Above All...

“He took the fall and thought of me above all.”

However well intentioned the author of this lyrics is, it is still a frightening reflection of the man-centeredness of many churches in America today. So many of us have grown up in churches that have taught us that the cross of Jesus Christ was all for us. He died for us alone. He came to lift us up out of darkness and raise us up high and serve us whatever we need and want. The problem with all of these statements is not that they are completely false. It is that they are incomplete. Yes, Jesus came to die for us that we might have life (Jn. 3:16, Rom. 3:25, 1 John 4:10, Gal. 3:13). But we miss the point if we think Jesus died so that we can be served by Him in this life and the next.

“Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18

“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth, …whom I created for my glory.” Isaiah 43:6-7

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

It is becoming more and more apparent to me lately that the American Church needs a revival. We have lost the grip on the true meaning of our purpose as individual believers and as the Church of Jesus. Everywhere I look I see conferences, seminars, sermon series, and books that communicate in “cool” and “emerging” ways, they reel people in and think that they are successful. Of course they’re successful! If someone stands in front of a crowd week after week and tells them that Jesus, life, the universe is all about them and what they want, they will certainly be "successful."

Some one once said that a prophet was hated in his home town (Jesus: Mk. 6:4, Lk. 4:24).

So what is the answer? The same answer that it has always been. The cross. Preach the cross. Preach the cross. Preach the cross. Stop the gimmicks, stop the pragmatism, stop the worldliness. Preach the cross. When we truly dive into God’s word we see only the cross. Our lives will be consumed by the preeminence of Jesus. We will want nothing more than to reject ourselves and experience the joy that is found in giving Him glory above all.

Faith/ Works/ In/ Not Of

I have been reading How Then Should We Live? By Francis Schaeffer. The book is wonderful. It’s a classic that I have been wanting to read for a long time and it is everything that I hoped for and more. One of the issues that Schaeffer discusses pretty early on is the extent to which a Christian should be involved with this world. Summed up: “Where is the line between ‘in this world’ and ‘not of this world?’” It got me thinking.

It’s an important question that every Christian must ask. It is also one of the most debatable topics in Christianity. On one end of the spectrum, a Legalistic would ridiculously abstain from things such as sports games. These are those folks who tell me that I am going to hell for going to a Braves game. They would immediately claim that any use of alcohol as a sin, consider Christians in public schools as ridiculous, hate T.V.s etc. On the other end of the spectrum is those who live their lives based on the phrase, “freedom in Christ” taking God’s word out of context in a way that is almost unimaginable. You will find these people often telling others that Jesus hung out in bars. He made weed so its ok to smoke it. Where they got that from? I don’t know. Then there are those who struggle. I would say that’s where most fall.

When I think of the struggle with legalism I think of the churches of Galatia. Paul wrote this epistle to people who failed to embrace the true freedom that is found in Christ and instead trusted in rules and regulations. They depended on the law and not on faith. Galatians 3:1-6 reads as follows,

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness?”

Paul longed for the people to understand that it is the work of the cross that saves and justifies a sinner. It is not any sort of works of righteousness. When a person has a works based mentality of the Christian life, he/she is failing to recognize the indelible work of the Cross. Instead, one should hold unwaveringly to the biblical doctrine of justification by grace through faith in Christ alone.

Like many other Christians, I went through a legalistic phase early on in my life as a believer. If I could choose one word to describe the phase it would be immaturity. I felt that what I did earned me brownie points in the eyes of God. I could keep careful tabs on my brownie points and therefore know my standing with God at any given time. If I read my Bible that morning… point for me. If I called a friend a dirty word later that afternoon, my point from the morning was cancelled out. I felt like I had to do something to get back in right standing with God. It got pretty bad.

I have talked to many Christians who have gone through the same sort of thing. Why do you think that is? The Sunday school answer would be that we are sinners, which is true. But deeper than that, I think we easily act that way because that’s how we often interact with people. When a guy ticks of his girlfriend he buys her flowers and does something nice so that she wont be mad at him anymore. The difference there is that Jesus Christ isn’t some chick that refuses forgiveness until you do something nice.

There was one major thing missing in my legalistic equation of things… THE CROSS!!!! “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God.” That dirty word that I said that afternoon, nailed to the cross. That thing I said to tick of my girlfriend, nailed to the cross. My sin, nailed to the cross.

When we live by the Law we are under a curse. That is the purpose of the Law, to show us our wickedness. Galatians 3:10 says, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does nit abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’”

In Galatians 3:6 Paul uses the example of Abraham believing in God and it being counted to him as righteousness. This is one of the greatest examples in scripture of justification by faith but many beg to differ. In his letter to the persecuted Christians scattered abroad James uses the example of Abraham to explain the importance of works.

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:20-24)

How do we reconcile the two passages? They seem to contradict each other. What must be understood is that Paul’s teaching on justification was being distorted by many. People took his words and twisted them, cheapening grace by living an anything-goes lifestyle (Romans 3:8). James speaks out against this Phony faith. We can see that by what he says in verse 14. “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”

That faith which cannot save is not true faith. It is a head-knowledge and a fruitless “Christianity.” James wanted us to understand that true saving faith is shown by our works. Paul and James would both agree that saving faith is not merited but given by Christ. They also would have agreed that faith that bears no fruit is not real faith at all.

This has incredible implications on how we should live in this world. We should live as those saved and justified by grace through faith in Christ. As the redeemed our lives should be abundant with good works, kind and truthful words, loving and Christ-like attitudes. We should seek to build others up and not cause them to stumble. When it comes to specific things: cigars, alcohol, television, music, etc. Know that Christ calls us to live holy, sober-minded lives. Seek His truth and live for His glory above all else.

been gone so long...

I don't like the fact that I haven't been on here in so long and I still don't have much to say.

I will recommend a book for anyone who cares. Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches is a book that consists of five different authors (Mark Driscoll, John Burke, Dan Kimball, Doug Pagitt, and Karen Ward). Each author contributes a chapter while the others offer a brief response. As a young guy in ministry who feels called to preach and pastor in this day and age, I highly recommend it. It presents many different theological views as well as methodologies. I have read everyone's chapter except Karen Ward's. I've laughed, wondered, almost cussed (Doug Pagitt), and smiled at truth (Mark Driscoll).

Don't take my word for it. Read it yourself.