concurring with Rachel's well-articulated insight
Rachel Grussi responded to my post on Xanga with an insightful comment, which is the subject of my post below. If you would like to read it, visit http://www.xanga.com/Sense_say/562373348/the-masters-commission.html
Thanks so much for you input, Rachel. This is actually one of the only comments that had some counterpoints to my post that I actually liked. So congratulations.
God can use anything, you're right. And I've used the "tool" analogy before regarding that idea. It is true that worship styles can differ greatly, but my blog post was mainly aimed at the actual content. I totally agree with you that the shouts from the crowd were quite distracting and unnecessary.
It's sad for me, personally, because I have many friends at school who are not saved. These speakers and groups who come in weekly tend to increase their hostility toward Christianity all the more. In fact, the people who support those people coming and are affected by them are almost always professed Christians! That speaks volumes to me on the overall failure of our school to make the gospel of Christianity understandable to believers and nonbelievers alike.
Part of the problem, I think, is a misunderstanding of what I mean when I say "gospel". Everyone knows the story of Jesus, that he died on the cross for our sins, that he rose again, and that he will readily forgive us for our wrongs. And that's perfectly true, and it's wonderful, and it's essential to our teaching. But there's much more to the gospel than just that. The gospel is a radical, life-altering truth that forever affects those who accept it.
However, speakers who speak of this life-altering truth express it only in terms of how WE are somehow supposed to alter our lives. The fact is, we don't become godly people the moment we become Christians, and should not be expected to do so. Often, it takes years before old habits are broken and past sins are thrown away. In fact, for some people, certain sins continue to haunt and affect them for the rest of our lives. OF COURSE we're losing our passion! OF COURSE we're not living our life like we should! We're human beings!! The pursuit of holiness is impossible for us; but God, being the embodiment of Holiness, is the one who works in us to gradually transform us into his likeness. It's not simply a matter of scolding ourselves for doing wrong. It's acknowledging that we are always going to do wrong, and that everyone, from the preacher to the prostitute, is equally and desperately in need of God's grace at all times.
The way the gospel is presented at our school right now, it feels like clicking on one of those web ads that says I'll get a free iPod, only to be faced with pages and pages of surveys and agreements. We are told "All you have to do is ask for forgiveness and you're a Christian", but then we are told "You have to devote absolutely everything and live a holy life, or you're not a Christian." Is it any wonder that people are not grasping the concept?
No matter how hard we try, we can never motivate ourselves enough to live the lives God wants us to. And that's the whole reason Jesus came in the first place. Because he KNEW that we can't. Our only motivation is the gospel of grace, which fills us with a DESIRE to do what pleases God. Sure, we'll mess up, and continue to do so all our lives. But somehow, the Holy Spirit will work in us to make us more and more like Christ. It's a profound mystery, one that defies any kind of step-by-step formula. But it happens, and we must have faith that somehow, God will never leave us or let us wither away; rather, he does the impossible, and uses inadequate "jars of clay" to spread his love, his hope, and his grace. Our school has strayed from this teaching, and it shows. It has been showing for a long, long time.
Thanks so much for you input, Rachel. This is actually one of the only comments that had some counterpoints to my post that I actually liked. So congratulations.
God can use anything, you're right. And I've used the "tool" analogy before regarding that idea. It is true that worship styles can differ greatly, but my blog post was mainly aimed at the actual content. I totally agree with you that the shouts from the crowd were quite distracting and unnecessary.
It's sad for me, personally, because I have many friends at school who are not saved. These speakers and groups who come in weekly tend to increase their hostility toward Christianity all the more. In fact, the people who support those people coming and are affected by them are almost always professed Christians! That speaks volumes to me on the overall failure of our school to make the gospel of Christianity understandable to believers and nonbelievers alike.
Part of the problem, I think, is a misunderstanding of what I mean when I say "gospel". Everyone knows the story of Jesus, that he died on the cross for our sins, that he rose again, and that he will readily forgive us for our wrongs. And that's perfectly true, and it's wonderful, and it's essential to our teaching. But there's much more to the gospel than just that. The gospel is a radical, life-altering truth that forever affects those who accept it.
However, speakers who speak of this life-altering truth express it only in terms of how WE are somehow supposed to alter our lives. The fact is, we don't become godly people the moment we become Christians, and should not be expected to do so. Often, it takes years before old habits are broken and past sins are thrown away. In fact, for some people, certain sins continue to haunt and affect them for the rest of our lives. OF COURSE we're losing our passion! OF COURSE we're not living our life like we should! We're human beings!! The pursuit of holiness is impossible for us; but God, being the embodiment of Holiness, is the one who works in us to gradually transform us into his likeness. It's not simply a matter of scolding ourselves for doing wrong. It's acknowledging that we are always going to do wrong, and that everyone, from the preacher to the prostitute, is equally and desperately in need of God's grace at all times.
The way the gospel is presented at our school right now, it feels like clicking on one of those web ads that says I'll get a free iPod, only to be faced with pages and pages of surveys and agreements. We are told "All you have to do is ask for forgiveness and you're a Christian", but then we are told "You have to devote absolutely everything and live a holy life, or you're not a Christian." Is it any wonder that people are not grasping the concept?
No matter how hard we try, we can never motivate ourselves enough to live the lives God wants us to. And that's the whole reason Jesus came in the first place. Because he KNEW that we can't. Our only motivation is the gospel of grace, which fills us with a DESIRE to do what pleases God. Sure, we'll mess up, and continue to do so all our lives. But somehow, the Holy Spirit will work in us to make us more and more like Christ. It's a profound mystery, one that defies any kind of step-by-step formula. But it happens, and we must have faith that somehow, God will never leave us or let us wither away; rather, he does the impossible, and uses inadequate "jars of clay" to spread his love, his hope, and his grace. Our school has strayed from this teaching, and it shows. It has been showing for a long, long time.
posted by John Mark at 6:31 PM
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