The Danger of Spiritual Complacency

In a couple of short months, school will resume across the country for children of all ages.  And this of course, means back to school shopping.  Hence the reason I found myself in a car with my family several years ago, speeding down the Interstate on our way to one of the local outlet malls.  It was time to look for both clothing and school supplies.  My wife and I had planned to spend a little bit too much money, as well as toting two tired kids around from store to store.  All of that is very normal considering the circumstances.  What we hadn't counted on, however, was to be part of a large traffic jam that same day. 

Two semi-trucks ended up in an accident about two miles ahead of our exit in route to the shopping mall.  One was in the ditch, and the other was split in half!  I'm not sure what caused it, but you can imagine the chaos that ensued thereafter.  Fortunately, I don't remember any fatalities being reported that day.  We were stuck at a complete standstill for almost three hours.  Unable to move in any direction. 

It reminded me of how some people conduct themselves on the faith journey that God has assigned to them.  I suspect a good many people become stranded along the way, falling prey to distraction or even some garden variety idol worship.  I believe that Scripture supports the idea that we should stay active and moving when it comes to our faith.  Not that we can't have lulls or respites here and there, but for the most part, I think that an active faith requires forward momentum.  

We should stay in motion while we pursue the things of God; we need to make sure our "vehicles" are in drive and not neutral.  Worse yet, some have shifted their car into park ... they are at a dead standstill, completely giving up on spiritual growth.  Just as the fleet of SUV's and minivans were stuck that day on the Interstate, so are those who cannot seem to generate an intentional and vibrant faith.  There are two Scriptures that I want to quote today to help illustrate this spiritual standstill.  Proverbs 8:35 says, "For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord."  And then 2 Timothy 4:7 says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."  

Although these two passages were written years apart by two different authors, they convey basically the same sentiment.  They talk about the importance of movement and motion in order to engage with God.  Proverbs 8 mentions actively seeking after the Lord, and 2 Timothy talks about finishing a race.  Keep seeking, and keep running the race.  At any point in time, we have the ability and the calling to shift our vehicles from neutral into drive.  We need not settle for being stuck in traffic and becoming spiritually stagnant.  

Partner with God so as to realize the plans He has for your life; not to mention the lives of those around you.  Once you start to let Him in, it can create a ripple effect not unlike throwing a pebble into a pond.  If people see the Jesus inside of you, then they might be encouraged to shift their own cars into drive as well.  Life is so much more than just going through the motions until we get to our next exit.  If you see the ripple from across the pond, then take the time to go and see what all the fuss is about. 

Let's face it - a life without God is often an empty pursuit.  Much of the time we can end up at a standstill, wondering just how much of what we have accomplished in the secular world might be in vain.  Consider instead, moving in conjunction with the Holy Spirit on a faith walk prepared especially for you by a loving God, who desires nothing more than to spend time together.  Get up, get moving, and get to church.  Become one of those cars speeding by from the other lane on the Interstate.  

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Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

I do a fair amount of teaching at a local college.  This actually goes hand in hand with my role as a pulpit supply preacher; the two occupations make use of the same public speaking component.  As a teacher, I attended an Adult Literacy conference a few years ago, and one of the guest speakers was a young woman named Lilian Okech.  She was an immigrant from the Sudan who created a successful cleaning business here in the United States.  Through hard work and determination, Lilian battled the typical discrimination that immigrants often face in our country and formed a viable business in spite of those roadblocks.  

She spoke eloquently and with passion about how our education system has the opportunity to make or break aspiring students.  At one point, she told a story of how one of her teachers told her she was "smart and beautiful."  Lilian said that this phrase stuck in her mind from the time she was young, and helped guide her through the rest of her life.  May we all hope for teachers like this.  So at this point I want to take a break from everything going on in the world today, and let the reader know that God thinks you are beautiful also.  The book of Genesis says that you and I are created in God's image, and that we are to have dominion over the Earth and everything in it.  This is no small feat by the way.  In fact, the Lord views us as His children, and loves us with an incredible passion.

John 15:12-13 says, "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."  We remember here that Jesus was foreshadowing his own death and crucifixion on the cross - the ultimate loving sacrifice given freely to humankind.  God sacrifices for His people until it hurts (both literally and figuratively).  As I have said before, we are beautiful in His eyes.  1 Peter 3:3-4 states further, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  God's spirit inside of us is of innumerable value, and Peter compares it here with unfading beauty.  Have I mentioned lately that God loves us?

