Grace Resistance

The New River Gorge Bridge

Where I grew up, the great New River Gorge Bridge spans across the top of two mountains over the New River, located some 867 feet above. 
It is over three-thousand feet long and once was boasted as the world's longest arch bridge.

Each year, thousands of people from across the country and around the world flock to 'The Bridge' on the third Saturday in October to celebrate, 'Bridge Day.'

Not long ago, I was privileged to minister with some believers on a mission team from the great state of North Carolina through connections with a pastor in the area on Bridge Day.
It was a wonderful, blessed time when I needed to 'get back into the groove' of ministry.
But I digress. 

The one thing you will not find there is a massive amount of locals; the people who drive across the Bridge everyday are less impressed than others. 
For those of us who can remember watching it being built, this rings even more true.
In all actuality, in many ways, we have grown accustom to the engineering feat of which so many stand in awe.

Near Eisenhower Tunnel/Loveland Pass, Colorado

This week, I have found the same thing in the Rocky Mountains.

Those of us who are not familiar with the handiwork of God on this side of the United States stand in awe of the snow-peaked mountains and the small towns scattered throughout the region.

The locals, however, have grown up with this beauty of God's creation before their eyes; in a sense, they see the beauty but have lost the 'awe factor' of amazement.

Sadly, the exact thing happens when it comes to God's grace.

We are so use to having God's grace and expecting His forgiveness, we no longer stand in awe of what He can do, does do, nor the daily miracle He performs in the individual Christian's life.

In reading the Gospels, most of the time we are no longer amazed at God's over-arching mercy or grace.
Though we see faith appearing where it is least expected and faltering where it should be thriving - as Christians, we are not as impressed as we once were.
And that is really, really sad.

It is as if the individual Christian has become so accustom to God's grace that we expect to be forgiven as a birthright rather than receiving forgiveness after repentance of sin.
If this is true, we are truly in a sad state and in need of grace more than ever before.

Have you ever wondered why the ministry of presence and prayer is so important to some people in the faith?
The reason is because, for some, they don't have money, they weren't born with pedigree and they don't have an overpowering education.

The one thing that they do have is faith and time.

Faith allows them hope and time allows them to be able to see the fulfillment of their hope.

For example, if you know aged Christians, when speaking with them you will soon find that they will recall difficult times in their life with nostalgia. 

In fact, I once read where 60% of the Britons who survived the Blitz on London perpetrated by the Nazi Luftwaffe, stated that the period was the happiest time of their lives.

This was a time of living below ground in tunnels and eating things you and I cannot even imagine, simply to survive another day; all the while praying and hoping pure evil would one day be defeated in yet another European War.

To me, that's amazing; until I realize that those who recall the Great Depression in the United States still speak of it has a hard, yet joyous time of struggle, survival and victory.

It seems that when we encounter difficult times in our lives, God, somehow through those times, gives us strength and builds our character.
Yet, our character would never be built through His strength in those times had we not had the faith or the moral foundation He has provided to us.

It is in these times when we are stretched to the breaking point, but He does not allow us to break.

Think of the great giants of the faith in Scripture; who do we remember the most?
It is those who were stretched, didn't break, but continued on despite the odds or setbacks.

You see, our deepest strength only comes through times of testing and trial.
And true Faith means trusting in advance what can only be understood in reverse.

Like millions of others, I have been hurt by other Christians and by the very people whom I was called to serve within the local church.
There are hundreds of different ways a person can be hurt by churches and Christians, but today, it is becoming epidemic. 

Sadly, there are millions of survivors of Church pain from false Christians, fake friends and pseudo-spiritual people.
It is these who abuse grace and falsify faith as good men and women are hurt within the walls where they should be the safest.

Yet, if we had not been through such trials in our lives, we would not own the deep strength those who injured us will never know.
If we had not endured those times, we could not know the victory in seeing our faith vindicated while others remain spiritually blind.

And if it had not been for those times, we could never fully understand in reverse what we believed in advance.

One thing that I am thankful for in having cancer, recovering and then being hurt by Christians I loved and a Church I served: I was able to relearn the awesomeness of forgiveness, mercy and grace.
That was an unintentional gift those who hurt me never intended to give and a wonder they have yet to understand. 

Through God's grace I have come to learn that they actually helped me by hurting me.

