How Can I....?

  

A People of God

HAPPY HOLY WEEK!

We've made it to a week of prayer and meditation, and I have much to say (no surprise there!) I won't have time to post everything in this special season, but I will be putting up my thoughts, so never fear!

Short introduction today, I'll get right into it. 

The first in a series on Holy Week, I give you:

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Standing With God

A Good Friday Reflection

So much has been going through my mind this week, but one thought in particular keeps coming back. What God did for us, this mystery, is unfathomable. I can't wrap my mind around it at all. There's a song we sing at Church at this time of year that says "Would you take the place of this man?" All I can think is no, I wouldn't. Why? Because I'm imperfect. My sacrifice wouldn't mean as much. Because I'd be too scared and afraid. Because I don't know if I'd overcome the peer pressure to help him. How would I act in that situation? I don't know. I hope I'd be able to help Him in some way. But would I take His place? No, because it's not mine to take.

So of course, what does God do? He casts me as His son during the reenactment of the Stations at my Church. Funny how He works that way. I didn't want to be, but He needed someone for the job, and I was the one who could do it. That reminds me of someone else I know of...

I'm ALWAYS (well almost now!) cast as Simon whenever I'm in a reenactment of the Stations of the Cross. Don't ask me why, I don't know. It just happens. I bet there's a message in that somewhere that I'm missing. Simon is an interesting character. We don't know much about Him. He was an innocent bystander. He didn't want anything to do with what was going on that day, but was dragged into it against his will. Initially he resisted helping God, but then he took up God's cross, and helped Him get to the end. In the movie the Passion of Christ we see Simon have a change of heart by the time they reach the top of the hill. Then he doesn't want to leave Jesus, but is forced to. I'd like to think that he realized just who he was helping, and what a deed he had done. 

So would I take the place of that Son of Man? No. But I could be Simon. I could help Him. I could walk with Him, and bear some of the load. I'm not strong enough to work alone. I'm not strong enough to take on the burden of the world. I'd like to be, but I'm not. None of us are. I certainly can't redeem myself, but I could help God in the redemption of others. I can't be Jesus, but I can be Simon. We all can.

What was so special about Simon? What did the guards that day see in him? Was he particularly strong? Did he look uninvolved, and for that reason they picked him? Was he the only one there who could do the job? Whatever the reason the guards chose him. 

Or at least it seemed like it.

Who chose Simon?

God did.

It wasn't chance that brought Simon to that road that day. It was in God's plan for him to be in that place and in that time. God moved the hearts of the soldiers, however hard, to chose that man. Simon was literally the only man who could have helped Jesus that day, because God put him in His path to do so. Only someone hand picked could possibly be up to the job! 

Each and every one of us..... is Simon too. God puts us where we need to be, when we need to be there. It's not just chance that you live in the world today. Each day is a gift. There is a special job only you can do today, and tomorrow, and every day. God has hand picked you and I to help Him carry His cross. And what might that be? The burden of the world's pain and sin. While we can't take the full brunt like He did, we can help with our small pieces, just as Simon helped Christ for a short time in His walk. Our help can help others, who can then help others, etc. Then our cross-bearing not only helps Christ, but the whole world in the process.

Maybe Simon needed help, just as much as he was helping. At first Simon was indifferent to the situation at hand. He didn't want trouble, he just wanted to go home. Then Jesus literally stepped into his life, and changed that. Simon underwent a change of heart while he was helping Jesus. Do you think he went home the same man he was that morning? He couldn't. He had an encounter with the infinite, and that changed his soul. He must have realized that what he did helped him just as much, or even more, than it helped God. He learned what it meant to love. What it meant to sacrifice yourself. What it means to follow God. What it means to turn the other cheek. Though they may not have said a single word to each other, Jesus and Simon shared moments that likely defined who Simon was.

