What would the church look like if everyone in the church had the same commitment level, and faith that you have?
Would the church be a healthy place if others gave the same money, time, service, and relational investment to the community that you give?
Last night I attended a preview service for a new church plant that is starting near my home. The pastor and his family have been connected with my church for the last few months as they have been preparing to plant their new church. I showed up in time for the service, but not early enough to help out with setup, but I stayed afterwards to help clean up.
As I was assisting with tear down and clean up the wife looked at me and said thank you. She said, “I know you say it is no big deal, but to us it is and it is such a huge blessing. Not only are you pitching in to help out, but you are filled with positive energy and that is so good to have around.”
I feel like I am missing something. Isn’t this how the church is supposed to be? Aren’t we supposed to give, support, encourage, uplift, and care for one another? Aren’t we supposed to be filled with joy and positive energy? It feels wrong to be thanked for living by God’s standards and guidance and seeking to have meaningful and connected relationships with others. I guess it is so foreign in this world that we forget this is what God’s way truly looks like. That makes me really sad!
“We may become competent and skilled. We may achieve position and significant-looking roles. We do stuff – maybe even impressive stuff. But, because we are constantly pursuing power and authority, and manipulating to gain control. God can never release us into our future. Our relational sadness, our inability to be loved, our festering wounds and broken relationships freeze us in immaturity. Without humilty, we continue to miss the train that takes us into God’s intention for our destiny.” (from Truefaced by Thrall, McNicol, and Lynch)
When we live in good intentions we try to do thing under our own power. We can become competent and skilled. I think many church leaders fall into this category. They have skills and can make things work, but they are looking to lead programs and people by pursing power and authority and leading through their own control and ideas.
Over the last three months I have been taught about grace. For the first time in my life I know what it means to live in God’s grace, to be the person he has made me to be, and to see what a life of living in relational grace with others really looks like. When we surrender our control to God and let him release us to our future the world becomes a new place. Every day becomes an exciting adventure where we get to see God work, lead, guide, and create. We get to grow, mature, and live. I wish I had words to express the difference. I feel more alive today than I think I ever have. It isn’t an emotional high like what can happen after a great conference or experience, but instead is a deepseated heartfelt knowledge that I see, believe, and interact differently with the world.
Are you living as a competent and skilled person with good intentions, or are you seeking to live and walk in the grace that God offers us and to allow him work through you, using his gifts instead of yours?
Today around the world Christians have celebrated the resurrection of Christ. Without the resurrection the birth and death of Christ do not hold much importance. It is through the resurrection that Christ conquered death and brought us new life. Through the day today my mind has repeatedly returned to what the resurrection really means to my life.
I went to two different church services today and I walked away uninspired. The services were fine, and the content of the messages was okay, but as I sat in the services I listened to hear a message that God had changed lives, that the resurrection really made a difference, and that people were so deeply in love with Christ that there was nothing better in the world. I didn’t hear it. You see I am tired of listening to sermons about Jesus, singing songs about Jesus, talking about Jesus, and not living a life for Jesus. I want to be a part of something where people are inspired and in love with God. I want to be a part of something where we stop looking at ourselves and serving ourselves and giving our lives up for someone or something else. Over the last few months God has so dramatically changed my life and I can’t be quiet about it any longer. I can’t sit still and not live a life that is sold out and surrendered to God.
So, what does the resurrection mean to you? Is your life different because of it, or are you living a life that doesn’t testify of God to others? Can others see that your life has changed or that you are different from non-Christians because of your relationship with Christ?
Are you living a life that is pure? We might question what the word pure really means because often people think of it referring to only sexuality. Pastor Rob Bell of Mars Hill church in Michigan recently told his congregation. “I want to live in such a way that if all the lights were turned on, if all truth and justice was brought to bear, I wouldn’t have to make any adjustments. That if everything we do were brought out into the open, to live in anticipation of the day of Christ is to live with such integrity and authenticity that if all the lights were turned on I wouldn’t have to make any adjustments to how I was living. That that day would truly bring no worries, no stress, no anxiety. “
If the light was turned on in your life and everything was revealed for others to see would you be embarrassed or ashamed? Think about these areas:
Are you living a life that is blameless? We should be seeking to live in such a way that we are not doing anything that could cause another person to stumble or falter. Are you living in such a way that no one around you could question your commitment to Jesus? Do your words and actions match up? Are you one person in one environment and another person in another environment?
Paul made this prayer for the Philippians. As part of God’s family maybe it should be the prayer we each offer for the rest of God’s family. Philippians 1:9-10 – “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ”
My mind is reeling this morning. I have been praying and working a lot over the last two years to reshape my thinking and to base it purely on God’s truth, not on man’s interpretation and processes. That alone has been an interesting and complex journey. Some things have become very clear and I have realized how far from God’s truth I have walked. Every once in a while something comes up that shakes me and leaves me with huge questions about what I have been taught, what I believe, and what is really true.