I can only describe it in the words of the Master, in a story He once told centuries ago.
In the story of the Prodigal Son, the father scans and searches the horizon waiting for the the son who left.
When the father sees him coming, he celebrates - not the faithful son who remained behind - but rather, he celebrates the return of the son who shamed him.
God does the same for every child that comes home to Him.

That is the scandal of grace.

You see, grace and mercy has never been about God's willingness to forgive us and give it; this has never, and I mean never, been in question. 
Instead, history is a story of humans who resist God's offer of grace to our lives.

We fail to understand the powerful words of the Apostle Paul: "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more."

Today in Christianity, there are some who protest fallen soldiers' funerals, others who believe homosexuals cannot ever be redeemed; certainly there are some who believe races should not mix and still others who are harsh fundamentalists majoring on the minor issues of the faith. 
And much of these things help us very little at all in our walk with the Lord.

With such a wide spectrum, and resistance to grace still rampant, the question still needs to be asked, "Can God forgive any sin?"
The absolute answer is 'yes.'

For, you see, the Kingdom of God is built on the back of murderers, adulterers and even those who have denied Him. 
But the problem is not with God and it never has been; friend, the problem is with us.

Forgiveness is our gift from God, but it is also our greatest problem; we have a hard time believing God's well of grace never runs dry.
To be perfectly blunt, the grace God has restored my soul with is the same grace He awaits to give to the men who hurt me within the church; yet, this gives us another problem we have with grace.

A man can indeed sin and he can repent.
Yet, repentance is harder after a man willingly sins, believing prior to the sin all he will have to do is ask forgiveness and he will receive it.
The man is right, that is all he would have to do; but the problem is that once we commit the sin, we may not want to come back to God in repentance.

You see, when a Christian plans to sin, whether that sin is betraying another Christian or committing adultery or stealing a grape from a grocery market, in that act of sin - we change.

Since the Garden of Eden, in every act of rebellion, we change; sin corrupts us further and we become estranged and out of fellowship with God.

When this happens, there is no guarantee that we will want to come back to Him.

Over the years, I have witnessed to so many people I could not begin to count them all.
Yet, one common theme among many is the fact that they are nice people and they don't want to hurt my feelings because they can sense my compassion and sincerity. 
Often, instead of outright rejecting Christ with their words, when asked if they want to accept Him for salvation, they will say, "Maybe later."

When we knowingly and purposefully sin against God in an act of open rebellion, we may continue to resist and reject His grace and forgiveness so much that the phrase, 'maybe later' will apply to our relationship with Him.

Don't ever allow yourself to remain in that prideful, rebellious, 'maybe later' place spiritually.
Do something about it and become reacquainted with the wonder of God's grace in your life.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Easter From a Different View

Tomorrow millions will celebrate Resurrection Day.
I along with them; for it is the greatest day in the history of the world.

Therefore, given the time of year, I have republished the following blog from a time past.
It is one of my favorites. Enjoy.
And, Happy Easter.


Over the years I have read many, many books. A long time ago, a person gave me an idea that has led to this post. I don't remember the author nor the book; but I do remember the idea. 
And while the idea is another's, the thought behind the print is my own.
This is Easter...from a slightly different point of view.


Room full. 
Disciples present - I am the greatest.
Towel. Basin.
 Feet washed - perfect humility.

Table set. All there. 
Judas dipped. John leaned. 
All wondered - Is it I?

Judas gone. 

This is my Body - Broken.
This is my Blood - Shed.
For you - New Covenant.

Mount Olives. Garden Grove - Ancient Gethsemane.
Sleepy Disciples. 
Torches. 
Company. 

Friend? 
Kiss.
Betrayal.

Seizing. Slicing. Healing.

Led Away - Peter followed.

Courtyard. Trial. High Priest.
Blasphemy. 

I don't know the man. 
Cock. Crowed. Thrice.
Eye Contact.

Peter Wept.

Innocent Blood - Betrayed.
Silver Pieces - Scattered.
Temple. Potter's Field.
Judas Hanged.

Romans. Pilate. No Fault.
What is Truth?

Scourged. 
Barabbas offered. 
Accepted. 
Hands Washed.

Crucify Him.

Simon Pressed. 
Cross Carried.
Lifted Up - This is the King of the Jews.

Behold, your Mother.
It is Finished.

Serpent's Head Finally Crushed.

Joseph. Body. Wrapped.
New Tomb. 
Death. 
Silence.
Sabbath.

Sunday. 
Day Break - New World Dawning.

Women. Spices.
Tomb. Open.
Tomb. Empty.
Alive!

