To preface this: I am not angry at all about this. I guess it's just a point of frustration knowing that most people I come into contact with find it uncomfortable to label themselves as a Christian.
Religion |riˈlijən| (Noun)
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods.
ORIGIN Middle English (originally in the sense [life under monastic vows] ): from Old French, or from Latin religio(n-) ‘obligation, bond, reverence,’ perhaps based on Latin religare ‘to bind.’
Religion. n. relij'on. [L. religio, from religo, to bind anew
1. Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man's obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety; for the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion.
2. Religion, as distinct from theology, is godliness or real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men, in obedience to divine command, or from love to God and his law. James 1.
3. Religion, as distinct from virtue, or morality, consists in the performance of the duties we owe directly to God, from a principle of obedience to his will. Hence we often speak of religion and virtue, as different branches of one system, or the duties of the first and second tables of the law.Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.
4. Any system of faith and worship. In this sense, religion comprehends the belief and worship of pagans and Mohammedans, as well as of christians; any religion consisting in the belief of a superior power or powers governing the world, and in the worship of such power or powers. Thus we speak of the religion of the Turks, of the Hindus, of the Indians, &c. as well as of the christian religion. We speak of false religion, as well as of true religion.
Christian or Christ Follower?
Most of my friend, and myself included, have at one point been asked the question: are you a Christian? Most of my friends, and I included, have most likely answered with some overly long, drawn out explanation that we love Jesus Christ and His teachings.
We avoid, at all cost, the use of the phrase Christian when we come into contact with people. Even if it's something as simple as a submitting a “religious view” on our Facebook.
We make statements like “it's not a religion, it's a relationship”.
Has the trend of not associating ourselves with anything popular already planted itself into our spiritual lives as well?
I'm not a hipster. I'm just not conforming to social standards.
I'm not a Christian. I'm in a relationship, not a religion.
The fact of the matter is, however, that following Christ involves a lot of what both my MacBooks' dictionary states as religion, and Noah Webster states as religion. It is following a set of ideals esteemed as holy.
It is acting in the likeness of God.It involves praying. Praying is the practice of maintaining intimacy with the
LORD. It is an act. It is something you do. People make the argument that following Christ isn't something you do, it's something you are.
I'd argue that it is both.
We cannot just sit by and deny that we're part of a religion when we've been going through ceremonial rituals of baptism, communion, and worship with the LORD.
Those are all very religious things.
I'm not saying that I understand all of this quite yet. But, I do understand that it's starting to become popular to not accept the label of Christian, and instead, make up our own label as to not offend anyone or to make ourselves as unique as possible.
The thing is, I'm guilty of it too.
For so long I've been running from the term Christian and it has gotten me no where. I thought of religion as being legalistic and unspiritual. Truth is, sometimes there are people who make Christianity look legalistic and unspiritual.
I think we've begun to equate religion with legalism. But just because I/we have a skewed vision of what religion is, it doesn't change the definition of religion, and it doesn't change the definition of what a Christian is.
A Christian is a person who follows the teachings of Christ, believes God is the LORD of lords, and who desires to seek out Gods heart (among other things).
I guess what I'm getting at is this: religion merely means that you subscribe to a set of ideals and that you act in accordance with those ideals: you walk the walk and talk the talk.
A Christian is a person who follows and believes the ideals of Christ, who was sent by His Father, God and Creator of the Universe, to the earth to pay the penalty for our sins, and are guided by the Holy Spirit, who also led Christ.
I guess by that overly-simple definition, I am a Christian.
Christianity is a religion. This shouldn't be debated. And if we're tired of the label of Christianity being associated with hippocrit, we should start changing ourselves, so people no longer view us as being just that: liars
There's a lot of room for fine tuning in this argument, but, I just thought I should point out that following Christ does involve doing a lot of religious things and we should own up to and be proud of our faith. Not run away from it and call it something different.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
You'll Never Know
(What if we came to God as we were, and not putting on a show? Who are we kidding, certainly not God. He knows our heart. He knows where we are. Why do we insult Him by putting on a self-righteous show for the Creator? He isn't fooled.
What if we humbled ourselves and asked Him for help?
That's where this came from.
Enjoy)
Don't you wish you could know whats going on
inside of me?
All my prideful thoughts mapped out in imagery-
on display for you to see.
