So I guess you can say I am in the working world now. I still don’t feel comfortable in this place, to be honest. At least not comfortable being apart of corporate America. You know what, I have actually learned from being here. I’m not sure of if you are aware of this concept, but in order to advance in business you have to perform well. If I want to climb the so called “corporate ladder”, I have to constantly do better and better. Actually, I guess you can say this concept applies to most things in our world. If you want something, you have to work for it. I think this concept has been branded in our minds. It’s just the way the world works.
I guess now the question is how this “performance equal rewards” concept has affected our relationship with God. My guess is in a bigger way than we think. Let me say this. God can never love you any more than He does right now. Did you here that? God can never love you any more than He does right now. Let that sink in. Seriously. This idea is something that greatly amazes me and has affected my life. I guess I grew up with the idea that if I wanted God to love me more, I would have to do more things for Him. I mean, this concept is something that is true in most areas of our lives. I go to church whenever the doors are open because I want God to love me more. I read my Bible everyday because I want God to love me more. I say a prayer before every meal because I want God to love me more.
This kind of thinking about God, about performing for acceptance, it is not that healthy. It’s doing things out of obligation and not out of love. Example: I have a wife. (Use your imagination) Let’s say my wife has a birthday. Which do you think would be the sign of a healthy relationship between her and I: me giving her a gift because I felt it was my duty or me giving her a gift because of my love for her? Obviously the latter is the best.
The simple fact is God’s love for me and you can be no better than it is right now. No amount of mission trips, tithes, Bible studies, or prayers could ever improve His love for us. I know there are some people out there who would yell at me “faith without works is dead”, but I am not arguing against that. I am saying that sometimes we get in these places in our relationship with Him, where we are just doing things out of obligation. When we start trying to wrap our minds around of this great love God has for us, I believe it will cause in us a desire to want to live a life for and about Him.
This concept of His love, that there is nothing we can do to earn it; it’s so unlike the ways of this world. He did say something like His ways are not ours. We are brought up with these ideas that in order to get ahead in life we have to work harder, but God’s love doesn’t work that way. He says, “I love you just as you are. You don’t have to try to prove your love to me in order to get ahead. It can’t be done. Just accept that I love you and let My love transform you.” Notice the part about letting His love transform you. Yes, God does love us right where we are. God loves the pastor, the prostitute, the missionary, and the atheist each where they are. But, God wants His love to flow through us and change us in order to become more like Him. I want to love as God loves. I think many times in the Church, we have this idea that if someone wants to be apart of our big Christian family they have to meet us on our terms, but truthfully our love should meet them where they are first.
I don’t want to perform “Christian things” out of obligation, trying to earn His love. I don’t want to apply the world’s concept to One who is above this world. I don’t want to be apart of the false gospel that God’s love can be earned by doing more good deeds. I want to live fully in God’s love, allowing it to shape me and draw me closer to Him and spread from me to everyone I come in contact with. Walk and live in love…
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
A Christian Nation?
This whole following Christ deal is difficult. I mean, He said it would be and He is right. One of the most difficult things for me is the balance between right and wrong. We don’t have a list of things to do and not to do, though some Christians will say that we do. And because sometimes the answers are not clearly written in stone, we have times where we disagree. One person will say this is right and the next person will say it’s wrong. And then there’s a big debate and sides are chosen. This whole cycle of things is so old and has been too overdone. With all that being said I am going to voice my opinion about something. Again this is just what I believe and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. This is just me taking what I have learned from God and trying to apply it.
Did Jesus support war? I can’t find any scripture that says He did. Sure most of the Old Testament is about war and God constantly told the Israelites to go to war. But to me, when Jesus stepped out of Eternity and into this world, He brought with Him a different way of doing things. He said things like blessed are the peacemakers. When the Romans came to arrest Jesus with swords and torches, Peter makes a violent act of cutting off one of the soldier’s ears. Jesus could have just let it be, but He doesn’t. He says no to the way of violence. He says if He wanted to He could call down a whole army of angels to have His back. His army of angels would definitely be better than anything Caesar could put together. But Jesus doesn’t play by the way of violence. He says no. He says those who live by the sword will die by the sword. He tells Peter to put down his sword; to stop the violence.
Not only did Jesus want to stop the endless cycle of violence, but he wanted to bring restoration to man’s violent ways. For instance, he could have just left the man’s ear on the ground, and by earthly standards, the man deserved it. But Jesus doesn’t give the soldier what he deserves. He heals him. He makes things new. Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker and He is the restorer of our own violent ways.
There tends to be this unspoken conservative Christian rule that if you love Jesus you will vote Republican. And if you are Republican you will be for the war in Iraq. Christianity and politics are a touchy subject, I know. We have our issues of abortion and gay marriage and we say that we want to have laws concerning these areas. We call it the Sanctity of Life. We say God is against abortion and gay marriage so we want to make laws against them. I just have one question, why do we think we can apply our faith to laws about gay marriage and abortion and then disregard what Jesus says about violence and war? It seems like a double standard. We vote as if we want our nation to be a Christian nation, but we totally neglect what Jesus says about violence. If we want to apply Jesus to laws of gay marriage and abortion, shouldn’t we apply Jesus concerning war?