Second Chance.
New Hope.
Redemption!

Jesus Alive!

Until Next time, try to win one for the good guys.

Good Friday Grace

"Think but how vile a spectacle it were

To view thy present trespass in another,

Men's faults do seldom to themselves appear;

Their own transgressions practically they smother."

                                                                               ~ Wm. Shakespeare


Like millions of other Christians around the world, today we celebrated Good Friday; it is the day on which Christ died.
While millions attend church services, millions more do not; those of us who do not usually spend the day at work talking about why we should have the day off.

But Good Friday is called 'good' for a reason; it is much more than a holiday or a church service commemoration or even a day off.

Jesus is what makes Good Friday, 'good;' for it was in Him that heaven and earth met together on a Cross suspended between humanity and God.
His sacrifice allowed any person to come to Him by faith and receive His grace and eternal life.
In Him, all things were able to be reconciled once and for all.

Which makes me wonder, 'if it truly is that easy to be reconciled, why do we make it so hard?'

We, as Christian and even as human beings, have a very hard time remembering that Jesus Christ is not the 'God of Gotcha!' 
Though He liberated us from such, over and over, we try to make Him be something He is not and His faith something it is not; it is that which Paul called "legalism."

Quite possibly, every church has a form of legalism; for it breeds in the heart of many seekers of God without noticing its effects.
There was a legalistic bent in my home church, the church in which I grew up; there was even a hint of it in the church where I served as pastor.

For example, in the church where I grew up, people who drank alcohol or found themselves in divorce court definitely had the aromatic stench of sulfuric hell-fire on them, while other sins went unmentioned, such as arrogance.
Other churches form a battle line around hymnals being the only proper place to find a 'Godly' song to sing for the Lord; still others, draw the sword against certain Bible translations.

All these things muddy the water and lessen the power of grace and the Gospel.

Interestingly enough, Jesus' life resembled the laws and rules of the Pharisees; yet, He reserved his fiercest attacks and strongest words for them.

In today's terms, His Pharisees would be our 'Bible-Belt Fundamentalists.'
And Jesus viewed them much more of a threat than any other faction in His society; yet, on the outside, they seemed like model citizens.

But remember, Jesus was killed by the common folks; no, He was murdered by the religious crowd. 
As a minister, I never forget this fact because the dangers of the Pharisees are still relevant today.

You see, whether it was the Pharisees of two millennium ago or modern day legalists; the Grace of God is ignored while the external action of the individual rises to the status of most important instead of their heart and the condition of their soul.
The great danger is the fact that nobody believes that they are a legalist, nobody.
Every individual believes that their rules are OK, but every one else who has rules make them too strict to follow.

We would do well to remember that Good Friday is good for a reason; it is good because of the blood atonement of Christ which ushered to us the opportunity for His wonderful grace in our lives.

In the words of the church father Augustine: "Love God and do as you please."
For, if one truly loves God, what they are pleased to do, will be honorable to Him.

In this regard within our lives, it boils down to what is trivial verses what is really important.

When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, His opponents were more concerned about religious protocol than they were about those who were no longer sick.
Today, some are too preoccupied with the length of a man's hair and the height of a woman's skirt rather than being willing to confront the modern issues of the homeless man on the street corner they passed on the way to church or the beggar standing next to the interstate off-ramp.
But this is not an new problem.

German Christians in the 1930's ignored what was blatantly happening to European Jews.
In the 1950's & 60's, Southern Christians ignored the lynching and institutional racism of their region.
In the 1970's & 80's, South Africans did much the same thing as our Southerns; only they were far more vicious.
One thing is for sure, each of the above scenarios had one thing at the center; it was a heart issue at the core.

Sometimes, I wonder how our generation will be judged when it comes to the social issues of our time because we Christians have a knack for pointing out the speck in the eyes of others without noticing the log in our own.

Christianity without the grace won on the first Good Friday (and the last valid Passover) encourages hypocrisy on various levels; the truth is that nobody, no person can ever live to the standard set by mortal men.
If humanity could not live by and according to the Holy Standard of God, then no man on earth can improve on the system to make it work.
Our rules simply cloak what is actually taking place in the heart.

In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead after giving some of the money they had acquired from selling land to the Body.
What was really happening in their hearts was that they were overcome by greed and lied to God over the matter - they attempted to appear more spiritual than what was actually true - that's why they were judged and stricken dead.