Oh my god, how I've longed to share
my heart with yours.
To show you what its like to live in my chest-
And know.
That I've been trying to reach you
for longer than you could imagine.
That I've been dying to tell you every thought I've ever had.
but never said.
What if I spoke the words I truly meant-
Would you listen to me then?
What if I spoke the words my heart screams-
Would you understand?
That maybe if I thought less of myself,
I'd think less about myself.
and maybe I'd be able to comprehend
A life of selflessness.
Then you'd see me care and empathize,
with others whom the world despise.
You'd see that all I ever really wanted,
was to be wanted.
Look, I see you trying to understand
what makes me tick.
Observing every movement I make
and all the actions I take.
The truth of it is you'll never know
what goes on inside my head,
Until you take a look at where God
and my heart have been.
Just know.
That I've been trying to reach you
for longer than you could imagine.
And I've been dying to tell you every thought I've ever had.
but never said.
And if I had spoke the words I truly meant,
You'd have listened to me then.
And if I had spoke the words that made my heart scream,
You'd understand.
What if we humbled ourselves and asked Him for help?
That's where this came from.
Enjoy)
Don't you wish you could know whats going on
inside of me?
All my prideful thoughts mapped out in imagery-
on display for you to see.
Oh my god, how I've longed to share
my heart with yours.
To show you what its like to live in my chest-
And know.
That I've been trying to reach you
for longer than you could imagine.
That I've been dying to tell you every thought I've ever had.
but never said.
What if I spoke the words I truly meant-
Would you listen to me then?
What if I spoke the words my heart screams-
Would you understand?
That maybe if I thought less of myself,
I'd think less about myself.
and maybe I'd be able to comprehend
A life of selflessness.
Then you'd see me care and empathize,
with others whom the world despise.
You'd see that all I ever really wanted,
was to be wanted.
Look, I see you trying to understand
what makes me tick.
Observing every movement I make
and all the actions I take.
The truth of it is you'll never know
what goes on inside my head,
Until you take a look at where God
and my heart have been.
Just know.
That I've been trying to reach you
for longer than you could imagine.
And I've been dying to tell you every thought I've ever had.
but never said.
And if I had spoke the words I truly meant,
You'd have listened to me then.
And if I had spoke the words that made my heart scream,
You'd understand.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
There's Something Bigger
Dear Beloved: This day has been so hard.
I hated my life so much today.
I was so angry.
Please know this comes out of the deepest place I think I have in my heart.
I hope this is something that speaks to you.
Something that moves you.
How He loves us, even when we don't want him to.
Gosh.
I love you all so much. Enjoy.
-Josh
There's something bigger going on.
More than just you and I.
More than just the here and now.
More to living than being alive.
I've had enough of my anger.
I've had enough of my pain.
I've had enough of my selfishness.
I've had enough of my shame.
It's not about me anymore.
I'm giving up my breath.
It's about loving my Savior.
It's about being submissive 'till death.
I don't want to care anymore about the desires of my flesh.
I don't want to feel this heaviness deep inside my chest.
You never promised me that I wouldn't fall.
You promised me you'd comfort me through it all.
I need your blood inside my body.
I need you to stand me up on my feet.
Pick me up with you hole-y hands.
So both our eyes can meet.
I know it must be hard to love me when there's anger in my eyes.
I know it must be hard to look past the holes in your sons side.
Just know I've always loved you- even when I'm angry.
Know I've always loved you; You're the one who saved me.
I hated my life so much today.
I was so angry.
Please know this comes out of the deepest place I think I have in my heart.
I hope this is something that speaks to you.
Something that moves you.
How He loves us, even when we don't want him to.
Gosh.
I love you all so much. Enjoy.
-Josh
There's something bigger going on.
More than just you and I.
More than just the here and now.
More to living than being alive.
I've had enough of my anger.
I've had enough of my pain.
I've had enough of my selfishness.
I've had enough of my shame.
It's not about me anymore.
I'm giving up my breath.
It's about loving my Savior.
It's about being submissive 'till death.
I don't want to care anymore about the desires of my flesh.
I don't want to feel this heaviness deep inside my chest.
You never promised me that I wouldn't fall.
You promised me you'd comfort me through it all.
I need your blood inside my body.
I need you to stand me up on my feet.
