Rethinking Christian Unity by Frank Viola

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One of my favorite stories is about the great evangelist D.L. Moody when he attended an “Exclusive” Plymouth Brethren convention.
The conference hosts had put up a large banner in the conference room which read, JESUS ONLY.

After one of the sessions ended, someone left the door open. While the conference attendees were sleeping, a wind blew into the doorway and knocked part of the banner down. The following morning, when everyone walked into the conference room, the sign read, US ONLY. The part of the banner that had the letters JES had been torn down.

A Divine rebuke with a hint of humor sprinkled in.

US ONLY was the message the Exclusive Plymouth Brethren were unwittingly sending to the world.

I have often said that sectarianism, elitism, and exclusiveness are like body odor. Everyone else can smell it except those who have it.

Read the Rest Here on my New Blog

Blog and Future in San Franciso

I dug deeper after a previous post about a Fancis Chan Video. I was just really curious about the application of Chan's new thinking over the last few years upon his own life. I found his personal blog. And on his personal blog I found this post from about a month ago.

After a great time of searching, learning, experimenting… I’m excited to begin a new phase in my life. While I’ve been ministering in a lot of different places and will continue to do so, I am now helping to launch a new local ministry here in San Francisco. I have throughly enjoyed the past couple of weeks, participating in a ministry that makes me feel alive and at peace. The risk and unknown has caused me to depend deeply on Him!


We are launching on November 6th, and I would love your prayers. You can get a glimpse of it here.

I do not know exactly what God has in store for us here in Jackson, but this website and the work they are doing in San Franciso (and similar works in every city) gets me really excited. Several people in our group here in Jackson have on their hearts to start a soup kitchen, a thrift store, and a tutorial to teach kids.

Perhaps God will give us the desire of our hearts. For now, we are just really, really enjoying deep friendship and wonderful worship, as we serve and love one another. That's church. 

Judgment always blocks love

THIS IS ALSO POSTED ON MY NEW BLOG FOUND HERE

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In a previous post I made a public apology for becoming so judgmental in my life. I attribute this new focus on a Gospel of LOVE to many people, including the writings of Gregory Boyd. Here is a wonderful excerpt from this teaching from Gregory Boyd:

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Judgment always blocks love, which is why the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was placed in the middle of the garden. Life as God intends it to be lived revolves around our honoring God’s loving “No trespassing” sign. We are to love like God loves, Genesis 3 is teaching us, not judge like only the omniscient God can judge. When we play God and judge others, we separate ourselves from them and place ourselves over them. And this is the antithesis of love.

Recall, once again, that love is defined by Calvary. Far from separating himself from us, the all-holy God entered into solidarity with us by becoming our sin and taking on our punishment on the cross. Our central task in life as kingdom people is to replicate this. We are to mimic God! Instead of separating ourselves from others and standing over others, we are to come under others, enter into solidarity with others, serve others, ascribe worth to others at cost to ourselves, without any regard for whether they deserve it or not. For this is what God has done for us – while we were yet sinners.

To help us love like this, Jesus teaches us to do the exact opposite of what religion invariably does. Far from maximizing others sins while minimizing our own, we are to maximize our own sin and minimize the sins of others. We are to assume that our sins are tree trunks while theirs are little dust particles (Mt 7:1-3). Whatever you find in another, consider your sin to be much worse! If Christians began to take this teaching seriously, we would be known for our outrageous, nonjudgmental humility rather than for our self-righteous and self-serving tendency to publically “crack down” on other people’s sins.

When we die to getting life from our religious distinctiveness and seek all our worth, purpose and security in Christ alone, we are freed from the need to judge others. We can love them as Christ loved us, just as they are. And now our words may begin to have meaning to them. The claim that God loves them with a Calvary-quality love takes on plausibility as they see this love incarnated in our life. It should never have been otherwise, but our religion has significantly blinded us. Now that the religion is dying, we have the forced opportunity to be freed to be more biblical, more incarnational, more Christ-like, more loving in our evangelism.

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THIS IS ALSO POSTED ON MY NEW BLOG FOUND HERE

We should read the scriptures for ourselves!

[THIS IS POSTED ON A NEW BLOG HERE]
Why do I often paste scripture as a blog post? Can't you read the Bible for yourself?

I post scripture for two reasons:

1. I just get so excited about a passage that I can't help but share it! I hope that a little scripture as a post is an encouragement to dig into the scriptures yourself. Which brings me to #2.
2. It seems there has become a pretty huge problem in these modern, Christian days: Many of us have stopped reading and researching the scriptures for ourselves. We rely on the wise Pastor,  the intelligent teacher, or pursuasive leader, to tell us what it says -- to "interpret" it for us. So here are some thoughts...

Do we not have the Spirit of God ourselves??...He, the great Counselor, sent from God to remind us of all that Christ came to show us (John 14)? Yes! Yes, we do (John 16)! Therefore, when we take our preacher's word for it, and don't spend time investigating God's message for ourselves, we are guilty of the age-old children's game -Follow the Leader.*** We must read the scriptures and ask God to open our minds to understand them. That's a legitimate, and I would say essential prayer -- "Open our minds that we can understand the scriptures for ourselves (Luke 24:27-32).

If you or I were for some reason thrown in jail for the rest of our lives with only a Bible, and with no access to a church or a church "leader," could we still grow in Christ and in our understanding of what it means to love Him with all our hearts?  ... yes. God can and will open the minds of me and you to understand, and more importantly own and apply the scriptures to our lives.

