Can I Please God if I'm Just a...?

Related in part to my previous post, found here.

It's very easy for us Christians to feel stuck in a mold. We look around, trying to model our lives after those we admire. We try to conform to their beliefs and personalities and books. Instead of looking to imitate them as they imitate Christ in a way personal to us, we attempt to repeat their choices. 

So, the Church can become a semi-indistinguishable mass when it comes to our futures goals. Everyone wants to be in full-time ministry or a missionary, not taking into consideration if their personalities or persistent struggles line up with it. 

There is caution to be taken. 

It isn't shameful to step back and acknowledge that maybe your quick-tempered, impatient, or somber personality, or the fact that you are prone to condescension or gossip or people-pleasing probably should exclude you from becoming a prominent church leader. 

And there are also spiritual gifts to be considered, because the Holy Spirit controls them and He knows what we've been created to do. We are all equipped with different talents and interests given to us by God to diligently study, practice, and improve upon. And He has given these skills very specifically, according to His will.

We all have different personalities, and, even if we are in the process of being sanctified, some aspects of said personalities should cause us to rethink placing ourselves in a position in which we know we will stumble and possibly destroy the Lord's reputation to hundreds or even thousands of people. We don't need to knowingly place ourselves in tempting situations to prove we are stronger than sin. Running in the opposite direction will typically prove more efficient.

Look, the desire to lead a congregation is a great thing. Many people are made for ministerial jobs, and if those truly called and equipped were not willing, we little sheep would be in sore shape. However, there are other jobs and activities that can bring glory to God. You don't need to be at the pulpit or in the jungle to make a difference for the Lord, and we shouldn't pretend that "secular" jobs are ever truly secular for the Christian. 

God made each of us individually. We shouldn't feel pressure to ignore things which stir up our affections for Him. Personally, any time I read something about space, or the order found through scientific study, or archaeology, or even architecture, I am filled with awe for the Lord and how He maintains His creation and reputation throughout all time. The study or practice of any subject that creates that response in us is worship. Maybe through the discipline of sports or the creative planning of an outfit or the building of furniture causes you to think of the Lord with thankfulness and awe. No Christian should ever tell you that is not a holy occupation. 

It is frustrating to me that we tend not to encourage pursuing a career as an engineer or business owner or, I don't know, race car driver as much as we encourage those who talk about working at a church or in a foreign country. Why do we see anything a Christian does as "common", when God has redeemed us through His Son, calling us and our lives "holy to the Lord," dedicated to His purpose?

Becoming a pastor would be disobedience for the man God called to mow lawns. Forsaking the comforts of home to do full-time missions in a dangerous place would be sin for the woman God called to take care of her elderly parents back home. (And of course the opposite can also be true.)

Every job becomes holy when the person doing it has been reconciled to the Lord and "honors Him as holy" (1 Peter 3:15). And there are no inherently "holy" occupations that would excuse you for ignoring God's direction. 

Above all, we are never excused from sharing the Gospel, no matter our personalities or occupations. If we're better suited to do that by "low-class" work, do it with passion and diligence, for the glory of the Lord. If suited to "high-profile" work, do it with that same passion and diligence, for the glory of the Lord. If it is His calling for us, we should never be swayed by the title and "nobility" of the task, only by the title and nobility of the Christ Who bought us with His blood. Our consideration should be "always, only Christ" and how we can be of most use to Him today.

Whatever situation the Lord has for us, remember Him and acknowledge Him in all your ways. That is the occupation He commends.

"Refresh my heart in Christ."

There is an important distinction between thinking critically and thinking cynically. 

As Christians, we are meant to think critically, holding what we hear up to what the Word of God says, to discern and uplift Truth. 

Always looking for the worst in people and expecting them to fail is not thinking critically. Incurable negativity toward our leaders and our friends isn't thinking critically. It's exhausting. It's cynicism.

Cynicism is not respecting those the Lord has set over us (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). It is not gentle correction spoken in love and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16). It's bitterness, jealousy, and pride disguised as piety and wisdom. We serve ourselves and our egos, not each other. 

An attitude of cynicism is oppressive. It stifles growth and unity. It breeds division and anxious subversiveness. It is spread by gossip and slander and fed by our desire to impress those around us with "superior intellect". We adapt to that which we constantly hear if not consciously checking it against the Word.

