An Open Letter to Men who Grew Up in Church

An idea that permeates almost all television and movie genres is weak men. Men who are terrible at communicating, passive in parenting, inconsiderate in friendships, dishonest in relationships, and self-centered in life goals. The husband always the cheaters, physically or mentally. The fathers are always the disinterested, "go ask your mother," parent. Men are always the ones disconnected from and complacent toward their "inferiors". They flirt indiscriminately and run from commitment. The only ones that are any different are "the one" the female lead is looking for, and usually they're so "caring" that their entire world revolves around that one, special lady (ew).

It's really a shame that we expect so little from the males around us, especially within the church.

Christian men are told constantly they should be spiritual leaders, but there are mountains of slander rebelling against them. There are over-generalizations and little compassion from the church, and, in my experience, especially from the women.

At my church, usually around tenth grade, the girls would get together, sit the guys down, and have a "talk" with them. It basically goes that they'd tell the guys they need to step up and lead for 45 minutes, but that's the end of it. There's no real advice. We tell them they aren't doing a good job without stopping to consider that maybe they haven't yet been taught how. It isn't constructive or instructive. 

When a guy volunteers to do something, many people almost sneer at them as if "it's about time we awesome women can sit back for once while a guy does something for a change." Really, there is so much bitterness and angsty speech, as if we're perfect and they're the worst.

But Biblical womanhood is about so much more than sitting back as men lead. It's about helping them to lead. We are to be a support system within the Body, each with assigned roles-- not of value or worth, but of duty.

And men have been given the duty to lead, women the duty to help them do so.

God made man to be strong, to protect, to stand up for those who can't, to serve, to lead, to love.

God made women to be strong, to encourage, to stand up for those who can't, to serve, to nurture, to respect.

Women often feel they have to "teach" the males to be men, as if women perfectly understand what that entails. We feel we have to set an example and then sigh as we sit down and make eye contact with the guy seated beside us. Like if we just tell them they're doing poorly enough times, eventually they'll stop being "lazy" and do what we ask. After all, "is it really that hard?"

But it is. Especially when many of these guys do not have Godly men discipling them, in order to "imitate them as they imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Many of them feel insecure now that none of the things they have done seem to count. Much of the time, their focus is forced onto pleasing us instead of God, because somehow, though He requires us "to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect," we are more difficult to please. Though God has forgiven us of much, we are less willing to extend grace.

They don't need complaints, they need instruction.

They don't need nagging, they need affirmation.

They don't need girls looking with disdain on their efforts as if they aren't enough.

It takes support to be strong, to stand in the face of opposition. It takes vulnerability to live in unity of purpose. It takes other, more spiritually mature men coming alongside them, helping them to develop the ability to learn and obey God's Word and to respond to the Holy Spirit's leading. It takes specificity in instruction and examples in correction. There is no room for, "You shouldn't need me to tell you," or, "You should already know."

We need to point them to Christ instead of at their sin. To remind them of God's Word, that it isn't their strength and actions that make them acceptable to God, that there are consequences but also grace and forgiveness and love when they're wrong. 

We expect so little. We expect men to fail, to act how we are told by the media that "men" (*cross arms, side-glance, eye-roll, sigh*) "always" act.

It is often times true. Men were made to lead, to be a representation of Christ in their leading, as Christ leads the Church. Satan knows that. And so he attacks them. He attacks them with fear, self-doubt, laziness, and lack of empathy. He attacks repeatedly in attempt to wear them down into becoming passive, angry, indecisive, self-loathing.

We shouldn't let our voices endorse the message that Satan is trying to send them. Our words should not be reiterating those of our Lord's enemy.

Our words should be life-giving, refreshing their souls. They should be kind, helpful, and honest, comforting their hearts and strengthening their minds. As "fellow heirs" and "brothers and sisters," we should build them up to become like Christ, Who was confident by faith in the Word and love and plan of God. We should acknowledge small steps in the right direction. 

It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict. No matter how many times we remind anyone of something in the Bible, it is the Holy Spirit Who gives the words effect. Knowing this, we don't need to say (or imply passive-aggressively...) something incessantly, making our tone and message and body language exponentially more disparaging and making ourselves more and more bitter and prideful in the process. Speak truth to one another, yes, and pray. Pray until you see change and then keep praying. It is in prayer that God keeps your heart tender to those around you-- even those who continue to mess up, no matter how many times you admonish them. 

We must regard one another with humility, gentleness, and respect, remembering that it is the grace of God that we have any revelation of His will at all, and that "it is He Who works in us, both to will and to work according to His good pleasure." Of course there is effort on our part, and it is important to speak honest words that point out error, but, as Matthew 18 commands, our rebuke should be private, and it shouldn't be condemning. It should be done in the willingness to listen, understand, help, and to see them restored.

In Christ, our guilt is gone. Who are we to continue to hold it against them?

In Christ, we are given a new heart. Who are we to think theirs is any less responsive than ours?

In Christ, we are made one. Who are we to speak harshly against members of our own body and feel no pain on their behalf?

Let our words be kind and our actions true, all done in hope that the Body may "build itself up" in unity and in the restoration of relationships and reputation, instead of torn down by the defeat of self-fulfilling prophecy and gossip and pride.

More than Conquerors

“We are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.” “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Freedom.

It feels like our worship leaders always quote this during an interlude and we rejoice in it, but how does this freedom affect our lives? What does it free us to do, exactly? Why are we said to be free yet so often called slaves and servants of God and to righteousness?

There is an important distinction: we have been freed from something, but also for something. Freedom from death, freedom for righteousness.

The primary freedom for those in Christ is from the spiritual and eternal death that results from our sin.

