Motion Sick

Have you ever had motion sickness from swinging? I have, and let me tell you- It's not fun. You can be left queasy for days even after you get off.

Today, my spirit is motion sick: The swing of religion has made me sick to my stomach, but I just can't get off. Why? It's name is Salvation, and the two extremes are Faith Alone and Faith + Works. The problem they have is also the same as a swing's- you can't stay up on either side indefinitely. This debate which has been going on for thousands of years will most certainly not be fully explored in this tiny blog post, but I do want to give you a quick summary:

We are saved by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ alone, but our works are evidence of what we believe.

Ephesians 2:8-9 sums this up easily. If you believe the Bible, you have to believe what it says.
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. (Emphasis Mine)

Our works do not save us and they never will. Our works should come from the overflowing love and gratitude we have for what Jesus Christ has done for us. If there are no works, the question becomes, Are you not grateful enough to do something about it?

If I told my child I loved them, but never took any time to clean their clothes, cook their food, talk for hours, help with homework, cuddle them, or play Sorry! for the millionth time, would they know that I truly love them? What evidence would they have?

Even Jesus had something to say about this;
 ⁴³ "A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn't produce good fruit. ⁴⁴ For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren't gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵ A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

   

 ⁴⁶ "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say? ⁴⁷ I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!"
Luke 6:43-49


The point is, your life needs to be evident to those around you that it belongs to Jesus Christ. 


Is it?


*For another great Scripture passage on this read James 2.

Everyday News

For those of you who haven't heard, Christian artist Jennifer Knapp has decided to come back to the music industry, but not within the same genre. With the release of her new album entitled Letting Go set to hit stores May 11th, she has also opened the personal pages of her life style revealing her choice to be a lesbian. Christianity Today: Jennifer Knapp Come Out

What does the everyday Christian do with that?

There will be some who pretend like Jennifer's career never existed, while others berate her, boycotting any store that sells her music. There are those who fear haveing to explain it to their children or new a believer in Christ. Situations like this are messy and uncomfortable, and for good reason: How do we handle a fallen hero of the faith?

There are several verses that come to mind:

The first is Luke 6:46, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say?" Homosexuality is very clear in the Bible as being against God. It is the choice of a sinful lifestyle. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, "Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom." But verse 11 is what we need to focus on, "Some of you were like this; but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

No, Ms. Knapp is not displaying the fruit of a disciple of Christ, but that does not mean she is doomed for eternity. Whether she was truly saved before, or has never been doesn't make a difference. We need to pray - in love - for her to repent, now. Remember, we have all been there. Perhaps not as homosexuals, but as lifestyle sinners. "...There is no one righteous, not even one...For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23, 10


So what is the message for us? Diligence. We are to focus on keeping ourselves pure and not be afraid to confront our brothers and sisters in love when we see them beginning to stray. We exercise endurance. "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24


As for children, new believers, and those who are searching, we tell them the truth. God hates sin, for it can not be in His presence, but the Good News is that Jesus Christ died to save each one of us from the sins we commit. We pray for their eyes to be open and their hearts softened. If we are completely devastated by a role model's failure, to the point where it causes one to stumble, then perhaps our eyes have been focused on the wrong Person, anyway. Idolatry comes in many forms. What a precious chance to repent ourselves!

Difficult Christianity

Do you ever sit there and think about how difficult it really is to be a devoted Christian? Truly, there are moments where putting legs to your faith smacks you in the face.

Let what Jesus tells us in Luke sink in to you today:

But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, so good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also.And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks from you, and from the one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Luke 6:27-36


The first thing Jesus says here is, "...to you who listen:..."  Every once in a while I have to be honest with my husband when I am busy. He'll be talking to me and I have to stop him and say, "I'm sorry. I heard you, but I wasn't listening. I have no idea what you just said." We have do more than simply hearing, or reading, Him in order to receive this difficult command: We have to earnestly listen.

Have you ever prayed for someone as this passage tells us to? I mean, really prayed. It amazes me that God places such a compassion for them, and sometimes a pity, in our hearts. Ask the Lord to allow you to see them through His eyes- you'll be amazed.

Yet, I have to admit there have been times I don't want to pray as I should because I want to be angry at them. Do you know what the problem with that is? Now you have to repent of that before you ever get around to doing it right. And remember, "Don't let your spirit rush to be angry, for anger abides in the heart of fools." Ecclesiastes 7:9 


How do we combat these feelings and glorify Him in difficult situations such as this? I was directed to a wonderful set of verses in the Psalms recently. It's funny how so often when others give me Words of comfort, I turn to find they were already underlined in my Bible:

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. Trust Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8 Emphasis mine


We give it to God- it's as simple as that. There is no magic formula, or check-list of duties.

You simply give Him your anger and hurt, and allow Him to give you graciousness and mercy in return.