This opening can happen for EVERYONE!! Not just if you're smart, or old, or educated, or liked, or...whatever. But beware, if we begin to ask God to show us the meaning, and you are in a church where there are "learned" interpreters in place, telling you what the scriptures mean, then it's likely going to cause you some problems. But don't worry, just continue to ask God to reveal the scriptures to you by His Spirit AND --- AND, AND, AND --- ask God to give you the Mind of Christ (Phillippians 2:5).

This IS the real point -- the Mind of Christ is the point. If we don't have the mind of Christ, (which is an amazing way to cut through our flesh) then we will likely use the scriptures as a weapon against others, especially by creating doctrines of division, manipulation and even spiritual abuse. We should always be ready and willing to look at the fruit of our interpretation. And that fruit is always defined by the growing fruits of the Holy Spirit within us and the conformaty of our own actions and mindsets to that of Christ Jesus our Lord. Do we have the mind of Christ and are we growing in the fruits of the Spirit? Those are two very important questions to hold before us as we ask God to help us read and understand the Bible.

We must read ALL the scriptures - for ourselves - and believe the Spirit will show us the Truth, as we follow only the God Who gives us Life. The scriptures do not give us life (John 5:39). No, they testify about Christ, whom we go to -- personally -- for that LIFE! (John 5:40) This is also the only way to avoid "proof texting."

I'll have to write a lot later on about proof texting. But for now, proof texting is simply taking the scriptures out of the originally intended meaning and context and applying them without reading the whole treatment in the Bible on a given subject. Pick a topic, any topic. Then read ALL the scriptures in the Bible that have to do with that topic. Then do a little research (I'll show how later) on what those scriptures meant to the original hearers or readers. Then ASK the Spirit of God to enlighten our minds to the meaning in our own lives. This is the way to avoid proof texting. However, even with that in mind we must remember that we cannot EVER fully escape our own opinions, which are all based in our experiences. So THE most important thing of all is continuing to point to CHRIST as the Living sacrifice for our SINS.

With that in mind, here's a terrific passage, one to change the lives of both the lost and the saved. We ALL must be reconciled to God!! But how???  How can the whole world be saved from the sins that have condemned us? How?!? Here we go...(see if you can feel this one!)

Hallelujah, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us!"**

"For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.



16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 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. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." -2 Cornthians 5

Hallelujah, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us!"
What Good News!!!  What very, very Good News!
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**At the very second I typed the exclamation point to the sentence above my iPhone received a daily scripture via SMS text, from an App that I downloaded. The scripture appeared with an angelic litte tone: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." I just let out a huge burst of laughter at that moment, and April came in asking "what in the world was that?", and I told her, and we smiled, and we thanked God for His mercy and His kindness, and for His LOVE for us in Christ.

***Disclaimer: I am in no way advocating that you not listen to your pastor, preacher, or leader. I'm saying that if we just take their word for it and let them interpret God's message for you, and tell you what God says, then we are not following God. We are following Paul, or Appolos. It is essential that ALL believers find out what they believe and challenge the teachers and hold them accountable where needed. Even more! - The teachers NEED us to read the scriptures for ourselves and to challenge them with what God might show us. One of my biggest fears is that I would give some teaching from scripture and that those listening would just take my word for it. Crazy! And dangerous... for both me and them. In the end we are ALL in this together and CHRIST is the Head of the Church. We are His Body... and HE is the head.

We should read the scriptures for ourselves.

Judge and Jury: A Confession

I am SO very sorry.

I have been judgmental where I should not have been.

I'm not sure for how long; but I have been. I have hurt a number of people over the years, friends who would do anything for me, friends who loved me unconditionally, in spite of my "convictions" or decisions. This post is my confession, and reflection. In this new season of my life, as I look at the nature of judgmentalism, and how I took it on several ways, I see the faces of those wonderful friends. You guys know me, and how I’ve been a “searcher”, trying this or that, never seeming to be satisfied; always after that "greener grass." Problem is I mowed over some dear people while on my quest. So I’m starting this new blog; and I’m starting this new season; starting this new part of the Journey. And I’m starting with this confession.

I am SO very sorry.

I have been judgmental where I should not have been.

A few weeks ago I was praying about this problem in me, this judgementalism, and I feel like God showed me a picture. 

Imagine a court room. Imagine it filled with people. Notice what happens when the judge walks in: “All rise.” Then, the booming voice announces,  “You may be seated!”  Notice how the judge's head  is elevated over everyone else’s head in the room. This is intentional. He looks down on them. They look up at him. With the posturing and placement completed, and the clear chain of authority firmly established, the “judging” may now begin. It is his job. His duty. His calling. As I saw this picture of the exalted man in the room I felt the Lord ask me a question: “Have you ever seen a happy judge?”

That question pierced deeply into my soul, for I already knew the answer, even before the question was fully formed in my mind. “No. I have not.” At least not while he, the judge, is “judging.” He may be happy at other times perhaps. Who knows, he or she might even be a jovial sort of human being, sipping cocktails and telling jokes at a dinner party. But we don’t see that side right now. No way. Not while he is judging. We see only the sternness; the cold, calculated stare; the pressed forehead and sunken eyebrows. He is weighing the evidence, hearing both sides. And this is not a small matter, for it will determine the fate or punishment of another. He will help determine one very important thing: Guilt.   Wrongness - This is what he’s after. “Who is wrong?” is the question looming over the courtroom and filling up his thoughts, followed by “what is their punishment?” This is no laughing matter. The job is difficult. And it does not make the judge happy. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. Have you ever seen a happy judge? No wonder.

