Lies From the Church

We preach it.

“Come to Jesus and trust in Him. He will forgive you, give you salvation from sins, clothe you in His righteousness.”

And they come to Christ.

“Now that you are a Christian, there are some things you need to know. Stop drinking and smoking. Be a good wife. Etc. Etc. Etc. If you are really a Christian then you will do these things.”

“Oh, you don’t want to stop?? If you are really a Christian then you will want to stop. You will want to stop being short with you wife. you will want to stop drinking whiskey every night until you feel a little buzzed.”

“Huh. . . maybe you are not really in Christian. Did you really repent?? Are you really trusting in the Lord??”

And so it goes.

We have all believed these lies to some degree or another. We witness to ungodly people, bring them to Church, tell them to come to Jesus as they are, and they finally put their trust in Christ. Sometimes we give them a little time, but then we slowly introduce them to ‘the list.’ You know the list I am talking about.

Some of the things on our list, depending on our Church affiliation are from scripture, and some of them are not.

And we try to be gentle at first.

“You know how you like to pick up women at a bar and bring them back to your place? Now that you are a Christian, you probably shouldn’t do that anymore.”

“Oh, you are struggling with that? That’s weird, I don’t struggle with that.”

We have ceased to continue to share the gospel with those in the Church. We don’t bear one another’s burdens. We don’t love one another deeply. We don’t share our sins with each other. We have unrealistic expectations of others good works. And even our lack of grace is a sin struggle.

And people don’t feel worthy. And our own self righteousness looks down on others because they still struggle with sins that we don’t think that we do.

We don’t continue to preach the gospel. We see it as the beginning of the story, not that which encompasses our whole story.

So what is the answer?

Christ.

We need to stop acting self righteous. We need to stop acting like we believe in works righteousness. We need to stop lying about Christ.

The reality is that with each of us, even our good works are as filthy rags. We are each no different than Hosea’s wife, an unfaithful prostitute that Hosea continued to love, even though there was no good in her.

Any real good in you comes from Christ. Any good works are the outpouring of Christ in your life. We all struggle with sins. I know each of you are thinking of something specific right now. And yet the only difference between you and the girl in Church who is now pregnant from someone she wasn’t married to, is that her sin has become public. Stop looking down your nose at her.

You know, just maybe if we would stop relying on ourselves, and trust only in Christ’s finished work on the cross, as our only hope for salvation, and remind each other of this truth, the American Evangelical Church would not be in such crisis. Just maybe if we would stop being so completely self righteous, thinking we have figured out on our own power to not sin so much.

Full disclosure here. I am mad today. I don’t get angry often, but when it comes to matters of the Church, I really get angry. I am watching a friend go through this right now. Yes, my friend is a wicked sinner. But somewhere along the way he was lied to, and he believed it. He thinks that God has punished Him for not repenting enough. For not being good enough. For not trusting Christ enough. Instead of being reminded of the gospel in his discouragement, he was reminded of how he has fallen short once again of God’s law. And while this fact should drive him to the cross, it has driven him away from it. And while he desires peace with God, he fears he will never have peace with God. While he desires salvation from sin and believes Christ is the only hope for that salvation, he fears it won’t be granted to him, because he continues to struggle with sin. All because we in the Church lie.

Ultimately this is a reminder to each of you that know Christians who struggle with this same thing. Even as they continue to struggle. Even as they do things that are horrid, wicked, sinful. Bring them back to the cross. Preach the gospel to them. Over and over and over.

