Salvation

Sometimes I wonder what it means to "be saved." To acquire "salvation." It's funny, cause it almost makes it sound like we have the ability to obtain it. Which, in a sense, we do. We have to choose it. But after that... it's God that saves us. If it weren't for Him, we wouldn't even have the choice to choose it.

Talking about "being saved" could easily sound condescending to those that don't know God, whether they willingly choose not to believe in Him or maybe they have never heard of Him at all. The funny thing is, us "Christians" aren't any better than those people. In fact, we're almost in a worse situation. I say "worse" in the sense that we (Christians) are aware of our problems--it's probably the most significant difference between those that believe in God and those who do not.

In some ways, it's been hard growing up in a Christian home. I've almost grown up in this "church bubble"--always knowing what I believed, knowing that there was something bigger out there. It wasn't until I got to college that I realized that it was time to take ownership of my faith. I will not lie to you--it has been an extremely rocky ride. Most of the time I feel like an "outsider," like one who does not believe in God. And I can sympathize with those who don't. Some of the stuff we do in Church--it can seem kind of crazy. Maybe it's time we put away all of our "Christianese" and quit taking pride in our churchly ways. I don't think it draws people close to God; if anything, it probably pushes them away.

Our words, our actions don't save people; God does. Let's be real with people, show them that we're human like they are. After all, that's what we all are: human.

Whatever salvation means to you, remember that it's found in seeking God and believe in who He is. The biggest difference between you and the person who doesn't believe, is that you have hope. Let that hope shine. Let that love shine. I believe that this is what Christianity comes down to. When one isn't sure whether God exists or not, it's the love that shines through. It's doing things that don't make sense. Loving those who don't share your beliefs. Helping the prostitutes, the drug addicts, the thiefs--not throwing all these Christian words at them, but loving on them. There are plenty of "good people" in the world, and if Christians look exactly like these "good people," then something must be wrong. Christians aren't just "good people." They weren't created to be just "good people."

Was Christ good, or was he crazy? What made Him stand out from the crowd?

Maybe it's time we quit being so "good," and start being a little crazy.

Grace

Apart from God, I am not worthy.
Apart from God, I am shameful. I am condemned.
Without God, I have no hope. I have no chance at redemption.
I have no chance at a pure or holy life.
Without God, life has no meaning.

If not for God, whom shall I live for? The world does not satisfy.

There has to be more than this.
I will not stand to stay where I'm at.
I won't succumb to my fleshly desires any longer. They fail me.

The world fails me. People fail me. My own efforts... they fail me.
There is only One who does not fail.
His name...

His name, is God.
His name is Yahweh.
He is the King of Kings.
He is my Father.

By God's grace, I am worthy.
By God's grace, I have no shame.
By God's grace, I have new life. No more damnation.

God gives me hope. God redeems me.
God shows me how to live a holy and a pure life. He shows me how to live for Him.
God gives my life meaning. Purpose.

This is my God.
He is a God of grace.

Finding God in a Godless world.

There are so many things stirring in my heart, I hardly know where to begin. I'll go back to the beginning of summer.

I don't know about you, but my relationship with God goes through different seasons. At the beginning of this last summer, He told me that He was going to take me back to a "basic faith." Not that He would take me back to where I was, but He was taking me into something even better. If only I had known what that would entail--but it was probably good that I didn't.

As time went on, I began to come to a point where it was the "simple truths" that had the most value--God's love, man's failures redeemed through Christ's sacrifice, John 3:16--you know. The "simple stuff." And then I came to college. In my Bible class, I began to learn things that shook my faith. Things that I had grown up believing to be true were not as true as I thought they had been. The foundation I had built my faith on was being penetrated, and it wasn't the most comfortable thing to go through.

I began asking myself questions that "baby Christians" or those who are seeking God (but do not yet know Him) ask. What's the point of all this? Are we crazy? If God's as real as Jesus claimed to be, why does the world seem so Godless? How can God be real, yet we live in a world where God seems nowhere to be found? Many times I've found myself feeling like an outsider in church, chapel--whenever I'm gathered with a myriad of people who believe in God. It's almost as if I could see the church from an outsider's perspective.

After talking with a close friend of mine tonight (and hearing some of my professors' lectures), I came to realize a few things:

1. Faith without doubt would not be called "faith." Doubt, and asking questions, is normal to the Christian faith. Doubting is normal.

2. Amidst the doubt, we can always hold onto our hope in Jesus Christ. After all, we do hope for the things unseen. The things we're unsure about. It's Jesus Christ that we hold onto. He is our foundation.

3. It's easy for us to ask God why He allows pain and evil into the world, but He could easily ask us the same exact question. "My son, why is there pain and suffering in the world?" More than anything, I believe that this is a call for us to take seriously. We've got a big task ahead of us--bringing the light and truth to a broken and fallen world. But what a joy that is! What an honor that is! That God would choose us. Choose us, the most broken and messed up people around--to fulfill His purposes and build His kingdom. Isn't that crazy?!

Christianity is the only religion with a God who died for His people--who willingly suffered with them, because His love for them was so great. That truth in and of itself is insane! It should blow your mind!

Wherever you're at, be encouraged. God has you there for a reason. You can bring Him glory in all that you do--studying, running, serving the poor--nothing's off limits when it comes to bringing God glory.

Let's be a people that go out and change the world! As cliche as it sounds, it's a valid passion. I know for me personally, I don't want to sit around my entire life and waste it away pursuing wealth, success, whatever--none of that will satisfy. Even if there isn't life after death, even if this was our only life to live, I wouldn't want to sit around and waste it fulfilling my own desires.

It's time to pursue something bigger.

It's time to pursue God, and discover the calling that He has on our lives.

It's time.