Pick me up with you hole-y hands.
So both our eyes can meet.
I know it must be hard to love me when there's anger in my eyes.
I know it must be hard to look past the holes in your sons side.
Just know I've always loved you- even when I'm angry.
Know I've always loved you; You're the one who saved me.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
new fellowship
to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to His death philippians 3:10
wait.
hold up right there. it's a good chance if you are reading this you are a struggling believer like me. i want to be awfully transparent right now. because i just went through the whole new testament and a word struck my chords this morning. suffering.
so let's get started.
i want to know Jesus. i mean it's probably why i still go to church. i help out with the youth. try to read my bible. try to pray. try to do these things we are told to do because that's how we know Him right? but deep down within these things that are necessary for the growth of a believer really knowing Him isn't just partaking of doing this. knowing Christ is suffering.
are you with me. i mean. i dropped my dreams of marrying a girl. my dreams of my college experience at biola. and with reckless faith i signed my name on a governement contract to sign up with the united states air force. with no prior speaking from the Lord or of a real sense of reason. and here i am writing you. because with you. i want to know this man who sent me out on this adventure. and i have come up with a few ideas. or more like things he has set on my heart.
really, i have come to the more understanding. i am learning a new side of Jesus. because i listened to a message from francis chan. and he went through every single new testament book. and it talked about suffering. and i am with him on that. how many of you get let down often. come on i know i do. how many of you want to be married right now. okay. hmm. how many of you want to suffer. wait why are there crickets now. because we don't want to suffer we want to dodge it. but in all honesty. if paul is saying it that i want to fellowship in his sufferings. fellowship means to me a hearty meal with a good friend and maybe a beer or just sitting on the sidewalk and talking about life or just someone who you knows truly where you are in life and can agree and look forward to what is next.
but if looking forward to what is next. is being able to take the cross. i mean do you think when you take communion when you do. do you remember like he says to remember. i mean geez. we rip that bread apart to have our portion. that ripping or tearing is supposed to be Christ's body. for goodness sakes. i feel like i have been ripped a few times. but communion was done in fellowship. now let us dip our broken bodies in none other but the cup of what. His blood. the blood that was spilled. and that my friend is what we are partaking in. our brokenness. His blood. which allows us to resurrect. but when do we get to that point we are okay with this.
honest with you right now. i am unsure. and uncertain for me. this is a new thought. because i am confident. i love being loved. i hated being hated. but how are things so often said in the word that we won't be loved on behalf of Him. so are we too comfortable. too cliche.
am i too zealous right now. maybe a bit controversial.
figured.
i mean we were the brands of Jesus.
so who are we kidding when life sucks how do we respond.
i think its because we don't suffer because we dodge it.
i think also that a new type of fellowship is about to begin in my life.
for me to live is Christ, to die is gain phillipians 1:21
what am i to gain if don't die.
i hope you are challenged as i am. i know this is all pretty sparatic. and heavy. if you are reading this. thank you. it means a lot to me and joshua. i love you.
stephen
wait.
hold up right there. it's a good chance if you are reading this you are a struggling believer like me. i want to be awfully transparent right now. because i just went through the whole new testament and a word struck my chords this morning. suffering.
so let's get started.
i want to know Jesus. i mean it's probably why i still go to church. i help out with the youth. try to read my bible. try to pray. try to do these things we are told to do because that's how we know Him right? but deep down within these things that are necessary for the growth of a believer really knowing Him isn't just partaking of doing this. knowing Christ is suffering.
are you with me. i mean. i dropped my dreams of marrying a girl. my dreams of my college experience at biola. and with reckless faith i signed my name on a governement contract to sign up with the united states air force. with no prior speaking from the Lord or of a real sense of reason. and here i am writing you. because with you. i want to know this man who sent me out on this adventure. and i have come up with a few ideas. or more like things he has set on my heart.
really, i have come to the more understanding. i am learning a new side of Jesus. because i listened to a message from francis chan. and he went through every single new testament book. and it talked about suffering. and i am with him on that. how many of you get let down often. come on i know i do. how many of you want to be married right now. okay. hmm. how many of you want to suffer. wait why are there crickets now. because we don't want to suffer we want to dodge it. but in all honesty. if paul is saying it that i want to fellowship in his sufferings. fellowship means to me a hearty meal with a good friend and maybe a beer or just sitting on the sidewalk and talking about life or just someone who you knows truly where you are in life and can agree and look forward to what is next.