All of these wonderful Scriptures do not, however, mean that God also loves our sin.  We may be created in His image, but when we do things we ought not to, it isn't beautiful in God's eyes at all.  Remember the Bible states that our bodies are like temples, designed to project and reflect His light.  Contrast this with people engaging in behaviors such as spiritual pride or blasphemy for example, and we have a whole new problem.

So how do we bridge that gap between God’s love and our sin?  The answer is simple, but not easy.  God's restitution plan for us is to believe in Jesus, and repent of our sin.  If we accept Christ's death on the cross and believe that God raised him from the dead, we will be participating in the great atonement.  This isn't easy because in order to come to Christ, we must first accept our own shortcomings and ask for forgiveness.  And I don't mean the backhanded, excuse-laden false apology either ... I'm talking about asking for real forgiveness.

We are beautiful in God's eyes in the sense that Jesus saves us and redeems us.  When God looks at the born-again believer, He sees the reflection of Christ's light in them.  But understand this also, God loves those for whom salvation has not yet occurred as well.  All life originates from the Creator, and as such, all life is precious and beautiful.  

So please don't stop here.  Go that extra step and seek out a relationship with the one that created you.  Don't forgo the potential you have to walk closely with the carpenter from Nazareth.  It's a different kind of fulfillment; better than what the regular world offers.  It is - dare I say - beautiful.  There is an old hymn that many will find familiar called ‘Jesus Loves Me.’  The lyrics were adapted from a poem written in 1860.  One of the stanzas says, “Jesus loves me this I know, because the Bible tells me so.”  It was true then, and it is true now.  Never stop seeking out the God who loves you and sacrificed Himself on your behalf.  

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Our Pride, God's Humility

It's fashionable today to advertise how important we are.  Peruse anyone's social media account or Instagram, and you may find hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures glorifying their accomplishments.  For some, it's a matter of pride.  Showing the world photos of their vacations, new house, or new car is akin to the kings of the Old Testament constructing palaces full of opulence and grandeur.  All of it designed to do one thing: show the world that we are important, and that we matter.  

I have always appreciated the story of Naaman in the Bible.  He was a soldier who served the king of Aram.  Naaman was considered an accomplished warrior, leader, and right-hand man to the king.  But Scripture tells us he also had leprosy.  Finally after years of suffering from this affliction, he heard about this mysterious God of Israel who sometimes healed people.  2 Kings 5:2-3 recounts it like this, "Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife.  She said to her mistress, 'If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria!  He would cure him of his leprosy."

From there, the story goes on to tell us that Naaman eventually visits the king of Israel, in an attempt to be healed of his disease.  But the king denies him, and redirects Naaman to the prophet Elisha.  This famous prophet commands him to then bathe in the Jordan river seven times, at which point he would be healed.  Naaman complains at first that the cure is 'too simple!'  He can't believe that it's free, and that there is no ceremony attached to it.  After all, he is a renown warrior, and surely worthy of some type of public celebration, right?  Apparently not.  Eventually Naaman relents and visits the river to follow Elisha's instructions.  He is healed that same day.  Later, this famous warrior ends up repenting and accepting God.  The good news of the Gospel made its mark on him.  

There are many lessons we can take from this account, but I want to point your attention to something in particular.  Notice that God brings awareness of the miraculous healings happening in Israel to Naaman's attention via a lowly servant girl.  He was then given instructions on how to proceed by the servant Elisha (instead of the king).  In his excellent book 'What is Wrong with the World', author Timothy Keller says that God shows Naaman that the way to healing is through servants and common folk; not kings or politicians.  In essence, God works through regular people in order to produce miraculous things.  

Surely we know this is true.  Just take a quick look at how God reached people throughout the Bible.  Moses was not well spoken or rich, yet he led a nation out of slavery with God's help.  David was a mere shepherd boy, but God made him a king.  And of course, Jesus himself chose several poor fisherman and a tax collector to help spread a message that would change the world.  Time and time again, we are reminded of this strange lesson: man glorifies himself with wealth and power, but God spreads the Gospel message through the humble and obedient.  He uses regular, ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  

Now this is a difficult lesson for us today.  We are often surrounded by lavish creature comforts, especially here in America.  For example, we don't even have to go to a theatre anymore to watch a movie and be entertained, we can simply stream it at home on our television.  But understand this timeless Biblical truth - the pursuit of significance without God always leads to empty riches and lonely fortune.  If we really want God to use us, then it appears we must be willing to stay humble and submit to His authority.  May we always choose God over pride, and be willing to empty ourselves so that He may fill us with something redemptive and new.  Something that the regular world cannot give us through status or position.  

