Bashing God's Chosen

I believe it is an injustice to the people of God to bash (vilify, slander, or discredit) any minister of God.

I do not say this to condemn anyone for doing so; I myself have been guilty of bashing others.  God has grace for us.  I only wish to discuss something I have recently learned. 

I myself will be the first to point out wrong doctrine.  Many of the discussions I have with my husband involve post-sermon-bad-theology detox.  And many of these blog posts are exactly that.  But I believe it would be wrong to discredit those ministers who speak bad doctrine.  If people are finding salvation, if the ministry is producing fruit, if people are being filled with the Holy Spirit [as strange as that can sometimes be], then who are we to say God is not using them?

In my experience as a leader in Masters Commission, I've watched our program switch leadership more times than is healthy for any ministry.  And I could tell you story upon story about times I disagreed with what my leaders were teaching to my students and "leaders-in-training" (I call them mine because I love them like they are mine, even now).  Some crazy doctrine has come out of the mouths of almost every leader I've ever worked with at some point in their lives, myself included.  But God used us all in a supernatural way to help shape each others' faith.  I have been hurt by leaders who have led others to be baptized in the spirit, who have prayed for healing and people were healed.  I have hurt people, but God has also used me to pray for those same people and they were instantly healed.

What I am ultimately saying is something that Bill Johnson said at Jesus Culture's 2011 conference "The Awakening."  He told us to always respect the Holy Spirit in others.  In other words, I am not special just because I'm a part of this or that church, nor am I special because I've been through what I've been through; I am special because of the Holy Spirit in me.  God plays no favorites.

By no means am I saying to accept what everyone is teaching.  I am definitely not saying to trust anyone who believes in God.  Believe what you believe to be true, and don't let people tear down your faith.  But I am saying don't cause others' faith to stumble.  Others may not be at a point in their lives to maturely receive criticism of others.  We all are on the same playing field as far as our chances with God. "God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29, NIV)  or as the Amplified version says: 
       For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are
        given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom 
        He sends His call.]
This means that once God gives gifts, He doesn't take them back.  That's why they are called gifts, not rewards.  Even if the person turns out to be a scoundrel, genuine people could still be ministered to by the Holy Spirit using that scoundrel.  After all, didn't God use a donkey to tell Balaam not to keep going in the direction he was headed (Numbers 22)?

I especially feel it is an injustice when a preacher openly bashes another preacher to a congregation full of people.  I once heard a traveling evangelist say, "I feel that all those grace preachers are doing a disservice to you young people by not telling you the truth..."  and a bunch of people said a hearty "AMEN", and I wanted to punch his lights out.  It's those grace preachers' messages that have kept me from leaving the church altogether.  In fact, several of those grace preachers are seeing thousands saved in their meetings.  The grace of God is irresistible.  It does not harm people, neither does it enable sinners; it changes sinners into saints.  It is God's positive reinforcement.  Why would anyone be so angry that thousands of hearts are coming to know Christ and being spared from Hell?

Some of the motivation for bashing other ministers (same motivation for bashing anyone):

1.  Jealousy - any person successful in ministry can become an object of jealousy to the minister who is called to disciple a select few.  Ministers all over dream of someday having a global ministry, seeing thousands come to Christ.  They ultimately want their ministry to grow.  What ambitious human doesn't want to expand their territory?  It's also easy to fall into the trap of feeling like God is blessing everyone but you.
2. Ignorance - people just don't know what is actually being preached and they are hearing second and third-hand interpretations of doctrine.  They don't see the fruit of the ministry and don't know what's really going on.  They end up discrediting a person based on falsehood.
3. Doubt/Faithlessness - if miracles are happening elsewhere, it can be easy to be skeptical.  But believe in God's power even if you don't see it manifesting in your life (although I believe it will when a person believes)
4. Disagreement - A person might actually disagree with the doctrine preached.  In this case, one must be extremely sensitive with the subject.  
5. Pride - A person might just feel that their denomination is superior in every way; their interpretation of scripture is the only way to believe.  It's okay to believe something fervently, but I am talking about those who pride themselves in their beliefs rather than in God.

