Running With God

True Repentance

One of the questions posed recently asks what role conviction of sin and repentance play in receiving the gift of salvation. Clearly this topic is central to the Bible’s message.  Some form of the word “repentance” occurs 74 times in the New International Version of the Bible. A biblically grounded definition is “turning away from anything which hinders one’s wholehearted devotion to God, and the corresponding turning to God in love and obedience.”[1]

Once you know Jesus, repentance is a continual part of your growth in Christ and something which happens more than once.  However, if you have not embraced Jesus, any of the things you may do for Jesus will not help you earn your way to Him.  His offer of salvation is a gift to us.  Making Him the Lord of our lives is the gift we offer back to Him.

To understand what it means to truly repent, let’s review what the Bible says about beginning a relationship with God. Ask yourself the following:

1.    Do you believe that apart from Christ you are lost (19:19), dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1), and have no hope of eternal salvation (Ephesians 2:12)?

2.    Do you believe that Jesus paid your death penalty on the cross (Romans 6:23) and rose victorious over the grave (Romans 10:9)?

3.    Have you personally expressed to God your need for his forgiveness (Ephesians 2:8-9) and your desire to follow His plan for your life (Ephesians 2:10)?

If you weren’t sure how to answer one of these questions, ask God to shine light on the Scriptures listed. You may also want to talk to someone you respect who has been walking with Christ for awhile. If you answered yes, then God’s promise is that you are His child (Romans 10:13; John 1:12).

The outward manifestations when someone repents and believes will look different from person to person. For some the change will be very emotional and for others this will be less true. Yet everyone who trusts Christ for salvation will experience a deep and undeniable change in their thinking and behavior.

Once we are born into God’s family, a lifetime of growth should follow. As God reveals sin to us, we should be quick to own up to it, turn from it, and relearn God’s way of living. True repentance doesn’t stay stuck in feelings of shame but moves into life-giving gratitude (2 Corinthians 7:10).

This is where the analogy of a parent-child relationship is so appropriate. When one of my daughters disobeys, she doesn’t get kicked out of the family. Rather, if I am a loving parent, I have a responsibility to discipline and instruct her. I am not nearly as interested in a tearful confession as I am in a heartfelt understanding of what happened and a genuine desire to learn from it moving forward (Hebrews 12:7-11). The same is true in God’s family.

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[1] “Repentance” in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology edited by T. Desmond Alexander and Brian S. Rosner, published by InterVarsity Press (2000) page 726.

Already But Not Yet

One of the struggling faith cards I received Easter weekend began, “Does life ever get easier?” Her initial conclusion was no, but she wanted my opinion. I wish I knew more about the circumstances behind the question. What I know is that we go through seasons. And like winter in Chicago, some seasons feel like they’ll never end. Yet spring does come; new life and hope does bloom.  And one of the most basic summaries of the Christian message is hope.

The Bible says that we should expect difficulty and suffering in this life. Paul even uses the word “groan” to describe the struggle. That’s what I sense the asker of this question was feeling at the time. The Bible says that this is an appropriate response to the very real struggle we will experience until Jesus breaks into history to bring the fullness of his Kingdom. Paul writes:  

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. (Romans 8:23)

This leads to a second question on the same card. When you become a Christian, should the desire to sin get less and less? A phrase that may help here is “already but not yet.” There are certain privileges and blessings that Christians experience already. There are other elements of God’s promises that are not yet experienced. We already have a new identity and God’s personal presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit. But we are not yet delivered from suffering and the temptations of sin.  We go wrong when we emphasize one half of the phrase to the exclusion of the other.

In order to experience more of the “already,” we need to pursue spiritual practices. These disciplines are not ends in themselves. They are ways making room in our life for God to work. There are practices of engagement: study, prayer, worship, serving, giving, memorizing Scripture, and fellowship. And there are disciplines of disengagement: silence, solitude, fasting, frugality, and sacrifice. Our spiritual muscles atrophy when we don’t exercise them. Books like The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg and The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster can open your eyes to the many life-giving practices we can pursue.

