You're not Jesus

I can put up with most people - their pettiness, awkwardness, and idiosyncrasies, etc. I have friends of all stripes. However, the one that rubs me the wrong way (here we go) is the religious person who sets himself/herself up as superior to everyone else or anyone else. It's obvious to me because it's how I lived for much of my life. Because I abstained from all the big sins, I considered myself morally superior - thus, more acceptable to God than those who were guilty. I even remember those in my circle who could heap guilt with a glance on any poor sinner than happened to "slip" in their presence.

It was not unusual for a member of any church I attended to call out another person's "sin" publicly, with great disdain of course. Don't dare let a four-letter word pass your lips, or let them walk up on your in a restaurant while you were having a glass of wine, or smoking, or smiling. Ok, maybe it wasn't quite that bad.

Still, in what chapter of the Bible did Jesus say that we're to loathe our neighbor? I'm pretty sure the word was love, not loathe.

I still remember when the Holy Spirit made it perfectly clear to me that all my abstaining from certain sins did not balance out the hidden sin in my heart, and it never would. There was only one remedy for my sin - His grace. At first, I wasn't pleased that I was being offered the same deal as the people I had mentally condemned. It wasn't fair. I had been GOOD! That's the attitude I still see that rubs me the wrong way. Those who look at sinners as if they are filthy and untouchable, well, they look at ME as if I'm filthy and untouchable. There they stand with their purity, apart from the rest of us because we dare to let a little dirt show. When in fact, when God looks at goodness and badness he doesn't compare it to anyone else's. He compares it to his holiness, and it never measures up. So he says, "Forget your goodness. Forget your holy acts. Just take mine. I have enough for you."

There are so many stories in the Bible that bear this out. One in particular is of two men who went to the temple to pray. One stood vocally grateful that he was so good, the other knelt recognizing his need for mercy. The latter is the one who went home justified, according to Jesus. (Luke 18:14)

Let's get real and lay down our self-centered pride. I know our religious pride is threatened when we choose to identify with "sinners." Still, Jesus gave us the example of how to do it. Isaiah wrote that "he was numbered with the transgressors," and Paul wrote that he "made of himself no reputation." It's time to renounce the religious hierarchy system. It's been said that the ground is level at the foot of the cross, so why do we try to exalt ourselves above others?

Kneel at the cross, there is room for all.

The Real Gay Marriage Issue

Did you hear that the Supreme Court is hearing a case regarding gay marriage? Well, of course you did, unless you've enjoyed the luxury of a secluded island for the past month. The arguments, confrontations, protests, sermons, passive aggressive Facebook posts, condescending lectures, and bumper stickers have been non-stop loud and proud - from both sides of the debate.

I've generally avoided becoming involved publicly, but I guess today that changes. Here I am writing about it.

 

I have very dear friends who have strong opinions about making gay marriages legal and other very dear friends who say they staunchly oppose any marriage other than one man to one woman for life. Those who are against it have polished their arguments, found scriptures to support their view, and are poised to convince the world that they are right. Those who are for it, have polished their arguments, found scriptures to support their view, and are poised to convince the world they are right. Here's the overwhelming problem I see with this whole debate: everyone is focused on the issue of gay marriage. Meanwhile, the people involved (on both sides) are hostile toward each other, killing each other with their words, and are starving their own spirits. Where is the life in this argument?

 

This is Passion Week for Christians. The week that remembers the week prior to Jesus' resurrection. I cannot believe that Jesus endured what he did over an issue - any issue. He endured beatings, mockings, betrayal, agony, and even death for PEOPLE, not for issues. I personally couldn't care less if my gay friends marry. I have a single daughter that I would love to see in a loving marriage, but more than her finding a husband I want her to experience a fulfilling life in Christ. Marriage - gay or straight - is not what Jesus is about, it's not what His church is about, it's not what my life is about. This Easter weekend reminds us of what Jesus and his church IS about - connecting people to God and His plan for them.

 

I hear some of my church friends saying, "But you're compromising the word of God." Jesus said this, "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:36,37) Don't waste your time searching for a biblical prop for your argument. You can surely find it, but so can those you oppose. Instead, search the scripture to find the life Jesus offers, then, get your nose out of the book and get involved with people around you. Get to know someone that has an opinion that is different from yours. Start a civil conversation. Jesus doesn't live in issues, he lives in us. That's the kind of Jesus people will want to know.

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Created With Purpose - Part 1

Here are the notes from last Sunday's Bible study.

Does your birthplace, or your heritage, or your name, or your past circumstances determine or affect your purpose?  Maybe your father was a doctor.  Does that mean you will grow up to be in the medical profession?  Because you are born into poverty, does that mean you are destined to be poor your whole life?  If your name is Butler, will you wear a bowtie and answer the door for wealthy people?  If you carry a lot of baggage from past hurts, does that mean you have nothing to offer?

John 1:1-5  The New Testament story of creation.
Psalm 139:13-16  We are part of God's creation.

John 1:4  The original gifts from God: life and light.  Life is our existence, light is our understanding.
John 1:5 reads "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."  If light is understanding, then darkness is misunderstanding.  We have misunderstood God's design and purpose for us.  God intended from the beginning for us to have abundant life and an understanding of who we are and why we exist.  He has made a way for us to know His purpose for us.
Proverbs 20:5  "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out."

John 1:12  The transformation from darkness (misunderstanding) to light (understanding) comes simply by receiving Jesus and believing on His name. 
1 Peter 2:9  When we come to Him, He calls us out of darkness. 
John 1:13 Your purpose is not determined by your family, your name or your status in life.  It is determined by who God says you are.

PURPOSE: The original reason for the existence of an object.

Sometimes, we use items in ways that their creator never intended.  For instance, have you ever used a butter knife for a screwdriver?  In our group, all the men said they had not; many of the women said they had.  How about a spoon: when you were a kid, did you use a spoon for a shovel when your mom wasn't watching?  You can probably think of other items that you've abused.  That's right, abused.  Abuse by definition is damage caused by misusing an object or a person.

However, is a ten dollar bill worth any less if it has been wadded up, or folded, or if a drink spilled on it, or if it went through the laundry a couple of times?  No, because it's value is not determined by it's shape or its appearance or its journey.  The value was determined when it was created by the U.S. Treasury.

So it is with you.  You may have been misused and abused.  You may carry scars from your past or feel that you are worthless, but your value was determined by your Creator before you were born.  Your purpose was set in motion.  You can have an understanding of who God created you to be.  Simply believe it and receive it.

That same message is found in Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Myles Munroe writes "Your existence is evidence that this generation needs something that your life contains." (In Pursuit of Purpose, p. 8)

It's easy for us to let past hurts or our soiled reputation hold us back, but remember that Jesus' enemies tried to use that tactic against him too.  They said, "Can anything good come from Nazereth?" and "Isn't this the carpenter's son?"  (John 1:46; Matthew 13:55)  Jesus did not let that keep Him from His purpose.

Don't believe the lies of your enemy.  Bring your hurts and your past to Jesus.  Believe and receive.