The other morning I posted a Facebook status...
It was regarding a couple of the Francesca Battistelli songs I heard on the radio. I was sitting at Chick-Fil-A enjoying my coffee and oatmeal when a couple of her songs came on, one shortly after the other. Despite my casual disdain for the lyrical material of the songs, which I often used to rouse the more diehard Francesca fans, I decided to listen a little closer to the lyrics in an attempt to ratify what was being said. I couldn't. Therefore, I posted a Facebook status that reflected this attitude. What ensued was a rant. And while I feel the rant was generally warranted, I wanted to return with something a bit more academic in nature so that my points my be made clear in a logical and scripturally referenced manner.
If I have tagged you in the post to come view my blog it is because you either "liked" the original status or posted a comment. It also may be that I find it interesting that you see this.
Let me start this by saying that I do not wish to offend those who enjoy Francesca Battistelli. That is not my intention. Nor is it my intention in any way to suggest that I know her heart. However, as a youth minister it is important for me to sift through a lot of the media that my young adults and adolescents are experiencing on a regular basis. This is accompanied by a certain amount of scrutiny, especially when involving songs that are considered "Christian". What I believe you will find, if you read this thoroughly to fruition, is not a specific problem with the Battistelli songs and lyrics, but rather a fundamental flaw with the "Christianisms" by which we propagate our theology. Many times, the intended meaning of a song is lost in what it is actually saying when taken at face value.
Through my experience working with youth (this short time as a youth minister, three years as a professional educator, and more than a decade as a youth leader, teacher, mentor, etc. in church), I began to see how young people conceptualize the things they perceive. Music, friends, movies, and any other cultural idiom that you could possibly imagine or attempt to categorize all go into the summation of their conceptualized knowledge. This usually manifests itself through discussion where they apply what they are processing, often being asked to articulate what they think or believe. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, engaging the culture has become one of the more prevalent ways in which we minister to youth, not only in our quest to confront worldly desires or correct bad theology, but also as a platform through which we administer change via effectual teaching and discipleship (influence). We have an opportunity to use this influence just as much for good as it is being used for evil. But at the same time, the things we are allowing to slowly creep into our theology may be thwarting us before we even begin.
As a musician, my particular area of emphasis (or preference and interest) is on the music of our culture, particularly that of the Christian community. I'm not here to police what my students are listening to, although sometimes I wish I could, but I must be aware of it - even when they are not. Recently, I have seen in my youth and in culture (and maybe you've seen it too) a concept surfacing that suggests "God likes you just the way you are". At first, I thought this was innocuous. It is an appealing, simple statement, seemingly innocent, that is meant to denote our self-worth as the image bearers of God. It is true that God loves us unconditionally. However, when you look at it closely, taking the saying at face value, you'll notice that it is far from harmless. The implication of this statement is that God loves us just the way we are, and thus we have no need for change. We are perfectly fine and acceptable the way we are; in our current state. It falsely assumes that God is content to have us remain who we are forever. This is one of the many "Christianisms" being taught to our students that, although meant well, is completely false. The best of intentions cannot change a lie into truth regardless of what one is trying to convey.
God does not like us how we are. He love us for what we are. He loves us in spite of who we are, and He loves us too much to let us stay this way. Whereas it may be true that we must come to God as we are because we lack the ability to renew, regenerate, or otherwise change ourselves in a manner that is sanctifying, to assume that God "likes us just how are" or that we are "free to be [ourselves]" is to:
1) Disregard the destructive effect of sin in our lives and throughout creation
2) Reject the need for change due to sin, whether spiritually, mentally, physically, etc.
3) Deny the humility required to submit to Jesus and where our self-worth becomes no longer an inward focus, but instead we find our worth as God's image bearers and as we become more like Jesus.
4) Spur us towards mediocrity, Christian and non-Christian alike, where everything is "just okay" how it is.
There are many implications to this single statement. If you're prepared to accept this as true, then be prepared for the consequences. But God will not. And I am not content to let it be, either.
Perhaps this gives you a better understanding of why I apply additional scrutiny (and sometimes a great deal of criticism) when it comes to Christian music. It's already difficult enough engaging the culture when mainstream media and secular music are consistently encouraging things that are contrary to the nature of God that I am teaching my students. I don't need the additional baggage of those who claim to be Christian propagating poor or inaccurate theology in the spirit of "sounds good" Christian doctrine. Sure, the "you're cool just how you are" message combined with a rockin' sound and backed with a catchy melody line and killer vocals will sell CD's. But will it sell our kids on Christ? These artists need to stop for a second and consider what they are saying with their lyrics, and not just what they mean. Particularly in the spectrum of Battistelli songs, it is great music, but it is poor theology. That makes it a tough fit. And although some students may take away a good message from this (as it was brought to my attention that particularly females relate to the idea of "society's need for perfection"), it does not excuse the more obvious literal meaning of the song.
Regardless of what many artists intend to say, they often come up short in their analogies. There are a few out there that present very real and poignant examples of biblical concepts that uphold the theology of the bible that we're working so hard to teach. That's why many of us rejoice when we hear solid worship and music that we can even share with our "old hymn buddies" as a standard for what Christian music is (supposed to be) all about (opinion statement). And the ones that are benign I typically do not address. I realize that it's nearly impossible to adequately represent theology within a song. One simply does not have the time and space needed to make a point in most cases. However, it is different when it is very wrong or misses the point entirely. It is one thing to be less than thorough. Being inaccurate is a different problem.
Enter Francesca Battistelli and two of her more popular songs: Free to Be Me and I'm Letting Go. I'd like to do an analysis on the words of these songs. yes, I realize that most normal people would not waste their time and energy to do this, but since I feel very passionately about this and am not really a normal person, I'll save everyone else the trouble. ;-)
However, also keep in mind that what is at face value is often what people take from these songs, and that value certainly speaks into our psyches, whether consciously or subconsciously. And as momma always said, "Crap in, crap out". Many will argue that there are backstories that make this song relevant, or that a person's individual experience will shape the song into something else entirely. I would suggest to those that believe I'm being overly analytical that, by attempting to incorporate the reasons behind writing the song, it's "back story", influence, etc. as a means by which the song acquires meaning, they are being as equally analytical. Once again, the problem is that I may look at this song in a different light after understanding all the motivation behind it, but the words still remain unchanged and say what they say regardless of the subsequent additional understanding that may be gained. Most people are unaware of the backstories and have only the song itself. So, all poop jokes now aside... for now..., here's what methinks.
Free to Be Me
For sake of time, I'll focus on the chorus.
Lyrics: 'Cause I got a couple dents in my fender. Got a couple rips in my jeans.
Theological Equivalent
Whether willfully or unknowingly, there is a comparison made here to sin as being "dents in a fender" and "rips in jeans" when, in actuality, sin is much worse. And we have a great deal more wrong with us than this (Rom. 3:23). In a society that already struggles with the gravity of what sin is, the idea that we are further minimizing its effects is devastating to the message of acknowledgement and repentance.
Dents in a fender, while cosmetically unappealing to those of us who enjoy our vehicles (and don't ask me because I had my fender tied on with snare string for the better part of two years lol), do not affect the performance of the machine. I'm sure die hard car guys will disagree with me, but my experts say that it'll run just about as well without it. Rips in jeans are not only socially acceptable, but actually encouraged as a form of style. How's that for an analogy for what sin has become?
Neither of these are ample illustrations of what we truly have wrong with us, and thus fall short of adequately conveying what sin is and what it has done. This would not be a terrible illustration by itself, as it could be argued as representing "society's standard of perfection", except that it is combined with the need to "stand on Jesus' shoulders" (found at the end of the chorus) in order to deal with such feelings of inadequacy. The end statement more deliberately establishes this illustration as sin. Jesus is not concerned with the preservation of our "self".
