HOW NEO-EVANGELICALS LOST THE “GOOD NEWS”AND SINNED AGAINST DONALD TRUMP

      Abraham traveled to the Negev and settled down. While he was there, he said of his wife Sarah...“She’s my sister.”

So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. But God came to Abimelech in a dream that night and told him, “You’re as good as dead—that woman you took, she’s a married woman.”  Now Abimelech had not yet so much as touched her. He said, “Master, would you kill an innocent man? Didn’t he tell me, ‘She’s my sister’? And didn’t she herself say, ‘He’s my brother’? I had no idea I was doing anything wrong when I did this.”

God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know your intentions were pure, that’s why I kept you from sinning against me; I was the one who kept you from going to bed with her. So now give the man’s wife back to him. He’s a prophet and will pray for you—pray for your life. If you don’t give her back, know that it’s certain death both for you and everyone in your family.”

Abimelech called in Abraham and said, “What have you done to us? What have I ever done to you that you would bring on me and my kingdom this huge offense? What you’ve done to me ought never to have been done. Whatever were you thinking of when you did this thing?”

Abraham said, “I just assumed that there was no fear of God in this place and that they’d kill me to get my wife. Besides, the truth is that she is my half-sister; she’s my father’s daughter but not my mother’s”.                                                                           Genesis 20

How would you feel if God came to you and said “You’re as good as dead…you took something that isn’t yours!”?

Now, Abimelech was the King and could basically take anything he wanted…as he took Sarah...believing she was not married. But, taking her was not the sin. Sleeping with another man’s wife was. So Abimelech defended himself and said “I’m an innocent man! I never touched that woman!” Literally, by the grace of God, Abimelech had abstained from sin. God said “I know. That’s why I kept you from sin “. Of course …all sin is worthy of death. The Apostle Paul reminds us, in his letter to the Romans, “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Abimelech found himself in a precarious situation. If he had slept with Sarah…innocently…he was going to die.  He was understandably upset and asked Abraham “how could you have done this to me? What have I ever done to you?” Abraham said “I JUST ASSUMED THERE WAS NO FEAR OF GOD IN THIS PLACE”.

What an insult to Abimelech…putting him in such a precarious situation because of an “assumption”.

So here is the real sin in this incident: Abraham sinned against Abimelech by “assuming” something about him. Assuming is believing something is true…or probably true…without any real knowledge. Most important, in this case Abraham was wrong.

Which is often the case with assumptions…

In church parlance this is called “Eisegesis”. Eisegesis is the interpretation of a text (or, situation) by reading into it one's own ideas — as compared to “Exegesis”. Exegesis is an explanation of a text (or, situation) based on the content of the text itself. Every evangelical knows the only proper hermeneutic is “Exegesis”.

Except…apparently…Neo-evangelicals.

Let me begin by explaining what an Evangelical is…borrowing liberally from Wikipedia. The word evangelical has its roots in the Greek word for "gospel" or "good news". In the beginning of the movement "gospel" always meant "good news", or the story of the historical Jesus…Son of God. As time passed, "gospel" began to be understood synonymously with “Bible”, the written account of the "good news".

It’s not difficult to discern that the Bible is central to Evangelical theology…and fully informs the evangelical distinctive. Evangelicals believe in the authority of the Bible as God's revelation to humanity. One influential definition of Evangelicalism has been proposed by historian David Bebbington. He notes four distinctive aspects of Evangelical faith: CONVERSIONISM, BIBLICISM, CRUCICENTRISM, and ACTIVISM, noting, "Together they form a quadrilateral of priorities that is the basis of Evangelicalism."

Conversionism, or belief in the necessity of being "born again", has been a constant theme of Evangelicalism since its beginnings. To Evangelicals, the central message of the gospel is justification by faith in Christ and repentance, or turning away, from sin. Conversion differentiates the Christian from the non-Christian, and the change in life it leads to is marked by both a rejection of sin and a corresponding personal holiness of life. (Wikipedia)

Biblicism is reverence for the Bible and a high regard for biblical authority. All Evangelicals believe in biblical inspiration…the notion that God inspired the authors of the Bible to write specific content…effectively making God the author.  Many Evangelicals believe the Bible is unimpeachable (infallibile) and the text, as originally given, contains no errors (inerrancy). (Wikipedia)

Crucicentrism is the attention that Evangelicals give to the Atonement, the saving death and resurrection of Jesus, that offers forgiveness of sins and new life. This is understood most commonly in terms of a substitutionary atonement, in which Christ died as a substitute for sinful humanity by taking on himself the guilt and punishment for sin. (Wikipedia)

Activism describes the tendency towards active expression and sharing of the gospel in diverse ways that include preaching and social action. This aspect of Evangelicalism continues to be seen today in the proliferation of Evangelical voluntary religious groups and parachurch organizations. (Wikipedia)

These four characteristics explain the unwavering guiding hermeneutic principle of “Exegesis”. Evangelicals should not espouse beliefs that cannot be derived directly from the Biblical text. This movement that predates our United States remained relatively unified until the 20^th century. In the post–World War II period, a split developed between Evangelicals, as they disagreed among themselves about how a Christian ought to respond to an unbelieving world. Many Evangelicals urged that Christians must engage the culture directly and constructively. They began to express reservations that the “holiness” quality of evangelicalism (fundamentalism) had become an embarrassment instead of a badge of honor".

