For the second day in a row, I’m going to link to a blogger I recently discovered. Jamie expresses thoughts that I, myself, feel deeply about. Therefore, instead of re-inventing the wheel, I’m going to let her use her own words as kindred thoughts of mine. You can get happy or mad HERE.
Don’t forget to come back to this page and leave your own observation in my comment section!
Gary
Jesus invites His “believing ones” to many wonderful things. Challenging things. Happy things. Hard things. One thing He doesn’t invite us to participate in is…(wait for it)…
Although our life is to be a walk of faith…a good fight of faith…it’s not meant to be a life of blind faith.
Instead of blind faith, Jesus calls His believing ones to a life of childlike faith. Jesus instructed His followers that His Kingdom was like little children.
I’ve heard and delivered several teachings to illustrate what Jesus was declaring. But one of the clearest pictures of a “believing one’s” Kingdom life I saw was in the first word uttered by my oldest daughter, Julie. Her first syllables weren’t mommy or daddy. The first sound that intelligibly fell from her tiny lips was the question, “Why?” [At least that's the way I remember it.] She was the poster child for being inquisitive.
Childlike faith is questioning faith. Although that sounds like an oxymoron to far too many Christ followers, asking the hard, uncomfortable, difficult questions is more or less a necessity for taking our own balloon of faith and filling it with the air of life.
As my own Christian life experience has expanded and grown, I’ve gone from my beginnings as a Baptist, then a Charismatic (neo pentecostal), on to what was labeled, Word of Faith, then to the Revival Culture label and what some may perceive as Post Evangelical or Emergent leanings.
The things is….and this is a very important “the thing is”… I still embrace the basic core or heart of all of the systems of faith I just labeled.
I realize that I have some readers who are, more than likely, scandalized that I declared an affinity to Emergent or Post Evangelical considerations. Others may be declaring with sinking heart, “Oh, no! You no longer believe in Revival Culture.!?” To that I would respond to both, “Did you read the last part of the previous bolded paragraph?
You see, I haven’t left anything important in any of the expressions listed. They all hold Jesus in common as the Way, Truth, and Life. I also believe (and always will) that “He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed…” I have not “grown past” the foundational realities that hold true as expressed by all of them. I believe we are called to be His re-presenters and it’s a part of our privilege to raise the dead, heal the sick, and cleanse the “leper.” I believe Jesus provides forgiveness from sins. I believe God’s design is for us to prosper in all our ways. I have also become convinced that any man made explanation or definition of the Jesus life is not necessarily inaccurate, but most certainly is incomplete. I have embraced the quality of choosing the intellectual elasticity and authenticity of being teachable.
I appreciate many teachers, male and female, contemporary and vintage, denominational and non denominational, conservative and fundamental. I also relish the fact that I must believe in a God that is bigger than my brain. I am skeptical about phrases that are presented with an air of authority declaring something is or isn’t biblical or scriptural. In my personal opinion, statements like that would actually be better stated, “From my understanding (this or that is or isn’t) biblical/scriptural.” Otherwise, as a declarative, “that’s God’s final answer” statement on what is scriptural/biblical or not, the attitude is bordering on arrogant, religious, self deception.
When my daughter, Julie, asked so many questions, she wasn’t denying her love for me, or her faith in me. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite. She was desiring to learn. She had confidence that I loved her and that she could ask me anything.
So, if you desire growth and maturity in your own faith, don’t run away from the hard, uncomfortable, difficult questions. Also don’t be afraid to not have the answers quickly or ever on this side of forever.
Finally, be a safe place where others can ask you the hard, uncomfortable, difficult questions. Earn their respect by listening and telling them you don’t know when you don’t. Make sure to always affirm them by telling them that you appreciate their question. That it’s a good one. See…the thing is…they don’t always expect you to know everything. What they do hope for is your respect and honesty.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions…even the one’s you are afraid to ask out loud in front of your other Christian friends at church. God isn’t threatened. He likes it that you want to be authentic and realin your faith. He loves for you to grow by coming to conclusions from your own questioning.