We MUST be sensitive when we talk about others.  Here's why sensitivity is so important: 

1. We can cause others to stumble.  Some people have their pastors on pedestals and can't handle hearing disagreement.  Their faith in their pastor is so closely linked with their faith in God, that to hear someone disagree could make them question their own faith.  Many people look at pastors and leaders as representatives of God in their lives, much like the Jews relied on their priests, and not fully realizing that Jesus Christ is our priest (Hebrews 5-7).  I don't believe it's wrong to look to leadership for guidance, but one must have a proper perspective, not elevating man higher than what he is, especially not higher than God.
2. There is so much truth to be gained from other doctrines.  We should never be so prideful to think that we are at the top of our understanding of God.  Some of the most beautiful theology comes out of the Anglican church.  Some of the teachings of Charles Spurgeon, a very famous Calvinist, has changed my life.  Catholics have a great understanding of sacrament.  Pentecostals believe for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be active within the church setting.  Grace preachers are healing balm for those who have been hurt by legalistic believers, and they are seeing masses saved.  Why deprive someone of something they might need simply because you don't agree with the person preaching.

I would say it is noble to feel protective and want to shield others from bad teaching.  I am sure many initially feel this way when they do discredit others.  But it's all the same: make sure you know what you're talking about when you say what you do, and use wisdom in the way that you say it.  Always give respect to the minister who is in question.  Don't make hasty generalizations about these people, after all, didn't Jesus rebuke the disciples for discrediting a preacher of the gospel simply because they didn't know him?

I finish with this thought: 1 John 2:27, "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him."
 

How Preachers Shoot Themselves In the Foot, Erroneous Tactic #1: Condemnation

Preachers, pastors, and priests are some of my favorite kinds of people.  They devote their entire lives to God by serving others, and their devotion is striking.  What they sacrifice to accomplish what they believe to be God's will is massive.  Any man or woman who tells me they've "pastored" a church has high respect from me simply because I've seen the ugly side of ministry and know what can go on.  I automatically know they've had to deal with harsh scoldings from stubborn, disagreeing believers, they've wrestled with tough moral decisions, and they've had to watch how their decisions affect a large multitude of people.  All they ever dream about is to see people experience God in a magnificent way.  They want what God want's: for people to live life abundantly and joyfully, having an intimate relationship with Christ.  A mistake made by a pastor can cause an unstable believer to turn away from God, or even cause some people to be led astray in their thinking.  That is not always the pastor's fault, but it is gut-wrenching to think about.  Any person who has been a head pastor has had their heart broken and smashed to the ground many times.  They endure a lot.

These precious "shepherds" can carry a heavy burden.  There's pressure to be better than human: people expect a higher moral standard from their spiritual leaders.  Of course, it comes with the territory.  When you appear on a stage to be heard by a number of people, you are placed on a pedestal at least by someone if not many.  It can be easy to constantly compare yourself to the standard set before you.  And being human, all a pastor can say is that he is just like everyone else. And it's just as easy to compare others to your own high standard and feel discouraged when they don't meet it.  Naturally, that frustration can come out in sermon-form.   A pastor's own sense of condemnation or discouragement, or even frustration can ooze out onto the congregation.  Worship leaders are included in this.

There are plenty of cases in which a pastor is preaching and there is no hint of condemnation in the sermon, but people misinterpret it. Perhaps a person already feels condemned for how they've been living and any teaching is like a stab in the face because they don't feel worthy of it. So, I will not make a generalization about all pastors and all sermons.  I am going to bring light to the effects of using condemnation, whether intentionally or unintentionally, on people in a church setting.  So here we go...

There is a running theme of condemnation on the subject of sin.  It's easy to interpret scripture that way, especially if you're reading the Old Testament.  God hates sin.  It's been made clear in scripture after scripture.  It's also easy to preach that way, after all, doesn't it say that we are all sinners?  Isn't there constant instruction on staying away from immorality even in the New Testament?  Perhaps bluntness and honesty is the best path to fixing the problem.  Sometimes a person needs to hear harsh words, right?  We need to be honest with ourselves and God, 'cause we stink at keeping our end of the deal.  Doesn't the Bible say that the truth will set you free?  With that fuel, a person on a pulpit may feel a duty to point out sins and discuss the consequences.  I've heard that scolding tone many a time.  It's like a father telling his son what he did wrong.  We all have probably heard at least one sermon that has made us feel like the lowest form of a human being.

