A Response “To My Friends Who Identify Themselves As Homosexual”

December 22, 2013June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / 2 Comments

This blog post is a direct reply to this post, which I came across when a friend of mine posted it on their FB page. The friend was upset by this post, and truth be told, I was too. My first reaction was to come out fighting, but due to the late hour and the importance of the message, I put it off until today. I am glad I did.

Helpful hint if you so choose: you may want to read Mr. Howell’s blog before proceeding so that you can have a reference. Or bring it up so that you can refer to it as I post.

Before I begin, I welcome your comments and viewpoints. I offer this perspective not only as part of my own freedom of religion and freedom of speech, but as one who is not afraid of varying views. Further, I am NOT interested in dictating how you should think or believe. I just offer this as my own view on the subject.

First, the person who wrote it is an American. As such, I affirm he has every right to write the post, express his personal convictions, and believe what he wants. I am GLAD that he has this freedom and applaud the time that he took to write it. He should not be censored. That is the American Way.

Having said that, I must also say that too many people feel that, in America, everyone must follow the Christian faith to BE American. Even as a Christian, I must emphasize that this is NOT the American Way. Everyone in this country has a right to believe whatever they want, or nothing at all. To impose, at the national or state level, the idea that the Judeo Christian Bible dictates the parameters in which all citizens must adhere is inherently wrong. Further, it defies our very constitution, which states very clearly that religion is allowed but does NOT define the laws of this land nor subjugates the law to it. This is well documented and has been ruled on in our country in great detail, an example of which is noted here (with links to the mentioned decisions if you’re interested) Note, emphasis was done by me:

“Freedom of religion means freedom to hold an opinion or belief, but not to take action in violation of social duties or subversive to good order,” Chief Justice Waite wrote in Reynolds v. United States (1878). The U.S. Court found that while laws cannot interfere with religious belief and opinions, laws can be made to regulate some religious practices, e.g., human sacrifices, and the Hindu practice of suttee. The Court stated that to rule otherwise, “would be to make the professed doctrines of religious belief superior to the law of the land, and in effect permit every citizen to become a law unto himself. Government would exist only in name under such circumstances.”[1] In Cantwell v. State of Connecticut the Court held that the free exercise of religion is one of the “liberties” protected by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment and thus applied it to the states. The freedom to believe is absolute, but the freedom to act is not absolute.[2]”

So, my first point is that Mr. Howell has every right to believe and post about his beliefs, but that in no way means he can legally impose those beliefs on ANYONE in this country, even if he believes he holds the right to do so.

But here’s the deal, I AM a Christian and hold very strong convictions based on the Bible, just as Mr. Howell does. And I personally am brought almost to the brink of tears when the Bible is used in such a way as to condemn others, especially when the condemner appears to be doing so in what they claim is love. And HEAR ME, I don’t know Mr. Howell and therefore I put “appears” because I honestly do not know his heart. I don’t know ANYTHING about him. So, in large part if he says he wrote that blog in love, we should try to accept that. However, there are very specific things he says about the Bible I would like to talk about today, as a Christian and as an American. This may take a while because I feel like I have to respond point to point (as my 2.78 readers know is my modus operandi).

Mr. Howell’s assertions are in bold, my responses follow each point he makes.

First, I believe that the God of heaven, the God we read about in the Bible, created the universe and all that is in it, through His son Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-18).

As a Christian, I affirm this view of creation (though I do adhere to the scientific idea of evolution and such) and I look to God the Father and His Son Jesus as the supreme rulers over my life. However, I personally think it is wrong as Christians to stand like a toddler stomping his or her feet demanding that everyone else bow to the same God or belief system. “GOD IS IN CHARGE AND YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE.” I mean, don’t you hate it when a vegan sits in a restaurant and verbally decries how gross all of us carnivores are? I mean, dude, why you wanna be all up in my lunch? If you don’t eat any animal products, high five, now let me eat my steak in peace! I think it’s taints the awesome testament of my belief system when I push my very personal and very intimate and very wonderful feelings of Christ especially to the point of making others feel wrong or guilty for not seeing things the way I see it. And I believe that Christ never operated in that way. If He did, he would have called His legions of angels to knock the Pharisees and the Roman Leaders down when He was being tried and ultimately crucified. Instead, He was quiet. He was humble. He spoke only love to those who condemned Him.

And I contend that, if Muslim stood up and demanded that we follow his beliefs because the Quran stated this or that, many people such as Mr. Howell would have a heart attack. Well, my friends, many in this country react the same way when we pull out the Bible and say “listen up, you gotta follow this”.

Second, I believe that the Bible is God’s inerrant communication to mankind. It tells us of his power, love, and grace, but also of his judgment. It tells us of what he wants from his creation, but also what he does not want. It is by the words of that book that the entire world will be judged in the end of material existence—even those who rejected those words (John 12:48).

First, the Bible will not be used to judge us. Based on the Bible, CHRIST will judge us. Now, let’s not split hairs, the Bible is clear that the Word is Jesus. But to suggest that the laws will be used and what not for CHRISTIANS is not Biblical. The Bible is clear that, for those in Christ, the blood of Christ will be sufficient and no other “words” of the Bible will be manifest in the judgment.

Second, the scripture shared above is clear that Jesus was saying if you reject ME, judgment will be upon you. Again, Mr. Howell and I may believe that, but we need to accept that others may not, and often times do not. It’s like saying I believe aliens are real, and to prove it read this book my dad wrote about aliens being real. To insist a truth based on something that others don’t even accept is kind of silly. Basically, you’re saying “you better believe the Bible, which I know you don’t, because it says you’re toast if you don’t!”

But, again, I DO believe the Bible, and I DO believe I am no longer “toast” because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. But Mr Howell’s comment about “God’s inerrant communication” ticks me off, to be blunt. Too many Christians spout off this statement even though it is bogus. Hey, chill your heels, I am not saying the Bible is WRONG. It may have been pristinely communicated by God, but unfortunately it had to go through humans, which has been proven for all time are errant! Furthermore, we stupid humans have either bastardized the message over time, or may have maliciously changed it to meet our agenda.

What?

’Tis true. My first offering of evidence is Jesus Himself, spoken thousands of years ago. After beginning His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 to teach His thousands of followers “The Way”, He began to RE-educate them on things that had been documented IN THE BIBLE, but which THE PEOPLE HAD COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTOOD.

Verse 38 starts with “you have heard it said”, and all the verses around that are clear corrections to misinformation or misinterpretation. Jesus straight out says, “BUT I SAY” and I will paraphrase “you got it wrong people, let me set you straight!”

Jesus quotes SCRIPTURE that had been followed in a certain way for THOUSANDS of years, and says, “I am telling you, what was REALLY meant was…….”

Example 1 (Matt 5:38-42): And eye for an eye, meaning you mess with me, I will mess with you (taken from Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy). This had been practiced by the Jewish nation for thousands of years and they used scripture to justify it. Jesus clearly says in Matthew it doesn’t matter WHAT someone does to you, you turn the other cheek and leave any retribution to God. And Jesus takes it further……they steal something from you? GIVE THEM MORE! Because the REAL way to being my follower is to LOVE. When you’re good with THAT, then you can go ahead and start playing God.

Example 2 (Matt 5:43-48): Love your neighbor, but hate your enemy. This was how the Israelites followed the Bible and felt justified in doing so because “the Word was inerrant”. But Jesus CLEARLY goes on to say “you have it all wrong”. The human interpretation of the Word had been flawed, and Jesus had to correct that incorrect belief system. Jesus is clear you love EVERYONE, even your ENEMIES. And He doesn’t qualify that by saying “as long as they don’t sin, then love them.” There is NO qualification. We need to love, period.

But it doesn’t stop there. The fact remains that the Bible was not written in English, and even after it was translated to English it has been translated many times and on too many “platforms” that often had nothing to do with God.

Example 1: the word “homosexual” does not exist in the King James Bible, the most famous of the first English translations offered in 1611; the term homosexual was first added to Bible translations in 1946. Some argue that the term “homosexual” didn’t even exist until the late 1800’s, so where it didn’t exist it could not be used and that the Bible is clear that the “action” was what we now call homosexuality. However, those who are honest with themselves admit that some of the original Greek terms used, especially by the Apostle Paul, have no definitive English translation and that we – with agendas or perhaps limited understanding of God and His Omnipotence – have said “meh, Paul must have meant homosexual”. Completely ignored is the fact that Greeks had forced homosexuality practice in place during Paul’s life (men forcing young boys to be their sex slaves) as well as non-Christian, pagan temple homosexual activities to pagan gods. Words that were used by Paul – such as arsenokoitai – didn’t really exist in his culture’s vernacular and if we’re truthful we’d admit we know not much more of its meaning today. And really, if Paul REALLY wanted to say “homosexual” he could have used a word clearly understood in his culture such as paiderasste. There are TONS who understand Greek and the etymology of this, so I encourage you to do a bit of research.

But ever further, within the last few years conservatives have decided that there needs to be a CONSERVATIVE Bible published! They said that there is “too much liberalism” in the Bible and that the “true intent of the Word” needs to be shown. Basically, they want to make the Bible say what they believe to be the truth. THAT IS DANGEROUS MY FRIENDS and just one example of error being added to the Word of God in print (not even talking about the errors added at pulpits day in and out! Can anybody say “Westboro Baptist Church”?) So exclusively quoting scripture and saying it is the truth because it is in the Bible is not the best platform to have.

As to the judgment piece…..um, holy cow! MY belief system states that every person will be judged, but NOT BY ME! The Bible is clear when we focus on the words of Jesus that we SHOULD not judge and if we DO judge, we are toast!

Matthew 6 is clear that if you don’t forgive others, you will not be forgiven.

Matthew 7 is clear that Jesus views us as hypocrites if we judge others while ignoring the fact that WE are sinners, too.

And let’s be real, Romans 3 is VERY clear that ALL have sinned and fall short of God. You. Me. People who are heterosexuals. People who are homosexuals.

So, TO ME, calling out ONE type of group in our society and implying they have fallen short, while NOT acknowledging that truly everyone else is in the same boat, is short sided, hypocritical, and a gross misrepresentation of the Lord that I have chosen to follow.

But that’s just me.

For everyone, what the sovereign God of the universe has said are the words of (absolute) “truth and reason” (Acts 26:25; John 17:17)—even if you choose to reject them.

This means that if I am going to be consistent in what I believe, I have to speak out against sin. Just because you don’t believe in God’s existence or that the Bible is his word doesn’t mean that it does not apply to you.

If I know that God will judge the deeds of every man and woman at the end of time, then I am compelled to speak about the matter. I have to persuade people to stop doing the things that are against God’s will, and that will ultimately harm them physically and spiritually (2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Ephesians 5:11).

First, see my previous comments about using the Bible to make your point to people who don’t accept the Bible. Remember, Americans have rights in this country, and for me or anyone to say “yeah, you have rights but anyway, my beliefs trump them” is not cool.

Second, the Apostle Paul is clear that we should not judge those who are not believers and we should NOT tell them they are sinning. How can we hold them to a belief they don’t even acknowledge? This is clearly stated in 1 Cor 5:12, that those who do not believe can’t be held to it. It’s like saying we Americans have to live by and accept Sharia law that is prevalent in Iran! It does not apply to us as Americans, and it is not Biblical to demand non believers follow the Bible.

