It's been a LONG time since I've blogged. I posted back in December I think, but I didn't really write it, just a copy and paste to make me feel better about what I'm doing... Pretty lazy and lame I admit.
I am returning to the blogisphere, inspired by my friend Mike Mathews, a guy in his 60s, who thinks more than most people in their 20s and 30s. I am also responding to Kris Hokanson who wants a little more contact with my mind (insert corny joke here). Thanks Kris, the world thanks you as well.
The reason I started this blog in the first place is because there are things that make me want to rant (usually Christians concerned with being more religious than missional), there are things that I rave about (usually stuff in the Bible, John Piper, the Office, intriguing books, the Colbert Report, or anything that really makes me think), and I am completely indebted to a Savior who has redeemed me (I do mean COMPLETELY INDEBTED because there is NOTHING I can do to repay Him).
Further on that last sentence (this is a rant, a rave, and joy in redemption) there is A LOT of bad theology out there that says things like I have been saved by Jesus now live for Him in order to pay Him back. I know Romans 12.1 ("I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."). I know what it says, but we have some straight up AWFUL interpretations of that verse. I mean where in there does it say ANYTHING about paying God back for sacrificing the ONLY perfect person who has ever lived, not to mention that person is His only Son.
The idea that we can pay God back is madness. Look at the verse again ("I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.") As a result of redemption in Christ we don't pay God back, we die to self and give up our lives in worship. That isn't repayment of the debt that was paid, that's subjecting yourself as a slave to the God who gives you grace to go on taking your next breath, to play with your children, to making your life mean something, etc. Salvation = Slavery, but not the kind that this country was so famous for in the 18th and 19th centuries and that William Wilberforce fought so hard to vanquish in England. This slavery is real freedom, freedom to live and breathe the way God intended. This slavery is actually being made an heir with the Christ who redeemed us. We are to be sacrifices and that is worship and that is what God wants from our now redeemed lives.
That felt good...I like blogging again.
BTW, I make NO promises about the frequency of this blog. I will try to do it daily, most likely, I'll do it weekly, but I'm sure there will be those CRAZY months where there might be one post that says something like "pray for me...".
Until next time stay classy San Diego
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6 comments:
Good luck man... hope you're doing well.
I love it man. We "die to self"...that identifies you immediately. Welcome back...the blogisphere needs to hear from you!
Nice rant. This is the kind of post that made blogging a thing of interest for so many readers. It's insightful and relevant yet concise.
You gotta be careful though, put to many posts together like this and the next thing you know you'll have a book ;)
Although I believe the commonly accepted spelling/word is blogosphere.
Pay Him back???? arghhh!. The Epistles in their bibles must go Romans,1 Cor., 2 Cor.,...Ephesians. Maybe they have the "Looseleaf Edition" and they were able to remove Gal.2-4 "Let me put this question to you: Hoe did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy peoplewould think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go thru this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up" (MSG)
pat
my bad on the blogosphere spelling issue
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