Uncommon Faith

Not all that long ago a well known Christian leader stated something along the lines of we should un-hitch the Old Testament from the New Testament.  In essence, what he is saying is the OT is irrelevant to us today.  After all, we are living under the New Covenant so that old stuff is just that…  Old.

There are so many reasons why this is…  “hogwash”, but I want to suggest one very important consideration for this leader and others that may follow in his footsteps.

I’ve been slowly working my way through the Old Testament one chapter at a time.  I read the one chapter, contemplate it’s meaning or it’s relevance and then read a commentary or two on it and wonder where is the application?

I came across a profound truth this morning that is worth noting.

John Russell said this:

…let it be remembered that nothing directed to be recorded by the Spirit of God ought to be reckoned dry or uninteresting, and that “all scripture given by inspiration of God,” is meant and fitted to be “profitable unto for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness.”  Can it be uninteresting to us with regard to whom so many prophecies and special dealings are recorded, and from whom has sprung, according to the flesh, the Savior of the world, “the light of the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel?” 

That’s important.  The Spirit of God has inspired all of scripture.  No detail is unimportant.  It’s all there for a reason and to un-hitch the Old from the New is not only a terrible idea, but it’s also ungodly.

The terrifying truth of the chapter I read this morning let me know that God is not casually sitting by and giving a pass to those that lead the Christian church.  Just the opposite.  He is holding them to the highest standard.  God will not be mocked.  His word is to be handled rightly.  With reverence and authority.  All of it.

May we never stop learning from those that have come before us.  Good or bad.

Follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.  2 Timothy1:13-14

Kevin

What is a Christian?  I have a friend that wrote a really interesting blog today on lent.  He admittedly comes at it from a non-Christian point of view (If you are particularly sensitive beware).  This is a great guy by all standards that I can measure.  I met him years ago and when we first met we hit it off.  Like old bro’s that had common interests.

Trying to even remember back then I’m not sure if I was truly converted at the time or not, but I was certainly professing to be a Christian.

There are those that “profess” Christianity.  There are those that are truly Christians, they desire to serve the Lord, they do it with right intentions, sometimes failing miserably in their sin, but none-the-less they desire to serve Christ.

Then, of course, there is also the unbelieving world.  Those that have no interest.  They are fine to leave it alone.

I’m going to keep this very basic, not be too theological.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 

We must start here to understand Christianity.  God created all things by the power of His word.  There was nothing but God before creation, eternal, and self-existent.  No beginning, no end.  He didn’t create out of boredom or loneliness, He created to glorify Himself.

In the garden God allows Adam to make choices, shall we say, and Adam falls into sin by disobeying God.  That’s simple enough and sad as a representative of all mankind Adam has plunged us all into sin.  Paul affirms this through Romans chapter 5 verses 12-21.

Most people acknowledge their sinfulness in some respects.  We all know we are not “perfect”.  If you have children you know they are disobedient and self-centered.  This is the nature they are born with.  It’s not difficult to identify the truth of the Bible here if we are honest.  You know that if you leave your wallet sitting around someone will steal it.  That’s not a tough concept.

So what?  What’s the point?

The point is Jesus Christ.  He being God in the flesh came to rescue sinners from their sin.  Our relationship with God has been severed through sin.  We are born at enmity with God and because of this, we cannot be in a right relationship with Him.  This is the purpose of Christ’s mission which beautifully articulates the purpose of glorifying Himself.  The greatest act of love ever shown is to lay down one’s life for another.

And yet God, while we were sinners did this.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake.  Not for everyone’s sake.  For those that believe sake.  God made Christ to be sin, who had never sinned.  The believing ones might receive God’s righteousness and goodness and receive a restored relationship with God.

That’s it.  That’s the simplicity of the message of Christianity.  No matter how “good” you are, you can’t be perfect.  That is the point.  You have to surrender your self-goodness to the goodness of another.  It’s a universal message of hope.

It’s not about a set of rules and do this, or don’t do that, it’s not about religious ceremonies or traditions.  It’s not about smearing some ashes on your forehead or giving up candy for 40 days.  Okay, maybe I should do that, but it doesn’t improve my standing before God.

True Christianity revolves around Christ.  Don’t miss that during this religious ceremonial time of the year.

Kevin

I work for a company like most people.  The majority of my life I’ve been a small business owner.  We had a very successful business and we sold it last year to big business.  In some ways achieving the “American Dream”.

It’s not my main point, just an, as a matter of fact, thing.

The Big Company has slogans, and reviews and goals and all the kind of stuff you can expect from a big company.  It’s a good place to work for the most part.  Of course, I’m doing what I’ve done for the past 16 years so nothing has changed in my daily responsibilities.

There’s a new term being tossed around from the “Big Guy”.  The company commander and chief coined a term that he wants us to use or live out.  It’s called Swagger.  Not to be confused with Swaggert, you remember that guy, don’t you?  We won’t go there today…

It’s a company priority for us to “swagger”.  I thought,”what does that mean?”

So like any normal person, I looked it up.

The first thing that I had to ask, “is this a noun or a verb?”  A person, place or thing, or an action word?  Hmm… I suppose it could go either way, but let’s assume it’s an action word.  A good old verb.  This company is built for action, so it makes sense. The possibilities are endless.

What does it mean to have “swagger”?

So there it is.  That’s what it means to swagger.  First of all that doesn’t really interest me.  I hope I’ve never pranced before.  I hope I never prance.  But to be serious the very act of what this means is repulsive to me in so many ways.  Not because I’m too cool for this or too high and mighty.  But because I just don’t like it for the simple reason I’m a follower of Jesus Christ.  This is the antithesis of what Christ calls me to.

