Being a sinner means being wrong. Since we still sin after confessing Christ, we still must deal with the fact that we are wrong when we sin. Being a Christian does not make wrong right. Being a Christian does not excuse what we do, say, or think that is wrong. Following Christ means agreeing with what is right, hating what is wrong, and asking that God make us right.
Accepting God’s grace means that we know we are wrong, that we deserve punishment for being wrong and that Jesus took the punishment on himself that we deserved. Grace does not remove the need for justice to be served; it was served on the cross. Having been excused from punishment by Jesus being punished for us, God begins the process of doing in us what we want to do but cannot do ourselves, the process of being made right, the process of being a Christian. Christians agree sin is wrong, confess and reject what is wrong in them, recognise and turn from what is wrong in the world, and depend on the ability to see and the power to become right by agreeing with and depending on the one who is right. Being right is not about me, it is about what is right and he who is right. I want to be right.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Invitation
There is very little worldly gain to being one of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. All humanity is invited to join the fellowship via a charter personally introduced and delivered by the founder. Membership includes the founder's love and the inclusion as an heir to his kingdom. Members are required to love the founder with all their being and respect him by following the charter.
Membership also requires the willingness to give all one owns and is in this world. Those who accept the invitation may only be asked to give a part of what they have, spread out over the tenure of their membership. Others may be asked to give a majority if not all of what they have at any time, to include the moment after they agree to join. The time at which each member is asked and the amount of each member's offering is not revealed or justified to anyone, to include the member asked. All members will be asked to give everything at some time also unknown to anyone but the founder. Members understand the offering to be an investment of eternal value and compounding interest, worth infinitely more than the offering required. Those who are asked to give the most of their worldly possessions and give the most willingly receive the greatest worldly understanding and enjoyment of their eternal investment. Those who are not asked miss the blessing of the chance and those who do not respond willingly miss the blessing in proportion to their opposition.
Those who refuse the invitation to join the fellowship will not be eligible for the benefit of knowing and being an heir to the founder, the option of investing or the resulting benefits. All they have will be taken anyway. It is better for the one who chooses not to join than for the one who accepts but does not willingly give when it is asked of them. Choose carefully how you respond and consider seriously the result of your choice.
Membership also requires the willingness to give all one owns and is in this world. Those who accept the invitation may only be asked to give a part of what they have, spread out over the tenure of their membership. Others may be asked to give a majority if not all of what they have at any time, to include the moment after they agree to join. The time at which each member is asked and the amount of each member's offering is not revealed or justified to anyone, to include the member asked. All members will be asked to give everything at some time also unknown to anyone but the founder. Members understand the offering to be an investment of eternal value and compounding interest, worth infinitely more than the offering required. Those who are asked to give the most of their worldly possessions and give the most willingly receive the greatest worldly understanding and enjoyment of their eternal investment. Those who are not asked miss the blessing of the chance and those who do not respond willingly miss the blessing in proportion to their opposition.
Those who refuse the invitation to join the fellowship will not be eligible for the benefit of knowing and being an heir to the founder, the option of investing or the resulting benefits. All they have will be taken anyway. It is better for the one who chooses not to join than for the one who accepts but does not willingly give when it is asked of them. Choose carefully how you respond and consider seriously the result of your choice.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
What’s wrong with you? Are You Stupid?
To quote Momma Gump, “stupid is as stupid does.” Since truth reveals what is right, one would have to be stupid to believe or do differently. When considering the number of stupid things I’ve done in my life, I’d be stupid to deny my stupidity. Therefore, I have to answer, yes, I am stupid and yes there is something wrong with me. It’s called sin.
There is a part of me that does what I know is not smart but does it anyway. I’m not completely dumb. I do know the difference between right and wrong and agree that doing what is right is smart. How then can I be so stupid when I know better? Because I’m a sinner and sinners are stupid. However, I’m not totally stupid. In fact, I become less stupid every day as the genius in me grows stronger in the knowledge and power of grace.
Grace makes me someone else, someone possessed and controlled by the source of all knowledge and wisdom. My ability to think is but a drop in the ocean of his intelligence. The more I grow in the knowledge of him, the dumber I realize I am and the less stupid I am compelled to be as he teaches me how to get out of the way. The more dumb I realize I am, the less qualified I feel to call someone else stupid. Dumb and stupid actions look the same after all.
