“Just Live it” Series – Being in the World

Do not Hide your Light

On March 1, 2009 I shared my heart in a sermon regarding being in the world, but not of it and what that really means.  My premise is that too many Christians have missed that fact that Christ’s mission was to the non-believer and that he was effective because (well other than being God) He engaged people and built relationships. 

The church of today is far too content to “play church” on Sunday morning and to turn their nose up against those who don’t believe; forgetting that the only difference in some of us is that we yielding to the call.  I am the chief sinner amoung you and I struggle every day with religion.  Organized Church has become the land of the Pharisee and not refuge for the broken sinner.  We must stop play-acting for our Church friends to the exclusion of the rest of the world.  Life-style evanglism is the most effective tool we have go show Christ’s love.  Not yelling from street corners, not rebuking young scared girls in front of clients, not “preaching” hatred against our elected officials.  We are called to be more Christ like.  Read the references in the slide to see how Christ engaged the “sinners’.   BTW:  We are all sinners….

One of our first steps is to know when to take a stand. This video clip is a great introduction to not being afraid of “man”, but in being a “light to the world”, even when it’s not comfortable.

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Here are my slides and references from the sermon:

A Foolish Optimist

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Misconceptions

On March 4th, 1933 President Franklin Roosevelt delivered his infamous “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” speech. One of the sentences from that oratory, that has always stuck with me is “Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.” I’ve remembered it, because many a time, in life I’ve heard Christian speakers deliver messages about how the darkness can not overtake the believer. This message, as with many others, simply isn’t true. Christians can be overtaken by a moment – we’re human; and our faith even as strong as it maybe, still does not take away our humanity. I’ve experienced both the despair of darkness and the depression of feeling I’ve failed my Lord, by being in despair. It’s taken me years to realize that bad things do happen to people, and not because we’re in bad relationship with God. It’s life and because of the depravity of man, it has times of sorrow. How we respond is the real question.

Philippians 3:8
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

I wish that I could reach this level of consciousness. I strive to reach a juncture where the knowledge of Christ is so overwhelming that no matter the circumstance I have peace.

My Confession

In Graham Green’s book “The Legend of Peguy”; a Priest responds to a Frenchman with “You can’t conceive, my child, nor can I or anyone — the . . . appalling . . . strangeness of the mercy of God.” I’ve been part of great debates about pre-destination or not. I’ve heard convincing rhetoric about why God allows things to happen. None of these diatribes have greatly influenced me, when the nightmares occur. But this one point, has brought me great understanding: There is always someone worse off…there is always a situation worse than my own. Typically speaking, my difficult times are my own doing. For those remote times when difficult times occur, I am forced to remember that I have never been stoned for my beliefs, I have not had to watch my children executed in front of me, I have not had a child die in my arms because of hunger. I have not had to live in a box, or beg for money on a street corner. I have no idea how I will respond if those situations were to occur, but I know that in my pampered state in this civilization; I’ll be sure to blame someone else….maybe even God. This is my confession – I am striving, but have not obtained the faith of those who sang in the prison before their execution and rejoiced in death. I desire that, I do. I know that I can stand against peers, but that has been the height of my test. My convictions are stronger than most, but God doesn’t judge our hearts against others – does He?

I am Thankful

I am ever thankful that He has not challenged me with more than I’ve been able to bare. I am thankful for amazing family, the blessing He has given and the knowledge of who He is. I am frustrated that so many Christians are made to feel inadequate for failing in this area. God has more than enough grace to cover our fret and fear.

Matthew 6:25 and 26

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

I love this scripture. The same grace that comforts us, died for us and forgives us. I’ll keep striving for peace while giving grace for those who are also continuing in the same struggles.

The Vision

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Foundation

The World changes, but God does not change. Our techniques and venues for communication changes, but God does not change. The traditions and theology of man sometimes fails and changes, but God does not change.

Purpose

The Vision of the Tribe is to be able to share Christ’s word in a meaningful way, using today’s technology. The plan is to use social media to communicate with individuals using today’s tools. We desire to be practical in our approach of sharing The Word. We want to bring together Men and Women of God with a heart to learn and share. Its the hope that the Tribe will grow a cadre of writers and readers with similar passions to write, read and create open dialogue about beliefs and the changing world.

Direction

God is alive and has not changed; but the altered and evolving World-View has continued to find it’s way into the Christian culture. It has allowed varied interpretations of scripture to make people feel warm, happy and entertained; without really challenging us. Christ is passionate about going after our hearts, there’s a battle for that ground and thus the Christian walk is not always easy.

Deuteronomy 12 is God’s Vision; that is casted to create the idea of where His people should be dwelling within the promised land.

Deuteronomy 12:5 “But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place.

This scripture encompasses our desire to seek God in the place where He chooses as a central location. The gift of Christ isn’t limited to an individual tribe; but for whomever He chooses. The emerging generation of believers desire to answer call of Christ. Christ is a warrior fighting for our hearts. He is passionate to the point of death. My desire is to answer that passion and allow Him to dwell where He wishes!