Tag: Faith

  • 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

  • Scars – the healing power of the gospel

    solitary skydiver in an olive-drab parachute

    Since it’s Remembrance Day and a holiday, I opted to dig  out a back issue from 2004. It isn’t about Remembrance Day, but I want to take a moment to thank all who have served and are serving. 

    Now, onto talking about scars.

    On the lower part of my left leg is a divot. I got it many years ago when the ground and I had a disagreement after a skydiving accident. My landing wasn’t very smooth, and I caught my leg in a gopher hole, smashed it against a rock, and gave myself a greenstick fracture.

    The leg has long since healed, but the scarring remains. In this case, there is not so much of a visible scar as most of the damage was below the skin, but it is scarring nonetheless. That’s not abnormal. Scarring is part of the healing process.

    I have plenty of other scars from surgeries, accidents, and life in general. Some are visible, others not. Jesus forgives us our sins, and he heals us.

    If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9 ESV

    Jesus understood scarring. He bore many injuries and indignities for us.

    But he was pierced for our transgressions;
        he was crushed for our iniquities;
    upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
        and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 ESV

    Yet often, when we’re healed, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, and even when he’s forgiven us of our sins, the scars will remain.

    Often, the scarring isn’t visible on the surface, but it’s there nonetheless. There are the scars of damaged relationships, divorces, broken families, criminal records, loss of employment, ruined reputations, loss of credibility, and more. Our bad choices can leave a lot of rubble behind, even when Jesus has brought us into the right relationship with Him and healed us of our part of the damage.

    Our forgiveness doesn’t give us license to keep on sinning. Each time we mess up, we have the potential of leaving a scar on someone else. We can leave the debris behind, cluttering the way for someone else.

    We walk by grace, not by law, but we can learn much from the moral portions of the law. The ceremonial law was for the Jewish people, as was their criminal law, but the moral law still has something to offer us. The law no longer binds us. Our sins are forgiven, but there is danger when we drift away from its precepts.

    Learning and obeying God’s truth can keep you from much of the damage that leaves scars. It’s not a guarantee because other people are always in our lives, but it will make a huge difference.

    Until next time, when faced with the opportunity to sin, remember that Jesus forgives and heals, but you can still carry the scars. Flee the temptation and avoid the damage altogether.

    Praise the Lord for His guidance, patience, and mercy.

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Some thoughts you might like

    The gospel – the best news ever

    River rescue – gospel thoughts

    Spelunking – into the darkness

    Clean laundry – clean hearts

    Hope for the walking wounded

    Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.