The Radical Christian Center!

I know I've posted on this topic before, but God has put it on my mind a lot lately, and Dr. Olsen preached on it in chapel today.

The pendulum in Christianity is constantly swinging back and forth. A group of Christians will become upset about the lack of Holiness among another groups of Christians, so they will go in the opposite direction and become extremely focused on rules. Then the people who get upset about the legalism this creates, go in the opposite direction and they become very liberal.

We should pursue the radical center of what God's word directs us to do...nothing more, nothing less.

As far as separation goes...we have our focus all wrong on this, usually. Dr. Olsen says our doctrine of separation should "be defined by what we are separated to [God], not what we are separated from." So many churches these days are so focussed on separation, and who they need to separate from, that they completely disregard all the verses that talk about unity among Christians. We're good at separation, because it appeals to our fleshly desire to hurt those around us. This sounds harsh...but in reality, it is true. It takes less energy on our part to separate, than it takes to genuinely go to someone in love, and try to figure out why they are doing what they are doing. We are so divisive, and condemning. A decision to separate should be made with much prayer, and many questions should be asked before separation happens. Don't just assume because everyone else is separating from someone else, that that means we should...we Christians are far too "bandwagon" when it comes to separation.

Allow me to address something else that Dr. Olsen talked about today that is related to these things I have talked about.

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
I Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)

We take this command to be Holy in two directions normally. You have the liberal side who take this command, and disregard it because they say "I'm not under the law, but under grace."

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?  Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?  Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
Romans 6:1-4 (NLT)

This passage condemns such a practice. We should not use the grace given to us to make us sin all the more. This is sinful and of the flesh!

The other tendency is for us to become self-righteous when we hear this command to be Holy. This is just as bad, because this is of the flesh as well! And it's easy to fall into this trap and stay there, because it feels so right to us. We feel spiritual when we fix up our outside. But we can become self-righteous and have a heart that is so far from God.

We as Christians must pursue the radical center!

How do we do this? I've talked about this before too...pursue God. Pursue a right relationship with Him...seek to know and understand Him better! This renewing of our mind to think on our Holy God will clean us from the inside, and then when we change our outward actions because of this...it will be for the right reasons. It will be because we realize that those fleshly things are displeasing to Him...we won't be doing it because it pleases man...

We complicate our Christianity so much...because our flesh tells us that we need to "do!" We need to step back and let God "do!" When we let Him truly work in our lives, and in our hearts...He will do the cleaning of our lives that needs to be done!

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

by:  Stuart Townend

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Charity Rose Richards

All of my followers who know me on Facebook already know this, but yesterday I started a relationship with the girl whose name is the title of this post. She's a fellow Ohioan, which makes her pretty legit. We've been "friends" since soon after school started, and have had a lot of fun together, and I look forward to what God has in store for us ahead.

Please be praying for us, as we embark on this journey. Where will it lead us? I don't think either of us knows...but if y'all could be praying for us, that we put God first, I would appreciate it!

The Lost Prince

Completely overwhelmed...

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 

 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:1-9

Yesterday in chapel, Dr. Olson was talking about how he's always hearing Christians say that Christianity is all about the Gospel, and then he hears other Christians arguing back that it isn't all about the gospel.  He argued that he can see the point on both sides.  The Christians who say it's all about the gospel are wanting us to always remember the grace that saved us...and the Christians on the other side say it's more than just about the gospel, because they say that it's about growing in Christ also, after we accept Christ.

In reality...they're both right.  Christianity is about growing in Christ, but we should NEVER get over the grace that Christ extended to us in our salvation.  The minute we do, we are in danger of letting our Christianity become cold, and robotic...

I love this passage of scripture that I posted at the top.  Notice how I separated it into two passages.  Verses 1-3 talk about where we were before salvation.  We were dead in our sins...living our lives under the power of the devil...fulfilling the desires of our flesh...slaves to our lustful passions, and sin...living just like the rest of the world...

What follows, in the next paragraph is where our hope lies..."But God..."...I love this...we know that what follows is the exception...all these enslaving sins follow before it..."But God..."...loved us...and offered us grace. He reached down to us in our sins, and loved us.  I picture myself as this broken person...fallen down at His feet in shame...realizing that I am so far below Him...and yet he reached down to me in love and lifted me up to His side.  Why?  Why would He love me, and save me...a sinner?  I could do nothing to save myself...but God...

We as Christians should never lose sight of the grace that saved us...for it is what keeps us humble, and constrains us to love Him, and live for Him...

Prayer Request...

A great friend from my church back home is going through some difficulties with her pregnancy, and she has recently started a blog about the situation.  To go to her blog, click here.

She could really use a lot of prayer, but you can tell when you read her blog, that God is giving her the grace to see this through.

Your Grace Still Amazes Me

by:  Phillips, Craig, and Dean.

My faithful Father, enduring Friend
Your tender mercy’s like a river with no end
It overwhelms me, covers my sin
Each time I come into Your presence
I stand in wonder once again

Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
‘Cause Your grace still amazes me 

Your grace still amazes me 

Oh, patient Saviour, You make me whole
You are the Author and the Healer of my soul
What can I give You, Lord, what can I say
I know there’s no way to repay You
Only to offer You my praise

It’s deeper, it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
It’s deeper it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
Than anything my eyes can see


Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
‘Cause Your grace still amazes me 

Your grace still amazes me 

I made a video for this song on vimeo...check it out by clicking here.



*

This is the gospel. The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent his Son, God in the flesh, to bear his wrath against sin on the cross and to show his power over sin in the Resurrection so that all who trust in him will be reconciled to God forever.
-David Platt in "Radical" pg. 36

Pics of my Niece and Nephew...

I just got these pics in the mail today!

My Nephew Connor

My Nephew Connor and my Niece Joanna

My Niece Joanna

My Nephew Connor

30 Day Challenge: Day 30

Your favorite song

I have lots of songs that I really like...so it's hard for me to pick just one...but there's one song that has been a real blessing to me lately that I want to share.

The First Place

Jesus, the perfect picture of the unseen God
Maker of things we cannot comprehend.
Wisdom, the earth displays Your strength and beauty.
Sovereign, yes, every throne knows You are God.

Chorus
Every inch of this universe belongs to You, O Christ.
For through You and for You it was made.
Your creation endures by the order of Your hand.
So You must have in all things the first place.

Victor, over sin and death You triumphed.
Firstborn, You’ve shown us life beyond the grave.
Bridegroom, we long for You in expectation.
Jesus, Your church rejoices to proclaim.

© 1999 Matthew Westerholm

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

Day 10- Songs you listen to the most (if you have iTunes, list the songs on your top 25 most played list)

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends

Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

Day 13- A letter to someone who has been an inspiration to you

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

Day 16- Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Day 17- Someone (past or present) you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

Day 24- A letter to your parents

Day 25- What I would find in your bag/backpack

Day 26- What you think about your friends

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned

Day 30- Your favorite song.