But he is not alone in this process. He has a group of carefully selected participants: the Jury. They also carry great responsibility, judging the evidence, hearing “the case”, and making a decision in regards to the person’s guilt or wrongness. Likewise, this jury of peers is not the happy lot. They are oftentimes elevated by their seats, not higher than the judge of course, but “up there” above the common people in the room for sure. The jury is serious. They are engaged in a battle and must make a choice in the end. They don’t smile, giggle, smirk, wink, or laugh. They judge. While one person is judging another person -- deciding who is wrong -- all must remain quiet in the room, allowing the judge and jury to concentrate. Everyone in attendance knows exactly where all this is headed: The verdict.

So I confess. I have been both judge and jury in regards to another person’s guilt, not just presiding over friends in my past but even judging friends as recently as a few months ago.  Yes, there is sin in the world, and it separates us from God. Christ made a way for this this, which leads to righteousness. But do I suddenly say or think that a person is "living in sin" just because they do not agree with me over doctrine or how to "do" church??!   No!  I confess. I repent. What I’m talking about is judging another person’s choices, weaknesses, preferences, opinions, attitudes, and not giving them room to be a fallen human being

…just … like … me.

That’s what I’m guilty of. I’m guilty of exalting my own head over another; of believing my own opinions, my interpretations of scripture, and my view of God, were somehow better than yours, as if God had given me some sort of deeper insight than he did to you, thinking my “calling” should be your calling too!!

 I felt God whisper a question to me, as this picture came into focus:

“Who do you think you are?”

And I wept. And I begged God for forgiveness. And now I’m begging my old and new and future friends for forgiveness as well. Who do I think I am? I am

…just … like … you.

We are in this together. I am a fallen, human being. I am flesh and bone; broken hearted, humbled by my mistakes; fearful, insecure, and needy.  I don’t have all the answers. I can’t read the Bible without missing the point. And I can’t follow God with 100% perfection. I am very blessed. But I don’t have it all together, even though I try very hard to look that way. And now, in this season of my life, I feel like you, my true friends, have always known this about me and you’ve just been waiting for me to finally see it. Well I see it. And I’m sorry. I got all excited about the house church “movement”, or the homeschool “movement”, or  ... "the church.”   So I took the judge’s seat or the juror’s chair. It didn’t make me happy or free. Judging you, and others, only made me miserable. In fact, it even lead to more and more stern judgment; even to a place in life I felt I had run from as a youth -- Legalism. I woke up one day and realized I had become a legalist, the very position I railed against and preached against for years. You must be thinking, ‘What a hypocrite.’ And you would be right. I was. I mean… I am... A hypocrite. It’s ludicrous to think I could have ALL the right answers. And I’m SO very sorry.

Where does this leave me now? I’m not entirely sure, just yet. Nearly every day I ask God one basic question, “What is MOST important to you?” And I keep hearing one basic answer, “That the LOVE of my Son be lifted up and exalted above everything else.” As I consider God’s answer and consider the new direction in my life and my spiritual walk with God, I realize that lifting the LOVE of Christ above everything else is actually more difficult than it sounds. It may even be the most difficult thing. But perhaps the most difficult thing proves it is also the most important. So I’ve been taking inventory of all the things which I lift above the love of Christ. This is incredibly painful. Most of the things I find are things in my own mind; ways of thinking, and especially this place of judgment.

So I’m starting with the judgment, just letting God work on that for now. And I’m launching this new blog in hopes that it will be a place of humble reflection and broken down opinions. I need feedback in my life. I desperately need feedback. Fortunately, God is surrounding me with some pretty incredible friends; they are letting me walk through this introspection, and they keep holding up the bright green Jesus sign at the appropriate places on the road. I’m incredibly grateful for friends who love God so much! That green Jesus sign is looking more and more like a neon Christ sign!

I’m especially and mostly grateful to my wife, April. Her fun-loving and light-hearted ways have counter-balanced my judgementism and legalism. She’s followed me for years, patiently waiting. Now I feel we are finally beginning to walk more side-by-side. Recently, she has listened for hours, and without fail continues to point me to Christ, not in a surface level sort of way, and not with “answers” even. Usually she does so with more questions. These questions have caused me to stand at the water’s edge and plunge more deeply into that basic gospel message than ever before. Thank you, sweetheart. It feels good to be in the water again. 

Now I have questions. 

What does it really mean to “be like Jesus.” Is he just a prototype of a perfect human being, or an ideal? Or was He and is He the real deal? Is He perfect love? Is He the Son of God? Did He show us how to live, how to love others? Are His teachings true? Do they change our lives? If we  do what He did and think what He thinks will it make a difference? 

What is the proper way to make a right "judgment" about something (John 7:24) without becoming a plank-eyed, hypocrite (Mt. 7:1-5)? How do we "expose" the "fruitless deeds of darkness" (Eph. 5:11) without lumping in any and all people who don't share our opinions about how to "do" church or "interpret" scripture? 

What is legalism?

