with devotion: PAUL

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not so original sin

"Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous." [Romans 5:18-19 NKJV]

I think that these verses crystallize Paul's thinking about the human condition and why people act badly. I think that, in his mind, he could not envision a God who created humans with the ability to do bad things. Many in the Bible felt this way. In Psalm 51 King David opined that he was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin his mother conceived him. The idea that humans are born bad is an ancient thought.

I am sad when I think of the original sin dogma. So much time thinking that humankind is born bad. So much focus on the need for divine forgiveness, atonement and salvation just because of an obtuse idea that we inherited sin, like a blood disease, from somebody in Genesis. I think that the whole thing might come from our need to shield God from some sort of blame for human mistakes, errors and atrocities.

In contrast, my opinion is what humankind needs was, and is, love. Loving neighbors makes a difference in the world. Loving our enemies, even our religious ones, has untapped potential to bring peace. I sometimes think that it is enough for me to equate God with love and love with God. All else feels inadequate and lacking. A God of love is really impossible to comprehend because love can only be experienced with the heart.

I still sense the presence of God in my life. It might be just misfiring neurons, but I hear him speak to me with a kindness that breaks me. With a love that sees me. In my darkest days, I sense his spirit encouraging me to hang in there and simply take another step. He speaks to me not of my mistakes or my failures. God under-girds me with a strength that I didn't know that I had. A power that seems to have its roots in goodness and not sin.

So. When I think about forgiveness these days it is more about my need for forgiveness from my neighbor and their need for my forgiveness. When I think of salvation my mind travels to how God has saved me from erroneous theology and harmful activities. I think of how he, each day, causes bad things to work for my good. I don't think of the cross as a blood atonement but as an example of laying down my life for my neighbor.

In the end, I think that humanity needs the gospel of resurrection more than the gospel of death. My thinking is that Jesus' death showed us the way of love and his resurrection showed us the power of love. It is hard to think this way. It is unorthodox and man, I really want to be orthodox. Yet sometimes we have to let go of ancient ideas. The world is not flat and sin is not inherited. God loves us just the way we are. Praise be to the Lord.

... this devotion is part of a series on my spiritual deconstruction. Click here to read more.

Don't Confuse God With Life

In October, 2009 I copied, with permission from my blogging friend Danny Simms, this beautiful post about disappointment. Enjoy the read. I will add a few comments after his thoughts.

When Phillip Yancey was writing his book Disappointment with God he interviewed a friend of his named Douglas. Douglas was a family man, a Christian leader and a trained psychotherapist. He had a lucrative practice but left it to work among the poorest of the poor in a large American city.

Sounds like a great guy, right? Surely everything will work out well for a guy like this!

Several years ago at a Pastor’s conference I heard Yancey tell about Douglas and how his life was going. As I recall the story, Douglas' wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer spread into her lungs. Her life was seriously threatened and a new series of treatment had started.

As this developed a drunken driver smashed into their family car head-on. Douglas's twelve-year-old daughter went through the windshield and was badly lacerated in the face.

At this same time Douglas was serving on the leadership board of his church. The group made a difficult decision to change the direction of a long standing ministry. Though the move was preceded by much prayer and deliberation, one of the deacons and a close friend of Douglas blamed him personally, angrily left the church, and told as many who would listen that it was all because of Douglas.

Yancey thought it was a natural fit to ask Douglas about being disappointed with God. "You know, Philip,” he said, “I don't think I've ever been disappointed with God." Yancey asked, "How can this be?"

His answer went something like this: "I learned a long time ago not to confuse God with life. Is life unfair? You bet. My life has been unfair. What has happened to my wife, what has happened to my daughter, the accusations within our church... it's all unfair. But I think God feels exactly the same way. I think He is grieved and hurt by the cancer, by what that drunk driver did, and by the breakdown of personal relationships as much as I am. But don't confuse God with life.”

Don't confuse God with life. That is a great insight.