Dumb people appreciate instruction. Smart people who do stupid things will appreciate the reminder of what is right and the grace sufficient enough to cover their stupidity. Sometimes, dumb people just think they are smart, which they would realize is stupid if they were able to hear and understand the truth. Since I’m still so dumb, who am I to say why someone else is being stupid? It would be stupid for me to try. Therefore, I’ll show grace and speak the truth to everyone, assuming everyone wants to be smart. Since I can’t tell the difference, I’ll let God deal with the stupid ones. He dealt with me.
There is a part of me that does what I know is not smart but does it anyway. I’m not completely dumb. I do know the difference between right and wrong and agree that doing what is right is smart. How then can I be so stupid when I know better? Because I’m a sinner and sinners are stupid. However, I’m not totally stupid. In fact, I become less stupid every day as the genius in me grows stronger in the knowledge and power of grace.
Grace makes me someone else, someone possessed and controlled by the source of all knowledge and wisdom. My ability to think is but a drop in the ocean of his intelligence. The more I grow in the knowledge of him, the dumber I realize I am and the less stupid I am compelled to be as he teaches me how to get out of the way. The more dumb I realize I am, the less qualified I feel to call someone else stupid. Dumb and stupid actions look the same after all.
Dumb people appreciate instruction. Smart people who do stupid things will appreciate the reminder of what is right and the grace sufficient enough to cover their stupidity. Sometimes, dumb people just think they are smart, which they would realize is stupid if they were able to hear and understand the truth. Since I’m still so dumb, who am I to say why someone else is being stupid? It would be stupid for me to try. Therefore, I’ll show grace and speak the truth to everyone, assuming everyone wants to be smart. Since I can’t tell the difference, I’ll let God deal with the stupid ones. He dealt with me.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Worthy of Remembrance
I can't imagine anyone who enlists expects to die as a result of their commitment to serve. To the contrary, I believe thoughts of proudly serving our country, protecting our families and freedom, possibilities of adventure, and the opportunity to use well the training and resources provided are the main motivating thoughts that fill the minds of trainees. Those were my thoughts. However, the reality of the possibility of paying the ultimate sacrifice never went away and I hoped I would be able to face it with courage and honor should it be required of me. I admire those on whom we reflect today who did.
Though I am no longer a soldier in the Army, I still maintain my military code of honor and duty through the Biblical calling I have accepted as a soldier engaged in spiritual warfare. While I never faced battle physically, I am a veteran in the spiritual realm. The battle is intense and there are many casualties I have mourned and continue to witness. Many in our army are discouraged, undisciplined, distracted from the fight or have deserted completely. Unlike serving in the American Army, I have no hope of survival as a Christian since I face certain death. However, despite present circumstances, the cause is guaranteed to be victorious as is my reward of a new body and eternal life. My mind is set on staying focused on my mission and the reality of the cost and importance of my service, that lives are in danger and depend on my performing well as I have been trained and empowered to do. I hope I will be remembered well by those who knew me as a hero of the faith, as an embodiment of the Savior, like those we remember today for what they did. I hope I will be honored before my Father when I meet him face to face to give account for the results of my mission. My greatest hope is to receive the highest Medal of Honor in heaven, the words spoken by my Father, "Well done!" Such honor is worth dying for. His glory is worth living for. So, for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I am one among the hosts of saints sent forth by God toward victory over the forces of darkness. May all I am, do and say be for his glory alone and worthy of remembrance among the other heroes of the faith.
Though I am no longer a soldier in the Army, I still maintain my military code of honor and duty through the Biblical calling I have accepted as a soldier engaged in spiritual warfare. While I never faced battle physically, I am a veteran in the spiritual realm. The battle is intense and there are many casualties I have mourned and continue to witness. Many in our army are discouraged, undisciplined, distracted from the fight or have deserted completely. Unlike serving in the American Army, I have no hope of survival as a Christian since I face certain death. However, despite present circumstances, the cause is guaranteed to be victorious as is my reward of a new body and eternal life. My mind is set on staying focused on my mission and the reality of the cost and importance of my service, that lives are in danger and depend on my performing well as I have been trained and empowered to do. I hope I will be remembered well by those who knew me as a hero of the faith, as an embodiment of the Savior, like those we remember today for what they did. I hope I will be honored before my Father when I meet him face to face to give account for the results of my mission. My greatest hope is to receive the highest Medal of Honor in heaven, the words spoken by my Father, "Well done!" Such honor is worth dying for. His glory is worth living for. So, for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I am one among the hosts of saints sent forth by God toward victory over the forces of darkness. May all I am, do and say be for his glory alone and worthy of remembrance among the other heroes of the faith.
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