In these cases, there's an arsenal of shame-causing, law-revealing scriptures.  There's also scripture that says that whatever is done in darkness will be brought to the light (1 Corinthians 4:5).  It's easy to scare an entire congregation into thinking they will be utterly exposed and humiliated as a result of their sins [more on this below].  "Your sins will find you out." (Numbers 32:23) is also another big one.  And, "The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23), is one I've heard time and time again.  I am not trying to say preachers should never preach these scriptures.  I am merely pointing out popular ones that have been used in a condescending, condemning way. 
 
[**Side Note** No one should live in fear of exposure because, praise God, where sin abounds, grace much more abounds.  Our good actions don't redeem our sins.  That's a worldly mindset.  God's grace redeems us from sin.  God protects us and defends our nakedness.  He doesn't bring us shame.  I know there are instances in which public confession is necessary for healing, especially for political reasons.  But God is in the business of redemption, not humiliation.  When people start pointing at other people's sins, they are not doing so out of God's love.  "...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17)]

Some people outright name sins.  I once heard a preacher tell the congregation that they were a "lustful and immoral generation".  He then moved on to his next point that revival only comes by living a lifetime of purity.  He disqualified every person in the room who had experienced impurity in their lives (which is everyone).  Can you imagine how hopeless his people felt?  Can you guess what the altar call looked like?  People were wailing at the altar, filled with condemnation.  He removed all hope for revival, which is what he longed for so desperately.

Or there are those preachers who don't live in fear of exposure because they actually believe their actions have put them on good terms with God.  This is how the Pharisees believed, and we all know how much Jesus couldn't stand it.  So they preach from that platform, only preaching on the things that they themselves have overcome.  They use their own lives as teaching points (which is not bad, but it is in this case).  If you think your actions have earned you some righteousness, I will be so bold as to say you don't understand the gospel.  Jesus is our righteousness.  Our status with God is based on the cross, not on our behavior, good or bad.

Then there's a lot of talk about "dealing with sins".  The problem with that idea is that Christ dealt with it on the cross already.  In sermons dealing with sin, the natural solution is repentance.  Pastors at least give some hope by providing this way out.  The typical repentance sermon deals with "that one sin we always struggle with that we can't ever seem to get rid of". And the main point is: confession is the way to freedom.  And all the altar calls are all the same: if you are feeling convicted, come down to the altar to get your freedom.  And all the prayers are the same: "God, give them strength to overcome this sin."  And practically the whole congregation responds to the altar call, because everyone feels guilty about some sin they've committed.  A preacher may feel that he has effectively preached the gospel according to the Spirit simply because his altar call response is huge.  And the undertone is that, "no one is perfect", so if you don't go down to the altar, you must think that you're perfect.  If we're all sinners, then we should all be at that altar, sharing the private things of our hearts with people we might not know or even trust.  And it's easy for a leader to see the rest of the people, those who remain in the pews, as less holy.  It may seem that they are holding back from God.  That's what I used to think!

Freedom from sin comes from Christ, not from confession.  Confession may be a part of the healing process, but it is not the source of freedom.  Furthermore, the ultimate goal in this Christian walk is not to overcome sin so you can make it into heaven.  If you've spent years and years, like me, trying to overcome sin, you've wasted your efforts.  Christ already overcame it for us.

Another problem with the "typical repentance sermon"  is that whoever preached has just put your focus on how imperfect you are as a human compared to God.  When we focus on our imperfection, condemnation is what naturally occurs.  This condemnation is then confused with conviction.  And so hundreds of people are trained, whether by their pastors or by their own misinterpretation, to recognize condemnation (a tactic of Satan) as the Holy Spirit's conviction.  Guilt is then associated with God, and so many people start running from God because they think this feeling of fear and guilt is from Him.  So many people begin to have a distorted view of God like He's a disappointed father always looking down on them.  He seems sadistic because He knows they are utterly dependent on Him to be free of these short-comings, yet He somehow expects them to deal with it on their own?  It is an unbiblical paradox.  This simply keeps people in a state of fear rather than in a state of trust.

