faith alone?

So, I was looking up a couple comedy routines by this guy Brian Regan.  If you have never heard Brian’s stuff, he is incredibly funny, especially when you are able to watch him perform.  As I was wasting a few minutes on youtube, I saw in the ‘recommendations’ section a comedian who had a high number of views and decided to check him out. 

At one point during his routine, he began to share about why he was a Christian and this is what I heard him (and many other people over the years) say about his faith: ‘The thing I like about being a Christian is the only thing you have to do is have faith… That’s it!  All these other religions and belief systems have a bunch of rules and regulations.  Not Christianity.  All I do is believe, I’m saved, and that’s it.  An idiot can do that.”

And while that may sound nice, I find his words and beliefs to be thoroughly unbiblical.  If we take an honest look at the life and teachings of our Lord, how much time did Jesus spend teaching the disciples and other ‘sinners’ how they ought to live?  Never once did Jesus ever tell people that all they had to do is ‘believe.’ If how we spent our time here on earth mattered so little, than why did our Lord spent a vast majority of his time teaching people what the Kingdom of God was like?  Why did Jesus address complex life issues on his Sermon on the Mount?  Some may be quick to quote Paul, such as Romans 10:9 that says, "If you confess with your mouth that 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  Whenever Paul or Jesus for that matter spoke of faith, it was always a faith that was accompanied by devoted action.  

Let us affirm and attest that Jesus Christ is Lord.  But God forbid we stop there.  Let us hear the words of our Lord and seek to walk in the footsteps of our rabbi in all that we say and do. 

the greatest obstacle to following Jesus

I recently had the opportunity to attend a great conference called 'Sentralized' in Olathe, KS a few weeks back that focused what it looks like for the Church to be a missional people. There were several speakers at the conference that I learned a great deal from.  One of the keynote speakers, Michael Frost, challenged people to 'listen to the heartbeat of your city' in order to find out how to be the hands and feet of Christ to them.  He went on to say that we must really know the inhabitants of our community in order to effectively minister to them and we must listen to their cries.

Here is my issue.  I understand what Michael Frost was getting at.  We must have listening ears and hearts in order to properly and effectively do the work of the Kingdom in our communities.  You don't start an 'Obesity Recovery Club' in a village that is starving nor do you offer English speaking classes for Japanese people in a town that is 70% Caucasian and 30% Spanish.  Listening with a prayerful heart is essential.

But what if the greatest desires, wants, and 'needs' of my community is a flat-screen to replace their 'old tv' from 2005?  What if what people desire most is a better car than the one they already have now?  A job that pays better so they can afford to go out to eat more and to support an excessive lifestyle?  Someone to repave their driveway so it looks as good as they neighbors new driveway across the street?

I hope my point is coming across.  What does ministry look like to a community and a people whose greatest desire to get more and have more than what they already have?  What does ministry look like to those who have been fully baptized into a lifestyle of consumption, comfort, and getting everything we want?


Before I go on, I thank God that I was not struck dead as I typed those last words.  I see the signs of consumerism in my own heart on a daily basis and I must bring that before the Lord in repentance regularly.

Alan Hirsch makes a great point in his book 'The Forgotten Ways' by saying the greatest obstacle in the Western Church when it comes to following Jesus is not Islam, Eastern Religions, New Age Spirituality, or whatnot.  Instead, the greatest obstacle is consumerism: the belief and desire that life is all about doing me and getting mine.  Consumerism preaches instant gratification and immediate results whereas the way of Jesus is found in pouring one's life out in servant love to one's brother and sister.  It is in the daily surrendering of one's own selfishness and asking God to renew our hearts to look more like that of our Lords.  It is the complete opposite of the consumer mindset.  The text that continually comes to mind is the descent of our Lord spoken of in Philippians 2.  We serve one who being in the very nature God made himself nothing (2:5-11).