However, although 1 Corinthians is clear that believers in the church CAN be judged based on the Bible, I believe the context of this scripture are those that are causing strife and darkness in the church. And, I truly believe those who are in Christ no longer have their sin held against them as it is covered by the blood of Christ.

You are my neighbor. If I knew that you were about to step into danger, but instead of warning you I just stood back and let you be harmed, what kind of neighbor would you think I am?

Really, do you believe that getting in people’s faces change hearts? I have written about this before, but if a personal trainer came up to me in a restaurant and said “I noticed you’re overweight, you really need to eat less and I can show you how to get off your butt and exercise more” they would be telling the truth but I would still kick them in the face. IN FACT, if someone came up to me and said, “The Bible says gluttony is sinful” THEY would be right. Or that Jesus Himself said if you divorce and remarry, you are committing adultery……and oops adultery is right next to the more recent translation of homosexuals and is part of “the group” that cannot inherit the kingdom of God. But do you think, when people come up and share in this way, it would change anyone’s heart?

I contend that changing hearts is what we should be doing, and in doing so, actions follow. But then that exposes the fact that OUR actions pretty much suck, too. And that is not as easy to acknowledge, it is MUCH easier to point out the failures of others.

Further, why is homosexuality almost always the platform for this action when divorce is WAY more prevalent and “dangerous” to our faith community, based on many factors including the percentages that exist today in Every…….Single…..Church…….in comparison to homosexuality?

I would rather you be the neighbor, as a Christian, that Christ has called you to be. For He called you to love me, as noted in Matt 22:39, like you love yourself. And I am pretty sure you don’t start each day standing in front of the mirror reciting all the reasons you’re going to hell. I would hope that you loved me as Christ loves me, as He called us to do in John 15:12. And how DID Jesus love us?

He did not come to condemn. John 3:17

He died for EVERYONE, even those who are the filthiest there is. Even those that do not deserve it, and He did it with no strings attached, in that He’d do it even if no one accepted Him as savior. 1 John 2:2

Even as He lay hanging on the cross, beaten for something He was not guilty of, falsely accused and abused, even though they did not repent of their actions and certainly not because they deserved it……He said “Father, forgive them”. Luke 23:34

And I would like some example where Jesus called out the sins of anyone that didn’t have a platform of claiming they knew the heart of God, such as the Pharisees. It just didn’t happen. So, as a follower of Christ, I will focus on love and not judging because the Lord I claim to follow did not call out the sins of others.

So in order to be consistent with what I believe, I must speak out against homosexuality.

Wow. What about the other sins? You must be hugely busy because there are LOTS of things you must speak against. Like I don’t know…..not honoring the sabbath? I mean, that comes STRAIGHT from the 10 commandments! Homosexuality doesn’t even hit that level, and yet unless you start at sundown on Friday and follow the BIBLE through sunset on Saturday, you are sinning. And since your own blog put it this way if you follow the Bible, and the ten commandments, I am sure this is something you also talk about quite often and try to share with your Christian friends especially since we probably all meet predominantly on Sundays.

Certainly, I imagine you warn people how to handle black people (aka slaves) as that is clearly in the Bible, right? Further, I am sure you make sure all women follow scripture and advise them to leave their homes when they have their period. I am CERTAIN you encourage fathers to stone their daughters to death if they find out they have been sexually active before marriage, as the Bible demands.

I am sure that’s what you meant on your blog when you said your truth is absolute and unwavering and that you must speak out against sin.

Jesus is clear throughout scripture that He died to save us. He provided GOOD NEWS, and yet most of the time all I hear out of the mouths of Christians is condemnation and judgment. You think homosexuality is a sin? DO NOT DO IT! But I think the Bible has many more scriptures about not judging other’s “sin” while we all have pretty full time jobs working on our OWN sins. And again, let’s be honest here…….we all do sin every single day. As Christians though, we need to shut up about hell because we believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. And because of that belief, we need to acknowledge those sins are COVERED ONCE AND FOR ALL. Homosexual or not.

I believe it is far more Biblical and important to not waste time, energy, and lives talking about our views of sin, other’s sin especially, and focus on loving each other. We should edify, encourage, and lift up those around us – NOT condemn them and focus on penalties and hell. Romans 14:1-13 is clear that we should not argue over things; let one believe this and another believe that, but we are called to LOVE each other and exist with each other. In fact, I will share verses 10-13 as they sum up this entirely:

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me;every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Mr. Howell’s blog says, in essence, that he MUST be intolerant because his faith demands it, and that we need to tolerate his intolerance or else we’d be hypocrites. I am just saying, to me the Bible is clear that we need to focus on our OWN lives and sin and stop dictating or pointing out the sins of others, perceived or otherwise. And I truly believe, in doing so, we do more for spreading the Good News and representing the God we claim to follow.

Psalm 1:1 (which, to be clear, are DIRECTIONS to help Jews and ultimately Gentiles, not LAWS) says we should not stand in the way of sinners nor be scornful, and I will paraphrase by saying this “Dude, walk in righteousness and follow God, but don’t worry about those sinners around you.”

I’m not going to stop telling the truth.

Again, “the truth” of the Bible has already been proven to be potentially questionable, as part of understanding or malicious tampering. But even within the Protestant faith, WHOSE truth are we talking about? Lutheran? Assembly of God? United Methodist? Should we speak in tongues or not? Is baptism required for salvation? Should be abstain from all wine, or is it okay as long as we don’t get drunk? What about women in pants?

I bet there are dozens of truths just on the subjects I’ve listed above.

So, in sort of the same vein as Mr. Howell, I will share the platform of MY truth, based on two areas of the Bible and fully acknowledge others who believe the Bible may not interpret these scriptures as I do.

Matt 22:34-40 (emphasis mine):

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Gina: basically, if you can’t love God and others where they are, then the rest of the laws should not be our focus and, in fact, do not exist.

1 Cor 13 (emphasis mine):

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Gina: Basically, we need to love……our neighbors, our enemies. We need to act in ways that don’t make sense like giving those who steal from us more or letting someone who smacked us in the face hit the other side. Because, when we’re real about it as Christians, we deserve NOTHING Jesus did for us and yet He did it, anyway. And when we can collectively do that without focusing on sin so much, or our perception of sin and needing to “correct” those sins in others, ONLY THEN will our beliefs begin to spread into the hearts of others around us. Love wins. So stop using the Bible as a weapon to push others away from the very thing you want others to accept.

A Response to “A Friend in Christ”

September 13, 2013June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / 14 Comments

On Friday, September 13th I received a packaging in the mail.

There was no postal “canceling” stamp to indicate where it was sent from, though it looked beat up.
There was the proper amount of stamps on it, but was it really mailed?
There was no return address.
Inside was an envelope with my name, inside of it a letter written on lined paper.
(UPDATED 9/17) Also inside was a DVD, enclosed in a case, with the name GINA written on it. This dvd includes two sermons from Mark Driscoll preaching about the proper roles for women and the sin of homosexuality.
I have attached a picture of the letter below for reference.

First, I am the first to acknowledge that, “sharing tough love” is not easy. I have been approached by people who have addressed aspects of my life in the name of Christ, and I respect them for it. I can admit that often people who come to me to address my life have the best in mind, but often I can comfortably respond to them and affirm that I am good with where I am in Christ, my life, etc. But my point HERE is that I respect that they came to me, in love or otherwise, and had a face-to-face conversation with me from their heart – even if it was hard. And those people remain my friends today.

However, an anonymous, no name, no return address, no NOTHING letter communicates cowardice to me. It communicates not love, but judgment and condemnation. It communicates that you are fearful, and if you are reaching out in love (even if the message is hard), why is there fear? So if you sent the letter to me, please reach out to me as a real person with a real identity. Those of my friends who have done so in person, in the past can attest that I am not belligerent, I am not unkind, nor will I attack. They will also tell you that the love of God comes into the LIGHT and does not hide behind curtains or anonymous letters. If you do decide to come forward and address me openly and personally, I will not reveal your name publicly or otherwise chastise you. If you approve me sharing your name, I will, but that is the only means to which I will share it.

So, on to the activities today. Because I don’t have your name; because you’re hiding behind the fear or judgment or whatever, I have to respond publicly to you. I am sorry that it has come to it, but you’ve given me no alternative. I often fail in approaching things logically and with the least amount of emotion when I have been made to feel attacked, but know that I have prayed hard and know that I write this from my heart. Forgive me, but this will be long because I must address almost every line of the letter you sent.

But know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that your letter has violated me and my family. Love does not do that.

You wrote, “Dear Gina, I am writing to you because I wanted you to know that Jesus loves you Gina.”

My response: Thank you, though I have full knowledge of and an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, who is not only my Friend, but my Savior. I spend time with Him, I talk to Him, I think of Him, I read His Word, and above all I rest securely in the center of His Finished Work. His Love is so powerful that I cannot separate myself from it even if I tried. It is eternal and I am saved, period. IT IS FINISHED. This is affirmed in John 1, John 10, Acts 20, Romans 3:20-24, Romans 4:15-17, Romans 5:1-2, Eph 2, and many, many more. You may think, from where you sit in your “perfect life” that YOU know Jesus and I need to know Him like you do. Rest assured, I already know Him and He loves me.

You wrote, “We as Christians must humble ourselves before God when we pray. If you ask God for a good and godly husband, who will love you and cherish you, God will give you the desire of your heart.”

My response: Okay, know that I am humbling myself right now and praying to God, sincerely, because the offense to me and my family with these words is huge. I am confident that my Lord can keep me from responding in the flesh, though He is encouraging me to be real and truthful. First, I AM MARRIED – both legally (though only recognized in 13 states and by the Federal Government currently) and spiritually. My marriage, whether or not you acknowledge it, is Biblically, spiritually, legally, and physically binding. It is monogamous, prosperous, harmonious, and has been so for over ten years. I am exceedingly cherished and treated far more lovingly than I could ever imagine. And to that, which is a direct answer to prayer, I can affirm and Praise Jesus that HE DID give me the desire of my heart! I have a beautiful and loving wife, five beautiful children, and His everlasting peace! For you to suggest that, 1) this was not really, truly the desire of my heart and 2) to REALLY be fulfilled, I need to desire and marry a man is OFFENSIVE to me! And, for what it is worth, I would never EVER suggest that you marry a WOMAN (assuming you’re a woman, which I base on the writing of the letter) if that is not how you were born. Further, I certainly would not write to a person I knew was married and say they needed to pray for a DIFFERENT person to marry. It is an affront and there is no love in these comments!

You wrote, “Philippines 4:6 (you didn’t note it, but this is the NASB version) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

My response: I happen to love this verse, and just like the Bible teaches elsewhere, the Word does not return void. I do thank you for this verse, but not in the context you meant it. You see, I trust that the Lord, in His perfectness, knows that I come to Him as a broken vessel which is only made whole through His Life. And I will confess to you in this letter that I went to Him specifically about your letter and to help me not cry from it – to not spiral from the pain it caused me and my family. To not allow the yoke of condemnation in your words to suppress the love of God. And then, I asked that my building anger would not boil over like a storm. And THEN I went on to pray that He rebuke you as a person sitting in judgment, throwing stones from the dark at me and my family. I confess that I called you a hypocrite and accused you of lacking love for others (especially me), while you claimed the name of Christ under the guise of “love”. I shared with the Lord that you wrote to me for no other reason but to condemn me and to insinuate that I am somehow incomplete because I don’t have a husband. And as I spewed out all these things to my Lord, Jesus showed me that I was acting just like you – the very thing I was ranting against – in my anger and condemnation, and that made me cry all over again.

