Nametags

A few years ago, I worked in an electronics store. Part of our dress code at this store was that we were required to wear a nametag that not only showed our name but also the logo of the store. Now, whenever I would go to lunch or get off work, I learned to remove that nametag promptly. The reason was because if I was at a restaurant or another department store, I would have random people walk up to me and ask for advice concerning technology matters. I’m serious, I had teens ask about the latest MP3 player, parents ask how they could keep track of their daughter’s cell phone or grandma’s asking me how to run the computer there family just bought for them.

Why would people do this? The reason was because they saw my nametag. They knew that because I wore that tag that I would be knowledgeable about electronic matters. The nametag showed that I belonged to something bigger than myself, that I had the backing and training of the entire company. People trusted that I knew what I was talking about and felt safe taking my advice.

We as believers also carry a type of nametag. Though we don’t post it on our shirts, we do bear the name of “Christians.” Unfortunately, the title “Christian” does not hold as much trust and value as it once did.

I could sit here and blame Televangelists and mega church scandals for the degradation of the title. I could point fingers and say it is the fault of this preacher, that religious leader or a certain group of “Christians.” But, in all honesty, I think I would be wrong. The problem doesn’t lie within those places. The problem, the blame, lies within you and me.

I look at it this way. We wear the nametag but don’t really know about electronics. Maybe we know, but are unwilling to take the take to assist the customers who have questions. Or perhaps we want to help, but don’t feel like we are good enough to help so we pass the customer off to another sales person.

Ok, enough of the retail jargon, but I think you get my point. All of these things lead people to lose faith in the title of “Christian.” They start to see us as fake, uncaring or just weak. The great thing is, we can change all of this, even if it is one person at a time.

First, we need to realize what it means to carry the mantle of Christ. We need to embrace the honor and responsibility that is associated with the nametag. We are a people chosen by God to carry his love and truth to a dead world. We have to live the lifestyle every day. Unlike my work nametag, the title “Christian” is not something we can just put on and take off. We carry it with us everywhere.

As believers, we need to show the love that Christ showed us. Jesus said “They will know you are mine by your love…” Love is the most important tool we have and the thing people will respond to. The lost will run from a sermon. But people will be drawn to love and to those who honestly care.

We need to know the Word and the one who gave it. Too many church goers are ignorant about what the Bible says. It seems that we all know the Sunday School stories or as the Apostle Paul called it in 1 Corinthians 3:2, “milk” but we don’t take the time to get to the “solid food”. We stay as babies, unable to have the tools or confidence to share our faith. But, as we begin to study and learn the scriptures, we gain wisdom and direction. Also, as it says in Psalms 119:11, we gain important strength of faith that allows us to continue to live a life pleasing to God. As we gain this strength, we will gain the confidence to live and share our faith with every. Like a river, it will begin to pour out into everything we do.

This is how we begin to redeem the title of “Christian” to this world. This is not some magic formula or an all encompassing cure. But, we have to make a start. We can no longer place the responsibility or blame on the “spiritual” leaders we see in the media. The responsibility and blame is our own. The change begins today. The change has to start with me and with you. And, as with anything we undertake in the name of Christ, we need to begin in prayer.

Father, I see the way your name and the name of Christ has been abused in this world. This is heartbreaking to me, and I want to bear your name and the name of Christ in the proper way. As I look at my own life, I realize that I have not always brought honor to the name of Christ. I am sorry and I want to change that. Right now, Jesus, I ask for the strength and guidance to bring honor and glory to you. I lay my own agenda aside and submit my life to you in everything. I know that with your love, change can happen in my life and in the lives around me.

Amen.

The mountain of God is in sight.

It makes me sick sometimes when I look back at my life. Other times, it makes me smile. Of course, I think we all have these life experiences.

Right now, I look at the past with hope. Why? Because I feel like I am on an upswing when it comes to my faith. After a time in the wilderness, I feel like I can at least see the mountain, though I am not yet climbing it. This past Sunday was wonderful. For the first time in months I felt an overwhelming tear inducing joy. I feel like freedom from the weights that try to pull at me is right around the corner.

The Altar and the Stage

Yes, I know the correct term is between the altar and the door, but, for me, it is a bit different. I am a member of two different worship teams. I seem to be on stage more than I am at the altar. I have the responsibility of leading others into the presence of a Holy God.

Frankly, that scares me some times.

In the Old Testament, the presence of God was represented by the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark resided in the temple, in a place call the Holy of Holys. On the Ark, there was an altar of sorts called the Mercy Seat. The Mercy Seat is said to be where the presence of God would come and sit. This is the place where each year a priest would come to make a sacrifice.

This was not a simple task for the priest. Rather, the priest would have to go through quite a few purification rituals before he could enter this holy place. If he failed to do these rituals properly and approached the mercy seat with any impurity, the presence of God would kill him.

Scary stuff.

The modern equivalent of those priests who went into the presence of God and brought it to the people would be, yea, you guessed it, the worship leaders.

Now you see why this sometimes scares me?

We who lead and serve on worship teams sometimes forget what we are really doing. We are not playing songs to feel good or perform for others. We are literally asking a Holy God to come meet us and let his presence overcome us, the same way those priests would. This is not a task we can take lightly.

