In many articles you read today, you find the word change. For many change is necessity and for others change is to be avoided at all costs. What really spurred this blog post is something that I have been seeing. It is the ability for churches to do events and record lots of salvations and ten later on find out that although salvation occurred the individual is no longer there or involved anywhere because they didn't change.
Why do we see salvation and no life change? For the answer to that questions look no further than the Christian book section of Barnes and Noble. Located on it's shelves you find countless books on living a better life and experiencing the full ness of life. What you don't see are books that speak of transformation and authentic life change.
Christians have began the process of self medication rather than open heart surgery.
Don't misunderstand me. I would rather have medicine over surgery any day, but when it comes to my spiritual condition, I need surgery. Paul speaks of crucifying his flesh daily. David sings of a change that has occurred since he repented an honored God once again. Most people would agree that it is easier to treat symptoms than the problem, however those same people would say the only cure is to get to the cause of the problem and fix it. It is a dichotomy that has plagued mankind since the beginning. serve ourselves or serve others???
Jesus Christ's death was not for self help or to help you get through your day. His death was so that you would be redeemed by his blood that was shed for the remission of sins. Salvation is the reason. Then, we are instructed to make disciples. Followers of the way. How do I follow God now that I am saved? If we don't stick around for that how can life change happen? Following God goes agains the cultural norms of I do what I want. Following God is a pattern of life that must be developed and we as Christians and especially churches are supposed to be the institutions to make that happen.
When we accept Jesus the process of surgery begins. The great physician is the doctor but we are the surgical nurses keeping a close eye on what is happening and a close ear to hear what the doctor is saying. We are there for assistance not just a sudden jolt of energy when the heart begins to fail.
The self help books are nice to read. They make you feel better about yourself and give some inspiration and that is a good thing. However, if the only thing I am digesting is sugar won't I eventually develop diabetes? My body stops wanting protein and craves sweets. I concentrate on feeding my spiritual sweet tooth and my inner man begins to suffer because of it. I then become so jaded that I believe my sin is not sin at all and fall victim to creating an image of God that suits me and my beliefs.
It is time to lay aside the sugar and crave meat that comes from the word of God. It is time to allow God to use us to help others that are around us and ourselves as well to be disciples of Christ. Allow the spirit to convict us and allowing God to change us. It is then when we become recreated and defined in new terms set forth by God on us because we are his.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
I Can Be Angry?!
Unless you have taken residence under a rock, you have probably experienced a time when an argument took place. It always seems to go that way. One person says something and then a snide sometimes cutting retort. Cue the bell. "Let's Get Ready To RUMBLE!" Back and forth the argument goes. Eventually, the argument gets you nowhere and you try to find some other way to win. Let me just start by saying this.
ARGUMENTS HAVE NO WINNERS ONLY LOSERS
Think about it. If you get into an argument with your spouse about the raising or the lowering of the toilet seat, is there a winner? If the husband relents and says sorry and then puts the seat down is it a win for the wife? Superficially yes, but what has happened in the process and progression of the argument? The husband has been compared to a child and therefor has had his manhood called into question. In the cutting remarks, the husband has also brought up the fact that his wife is just as guilty of offenses. Has anyone really benefitted? The answer is no. So, does this mean we don't ever say anything? Not at all but remember.
DISCERNMENT AND DISCUSSION DEFUSES ARGUMENTS
If we stop for a moment and avoid the red button, we can come away from a disagreement or just a mental slip with something that is truly great. UNDERSTANDING AND FORGIVENESS.
The toilet seat controversy or the toilet paper direction conflict are minor. What about the big deals? Those things that lead to more than just inconvenience that take your breath away and sidebar all rational thought. Does this still work? Yes it does. Scripture tells us that in our anger we should not sin. That is such a relief to me. I can be angry. It is easy for us to take anger to a whole new level. Anger builds like mineral deposits on shower heads.
If we don't discuss it, it will mark us and other people.
Shower heads become discolored first. We see a slight whitening. We are the same way. When we become angry and don't discuss it and just let it roll on past, we become slightly whitened. What do I mean? Your opinion changes about the person you are angry towards. You look at them and justify in yourself that you have done nothing wrong and are cleaner than they are. You take on self-righteousness.