The term neo-evangelicalism was coined in 1947 to identify a distinct movement within evangelical Christianity at the time. The new generation of Evangelicals began aligning with the ideals of the political left (progressives) and set as their goal to abandon a militant Bible stance and adopt a hermeneutic tool called “Biblical Criticism”. Biblical Criticism is a study of biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings…viewing biblical texts as being ordinary pieces of literature…open to the inevitable skeptical analysis that follows. It draws upon a wide range of scholarly disciplines including archaeology, anthropology, folklore, linguistics, Oral Tradition studies, and historical and religious studies. Armed with this new tool, Neo-evangelicals chose to pursue dialogue, intellectualism, non-judgmentalism, and appeasement. They further called for an increased application of the gospel to the sociological, political, and economic areas.

And…this is when things went off the rails. You see, when we take this view of scriptures we necessarily enter the world of subjectivism and begin relying on how we feel about issues rather than what the Bible teaches. We now inter the world of “Eisegesis”. We are now free to make “assumptions” about the world around us based on how we feel rather than on what the Bible teaches. This notion of “feeling” is what perpetrated Abraham’s sin against Abimelech and is the foundation of the Neo-evangelical sin against Donald Trump.

I will use Katelyn Beaty’s opinion piece in the Washington Post, I Was an Evangelical Magazine Editor, But Now I Can’t Defend My Evangelical Community, as a case in point. Her piece is saturated with assumptions (eisegesis) about who Donald Trump “is” and who the Evangelicals “are” that voted for him. And.…none of her assumptions are charitable.

She opens with “Wednesday greeted me as it did half the voting population, with waves of grief. But since then, the grief has turned into a more complex emotion — something like soul abandonment. After an election in which 81 percent of my white coreligionists supported Trump, the faith that has been my home for 20 years seems foreign, even hostile”. While I won’t deny her “feelings”, it is clear they have no basis in truth. Feeling “waves of grief” before our president elect has served one day in office is not grounded in empiricism of any kind. Nor, is her sense that her faith home is now “foreign and hostile”. Rather she grounds her feelings on the conviction that “electing Trump would “seriously harm our already fragile democracy and undo the church’s witness, and [she]  believed the white evangelical community would take heed”.

Seriously harm our democracy? Really?

Undo the Church’s witness? Really?

The “white evangelical” community should have understood? Really?

Of course, her basis for feeling this way? It’s the fact that that “white evangelicals broke sharply from Christians of color in supporting a candidate who was endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan”. In her words this will undo generations of efforts to heal the racial injustice tearing apart the church and our country.

She continues…

“Meanwhile, Muslims now wonder if the liberties that white evangelicals are eager to protect by electing Trump will extend to their own worshiping communities…”

“Women who have been sexually assaulted wonder if white evangelicals’ support of Trump means their trauma will be minimized in Christian communities…”

“Immigrants who have been embraced by churches wonder if said churches will no longer shelter them after threat of deportation…”

She says “when evangelical starts to sound like very bad news for very many Americans, it has drifted far from its roots. A prophetic consensus has emerged that U.S. evangelicalism is irreducibly linked with white privilege”.

She closes by saying she loves Evangelicals “like the way you love your offbeat uncle — the one who rambles at Thanksgiving dinner about threats to his freedoms and political correctness run amok. You understand why he feels the way he does. You sympathize with him on many points. But when he starts in with racial slurs and sexist jokes and complaints about “illegals,” at some point you have to get up and leave the table”.

Where do I begin?

I can only speculate…because she does not enumerate…her assumptions (sins) derive from her assumption that Donald Trump’s positions on immigration reform and halting refugees from terrorist regions make him a racist. I imagine his checkered past with women make him a misogynist and I have no idea what makes him a proponent of “white privilege”. This is all hyperbolic speculation and assumption. It is what journalists do today but it is not what Christians are supposed to do.

I’m not disappointed Katelyn has a view remarkably different from most evangelicals. I am disappointed she had such a venal response in her frustration. This is venal on so many counts. Judging Trump as a “racist” because the KKK endorsed him is, as we all know is “guilt by association” and is not empirical evidence of anything. Also, she implies that the primary concern for Evangelicals must necessarily be racial justice. Laying this at the feet of her fellow Christians judges Evangelicals as complicit in the demise of both our nation and our Church.