Where is the encouragement? Where is the genuine interest? Where is the excitement about the work of the Lord?

Why don't we talk about what we are learning? Why are we afraid to talk about our struggles and our joys, about anything beyond the superficial? Why do we allow our relationship with God to be so private and so unchallenged and so unaffected by the wisdom and experience and kindness of those around us?

And why is there not more positivity and gladness? Why don't we encourage people and help them pursue the dreams God has given them-- or worse, why do we deem certain dreams "secular" when God commands all things to be done as for the Lord and not for man (Ephesians 6:7)? With this attitude and with Him as our motivation, nothing that leads us to God is secular for us but is "holy to the Lord" (Zechariah 14:20).

Why do we have to walk so much by sight and discourage people from following what they love and feel that God is leading them to do, in faith?

I feel like we're suffocating each other. We could be a refreshment to each other's spirits, a comfort to each other's hearts (Philemon 1:20). We could join each other in our struggles by praying to God for each other (Romans 15:30). We could bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2), not add our weak faith and grumblings to them.

But we can't do that without honest, painful, somewhat embarrassing conversation, without knowing each other more deeply and allowing others to get to know us. We cannot be afraid to ask difficult questions that bring up difficult emotions. We cannot stare at our phones and expect people to open up to us. We cannot ask people to open up to us, then abandon them when it isn't interesting anymore.

Let your words bring life (Proverbs 10:11), let them build up not tear down (Romans 15:2). Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up-building (Romans 14:19). Rejoice in the Gospel together, be humbled with joy in Biblical correction.

Be motivated by Godly love, which is patient and kind; it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, and it is not rude. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13). It is by this type of love that the world will see Jesus (John 13:35).

Let us therefore follow the example of our perfect, brave, kind, holy, humble, self-sacrificing King.

"If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2).

That is fellowship. That is what makes a church the Church.

Made a Living Sacrifice

I was listening to a sermon a while ago (cannot manage to remember who it was by to listen to it again) that was talking about Romans 12:1 and the idea of "offering ourselves as a living sacrifice." He said something simple, yet it echoed deeply:

"Imagine, you and I, able to offer ourselves as living sacrifices."

Let's put aside for a moment that we are commanded to offer ourselves, and realize that we are able.

In the Old Testament, there were many sacrifices required by the people of Israel. Whether the prized calf or first of the crops, none of these offerings were made without cost. Yet they were all met with even greater reward.

Let's be realistic, the favor of the Lord far outweighs the loss of a few spotless sheep, even if they are your livelihood. "The things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). Nothing we give up can ever outweigh what He is as our Reward. "At His right hand are pleasures forevermore" and "in His presence there is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11).

These sacrifices were costly for a reason. God would not accept something that you do not value, because the willingness to give is relative to the value you place on Him.

He is utmost, and because He is utmost, what was given had to be of the highest quality. Without spot or blemish. Perfect.

That's not us. 

Yet this is what we're commanded to be.

And, it's so unthinkable, it's what we are made able to be.

The book of Hebrews says Christ was a sacrifice to God by God. As each sacrifice is outlined in the Old Testament, the Father foreshadowed His Own extremely burdensome sacrifice of His Son. He knew that those temporary sacrifices were not enough. They had to be offered over and over again as we continue to sin.

But one day, He sent His Son.

They have been in perfect fellowship from the beginning, but Jesus died a sinner's death. Why? For those who half-heartedly, begrudgingly gave only as much as they could before it became uncomfortable.

But God offered His Son, a perfect, enduring sacrifice. And now He commands us to act as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. But on our own, we can't. As we've already established, we are in no way holy and pleasing, and in no way a suitable offering. On our own.

Through Christ, we are able.

How? Because He was spotless. He was blameless. He was undefiled. And when He died, His blood spoke a "better word" than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). Abel's blood cried out "guilty" against his brother Cain. Christ's blood cries out "justified" and brings us in, making us brothers with Him, heirs in Him of eternal fellowship with the Father. His blood makes us able to "draw near to God" and have the promise that "He will draw near to us" (James 4:8).

This nearness is where the "holy and blameless" comes in, because Christ did not stay dead on the altar. It is through His resurrection that we are saved forever; that the justification remains efficacious eternally; that He became the High Priest, making intercession for us.

