Dear Salvation Army – What Do You Know About Unpopular Holiness?

Dear Salvation Army,
It might feel good to hear the acclaims of the public, to receive accolades for the work that we do…these are certainly affirming to us…but we aren’t in the business of helping people for the purpose of accolades are we?

We didn’t sign up to wear uncomfortable uniforms for the purpose of basking in the limelight did we?
No, the purpose for our movement is MORE than just helping people!
We ARE STILL a Holiness movement! Let us never forget this truth, may it never get muddied in our various pursuits to “do the most good” in our communities.

Holiness is not an easy road for followers of Christ.

It is not the popular route. Why? Because it actually demands more from Christ’s followers. It requires each of us to ACTUALLY face our sins, our hidden sins, our indiscretions, those things which embarrass us and cause us great shame. It demands that we not only look at them but we allow the Holy Spirit to cast his glorious light upon them. When we have given up fighting the Holy Spirit and have finally surrendered to His pleas, (perhaps there are those of you who relinquished right away, and of that I am envious) He then can begin this new work, this revitalizing-restoring creation within us. Entire Sanctification is very real – but it will undoubtedly be the most unpopular thing an Officer or Soldier could ever preach.

Why so unpopular?
Because it is not simple. It is hard. There is sacrifice, and in the Western Church, sacrifice is not something many are willing to really fully commit to in a long-term capacity. We live in a hedonistic culture, even in Church, and dare I say that Holiness will always be in conflict with such a lifestyle.

Samuel Logan Brengle in his book “Helps to Holiness” puts it this way – “Dear brother, do not think you can make holiness popular. It cannot be done. There is no such thing as holiness separate from ‘Christ in you,’ and it is an impossibility to make Christ Jesus popular in this world. To sinners and carnal professors, the real Christ Jesus has always been and always will be ‘as a root out of a dry ground, despised and rejected of men.’ ‘Christ in you’ is the ‘same yesterday, to-day, and forever’ – hated, reviled, persecuted, crucified…He (Christ) will pronounce the most terrible, yet tearful, maledictions against the hypocritical formalist and the lukewarm professor who are the friends of the world and, consequently, the enemies of God…Do you not see the impossibility of making such a radical Gospel as this popular? This spirit and the spirit of the world are as fully opposed to each other as two locomotives on the same track running toward each at the same rate of sixty miles an hour. Fire and water will consort together as quickly as the ‘Christ in you’ and the spirit of the world.” (pg. 92, 93, 96)

Questions to Ponder today:
Can we accept such an Unpopular Holiness?
Are we up to the challenge?
Are we afraid of this world’s ridicule and shame?
Which “spirit” will we select tomorrow, and the next day, and the one after that?

Dear Salvation Army – We cannot separate the need for entire sanctification from what we do in our soup kitchens, social services offices or on the gym floor. There should never be a distinction between what we do on Sundays from what we do the rest of the week. The entire thrust of what “we do” is to bring people to Christ for the purpose of entire sanctification – through and through.

This will be unpopular.
Many people, even soldiers will reject such a call…it’s too radical, it’s too much work, it requires too much study, patience and sacrifice…but isn’t that the purpose of becoming a true disciple of Christ – so that we become like Him in every way?! Some are far too comfortable just coming to church on Sundays. Some are happy with this familiar routine in life. They don’t want to be shaken to the core. They don’t want to be disrupted. Some have stopped learning about Christ all together – internally they have become lazy in their studies of the Bible, they have thought in their minds “no one can teach me any more, because I already know everything there is to know about God and the Bible.” -This is entirely far from the truth…I am ashamed to have even considered this phrase to be true in my own heart sometimes, yet God brings this spirit of conviction in me. Dear soldiers, we need to humble ourselves once again. We need to fall on our faces and repent. We need to allow His Holy Spirit to renew us once more…and to allow Him to complete His work in us.

Some may cast this pondering aside today, because it will certainly be unpopular.
But I want to call us back to the Altar. I want us to recognize the work we have left unfinished in our hearts. We cannot go any further in our mission if we do not first stop here and ensure our hearts, our lives are completely His once more. I know there is still work to be done in me…how about you?