but if looking forward to what is next. is being able to take the cross. i mean do you think when you take communion when you do. do you remember like he says to remember. i mean geez. we rip that bread apart to have our portion. that ripping or tearing is supposed to be Christ's body. for goodness sakes. i feel like i have been ripped a few times. but communion was done in fellowship. now let us dip our broken bodies in none other but the cup of what. His blood. the blood that was spilled. and that my friend is what we are partaking in. our brokenness. His blood. which allows us to resurrect. but when do we get to that point we are okay with this.
honest with you right now. i am unsure. and uncertain for me. this is a new thought. because i am confident. i love being loved. i hated being hated. but how are things so often said in the word that we won't be loved on behalf of Him. so are we too comfortable. too cliche.
am i too zealous right now. maybe a bit controversial.
figured.
i mean we were the brands of Jesus.
so who are we kidding when life sucks how do we respond.
i think its because we don't suffer because we dodge it.
i think also that a new type of fellowship is about to begin in my life.
for me to live is Christ, to die is gain phillipians 1:21
what am i to gain if don't die.
i hope you are challenged as i am. i know this is all pretty sparatic. and heavy. if you are reading this. thank you. it means a lot to me and joshua. i love you.
stephen
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
I am wheat.
Luke 22:31-32; "31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
I was talking with my good friend, Stephen, today.
We talked about how beat up we were.
It feels like our hearts were trampled on by "one too many buffalo" as he put it.
I remembered this verse from Luke, chapter 22.
Satan demanded to sift Peter like wheat.
The process for sifting wheat was this: throw the wheat against the cement and beat the hell out of it with a flail.
During times, it feels like my heart is being sifted- like wheat.
Its hurt by myself: my failures.
Its hurt by others: their actions and words.
Its hurt because of what I've done: breaking other peoples hearts- breaking my Gods heart.
Every failure I've made.
Every rude comment given to me.
Every despicable act of aggression against me.
Every time I've hurt someone else has been a blow to my heart from the flail.
Often times this heart begins to be too much.
It hurts too often.
I've cried more times than I care to remember.
I've felt the burning fire of anger towards situations that I would normally find acceptable or tolerable.
I've felt the anguish of a loss of a friends fire for God because of lukewarmness.
I've been kicked in the stomach emotionally and balled my eyes out for the body of Christ.
I've never felt the depths of emotion as much as I have while being in this relationship with God.
I've asked prayed Jesus' prayer from the garden on more than one occasion.
Its so hard to deal with this kind of heart: the kind of heart that's made of paper and bleeds like a anemic.
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
Through it all, however, I have always prayed to have Gods heart. I realize, now, that He's taken me very literally. My heart is so softened by this process of threshing. I'm beginning to feel what God feels.
I am beginning to love what He loves. I'm beginning to understand.
I understand that by this softening, my heart is growing stronger.
I'm being refined.
Refinement is never comfortable.
Never.
After Jesus finished that prayer to his Father, it says: "an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground".
He strengthens us when we ask Him.
But why does He strengthen us?
To help us pray more fervently.
I love Batman.
In the movie, Bruce Wayne's father asks Bruce a question: why do we fall?
He answers: so we can learn to pick ourselves back up.
I think I'm starting to hear God ask me a similar question: when you are weak, why should you pray for strength?
It is so you can learn to pray more fervently.
Satan demanded to sift us like wheat- but Jesus prayed for me.
His offer was better.
His offer wins.
His offer strengthens me.
I know this heart is problematic at times.
I know my heart gets lonely.
I know my heart gets pounded.
I know my heart is a mess.
But I know my heart reflects a lot of what Gods heart does.
If being pounded into the dust is part of being built up, then I think its worth it.
I just want to see His face.
I was talking with my good friend, Stephen, today.
We talked about how beat up we were.
It feels like our hearts were trampled on by "one too many buffalo" as he put it.
I remembered this verse from Luke, chapter 22.
Satan demanded to sift Peter like wheat.
The process for sifting wheat was this: throw the wheat against the cement and beat the hell out of it with a flail.
During times, it feels like my heart is being sifted- like wheat.
Its hurt by myself: my failures.
