Category: Christian Living

  • Clash of Values

    Jesus didn’t come to change our value system.

    Can we talk?  

    There is plenty of hot and heavy debate and venting going on concerning issues such as gender identity and its many related issues, prayer in school, abortion, etc.  That’s not even considering the political falderal that seems to have been going on forever.

    There’s a wide diversity of opinion on these and many other issues. Public policy in these areas in North America often opposes what orthodox, historical, evangelical Christianity holds as truth.

    It shouldn’t surprise us when our beliefs clash with the world’s. When that happens, we need to remember that the world isn’t Christian, so we shouldn’t expect them to act as if they were. That doesn’t mean it won’t break our hearts, but it shouldn’t be a big surprise. Even as believers, we often behave in ways that contradict our beliefs.

    The whole concept of “Judeo-Christian values,” which seems to be increasingly slipping from the system, was based on a misunderstanding.

    Jesus didn’t come to change our value system. That truth is so important and overlooked it is worth repeating. “Jesus didn’t come to change our value system.” He came to change our hearts and make us pure and holy. The result of that heart change is the change in our value systems. It’s a consequence, not the goal.

    It’s a mistake to expect those with unredeemed hearts to hold the same values as a believer.

    The time for us to worry is not when we’re at odds with the culture around us. The time for us to worry is when we’re in sync with the culture. Sometimes, that happens because there are some universal truths that even the world gets right now and then. More often, it’s because somewhere along the line, we’ve compromised our own beliefs.

    If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  John 15:18-19 

    We belong to the kingdom of Light. The world is under the authority of the Prince of Darkness. The two are seldom going to agree. That should neither surprise nor discourage us. The victory is ours, even when we feel like we’re losing a battle.

    Knowing the truth doesn’t give us the right to be unloving or bigoted. We hold fast to that truth, but we speak the truth in love.

    Part of having a transformed heart is learning to love others. We need to practice grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We set aside our judgmental natures. We share the love of Jesus and let the Spirit transform the hearts and values of others. Only God can do that.

    Until next time, take heart … I’ve read the book.  We win.

    Kevin

    Some posts to consider

    Called to be bridge builders

    The gospel – the best news ever

    Tribulation produces perseverance

    Herded – an old border collie reminds me of the truth

  • Christmas Trees

    What kind of tree are you?

    decorated Christmas tree with presents underneath
    decorated Christmas tree

     You might think it’s early, but it’s that time of year again.  The television, radio, and print media are beginning to fill with advertisements for Christmas “stuff.” 

    Driving home from our Monday community group, I noticed that several homes in our neighborhood had their Christmas lights on and decorated Christmas trees inside. Yesterday, I picked up the mail and found fliers filled with pictures of artificial Christmas trees.

    The trees ranged in size from two feet to too tall for my house. They were artificial spruce, pine, and fir, as well as generic “evergreens.” They were also a variety of colors. I saw silver, white, blue, and green, but there may have been more.

    Some of the trees had lights already in place. Others were fully decorated with various themes, and many more were empty, waiting to be decorated when they got “home.”

    Now, no matter what you think of Christmas trees, and Christians are quite divided on the issue (although it’s non-essential, so we need to show grace to those with dissenting views), those advertisements got me thinking. Christmas trees have a certain beauty, but it’s all from the outside. All the decorations are attached superficially.

    It’s like the faith of many people. They wear their “religion” as an external badge, doing religious things and keeping laws from Scripture, laws from their particular faith tradition, and laws of their own making. They’re like the Pharisees of old: cold and lifeless on the inside but working very hard to look good to themselves and others on the outside.

    They have convinced themselves that their appearance or good deeds make them righteous. This is a sad sort of pride because neither self-righteousness (which is never right) nor works brings salvation.

    We’re called to be a much different type of tree—fruit trees. Our faith will show through, but we’re alive on the inside. We know our salvation and righteousness are only gifts from God. The beautiful fruit that shows is from the Holy Spirit.

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

    Have a look at your heart. Are you a fruit tree or a Christmas tree?

    Until next time, may the love of Jesus quicken your heart and the Holy Spirit bring a large harvest from your life and faith walk to fruition.

    Kevin

    Some more for you to enjoy

    Cliffside – shaped to be like Jesus

    Saved but not by a trio of ghosts

    Right belief or right living

    Who were the heavenly host on that first Christmas