Not My Jesus

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2: 20 NKJV

I ran into a conversation this week with a young man who was absolutely adamant that he was a Christian believer despite being pretty picky about which situations he imposed Jesus upon.  Now, I've run into these "not my Jesus" types before, so I wasn't surprised that he might feel the way he did.  But, I had to ask.  It seems that this young man had been through a pretty difficult childhood all while being raised in the church.  I'd seen it before, the masses being taught to obey the spoken words of the pastor, priest or arch bishop without question.  I know a man who values the words of his arch bishop because it makes him "feel good."  Well, not every word Jesus spoke made people feel good.  In fact, there were times when He so angered those around Him that He had to retreat from the area He was teaching in.  Some people don't want to hear the truth at times it seems.  So, what does this all have to do with the man I was talking to?  Well, it seems that He was upset at God for somehow accepting Donald trump as a Christian.  Now, I'm not privy to the fact that God has accepted Donald Trump into His fold, but I assume that He would.  We're told that He accepts all who call on Him {Romans 10:13}.  If my heavenly Father has indeed included Donald Trump among His children, what is that to me?  I know that when I called upon Him that He kept His promise to me.  What kind of God would He be if He picked and chose just who He would accept?  What of salvation?  Mercy and grace?  The God which I have come to know would be tossed out the window, replaced by one who accepts us based upon our accomplishments.  Does that sound like a God you want to follow?  Like I said, I can see where this young man got the idea of a performance based God in his head.  The institutional church has been preaching this concept for generations.  We can be like Christ...if we do things just right.  We can be closer to God, if we behave.  Whenever I hear someone talk this way about God, I imagine a excited kid running downstairs on Christmas morning hoping and praying that he will be rewarded for his good deeds.  Well, thankfully God doesn't work that way.  For if He did, I'd never be saved from myself.  That's not the Jesus I know.

Now, if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 8 - 11 NKJV

We really cannot get too deep into this conversation without realizing that it is the church which has perpetrated a theology of a separation between God and His children.  I believe that this is why most people find the truth of Christ in us to be so hard to accept.  How can Jesus be in the presence of sinners such as we?  Folks, every day Jesus walked the earth He was in the presence of sinners.  He made no secret of the fact that His very purpose was not to condemn those guilty of sin, but to accept them {Mark 2:17}.  The apostle Paul made it clear that sin should no longer be an issue for us {Romans 6:11}.  In fact, we are indeed dead to sin.  That's right, that part of our history is gone, that old man is dead.  However, I can understand why people get confused, as the church continues to preach a different Jesus than I know.  I get it.  The Jesus that I know is loving and accepting of who I am.  Not only that, of those around me as well.  Yes, even Donald Trump.  I would not like to be among those left behind were it not so.  Realizing the love and grace of God takes salvation out of our hands and places it right where it belongs...in His hands.  I am not too proud to admit that were it not for my heavenly Father that I would be lost.  This is true for all who fail to accept Him.  For without God, what hope is there?  If you find yourself telling others that "my Jesus" would never accept one who does wrong, you best be asking yourself why He chose to accept you.  For if you believe that Jesus only accepts those who do right...that's not my Jesus.

~Scott~

Meek Is Never Weak

28“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11: 28 - 30 NKJV 

Growing up in the church, I always had an idea that there was something different about me.  Well, something different about christians and how we approached life.  The "eyes on the prize" theology that was so often preached made for some interesting life choices.  See, I wasn't supposed to seek those things in the future.  In fact, I recall a pastor telling me many years ago that we, as chrisians, were not supposed to plan for our future.  "God will provide" he calmly told me.  Really?  Then, when I was in my teens I got a rude introduction into exactly how the church wanted me to conduct myself.  It seems a local school bully had his sights set on me and, one day after school, he took the opportunity to introduce me to my first fight.  Well, it wasn't much of a fight at all in my opinion.  I followed the church rules of engagement and attempted not to participate.  I was after all, meek as Christ Jesus was meek (yes, I heard that in a sermon).  Well, all I got from being meek that day was a cut lip and a reputation for running away.  I remember asking God, "is this what being meek really means?"  Have we sacraficed our own dignity for the pleasure of saying that we are meek as Jesus was meek?  For awhile I thought so.  The theology of the modern institutional church will tell us that we, as christians, must achieve a laundry list of accomplishments if we are ever to be like Jesus.  Our own meekness is but one of those things.  However, there is a issue with this theology.  It is based on the very same lie which satan spoke to Eve in the garden.  For when satan uttered the words that we would "be like God" if we ate from the tree He had instructed Adam and Eve not to, what he set in motion was the idea that we ourselves are seperate from our creator.  Well, the dirty little secret is that Adam and Eve ALREADY WERE like God!  It is God who breathed into His creation the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  From the very begining, we were the very image of Him.

