Gospel wimps

I love how Jesus interacts with people. He handles each person in a unique and loving, yet often firm and challenging way.

Take the woman at the well. Jesus engages her. She thought this was inappropriate, for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. But Jesus was never one to worry about what people thought was appropriate. (I could talk for hours on that topic alone...why is it we try to talk people into becoming Christians by only highlighting the good parts? Nevermind...)

Then he baffles her by offering a water that is better than the water she has. He curiosity is piqued. She wants to know more.

Then he informs her. The water he speaks of is eternal. What an awesome picture. Imagine, never thirsting again. I want that!

Now he confronts her. If you want this, go get your husband. What is that you say? You have no husband? What about that guy you are sleeping with?

Then he informs her again. True worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.

What? No slide shows? No powerpoints? No invitiation to just give him her life? No altar call? No drama? Just confrontation and information? Just truth and authority? That would never work today...

I fear that we have become a generation of Gospel wimps, believing that we must "sell" Jesus to the masses, so we package him up in the prettiest paper with a nice shiny bow on top. Give your life to Jesus and all will be well, you will be on the track to paradise.

FINE PRINT: Giving your life to Jesus might require you to surrender all. Just shaking the pastors hand and getting baptized in no guarentee of salvation. God is the final judge in all matters eternal, and the decision of the judge is final. If you are not satisfied with his judgment, no refund of offerings will be given, and no compensation for time spent volunteering. The invitation is not intended to be a complete explanation of what salvation entails. For further instructions regarding all things regarding God and salvation, read the Bible. Batteries not included.

Tough words.

Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children."

In some regards, I don't think you can say this about the American church culture. We have more knowledge floating around out there than is comprehensible. I don't think that is what God is concerned about, the quantity of the knowledge. I think he is more concerned about the quality, is it really knowledge, or is it the latest psycho-babble wrapped in a Scripture text?

Because many have rejected the truth, the knowledge that comes from God, and have followed whatever tickles ears, you will stumble (see 4:5).

But that is not us, because our church is growing. Read on...

(Vs. 7) "The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame."

So maybe it is not talking about church growth, but rather their own supposed intelletual growth. Yet I see a parallel.

The writers of the New Testament warn us to guard our doctrine. Not the doctrine of a particular denomination, but the teachings of Christ. Yet so much of what is taught in not centered in Christ, but rather wrapped in a layer or two of Christianity.

To quote Mark Driscoll, "...if we ever study anything and don't connect it to Jesus, we are bound to get into a lot of trouble."

Amen!

Sometimes the truth hurts

Galatians 4:16 "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?"

Paul had brought the Gospel to the Galatians, and they had received it with joy. They had received Paul with joy as well. If they could have, they would have torn out their own eyes and given them to Paul.

What happened?

Paul had left for a while, and humanness took over. Instead of clinging to the Gospel, the law crept back in. Their joy disappated as they forgot about that which is primary, and again focused on themselves and the law. And Paul doesn't hold back in letting them know the error of their way. So much so, that he fears it might make him their enemy.

But Paul does not let that fear hold him back. Because the truth is more important. It is almost as if he fears God more than men.

Verse 17 "Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them."

They wanted to turn it into a popularity contest. Paul knew all about being zealous, both for the right reasons and the wrong reasons.

If being zealous were all that mattered, Paul would have been saved as a Jew. But he wasn't. If fact, God delivered him from that state. Delivered him from knowing the law to knowing Christ. And Paul didn't want to go back at any cost, because he knew where he belonged. And he wanted the Galatians to know it too.

Just being Peter...

I remember the Peter of the Gospels. The one who jumped off the boat to walk on the water, and then realized what he had done and started to sink. The one who one moment confessed Jesus as Messiah and moments later tells Jesus He shouldn't have to die. The one who swore he would not deny Jesus, then does so 3 times. So now we are into Galatians. After the resurrection, after the day of Pentecost. A new and improved Peter. Well, maybe not completely.


Galatians 2:11 "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong."


Seems Peter had slipped. He was separating himself from the gentiles "because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group." (Vs 12) Others then followed suit.


But not Paul. He saw that they were "not acting in line with the truth of the gospel." (Vs. 13, and I love that line).

Peter should have known everything Paul did. Yet he slipped. He was still human. I take comfort in that. Mostly because I find myself more of a Peter than a Paul. I have to believe that there is a place in heaven for Peter. In spite of his flaws and failures, he is within the grace of Christ. Duh! If we didn't have flaws and failures, there wouldn't be a need for grace. But sometimes I feel like I push the limits of that grace. Sometimes I don't act in line with the truth of the gospel. And for those times, I need his grace. I need more of Him. And that is a good thing.