Working

I have been thinking recently about a subject that has been hitting me hard recently.  Church people...  I use this term because I want to be sure to differentiate between those who are actually believers in Jesus Christ, Christians, with people who show up in church, church people.  These two groups overlap.  They should overlap a lot.  Christians should be in church, unless they are sick or at work or otherwise physically cannot make it.  They aren't always, but that is a topic to tackle under the title "Laziness" or "Irresponsibility."  There are also people who really do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, but they are in church.  It may be because they have just always done it, or it may be because they are interested in what is being said.  Either way, I'm glad they are there.

"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 2:8-9).

I love this verse!  It makes me marvel at the astounding grace of God toward us, who could not be good ourselves!  Any Christian who quotes this verse or is reminded or this verse or reads this verse should remember the vast amount of grace that has been poured out on them and be overwhelmed!  

However, like many good things, the use of this verse can abused.  Whether they realize they are saying it or not, many church people and Christians use this verse to justify pursuing their own desires above God.  They resolve in their hearts that because their salvation is not based on works that what they do does not matter.  If what they do does not matter, then they can go where ever they want during church and be "just as good a Christian at _______ than at church."  Can you be just as good an employee at _______ than actually being at work?  No!  You can't because you focus is in the wrong place!  Even those that work at home know that to be productive they must have a special place at home to do their job where they are separated from distractions.  They willingly ignore the very next verse, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).  Put these two verses together, and suddenly what you do matters!

I hear objections rising as people read, "But my salvation is not based on works!  It is based on grace!"  You're right!  I'm not talking about your salvation.  It's not about you!

Mind blown.  Yes, you were thinking about you again.

God has poured out His grace on us abundantly, but He did not do it because we are so awesome.  He did not do it for our sole benefit.  He didn't do it so that He would have company in heaven.  He is triune.  He has all the fellowship He will ever need in the Trinity.  He did it for His glory.  He did it so that when we saw what He did for us, we would fall down before His throne and give up ourselves!  He specifically tells us to do that, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1).

The reason this has been on my heart so much is that I see so many church people that refuse to give up themselves.  They have convinced themselves that they can be a good Christian doing whatever they want to do.  They will do church things when it is convenient, but not if it isn't...  in effect putting themselves first and on the throne of their own lives where God belongs by right.

The consequences of this type of life are also not considered.  Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).  He also said, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37).  He even said, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you;depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'" (Matthew 7:21-23).  Notice verse 21 says that not everyone who acknowledges Jesus as Lord will be welcomed into Paradise.  He says only those who "do the will of my Father."  How is this possible if salvation is not based on works?  James answers this when he tells us, "I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18b).  It is by faith that we receive God's grace and that grace the brings salvation.  Works are the proof of that.  What you do shows what you have faith in.  If you say you have faith in Jesus but you ignore what He commands, do you really have faith?  I am not talking about a mistake or moment of weakness.  I am talking about willfully ignoring what He says.  Do you think you have real faith?  Do you think you will be granted entry to the Kingdom of Heaven just because you cry out to Jesus as Lord?  Apparently those people who cried out to Him in Matthew 7 did.  look what happened to them.  

Some of you who know the Scripture may now want to quote, "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" (Romans 10:9).  I agree.  Notice it says that you must believe.  It does not end with just a confession.  You must believe in your heart that Jesus died to pay for the sin debt on your soul and that God raised Him from the dead conquering death itself!  You must believe, and if you believe, something more than just a confession will come from you!  You will tell others about the great salvation you received.  You will serve others first because Jesus did.  You will reach out to help the hurting and needy because God has reach out to you.  You will give your tithe so the church can continue to to operate and reach more people...  you may even give more that 1/10 of your income so that more can be done.  You will do these things because you love Jesus, and He said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

Being that living sacrifice can hurt.  I know from experience.  I have lived below the poverty line in a place I didn't know with no family in service to God, not because I'm great, but because He is great.  God may not call you to that, but He is calling you to lay down your own life.  If you are a Christian, you proclaim Jesus as Lord of your life.  If He is, get out of His chair.

Caring Enough

Recently, I decided that I was done living alone.  I have wanted to get a pet since only a few months after moving up to Indiana, but the apartment complex I live in does not allow pets.

I went over to the office and got specific with them.  "Do you allow small pets?  Do you allow only certain kinds of pets, or is it a blanket ban on any pet?"  They said their concern was for the possible allergies of other residents, which I do not fully believe, so they allow only pets that do not have fur.  Well, that means no cat.  Please, no smart remarks about hairless cats.  They still have fur.

This made the choice easy for me.  I had considered getting a snake in the past, but now that owning a cat was out of the question since I do not want to move, a snake was the perfect choice.

Ranger - Brooks Kingsnake at 3 months old

The only experience I had to draw from in owning a snake was college. Some of the knowledge I got in my wildlife classes helped, and what I remembered about David's ball python, Abe, helped to start me out.  What was the most helpful was the online community that I had no idea existed for snakes and other reptiles.  If you are looking for help, or are just curious about herps of any kind, the people on this forum have been great.

Reptile & Parrots Forum

I have been very impressed by their kindness, willingness to help, and even a desire to be friends.  It has been a very nice welcome to the world of reptiles.

All of this has made me think about the Church a bit.  I know that the perception of the Church really comes to visitors through whatever local church they visit.  My question then is, "How do newcomers see us when they walk through the doors?"  Many of them have had past experiences with other churches, either good or bad, but they have come to our church desiring what I came to that forum desiring:  Someone who cared enough to help me.  I want to care enough about anyone else that I would not miss it if they needed me and not be callous enough to ignore their need.  