Its hurt by others: their actions and words.
Its hurt because of what I've done: breaking other peoples hearts- breaking my Gods heart.
Every failure I've made.
Every rude comment given to me.
Every despicable act of aggression against me.
Every time I've hurt someone else has been a blow to my heart from the flail.
Often times this heart begins to be too much.
It hurts too often.
I've cried more times than I care to remember.
I've felt the burning fire of anger towards situations that I would normally find acceptable or tolerable.
I've felt the anguish of a loss of a friends fire for God because of lukewarmness.
I've been kicked in the stomach emotionally and balled my eyes out for the body of Christ.
I've never felt the depths of emotion as much as I have while being in this relationship with God.
I've asked prayed Jesus' prayer from the garden on more than one occasion.
Its so hard to deal with this kind of heart: the kind of heart that's made of paper and bleeds like a anemic.
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
Through it all, however, I have always prayed to have Gods heart. I realize, now, that He's taken me very literally. My heart is so softened by this process of threshing. I'm beginning to feel what God feels.
I am beginning to love what He loves. I'm beginning to understand.
I understand that by this softening, my heart is growing stronger.
I'm being refined.
Refinement is never comfortable.
Never.
After Jesus finished that prayer to his Father, it says: "an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground".
He strengthens us when we ask Him.
But why does He strengthen us?
To help us pray more fervently.
I love Batman.
In the movie, Bruce Wayne's father asks Bruce a question: why do we fall?
He answers: so we can learn to pick ourselves back up.
I think I'm starting to hear God ask me a similar question: when you are weak, why should you pray for strength?
It is so you can learn to pray more fervently.
Satan demanded to sift us like wheat- but Jesus prayed for me.
His offer was better.
His offer wins.
His offer strengthens me.
I know this heart is problematic at times.
I know my heart gets lonely.
I know my heart gets pounded.
I know my heart is a mess.
But I know my heart reflects a lot of what Gods heart does.
If being pounded into the dust is part of being built up, then I think its worth it.
I just want to see His face.
Monday, July 5, 2010
it is not good
i called my dad up today. and with gritting my teeth. and almost in tears i uttered words i hate saying because it makes me feel weak. "i'm lonely." i told him of the dream i had the night before of a girl looking at me and saying "i have been waiting for you." i seriously couldn't finish the dream. i was pissed. parts of me wants to sock a hole in the wall. scream somewhere where maybe God could hear my prayers for these last four years. because something is missing and i think i am doing everything right. i have a job. i am in the military. i dress good. i love jesus. i respect women. i ...whatever. this isn't supposed to be selfish. i am getting to a point where i know all men can agree on this singleness. ever since we were little we dreamed. dreamed of adventure and big things. and as life plays out. we get let down. we get hurt. and we get left. but this is where my dad with his wisdom told me. think about Christ.
Christ had to come into this world just like how adam was created and realized "it is not good for man to be alone." can you imagine after hammering out the whole world and everything he made was "good" but not for man to be alone. adam is a type of Christ and if that is so. then realize. i bet Christ is feeling the same longing for his bride as well. just like how adam named every single picking animal and when he was done. there was none suited for him. and Christ laid him down. and as he slept. the pain was put to death and a rib removed for his bride to become. like Christ he had to go through literal death and ressurection and then back into the heavenlies to be with God and wait all over again. is that just like a little pain. oh man. how much he must love us to sacrifice that. so that is where we need to be. realizing. that it is okay that i am lonely. because Christ has been waiting for his bride. and he is preparing her for his coming. and he's coming soon. until then. i will agree. that Lord i am lonely with you. i am glad i have you. so let us continue on because it is not good. but you are. and i know full well that i can rest in this.
i love you,
stephen
Christ had to come into this world just like how adam was created and realized "it is not good for man to be alone." can you imagine after hammering out the whole world and everything he made was "good" but not for man to be alone. adam is a type of Christ and if that is so. then realize. i bet Christ is feeling the same longing for his bride as well. just like how adam named every single picking animal and when he was done. there was none suited for him. and Christ laid him down. and as he slept. the pain was put to death and a rib removed for his bride to become. like Christ he had to go through literal death and ressurection and then back into the heavenlies to be with God and wait all over again. is that just like a little pain. oh man. how much he must love us to sacrifice that. so that is where we need to be. realizing. that it is okay that i am lonely. because Christ has been waiting for his bride. and he is preparing her for his coming. and he's coming soon. until then. i will agree. that Lord i am lonely with you. i am glad i have you. so let us continue on because it is not good. but you are. and i know full well that i can rest in this.
i love you,
stephen
Friday, July 2, 2010
Grace. Love. Friends. V Necks.G
Earlier this week I was spending time with my friends.