Conviction is not to be confused with condemnation.  But this is an area I need to study further.  I will leave it up to God to point out sins because his way of doing it is so much more loving and empowering than mine.  When He brings up my sins, He is usually showing me that He is taking care of them.  He always reassures me that He turns all things for the good of those who love Him.  When I point out other peoples' sins, they get defensive or feel terrible, neither of which leads to actual freedom from those sins.  It only ever leads to the person focusing on their sins and entering into an endless battle with them.  I have no power to free others from their sin.

Do you see how even subtle condemnation works its way into the believer's mind and actually leads him down a worse path than before?  Condemnation that is believed from ANY source destroys faith in God.  Even a genuine pastor--who loves God and is desperate to see God moving in his congregation--even that gem of a person can sabotage his end goal of revival.  That pastor only finds himself more and more discouraged and "desperate" to see God move in his church because the people seem so hopeless and downcast.  But they don't feel worthy enough to engage their spiritual gifts or sometimes even talk to God because they are focused on how terrible they are at keeping God's law. 

Let me establish two things: 1) Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17 NIV), and 2) Satan is the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev 12:10 KJV).  When a preacher uses condemnation as a tool to bring about repentance, he is unknowingly doing the devil's job.  But that is not his intention.  In fact, when he points out sin, it's usually motivated out of a desire to get rid of the problem.  That's where I was.  I was trying to help my leadership team improve by always telling them where the mistakes were, but I was making things worse.  It's backwards thinking.  Encouragement bore far greater results.

Solution: Focus on God and Know Who You Are.

The problem is not the sin.  The problem is the focus.  Too many Christians are focused on sin.  And whatever you focus on becomes your reality.  Trying to avoid sin only makes it worse because of the very nature of it; avoiding sin puts the focus on, well, sin.  And the frustrating fact, to me, is that because of those altar calls, and their belief that they must deal with this sin, many people walk away identifying themselves with the sins they confessed.  They walk away feeling a strong mandate to overcome sin instead of being renewed and believing that Christ already overcame it for them. 

Your sinful nature died with Christ.  The only reason you're seeing sin in your life is because you believe you are a sinner.  Whatever you believe manifests in your life.

I believe the solution to the problem of being sin-focused is to start being God-focused.  We must also believe that we are so melded into Christ's spirit that His nature IS our nature.  We must trust Him to live through us.

God speaks things that aren't as though they were.  He tells us who we are even if it seems impossible to believe.  He always gives us positive reinforcement, even when we feel less than worthy of it.  Even psychology will tell you that positive reinforcement is the most effective way to teach someone a behavior; it far exceeds any other type of teaching in effectiveness.  If you believe you're an imperfect sinner, guess what: that's what you'll always be so long as you believe it.  And you'll never get to the meat of the word.  And if you've mixed up condemnation for conviction, you'll have a hard time trusting God, because you actually associate Him with who Satan is.  We are hid in Christ.  He's not going to expose your sin.  He's going to give you favor and blessings.  Believe it!

So I say to those who speak from the pulpit: pointing out sin is one way to stop your church from experiencing revival.  Condemnation is a tool of Satan.  You yourself cannot allow it into your heart, and you must protect others from experiencing it.  It is a faith-blocker.  If you want your congregation to be discouraged and scared, preach repentance again and again.  If you want Christians to act like sinners, continuously remind them that they're sinners; keep them dwelling on how they've been living their lives this past week, and you'll keep them in a darkened state.  Your ministry will always be dragging along.  Finding volunteers will be like pulling teeth.  And your leaders will be tired and drained.  People need positive reinforcement.  They need to believe that they can accomplish anything.  They need to feel loved and approved of.  They need to feel valued.  They need their faith to be built up.  They have all of that through Christ already.  Don't take that away.

I am convinced that the behavior of a person has everything to do with what he or she believes. Believe you are not a sinner, not because you are something special, but because Christ loved you so much He died for you, and when He died, so did your sinful nature.  Keep your mind on Christ.

Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV)
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

God's Presence Is With the Believer

This entry is a response to an issue brought up with my previous blog entry.  My response was too long for the comment box, so I'm publishing it here.  Enjoy!

