Faith Part 3

Our faith is not one which finds its foundation here in this life (at least we had better hope it is not).  Because, if our faith is limited by the temporal, by time, or anything else in life, we have lost sight of the Truth.  The truth that is found in Christ who now reigns in Heaven, and will soon be acknowledged by all men and Creation.  We have faith in the coming City of God, the Heavenly realm that follows our life here on Earth.  Our lives must be lived in reflection of that.  Our lives must be dedicated to the furthering of His Kingdom as we wait:  

²²For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.  -Romans 8

Thus, as we look and long for the future life which Christ now prepares for us in Heaven, we are able to live a life overflowing with Joy, because our loss on Earth means gain in Heaven.  Because we have faith, we can hope in what is to come after this life:

¹³But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep,that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  -1 Thessalonians 4

When we look around at those who do not have Christ in their lives, we see how little they have to live for.  In our own lives objects matter little, but we are focused on love for our neighbor and Creator.  Our faith brings us the hope that our time invested into those things will reap rewards we cannot fathom.

Peace and Joy

Faith Part 2

Those of us who are Christians say we have been saved by Grace through Faith:

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Faith is how we come to be saved from our sin, our disobedience, our fallen state.  When we understand who Christ is, what He did, and why, then we are halfway there.  But, the linchpin is found in our Faith.  Understanding does not provide salvation, as we know even the demons understand who God is, and shudder (James 2:19).  Faith is the key to Grace.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  (Romans 5:1-2)

Yet, it must be remembered that faith is not a passive thing.  It demands of us action.  Though we are not saved by works, works are expected of us in Faith and Love.  Let's finish the Ephesians section from above with verse 10.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

From James we as Christians are encouraged to prove our Faith through works, because if we really have Faith, then we really have Hope, and if we really have Hope, we really have Love.  

(James 2:14-17) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Keep the Faith, but also the Love and Hope that must walk hand in hand with it.

To be continued...

Faith Part 1

After recently examining my life to see what example of faith I have set, I was ashamed.

Faith is a part of the Christian life which ought to be taken seriously by all of us.  There are three aspects to faith: Faith as a work of Grace and Salvation in our life, Faith in the works and miracles of God, and Faith that produces Hope in the future of things.

Christ lead His disciples to have stronger faith.  Likewise, I discover that I often need greater faith.  I often fail to see His strength and power over all things, I believe this is a result of a lack of faith on my part.  The disciples suffered from this as well when they let fear rule their hearts in place of faith.  For example when they are on the ship and the storm becomes great they despair, yet Christ controls the storm, saying just a word to calm it (Mark 4:40).  We often forget God is the God of the miraculous, and while we often pray for miracles, do we have faith in God to perform such miracles.  Faith like the woman in Mark 5:33.  She had faith that she only needed to touch the hem of Christ's robe for a miracles.  He is that powerful and I know I forget this, I forget I'm talking to the One who commanded the laws of nature and physics order themselves at the beginning of time.  And that is part of our problem, we talk to God.  We are told to have faith, to be still and know He is God (Psalm 46:10).

We are told Christ left His hometown because of their lack of faith.  Let us not be like those in Christ's hometown, for how awful it would be for Christ to leave us due to our lack of faith.  Instead, if we even have the faith of a mustard seed nothing will be impossible (Matthew 21:21).  The Holy Spirit will provide you with an understanding of the miraculous and Faith, but we must trust Him.

To be continued...

Spiritual Bankruptcy

As many Americans struggle to pay off loans, and business file for bankruptcy, they find themselves joined by another group, churches.  Some might say American churches need to take a lesson in economics.  However, is misunderstanding how business works the real reason record numbers of churches have foreclosed this year?  No, the root of the issue goes much deeper than that.


Many churches who find themselves in dire economic situations partook in the super church craze.  As congregations grew, churches moved to build larger and more extravagant church buildings.  Many installed cafés, workout rooms, etc.  Now I am definitely for Christians fellowship with eachother, but are plasma screen TVs necessary for that fellowship?  In an effort to make themselves more attractive, churches have turned themselves into beautiful locations of social gathering.  Now banks have grown wary of churches asking for loans.  They have seen those who represent Christ's name behave no differently than the rest of the world.  Churches build extravagant worship centers only to have the congregations disappear (and the money with them).  

Luke 14:   ²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Churches ought to attract visitors with their love, honesty, and good will, not large TVs, imported carpeting, and gym memberships.  In this modern culture of materialism, the church has lost sight of what is truly valuable.  Instead they continue marketing themselves as cool, with the times, and entertaining.  They soften the message of Truth and speak only of happiness in order to obtain more members.  Christ addresses these types of churches with some harsh words in Revelation 3:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spew you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

A church is not a building.  Yet, today many congregations wish to define what they believe by the building they have.  Must they be reminded that the early church had no buildings to meet at and drink coffee?  Instead, they secretly worshiped in their houses, hiding in small groups from the Roman guards. Brothers and Sisters, do not define yourselves with things, but rather with the love of Jesus Christ "who made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant... he humbled Himself."  Forget the cafés, multi-million dollar facilities, the gymnasiums, prosperity doctrine, TVs, and thousands of members.  Jesus had none of that.  His disciples had none of that.  The early church had none of that.  It is a sign of your desire to be of the world, and it has become a distraction from your call to servanthood.


Wall Street Journal:  Article 1   Article 2

Can't Steal Love and Forgiveness

A church in Spokane Washington was robbed this past week (see articles here & here).  Police say the thieves made away with thousands of dollars of equipment including sound boards, computers, TVs, microphones, and hearing impaired devices.  Now many people will react by saying, "that's disgusting who could do that?"  But, that is what sin is, disgusting.  The same can be said about what you said about someone at school, or what you thought about your neighbor's wife, or how you ignored the need of a friend.  All sin is disgusting in God's eyes.  What those thieves did is no worse than what we do every week in churches across America.  We tear one another down, teach falsehood, etc.


The response the pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church has been praise-worthy.  Instead of accusing and judging those who looted the church, he has opened his arms to them.  "The church isn't the equipment or the pews or the building it's the people," said the pastor.  That is exactly right.  The family of God is not material goods, nor a building where people meet, but the people themselves.  The pastor of Redeemer Lutheran has a clear understanding of Matthew 6:19-21:  

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 Redeemer Lutheran has invited those very same thieves back next Sunday with an understanding that people who do wrong as that, need a Savior like all of us.  Jesus Himself gave us guidelines to forgive as we have been forgiven:

  “‘Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 

¹⁰ your kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

   on earth as it is in heaven. 

¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. 

¹² And forgive us our debts, 

   as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, 

   but deliver us from the evil one.’"

-Matthew 6:9-13

 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  -Matthew 18:21-22

A real understanding of the commands Christ has given us, allow us to see that Love and Forgiveness cannot be taken from us for they are gifts from above.  Let us remember to forgive those who have done us the greatest wrong, just as God forgives the greatest sinner.  

Blessings.