It all has to do with how we think. Do I think my way of reaching those who do not know Christ is BETTER than your way of reaching those who do not know Christ? And further, if I think my way IS better than your way then do I add you to the list of those who need the gospel. I mean, I'm all for a "radical commitment to Christ."  But in my zealous appeal for a radical commitment will I begin to think you a sinner because you do not agree with me? This is legalism? We want to reach those who do not know Christ. We believe, and have witnessed that He is the Lord of Life, and that He can change a person from the inside out, bearing fruit in our lives and giving us true Joy and happiness. But the way of God is a Way of LOVE! God is NOT a legalist! God IS LOVE!  

Christ warred against the Legalism. Jesus Christ was not and is not a judgemental hypocrite. He hates the sins which he died for, sure. But he does not enter the court room demanding that all rise as he sits in the highest chair. Christ does not elevate his own head. Nor does he wear a frown on his face as he glares at the guilty. Instead he enters the court room of our lives from the back, finds a place on the floor before the person charged, and he washes our feet. As he washes the sinful person is saved. The judgemental in the room gasp at such a scene. It’s offensive, but why? Why is it offensive … to me … that Christ would wash feet instead of look down from above? Perhaps it is because I am too proud to get on the floor myself, with Him. I would feel better about myself if he would come join me up there... in the judge’s chair. But He does not. He just keeps washing. 

This is one of the hardest thing I’ve ever had to look at.

I’m SO sorry.

I have been judgmental where I should not have been. 

Forgive me. And help me start a new life, a new journey, and a new place

…of freedom

…on the floor

…next to Christ Jesus

…my LORD.

Now I notice how the judge's head is elevated over everyone else’s head in the room. This is intentional. He looks down on them. They look up at him. 

Well.... no more. I am no longer here to determine guilt, nor find evidence which leads to a verdict. That is the job of the Holy Spirit of God. My job is only to LOVE as Christ has loved me. And OH, how great and wonderful is THAT LOVE! I will explore the deep waters of that love -- HIS LOVE -- forever.

HIS LOVE leads to righteousness, joy, and peace, each of which I now have more of than at any other time in my life. Thank you, Lord! 

And now I have questions, lots of them. And hopefully, some more solid answers ahead.

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What does it really mean to “be like Jesus.” 

Is he just a prototype of a perfect human being, or an ideal? Or was He and is He the real deal? Is He perfect love? Is He the Son of God? Did He show us how to live, how to love others? 

Are His teachings true? Do they change our lives?

 If we  do what He did and think they Way He thinks will it make a difference? 

This is how I know what love is...

The Importance of Encouragement

 

Encouragement is one of the most important things in the world! Truly. Think about it. If you never received any encouragement from friends, any "you can do it", or "you're so good at that". how do you think you would feel? Our best friends are those who see our weaknesses, see our abilities, and encourage us like crazy! Encouragement is to our souls what gasoline is to a fire!

The same is true in parenting. Our five year old barely has hands big enough or strong enough to hold an ice cream cone, much less play the violin. But when she asked (with those excited "I can do it" eyes) we said yes, of course. And as we listened to the screeching we said, "You are SO good at that. You're going to be an incredible player someday!" (Now we're looking for an instructor if you know of any in Jackson.) But every little word we spoke in the important time of her exploring this new thing was of vital importance. One wrong word and it could damage her heart and her confidence for a very long time, if not for the rest of her life.

The same is true in the Body of Christ, esp. in regards to the gifts of the Spirit which God gives to "each and every one." We have to see with God's eyes the potential in each other. We must work with God's Spirit to draw out a gift, even if the person barely has hands big enough or strong enough to use the new gift. Every little word we speak to one another in the time of discovering one's gift is of vital importance. One wrong word, and I would even add one word of encouragement left unspoken, can damage a person's confidence in the Lord for a very long time, if not forever. One of the primary jobs of any and every church leadership is to draw out the giftedness in the Body through encouragement! Those with the God-given Spiritual ability to lead have to set the pace for encouragement.

But all of us, every one of us, need to encourage one another, or build each other up as Paul put it, on a regular basis. Words are powerful! And encouragement is one of the most important things in the world! Encouragement is to our souls what gasoline is to a fire! Flame on!

Old Self Crucified with Christ

I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law-I stopped trying to meet all its requirements-so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.* It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Forgiveness

I just called an old friend Barry to apologize for things I said many years ago to him and to the church where he serves. God really laid this on my heart a few weeks ago in light of my overall new non-judgmental direction. Of course I tripped over my pride every day for about four weeks. But God would not leave me alone.

This morning I watched a video that ended with the speaker on his knees, crying out to God for forgiveness and for God to make a difference. It was pretty amazing. His humility brought me to tears. Then I got a return call from Barry.

It's wonderful to me how the Lord works so often gives us exactly what we need in the time that we need it. Today I needed to see that humility.

The real issue in telling someone you're sorry is not will they forgive but will I believe in their forgiveness. In this case Barry phrased it like this: David you know that forgiveness is a given. Of course I forgive you.

In that moment I paused while the words sunk in. Then I realized this is the same way in which God forgives us. Of course I forgive you.

All of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. We ask God for forgiveness. And he says: You know David forgiveness is a given.

Thank you Barry for showing me again the powerful love of our one Almighty God!

Back Alley of Judgementalism: Added to Video

 If we are honest

we must admit there is a bit of all four roads in each of us.