Here is the question:

Another truly wonderful Word. And I agree w/ most of it. I don't mean to argue, but I do want to nit-pick one tiny little detail: There is a definite distinction between being "in God's presence" and times when "God shows up in His full power and glory."
Case in point: Moses. We all know he was blessed and highly favored in the eyes of The Lord. That's not even remotely debatable. Then he climbed Mount Sinai and was in the cloud of God's glory. I admit, I'm a little rusty on my OT history, but I think I can safely say that Moses' entire life was surounded by God's presence. Then he went up the mountain into the cloud and was *in* God's presence - in His full power & glory.
I'm also bringing this up because of things I read in "God Chasers," as I mentioned before. You can be part of a Church Body that's on fire for God, but still *not* be in the presence of God's full power & glory.
Just a thought.

In Christ
CK

And here is my answer:

Hey, CK!

Thanks for replying.

Two years ago, I would have been in your shoes responding in a similar manner.  But my views on this have changed radically. 

Let me explain my point of view on the presence of God.  I would agree with you about Moses, for sure.  In the Old Testament, (God's first covenant with man) God's presence was viewed within the boundaries of space and time.  For example, God's presence was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (how amazing would that be to see God's presence manifested as a fire at night... gives me goosebumps), then it was with Moses on the mountain, then it was in the most holy place in the temple and only priests could be in it.  Then it was in the ark and anyone who touched it died.  All of these were foreshadowing what was to come: the new covenant God would make with us by His son's death on the cross.  The temple was a foreshadowing of your spirit, just as the ark was, meaning that when Christ died we became the ark of the covenant.  My spirit (and yours) is now united with Christ in a more intimate way than even Moses experienced.  Therefore, the way God interacts with us now is different than the way he interacted with His people in the old testament.  We are under the new covenant.  We don't have to sacrifice lambs because Christ was the lamb who atoned for the sins of all mankind, past, present, and future.  That just wasn't the case in Moses' time.

Furthermore, God manifesting Himself to Moses doesn't prove that His presence wasn't there before he appeared as a pillar of fire.  He was merely revealing Himself to Moses in a unique way.  After all, is He not omnipresent?  I believe that God is always present with the believer at all times and in all places.  Not only is He present, but His Spirit has become one with us and we have direct access to Him at all times.  We don't have to go through a physical priest anymore because Christ is your high priest.  I believe you have the same access to Him in the grocery store as you do in church.  Miracles are merely manifestations of an already present God.


So, my belief is that God is omnipresent (as is your view, I presume), and that a believer's faith is what enables him to have access to the manifestation of the full glory and power.  So it is God's grace that gives us access, and our faith that engages that access.

It is vital for the Christian to believe that God is constantly with him in His full power and glory at all times, in all places.  When a person actually believes that, they constantly experience God; their life is revolutionized. 

Why is it so important for me to believe this?  It's because my actions reflect what I believe.  If I believe that God's presence only comes at certain times, or by certain prayers, or only during worship, or only when a congregation meets together, then my behavior is different at home than it is at church.  But if I believe He is just as powerfully with me when I'm walking down the street, then I'm the same person in all places.  Imagine how big my faith would be, and how empowered I would feel?  What could a person with that kind of faith accomplish?

I recently wrote a paper talking about how many believers don't seem to believe that God is with them. I used the book "God Chasers", a book read by millions of believers, to illustrate how many people are actually misled about the nature of God's presence.  I love Tenney's heart and call to intimacy.  I commend his ability to inspire and motivate. I essentially disagree with the entire premise of identifying oneself as a "God Chaser".  I don't know about you, but if God hadn't chased me down, I'd be one sad excuse of a human being right now.  I did nothing to catch God's attention.  I unknowingly had it from the start.  He somehow made me into a worthwhile person.  He is the one who changed me.  He loves me that much.  He is not like an earthly father whose attention can only be focused on one thing at a time.