I don’t want to sound as though I’m making fun of my company, I’m not, but it’s not a Christian organization and it doesn’t view the world like I do.

I try and view all things through a biblical lens.  Christ calls us to a different way.  And although I appreciate my company, it’s always a good thing to have a job, I have a higher calling to Christ.

I’m not going to personally, or even figuratively, or metaphorically, walk around strutting.  It’s just not the way I’m called to live.  And while it might sound good in a company meeting it is a contradiction for me personally.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Matthew Henry commenting on this passage says it so plainly.

Now what was the mind of Christ? He was eminently humble, and this is what we are peculiarly to learn of him. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, Mt. 11:29. If we were lowly-minded, we should be like-minded; and, if we were like Christ, we should be lowly-minded. We must walk in the same spirit and in the same steps with the Lord Jesus, who humbled himself to sufferings and death for us; not only to satisfy God’s justice, and pay the price of our redemption, but to set us an example, and that we might follow his steps.

Daily we have new opportunities to respond in pride or in humility.  May we be known as people who respond in humility.  This is the way Christ calls us to walk.

Kevin

I’m sitting here thinking about lunch.

It’s Monday and for many, that is a bummer.  We have the week ahead and now we are faced with the reality of 5 days.

Why not go grab a taco for lunch?  Tacos are typically reserved for Tuesday.  Why?  Well because it rhymes of course.  Taco Monday just doesn’t have the same flair.

What does this have to do with anything?  I don’t know really, my mind is weird sometimes.  Life can be pretty serious and it should be serious but it can also be fun.

There are too many people that are shall I say…  “stiff”?  Yes, stiff is a good word.

We and when I say “we” I mean Christians, can be so serious that we are just no fun to be around.  The converse is also true that we can be so concerned about having fun or being funny that we won’t be taken seriously.   Please see Ecclesiastes 10:1.

In a previous time and place, I addressed the issue of God having a sense of humor.  I like what I wrote in some respects and in other ways I was probably a bit too stiff.  God obviously gave us a sense of humor but there are some things we need to have convictions and gravity.  To be serious, to be sober-minded and quite frankly not be a goof-ball.

There are plenty of goof-balls out there.

What are you known for?  What do people think about you?  This is an incredibly important question.  Yes, it’s important to balance a fear of man but I’m not talking about that.  I’m talking about how are you viewed by those around you?  Those that observe your life?

Are you angry all the time?  Are you a joker?  Do people take you seriously?

Don’t miss this opportunity to evaluate yourself, don’t be too hard on yourself  but don’t give yourself too much credit.  Try and be honest and then enact changes if you must, conform your mind to the mind of God.

Do you really want to know?  Ask someone else to evaluate you.  That’s hard, I’ve done that before and I didn’t always appreciate the answers.  My wife is honest with me.  And I don’t always appreciate it.

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.  Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.  Titus 2:1-2

If you can get this, you get it.  If you can strive for this standard you will be respected and you will honor the Lord Jesus Christ in your life.  This is what a godly man should strive for.  And I’m not leaving you women out.  There’s stuff in Titus 2 for you as well.

Have a great Taco Monday.

Kevin

Compassion for the human condition is one of the most important aspects of living an authentic Christian life.  There are certainly other elements to this formula but there must be real compassion, true compassion for those in our lives and those around us.

It has been my experience that most often this compassion is expressed in the form of physical suffering and ailments.  This is an important aspect of life.  Pain hurts.  Nobody likes pain.  It’s why so many medicate and many self-medicate whether it’s escaping the hum-drum of life or there is a real desire to escape the realities of our situations.

John recognized this when he wrote his third letter to the church.  He realized that it’s important for the physical to be functional.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health…  3 John 2a

I despise the suffering that so many endure.  I have friends that are suffering greatly at this very moment and it grieves my soul.  Perhaps this short word brings them a slight glimmer of hope.  I can only pray that is the case.

But we must also recognize we live in God’s world.  As it’s been said, there is not one random molecule in this universe that God does not declare His.  He is the ultimate Sovereign and I’m so grateful He is.  How does one deal with a world that is actually “out of control”, random and chaotic?

I must not stop short of John’s thought, however, because he didn’t stop with the physical, as important as it is.

…as it goes well with your soul.  3 John 2b  

It is at this point I begin to cry…

Our physical health is important.  And our eternal soul is FAR more.  A friend died this week.  He was 72.  That’s really not that old.  He was a quiet man, never said much, but he always listened.  He served his country for the majority of his adult life.  He had achieved a high status in the Navy and he was proud of his accomplishments, as he should be.  But no matter his status, where did he stand before the King of kings and the Lord of lords?  This is what matters, was it well with his soul?

The gospel is a simple message.  It says that we are all guilty sinners before a Holy God.  We’ve broken His laws, we stand condemned before His perfect and righteous standards.  We are without hope.  He can no more pardon a guilty sinner than He can commit sin.

But God…

Because of His great mercy and loving kindness paved a way for us to be reconciled to Him.  The pathway back to Him was through a bloody cross.  He that knew no sin, became sin on our behalf.  Satisfying the justice of God and breaking down the wall of separation, bridging the impassible chasm between us and Him.

Do you believe this?

Have you repented of your sin?

Have you placed your full faith and trust in Him to save you on the day you stand before Him?

The gospel shows us our hope must be in another.

Stop trusting in yourself.  Trust in Him.

This is the message of compassion.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

May the Lord grant us compassion to love others as He loved us.

Kevin