We are all in this together…

Sorry I’m a slacker and haven’t posted recently. I’m sure you have all been waiting intently hitting the refresh button hoping something new would pop up… well refresh no more! Today’s post is a short blurb on a realization that I had during my morning Bible Study.

One of the most basic forms of sharing my faith that I was taught growing up was the Romans road. It is fitting to use the book of Romans as an evangelistic tool since in it Paul lays out Christianity thoroughly in a very systematic way. The problem that I have had (and you may can relate) is that because I have only heard the single verses used in this technique repetitiously. While there is truth in these individual phrases, there is so much more.

I have recently been reading through the book of Romans. When I got to chapter 3 I found all to familiar verse 23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” My only thoughts for this verse for most of my life have been that it was used to show that we are all sinners, and that was it. When I widened the scope of my reading I found that by looking at the verse in the context of the surrounding passage that there was so much more that could be learned.

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

The verse is not just trying to say that we are all sinners. It’s saying that we are all in this together, through sin and salvation. This includes not only now, but the Old Testament. That is a huge thought when you realize that for most people, then or today, working to earn our salvation seems like the only logical way to God. In the following chapter, Paul even teaches that it was Abraham’s faith that was what was counted to him as righteousness. The law only pointed to the need for a Savior, but all it accomplished was to condemn us.

In a world where so many people attempt to say that God can be found in any way, we must remember that we have been given the ONLY way to attain Salvation. The tough part is, it is out of our hands. Nothing we can DO will save us, only our faith in what has been DONE.

It's election day!

My plan for last week was to write a catchy, pointed, political post with today’s election in mind. For some reason that post never came together. I was going to make points about how if the church were doing its job, there would be no need to even have a debate about nationalized healthcare. I was also going to point out man’s true need is to rely on God instead of its political leaders. I still believe that, and would be happy to discuss the issue, but for some reason my heart has shifted a different direction this morning as I write without having planned ahead.

God is in control.

Again.

God is in control.

It does not matter what arguments I could give to defend a political party or a style of government. Whatever He wants is exactly what He will get. The part I struggle with remembering is that is also the best thing for me. What may look bad to me is both good and right if that is God’s desire.

I am reminded of that way the Israelites cried out to God for the kind of king they thought they needed (sounds familiar). God gave them that king and he led them into sin. Even though there would be good kings, Israel always seemed to find a way to lose sight of God and fall out of his will. God put Israel into some very “bad” situations all to bring them back to their knees.

One of the single worst events in the history of the church was when Constantine made Christianity the mandated religion of the Roman Empire. Until then the church had been persecuted, and yet was still growing at an alarming rate. Tertullian even said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” God used difficult times to show his power and reveal Himself as the only solution to the problem.

It pains me to say, because I love a good political debate, but if it takes socialism in America to grow the church, that’s exactly what we need. If God knows what will “light a fire under our butts” He needs to do it. Our faith is not in who governs us, but rather who is sovereign over us. He picks and chooses our leaders. We do not need to know His reasons. We need to trust Him and grow closer to Him.

As a side note, I have changed the comment section to allow anyone to post without needing to log in. Let’s talk!