The Ragamuffin Gospel

   In a book by Brennan Manning called "The Ragamuffin Gospel", Brennan makes this statement "The American church today accepts grace in theory but denies it in practice. We say we believe that the fundamental structure of reality is grace, not works-but ou lives refute our faith. By and large, the gospel of grace is neither proclaimed, understood, nor lived." (Brennan, 1990, p.18).  Brennan goes on to say that Jesus spent most of his time on this earth with the ragamuffins.  Ragamuffins are the downtrodden, the tax collectors, the outcasts, the prostitutes, the burned out.  He spent time with them because they had no problem in seeing their need, their brokenness and had no self-righteous attitudes to overcome.   He spent time with and also made disciples of those who others rejected, men like Matthew and Zaccheus.

    In Luke 19, the story of Zaccheus is told where Jesus is walking by and looks up and sees Zaccheus in a tree.  He says, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."  Brennan goes on to point out that in modern times we lose the shock waves this caused through the crowd on that day.  It surely tested the faith of many in the crowd.  For to eat with someone in those days, as is the case today in the Middle East in many case, is to say that you are at peace with or in fellowship with this person.  And Zaccheus was the despised tax collector, hated by Jews and rejected from public worship.  He was a cheat and a person who had sold out to the Romans.  And now, Jesus wants to have a meal with him.

     This is the gospel of grace.  This is the point that Brennan wants to get across in his book.  It is an important point, that many of us ignore.  The grace means "unmerited favor".  It is unmerited because we didn't come close to earning salvation and fall a little short, like small change that we need to make up at the cash register.  No, the Bible says that we were dead in our trespasses and sins.  There was no hope of earning anything on our own.  Until that truth hits the heart we don't truly understand what grace is.  Even as a believer, my faith, my deeds, my words and my actions, do not earn one little bit to get me into heaven apart from what Jesus did on the cross.  It is a gift and not something earned.

     And why was this grace given to you and me?  It was given because of the radical and furious love of God.  A love that knows no depth and no width and is beyond comprehension.  "But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.  One of the stories and things I think about when I read about the love of God is the story of the prodigal son.  At the end of the story, the father is watching for the son to return when he sees him from a distance.  He loses all sense of dignity in a desire to reach out and embrace his son.  God loves is like that for us.  He longs to embrace us, to have a relationship with us because he loves each of us.

Favorite Verses

   It doesn't' seem like it was that long ago, but 10 months ago I shared a few favorite verses of mine.  I want to share a few more that have been meaningful to me.  I hope if you haven't read them in a while they will  bless you.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

This verse comes in part of what is called the "Sermon on the Mount" and is a part of the section regarding worry and anxiety.  Jesus was telling his disciples where their focus should be.  Instead of being worried about food or clothes or being filled with worry.  Their priority was to be concerned about  God's kingdom instead of their own.  The bigger picture here is that worrying doesn't help solve any problems.  Rather, it devalues the time we do have and wastes a lot of energy.

"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come."  2 Corinthians 5:17

This verse was one I used when I was a youth/education minister right out of seminary for my youth group.  It was to remind us all that God is in the process of creating something new in us.  So often, we think of life as more like snapshots.  We think about who we are instead of thinking about the fact that God is at work in us to change us.  Consider Moses, who lost his temper and killed a man when he was younger.  Only to be molded by God through many years of hard work as a shepherd and then called to shepherd his flock.  God sees the potential and newness in us even when we are focused on the old.

"if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forigve us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

This verses is important to me for several reasons.  One thing is, that the word "all" is used here.  God doesn't just wash some of our sins away.  He washes them "all" away.  He does this it says because of His own faithfulness.  He does this also by his power and not mine.  The action is God's when I am faithful to confess or agree with God that sin is sin.

"Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's House are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place fo ryou. And if I go to prepare a place fo ryou, I will come again, and receive you to Myself, that were I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3

These verses capture a lot of the hope of being a christian in the first place.  That one day we will abide with Jesus in a heavenly place that He has made himself.  It will be a place where there is no more sin, sickness, or pain.  It will be a place of perfect fellowship and peace.  It will be a place personally made by Jesus for you.

What makes a church a good church home?  What are your expectations when you walk in the door on Sunday morning?  How is a church suppose to help you grow in your walk with God?  These are some of the questions I have been asking myself as I think about attending church on Sunday. 

 I have been in a lot of churches these last few years in my attempts to deal with my issues with the church.  I've visited several different denominations and even walked out of some church services.  Yes, you heard right, I got up and left a few times.  I went to a new church last Sunday and will probably go back again next Sunday even though it wasn't a great experience.  So, I am asking myself what I need in a church home and what is truly important.

