Beauty, not Duty

I came across a truly profound quote as I thumbed through Facebook on my iPhone this morning.

“Legalistic remorse says, ‘I broke God’s rules,’ while real repentance says, ‘I broke God’s heart.’” – Tim Keller

The reason I think this is so insightful, is because I think it strikes to the core difference between religiosity and a genuine relationship with God.

And I also think it’s what keeps millions of people alienated from God, and maybe even prevents most Christians from experiencing an indescribable freedom they don’t even know exists.

Here’s an inadequate analogy for what I’m trying to say, but I think you’ll get my point.

Say you’re a high school student trying to do all the right things, obeying all the rules, a member of all the important school clubs, with a perfect attendance for three years straight.

You know the principal there, and you’ve respected him/her for as long as you’ve known them, but have never met or spoken to them directly.

And just as things are going great, you discover there’s a rule – specifically instituted and directed by this principal – that you’ve been unknowingly breaking for quite a while.

To most, this rule isn’t a big deal, but for you, breaking this particular rule has been the very thing that’s given you the extra boost you’ve needed to rise and achieve the academic success you’re enjoying.

Since you are an excellent student, you try very hard not to break this rule – because you simply want to do the right thing – but it’s very difficult because you’ve broken this rule for so long it’s almost become second nature to you.

Each time you catch yourself breaking this rule, you get frustrated with yourself – after all, you’re trying to be a good student, right?

And then you begin to doubt whether or not you’re actually a good student, or worse, you start justifying your actions and perhaps even become perturbed by a principal who would make such a rule that seems almost impossible for you not to break.

But what if that principal was your spouse, or Grandpa for those of you who aren’t married?

Of course, the personal connection alone doesn’t change the fact that the rule exists, or that it’s still nearly impossible for you to completely kick the habit of breaking this rule.

But because there is an actual relationship between you and the “rule maker” your perception of that rule becomes different somehow.

The same thought can/should be applied to obeying God.

I think we can all agree that we ALL fall short of the glory of God.

But we are called to constantly turn away from our sinful nature, and the idea is to sin less and less as we grow and mature.

The problem is I think many people go about this maturation process in the most difficult manner – namely, on their own, by their own willpower, work ethic, etc.

Now, I’m not saying this method can’t or doesn’t work, but it’s extremely difficult for the majority of us.

You see, God doesn’t simply want you and me to be great rule followers (see: Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees, whom were actually stellar rule/law followers).

He wants a relationship.

He wants us to confide in Him, wants us to trust Him, and most of all, He wants us to rest in Him.

So the point of that great quote above is that if you develop a relationship with Him, the rules may not change, but how we view them does.

As our relationship grows and blossoms, we will still want to do the right thing, but instead of doing it because “it’s right,” we will tend to do the right things because by not doing so harms the One we’re in a relationship with.

So, how’s that easier than simply buckling down and just resolving to do better?

That’s simple.

Because then we are no longer relying on our own strength (which is fraught with human limitations), but instead we’re able to tap into His unending supply of power through the relationship.

This, among many other things, is an eye-opening contrast between religiosity and an authentic, beautiful relationship with God.

Simply put…serving Him out of beauty is infinitely easier and more effective (long term) than serving Him out of duty.

What does God need from us?

The simple, yet disappointing answer is…nothing.

Now, I know that’s pretty sobering to hear for some, because as humans, many of us have been conditioned to think that as long as we live good, generous and “spiritual” lives, we’ll end up in Heaven.

But the Bible may slightly beg to differ.

“And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” – Acts 17:25

So then, the more fitting question may be: How much does God want from us?

Ironically, that answer is just as clear-cut.

He wants our faith.

The problem with that, however, is that so many people – even some of the most religious people in history – have a flawed understanding of what having faith really means.

Many of us falsely assume that if we are a good enough person and do enough good things, we’ll make it to the “Pearly Gates.”

Don’t get me wrong; being good and doing good things has a lot to do with faith, but it’s more like the caboose rather than the engine.

Let me try to explain.

Take John Wesley for instance.

John Wesley 1703-1791

The English-born Wesley was one of the greatest Anglican cleric and Christian theologians of his time, and for many years of his early life he was a renowned clergyman and missionary who traveled the world professing the Word of God with a religious passion few could match.

