise scripture gives us.
Now, I think that figuring out concepts and theology is kinda fun, but we shouldn’t be forcing people to agree with concepts just so they can have an assurance of salvation!!
Normalcy
I got to speak the other night at our local community college. It was pretty cool... they brought in a band and asked me to speak at the end. At first they wanted an altar call... I was reasonably uncomfortable with that merely because I don't like the bait-and-switch deal, but when I got there they agreed that I just should close it out and pray and be simple and offer up a chance to talk and all that.. but the more I listened to the band and watched the kids, the more I knew I needed to talk... for some reason, I needed to talk.
Haha, I know.... I'm a preacher... and I blab whenever I can. :) but I got up there and talked. I'd been to a concert a few weeks previous, and as those guys talked, everyone was so impressed cause the guy'd been to prison and had gotten off meth and attributed it all to God. It's exciting--I'm not trying to take away from that--but the thing is... my non-Christian friends have tons of friends who've come out of prison never to commit another crime, and who've fought their way out of the trappings of drugs. This testimony really speaks to one crowd: the Christians who need something spectacular to believe that God still works wonders. I believe God still DOES work wonders, but I'm not convinced all the simple things we focus on are the wonders.
I've found that my friends who don't believe in Christianity are far more impressed when we simply live our lives without excuse in such a way that it's impossible to explain away. You see, being polite is easy... being successful happens across barriers. Getting off drugs and out of a harmful lifestyle happens all over. But everyone knows what jerks most people are... and when we simply LIVE our lives as God directs, we'll find people will be amazed.
I'm not talking about always referring to God did this for me or that for me... but the simple peace that God can bring: let it Shine!! Admit your wrongs and ask forgiveness freely!! Know your strengths and use them to benefit others often!! Pray. Read scripture. Attend church. Do so unapologetically. Invite your friends, but never let a "no thanks" response cause you to stop association. Even a "never in your lifetime" response shouldn't stop us from loving our friends in real, tangible ways that mean something not just to you, but to Them!!
This guy tonight said this: "I didn't say anything about church cause I figured if God's not working on him, nothing I do will make any difference." I thought that was so right... live with people and care for them and be with them without making them a PROJECT!! Too many of us view our friends merely as someone to "save" to put up another notch on our Christianity belt.
Whatever man... Be normal. Love. Live. Let Live. and let your LIFE be your light, your words, your witness... Let God be God and let Him use you as He will... of course, you gotta be ready when He sets it up... cause if you live this way... people start asking questions about why. And that's when, in the most loving and uncritical way you can, you get to tell them it's cause of God.
Haha, I know.... I'm a preacher... and I blab whenever I can. :) but I got up there and talked. I'd been to a concert a few weeks previous, and as those guys talked, everyone was so impressed cause the guy'd been to prison and had gotten off meth and attributed it all to God. It's exciting--I'm not trying to take away from that--but the thing is... my non-Christian friends have tons of friends who've come out of prison never to commit another crime, and who've fought their way out of the trappings of drugs. This testimony really speaks to one crowd: the Christians who need something spectacular to believe that God still works wonders. I believe God still DOES work wonders, but I'm not convinced all the simple things we focus on are the wonders.
I've found that my friends who don't believe in Christianity are far more impressed when we simply live our lives without excuse in such a way that it's impossible to explain away. You see, being polite is easy... being successful happens across barriers. Getting off drugs and out of a harmful lifestyle happens all over. But everyone knows what jerks most people are... and when we simply LIVE our lives as God directs, we'll find people will be amazed.
I'm not talking about always referring to God did this for me or that for me... but the simple peace that God can bring: let it Shine!! Admit your wrongs and ask forgiveness freely!! Know your strengths and use them to benefit others often!! Pray. Read scripture. Attend church. Do so unapologetically. Invite your friends, but never let a "no thanks" response cause you to stop association. Even a "never in your lifetime" response shouldn't stop us from loving our friends in real, tangible ways that mean something not just to you, but to Them!!
This guy tonight said this: "I didn't say anything about church cause I figured if God's not working on him, nothing I do will make any difference." I thought that was so right... live with people and care for them and be with them without making them a PROJECT!! Too many of us view our friends merely as someone to "save" to put up another notch on our Christianity belt.
Whatever man... Be normal. Love. Live. Let Live. and let your LIFE be your light, your words, your witness... Let God be God and let Him use you as He will... of course, you gotta be ready when He sets it up... cause if you live this way... people start asking questions about why. And that's when, in the most loving and uncritical way you can, you get to tell them it's cause of God.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Speedlimits, Amended
So... I've been thinking about that last one. I think I need to slightly amend that idea.