When we follow God, when He pulls us in, when we help others, more often than not it is we ourselves who are changed. Service helps the one serving just as much as those being served. When we step in and help God carry His cross in our own lives, we invite Him to share ours as well. He takes our burdens, our fears, our pain, and gives us healing, hope, and freedom. As we partake of His cross, He enters our hearts and changes us into something new. How can we not love more when we know we are loved? How can we not be joyful when we know what awaits us? How can we not serve when we know how we have been served? How can we not stand up when we know how we have been stood up for? Jesus changes us when we allow Him in, when we take up our crosses and follow Him. As we help the world heal, we in turn open ourselves up to healing. We need help just as much as we do the helping. 

Simon was one of the few people that stuck with Jesus to the end. So many of His followers deserted Him. Even Peter denied Him and ran away. But Simon, a passerby, stayed with God to the finish. He stood with God. While he was forced to in the beginning, eventually he had a choice, and he chose to stay. Many of us don't have a choice to follow God initially, we're just introduced to Him as kids. But everyone in their life has the chance to chose. Do you stand with Him or against Him? Simon did, and it changed his life. Let it change yours too.

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The title comes from tonight's song, Everything by Lifehouse. This song helped inspire me to want to be Simon in my life. Read the lyrics, listen to the song, meditate on it. See His love in action.

And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this? 

How can we stand with God and not be moved by Him? How can we not be changed as we help Him carry His cross? Be Simon. Let Him change you. And help change the lives of others too. How could it be any better?

Luke 23:26 says:

"As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus."

Maybe we can't take the place of the Son of Man, but we can take the place of Simon.

Praying for you always! 

Until Next Time,

~Wanted~

Who You Is

 

Someone's Got To, might as well be YOU

Howdy y'all! (Always wanted to say that on here! haha) Man I'm really spoiling you guys! I'm actually starting to post on a regular basis! Don't expect this too often. Didn't have any homework tonight and decided to write instead. 

Over the weekend I saw a movie for the first time, one that everyone should see. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. It's called : To Save a Life. It touches on just about every topic a teen could possibly struggle with in a beautiful and realistic way. I loved it. 2 hours of a great message. Sure the acting isn't perfect, and some of it you can see coming. Still, I wish that I had seen it sooner. It gave me A LOT to think about. There might be a few posts that come out of that movie.

This will be the first. There was a quote in that movie that really stuck out to me. If you've seen it you probably know the one I'm talking about. The main character starts going to a youth group at his church, but all he sees are pretenders. People who go to church so they can look good, but don't believe a word. He gets up in front of them and says:

"What's the point in all this if you don't let it change you?"

As I referred to in my last post, the greatest danger to Christianity is not from the outside, but within. Fakers: those who say they are Christian, but certainly don't show the world that by their actions.

And so we go....

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Actions And Words

My freshman year the principal gathered all the freshman together and talked to us about what to expect in high school. I really don't remember much of it, though I'm sure that it's something we've all heard before. One thing he said has stuck with me since then though, and that is the quote on which this post's title is based (however horrid the grammar be!). He said (not sure who said it first!) "Be who you is, cuz if you be who you ain't, then you ain't who you is." 

Ok..... what's that mean?

It means be who you are. Be real. Don't put on a mask. Insert other cliche here.

But really, that's what it's saying. You have to be who you are. Don't let what others say influence you if you know what you are doing is right. Don't let others tell you who you are. Be it. Because if you don't be yourself, then you aren't anyone. You aren't the mask you put on, because you know in your heart that's not you. But you aren't yourself either, how can you be? You aren't anyone. Be who you are, because if you don't then you really aren't anyone.

Why do I bring that up now? Well let me stall with more questions because you all know how much I love doing that! Bwahahahahaha!! ... but really....

What does it mean to be a Christian? A follower of Jesus Christ, etc. yeah I get that. But what does it mean? What does it mean that a man who was so much more than a man died for you? What does accepting Him in your life do to change you? What makes you any different? That's the core question, is it not? What makes you different?