To give you an idea of just how “religious” Wesley was, he not only read the Bible; he memorized the New Testament…in Greek!

Ironically though, it wasn’t until he was about 35 years old that Wesley experienced a stunning revelation after hearing a reading of Martin Luther’s preface of the book of Romans.

Wesley actually described the experience as sort of an “awakening.”

“… while (the reader) was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. The moment I awakened, (Jesus) was in my heart…and I found all my strength lay in keeping my eye fixed upon Him.”

Did you catch that?

For the first time in his ultra-religious-effort-filled life, Wesley was suddenly transformed just because he allowed himself to seriously contemplate Jesus.

What’s the big deal?

You tell me.

Here’s a guy, who up to that point in his life was a pillar for the Church and Christianity, and even he didn’t truly understand faith until he finally realized his salvation had nothing to do with what he had done.

So, what should this tell us?

That no matter how good we are, and how much good we do, until we realize that we are all sinners in desperate need of a Savior, we may struggle to fully understand God’s infinite grace and mercy.

Unfortunately, society has conditioned many of us to think of Christianity as a series of “righteous” check boxes, and once we’ve checked enough boxes, we’re “set.”

The problem with that way of thinking is that it not only places unachievable expectations on us to perform, but it further – and wrongly – puts God in a position of owing us our salvation for the things we’ve accomplished.

However, like Wesley discovered, it’s not about what we do, but all about what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Now, some might argue: “Then what’s this, ‘faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead’ stuff in James 2:17 all about?”

Pastor and best-selling author Tim Keller may have a great answer to this question.

“Religion says, obey, do good things and then you’ll be accepted. But the Gospel says you’ve already been accepted, and that’s why we obey – out of gratitude, love and joy!”

So you see, faith isn’t just about “believing” in Jesus, but instead, seriously pondering what He did for us on the cross.

And when we do that, that’s when our hearts literally become so restructured that our lives are completely changed – from the inside out – to where we can’t help but bear fruit.

Will we still fall short and sin from time to time?

Of course.

But if we genuinely have this kind of gratitude deep inside our bones, we will gradually sin less and less because at that point sin takes on a whole new meaning.

Instead of being an act of shame, disappointment or enslavement, sin becomes something we despise because any time we take part in it, we feel like we’re hurting a loved One instead of breaking a rule.

Therefore, knowing God doesn’t need anything from us should actually be wonderful news!

Because if we will just quit concentrating on what we can do, and focus on what He has already donefor us,the gratitude in that alone will motivate us into doing greater things than we could have ever imagined.

‘Tis the Season

For whatever reason, several friends of mine have recently gone through some troubling rough patches of life.

However, the troubling thing for me isn’t the fact that they are going through these instances, even though I feel terrible about what they’re dealing with.

No, what concerns me the most is how some of them are trying to cope with these real-life dilemmas.

Fortunately, some of them are realizing they are simply experiencing life, and are resolving to dig deeper into their faith.

Yet others appear to be either questioning their own faith, or doubting God really exists or cares about them.

What bothers me about the latter group is I fear they are putting undue pressure on themselves.

And though I’m not certain, I think a lot of this stems from our lack of understanding about how God works in our lives.

Now, I definitely don’t have all the answers myself, but I do know that sometimes the best “answer” to a problem isn’t necessarily knowing the answer, but more importantly, knowing where to look for that answer.

I don’t know about you, but whenever I think about life’s struggles, my mind automatically turns to the number-one struggler in the Bible – Job.

To make a long story short, Job’s life story is a direct result of a challenge between Satan and God.

At some point, Satan basically tells God that Job – who was one of the most extremely faithful, righteous and prosperous figures in that time – is only that way because God had built a “wall around” and “blessed” Job’s life, and essentially contends that if Job didn’t have it so good he wouldn’t be so righteous and faithful to God.

Well, obviously knowing He can’t lose any challenge, God gives Satan permission to test Job’s faith and righteousness.

And test him he did.

But even after all his possessions are stolen or destroyed, ten of his children are killed and his entire body is covered with gruesome sores – not to mention, the whole time his wife is telling him to just give up – Job never relents, and blesses the name of the Lord more than ever.

Of course, the story ends with Job’s health being completely restored, with a new family and twice as many possessions as before, but the moral of the story is that during the trials, Job never tried to fight with his power.