Now, you and I probably know more than our fair share of people who attempt to appear more spiritual than what they actually are; sometimes they run off a preacher, sometimes they fool their own families, sometimes the deceive everyone.
Not once have I ever seen one stricken dead inside a church; if God did that every time, I fear our churches would be filled with corpses rather than worshipers.

Indeed, some do fool nearly everyone. 
Everyone, that is, except God.

The only alternative to attempting to appear more spiritual is utter and complete honesty.
And once we are honest, this honesty will ultimately lead to repentance.
You see, hypocrisy disguises the need for grace; it is an elaborate mask but it is still just a

mask.
But the Holy Spirit can destroy all masks and deceptions through honesty, repentance and the grace of Christ.

There is a very real reason Good Friday is good.

In whatever form it takes, legalism fosters a personal pride in 'what I can do', instead of relying solely on what God can do within us and through us.
It also leads to the practice of deeming what is an 'acceptable' sin and which sins are 'unacceptable.'
The problem with judging our own sins against the sins of others, is of course, our list of 'acceptable sins' keeps changing for the worse.

Legalism instead of grace....it fails miserably before God.
If this was not true, Israel would have been in perfect obedience before God, but they were not.
Instead, strict laws only put 'what can I get away with?' into our minds.

For example, research has shown that children raised in tee-totaling faiths are three times more likely to become alcoholics.
I can actually understand this 'disobedient/rebellious' streak; when my home state enacted a law stating all people must wear a seat belt while in a car, all it did was make me want to NOT wear a seat belt. 

For some reason, we think we must have a set of rules or requirements filled before we can come to God. 
It isn't true and it stifles us; we tend to want to keep the rules or try to get around them as opposed to accomplishing the work of the Gospel.
Trying to circumvent imaginary rules will leave us with needles guilt and permanent scars which should have never been made by wounds that shouldn't exist.

Legalistic rules to our faith will cause us to play songs without ever hearing the music; it is missing the melody of the Gospel of Grace.
It causes us to miss the purpose of Grace altogether.

Yes, my friend, there is a reason it is called Good Friday.

Remembering Grace on Palm Sunday

"Good and Evil...do not reside in things but always in persons."

                                                                                                      ~ Paul Tounier


This week I attended the visitation of a friend's wife who passed away suddenly.
I knew her, but briefly; that is to say, I had met her once or twice and knew her name.
Yet, in the pictures displayed and the testimonies of those with whom I spoke who knew her well; two things became increasingly evident.
First - she had an infectious smile with the spirit to match it toward all people.
Secondly, like Christ, she will rise again.

This has brought to mind one question about our lives lived out before God and man.
What can we count on from God?

You and I are not guaranteed our ministries - they can disappear when a clique with power wants you gone; you're suddenly replaced with worldly thinking motives.
We're not guaranteed our homes - they can burn or be flooded in an instant.
We are not guaranteed our own safety - thousands are harmed each day without consent.
And we're not guaranteed even our own lives - no one knows the day or hour we will breathe our last, except God Himself.

So, what can we count on from God?

Friend, you can expect three things in this world, with the third coming from and being supplied by God.
Here it is: The World is good. The World is fallen. The World can be redeemed.
And this is applies to the universe and every person in it.

Much of the Gospel centers around people who are fallen, but essentially good people, but are faced with the choice of needed redemption.

One of my favorite instances in Scripture where this plays out dramatically is found in the

Gospel of John, chapter 4; it is Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in Samaria.

As Jesus broke the social boundaries of the day, He revealed that she had previously had five husbands and was currently 'shacking up' with a man who was not her husband.
She revealed that she was a true seeker by asking about the coming of the Messiah and questions of worship.
And it is obvious that this woman wants to do the right thing, she just needs a nudge in the right directions; as Jesus instructs her and reveals for the first time that He is the long-awaited Messiah, this unnamed woman becomes the first person to go out and actually bring others (including the city elders) to meet Christ.

She was good, fallen and in need of redemption all at the same time. 
And what I have found in life, most people are in the exact same situation on a daily basis.

Now, maybe you don't think so.
I challenge you to remember the Christ-mandated mission of the Great Commission; this all-important mission was led by a traitor. 
His name was Simon Bar-Jonah, better know to us as the Apostle Peter.

You see, many of Jesus' choices underscore His redemption and the human's regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

Bill Wilson was the found of Alcoholics Anonymous. He once stated that pain is the price and touchstone of spiritual rebirth.
And it's true.