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galations 2: 20 NKJV 

So, do we really need to follow the traditional church theology that we might one day be as Jesus was?  In short, no.  Let me just say that we were not created that way.  We, as Gods children, were never created to run a hamster wheel all of our lives chasing that image of Christ Jesus which we might never catch.  Of course, the church will tell us that this is "the" way to achieve being close to Jesus.  Yes, close but no cigar my friends.  For not only were we created in His image, it is the Spirit of Christ who lives in us.  That's right, we are now one in Christ.  We are all Jesus is.  So, getting back to that question of being meek, do we really need to be that meek, weak christian in order to be like Jesus?  Hell no!  All of this is simply part of the theology we have been fed over the years.  Why would we need to attempt to be like Jesus when we already are?  The apostle Paul lays this out for us in Galations {Galations 2:20}.  See, Paul knew that the man he used to be was dead, replaced by the living Spirit of Christ.  We are the same way.  Now, I will make the comment which I came to realize some time ago.  Meek...is never weak.  Part of the definition of meekness is one who is quiet and gentle.  Of course, this fits Jesus perfectly.  Unless, of course, we forget all of that trashing the temple and calling out the Pharisees stuff.  Was that Jesus being meek?  Maybe not, but it was still Jesus doing His thing.  As Jesus stood up for what was right, so it is with us.  Being meek should never require us to be someones doormat.  I'm sure that Jesus would not require that from me except for His own reasons.  Anyone who knows me will testify that I am about as meek as a enraged tiger at times.  Sure, I can be meek when needed.  Remember, meek is never weak.  That must be the Jesus in me.

7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being

Genesis 2: 7 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Sex And What Jesus Told Me

1Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7: 1 - 5 NKJV

I've heard a lot of complaints over the years of how hollywood and our ever so popular culture has minimalized marriage and glorified sex in our society.  I will say that I agree.  However, as they say, sex sells.  I am of the opinion, however, that we cannot have one without the other.  Now, those who really know me may be surprised to hear such a statement coming from me, but I'll say it anyway.  Yes, this man who has spent more time in strip clubs than most couples spend in marriage counseling.  How is it that I, a former porn addict, would know anything at all about sex and marriage?  Well, simply put, Jesus told me.  Yes, despite my past history, it is Christ Jesus who saved me from my own past {Romans 6: 6-11}.  It should be no secret how Jesus Himself views sex.  In the book of Matthew we see Him address this topic.  Jesus' view on sex is made abundantly clear in Matthew 19, verse 5.  Here He lays it out for us, that a man and a woman shall be joined together and become ONE FLESH.  That's right, not simply two seperate individuals...but one in Christ.  Keep in mind that in the Jewish culture of Jesus' day, people usually were married by the age of 13 or 14.  Therefore, sex before marriage was more than likely not a issue.  Of course, that would never jive with our own sex saturated culture.  Maybe it's the former porn addict in me talking, but isn't sex a normal human function?  Well, I used to think so.  That is, before Jesus told me different.  I find it rather curious that our sex glorified society exploded in the mid to late 60's.  Yes, it was here that the "free love" of the hippie era began.  In my opinion, what many called womens liberation was nothing more than enslavement to a idea.  The idea that sex was good, and that women could be used for that purpose.  Do you think that I had respect for women as I made my way through the strip clubs of Portland?  Usually not.  For me, it was all about what I desired.  Sadly, this is the mindset of more than a few people today.