There is a verse in Ezekiel where God tells us to consider three of His much loved people: Daniel, Noah and Job. They are specifically pointed out as being righteous. One of them spent the night with a bunch of lions. One of them lived through a huge flood that killed thousands of people. And then, of course, there's Job. He is the greatest example of unfairness in the Bible. Yet when God looks at those people, He says these are three of my favorites.

All three of them—Daniel, Noah, Job—and many others, including many of the people who wrote the Psalms—learned to have a relationship with God that didn't depend on how healthy they were or how many people applauded them and how well their lives were going.

As for me, when I focus on how life is going I can easily come down with a bad case of “woe as me.” I am much better off when I focus on how God is going.

I have struggled with enduring hardship several times in my life.. my first wife was blind for three years in my early 20s and was was healed of that blindness in 1975.. my heart broke when she passed away at age 43 in 1994. My second wife Ann has struggled with a crippling neurological disease since 2002 and I deal with painful arthritic wrists and ankles.

In all this I have discovered that Douglas' perspective is the only one that helps me live a productive life. When hard stuff comes I have not found it helpful to blame God for the difficulties. I have found that having that kind of attitude only makes me bitter. What Douglas says is true.. God is right along side of us in our pain.. He is touched by our sadness.. and our tears do not go unnoticed.

So when bad times come take Douglas' advice - don't confuse God with life.

Unbearable Sorrow

I want to share a bit on a topic that has been on my mind since I read a post that my friend Jill Hollis wrote about her gut-wrenching battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Here is an excerpt from her post:

"I believe that this life is full of the unbearable. Often unimaginable heartbreaking pain and suffering."
Reminds me of this line from The Impossible Dream, that beautiful anthem from Man of La Mancha:

"To bear with unbearable sorrow. And to run where the brave dare not go"
The words take me back to that Intensive Care Unit where I, along with my two young children, watched my first wife breathe her last breaths. Sometimes our sorrow is so unbearable. Often life presents us with seemingly impossible circumstances. And sometimes it feels like God is not there.

But on that occasion. As Ellen was slipping off to a new life. A nurse walked in and asked if she could sing Amazing Grace. Ellen's favorite song. With tears rolling down our faces we witnessed the passing of our beloved wife and mom. The song made our sorrow a bit more bearable.

I don't really have any answers to the question of intense sorrow other than to say that life is often riddled with pain and suffering. But I think that in the midst of our pain God sometimes reveals Himself in unusual ways. I think of this verse from the book of Hebrews that speaks of angels:

"Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"

The word Greek word translated "angel" is sometimes translated "messenger". Perhaps that nurse with the beautiful voice was one of those messengers? Perhaps one of the purposes of angels, be they heavenly or earthly, is to help us bear the unbearable? Perhaps the admonition to bear one another's burdens or sorrows is a primary reason for our existence? Perhaps sorrow is unbearable without angels?

Thank you Lord for the angels in our lives.

- originally posted in September 2009

A Criminal’s Death

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. [Philippians 2:5-8 NLT]

These words break me and inspire me. When I compare my attitude to that of Jesus I find myself severely lacking. It is impossible for us to comprehend what it was like for Christ to lay aside eternity and enter a finite existence. It has been compared to a human being being born as an ant, living as an ant and giving their life so that other ants might live. Yet even that scenario comes up short.

The phrase "he took the humble position of a slave" teaches us what real humility looks like. It is hard for many of us in America to understand what it is like to be a slave. Yet how many of us have worked in jobs that we hated or have suffered in abusive relationships. These images begin to describe the humility of Christ Jesus as he walked amongst us and was lastly condemned to a cruel death.

Who among us would voluntarily die a torturous death for someone else? A fate reserved for criminals and those despised by "civil" people. I find it ironic that the people who should have known better, both religious and secular leaders, acted like criminals in the ways that they treated Jesus. Such is the path of the proud. Yet, in contrast, the humble road always causes us to pick up our cross. How could it not?

Dear Lord. Teach us to walk as slaves. Help us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross.

... this devotion is part of a series about the writings of Paul..