 It's just not that black and white. 

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In the video below one of my favorite authors, Francis Chan, describes a new "middle road," where Christians don't have to really "DO" what Jesus did. The audience laughs. I laughed. But he makes such a very good point. What did Christ do? He taught about the Kingdom but more importantly He showed us what it was. Christ loved people! He showed us a model of self-sacrificial and unconditional love to such a degree that it changed the world.

There are two roads given in the example which Christ laid out, one narrow road leading to LIFE, and one wide road leading to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). We all know this teaching. Watching this certainly made me think... so I submit some thoughts here in the midst of some humble evaluation. Three points I'd like to consider:

1. We should NOT decide for ourselves what road we are on. If we do we might end up on the fourth road.
2. There is also a fourth road and it's a back alley of self-righteous, judgementalism.
3. If we are honest there is probably some of each of the roads in all of us. The point of Chan's teaching, and the teaching of Christ is that we would examine our OWN lives and ask God to help us be fully on the right road in our hearts.

More on these three points in a minute. But first... the video.



Here's the test I placed on myself. While watching this video, did I think about how this teaching applies to my own life or how it applies to someone else's? Did I think of all the people and/or institutions or churches which **I** believe are on the Middle road as described here by Chan? Unfortunately I did think about other people and churches, and exalted my own opinions of them above the love of Christ. That's when I realized I'm in danger of being in the back alley of self-righteous, judgementalism.

There is indeed a fourth road, and it is a back alley of self-righteous judgementalism. These back alleys exist all over the world. These alleys are lonely roads to no where. I've been here more times than I care to admit. (And this is why I'm working on a public apology to friends in TN whom I've hurt.) These back alleys are full of people who once were on the narrow road. The back alley is a dead end in the mind and a dark place of the soul. It's full of the trash and litter of gossip, opinions and assumptions. The residents of these back alleys all have one thing in common. They all started out in search of the narrow road, having realized the very problem which Chan describes, the problem of the middle road. They noticed the middle road of Christianity and ran full speed toward the Narrow Road. Unfortunately they ran right by it, and into the alley of judgementalism. Now they stand together and condemn all those they place judgment upon, saying they are on the middle road. This was me. And I'm SO very sorry.

Even though I was in a stagnant back alley I believed I was on the Narrow. (I'm speaking of a place in the mind and heart, not a physical location.) And in most cases I believed I and those whom agreed with me were the ONLY ones on the narrow road. We believed this because we believed we had the only true interpretation of scripture; or because we used the only approved translation of the Bible; or because we lived apart from the world; or that we are doing "house" church. I'm speaking from experience here. I woke up one day and realized how judgmental I had become, as if I had the clear ability and calling to decide for myself who was on the Narrow road and who was on this Middle road. And though I am repenting now in my life, I still have this tendency in me. Prime example are the thoughts I had while watching the above video.

After going back and watching this video again, fighting the urge to judge others, I noticed a few things. One, Chan is speaking to a huge room full of people. He also speaks to hundreds of rooms like this every year. Thousands more are reading his books. And thousands more are watching his videos. Why is this? Why is he able to point out the problems with modern Christianity, and to make a clear and direct call for us all to look at the middle road? I suggest it is because he himself is not in the back alley of self-righteous judgementalism. He does not come across as condemning. He is certainly not condoning luke-warm Christianity. But he has a voice to do this because he directs his own teaching right back toward himself. There is a sense in which he is always examining his own life. And more than that -- to summarize -- he is humble. He is able to say these strong things, and God is able to use him to move the hearts of thousands, because he is indeed humble. And so is Christ.

Christ gave the teaching about the narrow road so that we would look hard at our own lives. He did not give us the analogy of the narrow road so we could become a self-righteous traffic cop. If we are honest we must admit there is a bit of all four roads in each of us. It's just not that black and white. There is a bit of each in me: some wide road, middle road, narrow road, and back alley. My primary job then is to submit to the Spirit of God, begging God to examine my heart, just as King David did as described in the Psalms -- to search me and show me where the narrow road is not primary. Where is the compromise; where is that middle road in me? That's rough. And that's the way Christ meant it to be. Only by continuing to turn this teaching and the high beam spot light of self-examination on myself, will I have any hope of not ending up squarely back in the alley of self-righteous judgementalism. And as this light gets brighter it exposes the back alley trash and clears away the smell. And then we're able to ask the really, really important question, the question which puts us on the narrow road every single time. That question is, "What would Christ my Lord do?"**

The question "What would Christ my Lord do?" is the best question to ask in every situation, and it is the only question which helps us navigate to the narrow road. When we stop and ask this question it changes everything. This is the point Chan is making in the second half of the above video with his "follow the leader" comparison. Chan is reminding us that Christ Jesus IS our only leader. And if we follow HIM and him alone we will have a better chance of ending up on the narrow road. We cannot travel on the Narrow in any other way. The narrow road is a road of love. It's a road OF LOVE.

We cannot just decide we will be on the Narrow road and therefore we are.
We cannot read our Bible and automatically be on the Narrow road.
We cannot join the right church and automatically be on the Narrow road.
We cannot decide to be a "radical" Christian and automatically be on the Narrow road.
We cannot agree with videos like this one and automatically be on the Narrow road. And...
We cannot judge who might be on the middle road and automatically be on the narrow road.