It is through His resurrection that we find the ability to not only die to ourselves, buried with Him, but to be raised to walk in new life, as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

Holy and pleasing to God.

Imagine!

Honoring Christ in Comfort

"All who desire to live a Godly life will be persecuted."

These words mark many sermons, trying to stir American Christians to action, to "radical" obedience. Yet, I fear we take these words and make them our measuring rod. Instead of desiring to live Godly, we "desire" to suffer.

I have a Voice of the Martyrs poster hanging in my room and as I was reading and praying, I looked at it. "We worship in church. Thousands of our persecuted brothers and sisters worship in prison." Ouch. What am I doing, laying here in my comfortable bed, with my stomach full of food? 

If every moment of our lives isn't riddled with discomfort and sorrow, are we disobeying God?

The Law of God is "good, pleasing, and perfect," and it calls us to live lives of respect, to "outdo one another in showing honor," and to "consider others more important than ourselves." First of all, wow. Second, if we are truly to do all of that, it's nice for the people that come into contact with us. And that leads to favor with them, believer or not.

Most Christians agree that Jesus was obedient always, and yet, for a time, He had "favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). The same is said of the apostles in the book of Acts. Favor therefore cannot be sinful on its own.

Nothing can set itself up as my idol. My un-denied self creates it, sets something in the seat only God is worthy of taking. And that is sinful. It is only by seeking comfort that comfort becomes sin; seeking suffering should be rejected on the same grounds. Why?

Because seeking anything but Christ is idolatry.

And so it is that I do not believe people in hostile countries, fraught by constant life or death decisions, are, by that fact alone, more holy or acceptable than any true believer with relative religious freedom.

At one time, Jesus lived a life that earned Him favor with man. That same way of life later caused them to crucify Him. 

He "humbled Himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross," BUT He also "fell on his face and prayed, saying, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will but Yours be done."

Jesus didn't seek suffering. He sought God. And that led to suffering. If it had pleased God, He would have let the cup pass from Him.

And that... that is the idea I wish to convey. For many of us, the cross we "pick up" is not, at every moment, arduous, so we feel we have to create our own suffering by being rude, unsympathetic, obstinate then claiming people's (reasonable) offense as persecution. No. Please, no.

The important thing is picking up our cross, deferring to His plans for us. In all things, it's the looking to Christ and following Him that pleases God. The covenant is Christ. The glory is God's.

It is His decision whether suffering or favor best exemplifies His glory in each moment. And praise Christ, He strengthens us in both, for He is the "secret to being content in all circumstances" (Philippians 4:12). So, rather than questioning where He has you right now, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith."

"Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them."

The Word of the Cross is Folly and Power.

The Lord has been teaching me about those who blatantly oppose Christianity, Who scoff at the very idea of God, calling Him a fairy tale for the ignorant.

Thankfully, He reminds me that I too once hated Him with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. That even now, after I've been given a new heart, I turn so often from Him, denying Him with my actions, words, and thoughts.

He reminds me that "no one can come to [Christ] unless the Father draws him" (John 6:44).

That latter reminder is twofold.

First, that I am saved by grace, through faith, not of myself so that I cannot boast (Ephesians 2).

Second, that they can be saved by grace, through faith, not of themselves and especially not through my words, so neither I nor they can boast.

I listen, wishing I knew a hundred things to say to prove 100% that God exists. That God saves. That He is coming again to judge the earth according to His commands. But I must remember, through all my studying, my "debating," that people are not saved by eloquent arguments.

I was so burdened yesterday and spent a most of my time at work pondering the best wording for various arguments. I'm sure someone out there has wonderful logic that can explain everything in extensive detail. I am thankful those people exist. I'm not that person. I lose my train of thought a few syllables in, and I can't think of the words I want to use, and my sentences are out of order.

I'm intimidated by the opposing arguments. They have all these catchy phrases and scientific facts and things that really do seem so convincing on the surface. But wit and eloquence don't make a person right; we cannot confuse these when trying to discern truth. A lie attractively spoken is still foolish.

