Filed under Grace …

Jun 30 2011
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#trend, Authentic, Connecting, Grace, Love, Social Media Day

Now #Trending

Who would have thought, “Social Media Day”?  Social media is obviously not just a phenomenon but a way of life.  The Christian church has in many ways gravitated toward utilizing social media like Twitter, Facebook, and numerous other ways to connect people with church activities and ministries.  However, I believe that the church (at large) fail in creating trends.

The church world always seems to be lacking in setting the #trends of today.  Instead, we grab a lasso and try to catch the latest #trend before it passes us by.  All the while, outside culture continues to view the church as the second-rate, followers that we have become.  Shocked, Christians continue to be baffled why people are coming in to the doors of our churches as we “put on” performances and don’t come close to equaling the quality, authenticity, and emotional connectiveness that people had with the original, secular trend.

I think it is time that we has Christians set some #trends that are authentic, and connect emotionally and spiritually.  We hear voices that say culture is going down the drain, and yet never seem to set a #trend that is substantially different.  We claim to have a message that is worth more than anything, and yet present it in a form that wouldn’t #trend on any social media outlet.

Where do we start then?  I think the church is made up of individual people.  So the starting place is setting your individual #trend.  This a #trend that produces the fruit of the spirit in your life.  It’s the kind of #trend that utilizes your strengths and talents in the lives of others.  It is the type of #trend that people are not only attracted to, but they begin to hop on the #trend as well.  Essentially it is the #trend of living the life that Jesus called us to live; following his life pattern of #love, #grace, #forgiveness, #generosity, and #authenticity that only comes from above.  These #trends, when lived out become a catalyst that people want to follow because they are so different and yet so obviously authentic in our lives that people can’t help but follow.

Live out the #trend that you originally fell in love with; the #trend that is original, authentic, and comes from above.

Jun 28 2011
4 Comments
Gay Marriage, Grace, Homosexuality

Homosexuality: Christian Perspective

With the recent passage of Gay Marriage in New York, once again Christian are left to wonder what to do and what to say.  In reading different articles and responses to the most recent headlines, I wanted to weigh in on this hotly debated issue.

I think Christians for the most part don’t really know what to do with homosexuality in today’s culture.  It is clear that for most Christ-followers, homosexuality is something that is viewed as a problem, but what to do about it?  The typical answer has been to preach against it and use politics to fight it.  In their 2007 book, unChristian, researchers and authors David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons (also of qideas.org) issue such a claim: “Simply put, Christians think there is a problem but have no idea what to do about it.”  I think that Kinnaman and Lyons raise great points about homosexuality and the Christian response in their chapter called “Antihomosexual”.

I believe that they are on the right track when it comes to homosexuality and the Christian mindset:

It is one thing to be against homosexuality, to affirm that the Bible rejects the practice of same-sex lifestyles, but it is another to be against homosexuals, to let your disagreement with their behavior spill out in your feelings and words towards them as people…Billy Graham, one of the most respected Christian leaders in American history made this observation about homosexuality during a press conference: “I’m going to quote the Bible now, not myself, that it (homosexuality) is wrong, it’s a sin.  but there are other sins.  Why do we jump on that sin as though it’s the greatest sin?  The greatest sin in the Bible is idolatry, worshipping other things besides the true and living God.  Jealousy is a sin.  Pride is a sin.  All these things are sins.  But homosexuality is also a sin and needs to be dealt with and needs to be forgiven, that’s why Christ came and died on the cross.”

So what is the Christian role and response?  I think part is it is to find the right perspective.  We must understand that the reality is that Christians will not only not win every legal battle, but also we must understand that increasing the political battle cry will isolate Christians from homosexuals even further.  ”You change a country not merely by bolstering its laws but by transforming the hearts of its people.”

Every decision we make in words and in deeds must be funneled through what our ultimate goal is as a Christian: pointing people to Jesus.