The only way to end up on the narrow road, in my humble opinion, is to seek hard after the mind of Christ, asking God Almighty to give us His thoughts in all things, and to DO what Jesus did, living a life that is defined primarily by love. The narrow road is a road of love. It's a road OF LOVE.



This is a great video. "We're twisting things," he says. And he's right. We should seek to walk as Jesus walked. How did he walk? What road did He walk on? He walked in perfect LOVE and in so doing he alone walked perfectly on the narrow road. Since none of us are perfect in our love then none of us are perfectly on the narrow road.

      But as we
repent daily of our own back alley self-righteousness and our own back alley judgementalism;
      and as we
repent daily for our own middle road luke-warm attitudes and our own middle road watered down  versions of Christianity;
      and as we
repent daily for our own wide road sinfulness and our own wide road places of rebellion;

Then and only then will we have any hope of truly setting foot on that Narrow road.

~~~~~~~~

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

** As I post this I am praying for two families who have lived in Jackson for many years but are victims of fourth-road church thinking. They are finding their way to a Way of Love. That way is THE WAY of our LORD and Savior Christ Jesus. We love you, unconditionally. We call you friends. ;-)

*** I just added a VIDEO PAGE to this blog after watching an amazing teaching by CHAN.

Our God's Not Dead

Very encouraging song this morning, especially after such an awesome weekend of seeing God's work and wonders in the hearts of men and women whom I love, and especially in my own heart. How great is our God ... who is NOT dead!! (And because sometimes one just feels like rockin' out!)

****


Let love explode ~ And bring the dead to life ~ A love so bold ~ To see a revolution somehow ~
Let love explode ~ And bring the dead to life ~ A love so bold ~ To bring a revolution somehow ~
Now I'm lost in your freedom ~ And this world I'll overcome ~
My God's not dead ~ He's surely alive
He's living on the inside ~ Roaring like a lion ~ My God's not dead ~ He's surely alive
He's living on the inside ~ Roaring like a lion  ~ He's roaring ~ He's roaring ~
He's roaring like a lion ~ Let hope arise

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

I just read this...

I just read this on Facebook:

There is nothing more powerful, more invigorating, more defining or terrifying as God speaking directly to you about how He sees you, not humanity as a whole, but you personally. I am praying that the voice of the Bridegroom would thunder over the hearts of His people. -Misty Edwards

I just read this in scripture:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. -Romans 8:13-15

Living Jesus’ Prayer for Forgiveness by Boyd

Another great article found here:

Living Jesus’ Prayer for Forgiveness by Greg Boyd.

Luke 23:34: Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Could anything be more shocking and yet more beautiful than this prayer?

After being whipped, beaten, crowned with thorns, repeatedly mocked, spit upon, sneered at, and pierced with spikes through his wrists and ankles, while slowly suffocating as he hung on the cross, and as he was experiencing the nightmarish weight of the sin of the world upon him, Jesus assumes his tormentors are ignorant and prays for their forgiveness on this basis! When I recall that the one praying this is also the Creator of the universe, I am led to the conclusion that this is the single most shocking and single most beautiful sentence ever spoken in all of history. And it reveals the single most beautiful image of God in all of history.

If we let it, the beauty of this prayer, directed toward us (for our sin also put Christ on the cross) has the power to heal and transform us completely. But it also presents us with a breathtaking challenge – one we can only hope to fulfill as we’re transformed by the beauty of God’s grace.

We are repeatedly commanded in Scripture to follow the example of Jesus in all things (e.g. Jn 13:35; Eph 5:1-2; I Tim 1:16; 1 Pet 2:21, cf. I Cor 11:1). We are commanded to “have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had” (Phil 2:5, cf. I Cor 2:16). This means that the attitude Jesus revealed toward his enemies (including us) is the attitude we are to have toward our enemies, as well as to all other people. However heinous or threatening a person’s behavior may be, we are to assume that “they don’t know what they are doing.” And we’re to petition God for their forgiveness on this basis.

Nothing could possibly run more counter to the attitude that comes most natural to us in our fallen condition than the attitude Jesus reflected in his prayer. (This, undoubtedly, is one of the reasons the Lord gave us this example). In our fallen state, we most naturally replicate the original sin that pervades the rebellious human race. We “eat of the knowledge of the tree of good and evil,” which is to say, we put ourselves in a position of judging people. (For more on this, see my book Repenting of Religion).

In our fallen, rebellious state, we don’t instinctively assume the ignorance of others, especially if they are harming us. To the contrary, we usually assume their full responsibility and judge them accordingly. Moreover, instead of pleading for God to forgive them, we are more inclined to feel righteous as we plead with God to exact vengeance upon them. Our “natural” fallen response to our enemies is not at all reflective of God’s attitude toward us, as revealed in Jesus’ prayer on the cross.

I encourage all of us to strive to cultivate the mind of Christ, especially in this area of assuming the ignorance of others and praying for their forgiveness on this basis. Of course there are special occasions and relationships where it is appropriate and loving to assess the responsibility of others (though it’s never appropriate to make a negative judgment about another’s intrinsic worth). When serving as a juror in a court of law, for example, or when parenting a child, one needs to try to accurately assess the extent to which another knew what they were doing. But in all other circumstances, and with regard to all other people, we are commanded to imitate Jesus, including the attitude he reflected toward his enemies on the cross.

However heinous a person’s behavior may be, and however threatening a person’s behavior may be, we are to refrain from judgment, assume their ignorance and hope and plead for their forgiveness.

This is perhaps the most difficult act of discipleship we could ever engage in. Yet, this is a key to unlocking the beauty of the Kingdom in our life. Though it always gives the demonic illusion of empowerment, there is in reality nothing more life-negating than our judging impulse. As we by God’s grace learn to refrain from judgment and instead hope and believe the best in others (I Cor. 13:7) while praying for their forgiveness, the love of Christ is unleashed in our hearts. The beauty of Jesus’ prayer then begins to become a beautiful reality in our life. We experience a depth of joy and freedom that we otherwise would not experience.

I encourage us to cultivate the shockingly beautiful attitude of Christ on the cross. For Osama bin Laden and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who threaten our nation; for the terrorists and soldiers who kill our sons and daughters as well as the predators who harm our children; for all those who do harm to us and our loved ones; let us strive to follow the beautiful example of Jesus and pray:

“Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”

Good Morning Bible

Good morning Bible. Can you show many anything good today? Ahh, yes. Yes you can. Some painful, but all good.

~ "I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:32

~ "Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." Rev. 2:5

~ "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."

1 Timothy 2:4-6

~ “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25

~ "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

~ "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." Romans 8:16

~ And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

~ "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:16-18

~ "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:7-9

~ "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:21-23

~ "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered." Proverbs 22:23-25 

~ "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Colossians 3:7-9 


~ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

Link to Freedom in Christ!!! to Read More!!



 

 Good morning Bible. Good morning God!! I love you. And, by the way, thank you for the snow.

  

Kid Collages: And a personal note

I was just thinking...

If my kids ever stopped a life-style

of smiling,

and jumping,

and laughing,

and loving...

I would not look at them and say "what is their problem?"

 

I would look at myself and ask, "What am I doing wrong?" 

That's parenting 101.

\

God gave us our children ~ not a mistake ~ but an opportunity to bring some more life into an otherwise dark and dreary world

... and into our own lives. 

