Freedom From, Freedom For

Freedom is getting a lot of attention.  With the presidential election fast approaching, politicians are falling all over themselves trying to prove they can give Americans freedom. They tell us that freedom makes America great and they are the ones to protect it.  They insist their ticket is the only way to preserve our God given freedom.

The word freedom gets thrown around the political arena so much, in so many ways, I almost forget what it means.  A common definition of freedom is this: liberation from all constraint.  Another is this: the ability to be self-determining.  In short, freedom is a person’s ability to do whatever (s)he wants.

Jesus promises freedom too.  But, the freedom Jesus promises is a little different.  Jesus promises to set His people free for a purpose.  Jesus liberates Christians from the constraints of sin and death so they can fulfill His will.

In his first letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul writes,  “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.”  Paul suggests that Christ set Him free for a purpose larger than doing whatever he wants.  Jesus set Paul free from sin and death so that Paul could be free for preaching the gospel.

As you go through the coming week, ask yourself what you have been set free for.  If you have confessed your sin and called on Jesus for salvation, you are free.  The world will tell you to use that freedom to do whatever you want.  Christ insists we use our freedom for His cause.  So let me encourage you to freely seek Christ’s purposes for the coming week.  It may not win you an election, but it is the best way to truly enjoy your God given freedom.  

Kids and God's Kingdom

Faith Center hosted our annual Vacation Bible School at Willow Springs Apartments this past week.  It was great.  All kinds of kids from our church and neighborhood showed up to learn about Jesus.

On the second night, I watched as the event got started.  Kids who didn’t know each other shyly made their way to their seat.  They were reserved and reluctant to talk with other kids as they waited for VBS to begin.  But, when the program fired up and worship leaders encouraged them to sing songs to Jesus, the kids jumped right in.  They celebrated without hesitation, following fun hand motions.  It was neat to watch. 

I was struck by how quickly those kids responded.  That isn’t how we respond in Sunday morning services.  In adult worship services, we are a little more reserved.  I mean…our reputations are at stake.  We don’t want to be too enthusiastic about Jesus.  We might get labeled a religious nut.  We don’t want to respond too quickly.  We might appear desperate.  As a result, we button down the celebration. 

In the Gospel of Luke, people brought children to Jesus so that he could bless them.  Jesus’ disciples didn’t like it and reprimanded the Lord.  In response, Jesus invited the kids anyway, using them as an example of devotion to God.  Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

As you worship this morning, sing, shout, clap your hands, and stomp your feet for Jesus.  Do not hesitate to celebrate the Lord.  The smallest people in the building are giving us a great example and we should take it seriously.  Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Gold Medals and the Worth of Christ

I heard an interesting fact about the top prize of the Olympics.  The gold medal, awarded to the first place winner of each Olympic event, is mostly silver.  Those who achieve Olympic greatness, standing on the top podium, listening to their national anthem, wear a silver medal, covered in a thin plate of gold.

It is funny that the top prize of the world’s most prestigious athletic event doesn’t live up to it’s billing.  The gold medal technically misleads people with a thin veneer.  That is a great illustration of all the world’s trophies.

The greatest prizes in the world are not nearly as satisfying at their core.  They look beautiful on the outside, maybe they give us a euphoric feeling for a moment, but there isn’t anything beyond that.  Their glory is only on the surface.  When pressed for more, we find that they are made of a far less valuable substance. 

To be clear, that doesn’t mean great accomplishments and achievement are bad.  It only means that accomplishments and achievements will not satisfy in a deep, eternal kind of way.  They are not as true and good and pure and glorious as we might think.

The Apostle Paul talked about his greatest accomplishments (and he had many) in saying this: “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”  The greatest accomplishments, the most glorious events in the world, pale in comparison to the incredible worth of knowing Jesus.  They have a thin, misleading veneer that is worthless next to the real treasure of life in Christ.

As you worship today, give the glory to Jesus.  He is where pure, 100% glory comes from.  As you go through the week, root your accomplishments and achievements in a relationship with Him.  Do great things for His glory.  When we accomplish great things for Him, we enjoy something far more satisfying than the glories of Olympic medals.  We enjoy life in Him.