 

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The Gospel Effect

The Gospel message about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is just as important now as it was two-thousand years ago.  During this time of uncertainty in the world, I have learned a couple of things.  First, people need each other.  No matter how technologically advanced we get, we still have a deep desire to be in relation with others.  I have also noticed that trials and difficult times really do build character, and can also be redeemed by God for our spiritual growth.  Keeping both of these things in mind, the idea of the 'Gospel Effect' (the notion of the work that Jesus does in our hearts and minds) has become paramount.  

I want to talk about a particular story relating to transformed hearts.  It is often known as the Parable of the Leaven.  This teaching from Jesus occurs both in the book of Matthew and the book of Luke.  It is very short, but as you can probably guess, also very profound.  Matthew 13:33 says, "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."  From this little story, I believe we can take away two more points in particular.  First, much like leaven (or yeast), the kingdom of heaven can take some time to develop and mature.  We ought not apply today's fast paced, technology driven lifestyle to the Gospel Effect.  Not always anyhow.  When the Spirit of God begins a work in us, it often starts slowly and might be barely noticeable to the individual. 

Second, I believe we can take from this teaching, that the kingdom of heaven starts from the 'inside' and works its way outward.  Like leaven that permeates through the entire package of dough, Jesus begins working inside of a person's heart and mind.  The changes are often not obvious from other people's perspective, until the overflow of God's love begins to come out of that individual through the words they speak and the things they do.  Leaven may start small, but the end result is irrefutable.  We are sometimes impatient with God, aren't we?  Instead of waiting for the dough to rise, we might decide that a trip to the fast food restaurant is a better idea.  We drive past the window, hand our money to the employee, and off we go with a bag full of junk food.  Quick, easy, and also not very good for us.  We should wait on the leaven instead. 

By contrast, if we wait on God and allow the leaven time to work through the dough, the end result is impressive (and much better for us than fast food).  It goes without saying then, that God probably has to wait on us a good portion of the time also.  The Bible says He is infinitely patient with Israel, and with us also.  And if we stop to think about things for just a millisecond, we can see how true this is.  How many times have you and I failed to meet God's holy law?  More than a few times I would think.  If you disagree, stop reading this immediately and turn to the ten commandments in the Old Testament.  Go down the list with each one, and apply it to your own life.  Humbling, isn't it?

Little doubt that God is the very embodiment of patience and love.  I often see this truth wherever I look.  My advice is this: allow God's Holy Spirit to make little in-roads into your life.  Give this Gospel Effect time to take hold, and work in you from the inside out.  Who cares if other people around you notice this change immediately or not.  Your sanctification walk is between you and the Creator.  Revel in that intimate time together with God; Jesus died on the cross so that you could have it.  Don't waste it.  Sooner or later, those around you will notice the end result.   

 

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My Prayer for You

My prayer for you son,

Is that you walk, don’t run.
Stop and take life in,
Savor its joy and its disappointment;
Learn from them both.

My prayer for you son,
Is not just to win, but have fun.
Work hard, but also wander through life’s

fields, see how they grow and cultivate 

and rejuvenate.

 
My prayer for you son,
Is to know that God has won.
He is in the world, in your head, and in 

your heart. Jesus matters, and loves you

forever.

 
But most of all, my prayer for you,
Is to love, and trust, and enjoy life too.
Where Heaven starts, your soul will flourish.
This is the world I want you to know,
Not just to survive, but also to grow.

 

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The Sacred Classroom

I have been a teacher ever since I can remember.  From my earliest days, I was helping the other kids in elementary school write essays and complete their assignments.  Later, when I became an adult and entered the workforce, I found myself being assigned duties associated with instruction and training.  Eventually I got the title of “trainer” to go along with it.  I now work as a GED instructor full-time at a local college.  I have always held to the notion that if nothing else, the classroom is a sacred space.  This is where the magic happens.  Students learn to grasp concepts, and the teachers learn to meet people where they are at.  Teaching can be both a challenge and a joy as well, depending on what type of group you are working with. 

