It Didn't Work

It Didn't Work

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller and is from a sermon on the Prodigal Son and the older brother (Luke 15:11-32).Luke 15:28-29 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

 

The Pharisees were excellent at following the rules, and Jesus over and over again says to them that the pimps and prostitutes were going into the kingdom of God before them (Matthew 21:31).  As John Girsner once put it, "The thing that really separates us from God is not so much our sins but our damnable good works."   How could your goodness separate you more from God than your badness? 

 

Your goodness actually masks your battle with God.  The Bible defines sin as trying to be your own Savior and Lord.  If you are the prodigal brother, you just decide to be your own Savior and Lord.  You say, "I don't need God or religion.  Don't tell me what's right and wrong.  I will decide what is right and wrong for me."  You know that you've kicked God out of your life.  Therefore when there is smoke and when your life falls apart, you say that maybe you need God. 

 

But if you are the elder brother, your goodness masks the fact that you are also being your own Savior and Lord.  Because of your goodness you aren't all of that dependent on God.  You don't want total salvation. You just want help at certain points.  You don't pray to Him day and night in dependence on Him.  You pray to Him when you are in trouble.   You are your own Savior and Lord, but your goodness masks it.  When your life stops working and falls apart; there is smoke all over, and you can't find the fire. 

 

I don't know how many times I have heard people say, "I've tried Christianity and God, and it didn't work."  What they mean is, "I wanted something, and God didn't give it to me."

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

I Love You Because I Love You

I Love You Because I love You

 Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the scripture is paraphrased in the excerpt.

Deuteronomy 7 goes  like this.  The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other people, for you are the fewest of all people, but it was because the Lord loved you that He redeemed you from the land of slavery.   I loved you because I love you! 

Ed Clowney says that if you have a god who says, "I love you because you repented and submitted to me and because you are keeping up and obeying the 10 commandments," that is not love.  All real love has to be circular.   

You will never love a god who you believe is only loving you because you are good, and because you are faithful to him in every way.  He is not loving you for yourself, and you will never love Him for Himself.  You will love him as long as he is forking over comfort and as long as he is forking over answers to prayers.  You are making merchandise of each other.  But if God just says, "I have just loved you before the stars were put into heaven because you were more beautiful than the stars.  The stars may fall from heaven, but my love for you will stand."  When you realize that He loves you just for who you are in yourself, you will be able to give Him love just for who He is in Himself.

You are an absolute beauty to God, and He loves you because He loves you.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining