Grace Persists

"Forgive each other, just as Christ has forgiven you." Eph. 4:32

Forgiveness is one of the most essential beliefs underlying all of Christianity. Our own reconciliation with God hinges on the forgiveness of sin that is found in Christ. It is through this forgiveness that we find peace with God and then are able to delight in the full love of God.

This principle is brought up later in the New Testament as a critical principle between believers. In order to have healthy relationships with others, forgiveness and grace must exist and persist. But more than that, it must overflow every nook and cranny of the relationship.

Often after hearing a well-preached sermon about grace, forgiveness, and letting go of resentment we identify people that are "triggers" for us. We may pray for God to help us find some resolution. We may pray for God to help us let go of the hurt, to help us to forgive. We pray for God to help us redeem the relationship, to mend what was broken. We have a desperate faith -- hope beyond hope -- that the parent, child, friend, or spouse will become an intimate part of our lives again. We are ready to shower them with grace.

That feeling fades. That hope and faith begin to wither. We try to call them up...we might even drop by to try and "make things right." But they don't seem to be as full of grace as us, so eventually we give up. 

But grace must persist. Imagine what would have happened if God abandoned His pursuit of you at the first sign of difficulty. Or the second. Or the five hundredth. But He didn't. He kept pursuing you, full of love and grace. That's what love does. Against all odds and obstacles, grace persists.

Why I won't invite you to church

I am a Christian. I believe in Heaven and I believe in Hell. I believe that Heaven is an incredible place...a place where there is no sorrow, no tears, and no pain. I believe Hell is a place of torment and isolation, forever separated from joy, love, and God. I also believe that there is one path to Heaven...by accepting the gift of life that Jesus Christ, the son of God, died to give us.

But I'm not going to invite you to church.

It isn't that I hate you and want you to go to hell. It isn't that my church has something wrong with it. I'm not embarrassed about my faith or my church.

I believe that you matter to God. If you matter to God, you matter to me. God sent His only son to redeem humanity, to reconcile this lost world back to Him. But just because you matter to God doesn't mean you go to Heaven. The all mighty and all powerfull God has chosen to give us all free will. He allows us to chose where we spend eternity. We don't all get in.

So if I don't hate you, but I actually love you deeply and want to see you in heaven, why don't I invite you to church? Simple. Because church can't save you. You can attend church every day of your life, attend seminary, and even pastor a church and still not make it. Only Jesus can save you. That's all, nothing else. I don't want to invite you to church, I want to introduce you to Jesus.

Called

I believe that a genuine relationship with Christ changes your life. So, when you meet someone that is a fully devoted follower of Christ, his or her life will be "different" than those around them.

Here in Oklahoma, being a "Christian" is easy. Everyone goes to church or at least knows the name of  a church they can claim to go to if asked. They may even go there a few times a year, if they have time. Then there are those that attended every week, but their lives seem extraordinarily normal. Then there are "those people." You may have met one or two. "Those people" are weird. They do things that just don't make sense, but for some reason things work out.

I know a few of "those people." I've noticed that when you talk to them, there's a light in their eyes. Even when they are weary, if you get ask them about what Christ has done in their lives, they will suddenly be refreshed and excited. Their theology isn't just in their head. Their hope isn't just in their hearts. They haven't been waiting until they depart from this world to see Jesus' face. They have seen Him. They've seen Him work in this world. Often they have been a part of something miraculous. And now their life is different and nothing will ever be the same. In the best of all possible ways.

I haven't written a lot lately. Yes, I experienced the "expected" culture shock after coming back from my mission trip. It's been quite an adjustment. After being a part of something so unique and special, bringing light to a dark corner of the earth, it's hard to get back to "normal" life. 

Now there's talk of another trip. I have my doubts, that's what I do. But God has surrounded me with a crowd of His faithful witnesses. My friends "The Meadors" have such a radical and devoted faith it continues to urge me on. It helps to know I'm not the only "crazy" one out there! Then there is "Katie" who is getting a ton of international attention for her incredible faith and how she has fully given herself over to the work of the Lord. Her recent book has been a huge hit, against all odds.

Right now my goal is to draw nearer to God. I know that I want to go on every mission trip I possibly can. But more important than that, I want to be right where God wants me to be.