Like Paul said, “I don’t know if I got this from the Holy Spirit or not”…but….I really don’t think He’s very keen on His kids demonizing people who don’t see things in the Bible and about faith the way they do. Nope. Not so much.
I heard a self proclaimed conservative protector of the faith say recently, “One big problem I have with guys like Rob Bell and Brian McLaren is that they ask a lot of questions but never give any answers.” Okay, I appreciate being made to wrestle with hard questions. And, I think these men ask some good, challenging ones that can’t be easily dismissed and deserve thoughtful prayer and pondering. That doesn’t make them “snakes in the grass” like I’ve heard some comment. That’s what I mean by “demonizing” people who don’t color on your page.
What do you think? Or, is that beyond your comfort zone?
Gary
It may be good to doubt what you think you know about Doubting Thomas. In fact it may also be good to doubt what you think you know about doubt, itself.
Thomas has been the subject of thousands of sermons and illustrations over the years. The focus of those stories has been less than flattering. In fact – what I consider – a misinterpretation of the scene as a whole has led many sincere followers of Christ down the slippery slope of shame and discouragement. When they could be discovering important lessons in their own school of faith, they point to Thomas and the words that Jesus spoke to him. They often feel hopeless.
May I suggest a few thoughts for your consideration:
If I might suggest an alternate understanding to what has become religious conventional thinking, Jesus was being very kind and compassionate to Thomas. He was using this occasion to also teach he and the others. He was also warning him, “Don’t let your sorrow take you to places where you don’t come back.”
In the times we live, faith is our most valuable resource. We all need to be pressing toward the mark of the highest kind of faith, that which keeps acting on God’s word, even when there’s no natural, touchable, see-able evidence to warrant it. But Jesus knows the cry of your heart. He’s not threatened by honest perplexity. Question with an open heart. But, keep trusting from your own experience with Him.
The journey of faith is a walk of grit and glory. Miracles and heartbreak. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. You’ll win, because In Christ you’re one with the Winner.
Thomas was much more than a doubter. That’s become an unfortunate mark of shame. You, too…I’ll just betcha…are much more than a doubter, God’s man/woman of faith and power.
Gary
Got fear? Think that means you’re faith is inferior? Guess what? Having real faith is not the same as absence of fear. In fact, being fearless could be a sign of a mental/emotional disorder.
Some people think, “The purer the faith, the less the fear.” Having no fear is what some people think is proof that they’re growing in faith. But…it just ain’t so Joe.
Psalm 56:3 says, “What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.”
Like water is wet and sugar is sweet, in the normal human experience, fear is a part of the faith journey. In a sense, be okay with it. Don’t let fear freak you out. Stop denying it’s presence with the mantra, “I’m not afraid…I’m not afraid…I’m not afraid.” That’s not faith. What that is is a distorted application of what some call, “the confession of faith.” Repeating the words, “I’m not afraid,” is a false confession. It’s a lie, if – in fact – you’re feeling fear.
To tell you the truth, too many faith folks have injected their spiritual veins with superstition…and called it faith.
Faith is not denying anything that’s really there or happening. Faith is putting one’s trust in God’s Word. In the face of fear, making your “final answer” what God says to expect from Him. That’s the confession of faith.
Romans 4:17, “Calling those things that be not as though they are” That’s what it Paul told the Romans about faith. Notice it does not say, “Calling those things that are as though they are not.”
What’s the bottom line here? I’m intentionally putting my trust in God with my mouth. I’m also experiencing fear tremors, at times. Some more than others. But, I also know that’s part of the journey and doesn’t indicate I have a lack of faith. I want you to realize the same thing.
“What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”
Gary
“An unforgettable quote from Les Misérables is, “Life’s great happiness is to be convinced we are loved.” – Jim Palmer
Jim goes on to say, “The word “love” comes up incessantly in life and I sometimes wonder what it is exactly that we want when we express the longing to be loved. It seems to me that being “convinced we are loved” would mean that we experience ourselves as being accepted, worthy, wanted, desirable, beautiful, powerful, and valuable. Even if love is the essence of our identity, which I believe it is, our experience of love happens primarily in connection and relationship with others. The significance of Jesus for others was that he made God’s love believable and experience-able. Jesus did not send people off to a mountaintop to meditate on God’s love, or send them to church to study God’s love, or distribute theological pamphlets, explaining God’s love. Jesus gave expression to love… Jesus was love… his life was being love.”