There was a man. A man who carried the burden of the whole world. He knew the wrongs we had done. He knew many of us wouldn't even be sorry. He didn't care. He would take that chance if it meant that some of us would be free. So he paid the ultimate price: He died. But He didn't just die. That would've been too easy. Oh no, He first was rejected by almost everyone He knew. He was publicly humiliated. He was mocked. He was spit upon. Then He was brutally tortured and made to carry the instrument of His death. Finally He was raised up on His cross, and left there to die - suffering for hours on end - while crowds looked on in hatred, laughing and jeering. The people who had just days before celebrated Him were now relishing His death. Imagine that sadness of His heart to see humanity at one of its lowest points. 

THAT is Jesus. THAT is what He did for you.

Why? Because He loves you. It's as simple as that cliche. He loves you. So much so that He would die for you even knowing what sins you would commit, how you would turn away from Him, what whirlpools you would choose, etc.. None of that mattered to Him if it meant that you would have even the smallest chance of happiness. 

THIS is the essence of Christianity. Self-Sacrifice. Agape Love. To die to oneself so that God can shine through and you can show others His love.

A Christian is joyful. And why not? The God who created the cosmos and the very laws of physics that govern them is his best friend! He doesn't need to worry about this life because there is something so much better waiting for him.   (Note: Joy does not equal happinness, but that's another topic.) 

A Christian follows the commandments because they want to know, love, and serve God. They want to be free (see The Rules). 

Sadly this is far too scarcely seen in society today. People see the "Cafeteria Catholics" who pick and choose what they want to believe and how they practice it. People see the "Sunday Christian" who is holy for that day of the week, but goes out partying, drinking, etc. the night before. People see the "Holier Than Thou" Christian, who seeks to make himself look better than everyone else. People see the "judgemental Christian" who is always putting down those who are different. People see the "Two-faced Christian" who act one way at Church and another way with friends. People see the "youth group Christian" - the kid who is always involved in His church, but never pays attention to it and doesn't care a lick about what any of it means.   They see the fakers who go to Church once a year because they think that covers them. They see far too many examples of what a Christian is not, but never what a Christian is: A Follower of Christ.

 If this is all you see of what it means to be a Christian, I'd agree with you: there's no point to it. If that's what it is, then you really are no better for being a Christian. In fact in some ways its worse because you are being something you're not. What's the point of all of this if you don't let it change you?

Be who you is.

If you're going to be a Christian, be one. Do it with your all. Don't just go to church on Sundays. Pray on your own. Study the Bible. More importantly than anything else, ACT LIKE ONE. A Follower of Christ is an Imitator of Christ, showing the world what God's love is. Wearing a cross or a crucifix does not make you a Christian - sorry if you thought so. It looks nice, but it's an empty statement if there's no action to back it up. How is it Christian to bully a kid at school? How is it Christian to lie? How is it Christian to use girls for your own pleasure? How is is Christ-like to cheat on a test? How is it Christ-like to cut someone off in traffic? How is it Christ-like to  neglect others in your life? How does any of that show God's love? 

A Christian shouldn't need to wear a cross for people to know he is one. St. Francis said "Preach the Gospel always. When necessary, use words." By our very actions the world should be able to see who we are, and what we stand for: the God of Love, and loving others. By showing love to others, by sacrificing even small things each day, by something as simple as a smile we can demonstrate to the world we are Christians. The cross is a reminder to you of what you stand for. It shouldn't be something that draws attention to you, but draws attention to God. If that's your reasoning, go for it. Otherwise words and crosses are cheap. Prove it. Be another Christ to someone.

Because if you  be who you aint...

If we continue to let the stereotypes stand, then we really are not changed. If you know Christ, REALLY know Him, there is no way your life won't change. I'm not saying it's easy - far from it. It will take sacrifices. It will take strength you never knew you had. But all of that is worth it, and it pales in comparison to what He did and continues to do for you each day. 

If you say you are a Christian, but don't follow through with actions, your life's going to feel empty. A shell. Empty words. Empty promises. You'll either be empty because:  you really aren't and are just saying so to look cool , in which case you are just wearing a mask; or you are a Christian but never do anything, so your faith will stagnate and feel hollow. St. Paul said that faith without works is dead. It takes both. Don't just say you are a Christian, LIVE IT.

Then you ain't who you is.