~~~~

Personal note: I don't mean to oversimplify parenting or anything of that nature. I know there are a thousand different scenarios where difficulties arise for parents and they have done all they can. I've talked to parents of adopted children, for example, who gave them nothing but love and yet they became rebellious. I myself even became rebellious after my parents did nothing but love me and do the best to show me Christ. The bottom line is children grow up one day and exercise their free will. I understand that. 

However, I still believe in the statement above, and I'm mainly just having a personal realization -- which is how we so often fail to look at ourselves, as parents, and consider that we might be the problem. I know it's tough to do so. My kids are young but already I see these things springing to the surface in them, things which I KNOW come from ME! That's rough. Most of the time I don't even want to admit it. Instead I ask myself, 


'Why are they so hyper?'                             'Why the defensiveness?'
                                     'Why so forget-full?'


I ask these questions as if I don't know the answer -- 
they have inherited those things from me! Ouch. 
We can pray our kids grow up and don't have our weaknesses. But either way...
 
It's time to go find the child and do one very important thing -- REPENT! 


It's doesn't have to be anything fancy. My own parents apologized on more than one occasion for "passing down" things to me. I can't tell you how incredibly good that felt. Not that I was holding anything against them, but just that they were so real and so honest. It's given me confidence to apologize to my own children, even with them being still young. And I can see it in their eyes when they connect the dots that daddy is not perfect. It's very powerful.

Church that looks like Jesus

"Conclusion

The only church that will remain credible and relevant in the future is the church that God designed to be credible and relevant for all time.

It will be a church that gets no life from its distinctive beliefs and practices but rather finds all its life in Christ’s unconditional love. It will be a church that defines itself not over and against the world, but in loving relationship to the world. It will not be a religion that stands over the world as the moral guardian and judge of the world, but will be a tribe of highly unusual people who stand under the world as the servant of the world.

It will be a Church that is exclusively centered on Christ and that therefore holds its distinctive beliefs as addendums to this central conviction. It will thus be a gathering of people on a journey more than a community of people who think they have arrived. Because it is defined exclusively by the love it receives and is called to give, it will be a community where questions and doubts do not generate fear, but loving exploration. It will be a tribe that looks a bit like Jesus’ followers looked, with inquisitive and hungry tax collectors and prostitutes comfortably in their midst.

The Church of the future will have to be what the Church always should have been: a Church that looks like Jesus, ascribing worth to others at cost to itself. Being freed from ugly religion, it will be beautiful, as Christ is beautiful. For this is simply what the kingdom of God is."

That's the Conclusion to Gregory Boyd's article: The Religionless Church of the Future.

Greg Boyd: Power Under vs. Power Over

One of my favorite authors over the last few years has been Gregory Boyd. He really challenges the status quo, while at the same time upholding the centrality of Christ. He broke into mainstream a few years ago with Letters from a Skeptic. But it was Myth of a Christian Nation that presented this central thought -- the Kingdom of Christ is a Power-Under Kingdom, as opposed to the kingdoms of the world, which are all power-over. It's a great book; very challenging. In the end Boyd makes it clear in his book that he is a patriot and thankful for America and our freedoms. But he also makes us take a really hard look at the primary message of Jesus, his teachings, and especially His actions, where Love is unconditional. Here is a little video about Power-under vs. Power-over. Listen through near the end, where the rubber hits the road.
 