To have our spirits honed into the purpose of Christ, many times it has to endure a season on pain and suffering.
In those times of trial and tragedy, often like Job, we do not understand what God is doing. If you are in that situation in life right now, remember we do not live life according to explanations, we live according to faith.

The grace of God in our lives isn't a magic formula as some would have us believe; instead, grace is a balm activated by a daily dependence on God.

There are some, even mature Christians, who envision God as Zeus-like.

He is a powerful man with lightening bolts aimed at wretched humans who anger him in the heavens.
But God works from below; through His people, by His Spirit.
He works through and in spite of our weaknesses; opening up to our hearts the possibility of redemption for everything I despise about my own sins in my heart.

In the end, looking at the Body of Christ as God's people; we can see even those we value as precious have their failings.
And this teaches me that God values our character more than our comfort and more than those times when we stupidly stumble before Him.

Our continuing maturing in Christ may cause us some difficulties and at times, some harsh roads to walk in life - but on the other side of those trials, we know things about ourselves, our character and about God that we would not have otherwise known had we not walked through those dark valleys.
In the end, I am inclined to believe that tough times are tough...with the purpose of realizing how great our God truly is and what He truly means in our lives.

The great King of Israel, David, proves to us that our personal relationship, maturity and walk with God can survive even the most horrid and appalling acts of disobedience.
King David was at first described as a 'man after God's own heart;' in later years, he committed adultery with Bathsheba, murdered her husband and lied to the nation. And still today, it is David who is revered among all other kings.
The reason is because of his repentant heart.

For all sins where we really blow it - David is the prime example; but let me compare him to some infamous men from modern times.

President Nixon has a lot of admirable intellectual achievements; both while in office and out of office in the remaining years of his life.
Yet, the downfall of Richard Nixon was secret taped recordings within the White House of the Watergate Affair.

In the same manner, President Clinton had some admirable accomplishments; but few remember anything about those accomplishments. 
Instead, we tend to remember the infamous 'stained dress.'

Yet, of both President Nixon and Clinton, there was never a confession of wrong doing.

Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Wm. J. Clinton

Nixon tended to live in what I call an 'ethical netherworld;' and was never really a likable person in the public eye.
Clinton lived in his own world; yet, I've met President Clinton and I can testify that he is truly a likable person.
But neither of these men  ever confessed their wrong doing; Nixon - not on his lying about the Watergate break-in and Clinton never confessed his sexual promiscuity.

King David confessed before God and man.

When Nixon was interviewed and had a chance to explain what had happened, he would simply repeat, 'mistakes were made,' of the Watergate affair.
President Clinton would only, and even today, admit what had already been revealed on the news and broadcast nationwide. 

King David went into a deep repentant state by admitting that he had, 'sinned against the Lord.'

President Nixon today is regarded still as 'Tricky Dick,' a man who was shady and manipulative. 
President Clinton is remembered as a sexual predator; a man who would tell half-truths resulting in whole lies; one who cannot be trusted.

Years after David confessed before the Lord, and still today; Israel did not remember him for his lust and sin. Instead, Israel's chroniclers remembered David as the standard of faithfulness to achieve in life.
Today, King David is remember for His devotion and willingness to admit and repent his wrong-doings.

This tells me that the world's way of doing things still isn't right after 6,000 years of recorded history. Instead, if you and I want to be great in the Kingdom, we must humble ourselves in repentance with open hands so that we might be filled with His Spirit resulting in grace and mercy.

And there are others in Scripture who teach similar things.

Elijah ran from Ahab and Jezebel after standing boldly against their prophets of Baal in the famous 'Rain Contest' on Mount Carmel.
Elijah was coaxed back by God; not from being scolded, but by being whispered to in the Spirit and fed by ravens.

Peter had returned to fishing; but at his lowest point, Jesus restored Him in a private conversation on a beach in Galilee.

As the world is good, fallen and in need of redemption; as humans, we are righteous, sinners

and in need of repentance - every day.
If you have stumbled, just remember, God is undeterred by our betrayal and failings; His grace and mercy makes all things new.
And that includes your heart and spirit - day by day.

And this, my friends, the empowerment of the Spirit of God into our hearts each day, that is a Triumphal Entry to be celebrated every day of our lives.
And the best way to celebrate His grace and spiritual empowerment every day is to lose our lives in Him and into one another in our service to God.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Loopholes in Grace

"Truly it is an evil to be full of faults, but it is a still greater evil to be full of them, and be unwilling to recognize them."