I'm a sucker for arguments that show understanding of the topic and not just ad hominem. That's where a lot of Christians stand when it comes to "debates." They get this cynical, scoffing tone that comes across just as clearly over text as it does in person. At the same time, they don't make any real points and rarely address the topic at hand. Or they repeat the same sentence that they heard someone say once over and over again, showing no further thought about the subject.

They turn it to a personal attack. Why? So they can "win"? To what end?

Do we forget we are saved by grace through faith given to us by the Father? It is He Who awakens us and draws us to His Son. It was His Son Who lived perfectly and died for us and raised Himself to life, and He Who gave us the Holy Spirit to work in us to will and to act according to His good pleasure. 

It's frustrating that the loudest are not often the most understanding. I don't want to be there.  I want to answer for the hope that I have in Christ, with all gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). I want to be able to speak the evidences for God that exist, because He does exist. 

Anyway, after much discouragement over my lack of eloquence, I sat down to read the next chapter of my read-through-the-Bible plan, the chapter I was supposed to read the day before but didn't.

1 Corinthians 1-2.

Guys... sovereignty.

It's exactly the answer to my thoughts and prayers of that day.

"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away."

Please, seek knowledge; study arguments for and against Christianity. Do it in a manner worthy of the Gospel.

But do not "worry about what to say or how to say it, for in that time it will not be you speaking but the Holy Spirit speaking through you" (Matthew 10:20). His are the words that need to be heard; Christ is the message that saves; His is the wisdom irrefutable (Acts 6:10).

“Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion... Well, I should suggest to them, if they would not object, and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself; and the best 'apology' for the gospel is to let the gospel out.” - Charles Spurgeon

Thinking you need eloquent arguments to convince people to follow Him "empties the cross of its power," and betrays your subconscious belief that the Gospel is not powerful enough on Its own to save.

But It is. 

The truth is enough on its own. What an honor it is to speak it.

"Let love be genuine." Part 2.

Part 1 of "Let love be genuine."

There's only so many ways you can say the same thing, hoping for change. There's only so much you can do to breed unity and brotherly affection amongst the Body of Christ. There's only so much one-sided effort you can put in to your friendships before you can say your options are exhausted. 

But have we really given to the fullest extent?

We often fool ourselves into thinking we've done much more than we have. Thoughts are not actions. Complaints are not changes. Hearing the Word and agreeing with it does not make you obedient to it. 

But, I am often stuck there. I am of those about whom God said, "These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me" (Isaiah 29:13). But, "dear children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).

I've been singing songs about the world knowing us by our love since preschool. In high school, the Lord directed me to Romans 15:4-6 to convict me of personal and corporate sin and to encourage change. But I'm not sure I fully understood the importance of unity and the purpose of the love that comes from knowing God.

Our world today is obsessed with "love." From the overtly sensual, self-seeking to the more charitable views, love has become ubiquitous in American society. 

But what is the difference in Christian love that is to cause that society to look at the Church and say, "Look how they love one another" (Tertullian). Or rather, what is supposed to be the difference? What type of love did Christ command when He said all men would recognize His disciples by it?

1 John 4 tells us that the love we are to show one another is the love God showed for us in sending His Son, Who was willingly sent to die on the cross to atone for someone else's sins against His Father, our Judge. 

John continues to say what the commanded love is not: "that we loved Him." How is this so? Why is the love with which we love God not sufficient? Because that love is dependent on His first loving us. This harps on Christ's former command to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Our love for God is not the commanded love because it begins and ends with the actions of another (and because it has a beginning and an ending at all). It is conditional. "We love because He first loved us." 

How, then, does this differ from the world's love? "If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even [unbelievers] do the same?" (Matthew 5:43-48).

No, God's love is one that contradicts everything we are told to stand for today-- defiant independence, tending to our needs first, insisting people earn our respect. This seems to be hardwired into us, really. We love those who love us and hate those who hate us. But the command is to love those who hate us, even those who actively seek our hurt and ruin, because that is what God did with us, that is Who "God is" (1 John 4:8). 

Unfortunately for us, this, like all the other commands in the Bible, is inherently impossible. We do not have the ability to carry it out. We may have times of compliance, but it is not possible to "be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Perfect denotes an absolute; the complete fulfillment of a command is the eternal obedience to it. Yet "those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8).