In reference to your last sentence, I think that church people who are on fire for God but aren't seeing manifestations of the glory and power of God simply don't realize that they have full access to it.  they can't take part in something they don't know or believe.  But they do have FULL access.  God doesn't play favorites, nor is He cryptic.  Neither do our accomplishments grant us higher status in the spiritual world.  Our only merit is Christ's blood and He's with all believers equally.  I'd say it's what we believe about Him that determines how we experience Him, not what we do for Him (because anything we do that is good is Him working through us anyway, so none of us can boast in our works).  He does not favor one group of people over another.  Nor is He in one place more than another.  I'd say He is simply manifest more in certain places than in others because people actually believe He's going to do something.  It's their faith that engages His glory. 

**Side Note** I want to note that I believe there is a manifestation, or a "feel", that is unique to the corporate gathering, which is why many people associate His presence with the church building rather than with with their own spirit.  They see the world outside of the church as secular.

I think God can do far more with a person who knows instinctively that God is with him in His fullness than He can with a person who is using his energy chasing after something he already has.  How can you enjoy something fully if you don't know you have it?  How can you fully enjoy a relationship with God if you believe you have to work to catch his attention?  How can you fully enjoy His presence if don't realize you have His fullness of glory?  I can tell you that once you realize He's all in, you start experiencing God in a much more dynamic way.  You cannot earn His favor just as you cannot earn His grace.  Thank God, cause we'd all be hell-bound if it wasn't for grace.

So, as long-winded as that was, there is my view in a nutshell.  I truly hope you at least consider it because I believe this kind of thinking is so foundational, so vital to the joyful Christian life.  If you cannot agree, well, we can at least thank God we're both still saved and going to heaven. :)

Acknowledgement Is Not Validation

A Christian who feels guilt for not daily and purposefully "inviting Jesus" into his life (or aspects of his life) does not know the gospel correctly.

I have made a claim here that may strike you as heresy.  Let me clarify something: I am not belittling the value of a daily devotion time.  However, I do believe that there should be no guilt involved with it.  But I am not so much talking about devotion time as I am about the need to constantly invite Jesus to take over, or to constantly invite Him to be a part of our lives.  We do not need to do that; we only need to have an understanding about it.

I often hear sermons about God in which our relationship with Him is compartmentalized and equated to that of a human, and in one sense, much understanding can be gained by doing this.  God reveals Himself through His creation.  But there is a point at which a person needs to realize that a relationship with God is MUCH different than that of a human.  Even in Hosea, God says, "I am God and not man."

Let me explain why compartmentalizing God is a problem:  God is not limited by space and time.  I can be physically separate from my husband and I may spend time doing many different things on any given day without him.  The less time I spend with him, the more I miss him.  We are one in spirit, but we are bound by time and space.  God is not.  In fact, when you become a Christian, you no longer live, but Christ lives in you (Gal 2:20).  So Christ is in everything about you.  Your entire being is renewed, even your thoughts and actions.  You are never again separated.  You become one with the Almighty.  Thinking about God within the limits of time and space can get a person all confused about their faith.

What I am also talking about is the idea that unless you are spending focused time with God, you are not in His presence.  This idea simply isn't how it works.  Biblically speaking, Christ is one with us and we live and breathe His presence.  Acknowledging God merely brings us to a heightened awareness of His presence.  "Feeling" the presence of God does not validate His presence.  In other words, His presence is with you whether you feel it or not.  And in the corporate worship setting (or in any setting), when you start feeling the presence of God, it doesn't mean He suddenly arrived; it means you suddenly became aware.

I think God mostly uses our feelings to help us along the way and for pure enjoyment, but I used to believe that if I didn't feel something, then God wasn't there with me, and that He wasn't doing anything in my life.  I was always looking for physical proof of His presence.  But I've realized that's not what it's about.  I know He's always with me and always working things out in my life by faith, not by feelings.  I believe He is in every part of me.  He owns me; possesses me.  His very being makes my life possible.  Wherever I am, He is.  How can He not be the center of my life?

Christians around me are always feeling guilty because they aren't constantly focused on God.  People think that they have to invite God into everything they do.  Even into church!  But that is just silly because if Christ is living as you instead of you, guess what; He's already invited.  If He owns the House (the church building, and your spirit), who are you to invite Him into His own house?  Does He not already live there?  Wasn't HE the one who paid for that house with His blood?  You paid nothing.  Furthermore, didn't HE create everything out of nothing?  He's more than invited.  He's God.