Faith and Fatalism

Another blast from the past. Some thoughts that I shared in January 2005 ...

My pastor recently mentioned fatalism in a Sunday morning message. It caused me to look the word up:

Fatalism: Acceptance of the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable.

This definition really challenges me because it too closely tracks with something I have often called faith. In this definition my 'que sera, sera' attitude is revealed as a fatalistic view of life and my heart is laid bare having not really exercised faith in God but having given in to this dark thinking. One way that fatalism reveals itself in my heart is when I don't pray thinking that if God wants it to be He will make it happen and I really don't have a part.

I think that some of this thinking began 11 years ago when my first wife died. I prayed for her healing for four years and, in the end, she died - and ultimately my prayers were seemingly unanswered. This event brought a sickness into my heart ... part of me gave up the fight ... life became difficult and my prayer life became more about the sovereignty of God (my spin on fatalism) and the power of God. I found myself talking to God in terms where there was no risk.

In 1999 I was diagnosed with an arthritic condition that caused me to be somewhat disabled activity-wise ... my heart died a little more. A few years later my new wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis - my heart once again sank and this fatalistic 'Sovereignty of God' view gained more control of me.

So what exactly is the difference between true faith in God's sovereignty and a fatalistic view. I think that we can find the answer in the outcome of each. In essence faith causes us to press in, seek, and overcome - fatalism causes us to give up. Faith inspires hope in tomorrow while fatalism offers only fear. Faith affirms God's love for us ... fatalism embraces the worst of our fears.

Fatalism is very subtle because it can mask itself in very religious ways. We can mistake a sort of spiritual paralysis as "waiting on the Lord". We can be immobilized by fear and think that we are living in dependence on God ... all the while not taking risks ... not stepping out in faith ... thinking that God will move when even when our hearts are dark with fatalism. You know, when our faith is focused on the whole of God - His sovereignty, His Power and His Love - we can have a healthy faith. When we focus on one aspect of God, like His sovereignty, we develop an unhealthy faith. Our challenge today is to pray ... pray that our hearts would be free of fatalism and filled with faith.

The Struggle to Forgive

Continuing the reposting of my golden oldies. This one was published exactly three years ago today!

Recently got an email from the pastor of the church we attend (online) introducing his new series on forgiveness. Here are a few things that he shared along with my comments:

"There is no other world religion or philosophy that speaks so clearly to the issue of forgiveness than Christianity."

I so agree! Forgiveness is mentioned approximately 116 times in the scriptures - 64 times in the New Testament. Much of Jesus ministry and teaching involved forgiveness. I love how Peter came to Jesus wanting a limit on the amount of times he "had to" forgive and Jesus basically told him that there was no limit.

"It is impossible to overstate the importance of forgiveness in our lives and world."

I think that all wars and most conflicts have their roots in unforgiveness. Much of my pastoral counseling with couples dealt with unforgiveness. It is sometimes so difficult to address because wounds run so deep.

"When we refuse to seek forgiveness we destroy relationships and can find ourselves living with guilt or shame."

I think that the most powerful words on earth, when offered with sincerity of heart, are "I am sorry". The words themselves are not magic but can often introduce a needed reconciliation.

"On either side of this equation, the withholding of forgiveness can be toxic. When we refuse to forgive our hearts are slowly corroded by the poison of resentment and bitterness."

So often the request for forgiveness is denied, reconciliation is blocked and the unforgiving person finds themselves imprisoned and put in bondage to their own unforgiveness. There is almost a sick justification for harboring ill feelings and refusing to forgive.

On the flip side sometimes forgiveness does not result in reconciliation. Abusers for example can be forgiven but it may not be wise to continue a relationship with them. Sometimes people can do irreparable harm to relationships.

When we struggle forgiving we must realize that the struggle is a divinely personal one.. we need help to forgive.. in a sense we often need Jesus to forgive through us. Here as an excerpt from "The Hiding Place", Corrie Ten Boom's book that relates her experiences with the Nazi's in World War II:

"It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, a former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie's pain-blanched face.