This past weekend I attended the Dare2Share conference held in Seattle. About 5000 youth and leaders joined together for a time of teaching, worship, challenge, and encouragement. It was an awesome experience. Greg Steir and several other speakers challenged us to no longer be lukewarm, to make a commitment to God, and to live that out every day. We were challenged to stand up for what we believe in and to love God so much we share him with others. Dare2Share definitely has an evangelism component to it, but they also want to provide some discipleship materials and resources for others. A part of Friday night was to make sure those attending the conference were convinced of what we believed and had made a commitment to God. There was a time where we closed our eyes and people were given an opportunity to raise their hand and acknowledge that commitment by raising their hands. Then they were encouraged to share their decision with others at the conference. At the time it seemed right. I had been through times like this before and I have seen many people make commitments in this way.
Today as I drove to work I listened to a sermon by Francis Chan, pastor at Cornerstone Church in California. He was teaching on the Holy Spirit and was referring to a verse from Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The question was asked, what does it take to become a Christian? Is it just a hand in the air and a heart decision? Does it say anything in the Bible about making commitments in this way? This verse from Acts tells us to repent and be baptized.
Now I am puzzled, not for myself because I know that I went through a time of repentance along with my decision to follow Christ, but for all the youth and others I have worked with and for all those I know who have made commitments at events where people just raise their hands. Does Christ just want a decision to follow, or is repentance a necessary part of it? If someone doesn’t repent are they actually turning from their old life and pursuing a new life in Christ? Are we asking God to change us even though we are full of sin, or are we actively trying to put down our sin and move away from it so we can follow God?
Lots to think about……I think this one might take me a while to work through.
Last week students at a local middle school north of Seattle conducted a pre-planned walkout to protest inadequate discipline. The students said they feel unsafe and want harsher penalties for drug use and fighting. “They asked administrators to dole out tougher and more equitable punishments”.
The guys at Floating Axhead recently posted an entry called “Viral Evangelism” where they said, “Somewhere along the way we decided it was easier to be a pew potato – a consumer-for-Christ – than to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).” In a further comment Michael continued on by saying “i just think it’s too hard. i think the “church” has a desire for it but people lack the willingness on both sides for participation. unlike serving somewhere, where you may not have to know anything but just have an enthusiasm and a smile, the discipleship of the bible takes discipline…a god-placed obedience.”
A group of middle school students is protesting their school in order to have their basic rights of safety and security met. It leaves me wondering if Christians are making their need for the basic rights of spiritual discipline known to the church. Are Christians expressing their needs to the church? Are people in church gatherings asking for quality teaching, Godly direction, and discipleship training? Maybe we should be asking each other the question the students asked the adults, “Are you going to help us change?”
Last week Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church in California told his congregation, “Love your neighbor, not just love your neighbor, but love them as yourself. That means you come in and you are just as concerned about the person next to you as you are yourself. So, I read this and I want to be honest with you. I have been preaching here for 14 years. 14 years. How many times have I said, love your neighbor as yourself, and yet how many weekends do we come in thinking about ourselves? And how…I know some of you do, I know some of you walk in and say I am going to find somebody to love. Whoever I sit next to I am going to just ask them their name and see if there is anything I can pray for them about, see if there are any needs I can meet. I know there are some of you who do that, but let’s face it not many, right? Because we live in a very individualistic, independent society. I want to come to church and just blend in and hide out. I am not really here to make friends. I just want to meet with God and go on my way. Hear my message and go.
So, I guess my question to you is what would you do if you were in my shoes? Try to imagine you are the pastor of the church now and God wants you to get a body of people to love on each other and you know that, that he wants that, and he wants you to get them loving each other out in the community. And you have preached about it year after year, time and time again and there is that cynical side of me that goes ‘I am going to preach it this week and by next Sunday you are going to forget. And you are going to come in and think about yourself. Maybe today you will leave and say hi to someone or ask someone their name, but next week you will forget again. And you have to wait until the next love your neighbor sermon again until we have love in the room.’ “
How many times have we heard pastor’s say the same things and not listened? How many times have we been taught the same truths and not accepted that truth? How many times have we seen others in need and walked by without loving them? How many times have we turned cynical because we don’t believe that others will follow through?
What will it take for us to take our faith and life with God seriously? What will it take for us to stop saying we believe and start living like we believe? What will it take for God’s plan to become a reality in this world?
I don’t have answers to those questions, I don’t think anyone does, but I can say I don’t want to forget to love my neighbor. I don’t want to live like I haven’t heard God’s truth. I don’t want God to tell me “I told you the same thing for 14 years and you didn’t hear me.”. What will it take? More than I have, that is exactly why I need God so much!
