Redeemed from "The Good Life"

I've been reading Jesus in the Margins, by Rick McKinley.   In it, he writes, When we step back and recognize that we have defined "the good life" as something we can obtain by ourselves for ourselves, we begin to see the absurdity of redemption.  Jesus came to redeem us from something we don't think is a problem.  Why should he die on the cross for me?  I'm living the good life.  I found this really convicting as I read these words from Ephesians 2:1-2; 4-6,  You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world...But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (NRSV).  It's really difficult to imagine what life in Christ is like when we don't recognize our need to be redeemed from what we imagine is "the good life."  Poor people need redemption, broken people need redemption, but not us.  The problem is we don't see that the "good life" is broken.  It will never bring fulfillment because it's simply we that are living.  Paul writes, we were really "dead" in this way of life we lived.  But God, by grace, made us alive together with Christ.  Life is only found "together with Christ" or "in Christ."  As we reflect on the cross approaching and the resurrection, let's consider what Christ died to redeem us from and let us reimagine what life together with Him can look like. 

Amazingly Adopted

Reading through Ephesians this week, and came across this powerful idea in chapter 1: He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us (1:5-8 NRSV).  The idea of being adopted by God blows my mind.  I suppose a lot of were born to parents that decided that they'd like to have a baby, others maybe it was not as planned.  But, God destined us for adoption.  He chose us to be his children.  Invited us into to be part of his family.  Not because of anything we did or didn't do.  Not because we were good kids.  We were broken, and totally in need of a Savior.  Yet he chooses us, lavishes his grace on us, redeems us through his blood, and calls us His children.  I'm reminded of waiting in a line in gym class waiting to be picked by one of the captains for the team.  You all know the drill.  You know you don't want to be chosen last.  It's a horrible feeling to feel like no one wants to choose us.  This, to me, is the amazing thing about God.  He comes to the sidelines, comes to the margins, chooses the weakest first, no one is left out that wants to play.  He has chosen us.  Amazing!   

Gospel as Gift

After calling the Galatians "foolish" Paul writes, The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?  Are you so foolish?  Having started with the Spirit are you now ending with the flesh?  Did you experience so much for nothing?  - if it really was for nothing.  Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? (Galatians 3:1-5 NRSV)  The Gospel comes to us as "gift."  The interesting thing about a gift is that if it is truly a gift, you can't do anything to earn it; you can only receive it.   Otherwise, it's compensation or pay for my work or something I have done.  However, a gift, in order to be enjoyed or utilized, must be received.  Often I find myself subconsciously thinking I have to prove myself a worthy follower of Christ to God.  But, the only thing I can do is receive God's gift of Spirit and allow Him to work through me.  The active part for me is to receive, and allow the life of Christ to live through me.  I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:19,20 NRSV).    

Practices and Postures

Galatians 5:16-17, Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want" (NRSV).  The desires of the flesh and life by the Spirit are opposed to each other.  This seems to indicate that you either feed one or you feed the other.  Whichever one we cultivate and feed will be the one that grows.  For me, when I'm being passive about my Spirit life, I am sure that I am feeding my flesh without even reflecting on it or realizing it.  The key for me is to be about practices and disciplines that will help me to cultivate a Spirit life.  If what the Spirit desires is opposed to what the flesh desires, I've got to place myself in environments and postures (through disciplines and practices) to hear those desires of the Spirit.  What kinds of practices are helping you to live by the Spirit?   

Shoulder Up

Continuing on in Galatians this morning I read a familiar verse that I have read before and heard quoted before, but I'm not sure I ever felt the full weight of it before.  It is Galatians 6:2, Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (NRSV).  This is one of those phrases that can almost become cliche.  But what does it really mean to "bear" one another's burdens?  If my limited understanding of language is correct, I get the idea of carrying or shouldering one's burdens.  Yet if I'm being completely honest, a lot of times for me this equates to me chalking up the phrase, "I'll pray for you during this difficult time."  And maybe that is the best thing to do at times, pray.  But I wonder if more often than not that phrase comes out due to my fear of getting too close to people who are burdened.  What if I say something stupid?  What if I say something hurtful?  I'll just pray for them.  But this morning I couldn't help but get this picture in my head of someone coming along side someone, placing their shoulder under the other person's shoulder and carrying the burden together.  It involved a certain closeness, a certain vulnerability.  It involved the willingness to stop making situations about me and loving the other.  I think that's why Paul writes, "in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  What is the law of Christ if it's not loving God and loving our neighbor.  Shoulder Up.     

Free to Be a Slave

I was reading Galatians again this morning, as it will be the next book we cover after Easter in our God's Story series.  I was reflecting on this passage.  Galatians 5:13-14, For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (NRSV).  Most people think of freedom as the ability to do whatever they want, or to choose the way they want to.  I think of when I'm finished with a work day, or finishing up a class, and I think to myself, "I'm free for the rest of the day now."  Translation: The rest of the day is mine.  I can use it to please myself.  Yet, Paul writes, don't use your freedom for self-indulgence.  Use it to become slaves to one another.  Other translations say "serve" on another.  It seems to me that before we come to the cross and before we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, most, if not all, our choices probably had to do with the "self."  We are in fact slaves to ourselves.  But Christ sets us free, not for self-indulgence, but to pour ourselves into others; something we couldn't do fully apart from Christ.  Who are we committed to selflessly serving?        

Messy Church

This morning I was reading Galatians and came across this verse - 2:11-12, ^"When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.  Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group" (TNIV).  Wanting the approval of others is a powerful thing.  I'm not sure why it's so powerful.  I suppose it's because of our own insecurity that we love "fitting in" or "pleasing others."  I mean, here is Peter, the same guy who stood up in front of the religious leaders in Acts 4 and told them that not only did they crucify the Messiah, but that he would not listen to their command to stop teaching about Jesus.  Now he's avoiding Gentiles because he's afraid of a certain group of influential people.  Maybe he was just trying to keep everyone happy.  I guess that's the thing about being part of the body of Christ.  If the aim is truth and authenticity, you can't keep everyone happy.  Because we're all a mess.  Not to mention, following Jesus can be messy.  At times I can be easily swayed or influenced.  We're all a work in progress.  I need people in my life like Paul who will not only give their lives to help build me up, but will oppose me when I'm in the wrong.  I think we all do.  The question I need to wrestle with, and perhaps you might too, is this: Am I more in love with following Jesus or pleasing people.  If it's Jesus, I need to embrace the mess, be open to rebuke, be willing to speak truth, and surround myself with people willing to journey with me.        

Stumbling Blocks and Foolishness

Well I'm back.  The quarter is over, my final projects are done, and I have time to blog again.  At our church we have been going through the Bible a book a week and we're up to the book of 1 Corinthians.  This morning I was read this passage: "Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1. Cor. 1:22-24 TNIV).  I must admit that I often find myself either demanding signs from God or wanting God to fit into my mold of what makes sense (wisdom).  Yet Paul writes, "we preach Christ crucified."  That certainly didn't make sense to many in the first century.  When life doesn't make sense, I often find myself asking God to show me a sign or I try to figure out what's going on.  This morning, I have been reminded to once again take a posture of humility trusting in the wisdom of God, which is Christ.  God's ways may seem like stumbling blocks and foolishness, but true power and true wisdom are found in Christ.  

Be Back Soon

It's been over a month since I've blogged anything.  I figured this would happen once courses at Fuller started this quarter.  I'm taking two classes this quarter and it's been extremely busy.  I've got two more weeks to go and I'm looking forward to being able to come back here and begin tracking more thoughts and ideas with you.  See you in a few.