He also made this observation that echos my own opinion…
“I’d like to re-write Victor Hugo’s Les Mis quote this way, “Life’s great purpose is to convince others they are loved.”
I’ve heard others sincerely say that they believe we must first know God’s love before we can give it away. That sounds scriptural doesn’t it? After all, 1st John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us…”
That is, of course a fact. The only reason we can give away the God kind of love is because He made it possible by initiating the process. But maybe we could also think of it this way…
Because Jesus paid our rightful price we now possess His supernatural love that resides within us. Maybe we haven’t expressed it because we don’t know we already have the capacity, through Him within, to do so.
In our Western Culture we are highly educated in the “me first” way of thinking. So, those who probably should know better, teach it as God’s way. Actually, there’s some…sorta…truth to that…maybe…a little bit. But, at best, it’s waaaay incomplete in understanding how God makes it work.
One of the many “voices of God in nature” gives us this principle: The Law of The Seed. We also find an abundance of examples in the teachings of the scriptures.
Actually, one of the Bible references we often attach to financial giving is Luke 6:38, “Give and it shall be given unto you…” However…
…that verse (in context) is not about finances at all. It’s about the giving of love, and mercy.
So, if you want to “feel the love” that comes from God, it’s about the seed sewn. As I quoted Jim Palmer at the beginning of this article, “I’d like to re-write Victor Hugo’s Les Mis quote this way, “Life’s great purpose is to convince others they are loved.”
It’s your turn. Please let us hear from you in the comments.
Gary
When many people read the title of this article, they will assume it’s about the “sin places” in our lives. Of course, it does apply to that kind of focus, but my point today is aimed at all of us that hit dry, seemingly non productive patches. Especially if the “patch” seems more like the size of the whole shirt and not just a small repair.
It is oh so common, at these “patch” times, to become more works/earn/self effort oriented in our approach to “the solution.” What we actually need is embrace more personal grace. Here are questions that reveal the voice of self demand:
We begin to obsess on “pleasing God.” Wow!!! Did I just say that out loud? Is it really possible to have too strong of desires to please the Lord?
You betcha!
Any time we strive to please Him with the accompanying thoughts of “getting it right” so that our circumstances have a better change of changing…that’s bad mojo, baby. Plain and simple, that is the path of performing to earn something. That’s no longer grace.
We don’t please God to “pay Him back,” either. You nor I could ever perform enough good to outweigh the weight and cost of sin. Besides the fact…believe it or not…that’s an insult to His finishing the work of the cross “as us.”
When we do what we do to “earn” or “pay back” it’s no longer a free gift. Now, here’s where the “R” card is often played. R = my Responsibility. But here’s the thing. True grace doesn’t make us into lazy non-responsible people. It makes us able-to-respond. Ie: Response Able.
During the “patch times” we need all the faith we can get, as it were. Therefore, since we are “saved” (not the going to heaven after our last heartbeat kind) by grace through faith, we need liberal grace realities soaking our brains or the faith will be derailed.
Troublesome Time
In the United States (and Western influenced societies) we have phrases like “time is of the essence.” We are a fast fast, hurry hurry, people. That seeps into our mentality of how things are done…and…how we think God does things. Or, how we think He realizes we know how things must be done. Like, “You know this has to be done yesterday, Lord. So, my faith is counting on You to keep my time schedule.”
The more I’ve been reading the scriptures lately, the more I’ve noticed that things seem to “take forever” on God’s watch. You may be tempted to say that it’s because it was a much slower society technologically, etc. But…in many ways, that’s our curse. Not our blessing.
The important thing is…God was ALWAYS faithful to His Word! He still is!
So, do your dusty best! “…or he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” I didn’t say that. David did in Psalm 103:14. The Holy Spirit also penned these words through Paul to his disciple, Timothy: “When we are faithless, He remains faithful.” [2 Timothy 2:13].