Something more for our Army world to ponder today, to God be the glory!

To read more on this week’s topic of Holiness click the links below:
Sin and Holiness
Cheap Grace

Disclaimer: The writings, and opinions of Pastorsponders are the writers expressed opinions and do not always reflect the opinions and views of The Salvation Army.

October 22, 2015 3

“The Exchange”

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” -Proverbs 18:10

I used to run track when I was in high school.
I was a sprinter. I would train with my team every day after school even when it was hard. I would run the 100 meter, 200 meter and the 4×100 meter relay. The relay was where team work would come in. Each runner had their own part to play in the race. Each ran their respective portion…but it would be all for naught if the exchange of the baton was mishandled. Sometimes failure in the exchange came by way of holding on too tightly to the baton as one attempted to pass it on. Sometimes failure in the exchange came by way of holding on too loosely as one attempted to pass it on. That’s why we practiced day after day. We needed to be a synced group. We needed to have a simple, nondramatic hand-off each time in order to even consider winning the race. The relay’s success of failure hinged upon “the exchange”.

Have you ever felt weak?
I imagine we all have from time to time…some of us probably just thought to themselves “I feel weak all the time”. I want to encourage you today. There is strength in knowing the Lord. There is joy in this “knowing” as well. What happens within this fragment of time (when we allow God’s strength to become our strength and when we “know” whose strength it is coursing through us) is an exchange of lordship. The success and failure of the Christian walk sometimes hinges on this pivotal exchange! Within this exchange of lordship, what we are saying is “Lord I abdicate my human authority that is frail and weak and I exchange it for your Lordship in my life!” When we allow this lordship exchange to take place within us, we knock down pride and selfishness and erect a stronger, more firmer foundation found only within complete humility and selflessness.

The Apostle Paul puts it like this – “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Despite Paul’s sufferings, despite his weaknesses, despite everything kind of persecution he faced, he recognized that even in weakness Christ would be strong!

I wonder if any of you are kind of like me. I am stubborn. I am often prideful. I am sometimes insecure. I am quick to repay wrongs done to me in similar reciprocating responses. I am still far from the prize of holiness. BUT… there is something within this confession of mine. I have to recognize that in all of these shortcomings I cannot attain the strength that I need on my own. I require this exchange of authority in my life. I require the Holy Spirit’s presence within me. I cannot afford to run aimlessly, full of myself and on my own. My own efforts will, and frequently have, failed.

Oh that we run to the Lord!
Oh that we allow His presence to transform us.
Oh that we are filled with His strength by emptying our weaknesses out at His feet.
This is where the exchange of lordship begins…and the prize of holiness (the very reflection of Christ) is seen.
May we allow this exchange of lordship to occur within us.
It is a very private matter for most of us. It isn’t something that often happens overnight, but instead His presence begins to urge us to relinquish things. His presence begins to remind us of what could be. His presence prompts us to run to Him and lay down our pride and self-assurances at His feet.

How’s your “Exchange of lordship” going?
Something more to ponder today, to God be the glory!

June 25, 2015 0

Burn Your Ships And Commit!

The History Lesson
In 1519 Hernan Cortes, Spanish explorer, landed on Mexican soil.
He and his 600 Spanish troops were commissioned to take Mexico for Spain.
In a swift move to stave off any thoughts of retreat, he commanded that his fleet be burned.

Can you imagine being one of those six hundred men on alien soil standing there watching your only lifeline to the ‘old life’ being burned at sea. The only recourse was to make progress deeper into this unknown land; to fight, survive and claim it for the crown. The ships were gone, they had to fully commit or die.

For Us.
I am not justifying any other actions of Cortes.
Some of his decisions were down right brutal.
That being said, I do believe that there is something here for us today.

Spiritually speaking…
Have we burned our ships in the act of a full commitment to Christ?
Or
Are we still looking back longingly at the places that we used to live before we accepted this new life in the form of Salvation? Do we (even subconsciously) consider this “commitment” to be temporary while all along we have a fall back plan in case it just doesn’t pan out?

