Online Teaching

Motivations for Obedience

Streamsong Church — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0400

As a parent, what motivations for obedience are you teaching your children. Even if you don’t have children, what motivations for obedience to God in your marriage, relationships, friendships, or work, are you instilling in yourself?

Recently, on the way to the pool, my kids were potty mouthing. To help motivate them to stop, I told them to keep the consequences and punishment in the back of their minds. I thought to myself, “That’ll do it”. Later on, I distinctly felt like God rebuked me. Fear-based obedience isn't true obedience and fear of punishment will never break sin’s power over anyone. Obedience to avoid punishment comes from self-centered motives. It’s not gratitude-based and it’s not worshipful. Also, our hearts never change. So what then?

When considering obedience, a better thing to keep in the back of our minds is God's love and grace shown on the cross. Our kids need to be learning about God's amazing love in light of their sin, and God’s grace on the cross for their sins. Paul said to the church in Rome, "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14). He later says, "But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code" (Romans 7:6). And he continues, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law" (Romans 3:31). Paul is saying that through the freeing power of the gospel, we uphold the law because we have new and better motivations to do so: grace.

The gospel of grace cultivates true obedience that is gratitude-based and worship-based, not fear-based. I asked God for an opportunity to clean up my tracks and correct myself. The next day, I had that opportunity and took it. I told them that I love them no matter what and to listen to me, first and foremost, because of my unfailing love for them. And I told them that more importantly, God loves them no matter what, even in light of their sin, and He died for them on a cross. Their obedience to God in how they use their words should come from gratitude for that grace. Beauty is what motivates us with proper motives, not fear-based motives. And there is nothing more beautiful than God's costly sacrificial grace on the cross. Of course they won't totally understand all of this right now, but I have to be speaking that language and discipling them in that. There will still be consequences and punishment for them, just like there are still consequences for us as adults for our sin. However it's all about our motivations for obedience.

I missed it that day. But it also showed me how my own operating principles can be so deceptively fluctuating. I am a genuine, gospel-believing Christian, and yet in that moment I taught my children as if we were still under the law, not under grace. My prayer now is that God makes up for my lack and resets them on the path of grace. I trust Him.

So again, as a parent, what motivations for obedience are you teaching your children? Even if you don’t have children, what motivations for obedience to God in your marriage, relationships, friendships, or work, are you instilling in yourself? Kids or no kids, I think we all need this reminder to reset our operating system to grace.

- Pastor Brian

5 Steps To Take When You've Been Wronged By Somebody

Streamsong Church — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 13:00:00 -0400

We’re living in a highly volatile world right now. The world has always been this way, but the nature of this volatility comes in different waves as generations come and go. What we're seeing in today's world is the fallout of "hot takes,” social media, and the 24-hour news reel. Opinions, views, and thoughts have never been more available than they are today, resulting in intense criticism, antagonism, and division. We are increasingly, easily, and inordinately offended by said opinions, views, and thoughts, particularly when they're aimed at us. As a follower of Jesus, how should you handle an instance when you are wronged by someone? In particular, someone who is not a Christian?

Step #1 - Remember Who You Are

Remember that your identity is in Christ and what God says and thinks about you, not in what other people think and say about you. Approval, affirmation, and acceptance are deep needs and desires we have as people created by God. But sin has caused us to search for ways to meet these desires outside of God in other people and voices. The Gospel frees us from the bondage we place ourselves in through other people's opinions, views, statements, and perceptions about us. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be liked and perceived well, but when you aren’t, it shouldn’t devastate you. Paul said to the Galatian Church in addressing the Gospel and its power to free us, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Living by faith means we now live by a new set of principles. First and foremost being that, in Christ, God completely loves me and accepts me, infinitely more than any person in the world will. He views you and regards you as He regards His Son, Jesus, no less! Now, that is something to stand on!

Step #2 - Remember Who They Are

Remember that the one who has wronged you is made in the image of God just like you. As God’s creation, he or she has inherent dignity, worth, and value. Although they have infringed on your image, we must not do the same in return. In becoming human, Jesus bore within himself the image of God. In fact, he was "the image of the invisible God'' (Col. 1:15). His image was unjustifiably infringed upon. He was wronged and executed, but not once did he retaliate in thought, word, or deed. He remembered that those who were taking joy in his crucifixion were made in the image of his Father.

