This question to some of us is answered very easily. You may be a good communicator, you have the ability to put your thoughts together and articulate what you believe. The words that you say appear to be genuine and heart felt. Why would I have any reason not to believe you?
Let me ask this question, if I were to ask someone you work with or someone that knows you personal the same question about you, would they come up with the same answers. Does what you believe come out through what you do? There are many of us that can talk a big talk, can present an argument or defend a certain truth statement but the evidence of our lives are weak at best.
In the day we live we are so influenced by what people say. We are so quick to follow a word, a well thought out dissertation or a carefully prepared presentation. The Internet has opened the door for people to express thoughts, opinions, beliefs. Without any knowledge of that individuals personal lifestyle or behavior their band wagon is full of eager followers. The question you must ask yourself or at least take pause long enough to think about is, does it matter if what a person says has no impact on what a person does?
There's a book in the Bible that addresses this issue very clearly, the half brother of Jesus presents a clear argument for why it should matter. In this book James argues that faith without works is dead, saying if you believe something with out the supporting evidence of a changed life is not believing at all. In James 2:19, even the demons believe.
Are you tired of being tossed to and fro by every slick tongue on the web, if you're ears are itching be careful where you turned to get them scratched. The answer to this is get linked up with the church, be part of a community of believes that express what they believe by the way they live. The church is God's people who are called, equipped and sent. Find a church that you can build relationships with. Be around people that live what they believe.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
New Identity
Have you ever asked yourself the question, "who am I?" If you haven't asked it you've probably heard someone else say, "I'm trying to figure out who I am." So much of ones life is about figuring out "who they are", investing both time and resources to come up with something we are comfortable with or can at least tolerate. Years go by and you realize that's not who you are at all. Have you ever heard someone say after divorcing their spouse of 30 years, "that's just not who I am anymore, I've changed". The pursuit of our identity can become a life time travel expose, with documented journaling to support your adventure. People live there entire life without being satisfied with who they are.
The church today has found themselves struggling with their identity. We have become a people that are more concerned about how people see us vs. who we are. The Bible is very clear that our identity is not wrapped up in what people see, that's old covenant doctrine. Jesus in Matthew 5 begins to unfold the new covenant, the new life we have in Christ. Jesus hits a cord when he says in vs. 20 "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." The question that might follow this statement is, "than who can be saved?" This is the very point Jesus is making, you can't fulfill the righteous requirements of the law. No matter what standard you put up for yourselves you will never measure up. Jesus was preparing them for the greatest illumination of revelation known to mankind, He was their righteousness. It was no longer about them being righteousness; where they failed He was going to succeed. Our Identity is no longer in what we do, but rather what He did.
Can someone say, "Thank you Jesus!!!"
More to come...
Warren
The church today has found themselves struggling with their identity. We have become a people that are more concerned about how people see us vs. who we are. The Bible is very clear that our identity is not wrapped up in what people see, that's old covenant doctrine. Jesus in Matthew 5 begins to unfold the new covenant, the new life we have in Christ. Jesus hits a cord when he says in vs. 20 "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." The question that might follow this statement is, "than who can be saved?" This is the very point Jesus is making, you can't fulfill the righteous requirements of the law. No matter what standard you put up for yourselves you will never measure up. Jesus was preparing them for the greatest illumination of revelation known to mankind, He was their righteousness. It was no longer about them being righteousness; where they failed He was going to succeed. Our Identity is no longer in what we do, but rather what He did.
Can someone say, "Thank you Jesus!!!"
More to come...
Warren
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Is God Love?
I would have to agree that God is love, is he love exclusively? Rob Bell would say that love wins, I would agree His love did win! The real question isn't whether or not God is love but rather what He did with that love?
It's in our nature to want to serve, worship and love a God that in return loves us back. No consequences for sin, just love. Can't we create in our own image the type of God we want to serve? Can't we interpret how we want to interpret the type of God that is only love? Sure we could, but should we?
When I read the Bible I see a God that loves me so much that He sent His son to die for me. Did He have to do that? If we are all going to heaven anyways why would God send His son to be beaten, brutalized, poked, stabbed, mocked and finally killed. That to me doesn't sound like a very loving Father. Jesus died because there was a price to pay, He became our propitiation--the perfect substitution for you and for me. The God of the Universe wants to have a relationship with you, take Jesus out of the picture and that doesn't happen. Sin and God do not co-exist very well, when we accept what Jesus did we are telling God, "don't look at me, look at your son", when God does that He sees us as righteous rather than a bunch of selfish brats.
Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins" is coming out March 15th. I don't want to judge a book by its cover nor by its critics. I'll let Bell speak for Bell.
Love doesn't win, Jesus wins!
Warren
It's in our nature to want to serve, worship and love a God that in return loves us back. No consequences for sin, just love. Can't we create in our own image the type of God we want to serve? Can't we interpret how we want to interpret the type of God that is only love? Sure we could, but should we?
When I read the Bible I see a God that loves me so much that He sent His son to die for me. Did He have to do that? If we are all going to heaven anyways why would God send His son to be beaten, brutalized, poked, stabbed, mocked and finally killed. That to me doesn't sound like a very loving Father. Jesus died because there was a price to pay, He became our propitiation--the perfect substitution for you and for me. The God of the Universe wants to have a relationship with you, take Jesus out of the picture and that doesn't happen. Sin and God do not co-exist very well, when we accept what Jesus did we are telling God, "don't look at me, look at your son", when God does that He sees us as righteous rather than a bunch of selfish brats.
Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins" is coming out March 15th. I don't want to judge a book by its cover nor by its critics. I'll let Bell speak for Bell.
Love doesn't win, Jesus wins!
Warren
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