I believe even Jesus had disciples in His day that had one foot in the new life while the other foot was still firmly grounded in the old.

Read:
(Luke 9:57-62)

The Cost of Following Jesus
⁵⁷As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. ⁵⁹He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” ⁶²Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

The cost of following Christ is high!
The commitment level of such a calling is total or none at all.
We cannot have one foot in the new life while our other foot is firmly planted in the old life.
Either we are all in or we are not in at all.

Perhaps it is time that we burned the ships.
Perhaps it is time to burn that which holds us back from making that full commitment to Christ.
Don’t allow those things to pull you in two different directions any longer.
His path, His calling is the path of true peace, of true redemption, of true love.
When we burn the ships, we can no longer turn back from His will for our lives.
He wants a relationship with us that requires a full commitment.
So, how about it, are we willing to burn the ships?

Something more to ponder today!

April 20, 2015 0

The Beauty of Faith And Fear Living Together.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

The truth is, we DO face fear in this life.
The truth is, we DO suffer from paralysis from time to time because of fear.
If we allow fear to take up a permanent place within our hearts, we rob ourselves of experiencing the joys of life that God offers to us. Fear can only have power if we allow it to have power in us.

That is easier said than done when all of a sudden a moment of crisis takes place and our hearts plummet over that jagged cliff of trepidation and dread. It is easier said than done when we come to the end of our ropes and we have nothing else to cling to. It is easier said than done when we exhaust all hope and resource and still we can’t afford to make ends meet.

Fear is real.
But so is faith.

Questions to ponder today:
Is fear ALWAYS bad?
Is there ever a place for fear?
Does fear ever coexist with faith?

I once heard a phrase that I still struggle with.
The phrase was spoken to a group of us in a church meeting once.
It goes like this: “Faith and fear can’t exist in the same space”
I’m not sure I agree.
Sure, it sounds good on paper and all.
It’s a good mantra to utter in the face of adversity.
But is this saying really true?
I just don’t think it is.
It could be an awesome “battle cry” to rally the troops and help encourage the discouraged…but I think faith and fear sometimes go hand in hand.

I suppose the word fear has to be defined in this conversation.
I think there are varying degrees of fear to think about when we talk about “faith AND fear”.
We don’t want to generalize fear to mean something all encompassing when it comes to “what we are afraid of”, rather I believe the kind of fear that is present within faith is a trepidation rather than a full blown paralyzing fear. I like one of the definitions of the word “trepidation” because it sort of crystallizes to me how faith and fear can coexist together in us.
The definition I think that fits is this:

‘Trepidation’ – a trembling motion.

To me this means that although we do not know what the future has in store for us, there IS STILL MOTION in us.
It sort of sums up that coined phrase “stepping out in faith” for me.
Although we have said “yes” to Christ and we have made that proclamation to the world around us, there is still the motion that is needed…and within that motion is a trembling.

Perhaps some of us dig deep and that trembling isn’t ever noticeable.
While in the rest of us that trembling aspect of faith is extremely evident.
It is more than mere nervousness of the unknown, it is a moving fear that propels faith to action.
It is more than reverence for God “fear and trembling”, it is an action verb that puts fuel on the fire of our faith.

Do you have fear today?
If you do have fear, I want to tell you that it is okay.
Don’t ever think that just because you’re fearful that there is something wrong with your faith walk.
Fear CAN exist within faith, and if understood and utilized correctly, it can help us to put feet and movement to our faith!

Something more to ponder today!

March 17, 2015 0

3 Ways To Let Peace Boost Your Thanksgiving

Peace…

It’s more than some iconic symbol.
It’s more than words or a global award.
It’s more than a time of calm amidst the storms of conflict.

We want the calm.
We crave these times especially when the rush of life casts us about like rag dolls thrown into the midst of a blood thirsty pack of wolves.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

Sometimes we wonder how we could possibly be thankful when it seems our day or week has been wrought with problems. Sometimes life just sucks. Sometimes the joy seems to just get sucked right out of us by circumstances and even other people. In THOSE times it seems nearly impossible to find something to be thankful for.