                                                                                                     ~ Blaise Pascal




Often I check the 'tracker' for this blog; it tells me where in the world people are located when they read these words.
The majority are from the United States; yet, it is truly humbling to know that there are believers in the Ukraine who read the words God gives me faithfully.
Knowing the political and military struggle that is taking place in Europe, it brings a blessing to my heart.

This began as one man struggling with what was believed to be the last stages of life. 
At that time, I was diagnosed with stage four lung/adrenal cancer; I had the support of my family and several from my church. 
The readership was high and while it has went down a little, it has grown overseas; to the point where I can no longer joke that tragedy and death bring ratings.

Today, the blog remains and has evolved into a review of some of the most crucial questions of a person's individual faith.
This too is suffering, albeit a different kind.

It has been my experience spiritual and emotional suffering is just as traumatic to a human being as physical suffering, even suffering with death on the horizon.
This is especially true when one has been hurt by a church family or another believer once held dear to the heart.

Therefore tonight, I pose a simple question with a simple answer.
Question: Is it ever OK to write someone out of your life?
Is there a time when a Christian can and even should walk away from another person, including other Christians?

Friends, the answer is unequivocally 'yes,' although it may be painful to do so.

It's easy to say that one can write an abuser out of their life, or a rapist or a child molester. But we're not talking about the worst of the worst; we're talking about another Christian; one who appears to be serving the Lord, but brings you personal anguish.
Is it OK to write that person out of your life until repentance and restoration occurs by the hand of God?

If another person, including believers, have injured you in the past and you have forgiven them; yet, they continue to bring you anguish to the point where your walk and witness may be compromised - then yes, as a Christian you should walk away.
And if you do, it will be sad for you have lost touch with a sibling in Christ; yet, there will also be a load lifted because you will be allowed to heal without further injury or salt in your spiritual wounds.

But, let me say this - if you ever do walk away from another believer in a manner just described; you had better leave room for restoration and grace.

You see, grace has no limits; which means it can penetrate the most hardened or hurt heart; but it also means there is a scent of scandal about grace because it sounds just too good to be true.

As a Christian who, like millions of others, have suffered physically and then been injured by a Christian fellowship, I know 'grace abuse' is very real.
People who do things they know could hurt others, but also know God will for forgive them; these are abusers of grace and they generally hurt other believers and don't even realize it.

Sometimes they do realize it and do it intentionally and the question for their soul is not can God forgive, He can.
The real question is after they have injured other believers knowingly, will they want to ask for forgiveness and be restored?
And that's a question that can only be answered by judging the fruit of the tree. 

The great Church Father Augustine stated: 'God give where He finds empty hands.'
The truth is that if a person's hands are full, then they can't receive a gift; including a gift from God Himself.

A Christian who accepts no responsibility or will admit no guilt cannot accept forgiveness; their hands are too full.

Scripture teaches that there are guilty people who acknowledge their sin and others who don't (Jn. 8); but it doesn't really matter if one acknowledges it or not - all remain guilty in some manner.

Most Christian deny far more than we confess fault; yet, unless the Holy Spirit awakens the pain of sin and guilt within our aching soul; it cannot be healed.

When a Christian becomes an abuser of grace at your expense, then yes; you can walk away until the Lord provides reconciliation.

Scripturally, Jude warns of the possibility of good Christians to, 'change the grace of our God into a license for immorality."
Sadly, some have done just that under the banner of freedom.

For a Christian to sin to get what they want or to go along with the popular voice, thinking they can repent later - THAT is the sin of which Jude speaks.
Unfortunately, anyone who has been around a church for very long, has seen this happen; and if you have ever been hurt by a church, you've seen considerably more of it than your fair share.

Yet, most will rationalize and not see the need for repentance.

For example, thousands of Lutheran pastors preached grace while their government in the form of the Nazi Party pursued societal endorsed racism and later, genocide.
Until the war machine came for them, they never saw the need for repentance.

Sin has a definite stench of death about it; why would a true Christian choose it?
Well, we are products of our fallen world and some begin to think like the world from time to time, thinking God ends will be achieved by man's means.
In short, like hogs on the farm, we tend to enjoy a good wallow in the mud.

Yet, if a person truly understands what God has done for him, the Christian ought not abuse the gift of grace nor injure other believers; instead, the Christian will strive to live worthy of His Love, Grace and Mercy.

Until next time, when one for the good guys.

Resembling Grace

"Compassion is the basis of morality."

