Folks,
Unfortunately, this post I'm making now is the first one in almost three years on this page. It seems that we didn't have the impetus to keep this discussion going. If you are reading this, and you want to have something to read....here are a couple of options that I'm involved with:
My personal blog:caaampersthoughts.blogspot.com
The leadership blog of the Southeastern Church of Christ in Indianapolis:growingheartstowardgod.blogspot.com
See you in cyberspace.
Mike
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Grace-Scope & Impact
Grace. The Grace of God. We have often heard it spoken of. We, perhaps, have even used the term ourselves as we have taught a class, given a sermon, or studied the Bible with someone. But, I wonder how much we really understand it. Do we really know the scope of God's Grace? How far does He extend it? What are the limits? CAN we know these things?
When I was young, I used to read my Bible every evening before bed. I did this because I wanted to. I did it because I loved God. Now, I think we'd pretty much agree that reading the Bible is a good thing, and that doing it everyday is another good thing. And, I liked doing it. But a funny thing happened as the years went by. I was influenced by the "expectations of men." It was imposed upon me that I MUST read my bible on a DAILY basis to be in a right relationship with God, and to be in the best relationship, I needed to do it in the morning. If I didn't do this, then I was falling short of God's expectations of me. The result was that I began to dislike reading my Bible. That dislike sprouted into a type of personal rebellion. Ultimately, my bible study dropped to nearly a non-existent level.
Here's my point from the illustration: Something that I once did because of my love for God suddenly became a rule imposed by man. When that happened, my nature wanted to rebel. When law was imposed, it began to kill the spirit with which I had begun. My motivation was no longer my walk with God, but rather, I was motivated by trying to keep the law, a law created by man. It nearly killed my spiritual life.
Thankfully, I was able to refocus my life, and began to Embrace the Grace. I started reading the scriptures looking for Grace. And, you know, it is all over the Book! It is especially strong in the writings of Paul, but it is scattered all through the Old and New Testaments! And, what a concept it is!
When we mess up and do things that are wrong (and we all do), it is Grace that allows us to stand. When we misunderstand some aspect of doctrine, it is Grace that provides our spiritual footing. When we don't always do every good thing that opportunity allows, Grace fills in the deficit. It is funny how we sometimes think that God's Grace is there for others....as long as they are at least as good, or as correct, or as competent as we ourselves are. We make ourselves the standard by which God may dispense his Grace. Who do we think we are?
If we believe that through the Grace of God, a murderer, or a rapist, or any other person involved in abhorrent sinful activity can be saved, why do we sometimes have trouble believing that God's Grace could extend to someone who other otherwise is spiritually focused, but misunderstands a point of doctrine? Again, it is funny how we think our own potential misunderstandings don't rise to the level of putting us in danger of "losing our salvation," but we so quickly begin to see others as "lost" who don't completely agree with our own perspectives.
I have no idea what the scope and limits are in God's Grace. I'm very happy to leave it up to Him to make the decisions about where it stops in a person's life. Not my job. Don't want it. Perhaps, one day, when we are all in His Presence, we might begin to understand it. In the meantime, I think we should just attempt to accept and appreciate it. Perhaps, we can allow it to be our motivation. Oh, and maybe, just maybe give a measure of our own grace to others as well.
I'd love to read your own perspectives on the Grace of God and the impact it has had on your lives. I'll look forward to the responses.
Grace to you all,
Mike
When I was young, I used to read my Bible every evening before bed. I did this because I wanted to. I did it because I loved God. Now, I think we'd pretty much agree that reading the Bible is a good thing, and that doing it everyday is another good thing. And, I liked doing it. But a funny thing happened as the years went by. I was influenced by the "expectations of men." It was imposed upon me that I MUST read my bible on a DAILY basis to be in a right relationship with God, and to be in the best relationship, I needed to do it in the morning. If I didn't do this, then I was falling short of God's expectations of me. The result was that I began to dislike reading my Bible. That dislike sprouted into a type of personal rebellion. Ultimately, my bible study dropped to nearly a non-existent level.
Here's my point from the illustration: Something that I once did because of my love for God suddenly became a rule imposed by man. When that happened, my nature wanted to rebel. When law was imposed, it began to kill the spirit with which I had begun. My motivation was no longer my walk with God, but rather, I was motivated by trying to keep the law, a law created by man. It nearly killed my spiritual life.