That's where this commanded love steps in: from God in Christ Jesus, Who was sent to save us from our "filthy rags," to raise us from death and slavery to sin, and to guide us by the Holy Spirit, Who will "equip [us] with everything good, that [we] may do His will, working in [us] that which is pleasing in His sight" (Hebrews 13:21). Only "by grace, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) in Christ's obedience on our behalf can we ourselves be made like Him.

So back to the original question: In what manner is the love that believers are to show one another so different from the love in the world, that they would see us and know we've experienced something of another spiritual realm?

1. Difference of focus. Our minds must be set steadily on this one reality: "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Believer, you were an enemy of God when He looked upon you, opened your eyes, unstopped your ears, and gave you understanding and life through His Son. God poured out grace upon those who reviled Him with everything they did. That is the love we are told to model, and we can only do it by constantly reminding ourselves to seek the strength of the One Whose love is never exhausted.

2. Difference of effort. People are often looked up to today when they use their excess for the betterment of others. But God commands more. Those commended by the Lord Jesus were not those who "contributed out of their abundance", but the widow who "put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (Mark 12:44). We cannot give up when we realize we have to make sacrifices. We must be willing to fulfill needs even if it costs us more time, effort, and resources than we think we can spare. Sometimes what is needed is a painful yet cathartic conversation with someone genuinely listening, praying. We must be willing to "pour ourselves out" (Isaiah 58), "seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness," trusting that "our Heavenly Father knows what we need" (Matthew 6:33), and that "He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). "You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, 'It is hopeless'; you found new life for your strength" in the cry of the Christ from the cross: "It is finished" (Isaiah 57:10; John 19:30). 

3. Difference in goals. "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor" "for his good, to build him up", "so that they may be saved" (1 Corinthians 10:24; Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 10:33). Our goal is not the warm feeling we get when someone thanks us or when we see them rejoicing. Our goal is not to make others happy or comfortable. Our goal is not to flatter, to speak comforting words at the expense of acknowledgement and repentance of sin. Our goal is not to "restore people’s hope in mankind." There is one Hope, and it is not us, and it is not our charity. Our goal is to be obedient and then be forgotten-- to "grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."

The actions of both worldly and Godly love often look similar: the feeding of the hungry, the fight for justice, the caring for orphans. So what is the difference? It is simple and yet unthinkable. The difference is forgiving as we've been forgiven: completely, restoratively, eternally. The difference is putting others before ourselves (Romans 12:10), treating others as we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12) regardless of how they treat us. 

Truly the difference is God Himself. Let "all your ways acknowledge Him" (Proverbs 3:6).

"Let love be genuine." Part 1.

This weekend I facilitated a church event with the 9th grade group of girls I teach on Sundays. I am so thankful for them and for what God has shown them and their willingness to share those things with and encourage each other.

I've been attending/participating in these weekend events since 2005, as a student and, for the past two years, as a leader. It's incredible to be able to serve the ministry that fostered my walk with the Lord so much throughout my teenage years. Unfortunately, as I am a sinful person, a lot of those weekends were riddled with distractions allowed in by my own selfish ambition and discontentment. But one year in particular sticks out in my mind.

One of my last years going as a student I was split from most of my closest friends. At first, I didn't "do everything without complaining or grumbling," but as the weekend went on, I became increasingly thankful for the surpassing wisdom of the Lord. Everyone was so encouraging. We didn't hold back the genuine compliments regarding not only appearance but character, knowing we all need affirmation every once in a while (and, bonus, if it comes from our friends and family, we don't just fall in love with everyone who says something moderately nice to us). People weren't left out, laying all by themselves while everyone else talked about insignificant things instead of falling asleep (ahh sleepovers). It was just a very positive time, and I was thankful for my placement there.

All this to say, the girls in my group this year reminded me of that year.

It was a little awkward the first night, as it always is, not having yet set the tone for the weekend's conversations, not wanting to be the first to say something a little more serious. But it was the conversation that took place on our last night that blessed and convicted me.

"My friend said she never wanted to come back to Bell Shoals again, because no one here cares about her, and everyone judges her."

We all sat for a few seconds processing what one of the girls had just shared. Less than an hour earlier, we'd listened to a sermon about being the church, about letting the Gospel effect our lives. There we were, with our failure to do so staring us in the face.

Being hearers only, not also doers.