 

Jun 10 2011
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Behavior, Character, Clarity, Consequences, Direction, Grace

Sin and Salvation

In our Adult Wednesday night class at Victory Family Church, we began discussing the issue of sin and being a Christian.  As Christians we understand that when we accept Christ in our lives, we surrender our agenda and take on his.  One of the questions that was raised was the issue of how do we (Christians) reconcile with the fact that each of us will struggle with particular sin throughout our lives?  Another way to put it, How do we still call ourselves Christians when we repeatedly sin?  Is there a point to when we lose our salvation through our repeated decisions and actions to not follow Christ’s teachings?

These questions are not only complicated, but can also bring up major theological differences depending on who you talk to.  Some same, “once saved, always saved”.  Others say, “you can lose your salvation”.  Our discussion on Wednesday led us down the road that I think is important and something that should be discussed more often.

I feel like for Christians more often than not we treat “asking God for forgiveness” is a routine.  We have lost the weight of sin as what it really does: separates us from God.  We also lose the sight of the magnitude of the price that was paid for the honor to ask for forgiveness.  I think we lose sight of what Paul asks us: “Should we go on sinning so that grace may increase?”  The obvious answer is no.  The knowledge of grace never equals the freedom to do what is wrong now in order to follow-up later with forgiveness.

Many protestants have always had a hard time with the Catholic church in this area, because when looking from the outside, we seem to believe that Catholics feel like it is OK to live in sin for the week because they know that they can go to confessional on Saturday or Sunday and get forgiveness.  In some or maybe a lot of cases this might be true.  However, the Catholic church in its early foundation of confessionals were actually purposed to be far more Biblical than even what the protestants currently act.

Confessionals were set-up to put into practice what James 5 tells us: “Confess your sins to one another…”  The goal of confessional was to have someone come and confess and that was to be their last time to come and confess that particular sin.  There was accountability with the priest and parishioner.  Today, however, whether Catholic or Protestant it seems like the accountability is lacking and the idea of confessing a sin being a final thing is lost.  What then does this do to the heart, mind, and decision-making process of today’s Christian?

I believe it deaden’s the impact of sin and creates a “get-out-of-jail free card” mentality.  I guess the real question is, “How many of these cards do we get?”  I have always said that I believe there is no place where God’s grace can’t reach us, but grace isn’t normal.  Grace is something that is not deserved.  The reality is that we will all struggle with the process of becoming like Christ in this life.  Luckily for us, Christ knows the heart of the individual.  How then do we know if we are saved?  I think faith in the fact that Christ can save us, redeem us, and free us from the things that continue to entrap us.  I also though believe that we must look clearly at the path’s we choose.  Whether they lead us towards the things that continue to trip us up or do they lead around such obstacles.

In the end I think we must look at what our intentions are: To try to live the same life we always have, or trying to live the life that Christ has for us.  I guess it comes down to our choices.  We choose which path we will take.  We are on a journey that leads to a destination.  Make sure you are on the road that leads to your desired destination.

May 23 2011
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Grace, Hope, Love, MO, msnbc, Tornado

Joplin, MO

It is clear, no matter what news station you go to, the predominant story that will talked about is Joplin, MO.  As the sun begins to shine, there will be more lives that will be discovered among the wreckage as well as those of the departed.  The awesome power of earth showed itself in another destructive way to its citizens.  Pictures on msnbc.com and other sites only give a taste of the destruction, heartache, and pain that will last for months and years to come.

Usually in situations similar to this, the inevitable question will arise: “How could an All-Loving God allow something like this to happen?”

This is a question that many of us ask in these times and situations.  We want answers to what seems like an injustice.  We want to know, “Why God?  Why the pain?  Why the destruction?  Why the death of those that were only trying to live a good life?”

I think the answer to these questions have more to do with God’s grace than it does with what we assume is His wrath.  What do I mean that it has more to do with God’s grace?

When we experience the devastations of this earth; the imperfections, injustices, pains, and hurts of life, it is not a reflections of God’s wrath, but rather God’s grace not intervening in those situations.  Why doesn’t His Grace intervene?  I don’t know.  The thing about grace is that it is something that is not deserved.  It is not something owed or something that should be expected.