I have a challenge for you all. Everyone - Followers and Fakers alike. Be real this next week. Just try it for seven days. See what happens. Being fake helps no one, least of all you. If you are going to follow God, do it. Go all in. You have nothing to lose. Be Bold. Take that next step. Let God into your heart and let Him work in and through you this week. I promise if you take it to heart marvelous things will happen. Not necessarily huge things, or noticable things, but marvelous things nonetheless. Everytime I recommit I see it too.

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Being a Christian is not something you just do for a day and then it's over. Like I said, it ain't easy.

It takes a daily renewal.

Everyday when you wake up in the morning, you have to decide: Will you follow Christ today, or will you follow something else? The choice is up to you. I don't claim to be perfect. Often times I find myself choosing others paths just as often as not. I fall. But being a Christian doesn't mean you're perfect. Far from it. Being a Christian means that you admit that you are not perfect, and can't do it alone. Being a Christian does not mean you are better than anyone else. It means you admit that you need help. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you are stronger than anyone else. It means that you need God to strengthen you. 

Starting over with each new day, working towards God, working for His will. That is a Christian.  A daily renewal. A daily decision to sacrifice yourself for others. Agape love. That is what being a Christian is all about.    

Christians need to step up to the plate and show the world what Christ was and is really all about. Not the masks we wear to impress the world. Who cares about them when you've got God? The only way to change the way things are now is to take action ourselves. We are the only Christ some people will ever see. Make it a good one.

So now I ask you, reader:

"What is the point of all this if you don't let it change you?"

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I think the only verse that could work here is John 3:16.

God loved us.   So what?  What do we do in response? That's for you to decide.

Tonight I leave you with Hosanna by Hillsong United:

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a new revival
Stirring as we

pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what is yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity


Rise up to take your place. Love like He loved you. Be who you is.


Praying for you all!


Until Next Time,


~Wanted~

2 + 2 ≠ 5

 

Hmmmm......

The other day I had a conversation that really got me going. It was great, it was wonderful, deeply rooted in theology. And it got me thinking. (Which, if you've been reading, know by now is a VERY dangerous thing indeed.)

I started out this blog as something that wasn't religious, but just on topics that I thought were important. And I'm still going to keep doing that. But as I've seen my progression, I've realized it's been becoming more and more religious. Like I said, I'm going to keep writing on topics that are important. This time, it is an inherently religious one.

As we were talking, I came across something that I come across far too often: a misconception about Christianity. A misconception is even more dangerous than a lie sometimes. A lie you can refute, you can show to be untrue. A lie is easy to disprove, and it's easy to be caught in the act. A misconception is different. That's an idea. That's a belief. Since it's not exactly a lie, it's more difficult to show people how it's wrong. More than that it's infuriating because if people only understood the truth, there would be less conflict - in ALL areas of life. Take math for instance.   5x5=25, always. When you were first learning multiplication, this was hard to understand. It might have taken you hours to learn it, and if you learned it wrong, imagine how hard it would be to do (5x5x4)/2! (It's 50 by the way.) You would have to unlearn what you know, and relearn the base concept all over again. That is what misconceptions do to people. This is why they are so insidious. The misconception I'm upset with is one that keeps people away from Christianity almost as much as bad Christians do (Another post on that one later).

Without further ado....
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The Rules

Have you ever read the book 1984 by George Orwell? It was written in 1948 about a dystopian future in which everything is controlled by the all knowing government, represented by Big Brother. No one is safe from his watchful eye. There is no such thing as free will. Everyone does what the government says... or else. Political parties today use it as a rallying cry on how our government is going the wrong way - in both directions. The picture above shows one of the book's demonstrations of this. People everyday hear these 3 slogans, and are made to believe them. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. No one questions anything, and those who do disappear.

Doesn't make for a happy life, does it?

This is many people's view of the Church and Christianity. We have a set of rules that we all have to follow - or else! No one can deviate from them. No one has any right to question them, and those who do are shut up or sent away. The less you know the better. Don't ask questions, just follow. There is no free will involved.