He realized that regardless of what he did, he wasn’t equipped to prevent life’s tests and simply trusted that it was all a part of God’s plan.

When you think about it, it’s a ridiculous notion to think we can do anything without His power; after all, He is the One who gave us everything we have in the first place.

But the point is that regardless of our situation, as terribly crushing to our emotions and senses as they can be at times, we have to trust that the Lord has our back – even (especially) when we can’t understand why.

We all go through seasons.

Some seasons yield tremendous harvesting of fruit, others not so much.

But let this give us great hope: When all of its leaves have rusted and fallen away, not much looks more “dead” than the lifeless, oak tree in the middle of winter.

However, that same old, gray piece of dead wood literally jumps to life in the heart of spring.

Friends, if you happen to be going through a rough patch, one in which seems to be overwhelmingly hopeless or frustratingly impossible, or one in which makes you doubt yourself or your faith, force yourself to take a timeout.

Think about Job, and how God once allowed one of the most faithful people on the planet to endure unthinkable misery to prove He can ultimately and eternally redeem and renew.

Or think about how God – despite how bleak and discouraging circumstances may look – is able to work incredible beauty out of the completely dreadful, whether it’s Job, an oak tree or you.

But whatever you do, please don’t assume God has deserted you just because He seems to be inexplicably ignoring your situation and your persistent prayers.

In fact, if you’re feeling God’s absence, it may be proof He is trying to tell or show you something bigger than your current hardship.

My prayer is that you at least consider that you might just be in a season in which you appear to be deteriorating, but instead, you are actually experiencing significant – and maybe even necessary – growth for the future.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2-4

The Strength to be Weak

Be honest, would you say you’re a strong person, or a weak person?

Chances are you either said you are some variation of strong, or you felt inadequate about admitting you might be weak.

But what if I told you your perception of these two conditions might be backward, and the very thing you think makes you who you are (your strength) is instead the very thing that’s holding you back from the life you were intended for?

Please allow me to explain.

Practically from the time we take our first steps, it is drummed into our brain (by parents, siblings, friends and Hollywood) that we must be strong in order to succeed or survive – without getting pushed around – in this world.

Only the strong survive.

Fight fire with fire.

Fight like a man.

Man up.

These aren’t just catchy slogans or bumper stickers; they’re society’s way of supposedly separating the mighty from the wimpy.

And the problem is, most of us buy it, hook, line and sinker.

But the fact is, our so-called worldly strength is really just a delusion.

Any sudden, unexpected funeral proves that.

And though you might disagree, in some ways, the stronger or tougher we are just might be a good measuring stick for how much we have allowed Jesus to penetrate our heart.

For example, how many of us refuse to be “disrespected” or “called out” so we don’t look cowardly?

How many of us blame our upbringing, genetics, experiences or environment for why we have a quick temper, sharp tongue, or the attitude that we’re “not going to take crap from anyone?”

All of us have, or still do, because that’s exactly how the world has conditioned us.

Yet, that’s not the way Jesus taught us to be, and it certainly doesn’t correspond with how and why He died for us.

“Yea, well, Jesus doesn’t expect me to be perfect like Him,” right?

Don’t you see, that is exactly the cop-out the world has brainwashed us to believe?

Of course Jesus doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but that’s not the point.

Jesus didn’t command us to love our enemies, pray for those who mistreat us or turn the other cheek just so it would make a great fortune cookie; He said these things specifically so we could know what it truly feels like to have Him in our hearts.

In reality, this may be one of the clearest examples of how Jesus loves us, despite the fact that we constantly hurt Him with our actions.

And He gives these commands because He knows that as long as we let the actions of others dictate our anger, language and negative reactions, the longer we will be slaves to the world’s disguised misery.

C.S. Lewis gives us an excellent illustration of what Jesus is trying to tell us.

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because He has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

The only way we’re ever going to experience the life He intends for us – not just superficially, but deep in our hearts – is to genuinely consider exactly why Jesus had to die for us.

But some of us consciously or subconsciously refuse to “go there” because if we do, we’re confronted with an undeniable truth.

And the truth is Jesus, and the reality that without Him doing what He did for us, our lives would carry us only as far as our “worldly strength” takes us – to the grave.