We should also remember that you are not a target unless you are a threat. Casual followers of Christ don’t pose much of a threat to the enemy of our souls, the devil. But those who grow in Christ pose a threat. The forces of darkness in this world will target their attacks on those who are their greatest threat. Those attacks come in the form of deceit, temptation, and discouragement. That’s why we need to hold tightly to God’s promises about our future deliverance. Trials help us appreciate these promises.

I am a fan of U2’s music. One of their most loved songs embodies the “already but not yet” theme. The already is celebrated with the words

You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame
Oh my shame, you know I believe it.

Yet, we all have a longing for more than this world has to offer. We long for physical and emotional and spiritual wholeness. We long for peace on earth. We long for union with God. And that’s why the song ends with words of “not yet.” I hear them not as words of despair but hope of what is yet to come.

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

Though I have found life and hope in Christ, I am not yet what I want to be. Creation itself longs for redemption. So even as we grow, we groan for what is yet to come.

 

The Bridge

In the last post I addressed the question of exclusivity. I proposed that all religious claims are exclusive. Then I presented the way of Christianity that teaches Jesus is the only way to God while empowering respect and love to those who differ.

The following submission is a good follow up question. “Why can you not go directly to God while honoring the life and teaching of Jesus?” It is true that Jesus is respected far and wide for his intellect, leadership, and tremendous capacity for love. Many people around the world are inspired by his care for the poor and social outcasts without ever looking to him as the way to God.

But if we admire his teaching and life, we must examine the whole body of it. Jesus said things like, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you” (Mark 7:20). In Jesus culture, the word defile meant that you were unacceptable in God’s presence. Among those Jesus was speaking to was a group of religious leaders that were extremely passionate about a relationship with God. Yet he announced that a different solution was necessary to deal with the very deep issue of sin in each one of us. This sin separates us from God.

Later in the same Gospel, Jesus announces that what is needed is nothing less than rescue from slavery. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man” (Mark 10:45). Humanity is enslaved to sin. The only hope for freedom is if someone pays a ransom price. Jesus does that by giving his life on the cross.

John explains the centrality of Jesus with a different metaphor. “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). At times people will say that all are God’s children. In a sense this is true since God created all of us in His image. Yet our sin separates us from God. It is not until we believe in Jesus and accept him—including the significance of his death, burial, and resurrection—that we are brought back into the family.

In summary, when we follow Jesus’ life and teaching, it leads us inevitably to Jesus as the way to God. Referring to Jesus, John writes, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.” (John 1:18). Jesus bridges heaven and earth. And it is through Him that we come to know God.

Is Jesus the Only Way?

Jesus himself says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.” This is a very exclusive claim. And it may be the most often cited criticism of the Christian message. Isn’t it arrogant to say that there is only one way to God?

The alternative often proposed is that all religions teach basically the same thing. They are different ways of relating to the same God. But if you talk to adherents of the major world religions, you will discover that there are very different understandings of ultimate reality. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all believe in a God who holds people accountable for what they believe and do. Buddhism doesn’t even believe in a personal God.

But here is the fundamental inconsistency. To state that all religions are basically the same is itself a doctrinal stance. This too can become an arrogant position. Some would even marginalize and exclude people who disagree. So let’s admit that no matter what position we take about the nature of ultimate reality, our position is exclusive.

This is where Christianity shines. It teaches its followers to hold tightly to their beliefs while showing love and respect for those who differ. The greatest incentive for doing this is Jesus himself. Though he claimed to be the only way to God, he died for his enemies while praying for their forgiveness. What the world needs is Christ followers who not only hold tightly to Jesus’ teachings but also emulate his life.

To learn more, take a look at Tim Keller’s web site http://reasonforgod.org/

 

Doubting Your Doubt

Would you find it surprising if a pastor encouraged you to doubt? In his book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism Tim Keller explains the benefits of exploring doubts for both believers and skeptics.

