The Call To Real Christianity--Part 2

I have a question for you.

It's a big question.

For many of you it will also be a highly personal question.

So pull up closer to the screen so that no one else will hear your answer.

Here goes:

Do you believe that God loves you?

Do you really believe that God loves you?

Do you really believe that God loves you?

Do you really believe that God loves you?

Do you really believe that God loves you?

Do you really believe that God loves you?

OK...that was more than one question.  Or technically, it was one question asked in several ways.

I'm going to assume the answer is yes.  You really believe that God loves you!

Here's the next question:  Based on what?

How do you know that God really loves you?  There are lots of folks who don't believe that.  Who don't believe that God is loving.

There are many people who once believed it, but no longer do because life proved to them that God doesn't love them.

How do you know that God really loves you?

Lisa Gungor tells a moving, compelling story of how she no longer believes in God after years of a working in a mega-church and singing to huge crowds of Christians.  She freely admits that she believed in a transactional God, a God who would act in her best interests if she lived the right kind of life, did the right kinds of things, and believed the right things.  When she did all of that and God did not seemingly bless her, her faith in God began to erode.  On top of that, she grew up in a religious system that didn't allow doubt.  Put those two things together and she says she's lost her faith.

It's a heart-breaking story.  And it happens too often in the church.  When we worship an if-then God, a God who will only love us if we prove lovable and worthy, we're set up for disappointment.  If we worship a God who allows no doubt, we can't be human.

Do you...really...believe...that...God...loves...you?  How do you know?

There is only one place where that kind of hope can be rooted:  In the promise of the cross.

For God so loved you that he gave his only son...

No matter what life throws your way...no matter what doubts you have...that God, that promise, will always cling to you!  It will always hold you regardless of the ups and downs you experience.

God expresses his love for you in this...Christ died for you!

Faith is not first and foremost a feeling...or a belief...or an action.  Faith is a gracious God-given gift that holds us, breathing life, hope, peace, and forgiveness into us whether we feel it or not.  Faith is rooted in a God who gives.

Do you really believe that God loves you? 

Now...one last question that will probably make some of you yell at me, delete this blog link, or throw up your hands in exasperation.  But I have to ask.

Do you really believe that God loves you?  

How would your check book answer that question?

If you're still with me...we'll dig deeper into that next time!

The Call To Real Christianity

This fall we have been diving into what it looks like to follow Jesus.  The title of the series:  Would the Real Christians Please Stand Up! A Reckless Guide to Dangerously Good Faith.  It's a daunting topic because it seems to suggest that there is one way to be a real Christian...and that I know exactly what that is.  (It's a good thing I'm your pastor!)

However, that's not the point at all.  Part of the point is to say that all too often we Christians behave badly.  We don't always reflect the grace of Jesus in the way that we speak, act, or treat others.  In fact, many times Christians act the exact opposite of how Jesus would act, turning people off to any consideration of Jesus and the reckless love he offers.

In one of my sermons I told the story of my kids and the challenges they faced growing up as PK's (preacher's kids).  Sometimes they would hear their friends' parents ripping on me or on the church I served.  And it not only hurt them deeply, it called into question the whole Christian experience.

I kept telling them that Christians are imperfect people and that they should look at Jesus and make their decisions based on him, not on the actions of some mean-spirited Christians.  Their response:  It's not that easy because Christians keep getting in the way.

I've heard this many times: If it weren't for Christians I might give Jesus a look.

Ouch!

We need to hear that as Christians.  We need to be mindful that how we live and interact with others is a reflection, at least to others, of who Jesus is, or of how seriously we take Jesus, or of how transformational grace is.  (Not to mention the impact we have on our kids and grandkids!)

But that's a lot of pressure.  That makes grace our responsibility.  And that can lead us into a behavior-oriented Christianity that leads to perfectionism, legalism, and a loss of true freedom.

So what is a Real Christian?  We'll spend a few more weekends in worship looking at that question and will continue to wrestle with it in these blog posts for a time...because it is one of the most important questions of our day as Christianity seemingly declines and those rejecting the church grows.

But let's start here...and build here:

A real Christian is a sinner who has been claimed by Jesus; an imperfect person in whom Jesus chooses to live by his grace; a lost son or daughter to whom Jesus has run, throwing the robe of unconditional love over his/her shoulders, putting the ring of sonship or daughterhood onto his/her finger, and putting the shoes of forgiveness onto his/her feet.

A real Christian is the object of God's favor, kindness, and mercy.

You are a real Christian.  You have been claimed by Jesus.  You belong to him through his death and resurrection.

So live like you're loved.  Live like you're graced.  Because you are!  That's the starting point for living a life of dangerously good faith.

More to come.