It should absolutely terrify us when we honestly realize that no matter how strong we are – no matter how tough we are, no matter how many arguments we win or how many times we are “right” – we are in desperate need of a Savior.

Yet in the same breath, it should absolutely exhilarate us to know we have one!

But we’ve got to first reach the point of acknowledging our inescapable weakness before we can understand our true strength.

Jesus’ life and death doesn’t just show us how to live, it shows us how we can break free from the world’s stranglehold on the way it has taught us how to think.

Jesus won on the cross by dying on the cross, and the world considered that losing.

However, the only thing that lost that day was death’s grip on us, and the deceitful notion that worldly strength provides us the life we’re looking for.

Because the only way we’ll truly discover the life Jesus intended for us is to possess the incredible strength to be weak.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

A 180 view of 9/11

I remember the day like it was yesterday.

Not September 11, 2001 (although that day still resonates heavily in my mind).

No, the day I’m referring to is the day that forever changed the way I recall 9/11, and other misfortunes like it.

My wife Amanda and I had driven down to Orlando in separate vehicles (I was in town on business and she would later join me for a planned, kid-less weekend once I finished up business  at work).

That morning we left the hotel headed in different directions, she went out for a little shopping and I drove to my Orlando office for a meeting.

The day seemed to be entirely ordinary, but that would quickly change.

In the middle of my meeting, my cell phone began to quietly buzz – it was Amanda.

We’ve worked out a little system for situations like this.

If she calls while I’m in a meeting or if I’m busy, I simply let it go to voicemail.

But, if it is imperative that she contact me right away, she immediately calls back.

So when I saw the words “Amanda Cell” appear again within seconds, I excused myself from the meeting and answered her call.

Apparently while she was shopping, she had received a message that a mutual friend of ours, Jennifer, had suddenly fallen ill with a seizure and before she could reach the hospital was placed on life support.

To give you a little background on Jennifer, she had just come through an immense battle with breast cancer the year before and looked to be in total remission.

But on this particular morning, she collapsed in her bathroom from a brain tumor.

The cancer was back, but this time it had moved to her brain in the form of a golf ball-sized tumor.

I have to be totally honest here, at that time I was really only just “OK” friends with Jennifer and her husband Steve.

And there have been several instances in the past when similar circumstances involved someone closer to me that I didn’t feel the need to react suddenly.

But for some reason, the moment Amanda called to let me know what was happening, I felt strangely “compelled” to leave Orlando and drive back to Gainesville immediately.

So I politely excused myself from the meeting and within a few minutes, Amanda arrived and we headed back toward Gainesville (remember, in separate vehicles).

It was during that drive back that I felt – for the first time in my life – an overwhelming urge to reach out to God.

I really didn’t know what to say, but because the impulse was so strong, I just started talking to Him like I’m talking to you now.

And to give you a little background on me, you need to understand that until that very moment, I had never genuinely prayed – ever.

Oh, I talked about prayer prior to that.

I even use to look people right in the eye – when they were going through a tough time – and tell them, “I’ll keep you in my prayers,” yet I never did.

In my defense, I honestly meant no harm, but I guess I simply viewed prayer as the right thing to say to someone who was going through rough times.

Well, needless to say, I had my first conversation with God that day on the drive back.

I don’t remember everything I said, but I spoke to Him for about 25 minutes or so.

I’m sure the people having to maneuver around me on the interstate thought it a bit strange/annoying to see a guy just rambling on and on with no one else in the truck.

But I suddenly felt as if a HUGE weight had been lifted off my chest.

It was the most freeing conversation I’d have ever had in my life!

From that point on, I speak to Him often – mostly in the mornings over peanut butter toast and coffee on the way to work – behind a steering wheel, just like our first conversation.

My life literally hasn’t been the same since that day!

It’s changed the way I view God, how I view others and how I view what most people call tragedy.

I use to question how God could let bad things happen.

And right or wrong, I now firmly believe that it isn’t God who “allows” the bad things or “creates” the pain, suffering or death – it’s the wonderful things that happen during those awful occurrences is what He’s doing.

For instance, I would imagine not one single person in the Critical Care Unit waiting room just outside Jennifer’s room that afternoon was thinking about me.

And rightfully so.

