I wish you were angry

When I was working in full-time youth ministry, there were many times that students would make mistakes (to be honest I usually kept pace with them). While there were times I responded with anger, and later regretted it, I usually responded with a phrase that would drive many of them crazy: "I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed."

Some of them would beg me to be angry. They would want me to be mad at them. While this request seems strange, I understand why.

Law is easier to deal with than grace.  Law gives us something to change that we can control. It also allows us to point back at the other person and their faults.

But grace disarms us. It leaves us vulnerable to face our own shortcomings. It makes it much more difficult to deflect our guilt by focusing on someone else's failings.

Grace forces us to face the reality that we have missed the mark.

Law, on the other hand, allows us to ignore our faults while pointing out someone else's.

This principle is even more true with those who we consider enemies or adversaries or who mistreat us. As he examines the idea of love, Paul writes the following...

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21 NIV)

We don't have the right to issue justice. This doesn't mean that communities can't enforce consequences. However, we are not in a position to exact justice or revenge. That responsibility lies with the only one who can stand completely faultless.

Our role is to receive and embrace the grace that God offers and then turn around and offer that same grace to those around us.

Grace brings life while law brings death.

Grace brings renewal while law brings decay.

Grace brings forgiveness while law brings judgmentalism.

Grace brings unity while law brings division.

If we want to build community, bring restoration, and begin transformation, we must extend grace.

Will some take advantage of it? Absolutely.

But I would rather love someone until their heart breaks than extend judgment until their heart hardens. I would rather love them into surrender than guilt them into submission.

If we're honest, the hardest part of extending grace to those around us isn't extending love, it's acknowledging that we are not God. Giving grace forces us to look into the mirror and admit that we are just as sinful as those around us. But maybe that kind of confessional, broken attitude is the soil that allows the Kingdom to flourish.

shine!

Jason

The real treat is to give

Yesterday, Michelle, Matthew and I spent a few hours handing out candy at my office for the Downtown Sandusky Trick-or-Treat. In the course of those two hours we gave away over 200 candy bars.

While I enjoyed seeing the smile on the children's faces and hearing "thank you" as they received their treat, one of the greatest joys of the day was watching my son.

For years, we have taken him trick-or-treating and he has gotten bags full of candy. He was the one saying thank you and receiving treats from generous people. But this time was dfifferent. He was the one giving the treats.

And what I noticed was that he seemed to find more joy in giving the candy than he had shown when he was the one carrying the bag gathering goodies. It was a reminder of something I have seen in many people's lives over the years. Giving brings more joy than receiving.

This is one of the principles of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom built on giving.

When Paul was about to leave after visiting with the elders in Ephesus, a city where he had spent a significant time during his ministry, he spoke these words...

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:32-35 NIV)

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

This wasn't just a catchy slogan for Jesus, or Paul for that matter; it was a way of life. Jesus came into the world, giving up so much to be with us. Paul described it this way: (Jesus), being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV)

But Jesus did not give all of this up simply so we could be blessed. He blessed us so that we in turn could bless others. We are meant to be conduits of God's grace, not recepticals. We are rivers, not ponds.

Think about a pond you might find out in the woods. The water is stale and stationary, filled with green muck and  little sign of life. A river is alive, flowing clean water brimming with life.

God has always intended for us to be rivers of grace and mercy. When he first called Abram, God spoke these words to the man who would be the launching point of his plan to redeem Creation...

“I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3 NIV)

God has always intended for us to give, and that is the richest blessing.

My experience has been that those who only allow themselves to be recepticals of God's grace are the ones whose faith is stale and those who are conduits have a faith that is living and active. The reality is that most, ok all of us, are somewhere in between.

In a society that tells us it is more blessed to receive, me must always remember that the truest blessings, the ones that bring real peace and fulfillment, are found in giving. This is a principle I was reminded of yesterday watching my son smile, laugh, and experience joy as he freely gave away hundreds of candy bars.

shine!

Jason

What's in your prayer?