Allow me but a few moments today to share with you 3 ways that you can boost your thanksgiving.

3 Ways To Let Peace Boost Your Thanksgiving:

1) Take Time For YOU!

This may sound like something out of a self-help book or something you might hear Dr. Phil say…but it’s true. We need time alone, and time for self-soulcare. We must find healthy ways to unwind and relax now and then. We cannot go 100 miles an hour at everything and expect to find peace when we haven’t slowed down enough to find ourselves again. We can sometimes get lost in the pile of stuff on our desks or amidst the bills piling up at home. If Jesus got away from His disciples in order to commune with The Father, we ought to consider doing this as well. How else can we recharge our spent souls? How else will we find peace again? When someone is thirsty they don’t go looking for more saltine crackers do they? No! They look for a nice cold glass of water to quench that thirst. We too are spiritually thirsty and in order to quench that thirst we have to go back to the Well of our Father again and again. As we take personal time we will once again gain perspective and find peace once more. It is often difficult to disconnect from a very connected world…but it is necessary for our own sanity and personal care!

2) A Personal Inventory Of Gratefulness
It’s seems a little silly, maybe a bit childish…but can we bring to mind all of our blessings? Can we do a personal inventory of our lives right now and evaluate the things that we can be grateful for? I think we might find that we have so much by way of blessings from God.

All too often we can dwell from a place of “have nots” that we run the risk of forgetting all that we “have” already. We live in a very materialistic world where products and stuff is valued above everything. There is this notion that if we do not possess the next big thing then we aren’t truly living a good life. What a lie that is. We buy this lie over and over again in our over-saturated marketed world. We spend countless dollars in order to recapture an element of happiness with that next “thing” only to find elements of discontentment and sadness once more.

When we dwell in the place of “have nots”, we will never truly be content. We will never truly be happy. If we live there we will not be able to properly conduct an authentic personal inventory of our gratefulness – because true gratefulness doesn’t come from stuff. We have been blessed by a Creator who so desperately wants to fellowship with us. When we can evaluate our lives by the blessings of Him, we can finally tap into that pure element of His peace; and in so doing, we will once again place Him in His rightful place above the “stuff” that we have accumulated and allowed to become our god.

3) Others.
It goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway.
When we can allow ourselves to become less and Christ to become more, we open ourselves up to finally see the needs of others around us. We live in a very self-indulged world. This isn’t news to you I am sure! Allowing the needs of others to replace our needs isn’t easy, nor is it natural in our present state. That shouldn’t be taken to mean that we don’t care for ourselves and disregard #1, we need those times as well to refresh and find our source of life again, but after those re-connections with the Father, if we can see the needs of others we can find peace and thanksgiving in our lives!

There are so many people in our communities that need a friend. There are so many people who need an ear to hear their sorrows and burdens. We shouldn’t go into those times of “listening” expecting we can fix all of life’s problems for them, but we can be a support to souls who have lost their way.

Can you be a friend?
Can you see the needs of others?
What kinds of selfishness (let’s call it for what it is) prevent us from seeing others?
Do we truly crave genuine peace and thanksgiving in our lives and long to share that with others?

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

In order for the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts we have to take time to commune with Him, we have to see our joys and blessings that He has provided, and we have to share that joy and blessing with others.

Do you want to boost your thanksgiving this season?
I hope it lasts a little longer than just a season…but let’s start there.
If you long to boost your thanksgiving, give these three suggestions a try.
It’s not a “cure all”…but it’s sure a great first step!

Something more to ponder today.
To God Be The Glory!

November 4, 2014 0

What If We Carried The Stretcher Of Others?

I’ve been thinking about a bible story recently. The about a paralyzed man (it doesn’t say how he became paralyzed) and how he is carried to Jesus by his friends. They get to the house where Jesus is supposed to be and discover the house party is standing room only. There is no way to haul some guy on a stretcher to Jesus in that crowded house…there’s no room.

