Galatians 3:1-14 makes one thing crystal clear: We are reconciled to God and receive His Holy Spirit by faith, not by obeying rules. Jesus accomplished what was need for our relationship with God to be restored (reconciled) when He died on the cross. The evidence of this restoration is the Resurrection and the Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
I know this is not anything new, but this morning it hit me in a fresh way. I truly got it.
I finally realized that I was still trying to impress God with my accomplishments and deeds and successes. I finally realized that my success did not run my relationship with God. This was a mindset shift (a paradigm shift, if you will) for me. I didn't even realize I had fallen into this mindset of hoping for God's acceptance, but I had.
As I reflected further, I realized that the life transformation Christ called the Church to proclaim and accomplish in the lives of His Bride was this shift to a relationship of receiving God's grace and love in everything rather than trying to earn it.
The best title I could come up with this way of life was: The Sacramental Life. A sacrament is a means (i.e. medium, way, avenue) of grace. I am truly living in the Kingdom of God when the entirety of my life is a means of grace. When I can receive God's grace and love through every thing I do, I am truly living the life Christ died to give me. Sanctification is positioning myself to see God's grace and love in everything. The disciplines are simply a tactic for opening myself up to God and His grace and love. Serving others becomes a way of receiving grace and love. Worship is now a means of receiving grace and love. I'm no longer doing things to make myself a better person, I'm doing things so that I might better see God at work in me.
Today, I will begin seeing every situation, every person, every moment as an act of faith - receiving God's grace and love in each. I will live the Sacramental Life.
Under the Mercy,
Jason
Terra Nova
New Ground For Your Spiritual Journey
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Forgiving Ourselves?
It has been a while since I have posted...sorry. I haven't wanted to post simply to say that I have posted something. Below is an email reply I wrote to someone in our church who commented on a statement I made in a sermon a few weeks ago. I mentioned that accepting God's forgiveness is something we all need to do. Forgiving others begins with accepting God's forgiveness. This also means that we often need to forgive ourselves.
This person's (loving and gentle) push back on my statement was that the Bible never tells us to "forgive ourselves." In writing my response, I had to think through the concept quite a bit. While it probably boils down to semantics (forgiving ourselves or accepting God's forgiveness and therefore not living in guilt in shame might simply be 2 ways of saying the same thing), I wanted to post some of my own thought process on the topic. I hope you think through some of this as well.
I agree that you won't find the words "forgive yourself" in Scripture, however, I do think that it is a Biblical concept to release yourself from false guilt and shame. The reality of grace is that we have been forgiven by God and our sins are no longer held against us. Too often Christians (especially ones that grew up in a guilt-ridden community) feel like they are supposed to live in guilt and shame - they call this humility.
Ephesians 4:32 says that we are to forgive one another. I think there is some authority and power within Christians to forgive - not ultimately for salvation, but within the Kingdom of God we are image bearers of God and therefore must reflect God's actions...one of which is forgiving. Colossians 3:13 says the same thing, adding "forgive as the Lord forgave you." If I have no authority to forgive, how can I forgive AS THE LORD FORGAVE ME?
Maybe this is all semantics, but I think we can withhold forgiveness and it has an effect on others (or even ourselves). This is not pride, this is simply the way we were created to live in relationship. Maybe what you are calling accepting God's forgiveness is really the same as what I am calling forgiving ourselves.
I am wrestling with the mixing of psychology and theology. They often come from different starting points and even have different goals. When you mix the two improperly, I have seen a lot of damage done to Christians. Guilt is a powerful motivator, but it destroys those it motivates. Too many "Christian" psychologists are using guilt to motivate. On the flip side, too many "Christian" psychologists are rejecting the sinfulness of humanity and are not allowing people's conscience to convict them. I don't know what the exact right mix is. I really struggle in my teaching as I try to unwrap the "mystery" of God which He destined for our glory (see 1 Cor. 2:7) while remembering that the wisdom of this world is coming to nothing (1 Cor. 2:6). In a culture of self-help, psycho-babble, teaching people that they are the spotless Bride of Christ for whom Christ is passionately in love while teaching humility and servitude can be a difficult line to walk.
Thanks for engaging God's Word and thinking about your life in Christ beyond Sunday morning! It reminds me that Terra Nova might be doing some things right...
Under the Mercy,
Jason
This person's (loving and gentle) push back on my statement was that the Bible never tells us to "forgive ourselves." In writing my response, I had to think through the concept quite a bit. While it probably boils down to semantics (forgiving ourselves or accepting God's forgiveness and therefore not living in guilt in shame might simply be 2 ways of saying the same thing), I wanted to post some of my own thought process on the topic. I hope you think through some of this as well.
(This is an email reply. I have tried to edit it so that you don't feel like you are walking in on a telephone call, but my apologies if I have missed something).
I agree that you won't find the words "forgive yourself" in Scripture, however, I do think that it is a Biblical concept to release yourself from false guilt and shame. The reality of grace is that we have been forgiven by God and our sins are no longer held against us. Too often Christians (especially ones that grew up in a guilt-ridden community) feel like they are supposed to live in guilt and shame - they call this humility.