This is like Abraham saying, when he sinned against Abimelech, “I assumed nobody here feared God”.  I can understand how Katelyn has come to her conclusions. We are reminded in the “Good News” she claims to revere, “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Katelyn ought to be more circumspect. Matthew, Chapter seven says “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”. I am not judging Christians like Katelyn Beaty but the “Good News” she claims to revere does.

Somebody once defined (tongue in cheek) an “alt-right” Christian as “anybody who loves God more than I do”. I suggest that all of us who claim to love God be swift to listen, slow to speak and be charitable in all things. We can disagree on social and political policies but we have no right to assume those with whom we disagree do not fear God. That would be a sin.

Live boldly out there today…

 

God, the Almighty

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him,

“I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. “I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”    - Genesis 17 -

     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

God, Jehovah, describes Himself as אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י (El Shaddai), "God, The Mighty One". And after His promise...Abraham laughed.

Keil-Delitzsch tell us this new name for God describes Jehovah, the Covenant God, as possessing the power to realize His promises even when the order of nature presented no prospect of their fulfillment and the powers of nature were insufficient to secure it.

Think about this. Against all odds, we have a God who is mighty to provide for all our needs. We can look at our world today and wonder if anything can correct the inexorable spin toward destruction. Politics, economy, environment...all seem to be on a death spiral. Yet...we know from scripture...God is a Covenant God. He will provide.

This passage...the Abrahamic Covenant...occurs 13 years after God first promised Abraham would be the father of many nations. When the promise was first offered, we are told "Abram believed God and it was credited unto him as righteousness". Nothing else was required of Abram. Thirteen years later God says "Walk before Me, and be blameless". What is the difference? Well, in the first instance God made a promise. In this instance God intended to fulfill the promise of land through Isaac. The first requires faith...the second requires action.

When Scripture says "believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16) nothing is required of us except faith. The promise is unconditional...just as it was with Abram. When God determines to change the course of our temporal lives...as He did with Abraham...He says "walk with me". And, as Amos, chapter 3 says, "Do two men walk together unless they have are in agreement?".

If we want God to heal our homes...and our country...He expects us to "walk with Him". We must live in agreement with Him. When we do this, God will prove himself to be אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י (El Shaddai),

Live boldly out there today...

A cause for rejoicing

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 
Luke 10:19, 20
                          
So many of us focus on the things we "do" as Christians. We preach, and people are constantly convicted. We pray and people are healed. We share our faith and people are saved. 

It's really miraculous...

But, that's not the big deal. The greatest of all miracles is that God has rescued us through his son and we have eternal life. As a consequence, our lives ought to take on an aura of humble gratitude. 

Live boldly out there today...

Sarah Hale...brought us Thanksgiving Day

Sarah Beull unrolled her brother's gift to her. Horatio had given her a homemade diploma. "Mistress of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, Horatio Gates Beull College," it read.

Probably Sarah laughed. All through Horatio's years at Dartmouth College, he had brought home his Latin, Mathematics and philosophy books and shared everything he learned with Sarah, who was doing all she could to gain an education, despite the restrictions that kept her from attending college. She was such a devoted scholar that Horatio felt she, too, should be honored. 

Born on this day, October 24, 1788, in Newport, New Hampshire, Sarah overcame the disadvantage of discrimination against women to become an internationally respected author, editor and promoter of good causes. She married.

Almost every American child is familiar with one bit of Sarah's work. She wrote the kindergarten song, "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

Sarah was just thirty-five when her lawyer husband, David Hale, died of pneumonia. She had four children under seven years of age and a fifth on the way. How was she to support herself? David's colleagues equipped her with what she needed to engage in a sewing business. They also paid for the publication of a book of her poems. The poems sold well enough that Sarah was able to leave off her sewing long enough to write a novel. 

Northwood dealt with the issue of slavery and was set against a backdrop of the increasing tension between the northern and southern states. It sold well and established Sarah's name. Her book is considered the first important American novel by a woman. No doubt it helped blaze the trail for Harriet Beecher Stowe's even more famous novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Sarah was offered an editor's job in Boston. It meant she had to leave her children with other family members, but she accepted the offer. To the end of her life, she would edit women's magazines, including Godey's Lady's Book. She broke new ground by featuring the work of American authors, especially women, rather than European authors. In her magazines, Sarah argued strongly that a woman's proper sphere was in the home; however, she championed women's colleges and urged that women be given the chance to teach in them. She supported Elizabeth Blackwell's determination to become a physician and argued that single women should be allowed to become missionaries. Sarah did her part for missions, too, serving as an officer in the Women's Union Missionary Society and the Ladies' Medical Missionary Society of Philadelphia.