I have often marveled at how much our lives are like a classroom when it comes to developing spiritual character.  God will often bring us into circumstances where we are required to learn something important.  And I suspect also, that we are forced to repeat these lessons until we finally master them.  C.S. Lewis once wrote that God will not keep giving us simple math questions forever.  At some point, He will move us on to Algebra.  And so it is with the sacred classroom of life.  Try as we might, it’s no good complaining when we must endure challenges and setbacks, because these are the advanced Algebra problems that we are given sometimes. 

Proverbs 4:7 tells us, “The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”  And cost us it surely does.  None of us make it through this life unscathed.  We will all experience grief, sadness, and pain … but also joy, happiness, and even bouts of peace.  Trust me when I say, God is riding in the seat right next to us during this roller coaster ride.  The famous verse from Romans 5:3-4 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  Although it’s easy to forget the hope part while you are in the middle of the storm.    

When it comes to education, most people must overcome some type of hurdle in order to cross the finish line and get the diploma.  My own GED students often show up with dramatic deficiencies in both math and writing.  There is something about dropping out of high school in the tenth grade that produces this symptom.  Nevertheless, they show up, and we teach them.  Typically, they are writing essays and passing math tests after just a few months!  But it comes at a cost.  They are continually being introduced to new concepts and clearing hurdles that they never imagined possible.  So will you and I, if we listen and learn what God is trying to show us in our own sacred classroom. 

I wish it were all as easy as mastering a geometry problem or crafting a well written paragraph.  But no, I’m afraid in this life, God usually brings us face to face with our own sin and inadequacies.  And while looking at this difficult reflection of our incomplete selves through His mirror, the only glimmer of hope we have is Christ Jesus.  His classroom is the church, his textbook the Bible, and his teaching assistant is the Holy Spirit.  Rest assured, God will take you through the same lesson over and over again if you need it.  It may look a bit different each time, but until you conquer your pride, ambition, lust, or greed – He will steer you through the textbook in order to get to the finish line.  In His eyes, we are always worth the trouble. 

A teacher should never give up on a student, as long as the student is willing to learn and put in the effort.  If they aren’t willing, however, then they are doomed to keep taking the same test over and over again.  This will go on until they finally begin to study and prepare.  Are you and I studying in the same way?  Or are we taking tests with our eyes closed, and just hoping to pass accidentally?  Hope is a great thing, but it isn’t a solid strategy for achievement.  Listen to the great Teacher, study His Word, and then apply what you have learned in your life.  I suspect that the final exam will go better that way.  Your hope will then be well placed and rewarded. 

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Those Who Have Ears to Hear

I can't tell you how many times I have finished preaching a sermon on Sunday morning, only to find out that several people walked away with an entirely different meaning than what I had intended.  It doesn't happen every time, but often enough that I have begun to take notice.  It isn't that they heard something entirely opposite mind you; it's just that for them, a different emphasis came across.  I preach the same sermon, but other people interpret the message differently.  I believe this to be both profound and supernatural at the same time, and I will attempt to explain why. 

All of this begs the question: how do we hear God's Word?  Or to put it another way ... how do we interpret what God is trying to tell us?  When attempting to answer Biblical questions, it never hurts to use the Bible to interpret itself.  I am not talking about circular reasoning here (i.e.: I believe it because the Bible said it), but rather I'm talking about using key concepts in Scripture as a reference guide.  The Word itself tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and fit for teaching and reproof.  So, let's use what Scripture says in one place to understand what God is talking about in another place.

Matthew 11 relates a conversation that Jesus had regarding John the Baptist.  He is attempting to convince some of John's followers that he is the legitimate Messiah that God was going to send to the people.  Jesus then makes this odd statement in Matthew 11:15, "Whoever has ears, let them hear."  At first glance this may come across as a very strange thing to say, but many scholars agree that this simple statement is a directive for God's people to 'listen up.'  It is an imperative that directs those for whom a truth might apply, to make sure they don't miss it.  It's a wakeup call to those who were lucky enough to be listening to one of Jesus' parables two-thousand years ago.  It's also a command for us to listen closely today.

You see, we can decide what truth we let into our hearts, and what we will choose to disregard.  We can harden our hearts like Pharoah, or we can choose to accept what God is trying to impart to us like Moses.  We keep our radio receiver set to "high," or we can keep it set to the lowest volume level possible.  No doubt the Lord works on us during sermons and exegesis.  His Word searches our hearts and souls, isolates an issue, diagnoses it, and finally works to begin the sanctification process.  I can't remember how many times just the right sermon happened to come on the radio when I am driving somewhere and flipping past the different radio stations. 