                                                                              ~ Arthur Schopenhauer 

Sometimes we see pure and clear evidences of God in the world; at other times they come into our lives when we least expect them.

But when they do arrive, the image of the Christian and of God as portrayed by the world, is decimated.

Let me explain...

Last week, I witnessed a church actively feed and engage the homeless in a city park.
They were given as much as they wanted to eat, stayed as long as they desired and even were given 'take home' meals for the weekend if the individual felt they needed it.
No questions asked, just come and partake; I have never seen so many people with so little look as if they were so blessed.

And the wonderful thing about this entire activity was that every person who were a part of the church involved in this ministry was actively engaged with the homeless, showing them compassion and love.

How many of the Church members had tattoos? Or were divorced? Or had used drugs in the past? Or had been delivered from any number of sins not considered 'respectable' by society?

It didn't matter because Jesus had redeemed them all through His blood and by His grace and was now using those same people to touch others greatly in need of His love.

The Church itself was not there because it was just a 'church ministry,' or something they felt they were obligated to do.
No...ministry, true ministry in Christ's name will not work in such a manner.
The people of the Church were there because they wanted those who were less fortunate and hurting to be touched by the hand of Christ.

They succeeded.

At the same Church, I saw adult men and women with mental disabilities welcomed into worship on a beautiful Sunday morning.
In the past, I have seen people with Down's Syndrome, Autism or some other disability become spectacles or treated as 'second class' citizens.
No church would ever admit as much, but many Christians have been shamed by their own hidden feelings in this area; the church I attended last Sunday opened these children of God with open arms - knowing each had a story in their past and a hope with Christ in the future.

In one instance, within the last week, I took part in a prayer that was given with our hands joined in the middle of his business with his family for God's blessing on the day.
At another time, I was able to be spiritually fed in the home Bible study of a person whom I had just recently met.

God was allowed to live through His followers and touch others in the world with His compassion and grace.

In all these things, Jesus was present, active and dispensing grace.

The truth is that God is often present, if we choose to see His work through the eye of faith. Maybe we just need the Lord to touch our eyes anew.

Like the disciples after the resurrection, if you are looking with faithful eyes, we never know where Jesus will turn up in our lives.
And when He does, there is a familiar pleasantness about it.

When Jesus was physically on the earth, our world was a much better place; if only for a short time in one particular region.
But when Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples were left looking around, not really knowing what to do; they were wanting some clue or direction as to how they should carry forward.
Most people have been in the same predicament in life - their world suddenly changes and they no longer know what to do because normalcy has radically changed.

From Jesus' perspective, it could be compared to a soldier or Airman returning home from war; there would be a pleasant familiarity about entering the heavenly corridors.

Yet, by leaving earth, Jesus risked being forgotten; He left no earthly reminder such as temples or books He'd written.
Instead, Jesus left the world the most unpredictable thing He could have left - people entrusted to carry forward His message of hope and grace.

The modern question, whenever we face trials, temptations, tragedies, sicknesses, diseases and death is the same - 'Where is God?'
Nobody asked that question when they saw Jesus on the earth because they knew God had stepped out of eternity and was among them; nor did they ask if God cared about them.
Yet, it is a valid question for a generation of people who desire the hole in their heart to be filled.

Modern man has picked up on current philosophy with his answer, thinking that the landlord has left the building permanently.
And at times, many Christians are tempted to believe it because we have short memories concerning the blessings of God and long grudges when it comes to the hurtfulness and pain we suffer at the hands of others.

But God has not abandoned us; yes, Jesus has ascended and we are awaiting His return, but until then, God has chosen to take on less obvious forms.
While we may say He has disguised Himself, Scripture shows us where we can find God...in the 'least of these.'

Matt 25:40-46 (RSV)

40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' 45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

I am sorry to say that I know  Christians who consider themselves 'righteous' or 'Godly' and yet, those same people abhor the 'least of these.'
Those that are the 'least of these' are the avenue by which we may entertain angels unaware; it is also connected in some spiritual way to the evidence of salvation in our hearts.

To put it bluntly, if a Christian cannot detect God's presence in this world through their normal activities in life, then their activities need to change because you are looking in all the wrong places for God's hand to be moving.

Sadly, many Christians miss the whole point of being Christ's body in the world; we are to touch others as He would touch them - in love, compassion and grace.

We often hear people say things like, 'Why does God allow these homeless/poor/mentally disabled/beggars...fill in the blank....?"
But we never hear someone turn the question around and ask the critic, 'Well, if you want something done to help, why don't you do it?'