My point isn’t to encourage a ‘Que Sera, Sera’ (What will be, will be) attitude. But, that’s not the weakness of most sincere people. We need to realize we can embrace extravagant grace as God solution to our “dry patches.”
I love your input. You can do so though “comments.”
Gary
Some people do not believe that God speaks words of prophecy today. Others do. I’m one of them. But, what do these “words” actually mean? Here is my perspective:
I know it’s possible to abuse “spiritual gifts” that the Apostle Paul talks about in I Corinthians. But, I also believe that many bible teachers and preachers are often like “the new pharisees.” It’s just a contemporary brand of those who will not only not enter the “promised land” themselves, they block the way for others from entering. Their mantra is “Watch Out!” Instead of helping people get to a better place, they spend the volume of their time warning people against this or that on the grounds that it’s not biblical/scriptural. By itself, the “not biblical” characterization is pretty high minded.
To me, it would be far more truthful to say, “In my opinion I think (this or that) is what the Bible means here. That’s not compromise. That’s humility.
However on to my personal story on discovering what certain “words” (prophecy/dreams/etc) may mean…
Several times I’ve been given a word of prophecy that spoke about influence “to the ends of the earth.” I was cautious because a flattering word that promotes how great thou art can be deceptive. I also know that God speaks things that are not yet…but what will be…to encourage us. There is more than an abundance of negative, degrading, depressing thoughts “out in the world” in general, that the Lord will give a fresh word of His confidence in you.
At any rate, I was beginning to get “longer in the tooth” and didn’t know how this could actually be…but…God makes all things possible. (btw…I’m not THAT old) 
The story continues…
I’ve been blogging now for a few years. Mostly like a journal for myself. For the first few years, I was not getting many readers on a consistent basis. In fact…I was sorta discouraged. However, I plodded along…but I stopped looking at the stats. In fact, I hadn’t for over a year. And then…
I decided recently to check them out. SHOCK! Although this isn’t so big at all by popular blogger standards, I was now consistently getting 1200 to 1500 brand new views a month with many more that were returning and reading more than one entry at a time.
SECOND SHOCK! Half of the views are outside of the United States in many surprising multiple countries all over the world. [One that surprised me...I don't know why...was a high number in India.]
So, the word of world wide influence is true, but interpreted differently than I originally imagined. And that’s not to mention my YouTube channel that gets 12,000-15,000 views per week.
This isn’t about brag…although, I’m proud and happy at what is happening with my internet work. It’s about allowing “words” to have richer and varied meanings than we initially realize.
Will I travel “in body”? Maybe. But, this I do know. His word (that came from multiple unknown people over a space of time) was absolutely true. And, I’m encouraged!
If you’re reading this right now, where are you from? It would be fun to see that in the comments.
“I am not ashamed that when God strapped on sandals and walked among us, God fed the hungry, wept with the mourning, touched the untouchable, turned water into wine, cracked jokes about religion, obeyed his mom, defended the defenseless, bantered with children, forgave his enemies, and reminded us that the whole point of it all is to love God and love our neighbors well. That’s it.”
You just read a paragraph of great insight and confession by Rachel Held Evans. I include it here, today, because it echos my own heartbeat and, IMHO, is one of the best “sermons” I’ve heard lately. If you’d like to read it for yourself, [and I so encourage you to], then go here. BUT FIRST…THIS SPOILER ALERT:
The article is a bit lengthy for the standard internet reader although I – a skimmer myself – kept being drawn on and shouting, “It’s worth the read.” Also…It’s not for the faint of heart. It begins with a “non condemning spirit” of reality concerning things that Rachel (and I) am “ashamed of and sorry for.”
You see…sometimes (many times) we need to face up to things that aren’t right to launch us forward into what is right.
Ready, set, go here.
Gary
There’s no question. Believing is the nature of living. We only experience what we believe…negative or positive. Then that begs the question, “What is the best way to believe.”
Notice I didn’t say, “What are the best things to believe;” But, what is the best way to believe?