Every heard any of these before? So many people turn away from the truth because they don't understand what it means. It looks like just a bunch of rules, and people don't want to feel fenced in. They don't want to feel trapped. They don't want to be told what they can and can't do.

We aren't cattle to be herded. If that's the way things did work, then they would be completely right in doing so. People need to think for themselves. People need to make their own decisions. People need to grow. Have you ever had that friend who's not grown up yet?They're acting really immature, and you just want to knock some sense into them, but you know no matter what you do they won't listen. The only way for them to grow is for them to learn on their own. Everyone is like that from time to time. The best way for one to learn something is by learning the lesson itself, not by having it shoved into you.

Before I go any further I want to acknowledge that I may sound extremely hypocritical. "But Wanted, you are using your own argument. The Church does say certain things just are and we can't question them. There are rules and there are certain non negotiables. What if you're just brainwashed too? Maybe you buy into the freedom is slavery. From the sound of your argument (the one I'm about to make) you buy into the whole 'freedom is slavery thing'." To them I say it's different. I understand that's a weak argument, but it's true. There are certain things that are not up to us. That's true. But when you are dealing with truth, certain things don't change. 5x5 will never equal 24. So too will it never be that abortion is ok, etc. You can say that I'm brainwashed because I've been a Christian my whole life. But I know my church's teachings. I know what they are and I know why. And I choose it. And yes, I understand my argument might sound like freedom is slavery, but it's not, and as I argue you will see why. "Freedom is Slavery" argues that to be truly free from all you need to be a slave to something, in the case of 1984 that's Big Brother. I'm not arguing that you need to be a slave to something. In fact, I'm arguing for freedom from bondage. With that in mind, I continue.

Remember my example about the whirlpool from last time? You got closer and closer and then sucked in. What if you never got close? You'd never have to worry about any suction at all, or getting yourself out when you got sucked under. If you never did that "just this once" you'd never have to stare into the void of the life you've created.

This, in essence it what the rules are there for. Not to enslave, but to free!

God says not to lie. He doesn't say this because He wants to make your life more complicated than it has to be. He says it because one lie leads to another. And another. And another. Soon your whole life is a lie. And escaping that takes a lot. The command not to lie is not meant to limit, but to free. If you never lie, you can't get trapped by them.

God says not to have sex outside of marriage. He doesn't say this to take fun out of life. What if it results in an unwanted pregnancy? Or consider how an affair could ruin a relationship? Life gets much more messy and complicated, really quickly. God doesn't say "don't have sex outside marriage" because He wants you to have less fun, but to free you from things that could cause you pain - the emotional turmoil of a ruined marriage, broken relationships, etc.

I could go on and on. The purpose of these rules is not to restrict, but to set boundaries that free us. Freedom from slavery. Freedom from sin. If I'm not trapped by addictions I can be free to live my life. The rules act as a guide that takes us down a path to happiness. The other things might be nice distractions, but ultimately make life miserable.

The world would have us think otherwise. In 1984 the main character is made to believe that 2+2=5. The world today wants us to believe that. It's sensualized. Sex is everywhere. Drugs are cool. Morals are all relative. For all it cares, 2+2 does =5. What truth says is 2+2=4. These so called rules give us the freedom to see that.

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Christianity is ALL about free will. That's the whole point. Christ died to save us from sin. He died so that we would actually have a choice. We can choose to stay stuck in our whirlpools, or we can choose Him. We have the free will to choose. We can decide to live with God's commands, or not. We can choose Him, or not. He died so for our very right to choose!

Myth: Rules are made to enslave.
Fact: Freedom is not slavery.

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I hope that this made a little more sense now. I feel very strongly about this one. I know it's not one of my best, but it's something that needs to be said. We are not a Big Brother people. We are not mindless. We are free.

John 8:31-32 says:

" Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, / and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 

Be free. Don't be enslaved. Ignorance is not strength. War is not peace. Freedom is not slavery.

The song I leave you with is I am Free by the Newsboys:

 I am free to run
I am free to dance
I am free to live for You
I am free
Yes, I am free

Praying for you all

Until Next Time,
~Wanted ~