That is what God expects of us, right?
"A new commandment I [Jesus] give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).


That is what we will answer to Him for at judgment.

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.  Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And He will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’  Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’  Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:31-46).

Though, we know that it is not by works we are saved...
"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 2:8-9).

We see that even while saved by grace, we will be judged by our works.

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. From His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).

This only makes sense, though.  True and living faith in Jesus Christ brings forth good works.

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17).

What then do we say about the good things done by those who do not trust Jesus as their Savior?  These things that they do may very well be good works.  Think of Ghandi.  His passive resistance for the freedom of India from British rule was inspiring!  It certainly made this world a better place, not just because of his actions, but also by what those actions have inspired in others.  However, Ghandi still did wrong.  He was not perfect, just like the rest of us are not perfect.  God says, "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16).  

Nothing against Ghandi, but he was not holy.  He fell short of the standard of God like everyone else has, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  That is just the hard truth.  We cannot do it on our own.  That is why God did it for us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).  What does it take?  Death, unfortunately.  Sin leads to death.  There is no getting around that little doosy.  "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life" (Leviticus 17:11).  That is why Jesus had to die.  He had to die so that the sin we committed would be paid for, and He was the only one who could do it because He never sinned.  "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:14-15).  Once our sin is paid for, we can be free.  All we have to do is accept the gift.  Remember, the Bible said it was a "free gift."  How do we accept it?  Trust in Jesus.  "Because, 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.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.'  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him.  For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:9-13).

Believe in Jesus that His blood on the cross paid for your wrong doing.

Confess Him as your Savior.

That's it.  Trust Jesus.  You will not be put to shame, and you will gain eternal life in Heaven.

Dressing For Church

Imagine the typical Sunday morning at church. What do you see?  The church parking lot slowly begins to fill around 7:30am as the worship team arrives to begin running through the service.  More and more vehicles change the bare asphalt into a spectrum of metallic reds, whites, blacks, blues, and "harvest gold" or whatever you want to call that beige car.  The welcome center lobby fills with a bunch of people, most are happy to see each other.  We all should be happy to see each other, but that is a different topic.  And everyone is "fine," also a different topic.  Have you noticed how everyone is dressed?  I don't tend to pay much attention to it, but I guarantee there are those that will nitpick on the clothes everyone else is wearing, judging them to that last iota.  Why is that?  Where in Scripture does it say that people have to dress up for church?  Personally, I enjoy coming to church in comfortable clothes, and I am not comfortable buttoned up in a starched shirt with a noose around my neck!  Although, I have to admit that anyone dressed to the hilt looks pretty sharp on Sunday morning, but the question I have for them is why are they wearing it?  Who are they trying to impress?

Ok, that was a leading question.  Objection!  Sustained.  Lawyered.  Are they trying to impress someone?  I think they are more often than anyone would like to admit it.  The number of people who are more comfortable all suited up as opposed to more casual is probably less than one would think based on a Sunday morning.  I can only think of a few reasons why someone would come to church every Sunday morning in a suit and tie:

1.  They enjoy coming in a suit and tie.
If this is the case, great!  More power to them.  Every once in a great while, even I get it into my head to dress it up for church.  There is nothing wrong with that, and if you enjoy dressing up every Sunday, then do not let anyone tell you it is wrong!

2.  Tradition.  They have always done it, or they still have mom's nagging voice in their head telling them they had better dress it up for God.


"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8).


This may sound strange to some of you, but is it not true that you can be held captive by things you thought you had to do but really didn't?  Let's consider the eating of meat sacrificed to idols which Paul spoke of.  Was it ever a sin to eat meat sacrificed to idols?  No.  In the same way, it is not a sin dress casually in church (provided it is also modest).  However, we must consider the opposite side of that.  Will it cause my brother to sin?  If so, Paul says we should never eat meat for the benefit of the conscience of the weaker brother.  To carry that through, if it would cause a problem for the conscience of a weaker brother, we should dress up for their sake.

3.  In order to impress other people at the church.  The other people I am referring to are other church members, visitors, or that pretty woman who sits a few rows in front of you.

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).

I think it is pretty clear that seeking the adoration of other people is not the reason we should be coming to church.  Even if it is not the primary reason for dressing up, it can be an obstacle to experiencing true worship with the Creator.

4.  To impress God
I hear this all the time when talking about this issue, "Should you not give your best to God?"  Then I get a rehashing of the difference between Cain's sacrifice and Abel's sacrifice.  Really?  I didn't hear a comparison of the clothes Cain and Abel wore while making their sacrifice once during that story.  The story is about faithfully giving back to God the best of what He has given to you.  If you want to compare that story to the modern day, look at your charitable giving record, not how you try to make yourself look good if front of the rest of the church-goers!  It is only arrogant pride that thinks God can be impressed by the clothes you wear to church!  What God cares about is the intention of your heart!  If He cared about dress, Jesus would have eaten with the Pharisees, not the sinners!

So, this Sunday, when you start getting dressed for church, ask yourself why you are picking those clothes.  Make sure it is for a good reason.  Then, when you get to church, makes sure you are not judging those who dress otherwise.  The one who dresses up and the one who dresses down are both called of God, and they both have the right to come just as they are before the throne of the King of Glory.

"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" (Romans 14).