In the words of another, 'Where is God when it hurts?'
The better question is, 'Where is the Church when it hurts,' because we, the church, were entrusted to be His hands and heart in this hurting world.

And this brings me to the point I've been driving to since the beginning.
Why is it that we don't look more like the Church Jesus described?

Why do protesters carry signs against churches and church organizations instead of thousands coming to our support?

Why can't we be of 'one mind, one faith and one baptism?'

The answer is that we are all fallen human beings; we are all part of the problem.
Whether it be during the Crusades or the Inquisition or Christians involved in the Slave Trade or even a deacon in a local church pursuing a personal lust for power, we are all part of the problem because every Christian has the old nature we are desperately fighting in our souls.

Yet, the better question is, 'Why do I so poorly resemble Jesus?'
And it is a question each of us should ask ourselves, for the problem of the Body of Christ is no greater than one solitary Christian.

Thus...is the need for the grace, mercy, love and compassion of our Lord.

We need to stop putting the good works of God off on somebody else, some other church,
some other time - we need to start being God's hands of grace in this fallen world and touch the hurting, homeless and hungry.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Visible Grace

"Under His wings, you will find refuge..."

                        ~ Ps. 91:4

When Christians are hurt by other Christians or even their own church family, the pain and residue from the wound is severe and it remains for longer than we would like to admit.

Many leave the Church, never to return; others find new church homes among new believers.
In either case, Christians, once hurt, retreat.

Personally, I adhere to the military view on such things; I never retreat, sometimes I do, however, advance in the opposite direction.


Christians retreat away from pain; sometimes finding their way back into the church - laying low, waiting to see if they will be hurt again.
And this is unfortunate because many times, the very last place you will find grace and forgiveness is within the walls of the Church.

As a result, many Christians are forced to look elsewhere for those images of God we should be able to find within the Body.

This isn't unknown; Jesus Himself found flashes of His Father among prostitutes, poverty stricken widows, seeking tax collectors, defiled lepers and a host of others society had written off.
He shunned those who declared themselves righteous and was drawn to those who called themselves sinners.
After 2,000 years we may think that things would have changed; still, we find images of grace, humility and the mercy of God in some of the most unlikely places.

As we view the world today, we see only brief glimpses of what once was in Paradise during humanity's time within the perfect fellowship our forerunners squandered with God.

Yet, those glimpses are there - in believers enjoying the sacrificial nature of feeding and caring for the homeless; in ministries offering an alternative to abortion for crisis pregnancies; in the genuine fellowship of the brokenness of the Cross...and a host of other avenues.

God is in these places and a thousand more you may have never dreamed of; to find Him, you must look for Him and I promise He will be there.
He is still present in His people and His creation;yet, your sight has been so marred by the fall of man that we must actively look for His fingerprints to find Him amid the flash and glitter of the world.

Many years ago, when the Spanish explorers first made the trans-Atlantic sail to the New World and found the headwaters of the Amazon, they thought the mighty river was an extension of the ocean.
As days passed, floating on one of the largest sources of freshwater on the planet, they never thought to drink it and some sailors died of dehydration and thirst atop that river.

In our age, the unchurched and many believers as well are simply dying.
Too many are spiritually starving to death while all around them is the bread of life and the manna from heaven is rotting.
Why?

Simply because the Christian who is in the pew - whether they be hurting or helping - are simply looking for God in something else than how He has revealed Himself in the simple things in their life.
It may be through a ministry in service or it might be through you being served; either way, God Himself shows up in our lives when compassion and grace is involved and extended.

There are ministries and churches who proclaim the God of Negativity and Hellfire.
While judgment is sure and certain, today remains a day of grace; and there is much to be thankful for in our lives in this age.

What do you see?

Just since I was a child, the God of Communism is dead, we have cleaner air and cleaner water than at any other time since I've been alive.
In America, we have a greater freedom than nearly every person on earth - freedom of travel, of ownership, even of thought. 

We can look and see what we want to see - the Grace of God in our lives OR God gearing up for the judgement.

I promise you, whatever you are looking for, you will find it in abundance.

Above all other people, within and among God's people, we ought to be able to see traces of God's image and His handiwork as He has repaired our lives.
The truth is that God is already present in our lives, we just need to make Him visible to the unbelieving world through grace, mercy and compassion.

Until next time, go win one for the good guys.