Lyrics: Try to fit the pieces together, but perfection is my enemy.
Theological Impossibility
We aren't meant to put the pieces together. We can't. I appreciate the struggle to put the pieces together. I believe we've all done it at one point or another, even after we know Christ, because sometimes we just don't get it. Those lyrics aren't terribly troubling until combined with "perfection is my enemy". Without perfection, the pieces will never go together. It is the perfection of God that is a summary attribute which encompasses all of His character. And it is the perfection of Christ that allows Him to serve as the propitiation (substitute) as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If perfection is our enemy, then we've got a very serious problem because the God we serve is the embodiment of perfection. The statement (once again, at face value) cites perfection as the reason we cannot put the pieces together. Sin keeps us from putting the pieces together. It is actually perfection's antithesis that is to blame, which means you absolutely cannot get farther from the truth than what this says.
It has been suggested that the song is meant to address people's (or society's) expectations of us. And whereas I would agree that the expectations of others, and even our expectations for ourselves, are burdensome and keep us from God's plan for us when left out of perspective, the inherent blame of this song has ben shifted from expectations to perfection. It may be that we are meant to take away from this the futility of adhering to the expectations of anyone other than God, but that is never made clear in the song. As a matter of fact, there's no mention of anything remotely like this anywhere in the song.
Lyrics: On my own I'm so clumsy.
Theology
Okay, so this may be the only part of chorus that I'm okay with. I agree. Me, too. Seems like she's finally getting it. However, it is a glimmer of hope before she drops the bomb...
Lyrics: But on Your shoulders I can see I'm free to be me.
Theological Inaccuracy
Let's go ahead and get the obvious out of the way. Is the text really talking about Jesus? Or God? We don't actually know. "You" and "Your" are capitalized as most scholars do when denoting a personal pronoun for God in English writing (and done so on the official site), but the song doesn't actually mention Jesus or God anywhere. However, because she claims to be a Christian artist and play Christian music, often traveling in Christian circles, being played on Christian radio stations and performing at Christian concerts, I believe it's safe to assume that the song is about Jesus. She also makes use of Paul-esque analogies regarding the "war that's already been waged".
Before I get into the ramifications of "standing on Jesus' shoulders" so you can be who you are, let's address what the outcome would be if this isn't talking about Jesus. If it is not talking about God or Jesus, then it is referring to another unnamed person. We have discussed that "being free to be [ourselves]" is not a biblical concept. Therefore, if this person is conveying, encouraging, supporting, or otherwise propagating this idea, they are either not a Christian or very misguided one at best.
Regardless of what we may have considered the song to mean up until the end of the chorus, the final statement is the summation of the entire song. It is what the song is about and that to which all verses allude. Unfortunately, it is also the most theologically inaccurate part of the song. We are not free to be ourselves. Christ did not come and die so that we can shed the expectations of society in order that we may be who we are. We are sinful creatures by nature and in deed. We are cursed by sin, separated from God. Jesus came and died for us, not so that we could enter another realm of self-realization, but so that we can know God through a relationship with Christ. In essence, who we are becomes who we were as we shed our old ways and our old life and begin to focus on reflecting God's image.
Overall Theme
A lot of musicians will suggest that the overall theme of the song is what is really important, and not necessarily the words in the chorus (or at the end of the chorus), despite how the song may "appear" to build to such a summation. However, this would be against the very nature of a song in which the chorus is built structurally and through repetition as the focal point of the song. Therefore, no matter how much one may seek to marginalize the chorus (and its meaning), the listener cannot.
For that reason, I'll address the verses. You are welcome to click the link and view them for yourself as I am not listing them here.
The verses address a plan.
In verse one there is acknowledgement of God's plan and what He has done to facilitate such a relationship. The conclusion is that God has great plans for her. I cannot argue that God has plans for us. However, I will say that many people take Jeremiah 29:11 as a promise made specifically to all of God's people. I would recommend that they read the rest of the chapter, particularly the very beginning where it actually says to whom this is written (and to whom such promises are given). God was faithful and has already fulfilled those promises. I mean, by that same standard or evaluation does that mean that we will have our named changed to Abraham and be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5; ref Romans 4:17). At least that is included in both the old and new testaments.
I would further suggest that we look at our evaluation of Great Plans or Prosper. Too often the plans we believe God has for us are centered around our view of good and great. Thus, if God's plans for us aren't up to our standard then God must not be keeping His word. With that in mind, I'd like to look at the ministry of Jesus' disciples. All of them but one died a martyrs death; were killed for their faith. John was the only one who was not murdered, and it wasn't for lack of trying as they attempted to boil him alive. Where's the plan to prosper them now? I would challenge that the covenant made to God's followers (and to those who believe in Jesus) is not prosperity of this life, but rather the intention for good that results from bearing God's image and the promise of eternal life. In no way is God's promise for our ultimate good (salvation, grace, heaven, kingdom, etc.) equated with earthly prosperity. Once again, I am not doubting God's plan for us as individuals. And it may be that He indeed will bless us with prosperity (which I would argue most often comes with the gift of giving). However, if your view of God's successful plan in your life always ends with "earthly peace, prosperity, and health", then you're in for quite a ride.
Verse two, in contrast, suggests that she has the plan figured out, and that she doubts this plan because things aren't always easy. Verse three continues the manifestation of insecurity based on the diminished self-worth originating in verse two, but here's where it take a wrong turn. The biblical application for a life of diminutive self-worth should be the shedding of self. The bible often addresses the concept of "denying" or "dying to" oneself (Mark 8:34-35; 10:38; Gal. 5:24; Col. 3:3-7; Rom. 6:2-4, 11-14; 7:4-6; 8:12-13; John 12:24; etc.). Nowhere will you find a biblical representation of the preservation of self as a means to establish worth or value. It is not who we are of ourselves that gives us worth. In fact, the bible is very clear about our state of worthlessness because of our sin (Isaiah 64:6) It is what we are as God's creation and His intended purpose for us that establishes value. In fact, what you'll find is that who we are is most often constantly at odds with what God wants us to be (Rom. 7:13-25). I'm quite positive that Jesus has already won the war waged for our destiny, but the spiritual warfare surrounding our sin is still ever present. The fight can only begin by forfeiting our self.
Finally, we're introduced to the last line of the last verse. God looks at her heart and says, in essence, that she already has all He seeks. I feel as though I know what she's trying to say. It seems that she's alluding to the fact that we may come to Christ as we are. In point of fact, we must. There is no other way to come. Trying to make yourself "worthy" of coming or "acceptable" is impossible apart from Christ. But as hard as I try, nothing leading up to this point can support that idea. It begs the question What does God seek?. I thought this was a fantastic question! You can google it, too, if you want. You'll be amazed at everything everyone says God wants. And while I'm sure there are a number of things God seeks, what you'll find the most doctrinally relevant is that God seeks to glorify Himself. In everything He does, He gets glory(Isa. 48:11). We are to give Him the glory for what He has done (Psalm 29:2; 19:1). And everything we do should be to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31; I Peter 4:7-11; Deut. 6:5). This begs (at least) one more question. Is what's being presented here bring God the glory?
I would say no. I would say that this song, through verse and story, presents a message of self-glorification that uses Jesus as a means to do so. It suggests that seeking to be oneself is as easy as standing on the shoulders of Jesus, and that freedom in Christ is somehow equivalent with freedom to be oneself. That is antithetical to biblical teaching. It supports an ideology that Christ is added to somehow enhance who we are instead of the relinquishment of ourselves to Him so that He may change us, recreating what He wishes in order to save us and make us holy (Titus 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:17-19).