You see, Jesus does want us to follow Him, to not sin. But we often forget that He covers our sin and only wants us to FOLLOW Him, and in doing so His spirit works its way and soon enough we sin less. We become more like Him not by OUR power, but by HIS. And He made it clear that the Royal Law is to love God and love others as ourselves (Matthew, James, John – tons of scriptures support this). He even said to love our enemies! And I will tell you here, your letter did NOT do that. It did not show love, for love would never have sent it. And my reaction was not loving, for love does not think of the weaknesses or failures of others as a means to justify punishment. So yes, this verse is good to remember this ideal established by Christ, and to remind me specifically to always pray with supplication for Jesus to lead me in HIS ways, which is to love. Period. Especially for those who maybe don’t deserve that love. He said in Matthew 5 that all the laws and the prophets hang on LOVE. And I hope that when YOU truly approach Him in supplication, you hear His leadings about letters such as the one you sent me. Maybe He will direct you to not send them, or to sign your name, or maybe to just pray for the people He leads you to. That is between you and Him. But I will say again, nothing about your letter spoke love to me.

You wrote, “It is hard for a man to find a good-hearted woman, such as yourself. You have always been a beautiful woman inside and outside.”

My response: Again, since I am married already, this comment is inappropriate. I don’t think it is Biblically sound to encourage a married person to seek out another person other than their spouse. Even still, if I were “on the market” I think it is a misfortune to tell me (or any woman) that I need to “help a guy out” because it’s hard for a man to find a good-hearted woman. It is just as hard for a woman to find a good-hearted man, and yet I would not think to write to my single male friends and tell them they better get with God right away because of it! Women and men don’t necessarily need the other to be complete or fulfilled. It is an affront to singles today to say so. And affront to God’s plan for their lives. Paul wrote that some are called to be single, others to marriage. Who are WE to say what is “normal” or “right”? We need to stop acting for God and saying what others need to do or pray for.

So I am ASSUMING the real concern here is that I am married to a woman, which is clearly a sin in your eyes. To that, I would like to say with all sincerity that I am not called to convince you to think otherwise and I appreciate that is the view you may hold. However, I will not bow to your view that I am somehow not a full woman or a full Christian. I am actually quite complete and fulfilled and again, rest in my place as a Child of God and accept the full inheritance His has given me. I will also refrain from thinking you’re less of a Christian for your letter, though I am still working on that and am concerned that your stance damages the testimony of Christ to non believers and those who are jaded by Christians such as your letter presents. Thank you for your comments about me being beautiful, however. I wonder, truly, if you even know me though.

You wrote, “I hope these words find there (sic) way into your heart and encourage you to seek the Lord. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in all that you say and do.”

My response: Your words broke my heart. They offended my heart, for I approach my marriage seriously and with my entire heart. They did NOT draw me closer to God in any way, shape, or form. It was the Holy Spirit in me that drew me to Him. And I praise Jesus for His encouragement despite your letter.

And yet, it is obvious that you believe, to be a REAL woman and a REAL Christian, I am in need of a man as a husband. And by your words, I need to “seek the Lord”. I can only assume you mean I need to understand that I am in sin because I am in a same sex marriage. Again, it is not my calling to convince you to believe otherwise. But I WOULD like to ask you this – let’s say you once were a heroine addict, took part in orgies, were married and divorced and remarried, even took heroine during your first pregnancy that resulted in altering your child’s life when born. If I sent you a letter saying “you need to seek the Lord and marry a different man”, do you think that would make you run to Jesus? How about if you were fat and I walked up to you and said, “you need to seek the Lord because your gluttony is a sin, and for heck sake take that food out of your mouth” would that make you want to hug me and say “Praise Jesus?” Show me an example in the Bible where Jesus condemned anyone but the ones that thought they understood God such as the Pharisees or those selling goods in His name in the Temple? The woman caught in adultery He forgave and said “go and sin no more” and then gave her the means to stop sinning by dying on the cross! The woman at the well He told her she was living with a man, and yet He never said “but you need to change your ways.” We can both learn from this my anonymous friend. ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. You. Me. Everyone. We are NOT called to point out the sins we both commit or see each other doing, but to LOVE. Period. And if you honestly think your letter encouraged me to CHANGE, you are seriously mistaken. Instead, it has made me more aware of the pain caused by people who profess faith with their mouths (or pens, as it were) yet lack its power in their deeds. For Jesus said His yoke is easy, and His LOVE endures forever. Show me the LOVE. It doesn’t reside in your letter.

You wrote, “Sincerely, A Friend in Christ.”

My response: If you were really my friend, you would have signed your name. If you were really my friend, you would not tell me to leave my wife, break up my family, and become whole by marrying a man. You would not cause me to turn my heart from the person I committed my LIFE to, for richer or for poorer, through sickness or in health. I assume you hold marriage in high regard, and yet your letter tears marriage to shreds. You have no respect for the sanctity of marriage or all it stands for.

So here are some Biblical scriptures.

Luke 6:31 NIV “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:37-42 NIV “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

James 4:12 ESV “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Romans 14:1-10 NIV “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

1 Cor 13 NIV (emphasis mine) “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

THE DVD You Sent

Mark Driscoll is not my pastor. I personally find his view of the Bible as slanted and misogynistic. In the future, if you want me to “get” what you’re saying, you probably should not send me something that Mark is speaking on. I affirm your right to esteem his views and words, and I know that God works out all things for those that love Him. I know Mark claims to love Jesus, so that is enough for me. However, I choose not to follow Mark’s teachings. Thanks.

Again, I encourage you to reach out and tell me who you are so that you can be removed from the darkness and come into the light as followers of Christ are called to do.

Duplicity

April 6, 2013June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

We humans, well…..we’re just plain crazy. We manifest our zaniness in multiple ways. We are scared of eating sushi yet we pay big bucks to ride on roller coaster that propels us against gravitational pull and high speeds. We buy things of lower quality to save a few bucks and then charge that purchase on a credit card that has a high interest rate.

Sometimes, in our supposed intelligence we’re just plain……SILLY!

The area where I most notice this duplicity is in realm of faith. I am not proclaiming views as right and wrong, but let’s be real – with the same-sex marriage, gun control, and even abortion debates there is PLENTY of duplicity. “God Hates Fags” being held by a church member who also swears that the sign is showing love to his neighbor because, if he “didn’t know the truth, he wouldn’t know he was going to hell”.

But this post is not really about political duplicity in the context of religion as noted above. Because, I feel there is a much more dangerous threat of duplicity in our lives, especially in our churches. And it scares the hell out of me, no pun intended.

You see, in the last year I have been taught from very loving and caring people some of the following concepts:

Idea #1 – It’s important to use your words to share the truth, even if what you have to share is not “politically correct” or is “viewed as judgment”.

Idea #2 – It’s important to NOT give satan power by using or believing words that are lies.

Let me give you examples of both of the above so that you can understand them in context.

Context of Idea #1 – We need to tell church members that they’re not doing enough to be considered a “good Christian”. Francis Chan likens this to being a lukewarm Christian, that which will be spit out from God’s mouth as noted in Revelation.

This concept is great in many ways, of course. Show me faith without works and all that. The pastor in question went on to say that we ALL should not only seek out the truth, but not be afraid of it. His example was that when you go to take your car to the dealership to be repaired and the brakes need to be replaced, you want to know the truth and details so you can address it. Or when we go to the doctor, to get the real news about what’s up. You do not want the dealership, or your doctor for the matter, to tell you “good” news if the news is really bad. You want the truth so that you can deal with it appropriately. More on this topic in a minute.

Context of Idea #2 – Satan wants us to believe lies so that they can take hold in our lives. For example, falling for the lie that you have cancer; if you verbalize this if you’re told it will take hold. Satan lies about illness and we, as Christians, have been healed by our Lord and Satan wants to get us to buy into the doctor’s lie about illness in our life.

This concept, when presented in a way that is encouraging, can really get people fired up. It reminds us in many ways about how much we don’t trust in our Lord and believe in His power! It tells us to lean not on our own understanding but trust and WALK in the power of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It becomes more problematic, however, when a person progresses in the diagnosis.

______

And here is my point – how can we both seek the truth AND deny what is told to us? Given the above scenarios, how can you get the truth about the diagnosis, for example, and then immediately refute it as a lie from Satan? Even if you do refute it as a lie from hell, if you get treatment from your doctor, isn’t that sort of giving into the Satanic lie that the illness is really there? And if you DON’T get treatment, then what? Why even go to the doctor to get “the truth” in the first place? Further, I have seen where the teaching of #2 cause good, honest, but scared Christians to even SHARE that they’ve been diagnosed with cancer or other serious illnesses because they are afraid that having people even THINK the words would give a stronghold to Satan to push the illness in their lives.

This not-so-sublte duplicity – seek the truth and then push it away for fear of allowing Satan to run with it – is damaging to so many lives. To say in one breath “you need to know what to pray for or ask prayers on” while also saying “don’t you claim in word that you have cancer! don’t you dare do it” is DUPLICITOUS! It is mean. It is painful. It is dangerous.

I bring cancer into the mix because I have lost 6 lives to cancer in the last two years. In my own walk I have feared asking for prayers from some of my sisters and brothers in Christ for this very reason; I was tired of being told that I was propagating the illness by my insisting that the doctors were correct with their diagnosis. I felt both insulted and as if I relied too heavily on my intelligence and not enough on my faith. I seriously QUESTIONED my faith! And that of my loved ones – both in my family and in my church – who got more sick with each passing day.

And yet, when the deaths came, the words changed to “God just wanted them in heaven”. That’s a whole different duplicity, because hello – we are ALL going to die someday right?

But I digress.

Let’s just stop putting these rules on life people. Let’s stop putting parameters on faith. When someone is scared, don’t pummel them with indirect chastisements because they lack the amount of faith they should have (by saying they have cancer, or admitting they’re scared, or for throwing out the F word right after the C word, or anything else). Let’s remember that Jesus Christ CRIED and BEGGED God to take away the needed death He was facing. He was so freaked out that He sweat blood! Let us have those moments of fear and begging out to God without your judgment and supposed “God Hates Illness” signs. Stop insisting we cannot speak our fears audible or share facts received by medical doctors with intelligence provided by God by saying we are putting more faith in doctors than the Bible and God which says we were healed by the stripes Jesus took. (Again, not to say we weren’t healed, or can’t be healed of cancer, but saying “hey, my doctor says I have cancer” doesn’t negate a dang thing).

Anyway, I am getting fired up and that means I am no longer logically approaching this subject, so I will leave it at that. Feel free to comment about how wrong I am. This is a free country and, to avoid being duplicitous, I don’t want to tell you not to use your words. 🙂

God’s Eyeglasses – My First eBook!