Step #3 - Remember Who You Both Are

Remember that, whether your offender realizes it or not, Jesus died for them. And perhaps more importantly, remember that Jesus died for you too. Without the covering of Jesus and his blood, both you and the offender are guilty before God. God covenants Himself to you only because, through your faith, Christ's righteousness is upon you, not because you're this giant ball of amazing. You are broken and struggle with sin no less than the person who has wronged you, perhaps just in different ways.

Step #4 - “Keep It In The Locker Room”

With humility, earnestly seek a personal, private conversation with your offender. Do not engage in “cancel culture.” Your first instinct may be to retaliate by hurting them in return. It may be to shame them by making the offense public and drawing a community of people into the issue. It may be to tangibly punish them by calling other people to join you in punishing them too! If you go through with these actions, you’re identity may not be in Christ as much you think it is (see Step #1). Remember that, in hurting or shaming somebody in retaliation, we know it’s wrong (see Step #2), but we go public because we desire others to affirm what we’re doing (see Step #1). When we hear these affirming voices, it causes us to believe that what we’re doing is right. We deceive ourselves and we view evil as good (See Step #3). Don’t fall into this trap! Seek a personal, private conversation with them. Lovingly express your pain and frustration. Dialogue and hear them out. Ask each other questions. Seek not only justice, but reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity.

Step #5a

If the offender doesn’t want to have that conversation, prayerfully resist the temptation to see it as an excuse to retaliate. Remember steps one through three. Resist the urge to engage in “cancel culture” as a last resort. If what your offender did was illegal, you should report it to the authorities and allow them to handle the situation. If what the offender did to you wasn't illegal, but hurtful, after steps one through four, forgive them. Forgive them, knowing that what God has forgiven you for and the cost at which He paid for your forgiveness, cannot be calculated. To the degree you grasp what He forgave you, you will be able to to forgive others the infinitely smaller debts they owe you.

Step #5b

You have no control over people. Leave your vindication in God's hands. "For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants" (Psalm 135:14). God never leaves an injustice, small or large, unaccounted for. At some point, in His timing, He will right all of the wrongs in the world, including how you've been wronged. Trust that. Trust Him.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Paul said to the Roman church, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18). “If possible, so far as it depends on you” is an interesting statement. We play a role in justice and reconciliation, and our portion depends on ourselves. I can't help but think that Paul wrote that knowing what resources we have available to us through the gospel. Through the gospel and Christ's love within us, we have a powerful and eternal storehouse of resources at our disposal for grace, forgiveness, and patience. With those resources in view, how should that impact our ability to live peaceably with all? How should that impact our method of handling situations in which we’ve been wronged with godly grace, godly wisdom, godly patience, and unifying reconciliation, not merely retaliation and punishment? May we not conform our responses to being wronged by how the world prescribes that we respond, but allow the gospel to be our lens. The shallower and less we understand, the less captivated we are by the gospel, the less we will be steered by these powerful and eternal resources. In turn, we will be steered by our contradicting desires and impulses. However, the deeper and more we understand, the more in awe we are of the gospel, the better we can handle situations in which we’ve been wronged.

Christian Faith, Politics & Unity

Streamsong Church — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 16:00:00 -0400

Introduction

This is a statement prepared by a diverse group of Pastors affiliated with the Baptist Resource Network of PA/SJ and members of our local churches. These statements are not entirely comprehensive, but they do include much that we believe needs to be communicated and affirmed within the church at this time, given the current political climate in our country and the impact that it has on people both inside and outside of the Church. It is our hope that these statements will provide a useful framework in which we can have God honoring discussion and debate that leads to greater unity, peace and love in His church and beyond. In these political matters, as in all things, it is our desire to see God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. There are four key areas that we believe need to be addressed - Identity, Idolatry, Involvement and Interaction.