He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein.” He said. “To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!” His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.

Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I prayed, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself."

If you struggle forgiving today take a cue from Corrie and ask Jesus to give you His Heart of Forgiveness.

Never know - you may have a Corrie experience?

Able to make you strong ...

Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. -Romans 16:25-26 NLT

In these last sentences of his letter to the Romans Paul ends by restating what he has written in much of this long letter. Specifically that God loves the whole world and not just Israel. Once upon a time Paul believed that no one but a Jew could be saved. He embraced an ethnic form of salvation that embraced the idea that God accepted people based on their ancestry. That message was flawed and the Father sent His only Son to show us the error of that message.

The gospel of the Kingdom of God is a message that is able to make a person strong. This Good News can do what Mosaic Law could not. In a sense the law made one weak. For the Pharisees it brought hypocrisy. For the ones known as "sinners" it brought shame. In contrast the message of forgiveness and healing that Jesus preached made a person strong. This gospel message is able to make one strong in faith, hope and love - and that is really Good News!

All glory to you Lord, the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.

Crush Satan under your feet ...

And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. -Romans 16:17-20 NLT

As Paul pens these last words he follows up glowing commendations and greetings with a dire warning to the believers in Rome. It reminds me of Paul's warning to the believers in Galatia when he wrote: "If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed." In these admonitions we see the heart of a shepherd protecting the flock from wolves those who would drag believers back to the bondage of law and ethnic salvation.

In the context of such warnings the apostle speaks of God crushing Satan under their feet as they do right and stay innocent of any wrong. This again speaks to me of a shepherd protecting his flock from wolves. When we listen to the smooth talk and glowing words of false teachers we wander from the sheep fold. But when we obey Christ, and stay in the fold, we are not only protected from attack but realize that God is crushing the enemy of our souls.

Help us Lord to be wise in doing right and innocent of doing wrong.

One who is worthy of honor ...

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me. Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. ... Greet each other in Christian love. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings. -Romans 16:1-4,16 NLT

I love how Paul singles out several women in Rome as he commends Phoebe to them. I think that it is sad how some religious groups have rejected the ministry of women using the words of Paul to disenfranchise them. Interesting to note that this discrimination does not exist in the Kingdom of God. Even those who reject women in "church" leadership accept their leadership in the corporate world. Women like Phoebe must be honored in every part of God's Kingdom.

As Paul ends his letter to the Romans he mentions many by name - in between verses four and sixteen he mentions dozens. This speaks to me of how close Paul's relationship to these Romans was. He speaks of Jews who were in prison with him and he greets several house churches. He mentions hard workers and people who even risked their lives for him. This fellowship that he has with them seems so alien to the ones that I have often encountered at churches.

Help us Lord to know how to acknowledge and bless the ones who have meant so much in our spiritual life.

Join in my struggle by praying ...

But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. ... Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:25-26,30 NLT

Thousand of missionaries over thousands of years have been inspired by the travels of the Apostle Paul. Many who preach the gospel in other lands solicit donations for the work that they do in those places. I support several friends in other lands. That said, it is interesting to note here that the offering given to him was for "the poor among the believers in Jerusalem". I so admire this kind of love and care for distant believers, be they workers or those needing care.

I must admit, I find it easier to support those who serve overseas with money and often neglect to support them in prayer. Sometimes I think that is because I do not see their lives all that different than I see mine. Unlike Paul, these do not seem to struggle with enemies who try to kill them and thwart their ministry. That said, I believe that we are called by God to join in the struggles of others by praying for them. In this we show our God given love for those both near and far.

Open our eyes to the ways that other struggle Lord. Help us to join those struggle by praying for them.

You are full of goodness ...

I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. ... My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. -Romans 15:14-16,20 NLT

Paul is beginning to wind down his letter to the Romans. He has spent much of his message speaking about the equality of the Gentiles and the Jews with respect to salvation. In a sense he is imparting his ministry to the ones that he himself has ministered to as he reminds them that he knows first hand that they are full of goodness. I love the way that Paul's ministry resembled the ministry of Christ. Like Jesus he made disciples by pouring himself into others.