January 14, 2013June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

I am happy to announce my first eBook, and it’s FREE! It’s not even that long! The only catch – it’s available through iTunes only at this time. You either need to download it to your iPad or to your computer using an iTunes account. However, I’d love it if you’d download it and let me know what you think!

God’s Eyeglasses – Based on Faith, The Word, and Basketball. Find it here.

Thanks!

The Secret Ingredient – Praise

March 12, 2012June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

As presented to Crossroads Community Church 3/11/12:

I believe that Jesus Christ has provided us Grace, and that term really means GRACE TO LIVE or EVERYDAY GRACE, not just grace for salvation.

This is the kind of grace that teaches you how to live, guiding you into paths of righteousness, free from the influence of the law
- Titus 2:11-12 – For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
This is grace that causes you to grow in your relationship with the Lord, and in your knowledge of who He is
- 2 Peter 1:2 – Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
This is also the grace that motivates our service and our stewardship. It doesn’t drive; it leads. This grace permeates us and causes us to drop the hammer of judgment, and throw wide the doors of acceptance, laying a garment of “manifold grace” over the shoulders of the world
- 1 Peter 4:10 – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Yet I also know there’s more to my walk with the Lord than just…….sitting in Grace. Just sucking up that grace for my own benefit, even more than serving others in simple ways here and there. In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us “salt”. Salt has healing properties and we all know it adds some good flavor to many of the foods we eat. Jesus explained in Matt 5:15 – But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

This verse should not be used to imply we can be cast out of heaven, for John 6:37 Jesus tell us “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” But I DO believe Jesus is clear that if we as believers have no “flavoring” we are not much use to the world. And if you think about it, the saltier something we eat is, the more thirsty we get……and then I realize the following:

Our excitement, even when life is falling around us for one thing or another, should make people around us want to have what we’ve got. In other words, they should get thirsty for what we have. That’s true for other believers around us as well as those who don’t know the Lord. We should act and live in a way that others around us want to be near us. However, I have been pretty hard to be around lately, and that pushes people away. Or sometimes we Christians think we need to act “holy” or “pious” as a sign that we are doing something right, but Jesus basically says, “If you aren’t making a sinner thirsty once in a while, what good are you?”

Then there is the whole seed parable that Jesus taught us in Luke 8:11b-15:

The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

I want to share that we have the greatest gift inside of us that the world could ever want – again, not just for salvation (which is a huge deal), but also for our entire lives. This gift should permeate every aspect of our lives and cause the thirt, bless those around us, make others want what we have in a good and loving way…….and just rock.

So I’ve set up the premise as follows:

Grace is real and powerful us every day, not just at the point of salvation.
As followers of Christ, we have assurance in His saving grace forever
We are called to be the salt to others
And by being that salt, I want to cause those around me to have thirst for the truth I have in Christ!
The knowledge of the Grace of Christ is a great gift.
The Word of God is a seed and just because we believe, doesn’t mean we are persevering to produce a good crop.

Here’s the deal – for months and months, if not years, I have gotten these truths and hidden in my heart and felt good about it. I have shared these truths with others, even in this very church, and felt good about it. Yet, I didn’t allow the truths I had learned to change me, to affect my life or really those around me. Sure, they did in SOME ways, but more superficially than I would have liked. The roots, often, are very shallow for me. And that got me to thinking – I could easily be put into the category of “no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” or “I am choked by life’s worries, and do not mature.”

Self-reflection at this point can be very painful, even overwhelming. I can say for my part that it became quite easy to put every aspect of my life and motivations under the microscope and find ways to be disgusted with my life and walk with Christ. I am going to be candid and share that all this accomplished for me was to build layer upon layer of guilt, disgust, anger, self loathing…….you get the idea. Then I would beat myself up for not remembering the truth of who I am in Christ, which just added another layer of guilt to the quagmire.

Hear me – I DON’T WANT TO BE GOOD FOR NOTHING! But sometimes self reflection just doesn’t propel you to be good! Sometimes it perpetuates the same type of junk, if not worse.

So for a few weeks I’ve been in this weird place of trying to figure out how to move from beating myself up, but also away from KNOWING all these cool things and not offering any flavor to others or maturing in the knowledge that Christ has given me.

My revelation may surprise you, maybe not. But we are going to walk through this together today, collectively.

It really started a few days ago. I was still befuddled with this purgatory of sorts I had created for myself – almost feeling like I was swimming in quicksand – when I got a text from Stephanie on 2/29:

Good morning sis and g!!! Interview went good yesterday and the lady sent my resume to the company so I will hear back either today or tomorrow. Plus we have a guy coming over tonight to check out the room for rent for a 6 month lease…God is amazing!!!!!!

Then a few days later she sent:

Good morning sis and g……praise report……Michael went to a repair shop in Sachse and instead of a quote of $389 to fix my TV it is $159……God is good and He provides!!!!!!!

Now the piece I am missing about these two is that Stephanie did NOT get the job she interviewed for. Yet, you can see from her text that she doesn’t say “I am so bummed, I didn’t get the job, things are just not going my way.” Instead, she is continually viewing, absorbing, and accepting the blessings that surround her! Not only that, but she gives the credit where the credit is due – to our God!!!!!

1 Chronicles 16:8 says, “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. “

Psalm 30:11-12 says: “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.”

With two little texts, I realized that when we focus on our failure, other people’s failures, it’s easy to lose sight of God. OR start thinking that’s how God views US. However, when we take the time to see and acknowledge all the blessings around us – big and small (Pastor Tim’s hose) – it’s easy to see the Truth of who Jesus is in our lives as well as our part in it. And before you can stop and think, you become that salt Jesus was talking about!

I mean, wouldn’t you agree that the texts I received from Stephanie caused me to get thirty? She was the salt!

It reminds me that I need to stop focusing on the devil of Matthew chapter 4 who tempts Christ by saying ““If you are the Son of God”, and instead start focusing on Jesus who in Matthew chapter 3 clearly understood and heard “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” I am reminded that I am crucified with Christ, I am loved mightily by God, and His blessings are abundant and I AM THE CHILD OF GOD, so if and when the devil tempts me, I know I can fight back!

So I am going to do something very different this morning – I am going to take the time to share specific things God has done in my life that have blessed me, for I am so thankful for Him! As you hear these stories, focus on the positive. Think about blessings in your life as well.

1984 – I was a new Christian, about 17 years old, and I was on fire for Christ. The only problem was my church was constantly preaching that the end was near. I was torn, because I really didn’t want Jesus to come and take me home – I wanted to graduate from high school, get married……have kids. And then I felt guilty for wanting those things. One night I cried in the dark, praying for the Lord to ease my desire for these things when suddenly a small, tiny light appeared on the ceiling. I stopped crying, rubbed my eyes, and thought to myself, “I am seeing things.” But the light continued to grow in size as well as brightness, until I suddenly felt something enclose me. Something filled with joy and peace beyond any words I can utilize. Very quickly I began to praise the Lord and get SO EXCITED that He was really, really coming and all other concerns or desires faded away to nothing. And then it stopped, as if it never happened. As I looked around the completely dark room, which moments before was bathed in light, I heard a small voice say “Don’t worry, you’ll be ready when I come.” Thank you Jesus for loving me so much that you met me where I was and blessed me with your love, assuring me of your place in my life.

….My God hears the cry of my heart.

Late 80’s – I was driving on a notorious section of an Orange County, CA freeway – it’s narrow and usually heavily congested. I was in the carpool lane and this specific section often included people who were sitting in the fast lane jumping into the carpool lane – can you imagine a car popping out when you’re going over 50 MPH? It was crazy. On this particular day, I was driving my 1977 Chevy Caprice Classic (aka cop car) going about 50 and sure enough, despite my caution, a car pulled out in front of me and BAM! I hit them. Yet, I was amazed when the car took off! I followed for a long time, honked my horn, but also was amazed that there didn’t appear to be any damage on their Honda Accord bumper. Finally, I exited, pulled off the freeway, and checked out my own car. THERE WAS NOT A SCRATCH ON THE CAR!!!! I was NOT alone – both of us in the car felt the jolt of hitting the car, both were jerked. All I can say is that the Lord protected me that day and my guardian angel was a bit thinner.

….My God is my Protector.

1994 – My Dad, who was a tough Harley rider back then, was at work at was not feeling well – even his co-workers noticed he didn’t look that great. He actually conceded to allow his boss to call the paramedics, which was VERY unusually for my “tough guy Dad”. And yet, they found nothing wrong with my Dad once they checked him over. Still, as the day progressed, he didn’t feel better and – for the second time, miraculously admitted he needed help and asked to be taken to the hospital. When there he was brought immediately into ER (a miracle in itself in Southern California) and just as they started putting on the EKG pads to see what was happening, my Dad went into full cardiac arrest. It was so bad that the doctors didn’t even take the time to put the gel on the defibrillator and ended up burning my Dad’s chest. However, my Dad was brought back and it still alive today – some would contend that he’s healthier now than then!

….My God has perfect timing.

2008 – through circumstances that are best described as a snowball scene of homophobia and fear, I was outed at the Christian organization I had worked at for 6 years. Deciding I would not hide my lifestyle any longer, but clearly take the stance that my personal love life had no bearing on my professional position, I was put through a tough time. Ultimately, a very lucrative position was in line as I watched my boss (who supported me) and others lose their jobs for no other reason than admitting they knew I was a lesbian. I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown when I got a real and palpable sense that I would not be hurt in the situation, though I didn’t know what that meant. Without getting into all the details, I did leave my job, but not before getting a year’s salary!

2010 – After being unemployed for 18 months, and at the very end of her unemployment insurance, Deana was facing a fearful situation (as was I) – how would we make it? She had been applying for job and job and had also gotten to Texas teaching credential, but nothing was biting. Then, through networking with Todd, Deana interviewed with the City of Dallas and received a job almost to the day her unemployment, she had a job which she holds to this day.

….My God is My Provider

My house is a miracle, my five kids are miracles, we have more friends here in Texas in two years (thanks in large part to this congregation) than we ever had in California. We are blessed left and right.

I would encourage you, especially if it feels like you can’t do anything right OR life is falling around you……look for the blessings in your life. You WILL find at least one! And when you do, share it with someone!

Forgiveness and Reconciliation Q&A

January 1, 2012June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

Please see this post! It’s a great topic to ponder for 2012!!!!!

Bible Study: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

September 26, 2011June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / 2 Comments

Actions Speak Louder than Words (Aka Rocking your Identity)

As presented at CCC 9/25/11

How many times have you heard that phrase? How many times have you USED that phrase? I know I can answer both “A LOT!”. And yet, I feel that God has been showing me this phrase in action, and in different ways, in recent days.

On the one hand, He has taught me in my new “Jesus plus nothing” – grace filled life that I don’t have to PRESENT anything to be His……I don’t need to act or be or look a certain way in order to be a “good Christian”. All things are permissible……and yet, I am the first to share that leading a hypocritical life does nothing to encourage me or others. I Is this where “…..but not all things are beneficial” comes in? Is this where “the fruits of the Spirit” comes in?