(I think its important to note, before I ramble, that I love them dearly).
We talked about grace and what it meant to us.
We discussed songs about grace- how beautiful it is and how amazing it feels when it is extended to us.
We prayed and laughed and were captivated by the awe of it all.
We were all agreed, at the end of it all, that Grace is a free gift, we don't deserve it, but, its extended to us- there is nothing we can do to earn it.
When I was younger I used to think of grace as this big cover up.
Grace was white out.
Because of it, sin was no longer visible; therefore, it wasn't there anymore.
Grace was an everlasting game of "peek-a-boo".
I definitely know grace to be part of something larger now.
It doesn't just give the illusion of purity, it cleanses us, making us the embodiment of purity.
It is a bath.
It is a shower.
It is a pressure washer.
It is a hurricane.
Not only does grace wash our sin away, it empowers us to live lives holy and pleasing to the Lord.
It fills us with a strength.
Grace isn't weak.
It is power.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness".
Grace.
Power.
Ravi Zacharias stated that purity isn't just the absence of something, it is the presence of another.
Purity isn't only the absence of sin, its the presence of the Lords grace in our lives.
"For by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift from God. Not a result of works so no one can boast".
My friends and I were discussing grace, we talked about how, at times, we find ourselves working ourselves to death to try to earn grace.
By no means was this a conscious effort on our parts- it was just something we observed in retrospect.
We justify working 70 work weeks, going to two bible studies, mentoring people, and getting little no sleep, all for the sake of not "feeling lazy".
We somehow think that by exhausting and overextending ourselves that we are bringing God glory.
We get this sick idea that neglecting our basic needs for adequate food and rest we are making God happy.
A parent doesn't delight in the suffering of their child, nor does a parent like it when a child feels they have to repay every act of kindness as if they are indebted to them.
It can turn into a giant, "who can give more" competition. All the parent wanted to do in the first place was to bless their child because they love them.
God loved us so much, that He sent His son to die for us so He could dwell in us and LOVE us.
When we work for grace, we're putting a price on Christs crucifixion, and cheapening the cross.
I found something equally disgusting in my own life.
I found that, at times, I feel entitled to Gods grace.
I justify not working hard at all.
I justify being lazy.
I justify failure by saying: "God will forgive me"; "God is good".
I wanted to vomit when I realized that my heart of hearts thinks this way.
How sick of me to think that I don't have to work out my salvation with "fear and trembling".
By not working, I cheapen the cross as well.
I take the cross for granted.
I don't value it as something to be treated with reverence.
I treat His grace as common.
I think I deserve His grace.
I deserve the grave.
But He still died for me.
He Loves me.
Both of these issues- entitlement, and enslavement, are sinful.
They are prideful.
One says: I can earn it.
One says: He owes it to me.
A lot of the Christian walk, I'm finding, is a balance between two extremes: foolishness, and cowardice.
Foolishness is taking the cross for granted because we think its owed to us.
Cowardice is avoiding it by thinking we don't deserve it.
I think Paul puts it beautifully.
"I die daily".
Christ says it as well.
"Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me".
It is just that.
Die to yourself.
Live as Christ.
The yoke is not too much to bear.
It is not easy though.
It is shared.
It isn't about us anymore.
We failed.
The wages of sin is death.
But.
The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Accept it.
Work out our salvation with fear and trembling while walking with the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
Please, don't forget though. He gave us grace because He loved us so.
I think of "Where the Wild Things Are".
In the movie, regardless of what you thought of it, one of the monsters hugs Max with Love and says "I'll eat you up I love you so".
I think that's beautiful.
I just feel the warmth of those words.
Its just me, I'm sure.
But,
God gave us grace because He loved us so.
"I'll forgive you of your sins because I love you".
"I died for you, I love you so".
That's just beautiful to me.
Don't think I have it figured out, please.
I just thought you should know whats on my heart.
