Christian Atheist

The early Christians were called atheists. A little weird, isn't it? Well, it makes a little more sense when you realize that the Romans called this fringe Jewish sect atheists because they didn't recognize the Roman pantheon as legitimate nor did they participate in the worship of the Emperor. So, logically then, these 'christians' had to be atheists.

Fast forward two millennia, it appears that the term atheist may again apply to Christians. What could I possibly mean? Unfortunately, many claim the name Christian (I believe God exists) but live the name atheist (I don't believe God exists). Even when I look at myself, I find moments when I just completely ignore my convictions about God's existence and choose to live in a way that would tell others I don't believe in God.

Now, let me clarify something: I am not trying to say that if you are an atheist you automatically live an immoral life and if you are a believer in God then you live a perfectly moral life. No. What I am trying to say is that If we claim that God exists, our lives should be lived striving to please Him. Even more, if we claim that God raised Christ, then our lives should be lived empowered by His Spirit.  "..our lives drift around Jesus being alive" I mean, seriously think about that. If Jesus is alive, how can that NOT affect your life?

Don't be the atheist Christian. Live your life in light of the FACT that Jesus is risen. 

My next blog I am going to be heading back to some more apologetics!

Count it all joy

Some weeks are way easier than others. Just ask Anthony Weiner about the past few weeks. I don't know about you, but when I look at what I'm going through and what the Congressman is going through, I can feel just a little better about the things I am facing. Even so, their are some days when comparing our hard times to someone else's will not help. Our work environment becomes hostile. The future suddenly seems uncertain or frighteningly certain. Maybe someone you know is killed or you find out that you have cancer. A family member has a miscarriage or you find out a friend has been talking about you behind your back.  In all these situations, our natural inclination is to let those situations get us down. But interestingly enough, God says:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

This is exactly what we would NOT think to do. I don't want to consider it joy when bad things happen. Those things aren't joyful! Why would God ask us to do something so...unnatural? Well, here's the thing: if you are a believer, YOU don't do too many things other than trust Jesus and when you do trust Him, he begins to turn your world upside down. As followers of Christ, we begin to see the world as less chaotic and more sovereignly controlled by our awesome God. Why can trials and tests and bad situations be joyful? Because we know our God is in control, but not only that: when we live in Christ and let Him have control, those tests and trials refine us and make us stronger. When Satan is allowed by God to bring bad situations to us, those things that the world would see as destructive are actually constructive when we live in Jesus.  Remember: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 

I encourage you all to let the power of Christ lead you. Don't have any confidence in your own ability, but rather Christ's ability through you! 

In the Shadow of Divine Perfection

I need to be devoted. Not to show some sort of awesome piety that exceeds everyone else. Not a self focused, self righteous thing. No, I need devotion in my life like Jesus had it. I need to be love-focused, I need to be peace-focused, I need to be God-focused. Far too often I find myself becoming focused on everything except for God. Ministry, sermons, Facebook, blogs, whatever it is, it's not God. That's idolatry. That's scary.

I wrote this devotional for my young adults group at SHBC last week, and I don't know, I felt like I was writing to myself.

Devoted. Joshua 6:21 "They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys." Don't be fooled, devotion isn't for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to being devoted to Jesus. It may just kill you, in a good way. It's more than just adhering to a discipline (I've gotta get my 10 minutes of prayer in), because God isn't impressed with us and our discipline. If we try to work ourselves to Him, we do exactly the opposite of what needs to be done because Jesus already did all the work.

Instead, we should be devoted like Jesus was devoted. He was interested in spending time with the Father, not out of regimented religion but out of true understanding that knowing the Father was the most important thing. Through relationship with God will devotion come forth, like a plant sprouting because of the water and sun and soil. Our devotion should look like us dying to know God.

Pursue Christ, brothers and sisters. Devote yourself to Him.

You see, sometimes we get lost thinking that the paths we use (bible study, sermons, ministry, etc) are God. Maybe not cognitively, but it sometimes happens. The truth is that all of those things are shadows of God. Michelangelo said, "The truest work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection." Don't be confused, sermons, bible studies, ministry and the like are all great and good, but we must remember that they are shadows of our GREAT GOD. We must pursue HIM. Christ did not get flogged, beaten, stripped naked, and hung on a cross so we could have bible study. He did that so we could have a change of heart, mind and relationship toward God, so we can approach God and be in His presence.

Don't misunderstand me, I believe wholeheartedly in using sermons, ministry, bible study and the like to pursue God, but if they don't push you closer to Him, if you focus on the shadows, you are going to miss a lot. Jesus is everything guys. In the words of Lecrae,

To live is Christ yeah that's Paul I recall
To die is gain so for Christ we give it all
He's the treasure you'll find in the mall
Your money your singleness marriage talent and time
They were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine
That's why it's Christ in my rhymes
That's why it's Christ all the time
My whole world is built around him He's the life in my lines
I refused to waste my life
He's too true ta chase
That ice
Heres my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ
If he's truly raised to life
Then this news should change your life
And by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.