Some other ideas about “being a Christian” exist in my life, too. Like the prevailing idea that, as a Christian, my first and biggest focus needs to be on converting others to my faith. On the surface, this is important because – REALLY – we have such freedom in Christ, don’t we? And being saved from eternal damnation is kind of important, too. Even John the Baptist went out on a limb to get the attention of the Jews back in the day – wearing camel cloths and screaming out to anyone who would listen, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” So, often I hear the nagging thoughts that bounce around the back of my head that I am not doing enough to witness to those around me about the Saving Grace found in Jesus Christ Alone.

But THINGS have been shaking up this view of mine lately. First, let me be clear – I am NOT saying we shouldn’t share the love of Christ. But I think I’ve looked at this wrong my entire Christian life!

First of all, I will tell you I weigh too much – if you could see me now, you’d realize this truth without any words coming out of my mouth. I have been this way for a while. So, imagine my reaction if I was sitting having a fabulous lunch and a personal trainer that I didn’t know came up to me and said, “Hey, I noticed from across the room that you are entirely too fat. I am a personal trainer and I would like to help you overcome your gluttony….get you off of your couch, and get you back to living a healthy life!” While his comments would be – let’s be real – 100% accurate, I could tell you will full honesty that after I punched him in the face, I’d tell him off without hesitation! THE NERVE of the man! I mean, he didn’t even KNOW me, and yet you are rude enough to come talk to me that way?!?!? I mean, WE AREN’T EVEN FRIENDS!

Yet, so many of us Christians think it is okay to walk up to people and either say straight out or imply they are going to hell or that their belief system is totally inaccurate! These statements are very accurate, just as my example of me needing a personal trainer was, but are they a good approach? I’m not so sure.

Let me put it this way – imagine a group of Hindus are out and their goal is to teach us “poor Christians” that we are doomed if we don’t convert to their real religion. You and I both know that WE have the truth and their efforts would be wasted. Why do we American Christians expect a different reaction from Hindus (or others – religious or not) when we approach people without any introduction and straight-out say “you’re lost man, you need what I got!”?

“BUT”, I say to myself, “I DO have what they need!”

So, using the tools that have brought me through the steps of The Naked Gospel, I decided to STUDY the life of Jesus and really absorb how He interacted with those around Him. The difference being, of course, that Jesus COULD condemn, COULD judge, COULD direct, etc – while I cannot. You get the drift.

Jesus with the Immoral – the Adulteress (John 8:3-11)

I need to start by saying first that I was always taught and really focused on the end of this story, “Go, and sin no more!” I used to absorb it as Jesus saying, “Hey, I am God and I have given you this chance to clean up your ways, now go do it – you might not be this lucky next time!” Or, when I’d look at the failures and bad decisions of my OWN life, I’d look to this interaction as one to make myself feel better – I don’t deserve to be stoned by others who are just as messed up as me, and now I need to shape up. I have even reminded myself of this story to not judge others who really kind of deserved what they should get……but I would “do what Jesus did” and forgive them. Maybe you can relate to what I am saying, but now I am going to ask you to focus on Jesus and how He was in this story – not the accusers, not even the woman who had committed adultery. Jesus. Period.

Now first, let’s consider some truths about this situation – the Mosaic Law established that this woman who was “caught red handed” should be stoned. Jesus never said this law was wrong, nor did he say He was changing the law. Instead, Jesus asks the accusers to go right ahead, “as long as they were free from sin as well”. They all could say no such thing, and so they left. Agreed?
But let’s get back to our focus – Jesus. He was without sin. He was God and was the only human on the face of the earth who could have applied HIS law to this woman, for His lack of sin provided the right to throw a stone based on His new feedback to those that accused this woman. He also could have turned to the accusers and screamed, “You hypocrites! You bring this woman to me and yet you are lying, cheating, horrible men inside! Further, you are bringing this woman to me not because you love the law, but because you hate me and want to trick me into making a fool out of myself!” Jesus had EVERY right to react that way to all involved. And yet, what did He do?

Verses 6-11 say this:
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

He did not debate, he did not yell, he didn’t even take the stance of power, really. Jesus could have set them straight with who He was! He could have yelled for all to hear the secret and also easily seen sins each of them held in their lives. Yet, in almost a “whatever” way, he stood and spoke the truth. There was NOT anger in His voice towards the accusers, and there certainly was not any hint of condemnation in His voice towards the accused. In fact, His very WORDS removed any condemnation from her!

Jesus with the Hated – Zacchaeus the Tax collector (Luke 19:1-10)

Both Pastor and Shaw have shared this story recently, and shared how society hated the tax collector Zaccheus, and yet Jesus honored him and loved him. Jesus truly came to save the lost, and that is where our hearts should be, too.

Jesus with the Rejected in Society – Foreign, female, Samarian (John 4:5-29)

Again, Christ could have condemned this woman just by the mere fact that she WAS a woman, never mind that she was a Samaritan AND a sinner. And yet their interactions not only shared salvation with the woman, but those she spoke to also believed in Christ. Jesus did NOT denigrate her, did not condemn her!

Jesus with the Political Leader – Roman Governor, Pilate (John 18:33-40)

Jesus spoke truth to Pilate, but He didn’t disrespect him. Instead, he acknowledged Pilate’s position on the earth and noted that His own position was not of the world but of heaven. Even in doing so, Jesus didn’t fight with Pilate or tell him he had no authority over him. After the interaction Pilate found no fault in Jesus.

Jesus with The Condemned – Criminal on the cross (Luke 23:39-43)

Here was a criminal, found guilty by the laws of the land, and yet Jesus clearly shows He was saved when he said “today you will be with me in paradise!” Jesus didn’t preach to this man, He didn’t point out the man’s sins, He didn’t even say ANYTHING to this man before faith was received by him!

So what do we do with this????

I know I am under GRACE and have accepted that I am who I am only because of who Christ is. As such, I need to extend this grace to others, too! Yet I also think I need to be different from the world, heck I even need to be SEPERATED from the world to be a really, really GOOD Christian! The Bible says it man!

2 Cor 6:17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

For years I’ve used this verse and similar ones to justify why I should not associate with sinners, to not attend parties where alcohol is being served, to not go to clubs – you get the idea. I even would ask if what I was doing would please my Lord. And when I would succeed, I would feel pretty good about myself, because after all I am an Ambassador for Christ! But through the months and year I’ve been at Crossroads, I have been compelled to dig deeper into this attitude.

First, I quickly found out that I am not alone in this attitude – today or in the Bible itself! You do a search on Google about “being set apart from the world” and you will quickly see a grocery list of things Christians should not do:
•   Do not associate with or be around sinners, relatives or not
•   Do not go to parties
•   Do not go to movies where the story line is immoral
•   Do not be excited about doing worldly things, because you will be an enemy of God
•   Being around sinners approves of their sin

When I read this, I kept hearing “what about LOVE?” And you know I love this verse because I reference it almost every time I stand here:

Mark 12:30-31 Amplified
And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

So I began to pray about those around me – everyone – whether or not they LOOKED like a sinner or not. That man in the nice clothes? Probably not a sinner. That thug with the baggy pants, questionable.

Do you believe me? Okay, you know I am making a point! But I do admit that when we were at Gay Pride last week I did think with some sadness, “A lot of this is not how I want the world to think of the LGBT community, it seems so sinful. I mean there is a man with only underwear on. Over there that woman is completely drunk. Some were dancing very suggestively. Maybe I shouldn’t even be here.” And that was wrong of me.

You see, in the Bible we hear a lot about the Pharisees, and they were very “holy”, at least in appearances! The word Pharisees comes from the Hebrew perushim from parush, meaning “set apart”. Did I want to think and act like the Pharisees, being set apart from anyone? When I started thinking about the Pharisees, I couldn’t ignore the following from Matthew, where Jesus is teaching the crowd about the Pharisees:

Matt 23:1-12 NIV
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Then Jesus begins to speak TO the Pharisees in verse 13:
13-15
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

Jump down to Verse 23-26, where Jesus doesn’t hold back!

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

And then he ends in verse 33:
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
Well I will tell you, that kind of shook up my attitude about those around me whom I felt I needed to separate myself from. I did NOT want to be like the Pharisees!

But what about 2 Cor 6:17?

I stand before you now and contend we DO need to be separated from the world! But it’s not how I’ve been taught my entire life! Instead, I challenge you to consider this:

First, let’s define some worldly attitudes:

First, we have to acknowledge that this world is a kingdom in its own right, and it is influenced by Satan.
• Luke 4:5-6, John 14:30-31, and 1 John 5:19 speak to this.

The dominant values of the world include wealth, power, pleasure, revenge, fame, vanity and status. These things are most important to people who perceive no power or purpose beyond themselves. Worldly values promote jealousies, resentments and conflicts among people in accordance with the purposes of Satan.

Now, I think it’s pretty clear that we, as Christians, should NOT act like what is described here. We should be SEPARATED from these types of behaviors. Does it say to separate from the PEOPLE who do these things? NO!

So, as Christians, how SHOULD we act?

The kingdom of God (also known as the kingdom of heaven) is not a geographic location but rather it exists IN US. It exists within the world among those people who put their faith, trust and loyalty in God.
• Luke 17:20-21 and many other verses speak to this.

The values of the kingdom of God are often the opposite of worldly values: kindness and respect for all people instead of power; humility instead of status, fame and vanity; honesty and generosity instead of wealth; self-control instead of pleasure; forgiveness instead of revenge. Christian values promote peace and good will among ALL people in accordance with the purposes of God.

So how do we accomplish this????

1.   Follow the biggest and baddest commandments as noted by Jesus in Mark 12, which we read earlier, and Love God. And if you love God first, it’s hard to act selfishly or focus on silly things that in the end mean nothing to define our identity as Pastor has been teaching us.
•   Excessive attention to material things such as houses, cars, clothes, jewelry, physical appearance, entertainment, etc.
•   Pursuit of wealth, power, fame, pleasure or status
•   Excessive devotion to self, job, hobbies, country, ideologies, heroes, leaders, even family

Not only do these object not define me, but they take my devotion and focus from God and others.

2.   Love and respect ALL people.
•   The English word “love” has many different meanings, but the Greek word, agape, used in the New Testament, is commonly known as “Christian love.” It means respect, affection, benevolence, good-will and concern for the welfare of the one loved.
•   We know from the Parable of the Good Samaritan that Jesus meant EVERYONE regardless of race, religion, nationality or any other artificial distinction. We must even practice that Christian love even toward our enemies as taught in Matthew 5!

Now don’t you agree if more Christians acted THIS way, we truly would be separated from the world? I mean, what does the world expect from Christians anyway? Condemnation, arrogance, religiousity?

So having reviewed this I first replayed our interactions with those we met at the Gay Pride Parade last weekend.

As you know, we had a crew out there handing out stickers using the word GAY to explain God Accepts You. Many have shared on Crossroads Facebook page that people would hunt us down, RUN to us to get those stickers! And there was something amazingly freeing to say to someone “God accepts you right where you are!” and seeing the shock on their face!

I had an interesting conversation with one girl, and it went like this:

“God accepts you right where you are!”

“Do you promise?” she said, and I sensed she really wanted to believe me.

I responded, “Well of course, it’s in the Bible!”

At the word Bible her face fell. “Oh, I have been told my whole life that the Bible says I am going to hell.”

And moved by mercy, because we all have had that feeling before, I said, “The Bible is clear that you are not going to hell if you love Jesus. And He loves you no matter if you’re gay, straight, a cusser…….He loves you right where you are. I promise that.”