4And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5“and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6“So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19: 4 - 6 NKJV

One of the most accurate descriptions of sex that I've come across came from Wayne Jacobsen when he described it as a "bond" in the marriage relationship.  Of course, this is exactly what Jesus was telling us in Matthew 19.  Remember, one flesh!  We also see in Pauls letter to the Corinthians that he warned them of sexual immorality {1 Corinthians 7:2}.  So, it seems that sex has been around for awhile.  Even though our own culture has embraced a sex crazed society, we by no means own the idea of glorifying sex.  I've often thought that our own views of sex could be traced to that false belief that we are our own independent beings.  That is, we are seperated from our creator.  Of course, this cannot be true, for Gods fingerprints are all over His creation.  Not only that, Paul tells us that it is Christ Jesus who lives in us {Galations 2:20}.  This truth has never seemed to squash the independent self narrative however.  Can you see how our own views of sex can be affected by this lie?  Despite knowing (and most of us do) that sex before marriage is wrong, we figure that we do not share a connection with God.  He's in heaven, totally removed from our lives.  That is, until we need Him, right?  Sorry, it doesn't work that way.  We may WANT it to, but it doesn't.  Everything that affects us and our lives each and every day is lovingly connected to God.  Yes, even the sex we engage in before marriage.  Huh?  That's right, this gift He has reserved for the marriage relationship has been indulged in by those for whom it was never intended.  Now, God will definately feel sad and regret that we made such choices, but He is still our loving heavenly Father.  We shouldn't expect any fire nor brimstone to fall from the sky anytime soon.  That's sooooo old covenant.  I know a guy who would continually make the point that the guy who engages in adultry should be booted out of the church.  Sadly, there are may christians out there who feel as he does.  If we see sex and our own relationship with Christ in the right way, we'll see just where we've dropped the ball.  Yes, God has destined sex for the marriage relationship.  However, do not fear if you, like me, have marginalized His gift for our own desires.  It is never Gods intention to withhold any gift from His children.  That's just something Jesus told me. 

~Scott~

O Daughters

27So God created man ain His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1: 27 NKJV 

I read the other day the God Journey podcast of how Wayne Jacobsen and his sidekick were entering into the "minefield" discussion of women in ministry.  Specifically, does that scripture we hold so dear actually forbid women to share their gifts with the body of Christ?  My first thought was, is this how far we've come as far as christians?  If so, then we're a large group of hypocrites.  It is beliefs such as this that cause others to slam christianity as hypocritical.  On one hand we preach that God created men and women, while in the next breath we are downgrading His very creation as somehow not worthy.  Why would allowing women to share their God given gifts be considered a taboo subject?  Are we some middle eastern hocus pocus religion that demeans women?  Of course, that got me thinking more and more about how it is that we treat women among us.  As a man, I will say that I enjoy having women around.  In both a physical and humanity nature, women are a damn good thing.  The apostle Peter describes a woman as the "weaker vessel" deserving of honor and understanding.  Now, before any radical feminists add me to their hate list, it is not I who created this situation.  If you have a issue with how men and women were created, take it up with God.  I don't believe that Peter was refering to women as inferior, only that they have been created as a "weaker vessel" (physical body).  Now, I'll also say that I have met more than a few women in my time who could give me a serious butt kicking.  Not all women are weak, meek and passive, just as not all men are strong and mighty.  So, before I digress much further, why is it that we as christians are so hard set on seeing women as inferior?  Why are we as a society so intent on seeing women as second class christians?  Good question.  I'm thinking that part of my own history will shed some light on this subject.  See, not that long ago I was one of those macho God men who believed that women were to sit quiet in church while the men ran things.  Not only that, I also saw women as simply there for me to enjoy.  Seriously, why else would God have created women but for His creation to enjoy?  Twisted thinking I know, but that's how I rationalized my beliefs.  I had no issues going to a strip club and seeing a woman as something for my own enjoyment then waking up for church the next morning.  That was my view of things.