As I drove into the heart of the city this morning I heard a quote, “Nothing in nature is straight”. I looked around at the little pieces of nature I could see (grass, bushes, a few trees) and all the man-made structures (roads, buildings, the Space Needle, boats). The things of nature were not straight, but those made by man were straight.
My mind wandered to God’s plan and how he sees our paths versus how man sees them. Often we are wanting those around us to be straight, easy, unmessy, relationally uncomplicated, predictable, and understandable. Instead, we are crooked and misshapen. Everything from the way our bodies were formed to our broken spirits, sinful ways, and hard hearts keep us from being straight. God sees that and he considers it beautiful. Are you expecting others to be straight when God made them to be crooked and misshapen? What would happen if you changed your perspective?
From You Are Everything by Matthew West
Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
I’m the one with big mistakes
Big regrets and bigger breaks
Than I ever care to confess
Oh but, You’re the one who looks at me
And sees what I was meant to be
More than just a beautiful mess
Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won’t let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in
Do you remember the day you became a Christian? Did you feel joy?
The evening I became a Christian 15 years of sin, pain, sorrow, and grief was taken from me. I felt like a huge weight was taken from me. It was at a summer youth camp. At campfire that night I announced it to others because I was so filled with joy I had to share what God had done in my life. My dad was there, I was so excited that I ran toward him to give him a hug. I knocked him over and we ended up in the dirt laughing and sharing the joy.
Today we can have that same joy, and yet we often let it pass by. Our joy comes from God. He gave us new life. He has saved us from what we deserve and gives us incredible blessings. Doesn’t that excite you! You have been chosen by God! You have been saved! You have been made new and the past is forever changed! Go out and dance, shout, and jump up and down because you have a relationship with the most amazing God and he loves you beyond anything else.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
If someone was to ask you point blank today if Jesus was Lord of your life do you know how you would answer? It seems to me that it is easier for us to accept Christ as Savior than as Lord. I made a commitment to call Jesus Savior and Lord almost 24 years ago. I have never forgotten that he is my Savior, but I have definitely lived like he is not my Lord at times.
For the past year or so God has been showing me that he wants more of my life. He doesn’t want to be just a friend, just an occasional companion, or someone who is only invited into part of my life. He wants me to love him with ALL of my heart, soul, mind, and strength because that is how he loves me. The scripture above says that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart we will be saved. I am not confessing out of fear of what not being saved means, or even because I want to be saved because I know I do not deserve to be. I am confessing because I have such an incredible love for God that I want everyone to know that I love Him so deeply and want everything in my life to glorify him.
I am tired of living in mediocrity. I want to live a life focus on God’s heart and plan. At church today I was able to enter into worship more deeply than I have in a very long time. I was able to truly know God was present with me and to share with him. I was able to surrender like never before.
1 John 4:13-16 “We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.”
I testify that God is the hope in my life, the purpose in my life, and my all. Today I surrendered my life, my whole life to him. I don’t know what is coming next, but I am willing to answer that call. Most people in my life, even those who call themselves Christians, won’t understand this, but that doesn’t matter. I am willing to give up my job, my home, my possessions, my relationships…whatever he would ask. I am willing to love and follow with ALL my heart, soul, mind, and strength. God, you have me, all of me. Use me to serve this world, to show your love, and to make an eternal difference. I want to be your servant, your steward, your hands and feet. Your love overwhelms me. I hope that my offering of a broken and open spirit will bring you praise and joy.
I have been thinking about inspiration a lot lately. I found I was able to name and recognize things that were not inspiring me and even robbing me of inspiration in life, but I was having a hard time finding inspiration. I have been at a place where I have been very disillusioned about some things in my life, even to the point of questioning my beliefs about Christianity. It is not that I doubt God or that my beliefs about God or Christ have changed, but rather I have been so disillusioned through the hurtful and unfaithful actions taken by some around me who claim to follow Christ that I have found myself cynical about how Christians live their lives and have not wanted to be a part of that. I honestly understand how some people can walk away from the church.
Today I had the painful but awesome experience of going to the funeral of my uncle. He passed away this week due to a massive heart attack during a basketball game. His death has been shocking to family and friends, but I found today inspirational. When I saw my uncle a few months ago I could clearly see God working in his life. Learning more about his story of faith today and exactly how passionate he was for God was inspiring. He was a man who was truly transformed by God, and he lived to give God glory. He loved God and those in his life very deeply. I want to be someone like him.
Today brought me more clarity about where I find inspiration. My greatest inspiration really comes from God. Nothing brings me more joy, hope, and peace. Solomon, the wisest man in history tried to find inspiration and direction in all sorts of places and things, but after all he tried, he came back to saying that everything but God was meaningless. I know that I want a life where I can look at anything less than God and say it is meaningless. I want to invest in people with a deep and intimate passionate and a love that has no limits.
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