Identity

As followers of Jesus, our primary identity is in Christ, as citizens of His Kingdom. That identity leads to unity, love and humility between brothers & sisters in Christ. If politics or race can divide us then our identity in Christ is not primary. Our ethnicity, family history, place of residence, and experiences all shape our political viewpoints. It is not helpful or God honoring for any person or group to presume that their political viewpoint is the only proper Christian position to hold. That shows a lack of love and respect towards those brothers and sisters in Christ who hold a different view. Our identity in Christ should also impact the way that we interact with those who are not yet followers of Jesus. We are ambassadors for Jesus and the things that we say and do should be a reflection of His heart, character and mission to the world around us.

Idolatry

We must be on guard against making an idol out of politics and looking to a candidate or party as our primary source of identity, hope, and joy. If our peace and fulfillment are based on a candidate or party then that has become our functional savior and has taken the place in our heart that only Jesus deserves.

Involvement

We are called to seek the good of the city in which we are exiles. We are called to pray for our leaders, knowing that their power and position come from God. Working to help the marginalized, pursue justice, and maintain liberty requires that we work with our government and elected officials where our goals and values are in alignment. As individual Christians, we should vote for candidates and advocate for ideas and policies that we believe are best, based upon our conscience and guided by our Christian beliefs and values. We will rightly give greater weight and consideration to some issues over others, but our final position should reflect a wise evaluation of all of the relevant issues before us. Denominations and churches should not endorse one specific candidate or political party since each candidate and each party has some positions that are in line with a Christian worldview and some that are not. Leaders in our churches should exercise the individual freedom that they have to support a candidate or party with great humility and care since other Christians within their congregation will hold opposing viewpoints.

Interaction

Christians who engage in political discussion should do so with the intentional goal of understanding a brother or sister who holds an opposing viewpoint. We can disagree on ideas and policies without being judgemental or calling someone’s faith or character into question for holding an opposing viewpoint. If we believe someone is in error concerning Biblical doctrine, we are called to speak the truth in love and to earnestly pursue peace. We should seek to build unity and cooperation, not division and disorder. We should model and advocate for civility, respect, and discussions that focus on policy, particularly how that policy relates to our understanding of Biblical values and principles. Politics should not divide the bride of Christ, if they do (and they do) then we are failing to honor Jesus and we need to repent and seek to regain the unity that Jesus died to secure for His Church.

Biblical Foundations

The key themes of love, humility, unity, peace and prayer that form the foundation for these statements are reinforced throughout scripture, but the following passages were particularly helpful in addressing these issues: Jeremiah 29, Micah 6, Matthew 22, John 7 & 17, Romans 13 & 14, 1 Corinthians 12, 2 Corinthians 5, Ephesians 2 & 4, Philippians 2 & 3, 1 Timothy 1 & 2, James 1 & 3, 1 Peter 3.

Philippians 2:1-18 is a particularly convicting and instructive passage in regards to these matters: [1] So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, [2] complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[12] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

[14] Do all things without grumbling or disputing, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, [16] holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. [17] Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. [18] Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (ESV)

Pastor Brian Dobak

A Graceful & Patient God

Streamsong Church — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Paul wrote those words in his letter to Timothy, and it is easy to agree that he was the worst of sinners. He persecuted and killed Christians. He blasphemed God. He actively worked against the spread of the Gospel before his conversion. So, when he describes himself as the worst of sinners, it makes sense.

But when I think of my own testimony, I realize that I have never described myself as the worst of sinners. I know that I was saved by God’s grace alone, but a sinful, prideful piece of my heart thinks, “I wasn’t THAT bad before salvation.” True, I did not persecute and murder Christians. But as I come to understand God’s holiness better, He has humbled me and opened my eyes to how gracious His salvation is.

I know that I cannot be saved by my good works. But sometimes, I act like my good works get me closer. My testimony isn’t a “murderer to missionary” type of story like Paul. He really needed God’s grace, but maybe I only “sort of” need God’s grace. Even though I KNOW that’s not true, sometimes my pride leads me down that path. I so desperately want to be “good enough” and bring myself glory that I commend myself on not having as much sin as the next person.