 Things that I think are important
1. Sound Biblical truth being taught and preached.  I really am not interested in preachers like Joel Osteen who basically preach pop psychology and not doctrine.  I'm also not interested in just hearing doctrine without some practical application.  What I do want is a pastor who will challenge me to think about my faith and even have some good insights once in a while.  Granted, I'm probably not in the same place as the average church goer since I've read through the Bible numerous times, but at least once in a while help me to think of something differently and grow.  There needs to be opportunities throughout the year to grow deeper and study harder.

2. Friendliness- I don't want to have to stand up and introduce myself, but I do want for people to act as though they are happy to see me.  Who wants to be around a bunch of stuck up jerks.  The church is suppose to be a family.  A family sticks together.  I was thinking about when I was in Hull, Texas.  I had both of my kids at home, my wife was working late and my son was running a fever.  One of the church members ran out and got some medicine for him and brought it to me in the middle of the night.  Which probably involved a drive to nearby Liberty since everything else was closed by then.  She was one of those people who would do anything for you.  There really are people out there like that.  Too often these people are overshadowed by the bigots and judgmental folks the church seems to breed. 

3. Outreach into the community.  I don't want to be a part of the local church on the corner where everyone shows up Sunday and doesn't do anything for their community.  I think churches should have clothes closets and food pantries and help people in need.  There needs to be a sense that this is my mission field, this community knows who we are and knows we are alive and kicking.  Too many church resemble a funeral home instead of a spiritual hospital (which is what in many ways it is).  Too many churches are known for what they are against, rather than for their compassion, love and kindness. 

4. Worship that honors God.  I honestly don't like the rock music that is in many churches.  But, doing the traditional hymns all the times is boring too.  Worship that is honoring God is uplifting, inspiring and encouragement to the soul.  I need that more than ever.  I need someone to remind me that God loves me and is on my side.  I need someone to tell me that Jesus overcame my sins and faults.  I need an encouraging word that helps me to remember that God cares about what I am going through.

deception

         

   "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." psalm 32:7

       I was reminded as I read my final book for one of my classes this semester that many people need to be freed today from various things which hold them in bondage.  For some people this comes in the form of faulty thinking and for others it comes in toxic relationships or sinful actions.  The good news is that God wishes to deliver us from the things which overwhelm and destroy our peace and replace anxiety and fear with joy and peace.  The problem comes when we don't wait on him and he isn't our true hiding place.

     Another passage that talks about this is in Isaiah 61:1-2 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the cpatives and release from darkness for the prisoners and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. . . ."  These are words that Jesus himself read and attributed to himself.  He came to set the captives free, that is you and me, captive of sin and lies and all the things that keep us from being all that He wants for us.

Do you want to be "set free"?  Then get into his word.  Memorize it.  Meditate on it.  Thinking about it and apply it.  Let it transform your mind.  It is work, but it is worth the effort.

    In the church we were at last week, the pastor mentioned that he knew that some people wanted to get out on time and go to K&W cafeteria.  I thought to myself that most people in that congregation wouldn't complain about sitting for three hours to watch a football game, so why should the pastor feel like he has to rush through a sermon?  Something mixed up about the priorities there. 

How do we experience being "set free".  I think one of the main ways is to meditate on and be renewed through the word of God.  When I was a sunday school teacher, I was always amazed at the amount of ignorance of the Bible.  You would think with a church everywhere you look we would be knowledgeable about what the Bible says, but that just isn't the case.  You can see it in many sermons, that are pathetically weak and shallow.  In Romans 12:2 it say that we are not be conformed any longer to the world, but to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind".  That renewal takes place as we allow God to speak His truth to us through His Word.

   

bondage breaker

      For one of the classes I am taking this fall, I have to read 8 books in 8 weeks.  We are now into the sixth week of the class.  I have enjoyed most of the books quite a bit as it helps to show different counseling methods and models.  This week I initially resisted the ideas presented in the book by Dr.Neil Anderson called "The Bondage Breaker".  I don't know that he really presents a counseling model, but he does remind us that there is a spiritual battle going in in the believers life and this battle starts in the mind.  One of his big ideas is that we are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5

    While I am not endorsing all of the book since I don't believe that believers can be influenced by demons and things like that, I do think that it is a good reminder that what we believe about ourselves is often how we behave.  It is also a good reminder that Satan does not want us to understand who we are "in Christ".  That little phrase "in Christ" is used often, particularly by Paul the apostle, in describing our relationship with God.  It is a key to understanding how God sees us and how God can welcome us with open arms into his family.  Because we are victors in God's eyes over sin because of what Jesus did on the cross and the power of the resurrection.