Conviction in the room was evident as we talked about our desires to know and be known better. To truly love each other and accept people as Christ accepts them, because He was willing to accept even us. To remember to speak with grace and truth to each other.

The word we kept using was honesty. About our struggles, our sins, our thoughts, our joys. About the unconditional love we need in order to receive the honesty of others with humility and grace. About our inability to do so without the Holy Spirit and His Word.

Their desire to honor the Lord in their relationships was clear through our conversation and tears that night. But it was much more evident later when the whole department met up at a bonfire.

I saw the Lord convict them in a way that brought about change, as they put their words into action. Even now as I think about it, I am convicted anew that so many years of Straight Up Weekend came and went, and my condescending thoughts kept me from being truly affected because "that's sooo lame and I shouldn't need big events in order for God to speak to me."

I still think like this at times.

I almost limit my reactions and the timing of my obedience because I think that it's too typical for Him to speak at a conference or church event. Um? How much FOLLY can I pack into my mind at one time? The Lord is perfect. And events are planned with prayer and the hope of stirring up change. Yes, I should be walking in consistent repentance. True, it shouldn't take an event to cause me to think of the Lord and be convicted of sin. But being ashamed if I learn something life-changing through a church event is crazy.

Anyway, these girls showed me that no matter the timing of the conviction, it is the Lord's power and plan, and He is perfect.

They helped me to see that the church's desire to have genuine love and relationships isn't just something we throw around as a theory; it is an urgent matter of praxis. To truly care about people and be kind to people and speak truthfully to each other, even if it means taking the first step and feeling silly and vulnerable in front of someone.

I-- and I think this is common to the church-- need to remember that the Lord's opinion of me does not change with the opinions of others. And that the Lord comforts me so that I can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). And He reveals Himself to me daily in order to bring Himself glory in my mind, but also in the minds of others as I "praise Him in the congregation." And that our trying to appear perfect, to other believers and unbelievers alike, takes praise away from the Lord. Hiding our struggles removes the chance to bear witness that even in the pain and difficulty of life, He is enough, He is joy and hope and peace, and, above all things, He is worthy of praise and honor and glory and of our willing obedience.

"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

Part 2 of "Let love be genuine."

Forgetting to "Receive the Message With Great Eagerness"

A few weeks ago, I returned home from the Passion Conference I attended with the college ministry from my church. One thing I love about our group is our desire to hear and speak/sing truth. But one thing I've grown accustomed to-- one thing I dislike in myself and in our conversations-- is that search for truth ending in cynicism and grumbling. So often we hear one poor word choice and immediately hate an entire song. Or the pastor says one semi-ambiguous phrase so we assume his theologically-solid points to be a fluke and he a heretic. We're very extreme in our complaints. Sometimes, yes, in jest. But the type of jokes we look for trains our minds how to think and can affect us seriously.

As Christians, we need to "examine the Scriptures every day to see if what [our leaders] said was true" (Acts 17:11), but I think we've trained ourselves to focus so much on their saying something incorrectly or insufficiently that we've neglected our training to "receive the message with great eagerness."

Let's talk about worship songs for a second. It is crucial that our songs reflect truth and exalt Christ. I think they should be focused on the Lord and not on us. They should be saturated with the Gospel and the characteristics of God and His promises.

And I'm not saying we should mindlessly sing songs we don't understand because the sound pretty, or unthinkingly sing promises that we cannot keep even if we desire to ("I will always..." lines for example). 

The trouble starts when we're focused on word choices rather than the expressed truth.

"There must be factions among you, so that those who are genuine among you may be recognized", but "what causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?" (1 Corinthians 11:19; James 4:1)

We are acting in a manner common with the world when our pride causes us to harp on the weakness of others. Instead of thanking God for the grace that has sanctified us, we look condescendingly on those who, though seeking with a pure heart, may be mistaken on some points, as if we've always been right about everything.

Instead, "welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15).

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord ('closely united in soul') and of one mind ('opinion fleshing itself out in action')."

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind... In your hearts, honor Christ as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with all gentleness and respect" (Philippians 2; 1 Peter 3).

Our theology is unimpressive and unimportant so long as it leads us into pride and hardheartedness. It is the beliefs that make us increasingly grateful and gracious that give our faith any value.