I'm Letting Go
This song is very interesting coming from the same artist. In Free to Be Me, the writer seeks to embrace who she is, attesting that Jesus is the way in which we do this (as though He'll free us from all bad but allow us to keep who we are). Now it seems that, according to the chorus, she has decided to "let go" of her dreams, control, destiny, and plan. She has gone from "standing on Jesus' shoulders" to being "held" by Him.
Let me start off by saying that this song will be (comparatively) much shorter than my evaluation of Free to Be Me, mostly because the theology is not quite as egregious. Letting go is what is intended for Christians - to let go of ourselves and our plans and purposes in order to allow God to do a good work in us and put us on the course He wishes, one that ultimately ends in what is best for us.
There are really only two lines in this song that stand out to me as problematic:
"It feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe" and "This is a giant leap of faith".
The biggest part of learning to "let go" and give everything on Christ is first learning to trust Him. It presents a dilemma for us because of our experience(s) with sinful people. Most of us have dealt with those who are not trustworthy and often are forced to confront our own desires to do things that are equally deceptive. Therefore, as we learn deception, it becomes increasingly harder for us to trust. We must relearn.
But how does trust occur? Does God expect us to grade on a curve and just "take His Word" (the bible) for it? I would suggest that the answer is no. God has revealed a great deal to us. Given, there are many things that we do not know, whether because it has not been given for us to know, we can't understand it because of our limitations (mentally and space/time), or because we simply lack the ability to perceive things as God does. Regardless, whenever we're faced with idea we cannot adequately reason, we always end up on the topic of faith.
Often we speak of faith as though it is the manner in which we simply believe and accept things that cannot be proven or remain unknown. We often refer to this as a "leap of faith" or "blind faith". Usually, especially to those people who are more academic in nature, this makes us look stupid. And while "belief in things unseen" and those things which have yet to be revealed is certainly not stupid, it is neither an unfounded belief. Faith and belief go hand-in-hand, but they are not synonymous.
In Hebrews 11 we are given a definition of faith. The words here are assurance/conviction, reality/proof, substance/evidence, confidence/assurance, etc. Depending on what translation you are using it could be a number of different words. Regardless, they all support the idea that faith is well supported facts and not a stab in the dark at something unknown. In fact, the original Greek (what these words are meant to convey) paints the opposite picture of blind faith. The words elegchos and hupostasis are the Greek words originally used here. Elegchos is often used as a legal term and is associated with "enough evidence to convict" (someone of something). It is well-established fact. Hupostasis was often used in science. It was regarded as a result which tested the hypothesis. It is substance, proven and tested.
Thus, if faith is evidence and substance, then where does this leap of faith originate?
A leap of faith is 1) misinterpreted by many whose presuppositions pervert its intention and 2) a concept created by man to deal with our certain lack of acknowledgement of (or trust in) God. Faith is the means by which we are able to believe in the things we cannot perceive or understand, taking God at His Word because His Word is tried, tested and true. The term "a leap of faith" was meant to convey the additional understanding that is propagated from faith, not blind belief. People often find themselves coming up short when it comes to evidence for God. This is especially true of those who refuse to study His Word, in which many of these secrets are revealed and from which understanding and knowledge begins. I would suggest and spiritual discipline and diligence will often times reveal to us a great deal. In our foolishness, we begin seeking answers long after they are needed instead of being disciplined in prayer and the study of God's Word. It's happened to all of us. Faith is required for any of us to believe in God. Faith comes from God (and from hearing His Word).
There may be times where our walk with Christ "feels like falling". However, this is not from evidence and substance, which is faith, but instead from doubt. I would suggest that belief, truly believing, does not feel like falling at all. Instead, it feels like "being held", which is introduced in another part of the song. How does "being held" by God become associated with "falling". How can you know that He's holding you if you feel like you're falling? I would consider those polar opposites.
Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to read all this (assuming that you read all the way to this point and didn't just scroll to the bottom haha). I realize that much of what I say may fall on deaf ears or seem terribly radical. However, I certainly am sticking to my guns regarding the words of songs and watching what concepts we pawning off as "Christian". If good, solid Christian people are being deceived by poor attempts at "sound good" Christian theology, think about what it looks like to weak Christians or unbelievers.
I'd also like to apologize if I hurt anyone's feelings, especially Battistelli fans. You can continue to be her fans. From what I hear she's a fantastic person and has a lot of great experiences to share with people. Her music is amazing; she can really write a melody and has great vocals. However, the words are not up to par theologically.
I challenge you all to look at what you read, listen to, and that in which you engage yourself daily. Life is too short to not be aware of how things affect you and begin being disciplined in your life. Please feel free to contact me with any input, or you can offer it on the Facebook link!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Who Is God? (part 1)
Why is knowing who God is important?
Introduction
The study on knowing God is one of the most important studies in the Christian walk. The bible is written to reveal the nature and character of God to man. We cannot fully know God’s nature and character, but the bible reveals to us part of God’s nature within His plan of redemption for man through his son, Jesus Christ. The bible is about Christ.
Understanding Christ begins with a knowledge of God and the concept of the Trinity, allowing us to address Christ’s dual nature. This dual nature, both God and man (the Godman), is pivotal in understanding the character and purpose of Christ.
Understanding A Need
Flash back fifty years ago in the United States. If you asked someone about God, what is the reaction you would have expected? I would suggest that most people during that time would be talking about the same God - the God of the Bible. That is no longer the case. With an explosion of diversification resulting in the introduction of a plethora of religions, faiths, beliefs, etc., the world has ushered in a new age where the God of the Bible is no longer widely accepted as the God. Instead, we have false gods and a sort of paganism that is unrivaled in any period of U.S. history. One could further argue that even self-proclaimed Christians, whose declaration would suggest a fervent belief in the God of the Bible, no longer have a clear picture of who God is.
This obvious shortcoming made clear through beliefs that are regularly seen in Christians all over our country whose actions reflect an immature (spiritually and mentally) and very limited understanding of God. Many times, we see the God we want to, and most of us hold onto the characteristic of God we need most at the time; or the one that is the most agreeable. We substitute one aspect of God’s character for the perfect balance of all of His nature that the bible teaches.
The tragedy is that the only reason we don’t know is because we aren’t looking. We find what suits us, often satisfying a temporary longing, and then stop there. There is no relationship being sought, and the genuine awe and fear of God is slipping away because we are not learning the God of the Bible. We are allowing a secular world to tell everyone who God is, mostly because we don’t know.
Addressing the Problem
This series is meant to address the problem of knowledge and application. We have no knowledge of who God is, or such knowledge is severely limited, because we’re never taught. Most of us have been left to fend for ourselves. And whereas a lack of teaching is not an excuse for our blatant ignorance, this is something all Christians should be ready and willing to share and teach. How one could truly come to know Christ or effectively share Christ with another without a knowledge of God is very much in question. While we cannot fully know who God is, He has certainly made a great deal known to us.
Biblical Application
When Peter went to the Jews (Acts 2), God did not need to be clearly defined. The Jewish people as a nation already regarded Yahweh, the God of the old testament, as God. Peter could then use this established understanding of who God is to transition straight into teaching about Jesus.
However, when Paul went to Mars Hill (Acts 17) he was confronted with many gods (indicative of the U.S. today). Each god was represented in the form a statue. They had a statue to an “unknown god” in case they missed one, acutely aware of the ramifications of leaving one out. Paul used their understanding of an eternal longing and the concept of worship to teach them about the God of creation. In an area of culture and reason indicative of Greek society, Paul introduced God because without this understanding there would be no way to effectively communicate who Christ is.