As a Christian, inviting God into His own church (or on a personal level, into your life) is as absurd as telling your dad when you were five that he was invited into the kitchen, or that he was welcome to be your dad...  HE IS YOUR DAD.  He owned the house more than you did.  This was something you naturally understood, and it is something as Christians that we need to know instinctively.  God paid for your soul, you didn't.  He owns it.  There is no need to invite Him in; He lives there.

I'm about to get into some doctrinal controversy here, but I believe that part of the reason people feel they have to invite God in is because they believe that they are separate from God.  They believe their will is constantly in opposition to God's will.  They believe that their flesh is and will always fight against God's righteousness.  They don't understand that they are more than just family, but a part of His body.  They believe that they have to make a conscious effort to invite Him in, or else He is not there.  They don't know that Jesus' death on the cross has made them holy.  They have that one sin they can never get rid of.  They are always worried that they're holding on to something, that God only has certain parts of them. 

God has all of you.  And you gave it all to Him at salvation.  The idea of holding back is not an actuality.


I think that when a person finally believes that he is one with Christ, and realizes the power and depth of that unity, there is no more guilt or shame.  Acknowledgement of God happens constantly, naturally, and automatically.  Sin has already been paid for by Christ's blood, so it has no hold.  It is His grace that enables us to truly believe.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  That word comes to you by His grace.  And when that person receives this realization--this faith--he or she becomes reliant on Christ in every single way without even making a single effort to do so.  It's all by grace through faith.  Thank God we have been bought and paid for with His blood!  

I don't have to make Jesus the center; He IS the center.  I don't have to give up anything, because it's already His.  I don't have to invite Him in; we live together.  Furthermore, He owns me.  I don't have to feel Him to know He is with me.  I don't have to try to be better because He IS better, and He lives through me.  I don't have to worry about forgetting God; that would be like forgetting what I look like.  I don't have to feel guilty for enjoying life because I know He's in it all.  My enjoyment of life brings glory to God.

Acknowledgement of God is not validation of His presence; it's simply awareness of an already present God.  Don't live in condemnation simply because you forgot to invite God into this or that certain aspect of your life.  Just know he's already a part of it.  When you realize that, you will automatically begin to live differently.

Books That Have Changed My Life

I woke up this morning thinking about the various books (besides the Word of God) that have made a huge impact on my life, and thought I would share them with you.  I often want to give people books for the pure sake of sharing the wisdom inside, but it's always an awkward gesture.  It's especially awkward when the books are self-help types.  It's like offering someone a mint, "take a hint."  Or when someone "lends" you a book and then you don't read it for a whole year, and they actually wanted it back...  But maybe someone will read my experience with these books and say, "Hey, I could use some of that wisdom," and perhaps they might just be impacted in a positive way.  So here we go.

Book # 1: Uprising, by Erwin McManus

This book has a lot about what good character looks like and I read it when I was seventeen.  At the time I was going through my first broken heart.  I had just broken up with a boy I was utterly obsessed with and my relationship with my mother was in shambles because of it.  There was one quote in particular that has been burned in my brain ever since I read it: "A direct benefit of gratitude is the freedom from bitterness."  Clearly the Holy Spirit made those words jump out at me, because I knew I had some serious bitterness against my mother.  From that day I started to thank her for all the little things she did.  It hurt my pride at first, but eventually I realized how much she really took care of me.  In the end, it changed the way she treated me too.  Instead of all the yelling and biting remarks, we simply started thanking each other.  I know it was the Holy Spirit who gave me the strength to do it.



Book # 2: Captivating, by John & Stasi Eldredge

This book messed me up!  I was twenty when my discipleship leader required us girls to read it and at first I was extremely skeptical.  I thought, "How is this book--this generalization of all women--going to address me and the mystery of my own soul?"  I was a little insulted to be lumped into a stereotype.  But no joke, one sitting, I was in tears.  Sometimes I would read a page and have to stop to cry.  Sometimes I would read a sentence and have to stop.  Sometimes it was a paragraph.  This book talks about issues that come from fathers and what every woman needs from fathers and mothers.  It puts things into perspective and validates so many thoughts and feelings.  I felt like John and Stasi were having a personal conversation with me.  Stasi has a story about a moment she reconciled with her mother, and it inspired me to ask my mother, "did I ever make you feel like you weren't good enough for me?"  She looked at me as a tear ran down her face and replied, "sometimes."  I apologized to her, and she apologized to me for the same thing.  We both cried and hugged.  It was a healing moment I'll never forget.