Last night at our prayer team meeting at church, we were Dwelling in the Word as we considered the following passage:

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“ ‘Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord

and against his anointed one. ’

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Acts 4:23-35 NIV)

As our group shared what captured their attention, several powerful ideas surfaced. One of these was that in the midst of persecution, difficulty, and trials, this group didn't pray for God to stop what was happening to them. Rather, they prayed for boldness.

There was no prayer that God would stop the persecution. No prayer that God would strike down their enemies. They didn't ask God to take them out of the situation or make everything better.

Enable us to be bold. Bring about healing. That was their prayer.

What if more of our prayers sounded this way? What if we started praying for God to change us before asking God to change our circumstances? How would that change our witness? How could that impact the world?

I don't believe that means we never pray for God to intervene in our situation. I don't believe that makes it wrong to ask God to protect us from our enemies and those who persecute us. However, it challenges us to consider what we focus on when we pray.

I am convinced that prayer's primary purpose is to change us, not convince God. Prayer is communication between Almighty God and me, a sinner. The perfect Creator and the imperfect creation. That tells me I am the one that needs to change, not God.

Will God hear my pleas and respond? I believe he will and often does. But most of the time, God needs me to be transformed so I can be ambassador of the Kingdom in whatever situation I find myself. Usually, I don't need God to change my circumstances; I need God to change my heart and mind so I can represent him in the midst of those circumstances.

Maybe if I prayed like that, God could use me more effectively to bring about the renewal and restoration this world desparately needs. How about you?

shine!

Jason

Grace + Law = Love

What a weekend!

Friday morning, I gathered with several dozen men for Men's Fraternity as we continued exploring the idea of grace in our study entitled One Way Love. We wrestled with the tension between grace and law.

Starting Friday evening, I spent a little over twenty-four hours with 40+ middle school students. During that time, I had the opportunity to get to know some really cool teens. We played games, discussed life, sat in the cold, and I was reminded what it's like to drive a van full of boys in early adolescence. If you've never done that, I recommend you give it shot. ;-)

On Sunday morning, I was back at the church for worship and then served as a small group leader with the middle school students.

Sunday afternoon we gathered with some other Chapel folks for our second session of Foundations: Serve, a 7-week class that helps us examine our spiritual gifts and how we can serve in the Kingdom.

The weekend wrapped up on Sunday evening with the Mission Impact Team, where we heard about a number of missional initiatives and a presentation from a missionary who is translating the Bible into a regional language in Mexico.

I am absolutely exhausted and completely uplifted, wondering how one can feel simultaneously drained and filled to the brim.

As I reflect on the weekend, my head is spinning. What does it mean to be in community? How do we live that out? What does it mean to be the church? Here are a few reflections...

Lead with grace

Whether we are dealing with those in the church or outside the church, we must always lead with grace. God did not come to us demanding perfection before offering forgiveness. As the apostle Paul wrote, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8 NIV)

If Christ died for us while we were still sinners, who am I to demand anyone else measure up to God's standard before I extend grace to them?

I believe one of the main reasons that so many people have a bad taste in their mouth when it comes to church is because Christians so often lead with law, not grace. We judge behavior and demand certain standards before we offer grace.

Look to the law

At the same time, we can't ignore the law. It is there for a reason. Paul wrote, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." (Romans 3:20 NIV)

Following the law will never earn us anything, but looking into the law will reveal what we need to change. The law is meant to challenge those of us who have a relationship with God; it is not meant to be used as a weapon against those outside the church. Paul said it this way: "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?" (1 Corinthians 5:12 NIV)

Followers of Christ cannot ignore the law, but neither can they obey the law to find favor with God or people. Which leads to my last observation.

Love with abandon

In a world where so many people are trying to earn their value and worth, Christians must be people who are first and foremost known for their love. Jesus came into the world and loved the unlovable. He ate at the home of a hated tax collector. He welcomed the prostitute. He offered mercy to the woman caught in adultery. To those who were outsiders, he offered an invitation and open arms.

Lead with grace. Look to the law. Love with abandon. When we allow the grace of God to provide us assurance and the law of God to offer guidance, then the love of God will flow through us into a world that is desperately in need of unconditional love. And isn't that what the gospel is really all about?

shine

Jason