I can almost imagine his friends who have carried him for a few village blocks. They breathe heavily, trying to tap some reserves of strength as sweat drips from their arms and faces. There is a purpose for this burden. There is a reason for this journey. They want their friend to be healed. Anyone else might have given up at this point. Anyone else might have said, “well we tried, I’m sorry but there’s just no other way.” Yet these friends don’t give up. These men find another way to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus – They tear a hole in someone else’s roof. Talk about persistence. Talk about determination.

It makes me wonder how persistent we are with our friends in need. There are times when we must carry the burdens of others. There are times when we must bring broken souls to Jesus only to discover the house is full. How far will we go to carry that stretcher? How far will we go so that others will find the healing that they need? We can be a healer in the ways that we serve and love those who are hurting. We can provide a means for others to find Jesus, but we may have to go out of our way to do so. We may have to exert a lot of energy and time. Are we willing? Are we available?

Carrying the stretcher for those in need isn’t about our glory…it never was. Carrying these burdens and sharing the load for those who have succumbed to life’s challenges is a purest example of love and self-sacrifice. Are we still willing to pick up that stretcher? Are we still available when it cuts into “me” time? Displaying authentic care and sacrifice will cost us something. Are we prepared for the consequences of authentic care and love? I hope our answer is “yes“, because if we talk about evangelism yet we not willing to step up and carry the stretcher then action speaks louder than our fickle, shallow words and promises.

Give of yourself. Carry the burdens of others. Walk beside them and encourage them. Don’t quit and walk away. Be willing to give sacrificially without any thought of personal gains or returns…after all, isn’t that what Christ did for us?

-Just something more to ponder today.

October 7, 2014 0

Is Jesus a fairy tale? What do YOU believe?

What if

Was all just a…

…Fairy tale.

And all of this so called

“Hope”

Was just a fancy illusion?

What if this
story of
Hope

was

all just some

Pipe dream
for the weak of
?

Would life still be worth

Would this
existence still matter?

How does

Into all

this?

Are we

Strong enough….

Can we blindly

make that

Then why not start now?
Right Here
In the
Here

AND

What difference will it make?
Is it worth your time?
Will you gain anything?

Why not make that leap?
Hope has a way
of

Faith can lead us
even when we are
blind. Why not?
What have we got to lose?
Either Jesus is God
and

or
we believe in a
fairy tale.

4me…
I would rather believe and be

Than miss out on
the greatest
The world has ever known.

So here is a MY

I willingly

And…

is this…

Jesus believes in YOU
and He
madly loves YOU.

Believe…are you ready to?

April 15, 2014 0

Confessions of a Deadman

What would the conversation look like? The amazement. The confusion. He had been dead…as a door nail. What’s a door nail by the way?…ok I digress. The look of shock, the spirit of disbelief in his sister’s eyes. They had been there when he had breathed his last. They had mourned his passing. The sting of death still lingered in their hearts and minds like the peeling blister on a sunburn. This emotional roller coaster had just careened into the station though their stomachs and emotions still lingered somewhere behind them on the track.

It had been four days since he had died. Four long and agonizing days. How his sisters had wept bitterly. How little they had slept…was this all a dream? Could this really be happening? What goes on in the spiritual realm when someone dies? What did Lazarus go through in those four days of death? Did he see a great light? Did he have an out of body experience? Was he in heaven? Oh how little we know about the life to come.

Sitting at the table with a deadman, what must his sisters have wanted to ask. “Did you see any family there?” “Did you meet Yahweh?” “What was it like?” Idle curiosity must have played a factor in this postmortem interval family reunion. After four days in the tomb, in his final resting place, he was hungry. Sitting at the table with nourishment (evidence and a source of all preservation of life) of water and food Lazarus, who was now reanimated. He longed to soak up his sister’s presence once more. They lingered together. Isn’t it interesting how we miss the company of those we love when we have been far from them? Death, though only separated by this thin membrane of a veil, had separated these loved ones from each other…now it had been torn with the authority of Jesus’ words; “Lazarus, come forth!”