I think that the apostle is calling the Romans to a similar process of disciple making. He builds them up by saying that they know his teachings so well that they are able to teach them to others. In these few words he seems to be inviting them to join him in the mission of pouring themselves into the lives of others. It reminds me that teaching is not enough unless what we have learned is shared with others in the context of a loving, disciple making, relationship.

Help us to make disciples the way that you made them Lord. Help us to follow the example that Paul writes of.

Christ came as a servant ...

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. -Romans 15:7-9 NLT

Ever think about the way that Jesus came to the earth? Who could have ever imagined that the Messiah would come as a servant and not as one who is served? The image of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the last supper challenges every concept of leadership that most people embrace. I think that this is one of the reasons that people did not recognize God when he came in the flesh. Most were expecting a warrior lion and not a servant lamb.

And as much as the Jews were amazed by this, I think that even more were amazed when the gospel began to be proclaimed to the Gentiles. Spiritual life had always been a purview of ethnic Israel and many had trouble believing that salvation extended past their borders. I wonder if we, like ancient Jews, are guilty of embracing a gospel that is too narrow in scope? Perhaps we would do well to heed Paul's admonition to accept each other as Christ accepts us?

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13 NLT

Just as Christ has accepted you ...

One of the greatest misunderstandings that believers labor under these days is that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. The commandment to love God and love our neighbors is often promulgated by some as the Great Commandment. In the gospel of John, we read that the Lord Jesus gave a new commandment to love as He loves. Paul seems to echo that sentiment here when he says that we should "accept each other just as Christ has accepted you".

This kind of love and acceptance is the kind of love that glorifies God. Jesus said "If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much." Before anyone ever confessed their love for God, He loved them first. When we were alienated and hostile towards Him, he pursued us in love. We would do well to examine the way that we love and determine whether our love life is the kind that glorifies the Lord.

Glorify your name in all the earth. Pour out your Spirit again that we might love in a way that glorifies your name.

We who are strong ...

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn't live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. -Romans 15:1-5 NLT

These verses remind me that peace comes at the hands of the strong. Those who are confident in the Lord do not feel a need to constantly defend themselves or attack the beliefs of others. People who are spiritually strong demonstrate God's love for others in patience and encouragement. These who pump spiritual iron do it for others and not for themselves - their prayer and study of the scriptures is not to help themselves but to help those who struggle.

Corrie ten Boom was a woman who was strong in the Lord. Her faith was refined in the death camps of Nazi Germany. In such a place she watched her sister die. Years later Corrie was speaking at an event when her strength in the Lord was tested. One of her old prison guards approached her asking for forgiveness. What would she do? In an act of faith and courage Corrie reached out her hand in forgiveness. Only the strong in the Lord can forgive.

In my weakness make me strong Lord. Lead me in ways that strengthen my love for you and for those in my life.

Following your convictions ...

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. -Romans 14:21-23 NLT

When I hear the word conviction I think of being fully convinced about something. It reminds me of this great Charles Hodge quote that my blogging friend Mike shared this week: "Christianity is equally opposed to superstition and rationalism. The one is faith without appropriate evidence, the other refuses to believe what it does not understand, in spite of evidence which should command belief." Having a conviction does not require superstition or rationalization.

I drank a lot when Christ first came into my life - part of my conversion was a call to abstain. For thirty years after that day I drank no alcohol. Then I began to gradually sense a liberty to occasionally drink a glass of wine. That was about eight years ago and it has been a joy since then to occasionally taste of the fruit of the vine. My point is that convictions often change and we would do well to not only follow our own but to not judge the convictions of others.

Help us Lord to discern the differences between superstitions, rationalizations and convictions.

Let us aim for harmony ...

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. -Romans 14:17-19 NLT

Have you ever, for the sake of harmony, let the other person have the last word on an issue? Can you recall a time when you chose righteousness over rightness? Sometimes it is so difficult to let go of something when we know that we are right! Yet the issue that Paul has been speaking to us about in this chapter is just that. You see, the kingdom of God is not about being right. It is about sacrificing our rightness on the altar of love.

I love how the apostle speaks of serving Christ with the right attitude. To do that I think that it requires us to escape from our petty theological boxes and see the bigger picture. God is wooing all of creation to himself and we must not allow minor things like what we eat or where we worship to get in his way. For when we determine to live in harmony we proclaim his love to the world. And in building each other up we give His love legs to run.

I confess Lord that my desire to be right often trumps your desire for me to love. Help me to love like you love.

No longer walking in love ...

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. -Romans 14:12-15 ESV

In a sense these verses seem contradictory. Is it not loving to tell a person that they are wrong about the ways that they worship? Was not the law of Moses trumped by the gospel of Jesus Christ? Should we not help people who are clinging to law and not embracing grace? What Paul is speaking to is the issue of judging what people do just because they do not do it like us. Issues like food and holy days should not be opportunities for judging each other.

Life seems to be filled with hindrances. I think that judgmentalism is one of the biggest stumbling blocks that people have in life. Many unbelievers see it and are turned off to the gospel - what we do speaks louder than what we say. My thinking is that we must find a way to embrace this idea: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity". In the words of Christ, all people will know that we are His disciples, if we have love for one another.

Lord Jesus Christ, please help me not to judge. Teach me to walk in love and not be a stumbling block to others.

None of us lives to himself ...

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. -Romans 14:5-8 ESV

I read these verses, look at the current state of the Church, and understand that we are not called to walk in lock-step with regard to the way that we worship the Lord. It makes sense that churches are different because we are all different. I think that this sort of diversity is a strength and not a weakness. God has called us as individuals and also as friends. Even large religious organizations have much diversity in their make-up. How could they not?

Our call as believers is unity in mission and not uniformity of style. Whatever we do we do it as unto the Lord and not to ourselves. That said, I think that we often stray when we imagine that we can honor the Lord in isolation. The church was never meant to be a monastery or nunnery. Our message is one for the world and not for the church. Somehow we must find a way to embrace the diversity of other expressions of worship and stop fighting amongst ourselves.

Make us one Lord. Heart by heart. Mind by mind. Help us to see each other as you see us.

Who are you to pass judgment ...

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. -Romans 14:1-4 ESV

Do you find it strange that, in light of these verses, people still argue over food. I know of one religious denomination that advocates the vegetarian lifestyle. The context for these verses was the way that some Jews were hanging on to the idea that foods like pork were to be abstained from. Apparently, the Law of Moses was still a strong force in the church at Rome. It is interesting how Paul tells people to not pass judgment after he judges some as weak.

I think that it is so easy to judge by outward appearances. One thing that life has taught me is that things are not always how they appear. Sometimes the ones who are the strongest on the outside are weak. Many times, people who preach the loudest about sin struggle with the things that they rail against. People will stand or fall before God. God is able to make the weakest stand. Our mission should be one that doesn't judge but helps people to stand.

Help us Lord to be humble encouragers and not pride-filled judges.

Decent lives for all to see ...

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. -Romans 13:12-14 NLT

The imagery of clothing in these verses fascinates me. What do you make of the idea that we are to shed the dirty clothes of bad behaviors and put on the presence of Christ? Certainly Paul is not writing about entering into some sort of hypocrisy and being someone you are not. So how should we read these verses? I think that he is saying that a Christian acts like Christ. The truth is that when we live an inside-out life we show the beauty of Christ in our hearts.

I love the phrase "we belong to the day". It speaks to me of how my life is an open book that is read by all I encounter. When Paul advises us to stay away from immoral behavior he is telling us to be different from those who do not bear the mark of Jesus Christ in their heart. He is not throwing cold water on the things that make us happy but is confronting us with the reality that people are watching. As he says, "We must live decent lives for all to see."

Shine through me today Lord. Help me to show Christ by my words, my actions and my attitudes.

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