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galations 3: 28 NKJV 

One in Christ Jesus?  Those words hit me like a rock the first time I heard them.  Of course, I thought there was no way that Christ could be anywhere near me the way that I was.  I was a sinner, He was holy, yada yada yada.  That was my understanding of all things christian anyway.  What I failed to realize is that the truth of Christ in me transcends what we've come to  know as christianity.  Man made religions are no match for the reality of Christ in us.  That's right, I said US.  Men, women, goat, tree everything!  Nowhere is this made more clear than by the apostle Paul in Galations.  There is neither male nor female...for we are ALL one in Christ.  If only I had known this truth earlier in life.  I'm thinking that I could have avoided some pretty bad feelings.  Indeed, this is another truth which many will find difficult to accept.  The truth that Jesus (God) is "all in all."  That is, that each and every part of our Lords creation not only bears His fingerprint, but that is a part of Him.  As a child is part of it's parent, so are we one with our creator.  We should not think along those human driven ways of male and female, but as members of our Lords creation.  For it is the Spirit of Christ Jesus who dwells in us all.  I believe that this is why Peter described the female as deserving of honor, for she also is the vessel of Christ as we are.  There is no difference.  Not the type of equality the radical feminists were looking for, but something more special.  Christ, all in all.  

 Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you. Everywhere. Here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere. Yes, even between the land and the ship.

~Yoda~ 

~Scott~ 

In That Hour

19a“But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak.For bit will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20“for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Matthew 10: 19 - 20 NKJV

What is one of the things you worry most about sharing Jesus with others?  What they will say?  What they might think of you?  I heard a friend of mine this week say that God does not desire that we "make disciples" of all the world.  On the contrary, He directs each of us to share the truth of Christ one heart at a time.  I think it would be a pretty daunting task to proclaim the truth of Jesus to the entire world.  Where would I began?  Well, I'll tell you where.  We began with those closest to us.  Thos in our inner circle of friends and aquaintances who have never known the man Jesus.  That is where we start.  I'll admit that most ministry of speaking Jesus to others is made up as we go.  I have a friend who developed a good sized group of friends simply by engaging with others at his local Starbucks.  I know another man who speaks Christ into the hearts of disadvantaged youth.  These men are not making disciples of all the nations, they are speaking Christ to one heart at a time.  They don't spend countless hours worrying over what they will say when that hour comes, for they know that Christ who is in them will guide them {Matthew 10:19}.  One of the things I used to worry about is what I would say to others who need to hear about Jesus.  I may be a good writer, but there are times when talking Jesus with others can be a bit messy.  Do you know Christ?  Do you want a relationship with Him?  Do you know He is in you?  Yeah, not exactly good conversation starters.  However, I've come to realize that I don't really need to began such conversations with a discussion about Jesus, for if it is someone whom God has brought before you, the words will come.  Being authentic with someone means that we can develop a friendship with others before talking about Christ.  Trust me, if we are the followers of Jesus who we claim to be, others will see Him in us.  My friend does not began each and every conversation at the coffee shop by trying to convert someone to Jesus.  No, his conversations began with sharing common interests and activities.  Many of these ordinary conversations have led to more than a few people coming to Christ.  One heart at a time.

46e“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47“And if you greet your 16brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the 17tax collectors do so?
Matthew 5: 46 - 47 NKJV

I was pondering the other day the ministry of Jesus.  Remember, His ministry really didn't began until He was into His thirties.  Did Jesus need a extensive public ministry?  Did He require a platform from which to speak the good news to others?  If you recall the ministry of Jesus, most places He went, others had already heard of Him.  It didn't take Him long to develop a following due to the message He spoke.  I will say that my friends coffee shop ministry is one of those I've seen which closely mimicks the ministry of Jesus.  There are no sermons, praise and worship bands or church staff.  What you have here is open, honest conversation.  This is where it starts.  I look at the interactions which Jesus had with others around Him and how a simple conversation often led to another heart being led to Him.  The message need not be one of rituals, materialistic prayers and religion.  Religion is a messy subject, and I stay away from it at all costs.  However, ask me how Jesus has affected my life and we can talk all day long and twice on sundays.  Our focus should never be to hammer Jesus into the lives of others, but to speak of His love and desires for us.  See, most people have never even heard of the truth of Christ in us.  To many it's a strange concept.  So, should we began each conversation with a talk on Jesus in us?  Do that and you'll most likely get a few blank stares along the way.  However, if we would simply engage others in normal conversation and allow Christ to lead us in what we are to say, He will guide our words to what it is they need to hear in their hearts.  After all, Jesus knows more about what others need to hear than I do, right?  Who is better at speaking Christ to others than Jesus Himself?  In that hour He will guide us to what we will say. 