What did Lazarus experience at this call? Not only did his deceased bones reanimate, but with it organs, blood circulation and brain function reignited as well. The impossible became possible. The very breath of life exhaled and inhaled into dormant unusable lungs of a corpse.

What could he tell his family of such an experience? What did this deadman have to say? Jesus, the life bringer, had raised him from the dead…he had kicked the bucket, shuffled off his mortal coil…he was completely and totally devoid of life. Lazarus had experienced the mystery of the great beyond and his sisters would undoubtedly hang on his every word in his retelling…wouldn’t you? We read of stories of children and adults who have experienced something when they had “died” and were then resuscitated. We are truly a curious creation aren’t we? We want to know what is next. What comes after this life. Some ask if there really is something after this life. I doubt Lazarus would have had any other doubts about the existence of the hereafter.

Do you have doubts? We all do from time to time. Perhaps Jesus needs to breathe some life into our doubting hearts. Perhaps we need Him to call us forth from our caves or tombs of doubt. I often find myself like Thomas longing to physically touch his nail wrecked hands and feet. I long for the tangible frequently when faith has pushed off from the docks of reality and the “real world”. Please tell me I am not the only one? Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying I disbelieve, but I am saying that I often find myself on those docks of belief watching faith ship off without me aboard. I ~~long~~ yearn to be aboard but something has stopped me. In a very real sense I am the deadman in need of being resurrected. My faith needs resurrecting daily. Don’t think ill of me…it’s a principle of momentum.

Momentum has a way of pushing and driving something forward…if I stop, momentum stops. In application of this principle, if I stop my prayer life, if I hit the pause button on my devotion life (my quiet times with the Lord), if I halt my daily conversations with The Father…I have lost momentum, and in this loss I am once again a deadman. I am once again in need of reanimation. I need to be called forth. Am I alone in this? Please tell me I am not. I doubt I am. I think you may relate to me. This is my confession of a deadman…Jesus, call me forth again!

-Just a thought.

April 9, 2014 0

5 Myths About Christianity…

There are preconceived ideas floating around about what a Christian is and isn’t. I am most certainly not the end all and be all of answers here, but from my experience and knowledge of what a Christian should and shouldn’t be, let me make a list of a few myths for everyone today. I am sure this may spark some conversations and hopefully help to clarify this thing we call “Christianity”. These aren’t in any specific order, just placed as I write them now…so here goes.

Myth #1 – “Salvation saves my soul and after conversion there is no need for further repentance or spiritual growth.”

Let us be clear.
Salvation is just the first step towards spiritual growth. Without Salvation we are lost, but at the moment of conversion the Holy Spirit begins this transforming work within us. To say that we only need repentance once and that growth isn’t needed is foolish and closes the door to a deeper, more fuller relationship with God. We should also look more closely at the need for further repentance. Repentance is crucial in our continued growth as Christians or Christ-followers. As Spiritual maturity takes root in our lives so must we come face to face with lingering or flawed recesses of our hearts, souls and minds. These are fragments of the old life still living within us. The Holy Spirit’s work in us leads us towards Holiness which is the image of Christ, but we cannot fully realize this until we are willing to repent and surrender these lingering fragments. Continued repentance is crucial for our continued spiritual growth.

Myth #2 – When you become a Christian you are no longer allowed to have fun

This may sound funny to you, but I’ve heard it said of Christians that once you become “saved” you have to stop having fun. Sorry to tell you this, but some of the craziest (by crazy I mean funny) people I know are Christians. I believe God has a great sense of humor (afterall He created you and me didn’t he?) and so did Jesus. I can almost hear even a sense of sarcasm in some of Jesus’ words at times. Humor is vital to life. We need to be able to laugh at ourselves and revel in the frivilous from time to time. The fellowship of believers shouldn’t only be about serious content and plastered frowning/pious faces, we should also seek to have fun in this life as well! I seriously think that many people who are not Christians think we all wear funny clothes, and sit around singing hymns in latin. If that was the case, perhaps I would seriously think of heading for the exit as well. But I know Christians who are just plain down to earth people. These same people have a very humorous, sharp sense of humor. When people become Christians and embrace faith in Christ they do not (or should not) lose their sense of humor. Humor is not only refreshing but many times intrinsic to a person. It is almost like a fingerprint and is essentially tied into the identity of that person.