I really think that while we need to not condemn ourselves for growing slowly, that idea--that we shouldn't judge ourselves or feel guilty for not being at the same place as another--needs to NEVER become a cop out. Unfortunately, that's what often happens... we begin to understand that there's a freedom, and that begins to be our constant excuse for why we aren't better.
For example, we fight legalism and works-based righteousness... and many of us extend that into an excuse for why we don't need to do anything... well, God loves me for me, and I'm saved because I believe... we talk about not wanting anything to get in the way of that, and we wouldn't want our salvation to be based on what we do... which is true, except that we still need to work!! We still need to reach out and serve and give and love.
I listened to Donald Miller preach a little while back... he talked about the excuse we have for why we don't do certain things: too many of us say, 'well we had this dream but God closed the door'. Now I believe God closes some doors, but what means a door is closed?? For many, a closed door is a plane ticket that is too expensive, or supplies that are hard to come by. For many, a closed door is working with people with whom we don't want to be forced to interact. Miller said, and I tend to agree, that these are just excuses!!
So while you ought never do something JUST because the guy down the road does, we should never let that become an excuse for being lazy.
I really think that while we need to not condemn ourselves for growing slowly, that idea--that we shouldn't judge ourselves or feel guilty for not being at the same place as another--needs to NEVER become a cop out. Unfortunately, that's what often happens... we begin to understand that there's a freedom, and that begins to be our constant excuse for why we aren't better.
For example, we fight legalism and works-based righteousness... and many of us extend that into an excuse for why we don't need to do anything... well, God loves me for me, and I'm saved because I believe... we talk about not wanting anything to get in the way of that, and we wouldn't want our salvation to be based on what we do... which is true, except that we still need to work!! We still need to reach out and serve and give and love.
I listened to Donald Miller preach a little while back... he talked about the excuse we have for why we don't do certain things: too many of us say, 'well we had this dream but God closed the door'. Now I believe God closes some doors, but what means a door is closed?? For many, a closed door is a plane ticket that is too expensive, or supplies that are hard to come by. For many, a closed door is working with people with whom we don't want to be forced to interact. Miller said, and I tend to agree, that these are just excuses!!
So while you ought never do something JUST because the guy down the road does, we should never let that become an excuse for being lazy.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Speedlimits
I drove up to Kansas City yesterday... had to get my car serviced. On the way home, going maybe 80, this lady starts creeping up on my bumper and passes me... no big deal, really, except that she got past me, and pulled in just in front of me, and slowed down!! Slowed down enough that I started creeping up on her!! Her stinking motivation had nothing to do with getting down the road faster, and everything to do with getting past me. Her speed was dictated by MY speed. Rather than pay attention to a standard and allow her speed to be set based on that standard, she changed her speed regularly based on what was happening around her.
You know, too many of us live our Christianity like this. We work hard at something not because we should or because God has pushed us in this area, but because we see someone else doing it better. Our churches work at improving media not because it helps ministry but because the church down the street is doing it better. We read the entire Bible not because we desire to know scripture, but because we don't want to seem like we're less devoted than our spiritual siblings.
Why?? Know what I mean?? Isn't that retarded?? I mean no offense, but perhaps God has a "speed limit" for all of us?? Perhaps He doesn't expect you to do exactly what Billy Graham does... perhaps he knows you personally and bases his expectations on knowing you.
I talked in youth the other night about walking on ice... I was getting in my car and my foot started slipping just from the pressure of "pushing" to get in the car. When you push too hard on ice, you slip. When you take too big a step, you'll slide. I think the same is true about spiritual growth... we have to take small steps, and not expect to move too fast... growth happens at a snail's pace sometimes. When we're born as babies, we don't realize how slowly we grow, but when we are born spiritually, we expect to grow fast!! But growth still has to come slowly. We truly are babies... it's not necessarily that we HAVE to move at a certain pace, but that we can't base our growth on other people, but on how God moves within us.
And sometimes that pace isn't as fast as the guy down the road.
You know, too many of us live our Christianity like this. We work hard at something not because we should or because God has pushed us in this area, but because we see someone else doing it better. Our churches work at improving media not because it helps ministry but because the church down the street is doing it better. We read the entire Bible not because we desire to know scripture, but because we don't want to seem like we're less devoted than our spiritual siblings.
Why?? Know what I mean?? Isn't that retarded?? I mean no offense, but perhaps God has a "speed limit" for all of us?? Perhaps He doesn't expect you to do exactly what Billy Graham does... perhaps he knows you personally and bases his expectations on knowing you.