28And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Matthew 10: 28 - 29 NKJV

~Scott~

Just As I Am

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come
~ William Bradbury - Just As I Am ~

Just as I am.  Not only is this one of my all time favorite hymns, but it describes perfectly my own path to a deeper relationship with Christ.  It is no cooincidence that every now and then I return to a recording of this song as a reminder of how far Christ Jesus has led me through my life.  I first heard it while my mom watched a Billy Graham crusade of television.  As the old preacher finished his sermon, the music began and thousands of people rose and walked to the front of the stadium.  Although I was too young to understand what I was watching, this was the begining of my acceptance of who Jesus was.  Here were thousands of people from every walk of life coming forward to give their lives to Christ.  Like I said, I was much too young to realize the significance of all I was seeing.  The way I saw it, there was no way that Jesus could ever see me as good enough to save unless I worked to make myself as a person more to His liking.  Can you blame me for feeling this way?  This was all which I had been taught since my earliest days of sunday school.  Jesus is holy, we are but sinners in need of redemption.  The closest we can get is to BE LIKE our savior.  A good friend of mine mentioned this week that we have been misled from the pulpit.  I agree.  Not only do we war against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, but against thousands of years of the teachings of church doctrine {Ephesians 6:12}.  As they say, if you tell a lie often enough, eventually it becomes accepted as truth.  The trouble is, the "truth" of Christ which the church teaches is vastly different from the way Jesus desires for us to see Him.  We can be assured that Jesus is not in some far off location looking down upon us.  The apostle Paul tells us in Galations that it is Christ Jesus who lives in us today {Galations 2:20}.  What would your reaction be if someone told you that?  Well, for me it was a tough pill to swallow.  Old teachings die hard.

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6: 37 NKJV

One day not so long ago I found myself once again listening to that old hymn.  As I said those words once again I thought to myself, why wouldn't Jesus want to be with me?  He who became sin in my place that I would be spared its penalty {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Why wouldn't Jesus accept me...just as I am?  I believe that in our most broken of times in our lives are those times when He reminds us of just how He loves us.  No matter how many times I've messed up or gone in the wrong direction, I can rest assured that He loves me...just as I am.  Just as I am, a sometimes arrogant, impatient and wrong thinking child of God.  Despite all of the wrong things I see in myself He love sme...just as I am.  It's also important to remember here that the way I sometimes see myself has nothing whatsoever to do with how Jesus sees me.  For where I see failures, Jesus sees grace.  Where I see imperfection, He sees love.  Indeed, if I were to ask Him to forgive me for where I've sinned His response would be...what sin?  I don't see that old hymn as a vehicle of church doctrine, but as a reminder of the love of Christ Jesus.  For despite all of my imperfections, He called me His own.  In my lowest point when I thought I was all alone He comes to me.  "You are my child and I love you...just as you are."

~Scott~

Behind The Mask

42‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44“Then they also will answer 4Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
Matthew 25: 42 - 44 NKJV

I once knew a man who, by all appearances, was a good friend and family man.  In his wallet he would carry pictures of his two children and in his locker at work were the various photos of family get togethers and vacations.  For all intents and purposes, he was living the perfect family life.  Or so I thought.  Well, one night after a argument with his wife, he took his life.  At work we mourned him as a good and family oriented man who obviously had some personal issues.  While I was never privy to the moments which led up to his death, I'm sure I might not recognize the man I thought I knew.  He wore his mask well.  I thought of this the other day and wondered, how well do we know those around us?  Sure, we may think that we know our friends, co workers and family, but do we really?  A good friend of mine recently commented that we can never truly know another person.  I agree.  This is coming from a man who has been married for over fifty years.  Is it any wonder, then, that we preach that our marriage relationships take years to develop?  Why should it be any different with our other relationships?  As I said, can we honestly say that we really know those around us?  I thought I knew the man who was my co worker, but I was wrong.  Each day, we are surprised to learn more about our friends and those we have come to know.  I feel that this is part of what makes our relationships with others special.  Not only that it keeps us on our toes, but that we never stop striving to know who they truly are inside.  You could say that our continual efforts of discovery to know others fulfills what Jesus had to say about our relationships as well.  That we love one another {John 13:34-35}.  Can we love someone without knowing who they are?  maybe, but again, we might be surprised somewhere along the line when we learn something about them we may not agree with.  Granted, that should never get in our way of loving others, but it all too often does.