Myth #3 – Christians are just out for YOUR money.

Let me just say how much I despise certain types of Televangelists who prey on the false hopes of the weak. These charlatans will tickle the ears just enough to score another buck from the naive and the hurting. This type of Christianity is more parlor trick than it is an accurate reflection of a real Christ-follower. I usually stay away from churches that essentially beg for more and more money. There is a big difference though between the discipline of tithing to the Lord and supporting a ministry that uses much of its funds to empower and provide luxury to the pastor/televangelist. One should consider the fruits of the labor within those “religious” entities and look very closely at where the funds go.

Christ certainly didn’t go around asking people to give Him money. He did ask of a Samaratan woman for water and He did ask His disciples to do extraordinary things, but money was not in the asking. Jesus did talk a lot about money and possessions but it primarily centered around the questions of “what possesses you? What are your idols?  Does your material wealth and pursuit of such earthly riches consume all of your time?”

In the same way, we are to emulate Christ when it comes to earthly possessions and the uses of riches. Money can be a resource to help us provide for our families, to put food on the tables and to support missions of a loving and caring church. Christians are not…(or should I say) should not be all about the money, money.

Myth #4 – Christians are hate-mongers

I at times bristle at this accusation. In the same breath though I know that there are those segments of the Church (like the Westboro Baptist church – sorry to name names) who have made it a mission to condemn and judge any and every people group that they deem worthy of their condemnation. This is NOT the Christ that I know, and If Jesus had lived this way while on earth I doubt I would have followed Him. The harshest words that Jesus ever spoke were directed at the teachers of the law, the “religious” people of the day who knew better but certainly DID NOT live as they demanded others to live. Jesus’ message was one of hope and love and restoration. He breathed this into His disciples who in turn continued that mission throughout their lives regardless of the consequences (even death).

Jesus actively engaged Himself within many sub-cultures of His day even the outcasts who the “Religious” teachers despised. He went to the homes of tax collectors, he healed lepers, He talked with women of questionable backgrounds…His message was of love not hate.

Salvation doesn’t come to us by shoving Heaven and Hell down someone’s throat, but rather through real genuine concern and love. Any church out there that relays Christ’s message any other way other than love has misplaced His purpose for coming in the first place. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” -John 10:10

There is a difference between preaching repentance within the realms of Salvation and preaching hate and condemnation. Christianity, if lived out in the hearts of the genuine Christ-follower, should reflect and possess the same aroma of Christ in His love for the sinner and the saint regardless of where they’ve come from.

Myth #5 – Christian are all hypocrites and gossipers

There’s a funny sign that reads:

Unfortunately the truth may hurt a bit at times, but there are no perfect people in church. The church should be a place where both sinner and saint come for Spiritual triage and are not judged or condemned by the “righteous”. Romans 3:10 says “There is no one righteous, not even one…”

Truth be told, it would serve the church and the church member well to bring this verse to mind when considering other children of God.

Can I say that the church never has this problem with hypocrites and gossipers? NO! In fact this may be the only myth that I think hits too close to home sometimes. BUT if Christians can be humble, truly humble and loving towards everybody who chooses to enter the church doors, what a real opportunity that would be! Think of the difference and what may transpire if  this one small issue was completely eradicated from the Christian heart? How would lives be changed and transformed? Think of the opportunities to save souls!? The Church is NOT full of Hypocrites and Gossipers, although we certainly have our fair share.

These are just five myths about Christianity. There are many more, but for now this is enough.