God help me, but at times, I find arrogance can step in and I start to feel puffed up. I feel like I am something special because I play music. I feel like I could be a rock star. I thank God though that he is changing this in me.

I am learning everything must flow from a place of reverence and worship to God. My music is not my music. It is God's. It is my sacrifice to him.

So, each time I get on that stage, I need to realize that I am not the one who needs to be seen. Rather, I am coming before an altar. An altar where I lay down my very life.

yea yea, we are all equal...

Ok, as I have stated before, the second I admit that Jesus loves me and died for me, I become accountable to that fact. That accountability must lead to a change in how I view life. The simple act of being loved and accepting love means I must open to love as I myself am loved. (Yes, that is alot of love baby!)

I, myself, have a desire to love like Christ does. I think part of learning to love as Christ loves is to see people as Christ does. So, this opens up the line of questioning, "Just how does Jesus see people?" The first answer that has come to me, (with the help of Don Miller) is Jesus sees people as the same, as equals. While this may seem like a good thing, we must realize that the Bible does say that no one is good, no one is righteous. So, Jesus sees us all in need. He sees us a sinners who need to be redeemed. I believe the reason Jesus came and died was because the heart of God was broken. When man stepped out of the fellowship with God, his heart was broken by betrayal. When you read the book of Hosea, you get a perfect view of God's unending love for mankind. We, as the whore, betray God. Then, God who desperately loves us gives everything he has to get us back. Gives his own life.

So, Jesus sees us all as equal. Equal sinners. Then he loves us in spite of that and reaches out to show us that love.

See, this is where my first problem comes in. I have a hard time seeing everyone as equals. But, it may not be what you think. I more readily equate myself with the outcasts and sinners than I do with the churched. I have a problem looking down my nose at the "churched" and the "holy". I think this comes from past experiences with churches and Christians. (God is teaching me to let go and forgive the past, but that is a story for another time.)

So, I find myself at a crossroad of sorts. No, I take that back. I wish it was a crossroad because I would then have other options. It is a straight road that I have to keep moving forward on. I have to realize that we are ALL created equal, but despite that fact, we are ALL equally forgiven.

So, to sum it up, since I am loved, I must love. I have to let God take me past all my prejudices and show me how to love.

Now, if I can just put all this into action....

We have earned death....

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So do you see it? The deep contrast between the first part and second part? Our payment for what we do is death. Ok, yea, that is simple. But when you combine it with Romans 3:23, where it says all have sinned, we realize there is no getting around it. We have sinned. Our payment is we die. But wait, what is that second part? The FREE gift is life? What? So, we earn death, but we are given life? That makes no sense!

Ok, I will stop being dumb now, but God hit me with this today. Yea, I knew it, and had read it before, but it really sank in. We have been given a gift. We try to earn our salvation and his love by doing all this stuff. Like ministries. Or church attendance. Or giving money. And I am not saying that all this stuff is bad. But, this says the only thing we can earn is death. His love is a gift. A free gift.

I will write more tomorrow when I sort this out, but it is rocking my world right now.

Fine Irish Whiskey

Right now I find myself struggling once again with accepting and knowing I am forgiven. I am starting to embrace his love, and day by day I believe it more. But guilt over what I have done in the past still shows up some days. Thing is, I think I may be using guilt as an excuse. I mean, if I don't let go of guilt, I can use it when God moves my heart. I can say, "but God, I am still not good enough. Find someone more capable." I think I need to embrace an Isaiah experience. Standing before God, I admit I come from an unclean people. I scream out, "I am undone!" and watch as the blood pours and feel the coal burn my lips, heart, down to my very being. I hear the voice of Jesus whisper "Do no call unclean what I have made clean."

I am beginning to realize that when I hold on to my guilt, I am calling Jesus a liar and saying that the cross was worthless to me.

That is an intense revelation that I am having to let sink in slowly. In fact, all of these realizations and revelations of the past few weeks are like a fine Irish Whiskey. It can not be watered down with ice or soda. It must taken straight. You have have to sip, not chug. And, like fine whiskey, the warming glow of inebriation washes over me. The truth is intoxicating. I love it.

Don't you hate the days when you don't seem to have any deep revelations? Kinda feels like a skipping record where the ideas and thoughts from yesterday are still in the front of your mind. Though, this is a good thing, I suppose, because yesterday offered no resolution. This shows me that God does like to take his time. I think how we as Christians evolve is a perfect example of that fact. I think that if a resolution did come within a 24 hour period, at least a resolution to what he has been challenging me with, I would be apt to forget it. The longer the issues of love and relevance stay in my head and heart, the more they seem to change me. I think a foundation for change is recognizing my own pride. What I mean is I like to keep the focus on me. I see it in not fully acknowledging his love for me. The second I accept that Jesus does love me, I lose a crutch and become accountable to that love. I can no longer use "well, I just don't feel God" or "Nobody really cares" as an excuse. Once I say that, yes, Jesus loves me, I have declared a fact and a truth. A truth that is not reliant on what I feel. A truth that I must then act on. And I guess that leads to caring about people more than caring about what people think of me.