Praise God that He loves me, and that He works in my life to reveal truth. The way He revealed my sin and pride in this area was through the book of Leviticus. In the past, most of my Bible reading plans have withered away in Leviticus. Who wants to read all those laws? This time through, though, God convicted me to love His law the way the Psalmists did.

Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

As I read Leviticus with a desire to love God’s Word, I was reminded that God is holy. So holy that the people of Israel were terrified when they heard God from Mt. Sinai. So holy that there are pages of laws that dictate how the Israelites had to cleanse their sin to approach a holy God. God’s laws made a clear distinction between His holiness and our sinfulness.

Leviticus 11:44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

When Christ offered us salvation, He fulfilled every single requirement of the law for us! Romans 8:3-4 says “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

As I glimpsed God’s holiness and separation from sin, I realized that when I compare myself to a standard that holy, I am the worst of sinners! I cannot approach God. I can never fulfill what’s required to be clean and pure to stand before God. There is no level of sin where I can feel good about myself for not being “that” bad. If I don’t see my sin for what it is, then I don’t see God’s grace as the gift it truly is!

Christ fulfilled the requirements of the Law on our behalf, and that is truly an amazing gift. My pride takes away from displaying God’s mercy and patience. Instead, I should acknowledge my lack of righteousness on my own strength, “so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

If we present ourselves as good, as “really trying hard”, if we accept people’s praise of us on our own merit, then we miss an opportunity to share God’s patience and mercy.

For me personally, I know that sometimes people hear our family’s title as “missionaries” and tell us what a good thing we’re doing. My temptation is to say thank you and enjoy the praise. Instead, I want to be loud and clear that it is God’s work alone! When I think of my sin, it is clear to me that I would never be good enough to stand before God. I would never choose a life of service and sacrifice on my own strength. I want to put God on display and share that His grace alone has equipped me to serve Him.

Ephesians 1:6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

I want to encourage you, brothers and sisters in Christ, that there is no shame in our testimonies but rather an opportunity to display God’s grace. And there is no place for pride or works when we realize that none of us meet up to God’s standards. Instead, we are united as Christ’s body, each one of us brought in by His grace, working for His glory.

It levels the playing field because regardless of each person’s story, our point of unity is Jesus Christ. We can each identify ourselves as the worst of sinners, and we can each identify ourselves as a new creation saved by grace!

I pray that God’s salvation encourages you and humbles you. And I pray that you can share your story with others in a way that magnifies God’s mercy in your life. I am so thankful that He revealed my wrong thinking as I read His Word. Please pray for me, that God continues to humble me and open my eyes to my need for Him.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

In His grace,

Kathy Borio

Of Kings, Temples, and Envy

Streamsong Church — Mon, 25 May 2020 16:00:00 -0400

I’ll admit, I had forgotten how boring Chronicles was. Usually I think of Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers as being hard to get through, but 1 Chronicles really had me slogging. I had already committed to writing a blog post and was thinking, “How in the world am I going to find something applicable in this somewhat repetitive narrative??” Of course, it was no fault of the text, I just wasn’t seeing it. Just as I was finishing up 1 Chronicles, the last couple chapters surprised me.

To give some context, David wanted to build the temple for Yahweh. It’s a great thing to want to do. I mean, God has been traveling around with them like a nomad in the tabernacle (essentially a giant, intricate, moveable tent). Now that Israel is settled in the promised land and they’ve acquired a bit of peace, David expresses his desire to build God a “house.” And the prophet, Nathan, pretty much tells him to go ahead. Obviously, it seems like a great gesture to him as well. However, that same night, the word of the Lord comes to Nathan and tells him, “Nah, I’m good.” Ok, it’s an extreme oversimplification. For the full convo, see 2 Samuel 7:1-17. It’s really beautiful, and God essentially expresses that David will not build a house for God, God is going to build David one. “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16)

Now, let’s get back to the end of 1 Chronicles! In chapter 29, David is getting ready to “pass the torch” to his son, Solomon. God has already made it clear that Solomon will build the temple instead of David. Let’s just sit there for a second. I’m not sure about you, but that would probably make me a bit salty. This is KING DAVID we’re talking about! It’s not like he was trying to do something wrong. But God said no and Solomon will go down in history as the guy who built God’s temple. How do you respond when other people get “the win?” Do you outwardly cheer from the sidelines, but internally grumble and ask yourself, “why not me?” It’s tough. Especially when we have such a limited view of God’s plan. Especially when we feel like we’ve been obedient and sacrificial. Especially when we look at the other person and think, “why them?” It’s dirty and carnal to admit, but it’s true. Now, back to the text:

“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (1 Chronicles 29:14). David is addressing Israel. He was denied the honor of building the temple, but the writer of Chronicles goes into painstaking detail about all the provisions, plans, and offerings that David has put into place to set Solomon up for success. I had never noticed it before. David is not just sitting on the sideline clapping for Solomon, he’s actively sacrificing to make sure he does well. It was a smack in the face to my own selfishness, my own tendency to envy others’ success. But how? How can David be ok with it? It’s found in verse 14. David is not looking at himself and his own legacy and he’s not looking at Solomon and his. He’s looking at Yahweh. God sees the big picture. Everything we have is by Him and for Him. My humility and ability to put my brother or sister before myself doesn’t come by trying to conjure up feelings of piety. It comes by looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. It comes by recognizing that anything I have to offer is His to begin with! David didn’t fully understand why God chose Solomon over him and maybe I don’t either, but he understood that His ways are not our ways. However, we do have a bit of an advantage here in terms of hindsight. Once again, back to the text!

“And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels” (2 Chronicles 36:19). We fast forward to the end of Chronicles. The kingdom of Israel split into two, both Israel and Judah have a succession of wicked, idolatrous kings, with few bright spots along the way. The northern kingdom, Israel, is taken into captivity by the Assyrians. Eventually, the southern kingdom, Judah, is also exiled by the Babylonians. Jerusalem is in ruins, the temple is plundered and burned. It’s looking pretty bleak. But the story isn’t finished. God’s promise to David still stands. That covenant is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who was born into the line of David and whose reign will never end. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TEMPLE? Well, we have to fast forward again.

“But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’” (Acts 7:47-50). The thing that struck me was that when I read about God allowing Solomon to build the temple instead of David, I was only looking at it from it’s immediate perspective. But when you take the whole narrative of redemption into account, how silly to think it was a slight for David. But isn’t that what I do in my own life? I can only see things from my small perspective. How freeing to trust in Yahweh, who orchestrated salvation for His people. How freeing to trust Him who preserved the line of David in the midst of exile and kept His covenant. But all of this is futile if we don’t end up at Calvary, where this whole narrative is pointing us.

In its immediate context, the cross is simply a tragedy. It’s unfortunate, cruel, and disappointing. The disciples didn’t understand that this was God’s plan all along. God would no longer dwell in a temple “made by hands.” Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, God now dwells within us. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus paid the penalty for our own sin in His own body which renders the temple unnecessary. It is so humbling to confront the cross. I bring nothing to the table, in fact, I only contribute the sin which made the cross necessary¹. Jesus gets the “win.” Can I be content in that? Can you? David trusted God. He certainly didn’t have access to the big picture, but he trusted that God did. Be encouraged, dear Christian. Your service may never be acknowledged in this life. We can faithfully serve him because He already accomplished our salvation and is continuing His sanctifying work through the Holy Spirit.

¹ This is a paraphrasing of a quote that is largely attributed to Jonathan Edwards, but I could not find the specific work it’s found in.

Blessings,
Rachel Orfe

God of the Quarantine

Streamsong Church — Wed, 06 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400

I write this as COVID-19 is raging and we are under a “stay at home” mandate. I’m unsure what day it is at this point. I miss in-person interaction. And coffee shops. And working in the hospital not wondering if I’ll be the next patient. I also miss the ignorance of not thinking communicable diseases could take out my friends and family. I find myself grumbling at life’s current inconveniences. Have you ever felt this way? Cooped up in an awful situation, environment or relationship with no end in sight?

I believe most of us are familiar with the story of Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6-9). It is one of the most popular Bible stories. God is saddened by the corruption and violence of man and vows to destroy mankind and the earth. He instructs Noah to build an ark to endure a future catastrophic flood. “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” (6:22). Noah along with his family and two of all living creatures are the only ones who enter the ark and (spoiler alert!) survive the flood.

I have read or heard this story no less than 20 times in my lifetime. However, it was not until my most recent reading that I realized how long Noah and his family were on the ark. What is your guess? If you thought 40 days and nights, you get partial credit. That is how long the rain fell (7:12). The waters covered the earth for 150 days (including the 40 days of rain; 7:24). Genesis 8:5 tells us that, “the waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible” (74 days later). Forty days after that, Noah sent out a raven and dove to assess the flooding (8:6). He waited another 7 days and sent out the dove a second time (8:10). Then he waited another 7 days and sent the dove out a third time (8:12). On the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year (another 29 days), Noah removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry (8:13). But the earth was not completely dry until the twenty-seventh day of the second month (another 56 days; 8:14). This is when God finally called Noah, his family and the animals out of the ark. Let me do the math for you: 363 days. A YEAR. Can you imagine the uncertainty, doubt and insanity Noah experienced during that time? We don’t know his personal plight as the Bible doesn’t share it. What would be the first thing you did after stepping foot on that dry soil? Maybe lay prostrate on it. Dig your toes into the dirt. Wonder what in the world just happened. Run away from your family (kidding!).

This is what Noah did: “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar (8:20)”. In essence, he praised and honored the Lord. I think that speaks volumes. Noah’s faith remained steadfast after that prolonged period in quarantine. God allows suffering to refine us and bring glory to Himself. At the time of this blog, COVID-19 is not yet over and experts are unsure when to safely lift restrictions. Whatever terrible personal situation you have been experiencing may still be going strong as well. I challenge you to seek God in the midst of the chaos. Use the time to pray, read Scripture, connect with other believers. I so eagerly desire that we all come out of these periods with a renewed faith and trust in God.

Amid the current pandemic, rainbows are going around the internet to symbolize kindness and positivity. But for believers, rainbows hold a different meaning: Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on earth (Gen 9:16). God always keeps His promises. Never forget that God is good. He loves you and He yearns for a relationship with you. In fact, He has demonstrated His goodness and love on the cross.

The story of the flood is the story of salvation through judgment. It’s a story of God’s rescue and his project of a new creation after the judgment, and our only hope is if we find our rescue in Jesus Christ. Against the waters of judgement, Jesus is the wind of salvation (Gen 8:1). Christ is the ark who rescues us. Christ is our refuge, the one who carries us through the waves and storms of life, death and of judgment. Every storm that we face, especially the storm of the wrath of God. We are saved from the storm, through the storm as we hide ourselves in Christ. It’s because of the cross that we can trust Him completely. Because of the cross, we see that, in the end, all of our waiting and suffering will have only furthered the cause of God’s good plans and purposes in your life and in His redemptive plan for the world. Because of the cross, we will one day be restored into a perfect body and perfect world with our perfect God.

Have you trusted in him today? Have you believed in Christ? Have you fled to him for refuge? Have you hidden your soul in him?

Be well, dear friends
Stephanie

(Disclaimer: If you are in an abusive situation, environment or relationship during this time of isolation, we implore you to seek the necessary and proper help)

1 Peter: Homecoming

Streamsong Church — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

If you're nostalgic, raise your hand (I just did). My wife makes fun of me for being so nostalgic.

In his book, ‘The Prodigal God”, Tim Keller talks about how the concept of “home” exercises a powerful influence over us. Strong feelings of sentimentality surround our idea of “home”, a place that fits us and suits us. People spend billions of dollars annually to visit the communities in which they were born. Children who never find a place where they feel they belong often struggle with attachment in their adult lives. Memories of home seem to be evoked by certain sights, sounds, and smells. Many of us have fond memories of times, people, and places where we felt we were truly home. However, if we ever have an opportunity to go back to the places we remember so fondly, we’re usually disappointed. Home is a powerful, yet elusive concept.