Take a look at his other books as well: Myth of a Christian Religion (I have a review of this one on Amazon) and my favorite, Present Perfect.


Power-under is always a life of service.

Please, Lord, make that true of us. Help us to approach others with forgiveness, love, and service, upholding the truth of Jesus' teachings and the model of His wonderful love. And please, please, make us a Church That Looks Like Jesus!

Let's Worship

"pioneer of their salvation" - NO other name

Acts 4:12

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

• Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes
 

• Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.”

2 Corinthians 7:10

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

• Psalm 98:2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

Ephesians 1:13

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
 

• Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Thessalonians 5:9

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Titus 2:11

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

• Exodus 15:2 “The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Hebrews 2:10

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

• Revelation 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!!!

Acts 4:12

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.




 

What do you think Christ has asked you to do in the Kingdom?

Earlier this year a church-learder asked me a few questions and asked me submit answers in writing to him. The excercise of writing these answers was really great, made me think, and made me draw near to Abba Father, the Father of our hearts and our lives. Several months after writing these I find the answers to be difficult, but even more heart felt than ever.

What do you think Christ has asked you to do in the Kingdom?

I believe Christ has asked me to be a part of His Body and to surrender my own will and flesh to His Spirit, in order that He might be glorified in the Kingdom, and that outsiders might “see Christ.” Christ followers are, together, His incarnation, the second Body. We are present in this Earth to bring others to Christ. Christ is the only way to the Father.

More specifically, and more practically, I believe that in the Kingdom Christ asks us to (1) passionately love the Father; (2) to love and take care of the family He has entrusted to us; (3) to love and support the people around us in the Kingdom of God; and (4) to use the gifts of the Spirit which He has put within us to be a part of the whole and to help build up the Kingdom . I’m only numbering these to better write about each of them below. In my mind these are all at the same level or priority. They mix together day in and day out as God leads. All four of these are of equal importance.  

Do you feel you are doing it?

Hmmmm. Trick quest. First, the proper spiritual answer, one which Paul would likely give. 

Whatever we do that is of God must have come from God; there is nothing good in us and no ability within ourselves to accomplish His will in the Kingdom. We pray for Christ to do His work through us; this is accomplished only with spiritual surrender. So that’s the real question. This is MY question to myself: Do I feel I am surrendering to God to allow Him to work fully through me? That's always the real question, I think. 

There will always be areas of surrender, areas which are uncovered almost daily. So, in essence, we are always both “doing it” and “not doing it enough,” for surrender is an ongoing work, one which we know will be our lot to the grave. But what a glorious lot this is, far better than no desire to surrender at all! The desire to surrender also comes from the Spirit of God within and not from our own spirit.  There is in fact NOTHING good in us at all. So every good and perfect gift comes from above and from the Father of our hearts. What good we do we do because of Christ the Lord.

In what way are you trying to do it?

Mainly, right now in my own life in the Kingdom, I am trying to surrender to God’s Spirit more. Where I do, I am learning new tools for interacting with people, of seeing needs, and over-looking faults. “Trying to do it” is about right. But we’re all “trying” in some sense. No one is perfect. And I definitely have much to learn. 

As for the four areas I listed above, am I doing these? As for loving God, there is always a sense in which we are both “loving God perfectly” and “trying to love” Him as well. This is because he has deposited Himself into us as a way of bringing us to Himself. If we aim to love God with all our heart, we do so because he taught us to lean on Him through the hard times, for He alone is our strong tower. It was in my own 20s that my prayers were answered, when I cried out to the Lord and He began to rescue me, creating a love with Him and a real closeness to Him. I say this but I also know it is not even possible for me to really love Him; that my flesh is too weak. We are called to love God with “all our heart.” But it’s really the heart He has put within us which yields love to Him. So in essence it is even God’s Spirit who loves God through us. In the end we are only a vessel, even in the warmth of loving God. So we can only pray,

I am to weak to love thee

This frail and fallen heart replace

Surrender the only coarse for me

A Love your Spirit to embrace  

This indwelling love brings great glory to God for it is once again a reminder that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, nor even increase our closeness and love for God.

Third, loving people is certainly in the heart of God. I tend to be pretty self-sufficient and independent by nature. But God is dealing with me more and more in this regard, and increasing my love-awareness. Any love for people in us is an overflow of what God has done for us, of the love He has shown us over the years. So many times my heart was crushed with experiences of seeing brokenness and poverty in people.

I grew up protected and kept, but I found myself serving in children’s homes, homeless shelters and inner city ministries in my 20s. Those experiences completely undid me. Time after time I cried myself to sleep at night, feeling what I guess is a sort of divine despair. I would imagine God’s heart-ache over the state of His beautiful creation and how people suffer so alone. In spite of “Bible” training God was opening my heart to truly feel love and concern for people.

~~~~

This is where my answers to the Elder ended. I never heard back from him. But I've added this today: There really is no conditions to unconditional love. I've placed conditions on friends and for that I am very sorry. No more. God showed us how to love everyone with **His** love. This is the only perfect love and it can only flow through us as we surrender to Him. Our flesh always wants to place conditions on this love. But God's perfect unconditional love will never let this be the case. Love covers over a multitude of Sin. That's OUR sin love covers; that's our flesh.

Here's to a new day and a new direction in Jackson!! It's time to really jump in!!

Jackson Updates, and a personal confession about Judgementalism, coming soon....