Fresh Baked...Not Stale but Not New

I realize that I haven't written anything "fresh" in a while. Actually, I have, but it isn't on here. It is in the form of term papers and book reports for seminary, systems and policies for church. It has sucked. Today as I almost forced myself to type, I looked across the desk and saw my journal from college. I haven't really looked at this thing in about 3 years. However, as I read through the pages, I remembered the moments and emotions I was feeling when I originally wrote the words that were on those pages. I am going to type them for you here. I want you to know that these are fresh words from my heart today. I still agree.

The Christian religion contains such a vast array of denominations and divisions. There are so many, in fact, that a town of a few hundred believers needs 8 different buildings that would seat ten times the amount that could actually attend. These divisions come from stupid, small, insignificant details like the color of carpet or time at which the service starts and ends. Denominations are also caused by meaningful, huge reasons. Without the protestant reformation we might still be buying indulgences or speaking to a dead woman instead of lifting our hands and hearts to a risen savior. For a moment forget the causes...

Since I have been alive I have not seen with my own eyes any significant split in a church. I have, however, argued with people who claim every denominational tie under the sun...I think. Why do we argue so much? Why is there a cause for confrontation? What is the Gospel all about? When we understand this mystery we will begin to unlock the chains of division. In John 3 Jesus explains that He was not sent to condemn the world, but to give life. What is life? Breathing? Or so much more?

The "Good News" is that we, this sinful people, separated from God were redeemed. Galatians 3:13 states that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. The law is the image of perfections that God demands. God is Holy! Jesus was born, under law, to live the life that no man could. He fulfilled the law by living a sinless life, something no human has or ever will do.

The good news is that we can come into the presence of this Holy God by the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9).

If our churches don't have the presence of God, if the people in our congregations are not communing with God, if there is no life, no passion, no intimacy with God, then nothing else matters. Example: worrying about where, when, how fast a car drives without even having gas in the tank. The car isn't what it was built for until it has fuel. It can't be a car until it drives. Until the car is fueled, it is ridiculous to even think about driving it or anythign that comes along with driving.

12/30/03