I was moved in this interaction, because there is something SO AMAZING about sharing the LOVE and TRUTH that is the grace we have TODAY in Jesus Christ!

And yet, moments later I was seeing what I deemed immoral behavior and questioning my presence at Pride! It should not be so!

So God reminded me of how HE interacted with those that were the biggest sinners when He was on the earth.
•   When Jesus called Matthew to be a disciple, he followed him home to have dinner with Matthew, a tax collector, and other “sinners”. When the Pharisees saw this, they could not believe Jesus would stoop so low as to associate with such horrible people, who were otherwise looked down upon. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, rebuked the Pharisees, showing us how we should act with people even today (Matt 9:9-13). Jesus mixed with those deemed “in the world”.
•   You know that he hang out with prostitutes, gentiles, and so many others.
•   In all cases, Jesus shows us that it is more important to humble ourselves and show kindness, compassion, and love to those our contemporaries might classify as “untouchable”. We must show respect to those that some would deem off limits or beneath us.
So I took these truths a bit further, in conjunction with the Bible Studies on Crazy Love and this journey about witnessing. And God, He is so faithful!

First, at my new job I work with two Indian women; one has interestingly been raised as a born again Christian while the other is Hindu. I had already decided that I would show love to my coworkers, whether I really liked them or not, and not push any agenda on my part (which, really, is not my M.O.). One day Hema, the Hindu, mentioned she was fasting for the day. This is when I was deep in the Jesus Plus Nothing review when I was finding areas of my life where law really did rule me – be it Biblical law or the laws I created in my life to define what a “good Christian” was. I commiserated with her a bit and asked her why she was fasting. She shared that it was for religious reasons as it was supposed to bring her to a stronger spiritual focus, but all she really was thinking about was food! I shared that I had done similar things in my own faith and that often what turned out to be arrogant works drew my focus from where it should be. It was a casual conversation – there was really no condemnation, just sharing of feelings.

Suddenly she said to me, “I really can’t believe you’re a Christian!”

That statement shocked me, and honestly kind of hurt, and I replied, “Why would you say that?”

She answered, “Well, you’re the first Christian who hasn’t told me I am going to hell.”

That broke my heart! And she also shared she had never spoken to a Christian so long about religion without being shut down and pretty much wanted to leave! To this day, she has sought me out at least 3 times a week to speak about my religion in a very casual way and I have been blessed beyond measure!

So I ask you – is my choice to not condemn Hema wrong as a Christian? I don’t think so!

So going back to the Pride Parade and those who I resented in my heart for being immoral; being there does not condone activities that I am uncomfortable with. And I have been reminded by Paul that it is not fair to put the yolk of laws on these people!

So let’s discuss this 2 Cor 6:17 in context.

A misunderstanding of this command, “Come out from them and be separate,” has spawned (6:17a) a kind of holier-than-thou brand of separatism in certain sectors of the Christian church. Let me clarify what this command does not mean and what it does mean.
First, our passage isn’t talking about separation from believers, but about separation from the idolatry and sexual immorality of the pagans in Corinth. There is a time, of course, to separate from believers. In an earlier letter to the Corinthian church, Paul clarified his teaching as recorded in 1 Cor 5:9-11:

“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.”

In the 1 Corinthians 5 passage, Paul says clearly that we aren’t to associate with believers who continue to practice immorality. Elsewhere, the New Testament teaches to separate ourselves from divisive people (Romans 16:17), idle brothers (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14), and false teachers (2 John 10).

Some Christians are so separatist that they refuse to associate with Billy Graham because he cooperated with liberal Christian churches. This is known as “second-degree separation” – that is, separation from anyone who will not separate from the things we believe are wrong. Dear friends, this kind of militant separatism breaks the primary law of “love one another.” It is judgmental and exactly the kind of separatism practiced by the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.

Again, our passage in 2 Corinthians does not teach separation from believers (though there’s a time for that). Separation from believers is not the point or the purpose of this passage.

Notice in the passage quoted above from 1 Corinthians, Paul does not require separation from unbelievers. Indeed, we should retain friendships with unbelievers! Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to influence them for Christ. And we’ve already discussed how Jesus associated with sinners of His day!

But it does command us to separate ourselves from people and associations that will lead us into sin. Paul’s concern was that the Corinthian Christians still participated in the pagan feasts and their attendant sexual immorality. That is a very different thing from me attending the Gay Pride Parade, because I was able to refrain from public intoxication and some of the other activities I saw. Yet, had we not had a presence at the parade, so many in the LGBT community would still believe that God hates them!

And I have also been taught over the last few weeks that you NEED To love each person where they are! There is NO set list of how to react to people or how to act “holy” with people apart from loving them.

A person who seems to do this well I’ve witnessed through my friendship with Tori. Now, you might not know Tori really well, but she runs pretty deep – the wheels are often turning! Here are some of the things I’ve noticed and learned from Tori:

•   She’s not afraid to laugh. Even maybe at a secular joke! Even at MY jokes!
•   She’s not afraid to cry, especially if her friend is crying.
•   She’s not afraid to listen, even when what she hears is someone’s failure.
•   When she listens, she doesn’t judge. She loves.
•   She is very humble, but I tell you what she is so powerful in that humility!
•   It’s amazing, no matter what the conversation, Tori represents love and grace to me – and she often SINCERELY/AUTHENTICALLY brings Christ to the center.
•   I am blessed to call her my TFF.

So I pray that you can laugh, love, and grow in Christ. To see and love others where they are instead of where they should be. To allow the Holy Spirit inside of you to do His works. To love like Jesus. And rock your identity in Christ!

Crossroads inSANE Series Sermons

September 1, 2011 / Gina Marie / 1 Comment

Just wanted to share the trailers for this series. Each are short, I promise! 🙂

Bible Study: Cheating on Jesus

August 23, 2011June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / 1 Comment

As presented to CCC 8/21/11

Last week we learned about how we, as Christians, need to stop living under the law or even under a hybrid religion that combines the law with grace. Instead, we should live 100% under GRACE, but even knowing that I think it’s still hard to walk in that. So today, we are going to discuss this topic a bit more.

The law is so ingrained in us, I will be the first to admit it may take time to even realize how it rules us. But God, in His wisdom and power, is doing that in my life!

First, look at me. Today, I stand here and I am wearing flip flops. In the 80’s I called them thongs, but my kids tell me that is inappropriate nowadays. I am teaching Bible Study wearing flip flops and THAT IS JUST WRONG! I was raised that you should NOT wear these to church and certainly not be on the PLATFORM is such sinful attire!

Oh, clothing certainly is an area that is STRONGLY ruled by the law. Years ago, when I first became a Christian in a Foursquare church, I was encouraged to wear long dresses and very modest clothing. Now I am not saying to dress immodestly, but it really felt like the girls in our church were encouraged to dress much more modestly than the boys. I followed the rules because I wanted to be a good Christian girl as many of you did as well. At least we could wear pants and shorts, unlike Deana’s upbringing, but at CHURCH we were told dresses were the best approach. That even existed when I began to play the drums at church! I mean, hello – drummers have to sit with the snare between the legs, and I had to wear a DRESS????? Never mind that, I was told it was more important that “ladies on the platform wear dresses than if they had to sit in a unfeminine manner while there”. The law for law’s sake is silly sometimes!

And so, to break that, I asked “will it be a sin to wear flip flops today? Will I feel more holy if I wore closed toe shoes today?” Now, remember the whole “all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial” study last week? I will say it would be VERY inappropriate for me to stand here in a bikini – and I won’t even explain to you how traumatized you would be – but there ARE some reasonable do’s and don’t about these things. But the LAW that flip flops are “signs of sin” is just hokey. And what kind of burden do we put in these sort of areas to people we are trying to bring to church so they have FREEDOM IN CHRIST?

Ah come on, come to church! We want to love on you! But make sure you don’t wear flip flops! God FORBID you come as you are! Clean yourself up before you come to OUR church.

Now, this is not a big deal at CCC, where this stereotypical church rule is not as prevalent, but you get my drift? What is something that YOU feel is required to do before you come to church? Is it a man made law or requirement?

That can also be true for those who judge people who dress nicely for church – it goes both ways!

I am reminded how the Jews who received the grace of Christ struggled with this sort of thing, too. In fact, even APOSTLES OF CHRIST got into drag out fights over this issue!

Galatians 2:11-21 (Paul is sharing this story)

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

“We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

“If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Thousands of years later, are we STILL claiming that righteousness can be gained through our actions and/or the law?

But the law is not as obvious as this in many of our day to day activities. It finds its way to permeate the way we think! For example, I started my new job this past week and was able to go out to lunch with some of my co-workers. That was really great, to connect with them outside of the office. So here we were at In-N-Out Burger and somehow the topic of “being unclean” came up. One of my co-workers began to explain to us that to Jewish people in Biblical times, if they touched a dead body they could not stay within the city or attend temple activities for about 6 weeks. And then he went on to share the story of the Good Semaritan.

His version went something like this:

One day a man who was seriously injured laid on the side of the road. At the same time, a priest who was heading to his duties in the temple was walking down the street. The priest, wanting to avoid the man, went to the other side of the street and passed him. In the mean time, the Samaritan – who was the dirtiest of the dirty by the virtue of being a Samaritan – helped the man immediately. He even paid the inn keeper to care for him and promised to come back and pay any amount due, as long as the man was cared for.

And the moral of the story? The priest cared so much for God, that he knew he could not touch the man because he would be unclean and then he would not be able to serve God and God’s children for several weeks. And we, as Christians, could be more concerned about serving God like the Priests of the Bible and yearn to remain clean for God.

Seriously.

But how does it read in the Bible?

Luke 10:25-37, as told by our Lord Jesus

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Our Lord did not say that the priest or the Levite acted as neighbors to the injured man. Instead, it was the Samaritan, the most unclean in their society! It is clear that the LAW was not lifted up in this parable (aka, do not become unclean) but rather the compassion of LOVE. And how important it is that we take the time to find out where are “law blinders” are touching on stories where it totally changes the true message!

That leads me to share with you a friend of mine – a former co-worker of mine is an Orthodox Jew. Now, it may seem that I am picking on her or her beliefs, but that is not what I mean to do. She is just a great example of what we ALL do in some areas of our lives.

My friend – I’ll call her Laura – was born in Israel although her parents were from Europe. She has always lived an Orthodox Jewish life. She observes the Sabbath by observing Shabbat beginning each sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. She observes all the religious holidays, studies the Tanakh which is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text’s three traditional subdivisions: The Torah (“Teaching”, also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi’im (“Prophets”) and Ketuvim (“Writings”)—hence TaNaKh. She only eats kosher food (which was fun when we’d go to client sites that made things like sausages!), and follows the law in every way that she could.

And you know, it was great fun to ask her about her beliefs, to compare our views of Bible stories, and ask about certain things. Like, did you know there is such thing as kosher wine? When I asked her what made wine kosher, she said basically that is was produced by Orthodox Jews, and the process itself was not special. But going through these “kosher lessons”, some things were revealed to me.