As a Christ-follower, I am beginning to realize that oftentimes what we view as God’s wrath is merely the absence of God’s grace.  I believe that God’s love and grace so often encompasses our lives that we begin to think that grace is normal.  Grace is anything but normal.  The idea of fairness goes out the window when we experience God’s grace.  Fairness would mean the destruction of us all.

Why Joplin, MO?  Why did God not intervene on those lives?  I don’t know.  I can tell you it was not out of the wrath, anger, or spite of God.  I know this because if this was the complete character of God, he would not have sent his son Jesus to die, and rise again for our sins.  Through times of destruction, death, and confusion God is still active…active in love, active in hope, active in grace.

Pray for His grace to intervene.  Pray for the hope of a better day.  Pray for His love to endure.  Pray.

May 18 2011
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Grace, Hope, jilted bride saved, Love, msnbc, photoblog

Saved Bride

I just went over to view the msnbc.com homepage and saw this.  A 22-year-old woman tried to commit suicide after her boyfriend of 4 years married another woman.  Seeing the pictures of her literally hanging out of the window, weightless, pulled at my heart.

Here is a woman who lost hope.  Broken, hopeless, and not having anywhere to go, pushed herself to the brink of eternity.  Yet then all of a sudden, a hand.  A strong, powerful grasp from above that says, “Not yet, you still have hope, you still have purpose…you still have life.”

The powerful pictures are the visual reminders of God reaching down to each and every one of us saying, “Hold on, not yet, there is hope, just hang on.”  So often, we the church (Christians) are about to let go, and yet God comes from above and confirms what we have somehow forgotten; our hope comes from above.  We are loved.  We are saved from our own self-destruction.  We are grabbed by grace once again.

May 17 2011
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#Cat11, Discipleship, Grace, John Perkins, Light

Surrounded

One of the Catalyst Dallas speakers who I haven’t mentioned yet, John Perkins, brought an interesting thought to my mind when he was speaking.  Perkins, an 82-year-old advocate for Christian community and racial reconciliation, talked on how the purpose of Christianity was not prosperity, but rather being discipled to a purpose.  At one point in his talk, Perkins talked about covering those who were in need with those who could heal.

This reminded me of an episode of one of my favorite shows (The West Wing).  In an early episode one of the characters states that “if 100 people in New York City got (smallpox), you would have to encircle them with 100 million vaccinated people to contain it.”  Now whether these numbers are true or not, it brings something to us as Christians.

People all around us are sick with disease.  They don’t know it; they don’t realize it.  The disease they have is being separated from God.  We have to be the ones that surround them to bring healing.  I think this is part of what Jesus meant when He called us to be “salt and light”.  Darkness and disease cannot survive in the light.  We are the light to surround those that need the greatest healing of all.  When we give them light, they connect the strands from heaven and link arms with us as we surround those who still need healing.  When we surround those in need, it not only contains the outbreak of darkness, but begins to bring healing.

May 09 2011
7 Comments
Grace, Homosexuality, It Gets Better, Love

“It Gets Better”: The Christian Version

My wife and I, just last night, while finishing watching the season finale of The Amazing Race, watched a commercial that was not only interesting, but surprising.  Google Chrome (which I use and love) has teamed up with the “It Gets Better Project” to promote, tackle, bring to light, encourage (insert your own description here), young gay and lesbian teens in the world.  The commercial (view here) is both innovative, extremely well put together, and is simply powerful.

What is the Christian response?  Should Christianity be concerned?

For the vast majority of Evangelical Christians in the world today, the issue of homosexuality has been one that brings out many emotions and strong reactions.   In their book Unchristian, authors David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons even cite in their research that the issue of Homosexuality is a major wall for young people (18-29) and a reason why they do not go to church.  So once again how do Christians respond?  Should we respond?

It is my belief that homosexuality is wrong and is sinful.  If you are a Christians and you believe the Bible, it is fairly clear (Old and New Testament) that homosexuality is wrong.  However, I also believe that homosexuality is not the “unpardonable sin” as so many Christians treat it.  Sexual sin is sexual sin; whether it is homosexuality, cheating on your spouse, having sex before you are married, and so on.  All are sin, and all have the consequences of sin.