Thankfully, I was able to refocus my life, and began to Embrace the Grace. I started reading the scriptures looking for Grace. And, you know, it is all over the Book! It is especially strong in the writings of Paul, but it is scattered all through the Old and New Testaments! And, what a concept it is!
When we mess up and do things that are wrong (and we all do), it is Grace that allows us to stand. When we misunderstand some aspect of doctrine, it is Grace that provides our spiritual footing. When we don't always do every good thing that opportunity allows, Grace fills in the deficit. It is funny how we sometimes think that God's Grace is there for others....as long as they are at least as good, or as correct, or as competent as we ourselves are. We make ourselves the standard by which God may dispense his Grace. Who do we think we are?
If we believe that through the Grace of God, a murderer, or a rapist, or any other person involved in abhorrent sinful activity can be saved, why do we sometimes have trouble believing that God's Grace could extend to someone who other otherwise is spiritually focused, but misunderstands a point of doctrine? Again, it is funny how we think our own potential misunderstandings don't rise to the level of putting us in danger of "losing our salvation," but we so quickly begin to see others as "lost" who don't completely agree with our own perspectives.
I have no idea what the scope and limits are in God's Grace. I'm very happy to leave it up to Him to make the decisions about where it stops in a person's life. Not my job. Don't want it. Perhaps, one day, when we are all in His Presence, we might begin to understand it. In the meantime, I think we should just attempt to accept and appreciate it. Perhaps, we can allow it to be our motivation. Oh, and maybe, just maybe give a measure of our own grace to others as well.
I'd love to read your own perspectives on the Grace of God and the impact it has had on your lives. I'll look forward to the responses.
Grace to you all,
Mike
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Son of God?
Here's a lively question: when did Jesus become the Son of God? (provide Biblical references please).
OK...let's get some discussion going.
There are so many differing traditions, practices and hermeneutics throughout the Kingdom, that it is not a complicated discussion trying to figure out why people look at this beautiful thing we call the Body and just shake their heads.
Just recently I was asked, "If a friend of mine wanted to come to our church and wanted to get involved, would she have to be baptized? She was Catholic, but now goes to a protestant church and was asking about ours. She is a good Christian but I didn't know if she could do anything until she was baptized."
Here is my 26 years of Christian Church, Christian Church school, Christian Church preaching and Church of Christ grad school response...
"Hehehehe... Are you kidding me??? Heck no she can't live out her faith with us until she is obedient to the scriptures. She can come to church, but if she wants to do anything, teach or become a member...I mean if she is a good Christian, then she will want to obey what the Bible says and get dunked!"
Now, I am going to assume everyone will see the humor in that...if you do not, I...well, you should.
So here is my discussion point. What if the scriptures ended with the following...
Luke 10:25-28 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."
I know it does not end with this, but where does this fit when we consider eternal life and being 'saved'? I know there is so much more scripture has to say involving these wonderful and huge topics, but I am mesmerized by this pericope.
O by the way, I have been immersed.
Just recently I was asked, "If a friend of mine wanted to come to our church and wanted to get involved, would she have to be baptized? She was Catholic, but now goes to a protestant church and was asking about ours. She is a good Christian but I didn't know if she could do anything until she was baptized."
Here is my 26 years of Christian Church, Christian Church school, Christian Church preaching and Church of Christ grad school response...
"Hehehehe... Are you kidding me??? Heck no she can't live out her faith with us until she is obedient to the scriptures. She can come to church, but if she wants to do anything, teach or become a member...I mean if she is a good Christian, then she will want to obey what the Bible says and get dunked!"
Now, I am going to assume everyone will see the humor in that...if you do not, I...well, you should.
So here is my discussion point. What if the scriptures ended with the following...
Luke 10:25-28 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."
I know it does not end with this, but where does this fit when we consider eternal life and being 'saved'? I know there is so much more scripture has to say involving these wonderful and huge topics, but I am mesmerized by this pericope.
O by the way, I have been immersed.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Welcome
There is so much to talk about. I am glad you have come here and welcome you with an open mind.
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