Leaving a Scab on the Cross

I ran into a funny word as I was translating Greek this week.  The word is skandalon which is translated as “temptation to sin” or “offense.”  In my opinion, this word does not sound pretty.  It sounds like something that will leave a mark when used.  To me, it leaves a scab on whatever object it speaks about.

For example, in the context of Galatians chapter 5, Paul writes to a church that is dealing with a misunderstanding of faith.  The people of the church are putting their faith into the law and not into Christ.  Paul writes in verse 11 that the cross abolishes those who are making an offense to the cross by putting too much focus on the law.  In this case, we could say that those “offenders” are leaving a scab on the cross.

It’s weird to see how much a scab can affect a situation.  For example, when I was a little kid and first learning how to ride a bike without training wheels, my gram would push me and then let go of me when I felt I could ride on my own.  Well, one time I was riding along and I did not feel ready for my gram to let me go when she thought I was ready to ride on my own, so she let go.  Right when she let go I feel over on my bike and bruised myself pretty badly.  In this case, I not only had physical scars on my body, but it took me awhile to trust my grandmother again.

One of the most fascinating aspects about Christianity is knowing that Christ died for us.  Christ took the scars of our offenses and our sins.  These not only scared him physically on the cross, but before he went to the cross he sweat blood for fear of taking on the world’s sin!  What an amazing God that we have that took the scars of our lives to save us.

 

It’s hard to think about this saving grace that Christ offers us because we tend to feel so beaten up.  We feel lonely and as if we are fighting the world on our own.  We are left with scabs and scars from broken relationships, loved ones that have died, as well as financial difficulties and so many other things.  Yet, after all of this we turn to things that continue to add scars to Christ by continuing to sin.  For when we sin we add a nail to the cross.  We leave a mark on the God who saved us from sin.

Our pain here on earth is nothing compared to the pain of the cross.  If we continue to look to other things for the sake of pleasing ourselves, or making us feel better, then we mistake the grace offered to us and leave a scar on our relationship with Christ.  Yet, if we turn to the God who offers us grace, broken wounds can be healed and relationships restored.  For the cross makes a relationship with God possible.  Take time out of your busy day to ask God to heal the scabs on your life and to heal your relationship with the God who loves you and died for you.

The Importance of Forgiveness

 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

 

This verse says so much to me about forgiveness.  Forgiveness is a process of seeking out forgiveness, and making a change in ones heart.  You cannot have one without the other.  For if you ask for forgiveness yet take your wrongs back with you, you have not done your part in truly seeking forgiveness.  At the same time, you cannot just merely ask for forgiveness, you must live a forgiven life.  Both aspects are crucial.  

 

First, "if anyone is in Christ" represents a stance that we accept Christ into our heart.  Seeking Christ means laying everything before Christ.  Christianity sometimes misses the message that becoming a Christian does not seek something of us.  Christ seeks our hearts, our lives, and everything that we have.  It is what allows us to have a deep relationship with God.

 

In order to live a truly forgiven life we must first lay everything at the feet of Christ.  The cross is another representation of this life of forgiveness that reveals Christ asking God to "forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23: 34).  I like to think that this verse deals with more than those who persecuted Jesus at the time of his death, but those who persecute Jesus by their very sins!  Coming to Christ means giving ourselves over to Christ to be forgiven of our sins so that the "old has gone."

 

Forgiveness then leads to action.  Without then taking action to live a forgiven life, we deny the very forgiveness that we have asked for!  Forgiveness is not about just asking, its about forgiving yourself.  It is about accepting yourself as the one who made a mistake, and then making a change from your very mistake.  If we may do that, the new life can be made in us.

 

Taking action, again, is about accepting that you have made a mistake.  I admit, I am not a perfect person.  I make mistakes daily that I wish I could take back.  I am so thankful for the people in my life that have shown me what forgiveness is all about.  My fiancee is one who has truly resembled a life of forgiveness for my mistakes.  I am very thankful for these people in my life.  If you would like to share a story of forgiveness as a comment on my blog I would love to hear it!

Mount of Beatitudes (my story from Israel)

One of my favorite spots on my trip to Israel was visiting the area of Galilee.  The Sea of Galilee was an amazing site to see.  The most breath taking site of the Sea of Galilee was visiting the Mount of Beatitudes.  Seeing all the beauty that the chapel portrayed as well as the sun glistening off the waters was something that made you really want to thank God for creating something so beautiful.

Yet, there is so much more than just the beauty of this place that lives in this area.  As you begin to walk through the garden area, you begin to really appreciate the beauty of it all.  I wonder if the place looked just as beautiful during the time of Jesus as he got up on the mountainside to preach (Matt. 5:1).

The chapel that stand in the middle of the garden reflects such a bright picture of the land.  This church was built by a Catholic architect who designed buildings to resemble a meaning behind it.  Before the construction of the church, the church to commemorate the site was an old Byzantine church (that still stands).  This church, to me, portrays the beauty of Jesus' message as he brought grace and peace to our lost and broken world.