Believers who never wrestle with their doubts are setting themselves up for failure. If you never ponder challenging questions, your faith could collapse under the pressure of a tragedy or the difficult questions of a skeptic. Conversely, facing tough questions can reinforce one’s faith and provide thoughtful and respectful answers to others.

Skeptics are also encouraged to wrestle with their doubts. But here is where Keller provides an interesting perspective. He says, “You cannot doubt Belief A except from a position of faith in Belief B.” Underneath every doubt is a belief. Here are just a few examples that touch on questions we’ll be considering:

· If you doubt that there is one true religion, you are stating that you believe there are multiple true religions. Many people of different religions would disagree. What evidence is there to support your belief?

· If you doubt the existence of heaven or hell or life after death, you are supporting a belief that life is purely biological. How can you prove this?

· If you doubt that Jesus rose from the dead, you need a better explanation of the empty tomb, the testimony of multiple eye-witnesses, and the birth of the church.

The only way to give Christian beliefs a fair hearing is to examine the support for our alternative beliefs. To quote Keller again, “It would be inconsistent to require more justification for Christian belief than you do for your own, but that is frequently what happens. In fairness you must doubt your doubts.”

When believers face tough questions, and when skeptics reconsider their own beliefs, it creates an atmosphere where productive dialog can take place. So let’s take a good look at our doubts.

Struggling Faith

On Easter Sunday I shared that the first response to the resurrection was not faith but doubt. Mary assumed the body was stolen and Peter didn't seem to grasp the significance of the discarded grave clothes (John 20:1-7). If that was the response of the earliest disciples, then we're in good company when we struggle to believe.

In last Sunday's program was a response card that invited people to share their questions about God, Jesus, the Bible, or faith. I didn't know if anyone would respond. But the volume and honesty of the responses were significant. Here is a sample of the questions asked:

1. Why would God send some people to hell that lived a good life but didn't believe in God?
2. Where we are born geographically determines the religious faith we will be raised in.  There are many religions of the world.  What happens when those that are not raised or exposed to Christianity leave this mortal life?
3. Why is Jesus the only way to God?  Why can you not go directly to God while honoring the life and teaching of Jesus?
4. How does the pre-historic era fit into God’s creation?
5. Why did God create man knowing what was going to happen?  (Rawanda, Holocaust, War, etc.)
6. What happened to the “God followers” (Moses, Abraham, Aaron) that lived before Jesus came to earth?  Did they go to heaven, purgatory, no where?
7. Why can’t the Bible be more easily understood by the masses?  Why is it written so that one would have to depend on others to make things clear?  And as a result, create misinterpretations/conflict/division.
8. Why prayer?  If God already knows what he will do…His will be done.
9. Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?
10. I was raised in a denomination where there is a deep belief the Eucharist is the literal body and blood of Jesus (called transubstantiation). Relatives say you can’t be fully Christian without this belief. How should I respond?

This is just the beginning. We received 40 cards. As you might expect, several of the questions overlapped. Where it seems fit, I'll group some questions together when I answer. My goal will be to respond to at least one question per week.

 

I hope you'll grant me the grace to respond thoughtfully rather than hastily. If I don't get to your question right away, it may be because it requires some additional research or reflection. If you'd like to get a head start, several questions are addressed in the following books:

• The Reason for God by Tim Keller
• The Case for Faith and The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

Peter's struggling faith on Easter morning launched this discussion. Words he later wrote to the church also guide us. "And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way." (1 Peter 3:15). I look forward to the conversation that follows.

The Disciple Jesus Loved

I can't believe it's been months since I've blogged. I'm hoping to get back in the rhythm. To do so I want to reflect on our reading of John's Gospel as a congregation. The following is something I wrote awhile ago from John's perspective. May it help you personalize your celebration of Easter.

The longer I was with Jesus, the more the hardness of my heart melted. I was overwhelmed time and again by the Lord’s capacity to love. He kept ruining my categories for what love looked like.