9He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10He who loves his brother abides in the light, and othere is no cause for stumbling in him. 11But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1 John 4: 9 - 11 NKJV

I can't recall how many times I've heard others tell me of how they couldn't live with another person who believed in something they didn't.  Personally, I think that's a load of Bernie Sanders.  Have you ever heard the phrase that relationships are the spice of life?  So what if you are in a relationship with someone with a differing view, maybe you'll learn to accept the opinions of others for a change.  The issue with knowing one another is not a issue of our opinions and beliefs, but of a deep seeded knowledge of who we are ourselves.  Who am I?  Well, by the knowledge of the truth of Christ Jesus, I know that I am all that He is {Galations 2:20}.  As Christ lives in me, so I am.  Of course, I don't hold the patent for the indwelling Christ.  Far from it.  So, if Jesus indeed lives in me, then He lives in those around me as well.  Yes, He even lives in those whom I might shy away from befriending.  Unlike yours truly, the Spirit of Jesus never discriminates when it comes to whom He lives in.  If we take the words of the apostle Paul to heart, then we understand that the Spirit of Jesus is in all who seek Him.  He dosen't ask who you are, where you've been or what took you so damn long to seek Him out, He simply is there with us.  It's a good thing that Jesus' idea of relationships is light years away from our own, or I might still be on a waiting list for His Spirit within me.  All too often we discriminate with whom we allow into our lives.  We want people who we like, those who we feel will make us look good.  We've all seen the trophy wives who grace the pages of the hollywood gossip rags.  Are those real relationships or simply unions of convenience?  Judging from the divorce rates in this country, I'm guessing that true marriage relationships are few and far between.  I suggest that we challenge ourselves to see what is beneath that mask of those arond us.  Who is the person beneath the outward appearance?  For when we find that out, then we are on the way to truly knowing another person.

~Scott~

Martyrs

Beirut

October 23, 1983

16But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18who have strayed concerning the truth,saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
2 Peter 1: 16 - 18 NKJV

On October 23, 1983, at the age of 17, I was shown just how vehemently man would go in defending his faith.  For it was on this day that 307 soldiers were killed in the city of Beirut in the war torn country of Lebanon.  241 United States soldiers died on that day.  I recall asking my mom about a word which I kept hearing on tv...martyr.  She told me that a martyr was someone died for their religion.  How right she was.  Eventually, a group calling itself Islamic Jihad, an offshoot of the Iranian backed Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for the attack.  That much didn't seem to matter, as it wouldn't bring back those who had lost their lives that day.  I've found myself asking the question over the years, what would make someone so delusional in their beliefs where they would come to the decision that taking the life of one who disagrees with their faith was acceptable to the religion they claim to follow.  After all, almost all of the religions which I know of often preach peace and love for all mankind.  Of grace and forgiveness towards others.  Where did we go wrong?  How is it that we, as Gods children, have become not only His creation, but His own judge, jury and executioners?  You may disagree with my assessment, but the evidence is right there in front of us daily.  Pastors leave congregations they've served for years, often taking their "flock" with them over one disagreement or another in the church.  I've been witness to the splitting of many a congregation in my time.  There's a reason why there are so many denominations within christianity, because we ourselves have made it that way.  We've become our own modern day martyrs of our faith.  All too often we question, argue and screech at those whose interpretations contradict our own.  In our own group of men, I have been witness to a brother who puts extraordinary effort into defending his view of christianity.  To what end?  Is there a special reward in Gods heaven for those who argue His truth?  Not that I've found.  What I have found is that we are to tell of the truth of Christ Jesus "in all gentleness."  Jesus never advocated reasoning with unbelievers with the sword or Ak-47s.  In fact, Jesus claimed that if we should come to a place which does not accept Him that we should simply "shake the dust from that place off your feet" {Matthew 10:14}. 

And when you go into a household, greet it. 13“If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14“And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
Matthew 14: 12 - 14 NKJV

I really cannot condemn those who defend the faith without realizing that I myself was once a martyr.  You bet, I was all too ready to shout down anyone who had the guts to disagree with what I thought christianity was.  Is this how we've been taught?  I can't recall any sermon or teaching that advocated such a defense of the faith, yet somehow we persist i what we feel is right and just.  The bigger question we should be asking is, does the creator of all which we see really need us to defend Him?  What was Jesus' answer to those who did not see His truth?  "It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorah in the day of judgement than for that city {Matthew 14:15}.  Jesus doesn't need us to defend Him!  However, in our arrogance we have come to believe that we are the ones who will decide which version of scripture is THE one and which teachings are to be believed.  Thankfully, this isn't how our heavenly Father desired our lives to be.  Do you desire to know Jesus?  Seek Him and you will find Him.  Knock and His door will be opened to you.  Unlike most martyrs, Jesus has never turned away any who come to Him.  So, do you still think that Jesus needs defending?  He who gave Himself for us...needs us?  Again, this is nothing but our own arrogant beliefs of how WE feel things should be.  Nothing of martyrdom screams Jesus.  In fact, if there ever was a martyr, it was Christ.  Persecuted for His teachings.  Beaten and put to death for telling others of the goodness of the Father.  Tell me again who the true martyr is.  I have come to realize that Jesus needs not me to defend Him.  He's probably busy enough defending us. 

~Scott~

Teaching Jesus

Remember that? The Divine Plan. Long time ago, God made a Divine Plan. Gave it a lot of thought, decided it was a good plan, put it into practice. And for billions and billions of years, the Divine Plan has been doing just fine. Now, you come along, and pray for something. Well suppose the thing you want isn’t in God’s Divine Plan? What do you want Him to do? Change His plan? Just for you? Doesn’t it seem a little arrogant? It’s a Divine Plan. What’s the use of being God if every run-down shmuck with a two-dollar prayerbook can come along and fuck up Your Plan?
~ George Carlin ~

Who was your favorite teacher of all time?  Most people are asked that same question at one time or another.  For me it was a high school wood shop teacher whose name escapes me, but who definately made an impact on how I feel one should teach.  I remember one project I was working on where I just couldn't get it together to build that table.  My first attempt looked more like a crashed airplane than a table.  Obviously I had forgotten something along the way.  However, my teacher never let me know that.  I guess in his eyes he had forgotten to stress a few points about building the project.  Anyway, for two days straight he worked with me to build my table, never once admonishing his student for forgetting his teaching.  THAT is a teacher in my book.  Not everyone is going to learn nor understand at the same rate, and who are you to deem someone unteachable without first looking at yourself?  I raised the quote from George Carlins view of religion for a reason.  I was once that run down shmuck with my two dollar prayer book teaching what I knew about Jesus.  Well, I really wouldn't call it teaching but telling.  After all, isn't that how Jesus taught, by telling stories in order that those of His day would understand?  It is these parables of Jesus which we often point to as we teach the foundations of a Christ like life.  We all know them, the good samaritan, the wide and foolish builders, etc.  There is no doubt that Jesus used stories  in His teachings that we might better understand.  Well, in my two dollar prayer book evangelist days I somehow forgot about that.  Now, nobody ever called me a run down shmuck, but I guess they would have been right if they did.  So, that brings me to the point of my post, how is it that we should teach others about Jesus?  In my case there is a heavier burden as my own view of the truth of Christ is not agreed on with the mainstream institutional church theology of the day.  See, I don't see myself as seperated from God.  I don't see God as being in heaven while I labor and toil away here in His creation.  That is seperation thinking and it's crap.  The apostle Paul speaks in Galations of the indwelling Christ who we live as today {Galations 2:20}.  Yes, I said that we live as Jesus.  Now, before you call me a run down shmuck, remember Pauls words from Galations "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."  See, Paul believed that he was indeed dead.  All that remained was Christ. 