Psalm 51:1-5 On Evil

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This is a great article on human brokenness.  We are quick to point out, harp on, and condemn the brokenness of others, but forget the foundational, biblical message that we are all broken.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done...

John Dickson on early Christian charity.

The Heritage of the Church

When I was growing up, people loved to tell me about the importance of heritage.  Some would say, “You’ve gotta know where you’ve been in order to know where you’re going.”  Others said, “Don’t forget where you come from.”  Still others insisted, “Take pride in your roots!”

I had a problem with that.  I didn’t like everything about my heritage.  I had wonderful parents, but there was a history of addiction and abuse in my extended family.  We were poor and lived in a small, rural town.  People in the city referred to my kind of people as “red necks.”  I didn’t like any of that.  I dreamt of the day that I would grow up and leave those parts of my heritage behind.

The challenges of that heritage didn’t bother my parents as much.  They identified more with their friends at church then they did their family members.  The people at church worshiped Jesus like they did and that created a powerful bond.  In honest moments, I’d admit a close bond with them too.  They were the ones who taught me the read the Bible, gave me piano lessons, gave me birthday gifts, and showed up when our car was broke down on the side of the road. 

Looking back, I realize that the church gave my parents a new heritage.  Because the people at church worshiped Jesus like us, they became our family.  The riches and wholeness of the church’s Godly heritage replaced the poverty and brokenness of our earthly heritage.  We were adopted into the family of God.

The Gospel of John describes that adoption beautifully.  John writes, “Yet to all who received (Jesus), to those who believed in (Jesus’) name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”   What John is saying is this: when you come to faith in Jesus, you are given a new heritage – no matter where you come from or what is in your past.  You are a part of the family of God.

As you worship this morning, remember your heritage in Christ.  You are one of Jesus’ people.  Members of your family are worshiping Jesus along side you this morning.  In fact, people of every tribe and tongue, all over the world, are declaring Jesus’ worth as members of your family this morning.  We all trace our family tree to the same root of David.  Don’t forget where you come from, Christian.  

Remote Controls and Relationship with God

This Spring, we lost a true American hero.  Eugene Polley, the inventor of the remote control, passed away at the age of 96.  Channel surfers will forever be grateful for Polley’s invention.

Though he was happy that he had made a lasting contribution to electronics, Polley was concerned about the lifestyle the remote created.  Polley told the Palm Beach Post, “Everything has to be done remotely now or forget it.  Nobody wants to get off their fat and flabby to control these electronic devices.”  Polley seemed to think that the convenience of the remote control had created a bunch of lazy, entitled consumers.

His concern was fair.  People have a tendency to treat yesterday’s innovative luxury as today’s God given right.  We take the luxury for granted, feeling entitled to the convenience it offers, and impatiently look for the next innovation to make life even easier (When an average teenager uses a dial up connection to access the Internet, they look as if they a being tortured.   A slow Internet connection is treated like personal insult.  The teen cannot fathom a world without high-speed hot spots in every coffee shop).

This mindset isn’t confined to technology.  We do it in the spiritual life too.  Jesus has given us the incredible innovation for relationship with God.  We appreciate the gift for a moment and then move on.  Going forward, we want Jesus to upgrade, making relationship with God more convenient.  Jesus says, “Come unto me all you who labor and I will give you rest.”   We respond in saying, “You said the same thing in the 80’s.  Could you possibly come to me and give me rest?  I’m a little too busy to come to you.  It’s 2012.  Come to me, throw in a mocha, and I’ll think about it.”  We treat relationship with God like a consumer product, insisting the manufacturer sweeten the deal for the sake of progress.

As you go through the coming week, don’t do that.  Remember that the chance to have relationship with God cannot be improved.  Lets all put some effort into our relationship with God.  Though salvation is won, Jesus is calling you to intentionally participate in life with Him.  Go ahead, put the remote control down, get off the couch, and seek your Lord.  Because He hasn’t changed, He will be there.