Among believer and non-believer, Paul’s situation is becoming more and more relevant to what we must do. My challenge to you in this study is to develop your own knowledge of who God is, address the areas where you may be lacking, and share with others the awesome nature of your infinite God.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Prepare Yourself
Throughout our lives we are constantly being prepared for something. Before we are Christians we are built to long for more. Our eternal souls sense a need that our finite bodies cannot fill. And thus we're being prepared to understand a genuine need for redemption and salvation. After we are saved, we are a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) and are being prepared for His use. And this is where it gets interesting...
God's purpose for our lives supersedes everything else. We know that to be true in our minds. It makes sense, but sometimes it's harder for our hearts to follow. The biggest part of preparation comes in knowing and understanding that we cannot do it on our own (Romans 7:18) because of the nature which we fight against. It is only through the strength of Christ (Phillipians 4:13) and the renewal and changing of our minds (Romans 12:2) that we are able to shed what is left of our earthly nature and cling to what is Christ (Galatians 5:16-17).
I'm sure none of these things are new to most Christians. Many of the things with which we struggle in our walk with Christ aren't the more complex theological ideas. They are the most basic of concepts that elude us daily resulting in a gradual decay of our relationships that cause the most turmoil.
So why do I tell you all of this? Because I believe there are moments in life (and they can happen as often as needed - but must happen as often as is necessary) where we must refocus on Christ. It begins and ends as only you and God - nothing more, nothing less. We often cling to people because they give us a sense of satisfaction and security. This is a good thing. It's the kind of fellowship we were meant to have. However, at some point, those relationships begin to try and fill a void that only God can adequately satisfy. Therefore, the relationships (both with God and with the person) suffer because they begin to develop into something they were not meant to be, each role distorted because we assign them poorly.
This is my challenge for you: Remove everything from your life that you hold onto, anything that may keep you from experiencing God. Open your hand and release them to God. Let him put back into your life everything He wants to be there as He sees fit instead of clinging to things that you want - regardless of how good you think they may be for you or how good they may appear to be. Sometimes it's not a matter of good and bad, but rather a matter of timing. God's time is not like ours. Your time will come if you stay on the path that God has intended for you (Romans 8:28; Proverbs 3:5; James 1:16-17).
Execute it.
execute |ˈeksiˌkyoōt|
verb [ trans. ]
1 carry out or put into effect (a plan, order, or course of action).
2 carry out a sentence of death.
I like this because it's a play on words. hahaha
We are called to follow through with God's plan for our lives through meditating on His Word (Psalm 119:9-16; Phillipians 4:8-9; Joshua 1:8; II Timothy 2:15; I Timothy 4:15) and through constant prayer and supplication (James 1:5-8; Romans 12:12; Luke 18:1; James 5:16-18; I John 5:14-15). You execute what God wants you to do in your life through devoting your heart and mind wholly to Him.
We are also called to die to self, or execute the flesh (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:2-6; Galatians 5:25; I Peter 2:24). This is the only way we can hope to overcome sin and temptation. Please understand that it is also a process (Phillipians 2:12-13) and is something that we must always work towards.
Christ's message was very simple, but we complicate it every day by seeking to build things upon a foundation of basic principles of which we are lacking. The fact that it is possible to point out individual struggles with a great deal of accuracy and efficiency shows awareness of the temptations we face. It's encouraging because awareness of sin is brought upon by the work of the Holy Spirit. This shows a great deal of spiritual growth or conviction. However, after being called by the spirit, this is where there must be action. All that is necessary must now be done. It's the only thing left.
It's time to return to just "you and God", forgetting everything else. A truly fulfilled relationship with another person cannot be achieved until we are in line with what God wants. Perfection is not required in order to have an effective relationship. Relationships are not about perfection. It simply means that, by looking to other people for that strength and security, we take our focus off of God. And regardless of how legit a person is, can be, might be or how awesome and good they may seem... it doesn't necessarily mean that they are supposed to take a prominent role in our lives. Only God can decide that, and when we try and force them into our lives it takes away from our view of what God wants (spiritual discernment). In this, a sense of independence within God's will and plan is developed. It's not easy, particularly the part where you have to go back to the basics, but ultimately it's something everyone should do from time to time. And don't worry about the struggles you face. Always remember three things:
1. You are never temped beyond what you can bear (I Corinthians 10:13).
2. Perseverance through trials results in a forging of sorts that completes you (James 1:2-4).
3. God's grace is sufficient for you as His strength is made perfect through your weakness. (I Cor. 12:9-10)
Many times we pray to God for things with the expectations that He will provide these things by naturally endowing us with these attributes. Instead it may come as a trial through which we are forged into what He wants us to be. In most cases we are our own worst enemy. This can result in either the erosion of our joy because we look inwardly for answers and ultimately fail because the temptation and sin breaks us, or it can result in a dependence on God that leads to strength (and a more profound relationship) because we have rely on Him for the answers that we seek.
Get in your bible. Do what needs to be done. Your mind will be molded and your heart will follow. Again, know that we are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and that our mind, once deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9), is being made new in Christ as He renews us entirely. We call this process sanctification. Begin working out your salvation today.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Knowing Your Heart
We often seek diligently to understand ourselves, in essence, to know our hearts. The bible teaches that no man knows his heart and that it is "deceitful above all thing" (Jeremiah 17:9). It is out of our depraved heart that issues forth our actions (Matthew 15:18,19; 12:34,35). We assume, sometimes quite arrogantly, that a better understanding of oneself will in some way diminish or circumvent the corruption of our heart due to sin. The greatest lie is the one we tell ourself (I Corinthians 3:18-21).
What is the "heart"? For the longest time I believed the heart to be the emotions and the mind to be the intellect. For me, there was was consolation in finding balance between the two. This is based on my conceptual understanding brought about by our culture. When we speak of the heart we speak of an emotional response, for the heart is the seat of the emotion in our society. Likewise, when we refer to the mind we generally associate it with understanding or knowledge. I was mistakenly under the impression that balance of heart and mind meant that neither ruled over me. However, if sin has tainted the very core of my being, thus making me filthy, then all of me is affected - both heart and mind. No amount of balance will ever restore what a sinful nature has taken away. Consider this:
"The reins, kidneys, were thought by the Hebrews to be the seat of the emotions (cf. Prov 23:16, Ps 16:7; 73:21, Job 19:27). The heart (Heb leb) was thought to be the seat of the understanding (cf. 5:21). Thus, when it is said that Jehovah "tries" (i.e. tests or examines) the reins and the heart, it means He is cognizant of man's emotions and affections as well as his purposes and thoughts (cf. 17:10; 20:12, Ps. 7:9; 26:2)." (excerpt from commentary of Jeremiah 17)
- Liberty Bible Commentary
If the heart is linked to understanding, then it is just as much about the mind as it is about the emotion. And regardless of your understanding of where the seat of the emotion, understanding, intellect, etc., lies, we all will eventually find our wisdom will never lead to truth. Whether it's self-discovery or the existence of man, our wisdom will eventually come up null and void. We require God's wisdom (I Corinthians 1:18-31, I Corinthians 2:6-16, Job 38). When you begin to consider that what you're reading in the bible as the "heart" refers both to emotion and intellect, basically representing the entirety of man's hidden self, it changes a great deal about what those passages mean.
I don't believe that these concepts are particularly difficult to understand. Instead, they are hard to accept because we have simply never considered (or cared) what this means to our perception of what the heart is and the subsequent effect it has on our way of thinking. We want to believe we are right and that we may continue to do things our way. When you begin to consider that what you're reading in the bible as the "heart" refers both to emotion and intellect, basically representing the entirety of man's hidden self, it radically changes your understanding of what is written. Every part of you is tainted (Genesis 3:6, Isaiah 64:6, Matthew 7:17-18). You are totally (not utterly) depraved (Jeremiah 17:9, Genesis 6:5, Romans 3:9-18). The answer is not finding balance between the part of you that is tainted and the part that has been set aside for God (Galatians 6:15). It's about the complete renewal of yourself. God doesn't want the things you have. He wants to take you and make you completely new! (2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:5,7, Romans 6:4)
Only God truly knows the heart of a man (Jeremiah 17:10). He alone knows our purpose and the source of our intentions (Hebrews 4:13). Despite what sometimes may appear to be the best of intentions, this is the miserable reality we face: that all attempts to "discover ourselves" apart from God are ultimately futile. And in our vain attempt to ratify mistakes and make sound decisions without God at the helm, we often seek to "add" God to our lives rather than surrendering all we are to Him. Without the renewal that the bible speaks of so clearly, we have no hope of knowing ourselves, much less of knowing God.
So what is the answer?
Quite simply, the bible teaches that we should seek God (Acts 17:26-28). It is one of the most basic and simple principles of the bible, but yet the one we disregard with the most regularity (Isaiah 53:6). Our tendency is to run away from God, not to Him. Therefore, we have to be reminded regularly of the things to which we devote ourselves. This is not accomplished through following a list of "do's" and "don't's" as the Pharisees taught. Instead, it is about the nature of God. For example, most of us would say we don't lie because "the bible says not to". Instead, we don't lie because God is truth. Lying would then be in direct opposition to the nature of God. Anything that is direct opposition with God's nature is sin. This can be applied to an endless number of scenarios. It also destroys many of the "grey areas" that exist when people suggest "the bible doesn't say anything specifically about that".
For Christians. The realization that we must "die to self" (Galatians 2:20) should alone be enough for us to know that understand the true essence of who we are who we will be is ultimately impossible apart from God. We constantly wish to focus internally for answers when there are none to be found in us. Furthermore, "soul searching" is inadequate when seeking to understand the human heart because of the effect of sin on our minds. God created us! Why should we seek answers in anyone or anything else but Him? Add to this the stark reality that we can never understand our true intentions without God, and we are left with little hope of ever making the right choices and acquiring what God has intended for us.
This is difficult because it changes our focus from learning the do's and don't's to learning about God and seeking Him (Ephesians 2:17-21). I would suggest that the more we know about God, as it is revealed to us through His Word, His Son, His Spirit, and His creation, the more we can securely stand on what we should do and where are heart is. Furthermore, as we rely less on ourselves and more on God for provision, the logic behind our reasoning becomes God's wisdom rather than our own. The world will teach you to take care of yourself first, while God teaches to rely on Him for everything (Proverbs 3:5, 2 Peter 1:3, Philippians 4:13; 4:19, Lamentations 3:22, Numbers 23:19, Romans 8:32). I would encourage those of you who have already made the commitment to follow Christ to honor this commitment by seeking Him. Many of you feel empty and lonely, as thought God has gone away from you, when in reality it is you who have moved from Him. By not seeking Him you have alienated yourself from the grace He wishes to give to you - understanding, joy, and more.
For non-Christians. Please know that I don't expect you to understand much of this (I Corinthians 2:14-16). I realize that much of this seems foolish to you, and expectedly so (I Corinthians 1:20-25). I can promise you that the wisdom of men will fail you. Ultimately, you will be left bitter and empty on the fallen words of those who cannot be as true to you as your Creator. Ask yourself what it is that you're missing and why all the answers elude you. Stop looking at other Christians who are poor mirrors of God's image and those who are self-serving ignorers of God, instead choosing to seek truth rather than excuses. I believe you'll find there is far more to this Christianity and the Jesus they worship than what you originally believed. And if you ever choose to seek those answers, let me know. I'd be happy to help. :-)
Recommended Reading:
Job 38
Acts 17
I Corinthians 1 & 2
What is the "heart"? For the longest time I believed the heart to be the emotions and the mind to be the intellect. For me, there was was consolation in finding balance between the two. This is based on my conceptual understanding brought about by our culture. When we speak of the heart we speak of an emotional response, for the heart is the seat of the emotion in our society. Likewise, when we refer to the mind we generally associate it with understanding or knowledge. I was mistakenly under the impression that balance of heart and mind meant that neither ruled over me. However, if sin has tainted the very core of my being, thus making me filthy, then all of me is affected - both heart and mind. No amount of balance will ever restore what a sinful nature has taken away. Consider this:
"The reins, kidneys, were thought by the Hebrews to be the seat of the emotions (cf. Prov 23:16, Ps 16:7; 73:21, Job 19:27). The heart (Heb leb) was thought to be the seat of the understanding (cf. 5:21). Thus, when it is said that Jehovah "tries" (i.e. tests or examines) the reins and the heart, it means He is cognizant of man's emotions and affections as well as his purposes and thoughts (cf. 17:10; 20:12, Ps. 7:9; 26:2)." (excerpt from commentary of Jeremiah 17)
- Liberty Bible Commentary
If the heart is linked to understanding, then it is just as much about the mind as it is about the emotion. And regardless of your understanding of where the seat of the emotion, understanding, intellect, etc., lies, we all will eventually find our wisdom will never lead to truth. Whether it's self-discovery or the existence of man, our wisdom will eventually come up null and void. We require God's wisdom (I Corinthians 1:18-31, I Corinthians 2:6-16, Job 38). When you begin to consider that what you're reading in the bible as the "heart" refers both to emotion and intellect, basically representing the entirety of man's hidden self, it changes a great deal about what those passages mean.
I don't believe that these concepts are particularly difficult to understand. Instead, they are hard to accept because we have simply never considered (or cared) what this means to our perception of what the heart is and the subsequent effect it has on our way of thinking. We want to believe we are right and that we may continue to do things our way. When you begin to consider that what you're reading in the bible as the "heart" refers both to emotion and intellect, basically representing the entirety of man's hidden self, it radically changes your understanding of what is written. Every part of you is tainted (Genesis 3:6, Isaiah 64:6, Matthew 7:17-18). You are totally (not utterly) depraved (Jeremiah 17:9, Genesis 6:5, Romans 3:9-18). The answer is not finding balance between the part of you that is tainted and the part that has been set aside for God (Galatians 6:15). It's about the complete renewal of yourself. God doesn't want the things you have. He wants to take you and make you completely new! (2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:5,7, Romans 6:4)
Only God truly knows the heart of a man (Jeremiah 17:10). He alone knows our purpose and the source of our intentions (Hebrews 4:13). Despite what sometimes may appear to be the best of intentions, this is the miserable reality we face: that all attempts to "discover ourselves" apart from God are ultimately futile. And in our vain attempt to ratify mistakes and make sound decisions without God at the helm, we often seek to "add" God to our lives rather than surrendering all we are to Him. Without the renewal that the bible speaks of so clearly, we have no hope of knowing ourselves, much less of knowing God.
So what is the answer?
Quite simply, the bible teaches that we should seek God (Acts 17:26-28). It is one of the most basic and simple principles of the bible, but yet the one we disregard with the most regularity (Isaiah 53:6). Our tendency is to run away from God, not to Him. Therefore, we have to be reminded regularly of the things to which we devote ourselves. This is not accomplished through following a list of "do's" and "don't's" as the Pharisees taught. Instead, it is about the nature of God. For example, most of us would say we don't lie because "the bible says not to". Instead, we don't lie because God is truth. Lying would then be in direct opposition to the nature of God. Anything that is direct opposition with God's nature is sin. This can be applied to an endless number of scenarios. It also destroys many of the "grey areas" that exist when people suggest "the bible doesn't say anything specifically about that".
For Christians. The realization that we must "die to self" (Galatians 2:20) should alone be enough for us to know that understand the true essence of who we are who we will be is ultimately impossible apart from God. We constantly wish to focus internally for answers when there are none to be found in us. Furthermore, "soul searching" is inadequate when seeking to understand the human heart because of the effect of sin on our minds. God created us! Why should we seek answers in anyone or anything else but Him? Add to this the stark reality that we can never understand our true intentions without God, and we are left with little hope of ever making the right choices and acquiring what God has intended for us.
This is difficult because it changes our focus from learning the do's and don't's to learning about God and seeking Him (Ephesians 2:17-21). I would suggest that the more we know about God, as it is revealed to us through His Word, His Son, His Spirit, and His creation, the more we can securely stand on what we should do and where are heart is. Furthermore, as we rely less on ourselves and more on God for provision, the logic behind our reasoning becomes God's wisdom rather than our own. The world will teach you to take care of yourself first, while God teaches to rely on Him for everything (Proverbs 3:5, 2 Peter 1:3, Philippians 4:13; 4:19, Lamentations 3:22, Numbers 23:19, Romans 8:32). I would encourage those of you who have already made the commitment to follow Christ to honor this commitment by seeking Him. Many of you feel empty and lonely, as thought God has gone away from you, when in reality it is you who have moved from Him. By not seeking Him you have alienated yourself from the grace He wishes to give to you - understanding, joy, and more.
For non-Christians. Please know that I don't expect you to understand much of this (I Corinthians 2:14-16). I realize that much of this seems foolish to you, and expectedly so (I Corinthians 1:20-25). I can promise you that the wisdom of men will fail you. Ultimately, you will be left bitter and empty on the fallen words of those who cannot be as true to you as your Creator. Ask yourself what it is that you're missing and why all the answers elude you. Stop looking at other Christians who are poor mirrors of God's image and those who are self-serving ignorers of God, instead choosing to seek truth rather than excuses. I believe you'll find there is far more to this Christianity and the Jesus they worship than what you originally believed. And if you ever choose to seek those answers, let me know. I'd be happy to help. :-)
Recommended Reading:
Job 38
Acts 17
I Corinthians 1 & 2
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Grace and Mercy
For the longest time many of us have used the terms "grace" and "mercy" without much thought for what they mean. Most of us think to ourselves "We're saved, right? Problem solved." So we lead ourselves to believe that these words have done their job and thus mean very little to us because we no longer choose to consider them. Or do we not consider them because we genuinely don't understand what they mean?
As sinners we find ourselves in obvious need of both mercy and grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9) because of the condition in which we exist - dead in our sins (Romans 3:23). Without these things, we would be without hope. Mercy is extended to us to save us from the immediate punishment for sin, which is death by the way (Romans 6:23), and grace exteneds to us the gift of salvation that we may choose to accept or deny (John 1:12; 3:16; 6:35). These are concepts which any sinner, once aware of their situation and subsequent choice to choose hope and follow Christ, readily appreciates. It's this choice that I challenge you to accept today if you have not already.
Perhaps you've already accepted this challenge and made the choice to follow Christ. What about afterwards? Once you've been given this mercy and grace, is it over? Most Christians act as though it is. We use grace like a "get out of jail free" card (that's a Monopoly reference for those of you lucky enough to have played the game), most often dismissing grace entirely until we need it. This is not a recent problem. Paul had to address this among the early church (Romans 6). The same problem exists today in the form of denying the power of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4). It's amazing how many Christians blindly forfeit the power and merit that can be given them due to their own ignorance and nearsightedness. As a generation of little faith, we say we accept what Christ has to offer but reject the message Christ brought to us. One has to ask if this is possible.
In addressing unbelief, please understand that God's will is sovereign (Daniel 4:25; 5:35, I Timothy 6:15, Revelation 4:11). He does not need you. He, in His sovereignty, seeks to involve you by establishing a relationship with you. Ultimately, His will is done. We see throughout the old testament how God uses those with evil minds and intentions, most infamously the Babylonians, to accomplish His will. Because of God's all-powerful nature, we are meaningless without His favor (remember that word, favor. It will be important later). Our worth comes in His decision to sustain us and seek to reconcile us to Him, thus allowing us a relationship with Him. Apart from God we are nothing and we have no hope. Consider what evolution would teach - that we are pure chance and that morality is a condition instead of the providential will of a divine Creator. This is just one example of many. But this is the hope and the grace that God offers you - if you surrender your life to Him and believe in His Son, Jesus, He will save you (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9). To deny this would mean you are not serving your purpose. You are missing out on a life full of eternal meaning and purpose.
In addressing fellow Christians, if you are not considering all the things that grace affords you, you are acting foolishly. Once coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, it is not over. God is certainly not finished with you, and what He blesses you with He does so in grace. So many of us, particularly in our youth, are astonishingly nearsighted. We don't have much care for tomorrow, much less next week. It has been said that "youth is wasted on the young" (George Bernard Shaw). Only in maturity of mind that we can look back and genuinely witness the irrational nature of our youth. And whether this is result of our society or the consequence of our own depravity (or such things stemming from this), it is nonetheless one of the poisonous things that corrupts the way we think. Solomon warns of a day that will come in which the pleasures of life are gone and bids us to follow God from our youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). You are missing out on the great things of faith.
But this is where it really gets interesting. We tend to think of mercy, grace, and forgiveness as interchangeable or combined in some fashion. That is neither correct nor adequate when sharing our faith with others. What if you were asked what those words mean? Can you define them? Do you know what they are and what they do? Are they not important enough to learn?
Here's some other self-searching questions that I hope blow your mind like they did mine:
If these concepts are basic and fundamental to my faith and the process of salvation and I lack the capacity to define them, how effective of a witness am I? Furthermore, how do I know that I'm saved if I have no idea what salvation looks like? Because I prayed a prayer at some point? Because I go to church? How do I share it with others? There is security in understanding your faith and salvation, for both you and the ones you impact.
Like it or not, people are watching you and often look to you for answers. We are called by Christ to share the gospel with everyone (Matthew 28:16-20), but it's nearly impossible to share this with a lost world when you don't understand it.
I don't believe that the majority of Christians do this knowingly or willingly. The scary part is that we are all but completely unaware of what is happening. This is a side effect of a genuine lack of understanding when it comes to God's Word, which leads to a poor relationship with Him. The beginning of correction in this area would be to consult God's Word often, allowing Him to reshape your mind. A mentor of mine, and the man that really sparked my attention to this topic, defined grace very well in a message he sent out a few months ago:
"Simply stated, grace is God's unmerited favor. It is God giving us something we don't deserve. It is different than mercy. Mercy is not receiving the punishment we deserve. Mercy removes the negative results. Forgiveness is more related to mercy than it is grace. To forgive means to 'let something go'. God through His mercy let's us go from the punishment due to us as a result of sin.
Grace is more positive than that. Grace is something we receive. God's grace makes us more than a conqueror over the things of this world. It transforms us to be more like Jesus Christ. It enables us to overcome our sin. It gives life to the dead soul, quickens our spirit, sanctifies us, beautifies us, strengthens us, enlightens us, equips us, it spurs us on toward holy living. It teaches us to say "NO" to ungodly desires and "YES" to the Lord. It takes sinful creatures and turns them into glorified saints! That's what makes grace so amazing"
Steve Willis, Pastor, First Baptist Church Kenova
(Romans 8:37, Romans 3:24, Titus 3:7, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
As we grow in Christ, our need for this grace doesn't decrease. Quite the contrary, it increases. As we rely on God we depend more and more on His provision for our lives - His grace. Something every Christian will have to deal with is the realization of their own depravity and what that means in their struggle to be like Christ - to be image bearers of God. You cannot overcome it alone. It is not good enough to simply rely on yourself and your own strength. Whereas that may seem to sustain you for a while, it will only last a short time.
Part of understand faith and grace is the insistence on relying on a greater power than yourself, God's power. As has been the way of man, we seek to separate ourselves from God further and further in a vain attempt to have our way and do what we want. Left to our own devices, we run away from God, not to Him. He must call us to Him. The unfortunate part are the dire consequences brought about by such actions. It doesn't happen all at once. It happens through a series of unfortunate events that generate consequences that lead to worse situations. Just like the things of God will prosper us as we remain in His will, remaining in opposition to God will have the opposite effect. We gradually decline to a place of chaos.
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not looking to chastise you. I leave that for God, for He chastens those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6, Romans 3:19). I simply see the growing need for a generation that is dedicated to seeking God and ridding their minds of the plague that ensnares it. In addition to the enabling power of faith, I simply want to save you the trouble of being "course corrected". For those of you that follow Christ, He will direct your paths. If you have truly given Him your life then you belong to Him and He dwells in you. Do not expect Him to sit back and continually grant you mercy while you sin against Him. We know from the old testament that God is patient and slow to anger. We see this shown perfectly in how He deals with His chosen nation, Israel. The moment of chastening is coming for you if you are not being the image bearers of God you were called to be, just as it did for the Israelites.
There is good news. God has a plan for every single one of you, plans with your best interest in mind (Jeremiah 29:11). I cannot relate to you in adequate terms everything this means. No precise plan can account for the individual relationship you all can have with God. It is His plan for you; not for anyone else and certainly not for me. For those of you who have not taken this step to follow God, I urge you to do so. To the ones that I call brothers and sisters in Christ, our adventure is far from over. It's time to take hold of your faith - to begin to saturate your mind with God's word and let him sanctify you. It is only through relinquishing control to Him that you can ever truly experience everything God has in store for you. It's time that you began doing the things that draw you closer to Him.
Recommended Reading:
Proverbs 16
Titus 3
James 3
2 Timothy 3
As sinners we find ourselves in obvious need of both mercy and grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9) because of the condition in which we exist - dead in our sins (Romans 3:23). Without these things, we would be without hope. Mercy is extended to us to save us from the immediate punishment for sin, which is death by the way (Romans 6:23), and grace exteneds to us the gift of salvation that we may choose to accept or deny (John 1:12; 3:16; 6:35). These are concepts which any sinner, once aware of their situation and subsequent choice to choose hope and follow Christ, readily appreciates. It's this choice that I challenge you to accept today if you have not already.
Perhaps you've already accepted this challenge and made the choice to follow Christ. What about afterwards? Once you've been given this mercy and grace, is it over? Most Christians act as though it is. We use grace like a "get out of jail free" card (that's a Monopoly reference for those of you lucky enough to have played the game), most often dismissing grace entirely until we need it. This is not a recent problem. Paul had to address this among the early church (Romans 6). The same problem exists today in the form of denying the power of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4). It's amazing how many Christians blindly forfeit the power and merit that can be given them due to their own ignorance and nearsightedness. As a generation of little faith, we say we accept what Christ has to offer but reject the message Christ brought to us. One has to ask if this is possible.
In addressing unbelief, please understand that God's will is sovereign (Daniel 4:25; 5:35, I Timothy 6:15, Revelation 4:11). He does not need you. He, in His sovereignty, seeks to involve you by establishing a relationship with you. Ultimately, His will is done. We see throughout the old testament how God uses those with evil minds and intentions, most infamously the Babylonians, to accomplish His will. Because of God's all-powerful nature, we are meaningless without His favor (remember that word, favor. It will be important later). Our worth comes in His decision to sustain us and seek to reconcile us to Him, thus allowing us a relationship with Him. Apart from God we are nothing and we have no hope. Consider what evolution would teach - that we are pure chance and that morality is a condition instead of the providential will of a divine Creator. This is just one example of many. But this is the hope and the grace that God offers you - if you surrender your life to Him and believe in His Son, Jesus, He will save you (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9). To deny this would mean you are not serving your purpose. You are missing out on a life full of eternal meaning and purpose.
In addressing fellow Christians, if you are not considering all the things that grace affords you, you are acting foolishly. Once coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, it is not over. God is certainly not finished with you, and what He blesses you with He does so in grace. So many of us, particularly in our youth, are astonishingly nearsighted. We don't have much care for tomorrow, much less next week. It has been said that "youth is wasted on the young" (George Bernard Shaw). Only in maturity of mind that we can look back and genuinely witness the irrational nature of our youth. And whether this is result of our society or the consequence of our own depravity (or such things stemming from this), it is nonetheless one of the poisonous things that corrupts the way we think. Solomon warns of a day that will come in which the pleasures of life are gone and bids us to follow God from our youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). You are missing out on the great things of faith.
But this is where it really gets interesting. We tend to think of mercy, grace, and forgiveness as interchangeable or combined in some fashion. That is neither correct nor adequate when sharing our faith with others. What if you were asked what those words mean? Can you define them? Do you know what they are and what they do? Are they not important enough to learn?
Here's some other self-searching questions that I hope blow your mind like they did mine:
If these concepts are basic and fundamental to my faith and the process of salvation and I lack the capacity to define them, how effective of a witness am I? Furthermore, how do I know that I'm saved if I have no idea what salvation looks like? Because I prayed a prayer at some point? Because I go to church? How do I share it with others? There is security in understanding your faith and salvation, for both you and the ones you impact.
Like it or not, people are watching you and often look to you for answers. We are called by Christ to share the gospel with everyone (Matthew 28:16-20), but it's nearly impossible to share this with a lost world when you don't understand it.
I don't believe that the majority of Christians do this knowingly or willingly. The scary part is that we are all but completely unaware of what is happening. This is a side effect of a genuine lack of understanding when it comes to God's Word, which leads to a poor relationship with Him. The beginning of correction in this area would be to consult God's Word often, allowing Him to reshape your mind. A mentor of mine, and the man that really sparked my attention to this topic, defined grace very well in a message he sent out a few months ago:
"Simply stated, grace is God's unmerited favor. It is God giving us something we don't deserve. It is different than mercy. Mercy is not receiving the punishment we deserve. Mercy removes the negative results. Forgiveness is more related to mercy than it is grace. To forgive means to 'let something go'. God through His mercy let's us go from the punishment due to us as a result of sin.
Grace is more positive than that. Grace is something we receive. God's grace makes us more than a conqueror over the things of this world. It transforms us to be more like Jesus Christ. It enables us to overcome our sin. It gives life to the dead soul, quickens our spirit, sanctifies us, beautifies us, strengthens us, enlightens us, equips us, it spurs us on toward holy living. It teaches us to say "NO" to ungodly desires and "YES" to the Lord. It takes sinful creatures and turns them into glorified saints! That's what makes grace so amazing"
Steve Willis, Pastor, First Baptist Church Kenova
(Romans 8:37, Romans 3:24, Titus 3:7, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
As we grow in Christ, our need for this grace doesn't decrease. Quite the contrary, it increases. As we rely on God we depend more and more on His provision for our lives - His grace. Something every Christian will have to deal with is the realization of their own depravity and what that means in their struggle to be like Christ - to be image bearers of God. You cannot overcome it alone. It is not good enough to simply rely on yourself and your own strength. Whereas that may seem to sustain you for a while, it will only last a short time.