It takes a certain type of determination to really understand what the Bible has to say about humanity and our role in God's kingdom.  It also takes study to make sure that we are properly comprehending what He has intended for us to hear.  In fact, I believe many are led astray today by false preachers and false prophets because they suffer from Biblical illiteracy.  If we don't know what God actually said in the first place, then we can be easily led away from true revelation.

Continue to work on your spiritual listening skills.  Our relationship with God isn't unlike our Earthly relationships in that regard.  If we never take the time to call our friends and catch up, then we remain in the dark as to what they are doing.  Likewise, if we want to develop ears that can hear, we must dial up our Lord and Savior from time to time and have a chat.  

Scripture and preaching reveal truth handed down through the ages from the lips of God's prophets and disciples, but it is up to us to listen properly.  We are the ones who must make up our minds to actively engage with God's Word in ways that go beyond regular hearing.  We must focus on the truth with spiritual eyes and ears.

John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."  This statement is taken from a very personal conversation that Jesus had with God the Father, asking Him to keep and protect his followers.  God's Word is in fact the same thing as truth spoken plainly.  Be part of a church that partners with God to practicing listening with ears that can hear.  Listen to as many sermons as you can, test them against what the Scriptures actually say, and then bask in the revelation that God has given you.  

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An Ocean of God's Mercy

I fully believe that the concept of mercy is skewed today.  We have a limited understanding of how deep God's love is, and how depraved the sin nature of man can be.  Some hold to a notion that the things we have done in the past could not possibly be forgiven.  Doubtless because we don't often witness this type of all-inclusive forgiveness by watching the world around us.  It's a very rare thing indeed.  

One of my favorite stories is about Jesus being anointed by a "sinful woman" at the home of a Pharisee.  Here is what Luke 7:36-38 says: "When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them."

The owner of the home didn't understand the woman's intentions.  Sometimes love acts differently than we expect, especially when our worldview or perspective doesn't line up with the person extending the grace.  Luke 7:47 further says this: "Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown.  But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." 

I don't think we appreciate the full scope of Christ's atonement and sacrifice sometimes.  It's hard for us to get our heads around it.  It isn't until we come to terms with our own sin nature, that we can truly love God for His ability to forgive us and grant us mercy.  You see, we have been forgiven a lot, so we can love a lot.  

God's mercy is vast like the sea; it allows us to love deep and wide.  Anyone who has been to the coast and taken in the beauty of the ocean can attest to the fact that it has an eternal quality.  You cannot see the other side of it, just a vast, blue horizon line stretching off into the distance.  It seems to have no definitive end; just like God's grace.  

My family and I try to visit Florida once a year for vacation.  We enjoy simply basking in the sun while wading through the relaxing waves on the beach.  Once in a while, you get a reminder of how wild and beautiful God's creation really is.  Maybe a jellyfish swims by, or a school of colorful fish.  Then I remember just how all-encompassing and teeming with life our world is.  I suspect God's mercy is like that as well; teeming with life and joyful anticipation of forgiveness from Him.  To take that next step and accept Christ into our lives ... to wade through the waves of life with Him.

The book of Isaiah is one of my Old Testament favorites.  Chapter 30:18 says, "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!"  This verse comes to us from a set of Scriptures that talk about how God is disappointed with his followers at the time.  He first admonishes them, like any good parent would do.  But then He reaches out to them and offers a loving hand.  God's patience is long suffering and eternal.  Like the wide, blue horizon of the ocean stretching into the vast skyline, so is God's heart for you and I.  There are hardly words to describe it.    

I suppose the lesson here is two-fold: don't take God's mercy for granted, and at the same time, don't forget to revel in it also.  We can be comforted by His goodness, and humbled by His grace at the same time.  It is an ocean of love that we may never fully understand, but He lets us wade in it just the same. 

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Resurrection of the Son

The literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin of the Christian faith.  It doesn't matter which denomination or slant you derive your Biblical understanding from, Easter Sunday is a big deal.  It is perhaps, the biggest deal.  In my humble opinion, it is even more important than Christmas and Good Friday.  It is the key to understanding how we fit into God's overarching view of salvation, eschatology, and theology.  The resurrection of Christ is like God's approval stamp on the life and ministry of His son.  It's akin to the angels in Heaven announcing through a megaphone: "God has come into the world, and you need to listen to Him!"  