 

A prime example of this took place the night of his arrest. We were celebrating the feast of Passover together in an upper room. Come supper time, it was not a pretty sight or smell when the twelve of us took off our sandals. It was for good reason that we reclined with our feet away from the table. Before we knew what was happening, Jesus got up, took a bowl and a towel, and began to wash my feet. Have you ever had someone wash your feet? Can you imagine Jesus washing your feet? It is a humbling experience to say the least. But he did it with such love.

 

That same night I reclined next to Jesus. I was close enough that if I leaned back, my head could rest on his chest. And somewhere between the foot washing and the shared cup, it finally sank in. I—big-mouthed, small-hearted, Son of Thunder—am the disciple Jesus loves.

 

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not singling myself out as more loved than anyone else. But that night the reality of Jesus’ love was dislodged from my head and traveled the long journey of 12 inches and landed in my heart. I am the disciple that Jesus loves.

 

His uncommon love compelled me to follow Jesus to the foot of the cross where he asked me to care for his mother in his absence. Three days later, his undying love propelled me in a desperate race to his tomb hoping that somehow he was alive. And it all came full-circle when His surprising love recaptured my heart on the shores of Galilee. We were called from our nets again, but this time by the Lord Jesus who had risen from the dead.

 

If you spend much time with Jesus, it will have a profound impact on you. He once said, “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love.” That’s what has happened to me. I have found myself at home in Jesus’ love. That’s why I refer to myself as the disciple that Jesus loves.

(The quote in the last paragraph comes from John 15:9 in The Message.)

Experience

Last Sunday concluded our Magnify series. Our goal was to immerse people in an experience of worship. We did that through the following elements:

• A cross was placed in the center of the floor.
• Chairs were reoriented to face the cross.
• The worship team was not the focus even though they still led.
• A stone was placed on every chair.
• Our stones represented secret sins.
• Worshippers were invited to bring their stones to the cross.
• After confessing our sin, communion was shared.

The followoing pictures come from this experience.

I'd love to hear how the diffences in this worship service helped or hindered your personal engagement with God.

Worship Quotes

Last week in services we watched a video with some great quotes. It went by so fast that it was hard to catch them. Here are a few of the highlights.

• Our choice is not “if” we will worship, but what… or who…
• “My life needs God’s presence to work God’s purpose.” Jack Hayford
• “As worship begins in holy expectancy it ends in holy obedience.” Richard Foster
• “Missions exists because worship doesn’t” John Piper
• “In our worship of Him, we should find unspeakable pleasure.” A.W. Tozer
• “Worship can never be a performance… [but] an overflow of your heart.” Matt Redman
• “Express the same delight in God which made David dance.” C.S. Lewis
• The One we worship is worthy to be praised!

If you want to see the whole video, go to http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/15453/Worship-Inspiration

Confession to a Holy God

On the first week of the Magnify series, we learned that an appropriate response to a holy, holy, holy God is to confess our ruin (Isaiah 6:1-7). The following confession was developed by our teaching team and was used at the end of service. I share it here to encourage your personal engagement with God.

Father, we have become accustomed to going through a day and a week without even thinking of our sin. But Lord, as we pause now, before your holy and awesome majesty, we bow low and honestly consider our thought life...

 

We confess harsh and critical words we have entertained, damaging, unkind, greedy or lustful thoughts, which create attitudes that foster sinful actions.

Please Lord, forgive us our sinful thoughts.

Our spoken words can bless or curse, build up or break down. We confess words which we regret saying,  words which damage and cause pain.

Please Lord, forgive us our sinful words.

God, we are guilty of deeds both knowingly and unknowingly sinful in your sight. We now confess the deeds which we have done, deeds we have left undone promises broken and commitments neglected. 

Please Lord, forgive us our sinful deeds.

Let us now be assured of our forgiveness. You have promised that if we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We trust Your promise of forgiveness through Jesus our Lord, Amen.