Part of understand faith and grace is the insistence on relying on a greater power than yourself, God's power. As has been the way of man, we seek to separate ourselves from God further and further in a vain attempt to have our way and do what we want. Left to our own devices, we run away from God, not to Him. He must call us to Him. The unfortunate part are the dire consequences brought about by such actions. It doesn't happen all at once. It happens through a series of unfortunate events that generate consequences that lead to worse situations. Just like the things of God will prosper us as we remain in His will, remaining in opposition to God will have the opposite effect. We gradually decline to a place of chaos.
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not looking to chastise you. I leave that for God, for He chastens those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6, Romans 3:19). I simply see the growing need for a generation that is dedicated to seeking God and ridding their minds of the plague that ensnares it. In addition to the enabling power of faith, I simply want to save you the trouble of being "course corrected". For those of you that follow Christ, He will direct your paths. If you have truly given Him your life then you belong to Him and He dwells in you. Do not expect Him to sit back and continually grant you mercy while you sin against Him. We know from the old testament that God is patient and slow to anger. We see this shown perfectly in how He deals with His chosen nation, Israel. The moment of chastening is coming for you if you are not being the image bearers of God you were called to be, just as it did for the Israelites.
There is good news. God has a plan for every single one of you, plans with your best interest in mind (Jeremiah 29:11). I cannot relate to you in adequate terms everything this means. No precise plan can account for the individual relationship you all can have with God. It is His plan for you; not for anyone else and certainly not for me. For those of you who have not taken this step to follow God, I urge you to do so. To the ones that I call brothers and sisters in Christ, our adventure is far from over. It's time to take hold of your faith - to begin to saturate your mind with God's word and let him sanctify you. It is only through relinquishing control to Him that you can ever truly experience everything God has in store for you. It's time that you began doing the things that draw you closer to Him.
Recommended Reading:
Proverbs 16
Titus 3
James 3
2 Timothy 3
Getting Started
It's been a long time since I've done anything like this. Like listening to vintage music or returning to an old book, I've observed that I have the same story to tell, but from a different perspective. Although I have been known to voice my opinions and perspectives quite unapologetically, I typically keep my thoughts to myself except when speaking to those with whom I share a relationship.
I want any person that reads my blog to understand three things about me:
1. I am not an unbiased writer. If you believe anything passionately it's my experience that it is impossible to remain unbiased because your beliefs affect you so radically. As a bible-believing Christian, my starting point is God's Word. I believe it passionately and wholly. Please understand that this does not mean I have everything right. Although I pursue truth very diligently, there are still those upon whom I rely upon very heavily for insight, guidance, and for correction. The bible speaks of many truths plainly and simply. Others have yet to be revealed to us. Therefore, my writing shall remain potently and unapologetically affected by my relationship with Jesus Christ. I seek in all things to be the image bearer of God I was meant to be.
2. I am a musician and educator by trade. Most of what I say will be heavily referenced because, quite simply, I lack the expertise to speak professionally towards many of the topics to which I will refer. My understanding of them is limited to what has been conveyed to me by other professionals, trusted people of thought, and through sources that I will gladly reference for you to consult. Anything that is not referenced, while it may be profound, is offered up solely as my perspective on the topic as I speak from experience.
3. I don't have all the answers. Many times it will only be a perspective or way of thinking which I present. I gladly welcome all constructive input, particularly from people who are studied and seek truth as I do. It is my hope that you will have something to say, or at least think about, after reading my post. Please offer your thoughts with the same careful selection that I hope my posts convey. I do not seek to offend anyone. However, please know as you read that you may come upon topics, thoughts, etc., that truly upset you. If this does happen, please stop to consider why. Even in offense we can stand to learn something. It is also one of the ways we strengthen our belief or change it entirely. Most of us carry beliefs that are completely contrary to truth, hindering our spiritual growth because they are poison to our minds. Because of our nature, we are readily defensive when something we believe is called into question. Should you be offended while reading, please know that was not my intention, but a side effect. Search yourself and be ready to share your thoughts in a constructive way.
All that having been said, here goes nothing...
It was once said to me that people "like to soak up what I say". Whether or not that is true, I have noticed that what we say (or write in this particular instance) is very important, regardless of who we are or what we may be. Whereas these words become exponentially more effective when we begin "living out" what we say, the words themselves take life in people's minds as they read. I want to confront people with thought, that they may consider important things that have been neglected. The battlefield is our mind - and it is one we are steadily losing. It is time to take back our minds from the lies and neglect that have ensnared our lives.
Now more than any other time in history we have the opportunity to be heard. So what are you saying? Many months ago I made a vow to try and impact those with whom I come into contact - every single person. Whereas I realize cannot affect every person, engaging everyone in some way will allow me to affect those who I have been given the opportunity to impact. God has someone else in mind for the others - maybe you. However, because I cannot know one from the other (who I can impact and who I cannot) my resolve will remain the same. This blog is one way to do this.
Thank you for reading my blog and taking the time to consider my purposes for writing. Hopefully I will hear a great deal more from you, and we can go down this road together.
~ Jeremy
I want any person that reads my blog to understand three things about me:
1. I am not an unbiased writer. If you believe anything passionately it's my experience that it is impossible to remain unbiased because your beliefs affect you so radically. As a bible-believing Christian, my starting point is God's Word. I believe it passionately and wholly. Please understand that this does not mean I have everything right. Although I pursue truth very diligently, there are still those upon whom I rely upon very heavily for insight, guidance, and for correction. The bible speaks of many truths plainly and simply. Others have yet to be revealed to us. Therefore, my writing shall remain potently and unapologetically affected by my relationship with Jesus Christ. I seek in all things to be the image bearer of God I was meant to be.
2. I am a musician and educator by trade. Most of what I say will be heavily referenced because, quite simply, I lack the expertise to speak professionally towards many of the topics to which I will refer. My understanding of them is limited to what has been conveyed to me by other professionals, trusted people of thought, and through sources that I will gladly reference for you to consult. Anything that is not referenced, while it may be profound, is offered up solely as my perspective on the topic as I speak from experience.
3. I don't have all the answers. Many times it will only be a perspective or way of thinking which I present. I gladly welcome all constructive input, particularly from people who are studied and seek truth as I do. It is my hope that you will have something to say, or at least think about, after reading my post. Please offer your thoughts with the same careful selection that I hope my posts convey. I do not seek to offend anyone. However, please know as you read that you may come upon topics, thoughts, etc., that truly upset you. If this does happen, please stop to consider why. Even in offense we can stand to learn something. It is also one of the ways we strengthen our belief or change it entirely. Most of us carry beliefs that are completely contrary to truth, hindering our spiritual growth because they are poison to our minds. Because of our nature, we are readily defensive when something we believe is called into question. Should you be offended while reading, please know that was not my intention, but a side effect. Search yourself and be ready to share your thoughts in a constructive way.
All that having been said, here goes nothing...
It was once said to me that people "like to soak up what I say". Whether or not that is true, I have noticed that what we say (or write in this particular instance) is very important, regardless of who we are or what we may be. Whereas these words become exponentially more effective when we begin "living out" what we say, the words themselves take life in people's minds as they read. I want to confront people with thought, that they may consider important things that have been neglected. The battlefield is our mind - and it is one we are steadily losing. It is time to take back our minds from the lies and neglect that have ensnared our lives.
Now more than any other time in history we have the opportunity to be heard. So what are you saying? Many months ago I made a vow to try and impact those with whom I come into contact - every single person. Whereas I realize cannot affect every person, engaging everyone in some way will allow me to affect those who I have been given the opportunity to impact. God has someone else in mind for the others - maybe you. However, because I cannot know one from the other (who I can impact and who I cannot) my resolve will remain the same. This blog is one way to do this.
Thank you for reading my blog and taking the time to consider my purposes for writing. Hopefully I will hear a great deal more from you, and we can go down this road together.
~ Jeremy
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