Book # 3: Mystical Union, by John Crowder

This book is a theological revolution.  Even for the pentecostal, at first read, it could seem almost heretical.  But I feel that John Crowder has an amazing revelation of grace that needs to be shared.  I think people who are turned off by legalistic, traumatizing church experiences need to read this book.  It will make the gospel seem like actual good news for once. :)  The grace of God is irresistible, but too many leaders have condemned people for sinning to the point that when they come to church they just feel like dirt.  God is too often associated with guilt and shame, but, that's not even from Him at all.  He's so full of grace it's not even funny.  I'd say of all books I've ever read, this book has had the most profound impact on my life to date.  It is the ideas in this book that caused my theological ship to crash onto shore. 



Book # 4: Between Noon and Three, by Robert Ferrar Capon

In the realm of Christian help books, people are always trying to dumb down and simplify their writing so that anyone can understand their concepts.  So I lost the joy of reading because I need intellectual stimulation.  But this book is not for the simple-minded.  It has renewed my joy for reading simply by being complex in writing style.  I would compare Capon's personality to that of C.S. Lewis, yet his vocabulary is more developed.  Once again, this book might feel like a theological slap in the face, but for real, this guy knows what he's talking about.  It starts out with a story about an affair between two people and the rest of it is an analysis of theological ideas concerning grace.  He lays out an outrageous metaphor that anyone could potentially be offended by if they are not ready to have their their theology shaken and rearranged.  Unless, of course, you yourself have already been completely altered by this powerful revelation of grace.  Mmmm, God's grace is so good.



Well, there you have it.  If anyone has read any of these, or if you actually decide to read this because of me, definitely comment on here.  I want to know what kind of impact these books have left on you!  And it would bring me joy to know I had a part in making someone happy.

Welcome to "Shipwrecked": A Blog.

For the lack of a better, more witty introduction, welcome to my blog, "Shipwrecked".  You are probably wondering what the nature of this blog is.  No, this is not a blog about how to repair boats, nor is it a literal story of a boat crash.  For those of you who found it in a web search hoping it would be of nautical nature, you can surf on to more relevant sites now.  The nature of this blog is to discuss matters of theology, human relations, and being a part of the body of Christ.  I don't claim to be an expert on any of these matters (not yet anyway), but I have learned much about them in the past seven years of my life.  Also, the culmination of those seven years has brought me to a point of being shipwrecked in my theology and general outlook on life.  I used to be fine floating on my former beliefs, but the storm came and shattered that foundation.  I've been swept ashore and now I am standing on the beach of solid ground, thankful that the storm is over.  I am staring out at the ocean, watching other ships being tossed to and fro, realizing how vain it is to rely on such shaky, unstable beliefs.  I see life from a new perspective.  I know I am speaking metaphorically, but for the sake of wisdom, that is how I must leave it.

You might also find some craft ideas, recipes, stories, random items, or posts from my husband in this blog.  I have been a blogger/journal writer since I was a kid.  Someday I will be an author of books of various genres.

I want to learn from people, so please feel free to discuss the different views I present on this blog, and how your views differ.  However, angry, profane, or insulting posts will be deleted.  I have learned that discussions about theology can get very heated.  I am asking for educated discussion.

Finally, below, you will find the passage of scripture from which I derive my inspiration.  There are multiple levels of symbolism here, more than just my own feelings about my life experience.  I believe God is going to take many through a similar journey.  For now I will leave you with that.  And thank you for taking the time to read. ;) 


Acts 27:27-44  (read this in context on Biblegateway.com)
The Shipwreck
   "On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[a] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.  They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[b] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[c] deep.  Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.  In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.  Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, 'Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.'  So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
       Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. 'For the last fourteen days,' he said, 'you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything.  Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.'  After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.  They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board.  When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
       When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.  Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.  But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.  The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.  But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan.  He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.  The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely."