The Problem With Trying To Keep The Law

There are actually several problems when we try to preach, teach, and keep the law. Like the Israelites we will fail. If there is any lesson to be learned from the Old Testament it is that we will always fail. We can never live up to God’s Holy standard. The Bible says there is no one righteous, not one. That even our good deeds are like filthy rags to a Holy God. (Romans 3:10-23; Isaiah 64:6)

We confuse people as to what the Gospel is when we teach or preach morality or tithing as something we must do in order to be in favor with God. We tell people that salvation is faith in Christ Jesus and is a free gift, then we burden them with a must do list after they come to Christ. We wear them and ourselves out, depression sets in and we then say we are being oppressed by Satan. Yet, he doesn’t have to do a thing but sit back and watch us destroy ourselves and others. He doesn’t have to be in the church, we are there.

We tell women that they cannot teach or preach the good news of the Bible to anyone but a certain group of people, mainly women and children, we cannot be a certain way, listen to this and that, be, be, be.

The problem is that we then look to our righteousness as a sign of salvation, all the while saying we are not. We become “righteous” through our own efforts leaving Christ in the dust. We are then no different than the Pharisees who made sure that everyone was doing what they are supposed to and the message of the Gospel begins to change.

We are either free through Christ or more in bondage through Christ. It cannot be both.

I was reading on Micah Fries blog a quote from Matt Chandler:

Colossians 1:13-23

What is the Gospel? In our Bible belt churches, we have consistently spoken about morality, and behaviors and we have confused people about the Gospel.

God is righteous, and we are not. It’s not the fact that our sinfulness is unclean that should rattle us, but rather it is the fact that our righteousness is unclean that should rattle us. We must be saved from both our sin & our righteousness. The Biblical Gospel is that we are hopelessly wicked, with nothing inside ourselves, that would allow us to transform ourselves. This runs counter to what we often value within the evangelical church today.

We need to not assume the Gospel and we need to make it explicit. Too many Christians simply do not understand the Gospel.

I agree. We have taken the Gospel and skewed it with works. But the fact is that our righteousness comes from Christ, the only perfect one. We have no room to brag about how much we give, what we have done for others, how we have built a church up. We do it because of Christ in us, not because of how good we are. And as Matt Chandler has said above, that should rattle us to the very core. Put us on our knees in thankfulness for what Christ has done on the Cross and in his resurrection, and to a merciful God who saved us. We are now free, not in bondage.

Ask yourself this. Am I doing this because I want to obtain favor with God, escape hell, or look good in front of others? Is it because it makes me feel good? These are the taints of sin. Out loud we may say no, but are we truly honest when saying this?

Not one person in the Old Testament was saved through the law. They were saved in the same way you and I are today. Belief in Christ. They believed in the future redemption, whereas for us it is past. This was why the sacrifices, all pointing to Christ.

Hebrews 9:15

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

The law will continue to show us what we are, sinners. But, we are also righteous. Not because of what we have done, but what Christ has done.

Why I Choose To Write On The Subjects That I Do

Forgive me for looking back at the past and being blunt, but I am going to do so for several reasons.

As a Christian I am concerned that it is just not the lost that needs the gospel but Christians as well. It’s not just other denominations that have their theology wrong, but Southern Baptists as well. It’s not just Muslims who wish to fight and destroy “infidels” but also Southern Baptists. We just don’t murder others physically or blow ourselves up by strapping bombs to ourselves, we are much more civilized in our destruction. We do it by destroying reputations, even if it takes lying about someone to do it. We do it by protecting those who have harmed others, even going against the law, we murder spirits. We’ll do anything to protect our long held reputation. Our “right” theology, which the Bible plainly says in 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John, means nothing without love. Love doesn’t mean beating someone to conformity. Love doesn’t leave spiritual bruises no matter what some may say, that is not love.

When I began blogging in 2006 after a year of reading blogs and researching, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. There was a war happening with words said that I could not believe were coming out of Christian’s mouths. It took me back to when I was growing up in an Independent Fundamental Baptist church, and all the fights and church splits I witnessed. As a child and later on a young person, I thought this was what church was. As a young adult I left the church, I wanted no part of this type of Christianity. I still don’t. I am fortunate to be a member of a church that is what I believe the Bible calls us to be. Grace people. And yes, I’m bragging here. For those who know Chuck Swindoll, he is probably the closest in terms of message and life to what I am referring to.

As a young person in the Independent Baptist church,we were not allowed to go to churches who were not in our circle of beliefs, the only Bible version I knew existed was the King James version. Yet, among our small congregation were church splits, ministers being fired, Billy Graham not allowed to be read or spoken of(although in our family we watched Billy Graham revivals. My dad was saved while watching in the 60’s) Teachers could not give little lambs or any figures to students learning Bible verses in Sunday School as one matriarch threw a fit that this was too Roman Catholic, we could not listen to any Christian music that had a beat or that you tapped your toes to(although again, in my home this was disregarded) because it was a form of dancing, others who did not believe like us were shunned, and the list went on. This was what was fought about in the church and this was what caused splits. The church is no longer in existence. The building now occupied by another organization not Baptist.

I saw the same ugliness on Southern Baptist blogs. The same theology, the same tactics used in ridding the SBC of someone. The lives that were being torn by this were those who saw injustice and attempted to bring attention to and correct it. They were literally destroyed before my eyes. It wasn’t dissension, it was in fact a war. It was wrong, it was sinful. It is something I cannot forget. It was then I decided to blog. In some cases to set the record straight, but also to bring the Gospel, the New Covenant, in my small way, to those who had never heard, mainly to Christians.

I also added to the mix what I believe the Bible says concerning our involvement in Politics, and other matters where I feel we have forgotten Christ. We got our eyes off of missions and the Great Commission and onto things that took us away not toward the Bible.
Oh, the Bible was used, it was just used out of context, in my understanding of what the passages are saying.

I am grateful that we are now focusing on the Great Commission and reaching the lost, many have a understanding of who we are in Christ and what his death and resurrection truly accomplished. May this continue. Although we have a long way to go, we have done away with looking like a Republican Party Convention but a praying, seeking for the answers, Southern Baptist Convention. We are focusing more on how to send more missionaries, not less due to budget cuts.

The rhetoric and angry words are still there, but those saying them are becoming less and less as grace is in more of our speech, and those who keep wanting us to do and do and do, not do this, not do that, are becoming less and less heard.

More questions are being asked, more spotlight is being put on those who are breaking the law, abusing, etc. God is beginning to do something.

I do not even remotely entertain the idea that this blog or my other blog changed a thing, but I do believe our prayers have changed us. I do see God moving in a way I have not seen before. I pray that we continue in the direction we are going. Change happens slowly, but as long as our eyes are on Christ, humbly seeking what the Bible does actually say, I see good things in our future. And that is an encouragement.

Inmates Dance To This Is It “They Don’t Really Care About Us”

It is no secret that I am a Michael Jackson fan and have been since the first Jackson Five song.

Choreographer Travis Payne along with two other dancers(seen in black pants) taught this dance that was to be in the O2 show in London to the Philippines Dancing Inmates in two days. It is incredible and shows the choreography genius of Michael Jackson.

This began when the inmates danced the “Thriller” in 2007, the brainchild of the warden who has been a Michael Jackson fan since childhood. They are wonderful.

Watch it here.

Is The Bible Supposed To Be Used To Hurt and Destroy And Divide the Church Or Is Correct Theology Healing And Edifying?

Both Chaplain Mike who is guest blogger on IMonk and Guy Muse have posts that are well worth reading and contemplating concerning the use of the Bible in our churches. They are points I have tried to bring out in my posts over the years. Is the Bible and theology used to bring healing, hope, and even joy to people in the church or is it used to destroy, hurt, and divide the people of the church?

I am all for correct theology. The problem is that we cannot agree among ourselves what that is. Hopefully Chaplain Mike and Guy will cause us to think when we teach and preach. Thoughts?

Royal Carribean Cruise Ship Vacationing At Haiti Resort

Here is the story. What do you think?

Thank You Southern Baptist Leaders For Your Response To Pat Robertson’s Remarks Concerning Haiti

Thank you to Southern Baptists who are responding and to organizations such as Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse, who thus far have not been able to get supplies in due to the chaos. They tried but had to turn around and go back to Miami as there was no place to land or no way to get supplies in. Pray that God provides a way.

Read the remarks from Danny Aiken and Al Mohler here and here. It’s good to know we have leaders willing to speak out against remarks such as Dr. Robertson’s.

We Southern Baptists Can Sure Knock Out The Joy That Comes With Knowing Christ

I’ve read some blogs of late that if I didn’t know who I was in Christ, didn’t know what Christ had done for me, didn’t know what scripture says concerning my salvation and Christian life, would just knock the joy right out of me. The requirements, the doing and doing that comes from the writings of these blogs makes me weary just reading them.

Why is it we present salvation as a gift, a free gift, yet after salvation, we seem to think that we must do and do and do in order to be a genuine Christian. We rip Roman Catholics for all their requirements for salvation, but then essentially teach the same things. The difference being we require them after salvation and not for salvation. We wonder why people are turning away from Christianity, but they are just weary people who realize they can’t live up to our standards so they give up. And who can blame them.

We cannot pay for salvation. We cannot earn salvation. Grace is something that we don’t deserve yet God gives freely.

For by grace are you saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8&9.

If we as Christians, as Southern Baptists, theologians, understood grace as the Bible teaches we should be jumping up and down, shouting, singing, praising God continually. Instead we take grace and we require something for it or it is labeled cheap grace. A word never found in scripture, the idea never taught in scripture.

Yes, we must examine ourselves, yes, we must repent of our sins as the Bible teaches sin, not what we deem sin. But we also must accept that we are imperfect in this life, which is why the Perfect had to come.

To say that we are not sanctified because we are not saints is an insult to God. Oswald Chambers in “Our Utmost For His Highest writes:

The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, “Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint.” But to say that before God means, “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble to others, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.

Conversely, the things that sound humble before God may sound exactly the opposite to people. To say, “Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,” is in God’s eyes the purest expression of humility. It means you have so completely surrendered yourself to God that you know He is true. Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.

There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

Stop requiring of yourself, of others, what God does not require. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, he has promised to continue the work in us he began at salvation. (Phil. 1:9). Let him do it. Let him do it in others. Don’t do, trust. Don’t keep giving a list to others, trust. Trust the Holy Spirit to do what only he can do in his way and in his time.

There is a world of difference between grace and the law. We tend to teach grace for salvation, but require ourselves and others to keep the law after salvation. The law is simply keeping score. I do therefore I deserve what God gives me. They do therefore they deserve what God give them.

Grace responds to God in love, to others in love, the law responds to duty and a give-take mentality. Grace knows that God does not love us for what we do, but who we are through Jesus Christ. Law says that God rewards and loves us for what we do, what we require others to do. Grace rests, the law is always on guard of themselves and others. Like the Pharisees who walked around making sure no one did what they should not be doing on the Sabbath.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ‘ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:17-24).

That is Grace.

Read The Meaning OF God’s Word…This Begins With Teaching Children’s Bible Stories Properly

Frank Turk of Pyromaniacs has a very important post up today. It is an essay from a past post, but it is so important to how we read, teach, preach, the Bible.

I’m going to take it a step further and point out, we have to look at the true meaning of the passage in order to get a proper interpretation. It has to begin even as children are being taught Bible stories. It’s not just about David and Goliath, The parting of the red sea, Deborah being a judge. There is a purpose to each of these stories and we must begin by teaching our children what the purpose is.

Frank gives a good example with Jonah and the Whale. He writes:

For example, the book of Jonah is not about a big fish. There is a big fish in Jonah (or, well, Jonah does wind up in a big fish, right?), but this book is about the hardness of Jonah vs. the love of God toward the unrighteous. And if we read Jonah to try to justify the presence of the big fish, or to make the big fish into an allegory of this or that, we miss the actual point that God is willing and able to do things even for the enemies of Israel which we, as men, are not.

How many of you, like me, were taught as a child in Sunday School that it was a story of a big fish? The emphasis was on Jonah’s disobedience and being in the belly of the fish more than the fact that it is the story of our idea of justice, our wanting some to go to hell because they deserve it, vs. God’s love for the lost and his plan of redemption.

I believe Frank’s post today to be an important read in how to study and read the Bible. The conclusion being:

Listen: preach the word, in season and out of season – but don’t just preach on one word from the word. Preach the Word: preach Christ. Get the whole thing out there. Don’t get so engrossed in one word that you miss all the others: that’s called missing the forest for the trees.

Amen. Thank you Frank. It may be an old post, but it is much needed today.

Stepping Out In Faith Without Knowing All The Details

I have been reading and listening to Chuck Swindoll since the 1980’s. God was beginning to do a work in my life at that time, when I happened upon him as I was trying to find a station on the radio. He has been one of many instruments that God has used to get me out of the pit of legalism, and into the freedom found in Christ. 2 years ago Chuck Swindoll joined the world of blogging and I appreciate that he has done so. The title of my post describes the entry Chuck wrote in 2008. It is a gem. It begins:

Stepping out in faith always brings clarification of God’s plan. When Ananias went to see Paul (then Saul), he received additional information (read Acts 9:10–21). As Saul submitted himself to the ministry of Ananias, he found out more about God’s plan for his life. You’re “a chosen instrument of Mine.” I’m going to use you “to bear My name” (9:15). Saul hadn’t known that before. (He had never read the book of Acts!) He knew nothing of what was in store for him until Ananias took that initial step of faith. Both men discovered that God Himself chose Saul to be His instrument and that intense suffering would mark his ministry. That’s the way God operates.

Please read the rest here.

God Do You Know What You Are Doing?

This is the question I want to ask God in the sorrow that I feel concerning the illness of our leaders in ministry, and fellow members of churches in the SBC. God do you know what you are doing?

Of course from a Biblical and Christian perspective I know the answer is yes, but sometimes my heart has to catch up to that wonderful knowledge. I also know that life is not easy, full of joy and wonder, but also full of death, illness, pain. This life is not heaven, although God in his grace, gives us a taste of heaven in this life, he also reminds us that we are only here temporarily. That when we go through illness, pain, even death, he is still the God of his children. He will never leave us nor forsake us, although we may wonder where he is in all of this at times.

Please pray for our leaders and members who are experiencing cancer at this time. Johnny Hunt, whose surgery for prostrate cancer was scheduled for yesterday, Matt Chandler, whose malignant brain tumor was not able to be fully removed, little Katie McRae, whose tumor could only be 50% removed due to its location, Avery Willis, former Senior Vice President of the IMB, who was diagnosed with leukemia, OS Hawkins.

Although I hope I have mentioned everyone, remember those I have unintentionally left out.

God has given us so many gifts when he gave us Christ, and one of the greatest in my opinion, is that no matter where we are in the world, we have a family among Christians. We have the ability to ask for prayer and the doors of heaven begin to thunder with all the prayers offered up. What other religion can say this? God does know what he is doing even if I do not and for that we can be truly thankful. If nothing else to unite us, no matter what our disagreements, in prayer. That is unity at its greatest.