If we think back and imagine other historical events that shaped history, it's easy to see how timelines can overlap and build on each other.  Take for example, the invention of the printing press in the Middle Ages.  This incredible machine was responsible for reproducing the Bible for others to read and pass down through the generations.  Today, this amazing book has been translated into roughly 736 languages across the globe.  Imagine the impact this has had on faith conversions and evangelism.  Regular everyday people can now read the Bible for themselves, without depending on a bishop or cardinal to interpret the Scriptures for them.  It revolutionized our faith.

In the same way, Easter Sunday is our annual reminder that Jesus came to Earth, spread the Gospel message, and then died and was resurrected to save us from our sins.  There is much less fanfare in our country over Easter than for the Christmas shopping holiday, but the resurrection is no less important.  If it hadn't happened, churches would have nothing to talk about.  They would be more like social meetups or country clubs.  

1 Peter 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."  And dead in our sins we would be, if it wasn't for our Lord and Savior.  

John Wesley (founder of the Methodist faith) once said that he feared someday the church would end up mimicking the appearance of spiritual fortitude, but without any real power behind it.  Some have argued that this is where many lukewarm churches are today.  Great music, entertaining liturgy, but not much of a Gospel message.  Churches that don't preach Christ crucified are in this boat I think.  And it's a comfortable boat: a lot like a cruise ship - sailing through an ocean of lukewarm water.  But it never actually reaches a spiritual port or destination.

The captain makes sure never to pilot the vessel into dangerous choppy water, so the passengers don't know what fighting for their faith looks like.  Just an endless voyage in a comfortable floating bubble, guided by human beings and politics instead of the Holy Spirit.  For boats (and churches) like this, Easter Sunday means just dinner with the family and maybe watching some sports on television afterwards.  Maybe some good praise band music at church if they are lucky (if they attend service at all).  

But for Christ centered churches, the resurrection drives and motivates them.  It's like Superbowl Sunday for the faith.  The sermon is important, and the music exists to help drive home the Gospel message and assist us in worshipping the Creator.  These churches are repeating the megaphone message from the angels: "Wake up world, and acknowledge the King of Kings!"  

So if you attend church on Easter Sunday, remember the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, so that we could have eternal life.  Ruminate on the notion that Christ removed the sin barrier stopping us from reconciling with a Holy and just God.  And then, by all means, go home and enjoy dinner with the family and some television afterwards.  There may even be an egg hunt; but not before you praised and worshipped God for the empty tomb.  That is what really matters. 

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Christianity Operates by Invitation

In his excellent book 'Lead, Follow, and Move Hell out of the Way,' author Scott Prickett writes, "Invitation is the mechanism for multiplication."  This simple statement echoes an important point as it relates to the evangelical nature of the Christian faith.  Namely, that you invite people to meet Jesus, but you cannot argue anyone into salvation.  Some have stated that other religions rely on compulsion or an almost cult-like adherence to rigid rules and traditions (i.e.: "You must comply with our way of worship, or else.").  This type of fear mongering, however, often leads to problems with compliance and conversion over the long haul.  There is no grace here.

If we look at the Gospel of John, we see an entirely different way of thinking about faith.  John 10:17-18 says, "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life - only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.  This command I received from my Father."  With this passage, Jesus not only speaks about his Lordship and God's sovereignty, but also about his willful sacrifice for us on the cross.  He lays down his life willingly.  Jesus suffered, died, and was buried, only to rise again on the third day.  This is the Easter miracle, and the lynchpin of our Christian faith.  

Now just imagine if his death and resurrection were out of compulsion and not love.  Think how much that would change the nature of Christianity.  The atonement for sin may not exist, and the cross would no longer be a symbol of love and grace.  Fortunately for you and I, the death of Jesus was instead a sacrificial act of love in order to reconcile humanity's sins.  Just as God called for Old Testament animal blood sacrifice, Jesus was mankind's sinless and perfect penitent (the blood of the Lamb).  And I believe that from this willing sacrifice, comes a tradition that is propagated upon the idea of grace through faith, by invitation.  He invites; we respond and follow.  

