A Stumbler's Walk | FREE to LOVE

Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.

-Acts 23:1 

How do we live our lives "before God in all good conscience?" What is it God requires of us? 

In the book of Micah we read, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). 

Do justice… love kindness… walk humbly…. 

Pretty simple. Jesus summed up the whole Bible with these words, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… (and) love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

Love is the core of the Christian message; love for God, love for others and love for ourselves. We are most like Christ when we love. We are the greatest reflection of the Father when we love. Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Love exposes un-love. Notice what immediately follows Paul's statement: "'Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.' And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth" (Acts 23:1-2). Religion, devoid of love, is ugly.

When we are honest before God, he exposes the un-love in us. He doesn't expose in order to condemn. Not to punish. But to remove it, and free us to love; Him… others… ourselves. It is this process of honesty before God - the openness, exposing, cleansing and freeing - that allows us to live "before God in all good conscience."

Never confuse conviction with condemnation. God convicts with a purpose to restore. Condemnation is not from God; its source and purpose are destructive. Paul writes, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). We have been set free. Free from condemnation - by God or others. Free to love. Free to live "before God in all good conscience."

God, thank you for setting me free.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | STORY

As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon…

- Acts 22:6 

This is Paul's, "I once was…, but now I am…" story. He recounts it three times in the book of Acts.

There is power in testimony. Others may argue our theology. They can dispute the existence of God on whatever grounds they choose. Many will debate his nature or the pathway to salvation - whatever version they choose. (None of this should cause fear. I am a believer that truth stands up to question and scrutiny; that truth shines when dialogue is respectful and open-minded).

What no one can argue however, is our story. 

Why? Because we own it. You and I are the utmost experts on what God has done and is doing in our lives. When we say, "I once was…, but now I am…," no one has the insight or ability to refute. Eye witness testimony is a powerful thing; in a court of law as in every aspect of life. And no one is as "eye witness" to our own story as we are.

That said, our life (and lifestyle) better match up with our beliefs and our words. When we tell the story of our lives, it is vital that the evidence support it. We are inundated with altered "before and after" photos and testimonials pushing everything from diet pills to skin rejuvenators. When true, they are powerful. When proven false, credibility tanks. The evidence of our lives must match our story.

Ours are not so much "before and after" stories. They are more "before and becoming…" stories. There is a point we come face to face with the reality of Christ. In that moment we are changed; we are given new life. And from that moment we are continually transformed. "Be (being continually) transformed by the renewal of your mind," (Romans 12:2 - emphasizing verb tense in the original Greek).

Frankly, "before and after" would be a little boring; "before and becoming…" is dynamic and exciting. We experience God's mercy and grace "…new every morning," (Lamentations 3:23).

Tell your "before and becoming…" story today. More importantly, LIVE your story today.

God, thank you I am not what I was, and that I am not yet what I will be.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | SAY-DO

You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time…

- Acts 20:17

The Christian life is not about talking a good game. Our lifestyle must reflect what we believe. Those around take notice.  This life of faith is about experiencing the grace and power of God through Christ and living in surrender. Saying christian things is not enough. (By christian things, I mean  cliches and nice sounding but weak - or meaningless - religious platitudes). 

Paul writes, "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power,” (1 Corinthians 4:20). James put it this way; "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? ...if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 4:14-16).

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” 

― Brennan Manning

There is an important distinction, and we must understand this; we do not do Christian things in attempt to prove ourselves acceptable to God. We are already accepted. Christ has seen to that through his cross. (Re-read the last two sentences as many times as it takes to sink in). We live the Christian life as children who are pleasing to their father; and that is freeing. 

The Christian things we say and do (which better match up), we say and do not to gain acceptance from God or others. We say them and do them from a positional security. We are children of God. There is a difference in motivation that boils down to the opposites of fear and faith - and that gulf is wider than the Grand Canyon.