But Sarah's greatest achievement was to make Thanksgiving a holiday in the United States. She used her popular magazines as a forum to advocate this national day of gratitude to God. Sarah worked tirelessly towards this goal for over fifteen years before Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving Proclamation in August, 1863. Not a bad track record for a girl educated at home, largely by her own efforts.

She retired when she was ninety, writing "I must bid farewell to my countrywomen, with the hope that this work of half a century may be blessed to the furtherance of their happiness and usefulness in their Divinely-appointed sphere."

- from Christianity.com

What is religion and, why are so many people unhappy with it?

How many times have you heard the phrase "I'm a spiritual but I'm not religious"?

Intuitive but Impossible...

Intuitive, because it alludes to an "a priori" understanding  that there is a state of existence that transcends this physical world...that cannot be limited by physical restrictions or dictated by physical demands. This metaphysical world is home to the most intimate parts of our being...our emotions (what we feel), our intellect (what we think) and our will (what we want). This spiritual core...the part that truly defines us...is attached to, but not fettered by, our physical body that Plato called a prison.

We are all spiritual...

Impossible, because our spirits will always impel our bodies, more or less successfully, to act in conformity with our core spiritual convictions concerning the meaning and purpose of life. And, any action intended to support, defend, promote or confirm our spiritual convictions is a religious act.

So, we are all religious...

Now, that deeply held spiritual conviction about the meaning and  purpose of life is called faith because spiritual truth can rarely be empirically confirmed in the material world...we just believe it. For example...I believe (have faith) that I am a good person even though my actions are not always good.

This makes Christianity a faith "and" a religion. The 16th century Christian catechism says "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever". Simply put, the meaning of my life derives meaning from being created by God...in His image (empirically unproven). My purpose in life is to acknowle dge my creator and build a life that keeps us in a satisfying relationship. The "religious" part of Christianity is the set of rules and expectations devised to help us live authentically according to our faith. But, make no mistake, the faith and the religion are not the same thing.

But, meaning and purpose can be found from sources far removed from any notion of God (Theism). Environmentalism, Hedonism, Capitalism, Narcissism, Atheism, Utopianism. The one thing all the "isms" have in common is the conviction (by their acolytes) that proper devotion to the "ism" will result in benefit for self...and possibly all mankind.

At this point we should be able to agree, philosophically, that we don't have a problem. After all, believing something is rarely problematic...until we demand
that authentic belief be evidenced by certain activities, and lack of that evidence makes a person undesirable.

And all that activity...that's religion.

Religion is the human response (and expression) to what we believe is required to live in harmony with  the true meaning and purpose of life. It is a system of "Do's and Don'ts" in thought, word and deed. In this sense, everybody is religious. Whatever their belief system...they pattern their life to align with that system. Even if they believe their lives have no purpose or meaning, they live their lives according to that belief.

It is impossible to get more fundamental than this...and it explains why religion is so unpopular: Religious people tend to be intransigent. For example, abortion is a sacrament of the religious left and they are completely inflexible, as are pro-life adherents who disagree.

This, of course, is where religion becomes a problem: equally passionate people often take opposing sides on an issue and conflict ensues. The mere fact of opposition does not imply lack of authenticity or genuineness. This is why our constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibition on the free exercise of religion: The ability to freely follow the most fundamental convictions of life was the raison d'être for coming to the new world for many colonists. Consequently, our laws were designed to ensure the citizenry was free to follow their conscience...since it is the ground upon which we understand the true purpose and meaning of life.

Unfortunately, in this sense, religion (human activity) can never be perfect because it is, nearly always, of human origin even though it may point to existential truth...which is, in fact, perfect.

Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth, died to atone for our sins and returned to heaven to intercede for us before God. That's faith.

Christians don't drink, play cards or go to movies. That's religion

But...is that a true reflection of the Christian faith? James 1:27 says Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. In Matthew 22, Jesus said, "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".

I can't imagine a faith, exercised in this manner, would cause problems for anybody. Unless, of course, we Christians have exercised some editorial license with respect to our Biblical imperative. As a friend of mine once opined..."God loves you and I have a wonderful plan for your life!"

So, here is my question: Does the religion you have designed to express your faith derive from your personal preferences or from your sacred text? And, the next time you are inclined to make a religious demand of yourself or others, remember, the decision to live a life of faith is always personal...not communal. Be respectful. As Peter reminds us in his 1st Epistle, "but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts; while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you — yet with humility and fear".

I imagine religion, exercised this way, would cause us far fewer problems.

How much is our faith worth to us?

We live in a culture where many find it difficult to stand faithfully for Christ in the face of ridicule and skepticism. Many fall away because they are unwilling to subordinate their selfish desires to the demands of our faith. I wonder...would we even have a church today if believers through history had found their faith inconvenient...and quit?

MAEYKEN WENS was an Anabaptist of the branch which would later be known as Mennonites. Her husband was a stonemason and the pastor of a group of these Anabaptists. Wens had nine children,  one of whom would witness her cruel death. 

In the Spring of 1573, Roman Catholic authorities in Antwerp arrested Wens and some other women who had been worshipping with her. They subjected them to torture in an attempt to get them to renounce their beliefs, which differed from Catholic teaching on baptism and the Lord’s Supper, among other things. But none of the women recanted. On this day, 5 October 1573, authorities sentenced Wens to death along with her faithful friends whose names have been lost to history. All were condemned to have their tongues screwed tight so they could not speak to the bystanders about Christ or repentance. 

Her captors did allow Wens to write letters. To her husband she wrote, “I should never have thought that parting should come so hard to me as it does,” and pleaded for his prayers that she would be able to let him go willingly, quoting Christ’s words that “He who does not forsake everything is not worthy of me.” In the same letter she noted, “Oh, how easy it is to be a Christian, so long as the flesh is not put to the trial, or nothing has to be relinquished; then it is an easy thing to be a Christian.” 

After her sentence was passed, she wrote to Adriaen, her fifteen-year-old son, “My dear son, be not afraid of this suffering; it is nothing compared to that which shall endure forever. The Lord takes away all fear; I did not know what to do for joy, when I was sentenced. Hence cease not to fear God, because of this temporal death; I cannot fully thank my God for the great grace which He has shown me.” 

Adriaen bravely went to the place of execution, but when his mother was brought out to the stake, he was so overcome by emotion he passed out. Regaining consciousness after the fire had died, he sifted the ashes for her tongue-screw, which he found and kept in her remembrance.

- The Christian History Institute

Prayer of Divine Invitation

God promised to come and dwell with Israel in their Temple, just as He dwelt in the Tabernacle. Solomon built a magnificent temple and, before all Israel, he offered a prayer asking God to reside there. There are many parallels between Solomon's prayer and the prayers we as believers should fervently pray daily...asking God to actively work in our own Temple (our spirit, in which God's Spirit dwells).

When Solomon concluded, the Lord said “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 1 Kings 9:3

Below is Solomon's invocation, paraphrased for personal daily use as we seek God's active presence in our lives. I encourage you to use it.

                             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                                    

 “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with me when I continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your Son, Jesus, my Savior; redeeming me through faith. With your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—and it is true today. Now Lord, the God of Israel, confirm, in me, the promise of your Son when he said, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth—for he lives with you and will be in you" (Jn 14). But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less my spirit! Yet give attention to my prayer and this plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that I Am praying in your presence today. May your eyes be open toward my spirit in which you dwell night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer I pray from my spirit in which you dwell. Hear my concerns and of all your people when we pray from our spirits in which you dwell. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

When I am in conflict with my neighbor and we come to you, then hear from heaven and act justly toward us according to our guilt or innocence.

When I have been defeated by my sin against you and I turn back to you, give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you from my spirit in which you dwell, then hear from heaven and forgive my sin and bring me back to peace and rest in fellowship with you.

When I hear nothing from you and there is no relief because I have sinned against you, and when I pray from my spirit in which you dwell and give praise to your name and turn from my sin because you have troubled me, then hear from heaven and forgive my sin. Teach me the right way to live, and send relief to the life you have given me.

When natural disasters or disease come to me, or when unbelievers attack me in any area of my life and I make a prayer or plea—being aware of the despair in my heart, and spreading out my hands toward you—then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with me according to all I do, since you know my heart (for you alone know every human heart), so that I will fear you all the time and live in the peace and rest you have given me.

As for the unbelievers who do not belong to your church but have affiliated with us because of your name—for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray from their spirits then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the unbeliever asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as does your church, and may know that the Body of Christ bears your Name.

When I am in conflict with unbelievers, wherever I am, and when I pray to the Lord from my spirit in which you dwell, then hear from heaven my prayer and and plea, and uphold my cause.
When I sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with me and give me over to unbelievers, and if I have a change of heart and repent and plead with you, ‘I have sinned, I have done wrong, I have acted wickedly’; and if I turn back to you with all my heart and soul and pray to you from my spirit in which you dwell, hear my prayer and my plea, and uphold my cause. And forgive me; forgive all the offenses I have committed against you, and cause unbelievers to show me mercy; for I am your child and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Sin, out of that iron-smelting furnace.
May your eyes be open to my plea and to the plea of your church and may you listen to us whenever we cry out to you. For you singled us out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”

Praise be to the Lord, who has given me rest just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with me as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave me nor forsake me. May he turn my heart to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave my ancestors. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold my cause and the cause of the whole Body of Christ according to each day’s need, so that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. And may my heart be fully committed to the Lord my God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

Who will be our Cyrus?