For the Christian:
Consider what it means to truly be a Christ-follower. How you might be perceived (right or wrong) by those who have yet to make a decision for Christ. Be open minded, full of grace and purposeful with friends, family and neighbors who aren’t Christians. Remember we are not the judge, God is.  Just as we are in need of His love and grace, so too are others who live in this world as well. Real evangelism doesn’t begin with a tract or a bullhorn, but with a handshake and a hug of compassion and genuine love. Get to know people. Spend time with them. Tear down these false perceptions by the way that YOU live and conduct yourself. There isn’t enough lip service in the world that can out-do faith in action!

For the questioning soul out there:
The Church should be a place of safe harbor to ALL people. Christ was the only perfect person who ever lived and He came to save us all. Don’t’ judge the merits of Christ by what you may have experienced (most likely bad experiences) in a church setting. Imperfect people exist in and out of church. People make mistakes, even Christians. I am not apologizing for all Christians, but I am saying this: be open minded and perhaps, just perhaps some of these myths might be debunked.

Thanks for allowing me time to share these thoughts.

April 2, 2014 0

“Ambassadors of Reconciliation”

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” -2 Corinthians 5:20

One of my favorite words in the English language is “Reconciliation”. The etymology of the word reconcile comes from the Latin “reconcilare” which means “to bring together again”.

When Jesus came into this world and identified with humanity as the God-man He sought to bring together again the original creation of man with God the Father. Did you catch that? At one time, in our original state, we were together with God. He would walk with Adam and Eve. He would fellowship with them in the garden of Eden. He actually, physically, walked WITH them.

But.

Because of original sin, which entered the picture, we became separated from God. Think of it like a great big, messy divorce…except we were the offending party and God the Father did nothing to deserve our infidelity. How it must have wrecked His heart to find us unfaithful to Him. To find out we (Adam and Eve) deliberately and consciously disobeyed Him. But we all know this story don’t we? We understand the consequences of the fall of man…don’t we?

Yes Jesus came.

He came to set things right with us.

He came to Reconcile us (back again) into the Father’s arms.

Think about that for a moment. Isn’t that beautiful? Doesn’t that evoke in you some sort of longing to physically be embraced by God the Father as you enter into the wedding feast? Jesus came to restore us. He came for the whosoever…those who would actually come seeking Him.

But, wait…there’s more.

When we face the God-man, Jesus Christ, for who He is and what He came to do, we make a vital decision. We, who have then become Christ-followers, we choose to become like Him in our daily living. A part of this “becoming” is to pick up where Jesus left off. We follow in the footsteps of the Rabbi, but in so doing we shuck off our old identities and adopt (not just imitate, but become) Christ in our everything!

Taking it a step further, we are to be Christ’s ambassadors to the world relaying the vital message of reconciliation to the whosoever. There is a misnomer though that I think we buy into once in a while – “Reconciliation is only for the sinner”. This is simply not true. Though we have become like Christ in every way, shape or form (or so we think thus far) we are still in need of THAT reconciliation daily!

The Hebrew words associated to the word “Ambassador” are: “tsir” or “melits” and “malak”. Essentially they mean “an interpreter” or “a messenger”.

When we think of Ambassadors today we think of politicians from certain countries whose job it is to broker peace and trade agreements with other countries. But we as Christ-followers are also called to be ambassadors of reconciliation to the sinner and the saint. Taking it a step further being an Ambassador also implies that we are to literally breathe Christ’s message into other people by our words and more importantly by our actions.

How can we provide clear interpretation of God and that of His love to those around us if we have not fully adopted and reconciled ourselves to His love as well? If this reconciled life is not within us then we cannot breathe this into other people’s lives. So as an Ambassador it has to begin with You…and it has to begin with me.

It first must become personal…daily, even moment by moment breathing Christ’s holiness and likeness into our own hearts and minds through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Philippians 4:8).

Prayer:

Dear Lord, let it begin with me. Breathe on me breath of God, allow me to be reconciled to You daily. Help me to see that I am called to be your messenger to others, even other saints. Help me to be the best Ambassador for you that I can be. May it be my lifelong passion which begins moment by moment with you. In Your Holy name I pray these things, -Amen.

March 31, 2014 0

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