The Apostle Paul was attacked and accused from every direction throughout his ministry recorded in the book of Acts. Ultimately, he could make the statement, "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time..."

Can we say the same?

God, you give me life, and I am free to live with you and for you.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | HANDMADE gODS

 … gods made with hands are not gods.- Acts 19:26 

Genesis opens, "In the beginning, God…." The gospel of John begins with these words, "In the beginning was the Word…." (later identifying Jesus as the Word). God reveals himself to us in many ways - in nature, through creation, in the uniqueness of human life, in a loving act. 

Specifically, he reveals himself in scripture. Ultimately and fully, he has revealed himself to us in and through Jesus Christ.

Nowhere in scripture however, is God explained. He is described in multiple ways, but never explained. As for his origin, he is the one who has always been. Moses asked God his name. When commanded to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of Israel from Egyptian slavery, Moses said, (paraphrased) "they will ask me the name of this God… what do I tell them is your name?" "God said to Moses, 'I AM Who I AM. Say this to the people… I AM has sent me…'" (Exodus 3:14).

gods made with hands pass; (yes, I realize I just started the sentence without capitalization). They become tainted or decay. They lose power - or are revealed for the powerless frauds they truly are. gods made with hands have origin and expiration. They have a shelf life. They are unworthy of worship.

Handmade gods come in many shapes and forms. They are not all easily identifiable golden calves. They take the form of stock portfolios, philosophical constructs, religion, relationships, reflections in the mirror; on and on. Handmade gods are sometimes blatant, but often subtle. Many wonderful things become ugly when they are exalted to godhood (god-ness?).

Each of us has some handmade Gods. Commandment #1: "You shall have no other gods before (beside) me," (Exodus 20:3). The one true God is not threatened by a little competition. It's not that. He knows that handmade gods are detrimental to us in so many ways.

The I AM has no origin. He has no expiration. He is the God who has always been and who always will be. Yet he is not the God of the past or the future. He is always the God of the present. I AM.

This is powerfully comforting. Handmade gods often work in our favor for a while. But even then, leave us somehow empty and wanting. Ultimately they prove themselves to be powerless and draining. The God WHO IS, is always present. He is always powerful. He is always in love with us.

...gods made with hands are not gods. God IS…

God, thank you for being real and present, powerful and gracious… thank you that You Are.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | MISSION

…for they were tent-makers by trade.

- Acts 18:3 

Mission.

God has one for you, he has one for me. Our mission is both broad: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…," (Matthew 28:19); and specific, as was Paul's throughout Asia Minor. It is easy for us to think of Missions - that which happens with dollars we may give through a church, and is carried out by others ("professionals") to reach people in far corners of the world. But I am not referring to missions, I'm talking mission. Mission is carried out by mechanics and managers, teachers and plumbers, coaches and salespeople, etc. - "tent-makers." Mission is for you and me. We are the called.

A mission is personal.

Our specific mission can be lifelong - think Mother Teresa. Sometimes it changes direction and takes on different avenues. Paul, for example, completely changed focus and tactics in Acts 18:6. Having begun on mission to tell Jews the good news of Jesus, his mission focus changed. He became the Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13).

God has distinctly gifted each of us and prepared us for our mission. He specifically calls us. This preparation is, by the way, an ongoing process. My experience: we will never feel ready or completely capable. Mission requires faith. And faith is trust in the character and power of God.

We easily focus on the mistakes, trials and missed opportunities of our past. We tend to think we have somehow been disqualified, or were never qualified. At the risk of being indelicate, that is a lie; and in it we have somehow overlooked the character and power of God. God invites us right where we are, and as we are, to join him.

Now to be (possibly too) personal and a little vulnerable. I am searching for my mission. Maybe you can relate. More accurately, I am seeking the God who calls; diligently and patiently waiting and listening. That may sound strange coming from a guy who spent over 25 years in the ministry - twelve as a senior pastor. Honestly, I saw church ministry as tent making in a way. My trade has changed. My heart is still mission-focused.