Cyrus, King of Persia (Iran), was not a believer in Jehovah. Yet, somehow, when God spoke to him he heard God 's voice and released the captive Israelites. God called him "my servant".

A great compliment given by God to an infidel...

I wonder...in the face of this upcoming election...if we are being asked to choose between two infidels. Our most important task is to diligently seek God and ask "Lord, which of these two candidates will be our Cyrus?"

Don't abstain from voting. Don't lose heart. God is sovereign.

Live boldly out there today...

2 Corinthians 13

   This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone, since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

Paul closes his letter to the Corinthian church on a positive note,
But first, a little admonishment. There is a consequence for congregational impudence and it is encapsulated in Paul's statement..."if I come again I will not spare anyone, since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me". This sounds ominously like their next meeting will be direct and uncompromising. And basically Paul says "you are so foolish that you don't even know this is all about you...not me!" Paul has fully laid out his bona fides. He doesn't have to explain himself to anybody. They should know better...it's time to test themselves to see if they are even Christians.

"Examine yourselves!" Is Jesus in you, or not?

And here comes the good news. "For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down. Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you".
 Paul's last words encourage the church that when he comes he is not going to be on the warpath. He will come to them "in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave...for building up and not for tearing down. For we Christians today...can we agree with Paul...the Gospel of Christ should be positive and nurturing rather than divisive and contentious. If our own experience within the Body of Christ is more the latter, we should examine our own hearts. Who are we? Are we people who live in peace within the Body?  Do we rejoice with the Body? Are we comforters for the Body? Do we feel God's love and peace within us?  Live boldly out there today...

2 Corinthians 12:1-6

 "Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me."

Gill tells us Paul, in this chapter, continues to vindicate himself against the false teachers, and prove his apostleship, He references a very remarkable and unusual vision; one, which he describes in the third person, where he saw the third heaven in a vision...hearing things that no man is allowed to speak. He was not certain of the circumstance and condition in which he was when he saw it, of which he could give no account; as whether in or out of the body,

This is a low point in Paul's ministry. He is being forced to defend his authority and, in so doing, reveals things that occurred between himself and God that perhaps should have stayed private and personal.

Why?

Because, in his commitment to keep the Corinthian church from falling under the  influence of false teachers, he is spending precious time and energy on himself rather that on the Gospel. That's why he says "boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable".  In other words, there wasn't a chance anybody would become "born-again" by hearing Paul's defense of his authority.

What a waste...

I can't help wondering how many churches have drifted from their moorings because they got distracted by the cult of personality and lost sight of the Gospel. In truth, those churches are all around us. They surely had a faithful leader some time back but they traded him in for one who would tell them what they wanted to hear.

Paul wasn't going to let this happen in Corinth. He loved the church too much. I wonder...do we put our own pastors through this dilemma? Do we make demands on them that have little to do with the Gospel and much to do with our personal preferences?

One of two things is going to happen: He will waste his time defending himself with no profit or, he will leave for greener pastures. Either way, we lose. Let's be better than that.

Live boldly out there today...

2 Corinthians 11:1-6

"I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostle. But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things. ".  2 Corinthians 11:1-6
It seems the most fluent and articulate always get preference. I once hired somebody who was so polished and professional I paid less attention to the resume than I should have.

What a mistake...

The church was attempting to "rack and stack" the teachers who influenced them. They rated some higher than others and...Paul's standing was failing. For this reason Paul says "I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostle. But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things. ". 

Paul's resume was lacking nothing. He was equal in standing to the most eminent apostles...even if he was not as fluent (in his own thinking). This is a lesson to us. We shouldn't choose to follow preachers and teachers simply because of their eloquence. That eloquence is likely to lead us astray if it derives from human effort. Let's take an honest look at our pastor today. Are we criticizing him for things that are less important (preaching style or proficiency)? Are we paying less attention to the content of his message which may be faithfully biblical?

Shame on us...let's redouble our commitment to supporting the Godly leaders that we have been given.

Live boldly out there today...
     

2 Corinthians 10:1-18

  "Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
      You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.      For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends". 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

First...shoot the messenger...

There were Judaists at work in Corinth, impugning Paul's authority and corrupting his Gospel. Judaists believed that one must first become a Jew before they could become a Christian. Of course, this is antithetical to the Gospel. There was...at least a minority of the Church under their influence; there were also large numbers living, apparently, in the grossest sins (2 Corinthians 12:20 ) there was something approaching spiritual anarchy. The one resource the Apostle has with which to encounter this situation is his apostolic authority so he addresses it.

And...the primary complaint against him was odd: "He's such a nice guy when he's here but, when he writes to us he's so bossy!" As though this would be sufficient reason to dismiss his authority.

It's common for us to dismiss the authority of anybody whose words we disapprove. Paul reminds us there is more to it than that. We can't simply agree with what we like and disagree with what we don't like. We have to consider the person and position of the messenger. Paul says "I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave." Paul was a person sent by God, Himself. Moreover, he says "though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses".   In other words...they weren't quarreling with Paul, they were quarreling with God.

High probability of failure...

So, next time we feel ourselves reacting negatively to something we hear...particularly moral and spiritual challenges...we should pause, consider who is speaking and by whose authority. We may learn something and avoid embarrassing ourselves.

Live boldly out there today...

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
as it is written, “HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

We've heard the term "tithes and offerings"...

Our "tithe" (tenth) is the portion of our resources that God expects us to contribute toward the ongoing expenses of the congregation. Our "offering" is any additional amount beyond that tithe which  we contribute toward the welfare of those in need.

Paul has decided to send Titus to the Corinthian Church to collect a benevolent offering. In so doing, he reminds the church of important principles in giving.
1. Give generously
2. Give thoughtfully
2. Give cheerfully

Generosity is an important principle because in the previous chapter we were reminded not to give more than we have. So, we need to be thoughtful regarding how much we can contribute. This is more than our "tithe" but less that whatever would put us into debt. Moreover, when we are asked for our offering, we are not supposed to deduct that amount from our tithe.

Which means, the offering amount over which we are deliberating is the amount in excess of our expected tithes. Each Christian is challenged to be thoughtful about this and it makes sense. After all, for most of us, we work a "tithe" into our budget so anything beyond that eats into our ability to pay bills. So...what might we do without?

Starbucks?

Of course it is counterintuitive that we would grumble over the loss of Starbucks this month when the sacrifice is intended help someone who cannot even afford Folgers. Therefore, when we give up our own coffee we do it cheerfully because we are, in essence, "paying it forward".

Finally, Paul reminds us the "hole in our budget" created by our generosity will not remain. The God we serve will replace that deficit and often increase it. This got me thinking...When we watch God replace the offering we contributed it's a very instructive thing. When we offer $100 to support a soup kitchen and we observe God returning (in some form) an amount worth $125, the excess is not for us. This is God demonstrating He wants us to increase our generosity by $25.

Now the fun begins. We "up the ante" and see what God does next. If He returns even more, we increase it again. I'm curious...how much can we get God to give?

Live boldly out there today...


 

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

 "But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”  2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Well...Paul was a socialist...sort of...

In continuing his discussion on benevolence Paul lays down some important guidelines...
1. It is not a command, but it is proof of the sincerity of our love for the Body of Christ.
2. It models the sacrificial offering that Christ gave on our behalf (Philippians 2)
3. We are not expected to give what we do not have.
4. Benevolence is intended to create some sense of equality in the Body of Christ.

Allow me to suggest Paul does not intend that all church members be financially equal. He suggests we help each other to the degree that we will all have enough to help each other. He also repudiates the notion of "seed faith" giving that has become popular in some churches...giving more than we have so God will multiply (for us) what we just gave. That's merely selfish.

Finally...and most important...Philippians, chapter two, says "therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;  do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men".

This leaves only one question...if that same Jesus lives in us, don't we imagine He is still as generous as He was then?

Live boldly out there today...

2 Corinthians 8:1-6

   Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 2 Corinthians 8:1-6

Throughout the history of the church, benevolence has been a hallmark. Almost to the point it has become a confirmation of salvation. At the very least, our generosity indicates an understanding that our worldly possessions are not our own but...belong to God.

Brian Yeager (wordsoftruth.net) provides some insight here. He says most brethren will agree that the local church has a role in helping those in physical need.  The disagreement comes to whom the church should help when there are physical needs.  The church takes a collection every first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2).  This is the only way the local church has authority to get funds.  With that money it can do it’s own local work.  The Bible gives us a clear pattern of who the local church helped in it’s work in the 1st Century.  We can tell that the church of Christ in the 1st Century aided saints in need.  We can know that because the Bible shows us that (Acts 2:44-45, Romans 15:25-27, I Corinthians 16:1-4, II Corinthians 8:4, 9:1; 12, and I Timothy 5:3-16). 

Yeager continues...what we do not find is an example, command, or inference showing the non-saints were aided in benevolent needs by the local church.  It should also be pointed out that when the church aided saints in need, those saints were truly in need.  It was not the paying of an electric bill because the saint had to choose to pay the electric bill or the car payment and the electric was going to be shut off.  Saints in need were those who were poverty stricken.  Maybe that is something for all of us to consider when we look at helping saints in need.  Brother so and so comes to the church and says he needs food.  So, the church cuts him a check for $200.00, then he goes out in his two year old Lincoln Town Car.  It is not the role of the church to provide for one’s family that is the role of the head of the household (I Timothy 5:8).

The church has been overwhelmingly generous through history...almost to the point of being indiscriminating. But, I don't suggest we never help those outside the church. I suggest we follow the Biblical pattern that Jesus, Himself, set: "First Judea, then Samaria, and then the rest of the earth".

Benevolence begins at home...

One sure result...if we follow the Biblical pattern of benevolence, our churches will be filled to capacity!

Live boldly out there today...

2 Corinthians 7:5-16

"For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. For this reason we have been comforted.
      And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you".
2 Corinthians 7:5-16

Here is the impetus for this 2nd letter to the Corinthians. Paul has finally connected with Titus and has been informed of the community's response to Paul's teachings...and his first letter.

Possibly the most important lesson in this passage is the reminder that the truths of the Gospel do not always go down easy. Many of these truths are difficult to teach and just as difficult to receive. Paul understood this and it caused him a great deal of unrest while he waited to hear from Titus.

But...these truths need to be told.

Like "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father except through me" (John 14:6). Or..."all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). And..."unless you repent, you will perish" (Luke 13:3).

Harsh words, very exclusive. In fact...a bit too elitist for some people to accept. Many of us would prefer to "tone down the rhetoric" because it's too confrontational.

It's a risk Paul was willing to take although it hurt him to cause sorrow in the Corinthian church. Yet, he says  "I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance...for the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation". What is the probability that Paul's preaching would have produced repentance (and salvation) if he had "soft-pedaled" the truth?

Exactly...

So we should remind ourselves that standing on the claims of Christ can be difficult...and cost us friends. Yet, it's the only way we know for certain that people can be given the opportunity to enjoy an eternal relationship with God.

Live boldly out there today...

2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4

"Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.
      Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
            “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
             AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.            
           “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
            “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
            And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you,
            And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
            Says the Lord Almighty.
     Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
      Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction". 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4

So, how can we effectively love Christ?

"Paul offers advice in today's passage. He speaks as a Spiritual Father’s appealing to his children (I speak as to children). His first recommendation?  "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?"

Why? Because unbelievers don't worship God...they worship the idols of this world: money, influence, pleasure...all things intended to gratify ourselves rather than please God. "For what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God".

Do we love God? We will know by the relationships we cultivate. So many Christians live ineffectual lives simply because they cannot separate themselves from the peoples (and idols) of this world. I emphasize, again, trusting Christ alone is enough to secure our eternal destiny. It is not enough to be a change agent for the people around us. That requires a love for God that compels our actions and attitudes.

When Paul quotes the Old Testament...COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” and "DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN"  he is implying two things:
1. We have a human inability to withstand the temptations of this world.
2. When we partake in the evils of this world we force God to participate...since His Spirit lives within us.

So...if we love Christ...we may believe we are strong enough to slop around with the pigs without getting dirty but...do we really want to force God to participate?

Let's let our love for Christ show. Let's apply this challenge to our daily lives..."let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God". It doesn't benefit us eternally but it sure may benefit our neighbor when he/she recognizes who we really represent. And...that's the surest sign that we love Him.

Live boldly out there today...

2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

      "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
      Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.      Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says,
            “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
            AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”
            Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—
giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things".
2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

What comes first...the chicken, or the egg?

Or, more relevant to this discussion, do we come to Christ because we love Him (and then learn to trust Him)...or do we trust Him (and, then learn to love Him)?

It's not just an academic question...and it's important in understanding our Christian life.

We generally come to Christ is a way similar to the first step in the AA program. We recognize our lives have become unmanageable and only a power greater than us make things right. We have run out of hope so we feebly trust Christ. We aren't certain what to expect but we trust He will forgive our sins and restore us to a good relationship with God.

That would be enough...but there's more.

We begin to notice that the obstructive veil clouding our ability to comprehend God's word is gone and we understand the merciful teachings in scripture. As Paul said. "whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (3:16).

We also recognize a power within us explained only by the intimate presence of God's Spirit within us. In fact, Paul proclaimed "He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge". (5:5). It is such a transformation that Paul expresses, in today's passage,
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (5:17). We literally are no longer the people we were.

Finally...knowing we have ?this Spirit within us..."we also believe...that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also". (4:14)

Eternal life...we live forever!

I think this is when we really begin to love God. And, what should that look like? Paul tells us we become evangelists.  "Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men...for the love of Christ controls us". After all, when Christ has done all this for us, how could we not encourage others to receive the same gracious blessings?

We become "ambassadors for Christ" which, in simple terms, means our lives no longer represent our personal needs and desires but we represent Christ.

All because we love Him...in response to what He's done for us.

I wonder...do we look like Christ? As the old 70's slogan asked..."if we were accused of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict us?" The answer will let us know if we've learned to "love" our Lord or if  we're still only trusting Him.

Trust is enough but...its not all our salvation is intended to accomplish.

Live boldly out there today...