When I was a kid I loved country music. Please don't stop reading...stick with me! ;) I would listen and sing along to the radio and there were several artists and songs that I heard all the time. One of those songs was "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything" by Aaron Tippin. That is a common phrase and you've probably heard that phrase before and maybe even that song. It seems that some Christians in their zeal to change the world have changed that phrase a bit. "You've got to stand against everything or you'll fall for something." It is sad really. The sentiment that I'm seeing from social media and different authors seems to be based more on fear and human can-doness or human failure than the courage, wisdom, power, strength, mercy, grace, and love of Christ. We feel that if we allow even the littlest sin to creep into our worship assembly or heaven forbid our membership that the entire company of people will turn bad and have corrupted morals. And so, due to fear we stand on the steps of our church replacing handshakes with stiff-arms, parking lot attendants with parking guards, words of welcome with papers of recommendation. First of all, FEAR is NOT from the Lord. Second, sinless humans never enter your building, but maybe a good facade of one. Third, there is a time to teach ethical, moral teaching and against sin, but it may not be at the beginning. Let's chase this down for a second
To begin our brief conversation about fear, read these scriptures. If you are someone who struggles with fear, read ROMANS 8 (the entire chapter). Read it and reread it until it becomes part of you. God is in control. God is the hero. God loves us. God will take care of us. God is for us. Any message other than this is not from God!
Fear is wisdom and this is the kind of fear that shows reverence to God and trusts in him. I love Proverbs 8 below that explains fear and wisdom. We should not be driven to fear in order to accomplish Christ. Christ didn't die so we could come to him like a dog that has been beaten into submission. Christ died so we could find true love in Him and want a better story for our lives.
Proverbs 9
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 8
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging
Fear is wisdom and this is the kind of fear that shows reverence to God and trusts in him. I love Proverbs 8 below that explains fear and wisdom. We should not be driven to fear in order to accomplish Christ. Christ didn't die so we could come to him like a dog that has been beaten into submission. Christ died so we could find true love in Him and want a better story for our lives.
Proverbs 9
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 8
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging
- 1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
What do you expect to find on Sunday mornings in your assembly? Probably what you usually find. I know for me that will most likely be those who already have at least a general knowledge of God, Jesus, and scripture and out of those most will have a deep knowledge and sense of those things plus church and most-likely been long-time church goers. Although I try to use language in my preaching and welcoming that is inviting to those that don't fit this definition above, I know that the majority of my audience is there every Sunday. There is nothing wrong with this, but sometimes we forget that just because there are folks who attend every Sunday and are really upstanding people and really love Jesus, they still have sin in their lives. And...that's...ok!
But some have begun to treat our worship assemblies as if they are some special club that only members can attend and in order to be a member in good standing you must be sinless. Exaggeration? maybe, but not too far off. And here is what happens in that kind of environment. Greeters feel like bouncers. Members seem fake or forced and suspicious. Elders become security guards. Preachers become bosses who cannot be pleased or the "sinless" one's self-help guru. And the guests/visitors who are looking for Jesus do not return. Because those looking for Jesus come to Him as they are...and let's face it that isn't the perfect. Of course if this type of church has done its due diligence (via website, media, word-of-mouth), guests won't ever be an issue.
But some have begun to treat our worship assemblies as if they are some special club that only members can attend and in order to be a member in good standing you must be sinless. Exaggeration? maybe, but not too far off. And here is what happens in that kind of environment. Greeters feel like bouncers. Members seem fake or forced and suspicious. Elders become security guards. Preachers become bosses who cannot be pleased or the "sinless" one's self-help guru. And the guests/visitors who are looking for Jesus do not return. Because those looking for Jesus come to Him as they are...and let's face it that isn't the perfect. Of course if this type of church has done its due diligence (via website, media, word-of-mouth), guests won't ever be an issue.
There is a time to stand against sin and teach ethical and moral behavior. There is a time to take a stance of grace and mercy for ALL to be truly welcomed!
The church should be a place of refuge for those who have been exiled by their own society. It should be accepting for all of those break our Christian norms and mores. It should be willing to open its arms even to those who run against God and His word.
The church should also be a place where those who believe and follow the way of Jesus can come to find rest, worship, celebrate, and deepen their discipleship. The church should be a place of encouragement for those who are already following Jesus. The church should be a place where we come in need of encouragement, lament, or celebration and we respond to God with worship. The church should be a place where we can continue our study of scripture, build relationships with God and with one another, and invest in studying and acting out true following of Christ....discipleship.