I talked in youth the other night about walking on ice... I was getting in my car and my foot started slipping just from the pressure of "pushing" to get in the car. When you push too hard on ice, you slip. When you take too big a step, you'll slide. I think the same is true about spiritual growth... we have to take small steps, and not expect to move too fast... growth happens at a snail's pace sometimes. When we're born as babies, we don't realize how slowly we grow, but when we are born spiritually, we expect to grow fast!! But growth still has to come slowly. We truly are babies... it's not necessarily that we HAVE to move at a certain pace, but that we can't base our growth on other people, but on how God moves within us.
And sometimes that pace isn't as fast as the guy down the road.
Monday, November 19, 2007
wretch
This is just another one of those post-modern anti-judgment rants that lots of us are throwing out these days, but I got a little motivated this morning and started cleaning my apartment up since I'm sure I'll be moving soon--even if I stay in Portland, I need to find something a little cheaper--and I found this little paper. I have no clue when I wrote this down, but it was on a sheet with stuff from NYC, so it's safe to assume from there it came.
Some of us know the old hymn Amazing Grace:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see...
and so on... and in those first few words, the word wretch leapt out at me!! Wretch!! And it occurred to me that two people and two alone have the right to call me a wretch. Myself and Jesus. Jesus does, but he does it in such a loving manner, and with such a bountiful offer of grace and mercy (a desire to help change that status) that it's OK.
Here's the thing: I don't get to call anyone else a wretch!! And no one else has the right to call me a wretch!! So quit it.
Some of us know the old hymn Amazing Grace:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see...
and so on... and in those first few words, the word wretch leapt out at me!! Wretch!! And it occurred to me that two people and two alone have the right to call me a wretch. Myself and Jesus. Jesus does, but he does it in such a loving manner, and with such a bountiful offer of grace and mercy (a desire to help change that status) that it's OK.
Here's the thing: I don't get to call anyone else a wretch!! And no one else has the right to call me a wretch!! So quit it.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Manure
Hi Kids, welcome back to my thoughts!! :)
At camp a couple of weeks ago, the analogy was presented that the fruits of the spirit are grown in us not specifically for us, but for the world. As with many messages that week, the message didn't grab our group as much as the discussion enabled by the message did afterwards... In the discussion following that particular message, we talked a bit about the fruit, and had a funny little interlude where Jared mentioned that fruit grows bigger and better when manure is introduced into the equation!!
We joked about how in our lives it's also true: when the crap comes, that's often when we grow most quickly and best!! That's when we trust and rely on God more fully!!
I came home from camp with no idea that I'd be walking into a crappy situation a week later, but I did. For now, I won't really tell you anything about that, but it's stupid... and I've been thinking about that analogy from camp.
I've been realizing how easy it is to say to our friends: "just rely on the promises of God!!" and I've been asking my friends to pray that I'd be able to rely on those promises... God promises that He'll bring good out of any situation if we only trust in Him.
So I'm working on relaxing and trusting. And it sucks and it's hard.
And as I walk through this little valley of the shadow of crap, I realize...
Crap helps the fruit growing in us grow stronger and more tasty.
Crap makes everything around us smell so much sweeter.
So if you'd be so kind, say a little prayer for me: pray that the crap surrounding me helps me grow stronger and more faithful; pray that I'm able to fully trust God's promises; pray that the crap feeds me, and then goes away!!
Right??
At camp a couple of weeks ago, the analogy was presented that the fruits of the spirit are grown in us not specifically for us, but for the world. As with many messages that week, the message didn't grab our group as much as the discussion enabled by the message did afterwards... In the discussion following that particular message, we talked a bit about the fruit, and had a funny little interlude where Jared mentioned that fruit grows bigger and better when manure is introduced into the equation!!
We joked about how in our lives it's also true: when the crap comes, that's often when we grow most quickly and best!! That's when we trust and rely on God more fully!!
I came home from camp with no idea that I'd be walking into a crappy situation a week later, but I did. For now, I won't really tell you anything about that, but it's stupid... and I've been thinking about that analogy from camp.
I've been realizing how easy it is to say to our friends: "just rely on the promises of God!!" and I've been asking my friends to pray that I'd be able to rely on those promises... God promises that He'll bring good out of any situation if we only trust in Him.
So I'm working on relaxing and trusting. And it sucks and it's hard.
And as I walk through this little valley of the shadow of crap, I realize...
Crap helps the fruit growing in us grow stronger and more tasty.
Crap makes everything around us smell so much sweeter.
So if you'd be so kind, say a little prayer for me: pray that the crap surrounding me helps me grow stronger and more faithful; pray that I'm able to fully trust God's promises; pray that the crap feeds me, and then goes away!!
Right??
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