No one wants to believe that but you can check it. Think about someone you were angry with. After the initial offense did everything they did seem to bother you? Could you find the good in them? That's self-righteousness.
The build up continues.
It could be days, weeks, or even years before you can actually admit it and see the amount of build up that has occurred. Every interaction you have with that individual leads to more build up. The interesting part is that you find yourself interacting with them more. Why? Because your flesh wants revenge or retribution. You will alter your patterns just so you can be there to watch them crash and burn. When they succeed, you will justify why they did and at whose expense they did succeed.
Eventually you blow up.
So the scale that builds up eventually leads to blockage and ultimately failure. It is an interesting parallel. The more blockage the less water. Streams of living water are supposed to be flowing out of us and the more we allow the anger to build the less of that water comes out. The flow begins to lessen and then ultimately stops. Pressure begins to build and then suddenly failure.
Cleanse the scale and let the water flow.
The anger that we experience is natural, but the solution for the anger cannot be a fleshly one or we get those results. If we discern the offense and then go to that person and discuss it with the intent of making it right not winning, we find ourself removing scale and flowing with living water free from deposits of doubt, anger, insecurity, or fear. Handle things the right way. Matthew 18 gives the formula for the proper way to deal with offense. Use it and watch how things change.
ARGUMENTS HAVE NO WINNERS ONLY LOSERS
Think about it. If you get into an argument with your spouse about the raising or the lowering of the toilet seat, is there a winner? If the husband relents and says sorry and then puts the seat down is it a win for the wife? Superficially yes, but what has happened in the process and progression of the argument? The husband has been compared to a child and therefor has had his manhood called into question. In the cutting remarks, the husband has also brought up the fact that his wife is just as guilty of offenses. Has anyone really benefitted? The answer is no. So, does this mean we don't ever say anything? Not at all but remember.
DISCERNMENT AND DISCUSSION DEFUSES ARGUMENTS
If we stop for a moment and avoid the red button, we can come away from a disagreement or just a mental slip with something that is truly great. UNDERSTANDING AND FORGIVENESS.
The toilet seat controversy or the toilet paper direction conflict are minor. What about the big deals? Those things that lead to more than just inconvenience that take your breath away and sidebar all rational thought. Does this still work? Yes it does. Scripture tells us that in our anger we should not sin. That is such a relief to me. I can be angry. It is easy for us to take anger to a whole new level. Anger builds like mineral deposits on shower heads.
If we don't discuss it, it will mark us and other people.
Shower heads become discolored first. We see a slight whitening. We are the same way. When we become angry and don't discuss it and just let it roll on past, we become slightly whitened. What do I mean? Your opinion changes about the person you are angry towards. You look at them and justify in yourself that you have done nothing wrong and are cleaner than they are. You take on self-righteousness.
No one wants to believe that but you can check it. Think about someone you were angry with. After the initial offense did everything they did seem to bother you? Could you find the good in them? That's self-righteousness.
The build up continues.
It could be days, weeks, or even years before you can actually admit it and see the amount of build up that has occurred. Every interaction you have with that individual leads to more build up. The interesting part is that you find yourself interacting with them more. Why? Because your flesh wants revenge or retribution. You will alter your patterns just so you can be there to watch them crash and burn. When they succeed, you will justify why they did and at whose expense they did succeed.
Eventually you blow up.
So the scale that builds up eventually leads to blockage and ultimately failure. It is an interesting parallel. The more blockage the less water. Streams of living water are supposed to be flowing out of us and the more we allow the anger to build the less of that water comes out. The flow begins to lessen and then ultimately stops. Pressure begins to build and then suddenly failure.
Cleanse the scale and let the water flow.
The anger that we experience is natural, but the solution for the anger cannot be a fleshly one or we get those results. If we discern the offense and then go to that person and discuss it with the intent of making it right not winning, we find ourself removing scale and flowing with living water free from deposits of doubt, anger, insecurity, or fear. Handle things the right way. Matthew 18 gives the formula for the proper way to deal with offense. Use it and watch how things change.
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