Though Jennifer would eventually (maybe even miraculously) fully recover, their thoughts were focused solely on a wonderful young lady battling for her life and how this situation was crumbling around her family.

To the casual observer, it was obvious nothing “good” was happening in that situation.

Except for the fact that two hours south of that hospital, somewhere along the interstate, someone as insignificant as me was encountering the Holy Spirit for the very first time – all because of this “tragedy.”

Now whenever I hear or see something terrible happening, I automatically turn my thoughts to what God’s mercy and grace might be up to in that situation, regardless of whether or not it is visible at that moment or not.

And that brings me to the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001.

On the surface, most people recall that day as horrifying, heart-breaking, sad, angering, etc. – basically, nothing “good” seemed to be happening in that situation.

And though I’ll never downplay the senseless and tragic deaths of all those people, because of how Jennifer’s situation has changed the way I look at things, I now look at that infamous day with a sense of awe and wonder.

Crazy?

Not if you think about the hundreds of people who – under tremendous duress and unthinkable chaos – willingly and selflessly sacrificed their lives to save the lives of complete strangers in moment’s notice.

I know it’s not easy to accept that the reality just may be that we are all somewhat at the mercy of death, tragedy and suffering – mostly due to the free-will decisions of others – here in this world.

But just remember this, God is infinitely larger than this world, and one day He will perfectly and completely undo every pain, every suffering and every death.

And until then, take comfort in the fact that He is and does work tremendous “good” in every “bad” situation, whether we see it or not.

The mission and intended ministry behind “A Changing Grace”

Simply put, I am someone who had a completely backward view of what it truly means to be a Christian.

I used to think being a Christian meant you had to be someone who “had everything all together” and were able to successfully check off the admirable “Living Right” check boxes of life.

The problem with that is it puts everything on MY shoulders and MY power to reach a certain status or salvation, which is impossible.

The trouble with that way of thinking is that it usually manifests itself in two dead-end scenarios.

On one hand, if we are somehow able to do “all the right things” (which we can’t do them all), we leave the back door to our soul wide open for pride to slip in and give us an inflated view/opinion of ourselves, and a moralistic view of others who don’t do the things we do, or as well as we think WE do them.

And on the other hand, if it’s by our doing, we will eventually crumble under the pressure of never knowing if the good things we did were “good enough” and we can become hopeless, or worse, turn away from God because we think He is too demanding or is trying to ruin our “good time” here on Earth.

However, if we fix our eyes on the cross – and truly meditate on the fact that while we are so undeserving Jesus HAD to die for us, but yet so loved He was GLAD to die for us! – it will change us from the inside out.

Totally backward from the way I used to see it, and I have a sneaking suspicion that many still see it like that today.

And that is the very purpose behind “A Changing Grace” – it’s not that grace has ever changed or ever will, but instead, if we commit ourselves to focusing on the pure meaning of grace, IT will change us!

It’s not about the things we do or have done.

It’s ALL about the one thing He did for me and you!

I like to call it 180-degree thinking (you’ll come to see this is a pattern of thinking I do a lot).

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are consequences for our actions, but the point is, the ONLY way our proverbial slates can be wiped spotless is through Jesus.

So instead of trying to gain grace (which, by the way, is an oxymoron), if we let an overwhelming sense of gratitude for what Jesus has already done for us on the cross motivate us – I mean sincerely let it penetrate our hearts and become the porthole in which we see everything and everyone around us – that is when lives can be transformed.

By His power, not mine or yours.

Since this is my inaugural post on A Changing Grace, I would like to ask you to keep a few things in mind if you read any of my musings:

1. My intention to deliver a fresh, dynamic, relational and practical view of Christianity far outweighs my qualifications to do so.
2. However, I believe God can, and regularly does, work wonders through ordinary people (even people named Mike).
3. I promise (to try my best) to keep my posts to a “comfortable” reading length.
4. Because of that, please understand I will not be able to answer every question or issue about Christianity in any one given post. I personally couldn’t do that regardless of the length of my posts anyway.
5. And because of that, please view A Changing Grace as “a body of work” rather than singling any one post out as my entire theological stance.
6. I can almost guarantee someone will disagree with something I write, so please refer to No.1.
7. Lastly, I thank you in advance for reading any word I write.

Welcome to A Changing Grace,

Mike