     So, it is important to replace lies with truth.  Lies can be subtle, but also very dangerous.  An example that is mentioned in the book "Search for Significance" by McGee is that this

   "I am what I am.  I cannot change. I am hopeless." (McGee, 1990).

     A lot of people believe they cannot change.  In truth, they don't want to change.  Change is sometimes painful and difficult.  But, the truth is that under the power of Jesus nobody is hopeless.  And you can overcome sin and change and become more christ-like.  You can have victory.  It isn't just for the super spiritual.  God does accept you and loves you, but also wants you to experience more of that love and grace.  Another lie goes like this:

    "I must be approved by certain others to feel good about myself."

    There are people who commit suicide or do all sorts of foolish things when they experience peer pressure because they think they must be approved by certain people.  The truth is that even if nobody approves of your actions or likes you God still loves you.  When you base your self-worth on what he thinks about you rather than other people's opinions then you can experience peace knowing that God loves you.  If others don't want to be your friend or like you then that is their loss, not yours.

Sent

      Jesus said, "I can do nothing on My own initiative, As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."  John 5:30

    Years ago, I went to a church where there was a sign at the end of the parking lot.  It said, "Now entering mission field".  The truth is, that though there are professional missionaries who get paid to go to other places and do mission work we are all on mission.  A lot of the time most christians forget that and think they are simply here to do their own will instead of God's.  Jesus Himself repeated many times that he was on a mission that the Father had sent him on.  You'll notice, particularly in the gospel of John, that the word "sent" is used numerous times.  What were you "sent" to do?

    I say this because I think it is easy for us to get off of God's agenda for our lives and get on to our own.  We can get caught up in the attraction of having things or doing things that are good and miss the best.  I think this is why Jesus spent so much time in prayer.  The temptations were there for him both big and small.  They wanted to make him king more than once.  But, he steadfastly refused because he understood that was not a part of his mission.

    I think this is one of the things that makes the gospel something that brings hope to people.  That God gives us a purpose and mission also.  Back in 1988, I went on a mission trip with several other people to the state of Nevada.  We did some backyard bible clubs (poorly organized) and VBS (I think I worked in about 5 that summer) and I did some preaching (poorly).  After coming back someone asked me why I went and what I had learned.  I remarked that the only thing I learned was that I didn't want to go out west.  Sometimes it is still hard to see where and why God sent me to some places or if God did.  But, God's word does not return void.

     But, I think we also need to be careful about trying to get God to bless our agenda.  We can fool ourselves sometimes with our motivation.  God's people do all sorts of things for their own agenda and reasons instead of his.  That doesn't mean that he is going to bless our agenda or mess that we create.  He patiently waits for us to get on the same page as Him and that requires humility, solitude and prayer.  It requires for us to get our priorities right.  It requires for us to be quiet.  Do you know how hard it is for some people just to be quiet for one second?

 

Loaves and Fishes

    In several places in the gospels, the story is told of Jesus taking a few fish and loaves and feeding a multitude.  One story it is 5,000 men and another situation is 4,000 men not counting women, children and slaves.  Have you ever wondered why these stories are emphasized so much in the gospels?

     In Matthew 14:13-21, we have the story of the 5,000 that were fed.  It says that the disciples realized the people were getting hungry and told Jesus that he should send the people away that they might buy food.  But, when they said this Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!" verse 16.   The disciples are quick to point out the impossibility of this claiming that they only have five loaves and two fish.  These fish were more like sardines and what is that among thousands.

  In Marks account of this same story in Mark 6 it says that one of the disciples remarked that it would take two hundred denari (about 7 months wages) for them to have something to eat and even then they wouldn't be full. 

  Why, in God's infinite wisdom, did he allow them to get into this situation?  Did you ever notice that sometimes God will allow you to walk into a situation where there is a crisis of faith?  Jesus himself walked into the wilderness to face temptation early on in his ministry.  Peter had to step out of the boat and walk on water to Jesus.  Faith must be tried through the furnace of affliction to be purified.  The disciples faith was still very weak.  So, he put them in this situation to teach them to trust Him.

   One of the things you don't see in this passage is Jesus in a panic.  He already had a plan.  What looked impossible to the disciples was plain and ordinary to Jesus.  I think it is the same with us.  Sometimes he just says to us "Go and look" and lets us see how impossible the situation is and waits for us to bring it to him.  Notice in this passage in Matthew 14:18 Jesus says, "Bring them here to me."  Then, our weak efforts and insufficient efforts are more than enough.  Only then, are we adequate.  Because we are conquerors only through Him.