So we live according to Jesus' broad mission for our lives. And we are attentive to his voice leading us into our specific mission(s). At least that's my plan.

God, I will walk in what I know, and change directions where you lead.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | REASON

…he (Paul) reasoned with them from the Scriptures…

- Acts 17:2 

People of faith are often painted as naive. More harshly, we are often vilified, and portrayed as ignorant, or unthinking. 

Allow me to start off with two strongly held personal opinions:

1) Embarrassingly, the tags Christians are given are often well earned. Religious cliche, pat answers and evasiveness are not acceptable in the face of difficult questions. Beyond this, I believe these responses are faithless. (Which leads to #2)

2) The Christian faith will stand up to scrutiny; any and all! It always has and always will. Truth is truth and will stand in the midst of question.

Now our part…

Jesus calls us to love God with, "…all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," (Matthew 22:37). Paul writes that we are, "…transformed by the renewal of your mind," (Romans 12:2).

Jesus does not call us to leave our brains at salvation's alter. Faith demands thought. Paul uses words like "study," and "think" in his epistles. Yes, we are saved by a child-like faith. And we should never leave behind other traits of child-likeness: inquisitiveness, exploration, a desire to learn and to know truth.

Paul reasoned in the synagogues and stood among the great philosophers of Greece. He met skeptics and critics on their terms. He spoke to them on their level. And he persuaded many. You and I may not have Paul's intellect or his training, but we are called to diligently apply our minds to our faith relationship with Christ.

The Apostle Peter wrote that we are to be, "…always… prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet (we are to) do it with gentleness and respect," (1 Peter 3:15). It is supremely important to know WHAT we believe and WHY we believe it. This requires us to do the work of studying, memorizing and applying the scriptures. It requires personal worship and meditation (among other disciplines).

The Bible does not specifically address every issue, question or problem of life and the universe. It does however, give us a framework and produces a worldview that empowers us to address the difficult questions. On a couple of occasions Paul writes that we have, or are to have, "…the mind of Christ," referring both to humility and understanding (Philippians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16). I have discovered that when an issue is not addressed in scripture, there is more often than not a biblical principle or understanding that applies with pinpoint accuracy and relevance.

It is a miraculous and marvelous thing; as we come to know the Father more intimately and as we hide his word in our hearts and minds we learn to trust without fear. Our faith becomes unshakeable! (Personal note: I have by no means "arrived," It is a journey.)

Obviously this is a soapbox area for me. And I could go on. But I will summarize with this: The Christian faith is a radical faith because it is based on the irrational love and grace of God. It is also however, a reasonable faith. It is reasonable because it is based on the truth of the one true God.

God, you are true, your word is true, and I can trust.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | I

And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 

- Acts 16:10 

From "them" to "us;" from "they" to "we;" from "him" to "me."

At some point, the Gospel must become first person; the faith must become our own. This good news of God is not something to merely read and sing about. It is to be experienced… first hand. Grace is personal. Grace is a person. 

When we come to Luke 16, it is as if Luke can no longer hold it in: "I am a part of this thing!" What has been to this point a third person narrative bursts through into first person. Scholars call these the We Passages. Luke can't help himself but to let the reader know, "I've seen it with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears. I've felt it in my own heart, and I know it deep in my own soul! This Jesus is alive and at work! Believe me, don't believe me, (I hope you do), but I was there.”

Though Paul’s faith was powerful, it was not enough for Luke. Though Timothy’s passion was contagious, it could only motivate Luke so much. Luke’s experience with Jesus had to be his own. 

It is the same for you and me.

Our parents' faith, our pastor's faith, our favorite author's faith is not enough. We must experience Jesus on our own. The old hymn says, “Just as I am, I come to Thee…” And just we are Jesus comes to us; to give us life and joy, peace and purpose. 

First person. Personal. Intimate. He calls us by name.

God, just as I am I come.

For now...

D