God So Loved...

"You don’t have to try to be God’s daughter or son. You just are" (Page 149).

In Chapter 8 of Jesus > Religion, Bethke speaks of God's scandalous grace. This has been my favorite chapter of his book, thus far.  What better news than to know that God loves you just because that is who He is?  What better news than His grace applies to you, no matter what you have done or will do?  

"Religion says go and try not to sin anymore, and then I won’t condemn you. Jesus reverses it. We understand we are free and no longer condemned and then we can go and live a life of freedom and holiness" (Page 139).

He makes clear, he doesn't condone people just going out and doing whatever they want because they are "saved."  But he also notes that those who have truly been transformed by God's love and grace will desire to be with Him, over the other behaviors that used to appeal.  

"God’s love is so potent that, when it finally pierces the heart, we can’t help but have a transformed heart... The problem with fear-based Christianity is we only obey when the fear is there. If you only want to obey God when you feel threatened by his commands, it’s not God you worship, but your fear. Love, however, compels a heart and produces lasting joy and obedience" (Page 143 & 144). 

He speaks to those who put on masks and are not being authentic. "The problem with wearing masks is even when we receive love, it’s really the mask that is receiving the love, not us. Whatever gets thrown at us will always hit the mask and can’t penetrate our souls. So it is with God’s grace. Every second of every day he pursues us and offers grace, but until we take off our masks, we will never be able to accept it. When we expose ourselves and are completely vulnerable, we lose control but gain joy and freedom" (Page 140). 

Healthy vulnerability and authenticity are rare and difficult characteristics to find in the modern American world.  I believe we have become more afraid of what our fellow man and society dictates is "okay" that we fail to show our true colors.  The beautiful thing about God's love is that as it transforms us, it continues to free us into who we were designed to be, regardless of the world's standards.  

I am definitely a work in progress, but I have been so thankful for the transforming power of God's love and grace.  The more I grow in relationship with Him, the more I am in awe of it and the more freedom to just love Him and trust Him occurs.  My masks are dropping.  I'm learning to be who I was created to be.

"Real grace loves us right where we are, but it loves us too much to keep us there. Cheap grace—which is not really grace at all—is like a horrendous version of love that sees its loved one in danger and simply says, 'I love you.' That doesn’t cut it. We need rescuing. And God does exactly that. We know we've accepted God’s transforming grace if we begin to look different. Don’t think grace is beyond your grasp. God is offering it to you. It’s free. And it’s life-giving. Will you trust him?" (Page 153).

I Still Think Jesus Hates Religion - Jesus > Religion

So, the title of this second chapter really catches peoples' attention.  "Why I Still Think Jesus Hates Religion (And You Should Too)"  Pretty blunt, possibly offensive.  But if one takes the time to read Jefferson's thoughts that further elaborate, with an open mind, you'll see what he means.

"... what I am saying is that I hate any system that upholds moral effort or good behavior as the way in which we can have a proper relationship with God" (page 32).

Jefferson transferred from to a school in Oregon that was extremely liberal.  Here was this passionate, renewed in Christ, young man among many people who would cringe at the name of Jesus.  As a dorm R.A., basically a dorm counselor and friend to those staying there, he found so much brokenness.  But when he would bring up Christianity, he found people quickly shut down or zoned out.  He realized that they had associated Jesus with how Christianity behaves today.

"When on earth did 'hates gays, can't drink beer, and no tattoos' become the essence of Christianity?  It hit me that my friends weren't the ones to blame for their confusion.  They had gotten this idea from people they grew up with, churches they went to as kids, or preachers they saw on TV.  It was the church's fault that they thought this was what real Christianity was all about" (page 26).

I think about what the most notable, make-the-news kind of stories you hear about Western Christianity today might lead others to think or believe about Christian belief.  Judgement after judgement, rejection after rejection, should after should.  As I previously noted, motivated by fear, obligation or guilt.  Whatever happened to Jesus being the judge?  Whatever happened to "he who has no sin, cast the first stone"? (John 8:7).  I believe "we" as "the Church" are doing far more judging and much less loving. Jesus' example showed us the other way around.  I believe "we" look a lot different today than the original church He set up.

I've often wondered, if Jesus were to walk into a church gathering, if he would be rejected or accepted. Would we even recognize him? Would we be like the Pharisees and judge Him for what He is wearing or how He behaves?  Or despite His differences from what has become "the norm" would we show Him love? Would He observe a freedom of love among those in attendance?

Looking at Jesus' example, we see how much he loved those who were rejected by the rest of society - he ate with them, spent time with them, healed them.  I'm not saying that "the Church" doesn't do that entirely, but as a whole, I agree with Jeff's assessment: "When you distinguish Jesus to God-man from the religion that developed around him, people investigate the person of Jesus rather than the rules of Christianity" (page 34). If we say we are following after Him, then there are no boundaries of who we can show love to.  "As I've heard said, 'Of 100 unsaved men, one might read the Bible, but the other 99 will read the Christian'" (page 26).

I hope that as I grow closer to Christ, learn who He was and is and is to come, that I will let that encourage and mold my character into becoming more like Him.  And as I do, even though I may fail, I hope to show that kind of behavior toward my fellow man to encourage them to look to Him above all else.  He will produce the love motivation I seek.  He will produce the love and acceptance that others seek.

Will The Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Jesus > Religion

I knew when I read this chapter title that this was going to be one full of conviction and one that would have me highlighting on every page!  Sure enough - there were so many nuggets of wisdom and poetry in detailing that, as a whole, Western Christianity has lost perspective of who Jesus really is.  I wish I could elaborate on each one, but I feel what is to follow is important to share.

"We've lost the real Jesus - or at least exchanged him for a newer, safer, sanitized, ineffectual one.  We've created a Christian subculture that comes with its own set of customs, rules, rituals, paradigms and products that are no where near the rugged revolutionary faith of the biblical Christianity." (page 9)

Once upon a time, I was all about ritual, rules, and activity that revolved entirely around me being a "good church girl."  The problem, I discovered after many years, was that my motivation was fear, guilt, and obligation.  There was no motivation rooted in love.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives our fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

Somewhere along the way, through wonderful spirit-filled mentors, I was able to see that I had viewed the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as beings that I could not disappoint or let down through my sin and I had to work more diligently not to, but because I kept failing, I did not deserve to receive the gift of love and forgiveness.  Ugh!  That was gradually replaced with TRUTH - all I needed to do was seek God; to be in relationship with Him; to accept His love - and then be motivated by it.  He IS Love!

But Jefferson's words still resonated, because my ingrained behavior still veers me in the direction of people-pleasing to "look Christian," rather than to just love and let that love flow from above, through me, and towards others.

It seems, at times, my god is really other people - or myself - that being motivated by what other people think or focusing on how exalted I can become is the worship I engage in.  Ugh, again!

I recently had a conversation with a pastor I respect.  He shared that there is two views to one scripture that is often misunderstood found in John 14:15.  If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  This pastor admitted that he had formerly viewed this scripture through the viewpoint of believing that to show God love, he had to keep all of His commandments.  I have shared that view.  He then pointed out that if you read the entire chapter, Jesus is giving comfort, explaining blessings of oneness, and detailing the role of the Spirit.  No condemnation, no chastising - just love.  And this pastor concluded that what this scripture is really saying is: "Just love God and keeping his commandments will happen naturally, out of that love!"  What a refreshing insight.

The Bible isn't a rule book.

It's a love letter.

I'm not an employee.

I'm a child.

It's not about my performance.

It's about Jesus' performance for me. 

(page 7)

I pray that we will all be motivated by love - accepting of God's love towards us, passionate about our love toward him, and allowing that love to propel our actions with freedom, truth and grace.