Red Letter Reflections

Waiting on the God Who is Faithful

2012-01-27T16:45:00.001-08:00

The other night I was able to visit a church that is close to my heart and that I hadn’t visited in quite some time. It was a Wednesday night prayer service (the most important service of the week), and I was in desperate need of fellowship with Jesus. All throughout the service I felt Him drawing me closer, but it was one of those experiences with Him that still felt incomplete all the while, like He was leading up to showing me something.

It wasn’t long before I found out what it was.

In the midst of a great set of songs, one of the pastors came forward and gave a few words of encouragement in prayer. He said a lot of great stuff (from which I’m sure everyone in the room was encouraged or convicted by the Lord), but eventually he came to a point that struck me most.

It was one of those “some of us in this room need to hear this” statements that I so often ignore. It was also a simple statement; almost cliché, really: “Wait.”

Now, it doesn’t matter where I am in my life, year, month, week, day, or hour: I have an unfortunately strongly inclination to rush myself around. This has been something the Lord has been teaching me about for years, but a few days ago He spoke it so clearly that I had to stop.

“Wait.”

Yes, a man can make many plans, pleasing to God or not, but the Lord is in control. Take a moment to acknowledge that. If you’re in control, there’s a problem. This isn’t a statement about free will. This isn’t a statement about any of that. It’s a statement of humility and faith: “Wait.”

You know that financial issue – whatever it might be - that’s frustrating you? Wait.

You know that non-believing friend you’ve been praying so fervently for? Wait.

You know that friendship you’ve wanted so badly to restore? Wait.

Some of us need to hear this. I know I do. And these last couple of days I can’t stop thanking God for speaking it to me.

That night He also showed me a very clear picture of His faithfulness. He showed me time after time in my life during which He was with me, surrounding me, even when I didn’t even know Him.

God is faithful; we can trust Him. You’d think we’d have that nailed by now (not), but it’s clear we need a daily reminder. So – and I don’t care how many times you’ve heard it before – take a moment to stop, listen, rest, and wait.

(Matthew 11:28-30, Proverbs 16:9, Psalm 86:15, Jeremiah 29:11)

Satisfaction in Christ

2012-01-04T00:21:00.000-08:00

How much are our earthly relationships worth?

More than we know.

How about in the context of our relationship with Jesus Christ?

I have seen so many people become utterly addicted to those around them, caught up in an endless drama in which they are the star and their friends the co-stars. That is the result of an attempt (conscious or not) at changing the list of priorities Jesus gave us in Matthew 22 when he summed up the Law that the Jews had so religiously strived to conquer. I’m guilty of it, too, no question about it. I just thought a little reminder wouldn’t hurt us to love God first, and to then love people. The Source is everything.

Yes, love trusts, but we should also use our mental strength to balance and prioritize correctly; we should not be flippant about our dealings with our fellow men and women, nor should we be about God. Our identity should not ever lie in earthly relationships (even when they are supported by an eternal connection in Christ).

So allow me to make a simple statement: If we can’t say with certainty that our relationship (there it is) with the Almighty God of the universe is more than enough for us, then we’ve got a real problem on our hands. I’m convinced of it. Let’s not put our hope in men the way we put our hope in Him. Let’s not put our hope in God the way we put our hope in men. We were made for community, yes, but that discussion is different than this one, not opposing to it.

The love of God is fierce. That’s not just artsy, modern wording used by famous songwriters of our day to get people excited. That is biblical truth, made clear to us in His Word; He loves us fiercely. Let’s not forget it. Let's remember it. Let’s practice it. Then we can be satisfied.

Religion vs. Relationship - Thoughts on the classic contrast

2012-01-02T22:51:00.000-08:00

Religion vs. Relationship. This (now classic) contrast, referenced by countless Christian pastors and teachers today in message after message and sermon after sermon, is almost always used to demonstrate the superiority of the latter. Do I find this contrast appropriate for teaching in the Church – that is, the Body of Christ? Absolutely. No human teaching is perfect, of course, but to be quite honest, from my experience this way of thinking has done much, much more good than bad. However, as it grows into a cliché in the minds of many, I find it necessary to say a few words regarding just what the contrast should mean to us.

The initial problem, I find, lies in where the contrast leaves religion. In building up the personal aspects of the Christian faith that set it apart from all other belief systems, the very notion of what we call “religion” is carelessly thrown to the wind and abandoned as if it were evil. The solution, I find, lies in prioritizing the two properly – without abandoning either.

I should say here that, yes, I am one of those believers who often finds what the world calls “religion” to be repulsive and misrepresentative of a vibrant, living faith in Jesus Christ, Who is the center of a truly abundant life. But I also understand that we must not leave behind the strong exhortations throughout His Word concerning “religious” things, as long as they are in their proper place.

First, a couple of definitions/connections should be established to be clear. In order to approach this with biblical language, I want to pull out two words also related in a similar way: “faith” and “works.” For our purposes, I define the relationship in the classic contrast above as faith. And for our purposes, I define religion in the contrast above as works. I hope those connections make sense to you; if you disagree with that system, I apologize, but you’ll have quite some trouble moving on any further.

With that out of the way, consider this: In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul says “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Yet in James 2, we find statement after statement teaching us that “faith without works is dead.” (All emphasis is mine.)

The Bible is not contradicting itself, of course.

Now, there are a lot of places we could go with this, but I’m going to cut right to a more specific look at James 2. In verse 14, James asks “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” You may disagree with my answers, or you may not, but I’d like to ask a couple of clarifying questions concerning this verse: Couldn’t James really be saying that a true faith in Jesus Christ will generate works that affirm it? Is it possible that these “deeds” (or works) are simply being presented here as the sign of a healthy faith from the outset?

I think yes.

It is my hope that I have not lost you, for whatever reason, at this point. What I mean to show here is the idea that the two go hand in hand. True, faith must come first to help give works meaning (something that many Christian groups or denominations need to emphasize much more), but works must come after to help give faith meaning (also needing more emphasis elsewhere). Works alone can never generate the kind of faith that leads to salvation. Thus, religion alone is empty. At the same time, James teaches us that true faith simply cannot remain alive and strong without works (acts of worship, if you ask me) actively affirming it and helping to grow it. Thus, the relationship on its own becomes stagnant.

However, to go just a bit further, we must ask another question – a question that is at the root of all of this: What are “works,” really? That is a conversation that (like most others) could easily go on and on. But let me offer a possible answer to close all of this for now. First, look at Colossians 3:17. In this passage, Paul exhorts us to “do [everything] in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Of course, giving to the poor is a work that can reflect a healthy faith. Encouraging the weak-hearted can naturally give a tangible glimpse of one’s faith. However, aren’t we clearly called in the passage above to dedicate everything – every last conversation, thought, and effort – to Him and His Name? And is it too much to call this “worship?” And one more thing. Matthew 25:35-40 shows us how these “works” done for each other and for those in the world around us are also personal actions done for Him. And there you see the ever-important concept of relationship tie all of this together.

Before officially closing this first post, I would like to use this paragraph to say something from my own heart and mind concerning all of this, without referencing anything or anyone else specifically. It is my firm belief that the relationship with Jesus Christ, the God of the universe, should be the occupation of our hearts as believers. If you were to ask me if I lean more towards "relationship" or more towards "religion," I would have no choice but to admit a leaning towards relationship. Empty religion has a hold on far more than does empty relationship. Seek Him. Talk to Him. Let Him love you, and learn to love Him back. To me, that is the center of what we call the Christian faith -- not works of any kind, be them godly or ungodly.

As long as we recognize the incredible grace of God, shown in Jesus Christ, and the power of faith in His Name, I think we’ll be quite freed up enough to learn to love and follow Him more without the hollow – yet surprisingly heavy – baggage of empty living.

The New Year

2012-01-02T00:46:00.000-08:00

Well, it's a new year - 2012, to be exact - and how appropriate it is that this is the day (or rather yesterday was the day) to get started on this blog. For this first post, let it be established that the following thoughts and ideas posted are for not only stimulating other minds but for stimulating and growing my own. Whether or not anyone besides myself will ever visit this page I do not know, but I do know that some thoughts are too important to be kept locked up in a mind. It is my prayer that at least some such thoughts make it onto this blog, if only for my own sake as an organized thinker, and might even be used in some way by, and for, anyone who happens upon them.
-john
Colossians 3:17