For example, there were several rules that Laura shared with me related to the Sabbath:

•   You could not cook, so all food was prepared before sunset
•   You could not carry items in or out of your home
•   You could not work (or even have non-Jews serve you!)
•   You could not “light a fire”

But then, when I asked more questions, things got a bit more complex

•   You “could” cook, as long as it didn’t get the food too hot
•   You could probably carry small things outside of the house
•   She would NOT work, so that was not an issue. But some would tell her reading her kindle was sort of like work since she was a computer programmer and the kindle was like a computer. She didn’t agree with that.
•   “Lighting a fire” was subjective, as many Orthodox Jews believed that also meant you could not turn on electricity during the Sabbath. Laura didn’t take it that far, but she said sometimes if others were in her house she would at least turn the lights on BEFORE Sabbath and leave them on so that she wasn’t LIGHTING anything……..it was already on.

Where is became even more complicated was in the day to day activities at work with Laura. For example, at our work we had to account for 100% of our time even though we were salaried employees, due to how we billed our clients. Laura would often say she would enter times very late at night or even early the next morning on days where she knew she needed to leave early, even though she actually worked at different times or even days.

This speaks to a recent Harvard Business Review article that I read that shared many “high moral standard” employees often break the most rules because they feel they stay on the “straight and narrow” so often that a little turn here or there is permissible.

And really, what I am trying to point out that basically, the more rules you create to make you FEEL righteous, the more parameters you will create to circumvent those rules! And yet, these rules make us feel holy, special, set aside, and so many other things.

And then there are those of us who do all we can to be acknowledged as “good people”. It reminds me of a church I visited once, where it was preached from the pulpit why members of that congregation were better than everyone else. Some things the Pastor shared:

•   The men wore suits
•   The woman wore dresses
•   The children went to the church’s Christian school
•   The members NEVER went to movies, few watched TV, and NO ONE listened to worldly music
•   They followed the Bible to a “T”, and sin did not live in their house
•   They only sang songs from hymnals, just as God intended
•   Because of these actions, God listened to these members more than any other souls on the earth.

You get the gist of it.

I am NOT saying any of those activities are wrong or right, just sharing their view of themselves. In fact, I have to say that I was indirectly called out because it was said that “no woman” in that church would EVER sin by wearing pants, though I was there in such horrible garb! So, I walked out understanding this – they had arrived and were righteous, at least in their own minds!

And yet, when I went out to my car in the parking lot – the church’s LOCKED parking lot and where they made sure only church members parked – there was a huge dent in my car. A dent that was not there before I parked my car that morning. And there was no note saying, “Hey, call me and we can work this out.”

All the things that they were “doing right” did not make them righteous. And yet, whoever dented my car, if they have Jesus in their heart, was already righteous even though they hit my car and took off! They were righteous because of CHRIST, not because of anything that Pastor shared…….and their righteousness was not negated by their actions with my car.

Here is what Paul says about these examples.

Romans 2:17-29 (The Message) – picture yourself and your rules as the Jews Paul is talking to. Whatever it is that makes you feel holy or the actions you do that makes you feel like you deserve God’s grace:

If you’re brought up Jewish, don’t assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you’re an insider to God’s revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God’s revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I’m quite serious. While preaching “Don’t steal!” are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. The line from Scripture, “It’s because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God,” shows it’s an old problem that isn’t going to go away.

Circumcision, the surgical ritual that marks you as a Jew, is great if you live in accord with God’s law. But if you don’t, it’s worse than not being circumcised. The reverse is also true: The uncircumcised who keep God’s ways are as good as the circumcised—in fact, better. Better to keep God’s law uncircumcised than break it circumcised. Don’t you see: It’s not the cut of a knife that makes a Jew. You become a Jew by who you are. It’s the mark of God on your heart, not of a knife on your skin, that makes a Jew. And recognition comes from God, not legalistic critics.

Stop cheating on Jesus with your own theatrics at righteousness.

Here are some more examples, which I have pulled from Andrew Farley’s book THE NAKED GOSPEL.

First, let’s go back to the times of the Israelites. Back then they were in the middle of the desert and had their Tabernacle, where sacrifices were made to God. Imagine one day a priest found a PERFECT lamb, with no one blemish. The priest rushes to the Israelites and said, “WOW! I found THE perfect lamb, and after I sacrifice it to the Lord, we will NEVER have to perform any other sacrifices! ALL of our sins – FOREVER – will be covered!”

The Israelites, in their excitement, accept the sacrifice and then dismantle the Tabernacle and begin to live a guilt-free live “under the blood”, knowing that the perfect lamb has done away with sins once and for all.

Of course, you and I both know this never happened like it says here. Instead, the Israelites continued to give animal sacrifices over and over as no single sacrifice was enough to perfectly cleanse them. Hebrew helps to explain this:

Heb 10:1-2 NIV

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.

Now, WE know as Christians there WAS such a lamb in Jesus Christ, and it is confirmed in the Bible as well:

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Because of Jesus, there is no longer a need for the tabernacle, the temple, or the daily sacrifices. We have been cleansed ONCE AND FOR ALL. There is NO method or procedure required for us to remain forgiven. Instead, we are invited to depend on the onetime sacrifice as the means to lifelong forgiveness, without any strings attached.

1 Peter 3:18 (first portion)

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

But maybe you’re like me – heck, like so many of us humans – who thinks, “Yeah, that’s great! But I need to ASK for forgiveness. I need to repent.” OR “I need to act this way or that way to prove I am holy” or so many other things.

I may even quote 1 John 1:9 which says

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I am not a theologian, and this verse is complex when taken out of context. But let me clarify something very quickly as this is really a different lesson altogether:

•   This is the ONLY verse in the entire NT that says there is a method for maintaining daily cleansing.
•   It is not in Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, or Thessalonians.
•   When 1 John was written, Gnostics has infiltrated the church and popularized the idea that Jesus was only spirit as God would never stoop to the level of being human.
•   Further, Gnostics also did not believe sin existed
•   John was trying to show the Gnostics both views were incorrect. Because of that, John purposely uses physical words in his opening statement to challenge this Gnostic heresy. Later, he says that anyone who doesn’t believe that Jesus came in human flesh is NOT FROM GOD (1 John 4:3)
•   As such, John was not talking to true believers, because we know Jesus walked on the earth. Instead, it was addressed to non-believers, or Gnostics who had entered the church. In fact he says in 1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
•   True believers in Christ KNOW they are sinners, because to become a Christian you have to admit you’re a sinner!
•   As such, John here is concerned with Unbelievers, encouraging to confess their sins, so that they can accept Christ and be saved. Or, in other words, the verse is an invitation to become a Christian. Once you’re a Christian, the confessing is done.
•   Notice verse says, “from ALL unrighteousness”? There is no one-by-one concept here!

So, let’s break that down and think about this. I asked myself, “do I REALLY believe that I have the power to control the power of Jesus’ blood to forgive?”

“Do I REALLY believe if I talk to God more and more, he will pour out more of His blood, because He’s holding some back from me now?”

And then I asked myself this: Do I REALLY believe the blood of Jesus was sufficient to bring me a lifetime of forgiveness and cleansing, or do I actually believe it was lacking, and therefore I need to fill in the gap with my own efforts?

Crazy questions, yes?

So let’s talk about and try to understand God’s economy – from the beginning of time, cleansing included BLOOD which covered sin. The animal’s blood is what covered the Jews, and the blood of Jesus is what covers us today.

Hebrews 9:22 says it this way

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

But even with knowledge, we push the truth away, saving that is for heaving, but POSITIONALLY on the earth “once and for all” does not work. Maybe it’s because it feels way too easy!

“You mean I don’t have to do ANYTHING to be forgiven? That doesn’t sound right.” My human pride doesn’t want to admit that it really IS a free gift, and that I am not powerful enough to extract my own salvation. And, truthfully, what would I do if I didn’t have my daily list of sins to feel guilty about anyway? I mean, I was taught all these years that I need to confess my sins, to ask forgiveness, and take a truthful tally of my sins.

But there’s no blood in those actions, is there?

Do I REALLY believe the blood is only effective in HEAVEN? That it lacks power here on earth so I need to do my piece? Aren’t remembering, confessing, asking, and claiming MY powers?

Ultimately, it becomes OUR responsibility to make the cross carry real benefits in the present.

And that’s just plain cheating on Jesus! At it’s plain insulting to His sacrifice, don’t you think?

In adopting this fine-sounding belief system, we fail to recognize that the cross is a historical event. Its effects are already accomplished, no matter what we believe or claim. Our actions do not cause more blood to be shed.

So I encourage you – start accepting the fact that, as a Christian, you are saved by grace! Today, tomorrow, it’s done. Repeat the following truths as much as needed:

•   Only blood brings forgiveness
•   Jesus’ blood will never be shed again
•   Therefore God is SATISFIED
•   And I enjoy lifelong and eternal cleansing
•   Jesus plus nothing!

Bible Study: Jesus Plus Nothing

August 15, 2011June 7, 2019 / Gina Marie / Leave a comment

As presented to CCC 8/14/11

Today is not going to be a lesson based on my shortcomings, at least not directly. It’s not going to be about my work, although I WILL share that my tenure there didn’t last the two weeks as planned. Instead, my last day was Thursday and I will be starting my new job tomorrow! In all I can attest that Jesus DID have it, and He still does!

Today I’d like to share with you a concept that, at times, has apparently caused great controversy and debate. Even in the bible study, when this topic was touched on we all struggled in some way or another. And yet, even with this struggle, I wonder, “Why should this be so HARD?” I can’t answer that, but wanted to say straight out that you may hear some things that initially at least will cause you to say, “NO WAY!” and that I understand that reaction.

So without further adieu, everyone who calls him or herself a Christian, in theory, can attest that they’ve been saved by Christ. That they have been covered by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for each one of us. His death, and more importantly resurrection, broke the chains of bondage to sin and has allowed us eternal life as well as provides HIS righteousness for us TODAY. This miracle is described in our Gospel, as recorded in the New Testament.

Everyone agree?

Yet, many of us do NOT live under grace, or the “Jesus plus nothing” umbrella, but instead have created a hybrid religion. That is not healthy for us as Christians, nor to the world as we try to proclaim His Truth. As described in Andrew Farley’s book THE NAKED GOSPEL:

“Many Christians still walk in Old Covenant bondage. Regarding the law as a Divine ordinance for our direction, they consider themselves prepared and fitted by conversion to take up the fulfillment of the law as a natural duty.”

Andrew Murray (1828-1917)

“If you Christians want to make us agnostics inclined to look into your religion, you must try to be more comfortable in the possession of it yourselves. The Christians I meet seem to me to be the very most uncomfortable people anywhere around. They seem to carry their religion as a man carries a headache. He does not want to get rid of his head, but at the same time it is very uncomfortable to have it. And I for one do not care to have that sort of religion.”

Quoted in Hannah Whithall Smith, The God of All Comfort

Why do we as Christians insist on viewing ourselves as not good enough, or define ourselves by our sins? How about us Christians who “do and do” and don’t even really have time to interact with our Lord? Or even feel Him? Why are we compelled to do this? This is not a present day problem, even Martin Luther struggled with this.

Martin Luther, who many would say was a very faithful man and has done so much for Christians for centuries, struggled with guilt. Yet a large portion of his life was ruled by self-flagellation and other physical abuse in attempt to atone for his long list of sins.