Lies From the Church

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				We preach it. “Come to Jesus and trust in Him. He will forgive you, give you salvation from sins, clothe you in His righteousness.” And they come to Christ. “Now that you are a Christian, there are some things you need to know. Stop drinking and smoking. Be a good wife. Etc. Etc. Etc. If you are really a Christian then you will do these things.” “Oh, you don’t want to stop?? If you are really a Christian then you will want to stop. You will want to stop being short with you wife. you will want to stop drinking whiskey every night until you feel a little buzzed.” “Huh. . . maybe you are not really in Christian. Did you really repent?? Are you really trusting in the Lord??” And so it goes. We have all believed these lies to some degree or another. We witness to ungodly people, bring them to Church, tell them to come to Jesus as they are, and they finally put their trust in Christ. Sometimes we give them a little time, but then we slowly introduce them to ‘the list.’ You know the list I am talking about. Some of the things on our list, depending on our Church affiliation are from scripture, and some of them are not. And we try to be gentle at first. “You know how you like to pick up women at a bar and bring them back to your place? Now that you are a Christian, you probably shouldn’t do that anymore.” “Oh, you are struggling with that? That’s weird, I don’t struggle with that.” We have ceased to continue to share the gospel with those in the Church. We don’t bear one another’s burdens. We don’t love one another deeply. We don’t share our sins with each other. We have unrealistic expectations of others good works. And even our lack of grace is a sin struggle. And people don’t feel worthy. And our own self righteousness looks down on others because they still struggle with sins that we don’t think that we do. We don’t continue to preach the gospel. We see it as the beginning of the story, not that which encompasses our whole story. So what is the answer? Christ. We need to stop acting self righteous. We need to stop acting like we believe in works righteousness. We need to stop lying about Christ. The reality is that with each of us, even our good works are as filthy rags. We are each no different than Hosea’s wife, an unfaithful prostitute that Hosea continued to love, even though there was no good in her. Any real good in you comes from Christ. Any good works are the outpouring of Christ in your life. We all struggle with sins. I know each of you are thinking of something specific right now. And yet the only difference between you and the girl in Church who is now pregnant from someone she wasn’t married to, is that her sin has become public. Stop looking down your nose at her. You know, just maybe if we would stop relying on ourselves, and trust only in Christ’s finished work on the cross, as our only hope for salvation, and remind each other of this truth, the American Evangelical Church would not be in such crisis. Just maybe if we would stop being so completely self righteous, thinking we have figured out on our own power to not sin so much. Full disclosure here. I am mad today. I don’t get angry often, but when it comes to matters of the Church, I really get angry. I am watching a friend go through this right now. Yes, my friend is a wicked sinner. But somewhere along the way he was lied to, and he believed it. He thinks that God has punished Him for not repenting enough. For not being good enough. For not trusting Christ enough. Instead of being reminded of the gospel in his discouragement, he was reminded of how he has fallen short once again of God’s law. And while this fact should drive him to the cross, it has driven him away from it. And while he desires peace with God, he fears he will never have peace with God. While he desires salvation from sin and believes Christ is the only hope for that salvation, he fears it won’t be granted to him, because he continues to struggle with sin. All because we in the Church lie. Ultimately this is a reminder to each of you that know Christians who struggle with this same thing. Even as they continue to struggle. Even as they do things that are horrid, wicked, sinful. Bring them back to the cross. Preach the gospel to them. Over and over and over.

Not exactly the Christmas I had Expected

I write this not having had very much sleep this week.

I had Christmas planned. Pretty much every moment from Wednesday morning had something that needed to be done. And everything went as great. The food was made, the gifts bought and wrapped, etc.

And then Christmas Eve my Grandparents and Parents came for our Swedish Smorgasbord and traditional Christmas Eve opening of the gifts. It was great. The food turned out well, the kids were enjoying their gifts. I was excited about my new cookware, and Brent about his new fire pit.

On a cold night in Colorado we set up the fire pit. We had some trouble getting the fire started. We had our wine, and Brent had started his cigar. We were looking forward to putting the kids to bed and enjoying an evening in front of the fire. It couldn’t have been a better evening.

The phone rang.

An old neighbor of ours was stuck at the airport with her three young kids. I can’t get into all of the sad details, but her own family told her that she couldn’t stay with them. She has very little money. I have helped this gal before when she has been in difficult situations. She called me to see if I could help.

We opened our home to this mother and her three children.

This was not something I was looking forward to. In fact I was dreading it.

And I learned how selfish and self centered that I am. When they were here, I was hording my children’s new toys. I didn’t want these wild children to break them. I was being nice, but on the surface only. Inside I was a bit annoyed.

I asked the mother if the children would be getting any presents the next morning. She told me that they could not afford any.

My heart softened.

I went to work. Thankfully I have a gift box full of prizes for my kids. Fun CD’s, pencils, books. I put together a gift bag for each of these children. When they awoke in the morning, the joy they expressed for these little toys was far more than my own children expressed for the expensive ones.

I spent a lot of time thinking about Christ and His love for us. He loved the ones that were not so easy to love. He didn’t care how attractive they were, how wealthy they were. He loved us.

I am sure I don’t have to explain to you the lessons learned. I hope it is obvious.

I saw one of the kids playing with my son’s new toy. I quickly asked if Jonathan had given him permission to play with it. I found out that this child asked Jonathan if he could play with the toy, and Jonathan willingly told him to have fun playing with it.

The little girl told me how beautiful my necklace was. She asked if she could wear one of my necklaces around for Christmas. I found one that I gave to her. Her face lit up for the rest of they day.

We talk about Christmas, and how it should be about Christ. We stress about buying our presents, getting the cards out,the decorations up, the parties etc. etc. All of that is fine and wonderful. I enjoy it as much as the next person.

I f Christmas is about Christ, then it is not about sacrifice.

I just hope that through this year that we can learn what it means to really love one another.

Hope We Can Really Believe In

I have been surprised the past two days that some have automatically assumed my depression at the outcome of the election. I know that this is in part due to my unending support for John McCain and Sarah Palin. And yes, I am absolutely disappointed at the outcome, but I am not depressed, and I am full of hope. Hope I can really believe in. My hope in Christ.

Through a strange course of events, a reporter and photographer from the Denver Post attended our election night party for the purposes of watching and writing about the response of McCain supporters on the outcome of the election. It was some of his questions that helped me to think about and put into words what it is I believe about not only this, but all of life. When asked about how I would feel if Obama won, I told him that I am a Christian, I believe in the sovereignty of God, in all things.

I can not help but be reminded of some of my favorite verses from Romans. I bring them up often, because it is my reminder of God's wisdom and control.

Romans 11:33-36
33Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!34For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?35Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

I do not regret in any way fighting for the McCain-Palin ticket. It is indeed what I thought was the best thing to do. And I will continue to fight. But my treasure is in heaven, my hope is in Christ.

