Good News vs. Religion: Old Habits Die Hard. . .

It's funny being home and returning to the life I have had since I was born. What is great/terrifying (depending on the situation) is how quickly you return to habits you used to have once you return to the place where you once were. I have quickly picked up on things that I used to do before I left and I like I said before, it can either be great or terrifying, depending on if they are good or bad habits.

I have been trying to realize what in my faith is essential, based on the relationship with Jesus & the Word of God, and what is based on the religion we know as Evangelicalism. As someone who was raised in a Christian home, and is back in that home again now, I'm trying to distinguish not only for myself, but also trying to help others escape religion and grab ahold of Jesus.

Where in the Bible does it say that Christians cannot consume alcohol? Where in the Bible does it say that Christians cannot wear jeans to church on Sunday? Where in the Bible does it say that Christians have to pretend that we are perfect and that we don't have problems? Where in the Bible does it say that Christians can only listen to and have to listen to contemporary Christian music? Where in the Bible does it say that Christians. . . . .(and the list goes on)?

Now I know there are principles that are set up and some things are brought up. Getting drunk is wrong. We are to give God our best. We are being transformed by the Holy Spirit in our lives and are no longer characterized by our old lives. And I have no idea about the Christian music one, but the point is, I think we have complicated the Gospel way too much.

Gospel means "good news" and it really is good and beautiful. God came down to us and, once again in the words of Mark Driscoll, "Jesus lived the life we couldn't live, died the death we should have died, and defeated our enemies of Satan, sin, and death." THAT IS BEAUTIFUL! WHAT ABOUT THAT IS NOT ABSOLUTELY AMAZING?! We are powerless to come out of it ourselves (Eph. 2) and He knew that. So what are people told now? "Get rid of all your garbage and when you are good, God'll save you." But that is a works based religion and not the good news of Jesus. He saves us where we are, but cares about us too much to let us stay there. He changes us. He changes our desires and our heart.*

I will probably consume some alcohol when it is legal (not get drunk & after I am 21). I will not come to church looking like a slob. I will not flaunt my sin, but I will not deny that I am imperfect and that God is in the process of transforming me. And with contemporary Christian music, I'll probably do all I can to avoid it if I can (because I really think it all sounds the same, as a whole). I will give up my freedoms (that Christ purchased for me) when the situation calls for it, but I will "call sinners to repent of sin and religious people to repent of religion." (<- also Mark Driscoll). . .

*NOTE* - It is not bad to set up personal boundaries so that you can more easily resist sin, but we need to realize that if it is a personal boundary, it is exactly that, personal. We should not set up unbiblical boundaries for others and expect them to obey our rules. That was the problem the Pharisees had with Jesus. . .

*2nd NOTE* - I'm not saying that there are not universal sins and wrong things. Adultery is wrong. Period. For Everyone. Murder is wrong. Period. For everyone. And the list goes on. Not talking about those thing, I'm talking about other things. I hope that clarifies. . .

P.S.- The video is completely unrelated.

. . .In San Francisco

Home is great. As I lay here on the bed I slept on during my high school years this out, it is difficult for me to conceive of the notion, but I am home. So to recap for those who don't remember, I'm from suburban San Francisco, but go to school in Indianapolis. I spend the majority of my year in school in Indy, but San Francisco is my home. But getting back, home is great. Not necessarily a particular house or memory, but home.

Today was a long day for me. Some finals and stuff, packing, catching a flight to Atlanta and then to San Francisco, and now home. I don't mind flying, I mean I do it often enough, but there is always something about reaching your final destination that feels good. Even if that final destination isn't home, it is at least a destination. You don't have to sit in an uncomfortable airport chair, or when worse the uncomfortable airplane chair. But even better than a final destination is home.

I fell asleep somewhere over Arkansas and didn't wake up till we were about 20 minutes outside of the San Francisco airport. But when I did wake up, I looked at the virtual map/tracker thingy and it was glorious. As they zoomed in on the area I saw names of cities I have known from birth. I am comfortable enough in my masculinity to admit that a tear swelled up in my eye when I saw this map. This was home and nothing was going to ruin my night.

It took us 15 minutes to taxi to the gate. Who cares? I'm home. . .

I got hit in the head by the overhead compartment as I was leaving the plane. Who cares? I'm home. . .

It took my luggage 20 minutes to get to the carousel. Who cares? I'm home. . .

Don't get me wrong, I love Indiana. I'll complain about this and that, but if I really didn't like it, I really would leave. I love the people. Hoosiers really are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. I love Crossroads and what I am doing there. I love it all, but that doesn't make it home. I know that, Lord willing, I'll come back to San Francisco after I graduate. There are people here that I wish i could avoid and there are situations that will be awkward to deal with here, but it's home.

There is a certain comfort that comes from home, wherever that is for you. But for me, I left my heart here, in San Francisco. . .

Hard Left Turn

So God has been teaching me a lot. A lot. I have been thinking about sin. Mostly my sin, but other’s also. To be honest it usually starts at my sinful looking at other’s sin and then being convicted of my own. He has gone through and started taring down my ideas and pre-conceived notions of Christianity since I have been a Christian for most of my life. There is way too much religion and not enough good news of Jesus in today’s Christianity. I get angry at “Christian T.V”, radio, music, and most of whatever has the term Christian in front of it because in the words of Matt Chandler, “they have hijacked Christianity” and I have been thinking about how little the Gospel has to do with Christianity anymore. I am guilty of this too as we all are.

It was a Matt Chandler sermon that has spoken to me, I have forced about half a dozen people to listen to it and will continue to until everyone hears this 3 part sermon series on sex. Even though they are entitled “Sex” it is about way more than sex. It is about God’s redemption, the rhythm of love, the mingling of souls, and the wilderness. You, whoever you are, need to listen to these sermons (http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/sermons?kw=sex&type=sermons&match=any).

I don’t want to give away the sermon, but at the end of the first one, he talks about the story in John 8 where the Pharisees bring the women caught in adultery to Jesus and prepare to stone her. To make the story short, He calls out for the one who is without sin to cast the first stone. They all left, Jesus picks her up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." Here Matt goes in another direction, but what smacked me is that Jesus was the one without sin. He had every right to condemn her and yet, he had compassion.

That is mind-blowing. I have been thinking about this for the past several hours and cannot get it out of my mind. Matt puts it into infinitely better words than I do, but I am seeing in my own life that I am too quick to judge. I am seeing that I don’t have Jesus’ eyes. I am seeing that I need His grace and I need to show his grace to others. I need to forgive because I have been forgiven. A LOT. I need to help other and not condemn them based on what they have or haven’t done. God really does meet us where we are and cannot love us anymore that what He already has. I’m seeing that I’m that sinner thrown down in front of Jesus and am completely worthy of the stoning that I should receive but am completely unworthy of the grace that He shows.

The most beautiful part is that at the end, he tells her to go, not in condemnation, but with peace. He loves the unlovely. He chooses the worthless things and gives them worth. He picks up the broken pieces, binds, and then heals.

The song that is (or was playing) on this blog is “Give me your eyes” by Brandon Heath. Give it a chance. It has hit me at the same time as this sermon and it brings peace to my soul. . .

Once again, the place to get those sermons is: http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/sermons?kw=sex&type=sermons&match=any

When words are not enough. . Even if they are a little late .

I know this is late but. . . . . .

A few nights ago as I was reading Cari's blog about her mom (andyandcari.blogspot.com), which was spot on by the way, I was sitting there on my bed 2500(ish) miles away from my mom, and I thought of how much I miss her. Most of you don't know my mom, but those who do know that it is difficult to put into words the women that brought me life.

My mom is amazing. I know most people say that about there mom, but mine really is. The first thing I think of when I think of my mom is how much she loves people. She is unselfish and self-sacrificing, probably to an unhealthy level, but is always looking out for and caring for other people. She loves people. A lot. She loves my family enough to take the first shift of the day at the gym she works at. She wakes up at 3:30 to be there by 5 and when those doors open at 5:30 AM (yes, when it is still dark outside), all those people see is her smiling face ready to greet them. She has worked there since I was about 9 or 10 and every year I continue to see how much those people love her back and appreciate her. When Christmastime comes, these people buy my mom gifts. I need to remind you that she works the front desk at a gym. When was the last time you bought a Christmas present (and some of these are nice Christmas presents) for the receptionist? She would have to be pretty special right? Then she handwrite literally hundreds of Thank You cards to all these people. How often does that happen?

She is infinitely more than I could describe to you here now, but here is a glimpse of who she is. .

She is very hospitable. When I was a kid, my friends would always come over to our house to hang out.

She is very emotional. I can remember countless times when my mom has either 1) cried in the first five minutes of a movie, and/or 2) walked in on the last 5 minutes of a show or movie and started crying in those 5 minutes. I didn't know someone could cry like that after having no idea whatsoever about the plot.

She is a worrier. Now I know most moms are like this, but few rival her. My dad says that she has turned it into an art form (or something like that). When she found out that Indiana had snow *gasp* and that you had to drive in it *gasp again*, she started calling more often to make sure that I had a 7 inch thick winter coat on and that I was driving slow and watching out for the other drivers.

She was and still is always there. I knew that my mom would always "bandage my wounds" when I was a kid and she'll still pick up the phone, even if she is taking a nap.

She started acting weird a few years ago. And when I say weird, I mean like, my mom like Christian Rap. Where did that come from? My mom has a quick whit, and I never saw that when I was a kid. My mom will laugh at very inappropriate times or things. I know after reading that she is blushing and shaking her head.

She isn't perfect, but who is?

I earnestly believe a lot of who I am today is because of my mom. She taught me how to love and serve others. And I know that I am not prefect, but I know that my mom has been a model of how I am to act, serve, & love.

I love you mom and I'll see you in a few weeks.

From one who is proud to be your son, Happy Mother's Day. . .