Mother Teresa is another great example, and many of you can say you know she worked endlessly and unselfishly for so many in need. Yet, in a personal diary entry penned to Jesus, she wrote the following:

I am told God loves me – and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Before the work started, there was so much union, love, faith, trust, prayer, and sacrifice. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?

Even after working for over 40 years exclusively for Christ, Mother Teresa struggled for meaning, purpose, and a stable relationship with God!

Can you related to these two, at least partially?

How did this happen to these two, maybe even to us? Let’s go back in time and do a little research.

In Exodus 24:3,4 and 7, it reads:

When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”

This amounted to 600 commandments in all – more than 350 items and actions to abstain from and nearly 250 actions on the Jewish to do list. Some actions were even punishable by death!

And how did the Israelite’s fair with these laws? I think they reaction is best described as a rollercoaster ride!

Psalm 78:56-59 says:
But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. Like their fathers they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. When God heard them, he was very angry; he rejected Israel completely.

But you may say, “he give them a break, they may have not known better! Maybe if they were knowledgeable on the Lord, they’d fair better!” So let’s see how the Priests handled God’s commandments:

Malachi 2:1-2

“And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.”

Time didn’t seem to help the Israelite’s get their act together, either, for centuries later Saul or Tarsus – maybe the most committed of all – wrote the following:

Romans 7:15

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

So, struggling to do the right thing to feel the presence of God is not a new thing at all. But maybe Martin Luther, Mother Teresa, even the Israelites had it wrong!

But certainly, you can say, there were many Old Testament Heroes who were SUPER close to God and received great blessings from Him. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, even David! Yet they lacked SO MUCH compared to us if we are to believe the Bible.

Hebrews 11 speaks of the faith so many of these heroes manifested, which saved them or caused great miracles to occur.

11:33-34

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

11:39

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

So what was this that God had planned, this “something better” than what amazing people received?

The Old Testament defined who could approach God, and how. So it’s with amazement that I realized though this study that our High Priest, when viewed through the Old Testament , does not meet the requirements to hold this office! The law requires that a person be from the tribe of Levi to qualify as high priest, yet Jesus was from the tribe of Judah! This has been confirmed in Hebrews 7:13-14. Do you agree that no one from the line of Judah has EVER served as priest? The law forbade it. That’s because the law and Jesus just don’t mix.

That’s why it’s amazing to read and receive what Hebrews 7:12 says:

For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.

So, with this change of the law, should we live exclusively under Christ’s grace, should we follow the law, or should we combine the two?

My struggle IMMEDIATELY escalates at this point! I mean, we are ambassadors for Christ and our walk is important when we represent Him, right? It’s important to live righteously, to be holy, to honor our Lord! So how can you even PRETEND to ignore the law?

Do you feel me?

But grace is still a contract, with Jesus Christ directly. In contrast to the old contract that God wrote through Moses, GRACE will never be replaced! IT IS THE FINAL WORD CONCERNING A HUMAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

Hebrews 8:8-9

But God found fault with the people and said:

   “The time is coming, declares the Lord,
   when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
   and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
   I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
   to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
   and I turned away from them,
            declares the Lord.

God always intended to usher in something RADICALLY DIFFERENT, and that passage clearly states something totally new was coming. And this new way was going to solve a huge problem – our failure to remain faithful. Whatever this NEW is, it somehow CAUSES people to remain faithful, even when their own strength fails them!

THERE IS REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OLD IN ITSELF. IT SHOULD STILL BE ESTEEMED AS HOLY AND GOOD. THE ISSUE WITH THE OLD WAS THAT NO ONE COULD OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY UNDER IT. FOR THAT REASON, GOD ORCHESTRATED A DIFFERENT WAY.

In the new, we have a personal connect with God, as explained in Hebrews 8:10:

This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

I want to share a very subtle change in this verse, one that I overlooked for years. For the writer of Hebrews purposely MISQUOTED the Old Testament; he changed the old testament “my law” to “my laws”.

Contrary to popular teaching, it’s not the law of Moses that is written on our hearts, It’s GOD’S LAWS! The New Testament speaks to this and Jesus also helps us with this.:

•   The Royal Law –
o   James 2:8 – If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
•   The Law that Gives Freedom –
o   James 1:25 – But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
•   Jesus’ Commands –
o   Mark 12:30-31 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
o   John 13:34-35- “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
o   John 14:15 – If you love me, you will obey what I command.
o   “Jesus plus nothing”

Okay, if you’re anything like me, your mind might be filled with “but what about this?” and “what about that?”

So what IS the law for???? The law is there to point unbelievers to Jesus, not to lead believers.

But how can I know I am on the right path if I don’t have a road? Jesus is the lamp that lights our paths.

1 Cor 10 talks about “all things are permissible, but not all things beneficial”
•   In context of eating meat used for sacrifices to idols
•   Today, it could be drinking around an alcoholic
•   Today it could be having tattoos
•   Neither action is wrong to Christians, but it may cause problems for others OR create a habit that is not beneficial for the believer. Neither has anything to do with our righteousness in Christ.

So let’s talk a little more about specifics. Are you hearing me say we should be lawless?

NO.

Am I saying standards like “thou shall not kill” or “there shall be no other gods” no longer matter?

NO.

But let’s put this in context –

•   do rules and regulations make us RIGHTEOUS?
•   If we DO those things, are we focused on our Lord?
•   If we fail on one of those things, do we really believe Jesus has saved us from it already?

The biggest struggle I have with the concept of GRACE over the LAW is the dichotomy they represent. Yes, I am 100% forgiven, but I need to represent my Lord, and it’s easier for me to do that if I have a list of standards to follow.

But I am telling you, the whole FOCUS changes when you accept that you only need to LIVE under GRACE!

For example, you hear Pastor Bob talk about tithing often. He tells us this is the only place in the Bible where we are told to test God, to see what He will do. That is the truth, I believe it.

But when I thought about tithing in the context of the LAW, I saw it very differently. You see, it was something I had to do to prove I was a faithful Christian. It was a requirement of mine, established by the Bible. And in THAT context – I call “the law context” – I approached it one of these ways:

•   With fear – I better tithe or I will be in trouble with God (the church, my Pastor)
•   With rebellion – Why is it a rule anyway? My church has plenty of money and God can do all things, anyway.
•   With Guilt – after all Jesus did for me, how can I say I love him when I can’t even give 10% of what He gave me?
•   With Appearance – I don’t want others to think I am less of a Christian
•   With Defiance – I’m just not gonna do it. I will handle my money the way I want to, period.

All of the above have something in common – they are all 100% focused on ME and MONEY! NOWHERE is my focus on my Lord.

However, when I began to view tithing in the context of GRACE (as I believe Pastor teaches is), it took on a whole new set of clothes:

•   With Truth – Jesus loves me so much, that He died for me so that I don’t have to fulfill ANY requirement
•   With Appreciation – Jesus provides for me so much, thank you Jesus! Thank you for blessing me with this income.
•   With Freedom – I know I will have a home/food/clothing/etc. no matter what, so I want to give a small portion so others can know this truth too.
•   With Abundance – Lord, you HAVE truly proven Yourself! The more I give, the more I have – both monetarily and spiritually!

Notice the above, which truly happened to me. Do you see much talk about money? ME? JESUS was the focus! The law points to US, Grace points to JESUS, even in things such as the standard of tithing! And the truth is, because Jesus is IN each of us, the closer we draw to our established relationship with Him, the more clearly He will guide us with His Holy Spirit!

Another way I reconciled the dichotomy of Grace and Law was an analogy I heard from my dear friend, George. And let me tell you, George gets fired up about the Grace we already have in Jesus! He does NOT want us to be tied down by the Law!

“Breakfast in Bed”

Everyone likes breakfast in bed! I know I love it! But breakfast is bed is very different when viewed under the Law!

Let’s say you’re married to the Law. The Law demands YOU prepare breakfast everyday, right at 7:30am. That breakfast needs to be exactly on time, perfectly prepared (not too hot, not too cold, eggs over easy, pinch of salt) everyday or else your marriage may be in jeopardy. Can you imagine the pressure you’d be under each day? There is no room for mistakes, no room for empathy if you’re feeling unwell, didn’t sleep through the night, etc. There may even be days when you RESENT the law, and grumble about having to serve breakfast in the first place. Or, if the eggs are cold (as they are sure to be) you have no recourse to fixing it and the guilt may overwhelm you.

To further complicate matters, this marriage TO the law cannot be ended UNDER the law, because the law says you can only remarry if you are a widow, or your spouse dies. But you know what? Here comes Jesus! HE died, and the Bible tells us that we are crucified with Christ, even though we live! So, WE died with Christ, breaking that marriage to the Law, and now we are free to remarry Grace.

Romans 7:1-4 says:

Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

Having read that, how do you think Jesus feels if we say we are married to Him and His Grace, but keep going back to visit our old spouse, the Law? ………..But let’s get back to our breakfast, with our new marriage to Christ:

Now breakfast in bed under Grace is very different. IN THIS arrangement, JESUS prepared the breakfast each day just the way you like it. As it turns out, it’s exactly perfect each day – over easy, not too hot, perfect seasoning – everyday, without fail. And, service is provided with the most amazing love and care! Day in and day out! He NEVER fails!

And then suddenly, something amazing happens to you after each breakfast is served! Suddenly, YOU begin to want to serve JESUS breakfast, and HE says, “oh, that’s okay, I can do it, it’s already prepared!” but you say, “Oh Jesus, I love you so much and appreciate you so much! I don’t care if I am required to make breakfast or not, I WANT to because I love you!”

Grace CAUSES us to do right, to take on the actions of Jesus. The Law does not!

Now, maybe you have in your head another situation. What about those who claim to be Christians, yet they are hypocrites! Maybe their walk shows no signs of Jesus, maybe they even ridicule the things of the Lord, even as they claim to follow Him!

Well hey, what do Jesus’ commandments say to do? Love them.

Further, it is usually not OUR job to measure the worth of a man, or to decide his heart. Now, there are parameters where leaders such as Pastors of this church can address actions or behaviors, but overall Jesus really says to us, “what is it to you?”

Like how Jesus dealt with Peter and John in 21:15-23. Keep in mind this is after Jesus’ death and resurrection, after Peter denied Christ 3 times. The disciples were fishing when John see’s a man and says, “It’s Jesus!” Before you know it Peter jumps out of the boat, swims to Jesus, and soon Jesus and Peter are going over the “Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep” conversation. Jesus goes on to tell Peter he faces a tough death, and ends with FOLLOW ME.

About this time, here comes John, who had NOT swam to shore is a flurry to see Christ. I can see, even with Peter’s failures in the past, he felt pretty good about himself right now in relation to Christ. He may have even felt a little competitive with John. So he looks at mister “mosey on in” and says, “Hey Lord, what about HIM!” And Jesus’ reply? You don’t need to worry about him, you need to just worry about following ME!”

So, I encourage you, don’t go back to your first spouse, the Law. Stop living under that life. Let Jesus’ grace, which exists inside of you, allow you to grow in Him. Focus on JESUS, and if others bug you, let Jesus handle it. Don’t try to read a list to be righteous, walk under grace which has already made you righteous in Christ. You can succeed by living under this truth – Jesus plus nothing.

Just Rambling

A place where writing and thinking are known as rambling.

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