Really I am not saying I am for the war or against it. I honestly don’t know where I stand as a follower of Christ on this issue. Is war ever justifiable as a nation? Maybe. Is violence ever a way that represents Jesus? I can’t say that it is. I don’t think we are a Christian nation. Sure there were some great Biblical ideas in forming this nation, but we are not a theocracy. For me, I can’t support the war and then turn around and want to vote for God concerning gay marriage and abortion. I would have to call myself a hypocrite. For you, it may be okay. I am simply saying what Jesus had led me to believe. I do know that as a powerful nation, we should help the oppressed. I know that in Africa there are 10 year olds being forced to fight in wars and we as a nation have done little to end this. I think the War in Iraq will never be won because we are not fighting a nation, we are fighting a belief. Nations are easier to defeat than beliefs.
I do support our troops and I do love my country. But my citizenship is first and foremost in His Kingdom and I have to remember that while living in this world. I know some of you may disagree with me and that’s okay. I am not here to debate these issues or anything. I am just throwing ideas out there. If God speaks to you, then great. Debating hardly ever brings about any positive outcome. Walk in love…
Did Jesus support war? I can’t find any scripture that says He did. Sure most of the Old Testament is about war and God constantly told the Israelites to go to war. But to me, when Jesus stepped out of Eternity and into this world, He brought with Him a different way of doing things. He said things like blessed are the peacemakers. When the Romans came to arrest Jesus with swords and torches, Peter makes a violent act of cutting off one of the soldier’s ears. Jesus could have just let it be, but He doesn’t. He says no to the way of violence. He says if He wanted to He could call down a whole army of angels to have His back. His army of angels would definitely be better than anything Caesar could put together. But Jesus doesn’t play by the way of violence. He says no. He says those who live by the sword will die by the sword. He tells Peter to put down his sword; to stop the violence.
Not only did Jesus want to stop the endless cycle of violence, but he wanted to bring restoration to man’s violent ways. For instance, he could have just left the man’s ear on the ground, and by earthly standards, the man deserved it. But Jesus doesn’t give the soldier what he deserves. He heals him. He makes things new. Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker and He is the restorer of our own violent ways.
There tends to be this unspoken conservative Christian rule that if you love Jesus you will vote Republican. And if you are Republican you will be for the war in Iraq. Christianity and politics are a touchy subject, I know. We have our issues of abortion and gay marriage and we say that we want to have laws concerning these areas. We call it the Sanctity of Life. We say God is against abortion and gay marriage so we want to make laws against them. I just have one question, why do we think we can apply our faith to laws about gay marriage and abortion and then disregard what Jesus says about violence and war? It seems like a double standard. We vote as if we want our nation to be a Christian nation, but we totally neglect what Jesus says about violence. If we want to apply Jesus to laws of gay marriage and abortion, shouldn’t we apply Jesus concerning war?
Really I am not saying I am for the war or against it. I honestly don’t know where I stand as a follower of Christ on this issue. Is war ever justifiable as a nation? Maybe. Is violence ever a way that represents Jesus? I can’t say that it is. I don’t think we are a Christian nation. Sure there were some great Biblical ideas in forming this nation, but we are not a theocracy. For me, I can’t support the war and then turn around and want to vote for God concerning gay marriage and abortion. I would have to call myself a hypocrite. For you, it may be okay. I am simply saying what Jesus had led me to believe. I do know that as a powerful nation, we should help the oppressed. I know that in Africa there are 10 year olds being forced to fight in wars and we as a nation have done little to end this. I think the War in Iraq will never be won because we are not fighting a nation, we are fighting a belief. Nations are easier to defeat than beliefs.
I do support our troops and I do love my country. But my citizenship is first and foremost in His Kingdom and I have to remember that while living in this world. I know some of you may disagree with me and that’s okay. I am not here to debate these issues or anything. I am just throwing ideas out there. If God speaks to you, then great. Debating hardly ever brings about any positive outcome. Walk in love…
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Lukewarmnicity
Well I am back from a writing sabbatical. I didn’t go anywhere, but I just took a few weeks off from writing. I want to take a trip to Colorado soon though; anyone want to join? Well, I didn’t plan on taking time off writing. There are things that have been on my mind, things I have felt like writing about. There are things I have wrestled with; issues and topics. Things I don’t understand. I’m still relatively young and I know that there’s a lot I don’t know yet about life and walking with God. I have a lot to learn.
A few weeks ago I was reading the Bible. I was in Revelation reading the Jesus’ letters to the churches. I came across the famous letter to the church in Laodicea and the whole ‘lukewarm’ statement. You know, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” This is one of those passages that just jumps off the page. We probably have all heard sermons on the dangers of being lukewarm. We probably have all heard people trying to scare us into obedience so Jesus will not spit us out of His mouth. And of course, this passage raises questions. Why does Jesus say that those who are lukewarm would be better off cold? How is this Jesus who spits people out of his mouth the same Christ who welcomes and forgives all? And the big question, what does it mean to be lukewarm?
