The Responsibility of Grace

God has more grace for us than we could ever hope for or hopefully than we will ever need. This is a concept that most in "Christian" circles would agree upon. Where the path splinters is in what this actually means to the one who has a true relationship with Jesus. I have been reading about some "Christian" authors who are espousing that God's grace accepts us as we are, and that he loves us no matter what kind of people we are. We will show his presence by loving all around us, no matter how unlovely they may seem. All of this seems very reasonable, and in fact is right in line with my beliefs. The problem is in the current trend to de-religion ( new word) Christianity. I know, it is about relationship, but some authors seem to rely on throwing out all the tenets of Christianity along with the guilt and fear that was drummed into them by false religion. This is used as a platform to combat the aggressive "political" Christianity which is also wrong in it's castigation of an unsaved world. I am sensing a groundswell of Christian relativism that says, "as long as you are loving, and in a relationship with God, everything is alright." In my reading, I have seen little attention paid to the life changing power of Jesus. I am actually angry, in the way that Jesus was angry when they used his temple for ill gotten gain." Many who have been wounded by churches who have acted in the name of religion, not in the name of Jesus have caused harm, but this constant attack on "organized religion and its values", is a travesty. It has become justification that anything goes in the church, as long as love is present. If love is all that is needed, then what was Paul striving for or against? I am certain that love of God will drive our actions, but it does require work on our part. Christianity is not a "sit back and love and wait on the Lord religion". Nothing has to be earned through any of our efforts, but should not our love for Christ and what he has done for us inspire more than this cultural relativism? Should not our love inspire us to strive for the morality that is so clearly shown in the Bible? Yes, we must love all, but we should never settle for being all. Lord, help me not to be really upset at those who would diminish your work and try to fit it into a world sized box. help me to follow my words with actions that help me to live my life by your standards, not by the standards of a sinking world.

I Worship a Trash Talking God

When I was younger, I remember debating with my friends the merits of trash talking. We watched Magic and Bird go at it all the time and knew they were often times competing verbally as well as physically. There was one close fought game where Larry Bird told his opponent "I am going to get the ball there, dribble it to there, take the shot, and win the game. He did just that.
This seemed pretty cool, but I know One who can talk an even better game on a larger stage, and who even gave us a written record of it.

Job was a man who was questioning why God had taken so much away from him. He had followed God's laws. He had not strayed. He questioned the reasons why God would do this. This is God's response in Job 38 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. God is calling Job out in no uncertain terms. God begins to "Trash Talk" about his many accomplishments. "Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it's place"
"Does the rain have a father" "Who fathers the drops of dew" "Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of Heaven?' 'Who can tame the leviathan" This is my paraphrase, but i read it like this. "You think that you are so bad, Job, sack up and answer a few questions I have for you. Why do you ask me questions about things you know nothing about? Do you know how to do any of these things? Do you have any of these abilities? Keep your trap shut. I own this floor. All of Job 38, 39 and 40 exhibit the power that God has. Our God is an awesome God, and I love that He doesn't mind telling us so. God, help me to be confident in your guidance and to daily be reminded of all you can and will do in and through me.