One of the things that I find great about the commercial is the hope that this video gives to young people.  Hope is a powerful thing.  And I still believe that Christianity and Christ-followers are the hope of the world.  My response to this commercial is:

Whether you chose to be homosexual or straight, true hope, the only hope for this life to get any better is through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Jesus loves you right now, right where you are.  Nothing you can do will change the way He loves you.  But Christ loves us so much that He wants what is best for us.  Remaining where we are is not possible when we find His grace and love.  Because when we find his grace and love, we get a glimpse of the light and hope that moves us to want to become changed.  That is the power of grace and love, when we really experience it, we can’t stand still and we can’t remain the same.  

After watching the commercial, what is your response?  What emotions rise quicker: anger and disgust or grace and love?

May 04 2011
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Behavior, Grace, Osama bin Laden

How Should Christians Respond to the Death of Bin Laden?

With news that was surprising and met with all sorts of emotion, President Barak Obama issued a statement just a few days ago that Osama bin Laden had been shot and killed.  Some of the plethora of emotions included celebration in the streets, shock, amazement, reflection, and the feeling that justice had been served.  Some headlines went as far as to say (with a picture of bin Laden) “Rot in Hell”.

However, now questions are beginning arrise  about how we as Christians should mark this occasion.  Some have said that Christians should celebrate in the streets, while others have called for Christians to quiet themselves on this topic and reflect on the finiteness of life and not celebrate.  Is one right or wrong?  I am not sure.

I recently read a blog by Justin Davis and I think Davis raised some interesting questions for us to consider whether we should celebrate or reflect.  One question in particular that Davis asks is:

Do I cheapen grace by being glad that someone else didn’t receive it?

Davis goes on to state that as long as you and I compare ourselves to those that have obviously done horrible things, we inevitably feel superior and worth God’s grace.  Davis ends by stating: I’m so glad that Jesus never said, “May he rot in hell.”

I think that as Christians we can and should feel relieved that a man who was a conductor of death around the world is no longer a threat to us.  I think that we can and should thank God for our nation, the men and women that serve in political offices and the military, but I also believe as Christians we must not fail to look at the greater picture.  The picture that says without Christ we too would be condemned to the same fate as bin Laden.  We must remember not to compare ourselves to other sinful humans because the only measuring tool that all of humankind is measured by is God’s law…which we all fall short without the grace of God.

What do you think?  How should Christians respond to the death of bin Laden?

Mar 29 2011
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Grace, Love, Truth

Love and Truth

Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

Yes that timeless question that never gets answered!  However, I was recently thinking about how truth and love are also so intertwined with each other.  You cannot truly love someone without telling them the truth.  And yet the truth should always be covered in love.  So our question:

Which comes first: Truth or Love?

Answer:

Love.  Love always comes before truth.  In fact, you cannot have truth without love.  One thing that my wife Kristina has always quoted from her father is, “Truth is irrelevant, if said the wrong way or at the wrong time.”  Truth without love is a heavy dose of arrogance and pride.  We first must show love, so that people will be open to the truth.

What do you think?  Does Truth or Love need to come first?  Tell me your thoughts by clicking “Leave a comment”.

Mar 25 2011
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Attitude, Behavior, Direction, Grace, Hearing from God, Listening

Rhythm

Find the rhythm.

It is very interesting that in so many facets of our lives how important rhythm is.  From music, to sports, to driving, and other motor skills rhythm is an important part of our lives.  Isn’t it funny that when we are out of rhythm we tend to say things like, “I’m just in a funk” or “I just feel a bit off”?  The reality is that rhythm is important to our lives.  Rhythm is also important to our spiritual lives as well.  When we are in rhythm with the voice of God, we are literally in sync with His presence.

How do you find your rhythm?

The only way to find your rhythm, is practice the presence of God.

When we practice the presence of God, the rhythm of our lives begin to find the beat that He wants us to walk.  When we are “just a bit off”, God’s voice is the metronome that calls us back to the rhythm of His grace.

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