I heard a great illustration from Pastor Francis Chan of California a few weeks ago. I will probably butcher it, but bear with me. If I were going to go in the army, I would meet with the army recruiter. What would happen if I told the recruiter that I didn’t want to commit to serve 3 years? “Hey Sarge, check this out. How about I only serve a year? That works better for me. And the whole boot camp thing, yeah I’m gonna sleep in and probably only train when I feel like it.” I doubt the recruiter would let me sign up. He’d probably yell at me and kick me out of his office. Why? Because when you sign up for something like the army, you are pretty much signing your life away for those years. But if I am going to be truthful, sometimes I have this attitude when following Christ; like I don’t want to be all in. I think that’s the heart of lukewarmnicity.
Anyone can pray a prayer. And one can say Jesus is Lord. Anyone can get dunked underwater in front of a church. But those things aren’t what it means to follow Him. Die to yourself. Pick up your cross. Hate your mother. Hate your brother. Unless I am not first in your life, unless you would leave it all for My sake, then you’re not following me. You are lukewarm.
In this verse in Revelations, Jesus is basically saying that we are either all in or all out. There is no middle ground. Here’s another example. Say I am dating someone. (I’m not.) Let’s say this woman I am dating sort of likes me and sort of don’ts. She thinks I am a good person and enjoys spending time with me, but she’s constantly looking for the next better thing. (I could make a joke here but I will refrain.) For her, it’s a relationship of convenience. Okay, I would have to be stupid to be in this relationship. Hey, either you like me or you don’t. Either you are with me or you’re not. That’s what Jesus is saying.
Yes, Jesus is redemption and love and forgiveness. But he also wants to be number 1. He doesn’t do second place. Just think, He went all the way for us. He didn’t tell Pilate, “Yeah, this whole death thing, um, I’m not really feeling it. Say, how about I just take a few lashes and be done with it?” Of course not. He went all the way for us. I know there are times in my life that I am lukewarm. It’s not that I don’t love Jesus; I guess I just get so caught up in everything else. But I guess if my life is not fully for Him, nothing else really matters. I am tired of my own lukewarmnicity. I want to be all in. Walk in love…
matt
A few weeks ago I was reading the Bible. I was in Revelation reading the Jesus’ letters to the churches. I came across the famous letter to the church in Laodicea and the whole ‘lukewarm’ statement. You know, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” This is one of those passages that just jumps off the page. We probably have all heard sermons on the dangers of being lukewarm. We probably have all heard people trying to scare us into obedience so Jesus will not spit us out of His mouth. And of course, this passage raises questions. Why does Jesus say that those who are lukewarm would be better off cold? How is this Jesus who spits people out of his mouth the same Christ who welcomes and forgives all? And the big question, what does it mean to be lukewarm?
I heard a great illustration from Pastor Francis Chan of California a few weeks ago. I will probably butcher it, but bear with me. If I were going to go in the army, I would meet with the army recruiter. What would happen if I told the recruiter that I didn’t want to commit to serve 3 years? “Hey Sarge, check this out. How about I only serve a year? That works better for me. And the whole boot camp thing, yeah I’m gonna sleep in and probably only train when I feel like it.” I doubt the recruiter would let me sign up. He’d probably yell at me and kick me out of his office. Why? Because when you sign up for something like the army, you are pretty much signing your life away for those years. But if I am going to be truthful, sometimes I have this attitude when following Christ; like I don’t want to be all in. I think that’s the heart of lukewarmnicity.
Anyone can pray a prayer. And one can say Jesus is Lord. Anyone can get dunked underwater in front of a church. But those things aren’t what it means to follow Him. Die to yourself. Pick up your cross. Hate your mother. Hate your brother. Unless I am not first in your life, unless you would leave it all for My sake, then you’re not following me. You are lukewarm.
In this verse in Revelations, Jesus is basically saying that we are either all in or all out. There is no middle ground. Here’s another example. Say I am dating someone. (I’m not.) Let’s say this woman I am dating sort of likes me and sort of don’ts. She thinks I am a good person and enjoys spending time with me, but she’s constantly looking for the next better thing. (I could make a joke here but I will refrain.) For her, it’s a relationship of convenience. Okay, I would have to be stupid to be in this relationship. Hey, either you like me or you don’t. Either you are with me or you’re not. That’s what Jesus is saying.
Yes, Jesus is redemption and love and forgiveness. But he also wants to be number 1. He doesn’t do second place. Just think, He went all the way for us. He didn’t tell Pilate, “Yeah, this whole death thing, um, I’m not really feeling it. Say, how about I just take a few lashes and be done with it?” Of course not. He went all the way for us. I know there are times in my life that I am lukewarm. It’s not that I don’t love Jesus; I guess I just get so caught up in everything else. But I guess if my life is not fully for Him, nothing else really matters. I am tired of my own lukewarmnicity. I want to be all in. Walk in love…
matt
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