Inside the church is an altar with such beautiful marble decorations that portray the beauty of the moment of Jesus' message.  The architect did such a wonderful job at demonstrating the life that Jesus brings by coming and bringing our world a message of hope.

I hope you enjoyed these few pictures from my journey to Israel.  Hopefully this may give you a picture to what the world of Israel looks like and how they portray the beauty of the life of Christ.

The Beatitudes

5 When Jesus^[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely^[b] on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 

What do the Psalms mean?

My home church just started a series covering the book of Psalms. Many try to read the Psalms for devotional purposes and find what the writers say very unordinary. Yes, the language of the psalms does not match the language of today which makes them very hard to understand context. But, maybe there is something more behind the Psalms than trying to understand the context and language of the writer. I personally think the Psalms reveal a dynamic relationship between two persons: God and man.
The Psalms often ask hard questions. Questions that seek to find God in times of trouble. Sometimes the Psalmist rejoices at the presence of God during the good times. There seems to be this continual progression of good times mixed with times of trouble.
Through every phrase the Psalms invoke a sense that God wishes to hear our concerns. I never believe that the writers of the Psalms truly doubt Gods presence. They only voice their concerns in times of trouble and need that speak to how the writers really feel. They indeed ask the questions of Gods existence in certain situation because man cannot truly understand faith. The Psalmists ask where God is because they are so broken and hurting that they voice their concerns to an all loving God who wants to hear the concerns of His people.
It is hard to do this today because we make faith to be something that it is not. We say continually that you just need to believe that God is there whenever we are so broken and hurting that all we can ask is where is God? The writers of the Psalms are true with themselves and true to God. They never doubt God fully because only a "fool says in his heart 'there is no God'". I am not saying doubting God is what we are supposed to do to get some kind of pitty from Him so we can have better lives. I do believe honesty is the best policy as we voice how we truly feel. To voice our concerns, our pains, and our hurts to an all loving God who wishes to hear His children reach out to Him.
Faith is never done alone. For as we reach out to God we should reach out to others. To both be willing to share how we truly feel and if we are approached to understand the persons hurts and pains. We need to be honest with ourselves about our lives instead of hidding what is killing us deep down. I pray that you have a person in your life that you can share your heart with, as well as understanding that God is alive and seeks to hear you voice your concerns to Him.

Church as an Acronym

What is the church?  The church is a gathering of people together in worship to God.  Simple, end of story, no need for books, articles, blogs, or silly little acronyms to describe this simple definition.  Yet, there are many books on the topic of church.  Many articles and blog posts try to depict the church as they see the church.  And by no means do we need silly little acronyms to describe such a complex and broadly defined meaning for church.  Except, an acronym is what I choose to use to describe such a simple yet complex meaning.

The Church.

C- Community
H- History
U- Universal
R- Repentant
C- Command for Justice
H- Holy

As depicted in Acts chapter two, the church resembles a community.  A closely-knit family of people that are willing to share with one another.  Provisions are made for those in needs, as well as always having a hand held out to pick up those who have fallen.  The community of the church has never been individualized.  What I mean by this, is church is not something that you can take with you and do at home by yourself.  The church has never proclaimed such a individualistic understanding until the modern era.  Jesus is not something the church can just possess.  But, the church as a community chooses to worship Christ.

The church is a community living in the history of the Early Church fathers, the Enlightenment era, and the twentieth century thoughts.  With a firm foundation set by these respected philosophers and theologians, no greater foundation has been established than that of Jesus Christ.  For, without the cross and resurrection the church would not be in existence.  Many churches can look to history as something to stand on theologically and more importantly by faith in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 With a foundation laid, there is a sense of calling to be together.  History provides not only an ability to have faith, but also brings all churches together under one head.  Christ is the cornerstone of the church that brings all nations, races, and beliefs together under one name (Ephesians 2: 19-22).  Jesus is Lord over the church that brings hope, peace, and love to all people.

For this reason, a recognition of our finite beings needs to be understood.  Humanity is surrounded by sin that we choose to participate in.  Through repentance, the church proclaims it's flaws to the very Creator and Savior that then redeems those willing to be saved and then sends them forth to proclaim the good news.

The good news is found in the message of justice.  Jesus not only hung around prostitutes and the poor, but Jesus spoke to the authority figures who oppressed those people.  I do not wish to say that the church should knock on the door steps of Congress to seeks justice.  However, I do wish to say I believe the church should practice acts of justice on it's own!  Political parties can only do so much, but the church has had the call to bring justice to the poor since the Exodus of Israel.  Why has the church begun to seek out other means to bring justice that bring the church away from the fields of service?  Let the church live justice by providing for the oppressed and needy.

Finally, the church is holy.  Not because of something the church has done, but because Jesus blesses the church (Acts 2).  God's blessings are on the church to live in worship, service and love.  If God's blessing is on the church, then worship should be about the praise to God who provides and blesses mercifully.