At one time we were slaves to sin, slaves to our passions and desires, to that which cannot fully satisfy. We were slaves, because we were unable to do any differently. We were unable to change our desires, our feelings, our thoughts, our actions. 

On our own, we cannot seek God, "no one can come to [Him] unless the Father draws him" (John 6:44). It is He Who gives us the faith to trust in Him. It is that faith which leads us to repentance, to seeing God for Who He is, and, subsequently, ourselves for who we are in comparison to Him. No one trusting in self or sin will inherit Heaven. “And such were some of you. 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” (1 Corinthians 6:11). 

Through Christ, we are freed from death.

But there is another aspect to this freedom. Through Christ, we are also freed for day-to-day obedience to the Son and the sanctification of the Spirit.

Jesus told His disciples He no longer called them slaves but sons. Slaves do not know the Master’s business, they only do as directed. As sons, there is more than mere duty behind the actions; it is imitation of a father by his child. It is motivated by love and respect and admiration.

In other chapters, Jesus says that we are servants of righteousness. “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10). How can both be true? How can we be slaves and also not slaves?

In the former, Jesus talks about motivation-- why we obey. The latter is directed toward our attitude-- how we obey, how we react to that obedience. “Does [the master] thank the servant because he did what was commanded?” No, it “was our duty.” This speaks to our sense of entitlement. We think God owes us something, because we’ve obeyed a few of the commands He died to equip us to carry out. “It is He Who works in us, both to will and to work according to His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). It is “He Who began a good work in you” and will “carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Though we must consciously fight against sin, it is “not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Servants of righteousness.

We are freed from who are were so that we might become like Christ. But we can't embrace who we are in Christ if we don't separate from who we were before Him. We must renounce sin and replace it with what is right. To not only “hate what is evil,” but also to “cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). To not only remove “filthiness, foolish talk, and coarse joking, which are out of place among the saints,” but to fill your mouths with “thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5).

Removing sin without replacing it with obedience is to open the door for bitterness. We're tempted to fill our mind with what we’ve been “deprived” of. We're tempted to see God as a bit of a cosmic buzzkill.

This is where Satan got Eve: she focused on being commanded not to eat from one single tree, forgetting her freedom to enjoy the fruit of every other tree in the garden. And she fell to that temptation. We cannot think Christianity is simply to “deny yourself.". It is also to “take up your cross, and follow [Christ],” to become like Him, your desires aligned with His. To “renew your mind” and act accordingly (Romans 12:2).

Freedom from gossip.

Freedom from lying.

Freedom from tearing down.

Freedom from complaining.

Freedom from superficiality.

Freedom for encouragement.

Freedom for speaking the truth in love, with gentleness and respect.

Freedom for building up.

Freedom for giving thanks.

Freedom for vulnerability.

Freedom from loneliness.

Freedom from selfishness.

Freedom from any hint of sexual immorality.

Freedom from pornography.

Freedom from abuse and manipulation.

Freedom for “bearing one another’s burdens.”

Freedom for “outdoing one another in showing honor.”

Freedom for purity.

Freedom for intimacy.

Freedom for symbolizing Christ and the Church.

Freedom from wrath; freedom for peace.

Freedom from sin; freedom for righteousness.

Freedom from death; freedom for everlasting life.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and Godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His Own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2).

"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.

"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.

Doing All This in Your Name

Yesterday one of the girls on the cheerleading team I coach closed her prayer with, "...doing all this in Your Name." As I thought back over the past hour, I was ashamed and terrified for us. Disrespecting, shouting, gossiping, anger, frustration, impatience, pride... all in His Name?

We hear it all the time-- doing all things for the glory of God, doing things in His Name-- but for some reason it really struck me yesterday.

All things.

As a follower of Christ, I am also an "ambassador for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20). In all that I do, I am a witness for or against Him. I draw people to or away from Him.

My actions are supposed to be a representation of Who God is, "as though God were making His appeal through us." The lives of those who have "been brought near" are to be the testimony of a God Who is Creator and Sustainer and Redeemer and Sanctifier (Ephesians 2:12-13).

Instead, so many times, our actions and words and thoughts tell a different story, and we excuse  it with our humanity and other people's actions. But God did not choose us, Jesus did not die for us, and the Holy Spirit did not regenerate and seal us, just so we could continue to live according to our flesh; we were doing a perfectly good job of that without the intervention of His atoning blood and sacrifice. We were not made new so we could continue to "conform to the pattern of this world", but to be like Christ (Romans 12:2)!

All things for His Name.

Everything we do is taken into account by the world, shaping their thoughts of God. Are we really living for the glory of the Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Sanctifier God or are we living for our false gods? gods that don't save-- delusions that "turn [His] glory into shame" because we attach His Name to lives that bow to much different ideals (Psalm 4:2)?

If we instead "walk by the Spirit, [we] will not gratify the desires of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). Even further, "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh" (Romans 13:14).

So often we live for ourselves, selfishly, pridefully blaming others for our sin. "For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?" (1 Corinthians 3:3). Do we really suppose that any person will be held more accountable for our actions than we are for our reactions? We must learn, "in whatever situation [we are], to be content"  and to "outdo one another in showing honor" (Philippians 4:11, Romans 12:10). To "make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" (Romans 14:19).

All things for His glory, because He's the only One worthy of glory. He's the only One that has glory. And He has enough glory to fill the entire world as the waters cover the seas (Habakkuk 2:14, Isaiah 6:3, 40:5)!

God help me to praise Yoy and serve You with all I am, because all I am has been redeemed by and for You. Your Name be praised!

"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" Revelation 7:12.