There’s a way of holding a belief that says, “My belief perfectly contains God, and if you don’t believe it this way and use these words, you don’t have God.”
[Actually, you'll find this attitude touching more than religious belief systems. It is also encountered in political type discussions. When you combine the two....Whoa....powder keg with burning fuze.]
In my experience, the above way of believing also includes statements like, “This [or that] is [or isn't] “biblical” or “scriptural.” Now we have a battle of “God-sized” implications.
There’s another way of holding a belief that says, “I know that no words can contain God. But they can point in God’s direction. By looking in the direction these words seem to be pointing my vision and understanding of God seems fuller and helpful to what I understand of His purposes.
One might also say, “I’ve discovered life here. Beauty, hope, freedom, love, and purpose. I’m not saying I’m right and you’re wrong, but I am happy to share with you what I’ve found. I’m also happy to learn from you what you’ve found.”
[These aren't specific words you use like reading from a telemarketers phone script. It's simply descriptive of an attitude]
I found myself in a discussion with what many would call a “full blown new-ager.” The interesting thing was that he would respectfully listen to what I had to say, because I granted him the respect that I’m referring to. The reason I know that’s true is because he told me so.
We can say, “Jesus was combative toward error.”
Well….sometimes it might seem so. I don’t (nor do I pretend to) have all of the answers on this issue. I just know in my gizzard that attitude adjustments are very often called for in the way we so often present ourselves and the truths we hold. If you’re a “scrapper” by nature, (that’s code for “bullheaded”) then what’s shared in this article…well, maybe it’s worth some serious consideration.
Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath.”
If your truth and my truth is true, then Colossians 4:6 is in order:
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Gary
What is salvation really all about? What’s God’s heart and purpose for mankind?
Spoiler Alert:
I’m not using this article to “preach” against the potential reality of an eternal separation from God. If you hear that, get irate, and don’t read on, then you will have missed it.
Back To Today’s Post:
I grew up in church (a good church of wonderful people) that emphasized – what I would now call – a “fear based Gospel.” The image presented was one of Jesus as our Savior that has as His primary mission to rescue sinners from the lake of fire. (And truthfully using sermon imagery that was originated by Dante’s Inferno).
Regardless of what the separation from God looks like, (I’ll leave that for others to bicker and name call over) I no longer believe that the “rescue from hell” scenario is anywhere near a complete and faithful — nor even primary rendition of God’s desires.
For me, this is a better statement of His purpose:
To give us the right to enter into a loving, living partnership with God that carries out His purposes in the earth and for time without end.
I recognize that there are several good and accurate ways that could be worded. But, for me, it pretty much hits the nail on the head.
[btw...the symbolic picture of the couple at the front of this article is purposely not white. The whole thing is not a white thing. It includes white, anglo saxon protestants, but it's waaaaay bigger and broader than that.]
For me, the reason for the shift in thinking is a big one. [I state again] I’m not denying the potential of eternal separation from God. However, I also believe that an emphasis on “staying out of hell” as the driving volition behind evangelism does a great disservice to what we refer to as the “cause of Christ.”
I believe it leaves us sin focused. (Even though we would say it’s redemption focused.) I do not believe it effectively motivates present “discipleship.” I believe it, too often, devalues the need for God driven social justice. I believe it fosters an “us and them” mentality that separates us from the very souls that “need saving.” And, I also believe it diminishes the ability to have a rich and meaningful present relationship with our Heavenly Father.
I certainly don’t want – nor will I have – an eternal separation from God. Nobody in their right mind would. But…
You and I have been offered a marriage relationship that embraces life, and love. With God, with each other, and with “the world.” [you know...."them."]
If we embrace God’s purposes and plans for us, we will be unique. We will stand out. But, it won’t be because of dogmas we demand, but because “they will know we are disciples because of the God brand of active, deep, cleansing, powerful, enabling, genuine love. Oh, and btw…the “God Brand” is the only legitimate, authentic brand….not just a better brand.
What’s love got to do…got to do with it? Everything.
Thoughts? Comments? Your turn
Gary