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2: 20 NKJV

 The section of my bible that I pulled Pauls instructions from Galations from is titled "Apostolic Confidence."  See, Paul was confident beyond a doubt of who he really was inside.  He was not defined by the flesh and blood container that was his physical body, but by the Spirit of Christ Jesus who lived through him.  The same can be said about us as well.  We can live with the very same confidence of our indwelling Christ which Paul had.  However, what if we do not know this truth of Jesus or if we have somehow forgotten?  How is it that we should approach the questions that those who are not secure in the truth of Christ in us?  Well, I believe the best way is to take a page from that old shop teacher and patiently go over the truth of Christ with them.  Sure, we can admonish someone who has questions as simply "forgetting who they really are."  We can certainly do that, if you want to teach from that two dollar prayer book once again.  As for me, I don't want to be that run down shmuck any longer.  I've come to know a better way now.  I don't treat those willing to hear the truth of Christ as forgetful students who need the lesson drilled into them.  I don't see someone who has questions about Jesus as not knowing who He is.  Everyone is going to have questions about Jesus at one point or another.  We should feel honored that others come to us with questions about the Christ in us, obviously they have seen something in us which has sparked their curiosity.  Keep in mind that nobody has ever seen God.  The ONLY way the world will truly know Him is through the lives of those He lives through.  The greatest compliment I could ever receive is from someone telling me that they see Christ in me.  We should not hesitate to use the very same grace and humility of Christ as we tell others about Him.  Then we are teaching Jesus.

6Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Galations 6: 6 NKJV

~Scott~

Authentic Jesus

3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; 1and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
Romans 14: 3 - 6 NKJV

I've heard a lot recently about authenticity, about being real.  We desire authenticity from those around us.  We seek authenticity from those in government, and rarely receive it.  We also seek authenticity from Jesus.  Tell me, when was the last time that Christ Jesus was not authentic to you?  That's who He is.  There is nothing that isn't authentic about Jesus.  No, what is NOT authentic is the way that we ourselves do Christ.  By this I mean how we tell those around us to commune with Him.  For in order to be in good standing with Christ Jesus you somehow need to be holy, pure, know who He is, know who you are etc.  Excuse me, but I believe this is just another attemp by humans to circumvent who Jesus really is.  Who is Jesus?  Simply put, WE are all that Christ is.  He is the head of our Lords church {Colossions 1:18}.  He also lives through us {Galations 2:20}.  THIS is the authentic Jesus.  It has never been Jesus who has put silly conditions upon coming to know Him.  For it was Christ who desired the will of the Father that we would be one with He and the Father {John 17:23}.  Jesus NEVER claimed that we would be one with He and the Father if we remembered who we are, attended the right church, joined the right ministry or asked the right questions.  These have all been conditions we have placed upon knowing Jesus, and it's crap!  This is NOT Jesus being authentic.  No matter what church I attend, who I know or who I feel that I am inside, I KNOW that Jesus never places conditions on me.  I am His, a loved child of God.  It's really that simple.  Have I forgotten who I am inside?  Not really.  I know who Jesus is, so I know who it is that I am. 

20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who 10will believe in Me through their word; 21“that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23“I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
John 17: 20 - 23 NKJV

I guess that I should introduce you to the fake Jesus huh?  I mean, if I am to talk about Jesus as being authentic then we should know who the opposite, right?  Far from simply being the usual antichrist scapegoat, the fake Jesus I refer to is the one we ourselves have created.  The Jesus who only shows conditional love to those who have proven that they know Him and ask the right questions concerning Him.  Yes, this is indeed the Jesus we have created in our desire to make ourselves good enough for Jesus.  As Jesus is holy and blameless, we needed to make ourselves good, wise and righteous.  Otherwise He might not accept us.  Well, our authentic Jesus accepts us just as we are, without conditions.  Christ Jesus is the very definition of authenticity.  there is nothing about Him that is misleading in any way.  Did He ask the woman at the well if she had forgotten who she really was?  Well, that's jumping the gun a bit, but no He didn't.  What He did not do was condemn her nor put conditions on His love for her.  That would have been the fake Jesus.  I've been falsely accused of "not knowing who I am" in Christ a few times and it isn't fun.  Believe me, I know who Jesus is each day when I look in the mirror.  It is the authentic Jesus who reminds me in lifes stormy moments that He has my back.  Yes, there may be times when my thoughts may wander, but i my heart I know how real Jesus is to me, and He is able to make me stand.

~Scott~