God never forces anyone to come to reconciliation with Himself via the cross.  He gives us the ability to choose Him (or not).  Although some interpretations of salvation Scripture argue a type of choice-less determinism (called predestination), I believe this to be a misnomer.  Hopefully the Calvinists will forgive me here, but I see no convincing argument to be made insisting that we cannot choose our own fate.  Believe that God raised Jesus in your heart, and speak about him with your mouth, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9).  Likewise, anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).  These statements are part of something called the Roman Road to Salvation, and it outlines just how you and I might reach out to God and take Him up on His invitation for salvation.  He will not force us to come to Him, but He will definitely accept us if we do.  This is the promise of our faith.  

Take some time now, to think about the difference between two different types of religious examples.  The fear-mongering proselyte versus the grace-filled evangelist.  The first walks around attempting to argue or scare people into the Christian faith.  They may focus on hell and damnation, without ever mentioning Heaven or forgiveness.  Their protocol is to win over a new convert through force or coercion.  But now imagine the other type of individual.  Talking to them about God results in peace and good fruit (patience, kindness, joy, etc.).  They draw a portrait of God which includes goodness, grace, and love.  More like a good Father than an angry dictator.  Now, which version of the faith would you be more inclined to respond to?  The second type I'm sure.  

We are lucky to have such a unique and loving invitation to go deeper from God.  In fact, we are invited to look further into what it means to walk beside Jesus on a daily basis.  To find out what it means to be granted salvation by no means of our own.  This invitation waits for all of us - it is the Good News.  See now this remarkable passage from Matthew 7:8, "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."  If you haven't already, it's time to start knocking on God's door.  Be assured that if you do, He will invite you in.    

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Accepting Christ is the Road Less Traveled

Jesus warns us in the Gospels about the narrow and wide gates.  He is speaking about heaven and hell, and makes it quite clear to everyone that salvation is a special gift.  For those who listen to his teachings and accept God's grace, eternal rest is promised.  But for those who do not respond to His call, a worse fate awaits.  Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

We understand that this truth is still at play today, two-thousand years after Jesus first said it.  This Scripture deals with the idea that those who wish to live a Godly life must pass through the narrow gate.  In other words, heaven isn't the default setting for everyone.  It takes an action on our part - namely, accepting Christ and becoming baptized in order to be saved.  Conversely, it also says that a good many people in this world will not do what it takes to seek after the Lord and be reconciled to God.  Instead, they will listen to what the secular world tells them: be selfish, acquire wealth, and run after whatever makes you feel good.  This is the wide gate, and many pass through it on a daily basis.

We have all heard the expression ‘a road less traveled.’  It is often used in conjunction with the idea that the most enjoyable destination is sometimes found in remote places.  While it may be much easier to traverse distance on a nice, paved four lane Interstate, the fact remains that this route may never move us past tourist traps and traffic jams.  If we really want to see nature, we must take the old, gravel road sometimes.

Rest assured, once we get out of the car and locate that special spot, the trip is well worth it.  But resisting the urge to join the rest of the pack and shop at the seductive tourist areas is difficult.  In a spiritual sense, the outside world is constantly calling to us.  It tells us to follow our own heart, compromise our beliefs for the sake of political correctness, and engage as a follower instead of a leader.  Let's face it, as time goes on, it will become more and more difficult to stick to Biblical theology and pass through the narrow gate unless we take the road less traveled.  It will be tempting to veer to the left or the right, and compromise the teaching that Jesus and the apostles left us.  The red letters in the Bible are sometimes difficult, but also well worth the effort.  We need not compromise our faith walk.  

We live in an era of hypersexuality, affirmation and celebration of sin, and lukewarm theology.  But this leads to the wide gate - many will pass through it.  They will mistake a spiritual feeling for true salvation.  Only Jesus saves, and this occurs through acceptance of his resurrection and grace.  It is a simple truth often left out of modern worship services today.  Grace through faith, and repentance from sin (or at least the attempt at fighting our sin).  These are the weapons of the spiritually wise. 

My prayer for all of you is that you continue to gauge what you hear today on YouTube and television against what the Bible actually says.  It will be difficult in the short run, but you will find new life through Christ in the long run.  It's a marathon not a sprint, and we must ensure that our shoes fit well during the race.  No off-brand sneakers will do ... only the real thing will hold up over time.  The Biblical Jesus is the real thing, and he always has been.  You will likely need to head off the beaten path a bit to find him, but he is there.  You just need to be willing to look. 

 

 

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