The church should evangelize (spread good news) by speaking to those who are in need of a better story with grace, mercy, compassion, and love. There is no need to condemn those living an openly public life of sin. You could never draw a bee by swatting at it. All it will do is attack and sting. But hold a flower and welcome that bee and it will come in peace. While we shouldn't welcome the atheist, the prostitute, the pornographer, the murderer, the greedy, the homosexual, or the burdened just so they can be our personal "Religious Makeover Contestant", we should be willing to extend love through conversation, non-judgmental friendship, food if they are hungry, and shelter if they are homeless, and justice for those wrongly treated. We build relationships simply for the sake of building a relationship, just like Jesus did with tax collectors and sinners. And unfortunately, because this is rare for a Christian to do, they will be compelled to Jesus because of your love and genuineness.
The time to teach how to behave as a Christian is once someone has proclaimed to be one and wants to follow God's way. The letters of Paul, that we love to quote against those sinners out in the world, are written to people who were in church. A church that was most-likely set up by Paul and attended by people who professed to be Jesus followers. When we claim to be the righteous, the royal priesthood, the members of THE WAY, then God is calling us to something more. Jesus invites all to God and the Holy Spirit will begin to convict us of the ways in which we should follow. So for those who stand on the corner and yell into their bullhorn and point their finger, lay down your self-righteous indignation and take those three fingers pointing back at you and share the message of reconciliation with your church. Reconcile yourselves back to God through behavior that makes him rejoice and use the love and grace that God has given you as inspiration for how to treat the world.
The world is watching God's people and in many ways are left wanting. God doesn't disappoint, so we should share a message that doesn't disappoint either.
It is time to go against the grain and not simply shout what we are against, but lovingly welcome EVERYONE to THE ONE who went against the Grain so that we might ALL be saved!
We want to present the TRUTH to the church and to the world (general term for those not Christian).
TRUTH is not only the sin that so easily entangles.
TRUTH is also the grace and love that breaks down the walls of hostility and reconciles ALL to God the Father of ALL, to Jesus the Savior of ALL, And to the Holy Spirit the Counselor for ALL.
The church should be a place of refuge for those who have been exiled by their own society. It should be accepting for all of those break our Christian norms and mores. It should be willing to open its arms even to those who run against God and His word.
The church should also be a place where those who believe and follow the way of Jesus can come to find rest, worship, celebrate, and deepen their discipleship. The church should be a place of encouragement for those who are already following Jesus. The church should be a place where we come in need of encouragement, lament, or celebration and we respond to God with worship. The church should be a place where we can continue our study of scripture, build relationships with God and with one another, and invest in studying and acting out true following of Christ....discipleship.
The church should evangelize (spread good news) by speaking to those who are in need of a better story with grace, mercy, compassion, and love. There is no need to condemn those living an openly public life of sin. You could never draw a bee by swatting at it. All it will do is attack and sting. But hold a flower and welcome that bee and it will come in peace. While we shouldn't welcome the atheist, the prostitute, the pornographer, the murderer, the greedy, the homosexual, or the burdened just so they can be our personal "Religious Makeover Contestant", we should be willing to extend love through conversation, non-judgmental friendship, food if they are hungry, and shelter if they are homeless, and justice for those wrongly treated. We build relationships simply for the sake of building a relationship, just like Jesus did with tax collectors and sinners. And unfortunately, because this is rare for a Christian to do, they will be compelled to Jesus because of your love and genuineness.
The time to teach how to behave as a Christian is once someone has proclaimed to be one and wants to follow God's way. The letters of Paul, that we love to quote against those sinners out in the world, are written to people who were in church. A church that was most-likely set up by Paul and attended by people who professed to be Jesus followers. When we claim to be the righteous, the royal priesthood, the members of THE WAY, then God is calling us to something more. Jesus invites all to God and the Holy Spirit will begin to convict us of the ways in which we should follow. So for those who stand on the corner and yell into their bullhorn and point their finger, lay down your self-righteous indignation and take those three fingers pointing back at you and share the message of reconciliation with your church. Reconcile yourselves back to God through behavior that makes him rejoice and use the love and grace that God has given you as inspiration for how to treat the world.
The world is watching God's people and in many ways are left wanting. God doesn't disappoint, so we should share a message that doesn't disappoint either.
It is time to go against the grain and not simply shout what we are against, but lovingly welcome EVERYONE to THE ONE who went against the Grain so that we might ALL be saved!
We want to present the TRUTH to the church and to the world (general term for those not Christian).
TRUTH is not only the sin that so easily entangles.
TRUTH is also the grace and love that breaks down the walls of hostility and reconciles ALL to God the Father of ALL, to Jesus the Savior of ALL, And to the Holy Spirit the Counselor for ALL.
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