Ephesians 4:32 says that we are to forgive one another. I think there is some authority and power within Christians to forgive - not ultimately for salvation, but within the Kingdom of God we are image bearers of God and therefore must reflect God's actions...one of which is forgiving. Colossians 3:13 says the same thing, adding "forgive as the Lord forgave you." If I have no authority to forgive, how can I forgive AS THE LORD FORGAVE ME?
Maybe this is all semantics, but I think we can withhold forgiveness and it has an effect on others (or even ourselves). This is not pride, this is simply the way we were created to live in relationship. Maybe what you are calling accepting God's forgiveness is really the same as what I am calling forgiving ourselves.
I am wrestling with the mixing of psychology and theology. They often come from different starting points and even have different goals. When you mix the two improperly, I have seen a lot of damage done to Christians. Guilt is a powerful motivator, but it destroys those it motivates. Too many "Christian" psychologists are using guilt to motivate. On the flip side, too many "Christian" psychologists are rejecting the sinfulness of humanity and are not allowing people's conscience to convict them. I don't know what the exact right mix is. I really struggle in my teaching as I try to unwrap the "mystery" of God which He destined for our glory (see 1 Cor. 2:7) while remembering that the wisdom of this world is coming to nothing (1 Cor. 2:6). In a culture of self-help, psycho-babble, teaching people that they are the spotless Bride of Christ for whom Christ is passionately in love while teaching humility and servitude can be a difficult line to walk.
Thanks for engaging God's Word and thinking about your life in Christ beyond Sunday morning! It reminds me that Terra Nova might be doing some things right...
Under the Mercy,
Jason
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Shack
While I have been recovering from surgery, I decided to read what I thought would be a lighter book that I could just enjoy. I picked up a copy of The Shack over Christmas, but hadn't really started it. Monday afternoon I decided to pick it up and see what it was like. I finished it this morning (between naps...sorry, still trying to get the anesthesia out of my system).
While I don't want to jump on a bandwagon, I have to admit, this book was amazing. I agree with Eugene Peterson who says "This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his."
I'm sure there are controversies around the book (I haven't kept up on any of that), but I felt I needed to at least let anyone who reads this blog know about it. I highly recommend it. It has helped me re-imagine my relationship and my understanding of God and His grace.
I won't give any of the plot away - especially since I know I can't articulate it as well as Young did in the book - but I will tell you that he helped me see a lot of my hangups and misconceptions for what they were.
I guess, I just want to encourage you to take some time and read the book with an open mind. There are parts that will surprise you and parts that will offend you and parts that will make you cry (yes, I cried a few times...shut up and read the book!).
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Jason
While I don't want to jump on a bandwagon, I have to admit, this book was amazing. I agree with Eugene Peterson who says "This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his."
I'm sure there are controversies around the book (I haven't kept up on any of that), but I felt I needed to at least let anyone who reads this blog know about it. I highly recommend it. It has helped me re-imagine my relationship and my understanding of God and His grace.
I won't give any of the plot away - especially since I know I can't articulate it as well as Young did in the book - but I will tell you that he helped me see a lot of my hangups and misconceptions for what they were.
I guess, I just want to encourage you to take some time and read the book with an open mind. There are parts that will surprise you and parts that will offend you and parts that will make you cry (yes, I cried a few times...shut up and read the book!).
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Jason
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Ecclesiastes 7 - Solomon & Calvin
The King is distraught with people. He finishes this chapter with a cutting comment:
"This only have I found: God created humankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes." (7:29)
This is the cry of every staunch Calvinist! "There is none righteous, no not one" is how Paul summarizes the King in Romans. We have all messed up.
Of course the question is "were we born this way or do we become depraved?" I will admit, from my study of Scripture, I'm with the King and Paul - we are born sinners in need of salvation. No matter how wise or how smart or how rich or how able we might become in this life, ultimately, it is God's grace working in our life that saves us. We cannot ever be good enough to stand blameless before our holy God.
With this in mind, I can simply rest in God's grace and "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other." (7:14)
Are you able to admit that you aren't good enough for God to call holy, but instead you are ready to embrace His grace and allow Him to make you a new creation? Are you able to humbly acknowledge God's holiness and see our need for a mediator to reconcile our relationship with Him? I have to do this daily.
Under the Mercy,
Jason
"This only have I found: God created humankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes." (7:29)
This is the cry of every staunch Calvinist! "There is none righteous, no not one" is how Paul summarizes the King in Romans. We have all messed up.
Of course the question is "were we born this way or do we become depraved?" I will admit, from my study of Scripture, I'm with the King and Paul - we are born sinners in need of salvation. No matter how wise or how smart or how rich or how able we might become in this life, ultimately, it is God's grace working in our life that saves us. We cannot ever be good enough to stand blameless before our holy God.
With this in mind, I can simply rest in God's grace and "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other." (7:14)
Are you able to admit that you aren't good enough for God to call holy, but instead you are ready to embrace His grace and allow Him to make you a new creation? Are you able to humbly acknowledge God's holiness and see our need for a mediator to reconcile our relationship with Him? I have to do this daily.
Under the Mercy,
Jason
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