Hope I can really believe in? That didn't come from McCain, and for sure not from Obama. Our only real hope is in Christ's finished work on the cross, our only hope for salvation, and in the sovereignty of God in all things, even this.

By Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, Because of Christ Christ Alone. Now that is Hope we can really believe in!

Soli Deo Gloria

Love and Grace Part 2

If you have not read the first part of this series, please read that first.

Several months ago I got to hear an interview that my brother-in-law Ted did on the Issues Etc. radio show on Grace Centered Parenting. The interview was in regards to how his own father had raised him. I recommend any one interested in listening to it, to do so.
(http://issuesetcarchive.org/07sep.php You have to go to the September 18th episode, and the hour that he is on, it is half way through when you hear the interview.)

This was the beginning of another unexpected journey in what it means to live a life of grace. Not just in parenting, but in all of life.

As I studied scripture, the theme of God's grace really stood out to me. If God has such immense grace on us in all things, are we not to have the same grace on others? Once again, how does this look?

God's grace on us is completely undeserving. It is not that we are so attractive and wonderful that he wants to just lavish grace on us, it is out of his love for us. He lavishes on us all of the good and wonderful gifts that he has to offer, and not because of any attractiveness that we bestow. Things that we do not deserve, salvation, blessing, faithfulness. The list goes on.

We come into contact with all kinds of people on a daily basis. It may be our children. Our spouses. People at Church. So on and so on. Some of them are easy to love, and some not so much. Sometimes they are just annoying, and sometimes they are downright unkind.

And yet our love and attitude toward them is not to be contingent on their behavior. We are called to love them, and the grace comes in when we realize we are to love them whether they deserve it or not. Face it, none of us deserves the love and grace of God, and yet He lavishes it on us.

You see, this is ultimately where people see Christ in us. Not when we preach at them, or self righteousnessly hang out all of our good works. Whether it be people that do not yet know Christ, or even more so those in the body of Christ, I truly believe that this is one of the greatest lessons learned.

Sola Gratia

Psalm 38 paraphrased (from the 1912 Psalter)

I was just meditating on the words from this, and was brought so much comfort.

In Thy wrath and hot displeasure,
Chasten not Thy servant, Lord;
Let Thy mercy, without measure,
Help and peace to me afford.

Heavy is my tribulation,
Sore my punishment has been;
Broken by Thine indignation,
I am troubled by my sin.

With my burden of transgression
Heavy laden, overborne,
Humbled low I make confession,
For my folly now I mourn.

Weak and wounded, I implore Thee:
Lord, to me Thy mercy show;
All my prayer is now before Thee,
All my trouble Thou dost know.

Darkness gathers, foes assail me.
But I answer not a word;
All my friends desert and fail me,
Only Thou my cry hast heard.

Lord, in Thee I am confiding;
Thou wilt answer when I call,
Lest my foes, the good deriding,
Triumph in Thy servant’s fall.

I am prone to halt and stumble,
Grief and sorrow dwell within,
Shame and guilt my spirit humble,
I am sorry for my sin.

Lord, my God, do not forsake me,
Let me know that Thou art near,
Under Thy protection take me,
As my Savior now appear.

The Balance of Living a Life of Love and Grace in the Church, and Recognizing God's Framework for Conflict

This will be a several part post because I have so much to say on the subject.

Part 1
Several years ago I spoke with a Pastor who shared with me his vision for the Church. He is a Reformed Minister, but had come from some other Evangelical denomination previously. He had a vision of meshing together good theology, with good Christian living, and good Christian living for the right reasons. He pointed out a passage in 1 Peter
22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

This was the beginning of my journey through scripture about what it means to love one another earnestly, to have a sincere brotherly love, that this is part of what it means to live in obedience to the truth, and all of this because we have been born again in Christ.

Here is where right theology meshes itself together with that deep love we are to have for one another. Notice at the end of the passage it says that it is through the living and abiding Word of God, as that is where our right theology comes.

Now this is not easy. In fact especially in the Church. So we are supposed to love one another earnestly? Is there not even a clause so that I don't have to really show love to those people that are mean to me, or maybe just not real lovable? Nope.

How does this look? There are so many verses that I could share, but the following really hit me today Titus 3
to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
I think this is a start.

Thinking of Christ's love toward us is also helpful. He loves us when we are difficult, He loves us when we are not particularly lovable, and He even loves us when we sin. If Christ is to be our example, should we not truly look to Him for how we ought to live. Are we not being molded to be like Him?

I feel I must place a disclaimer here so that I am not misunderstood. In no way do I want to pound Law over your head to the point you think any of this is about you. For it is all about Christ and His Grace. God's favor on us rests solely in Christ, and has nothing to do with our good works. God is working in us and through us to mold us, and the only striving that we do is out of Gratitude for what Christ has done for us in His finished work on the cross. I am just currently annoyed with not only others, but also with myself at the lack of love we have for one another. I know we all sin, and will continue to, but I think it is wrong when people justify continuing in sin.

I will continue on with this topic later.

Sola Gratia