I don't know an awful lot at all.
But I do write a lot.
I also wear tons of V necks.
But you probably already knew that.
"Philipians 3:12-14: 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus".
Hope you're encouraged.
I love you tons.
-Josh
(I think its important to note, before I ramble, that I love them dearly).
We talked about grace and what it meant to us.
We discussed songs about grace- how beautiful it is and how amazing it feels when it is extended to us.
We prayed and laughed and were captivated by the awe of it all.
We were all agreed, at the end of it all, that Grace is a free gift, we don't deserve it, but, its extended to us- there is nothing we can do to earn it.
When I was younger I used to think of grace as this big cover up.
Grace was white out.
Because of it, sin was no longer visible; therefore, it wasn't there anymore.
Grace was an everlasting game of "peek-a-boo".
I definitely know grace to be part of something larger now.
It doesn't just give the illusion of purity, it cleanses us, making us the embodiment of purity.
It is a bath.
It is a shower.
It is a pressure washer.
It is a hurricane.
Not only does grace wash our sin away, it empowers us to live lives holy and pleasing to the Lord.
It fills us with a strength.
Grace isn't weak.
It is power.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness".
Grace.
Power.
Ravi Zacharias stated that purity isn't just the absence of something, it is the presence of another.
Purity isn't only the absence of sin, its the presence of the Lords grace in our lives.
"For by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift from God. Not a result of works so no one can boast".
My friends and I were discussing grace, we talked about how, at times, we find ourselves working ourselves to death to try to earn grace.
By no means was this a conscious effort on our parts- it was just something we observed in retrospect.
We justify working 70 work weeks, going to two bible studies, mentoring people, and getting little no sleep, all for the sake of not "feeling lazy".
We somehow think that by exhausting and overextending ourselves that we are bringing God glory.
We get this sick idea that neglecting our basic needs for adequate food and rest we are making God happy.
A parent doesn't delight in the suffering of their child, nor does a parent like it when a child feels they have to repay every act of kindness as if they are indebted to them.
It can turn into a giant, "who can give more" competition. All the parent wanted to do in the first place was to bless their child because they love them.
God loved us so much, that He sent His son to die for us so He could dwell in us and LOVE us.
When we work for grace, we're putting a price on Christs crucifixion, and cheapening the cross.
I found something equally disgusting in my own life.
I found that, at times, I feel entitled to Gods grace.
I justify not working hard at all.
I justify being lazy.
I justify failure by saying: "God will forgive me"; "God is good".
I wanted to vomit when I realized that my heart of hearts thinks this way.
How sick of me to think that I don't have to work out my salvation with "fear and trembling".
By not working, I cheapen the cross as well.
I take the cross for granted.
I don't value it as something to be treated with reverence.
I treat His grace as common.
I think I deserve His grace.
I deserve the grave.
But He still died for me.
He Loves me.
Both of these issues- entitlement, and enslavement, are sinful.
They are prideful.
One says: I can earn it.
One says: He owes it to me.
A lot of the Christian walk, I'm finding, is a balance between two extremes: foolishness, and cowardice.
Foolishness is taking the cross for granted because we think its owed to us.
Cowardice is avoiding it by thinking we don't deserve it.
I think Paul puts it beautifully.
"I die daily".
Christ says it as well.
"Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me".
It is just that.
Die to yourself.
Live as Christ.
The yoke is not too much to bear.
It is not easy though.
It is shared.
It isn't about us anymore.
We failed.
The wages of sin is death.
But.
The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Accept it.
Work out our salvation with fear and trembling while walking with the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
Please, don't forget though. He gave us grace because He loved us so.
I think of "Where the Wild Things Are".
In the movie, regardless of what you thought of it, one of the monsters hugs Max with Love and says "I'll eat you up I love you so".
I think that's beautiful.
I just feel the warmth of those words.
Its just me, I'm sure.
But,
God gave us grace because He loved us so.
"I'll forgive you of your sins because I love you".
"I died for you, I love you so".
That's just beautiful to me.
Don't think I have it figured out, please.
I just thought you should know whats on my heart.
I don't know an awful lot at all.
But I do write a lot.
I also wear tons of V necks.
But you probably already knew that.
"Philipians 3:12-14: 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus".
Hope you're encouraged.
I love you tons.
-Josh
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