So, what does ministry look like to those who have become entrapped in the ideology of consumerism?  

thoughts on the glbtq conversation

"The unexamined life is not worth living."  -Socrates-  I think any person that desires to walk faithfully in the footsteps of Christ must regularly and continually reexamine how they are living and pray that God would help them to live faithfully.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to join in some amazing conversation with some fellow believers about what it looks like to minister to those who are either gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning their sexuality.  As I mentioned in a previous post a ways back, when 1,000 non-believers were asked to use 3 words to describe the Western Church, the number one response was 'anti-gay.'  Now, if we as a Church are to be the 'Body of Christ' to the world, shouldn't the words people use to describe the Church overlap with the same words they would use to describe Jesus?  If those same people were asked to give one or two words to describe Jesus, I am sure we would hear words like: loving, merciful, welcoming, compassionate, etc.  How many examples do we see in scripture of Jesus exercising his greatest expressions of love and grace to those whom the community had damned as the worst of sinners while at the same time, Jesus reserved his greatest anger for those who already claimed to have already 'gotten it.'

With that said, I do not understand homosexuality much at all, simply because I cannot relate to it.  I don't know what it is like to grow up attracted to other guys.  My guess is that it is extremely frustrating being told that your natural emotions and inclinations are morally wrong.

Do I believe that homosexuality was a part of God's original plan?  No, I don't.  I believe the science behind how homosexuality has gradually arisen among humanity is far beyond my mind and comprehension.  However, if I did have to throw out a guess, I would say the recipe includes human sin over thousands of years.  Never underestimate humanities ability to take something good and jack it up.

So, what is the role of believers in regards to the glbtq community?  I say that we simply look towards the life and teachings of Christ as our primary model.  Instead of looking at someone and labeling them with their sin, we must first look into the eyes of every person and be reminded that they are first and foremost a creation of God, which makes them good.  Instead of opening up your Bible in order to read a passage regarding sexual immorality, perhaps you should look at your own life first and realize that, just like the person standing in front of you, you are desperately in need of the same grace and mercy that they are.  Instead of you trying to preach to them and tell them how they are living in sin (just like every other believer that they have encountered in person, on the internet, tv, etc), consider loving and welcoming that person.  Surprise them with how you  love and affirm their humanity.  There may be a time in the future where through your friendship and the Holy Spirit that God delivers this person from their lifestyle.  On the other hand, that time may not come.  Either way, love the person in their brokenness because you are broken too.  

Final thoughts.  At the end of my life, I would rather err on the side of showing too much love, grace, and mercy to the homosexual, l, t, b, q(if that is even possible).  I would rather Jesus say to me, "Jason, you should have spoken up a little more in regards to their behavior ...." as oppose to Jesus saying, "I wish you treated them with more love and kindness."

being real

There is a group of about 8-10 men who meet at my church every Thursday for an hour around lunchtime to gather around God's Word.  Every guy in the room is either retired or works a blue collar job of some sorts.  There is no one in the room who would claim to have any specialized education in the area of theology, ministry, or the scriptures.  While they have been meeting for about three months in a room very close to my office, I had never joined them in their small group despite being invited.  Last Thursday, I decided that I would join the guys for their hour long study/conversation and can I also add that it was one of the most refreshing experiences I have had in awhile.

What was it that I enjoyed so much about this little band of brothers?  The men are quick to confess their utter need and dependence upon Christ.  There is no fluff, no smoke and mirrors that they use to somehow make it look like they have their crap together.  Prayer requests consist of help with meth and alcohol addictions.  I couldn’t help but think that Brennan Manning would thoroughly enjoy a group like this.  There is no ‘scholar’ among them that feels necessary to somehow exalt himself or let it be known that he is the ‘superior Christian’ among the group.

Don’t get me wrong; with a group like this, you will certainly come across some interesting theology and conclusions.  For example, this Thursday we read the entire book of Colossians and discussed its content in one hour… An impossible task.  And this is what I couldn’t help but wonder as the group was coming to a close: what would many of my seminary professors think about what took place in that small group setting?  Would they be disgusted at the lack of proper exegesis?  Would they be disappointed that I did not take more of an authoritative role among the group so I could correct false conclusions?  Would they be able to see that Jesus looks at a group of men like this and is so proud to see his sons seeking his face the only way they know how? 

I have a lot to learn from these men.