I love Augusta National Golf Club. I’ve been to The Masters tournament four times. It’s like a “home” to me. It’s my sandbox. Yet every time I am fortunate to visit, I find myself wanting to leave. I love Saint Simons Island, Georgia. It’s a second home to me, but whenever I visit, it never lives up to the nostalgia I feel for it. My sister recently sent me pictures of our childhood home in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I got nostalgic, but the property has grown in and the home has been redesigned into something that lets me down. During Christmas and Thanksgiving, we often try to recapture something of the warmth of the past, but to no avail.

Sights, sounds, and smells can only arouse a desire, but they can’t truly fulfill it. The world, as it is, is just simply not our home. If we’re being honest, the world over-promises and under-delivers. For all of the beautiful marks of God’s creation, we also have to somehow reconcile all of the darkness and ugliness in the world. Things like death, decay, disorder, and disease make us wonder if this is really what home is supposed to be. The world as we know it will betray us if we trust it to take us “home,” because it’s not our home.

All throughout the Bible are stories of exile from home. Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden after they sinned. The Bible says we’ve been wandering as exiles ever since. We’ve been living in a world that no longer fits our deepest longings. Cain was exiled from home and forced to restlessly wander the earth after he murdered his brother, Abel. Jacob fled into exile for years after he cheated his father and brother. Jacob's son, Joseph was exiled from his home to Egypt. Years later, his family was taken from their home to Egypt because of a famine. There the Israelites were enslaved until Moses led them to the Promised Land. Centuries later, David, before becoming king, lived as a hunted fugitive, in exile from home. Later, Israel was exiled again from their home, taken captive by the Babylonians and Assyrians. Centuries later, Jesus’ prodigal son story in Luke 15 is about a younger brother who leaves his family, goes off to a distant country expecting a better life, but is disappointed. He begins to long for home, remembering the provision in his father's house. Finally, Jesus left his heavenly home to wander the earth, never really settling. At the end of his life, he was crucified outside the city gate, a powerful symbol of rejection by the community and of exile.

The message of the Bible is that the human race is a band of exiles trying to find “home”, but always coming up short. We carry around with us a feeling that we’re displaced. We’re always traveling and searching but never truly arriving. A sense of “home” continues to evade us. We work hard to recreate the sense of home that we’ve lost, but our efforts ultimately fall short. The Bible also tells us of our true home. Home only exists in the presence of God from which we fled.

This week we’re beginning a series in a letter written by the Apostle Peter to, you guessed it, an exiled people. God’s people are exiled once again and consequently suffering. Peter is encouraging them to focus on what’s to come - their eternal inheritance, their crown of glory, and their true homecoming. It really is about the destination, but on their way to their true home, he challenges them to live out their faith in the here and now. Instead of thinking we have to find or reach home, home has come to us in Jesus Christ and he has come to take us there. Be excited to walk through the book of 1 Peter from beginning to end and to find out how our future homecoming has an impact on our lives today, and how to live out our faith in the midst of trials and suffering.

-Pastor B

Crack the Code on Peace in Tribulation

Streamsong Church — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself to overcome the world and it’s tribulations? Does it rob you of peace? Americans tend to honor a “virtue” of invincibility. We’re expected to be, want to be, and often pretend to be “superman” or “superwoman”. Self-sufficiency and independence are some of the highest, most esteemed virtues in our culture. If you have young kids, you know they literally can’t live 30 minutes without you, yet they fight tooth and nail for self-sufficiency and independence. As adults, we do the same thing with God. The world makes us think that we’re on our own and that we have to do it ourselves. This is a lie. Jesus overcame the world for us and this truth should free us, and give us a sense of growing peace in tribulation. We’re also going to learn how peace can co-exist in tribulation. Jesus gave us a tool, the Cross, to be a barometer in pursuit of such peace.

32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. - John 16:32

Jesus often taught his disciples through parables and figures of speech, but now he is speaking to them more plainly. Just before this statement, Jesus explained his and their relationship to the Father in clearer terms. In the eyes of the disciples, their faith was solidifying, bordering overconfidence. But Jesus brings them down to earth, knowing what they are about to see the next day on the cross. Jesus did not doubt the belief of the disciples, but he warned them that their faith wasn’t what they thought it was. It would be shaken before it was settled. In response to their overconfidence, Jesus doesn’t say, “try harder”...“you can do it”...“I believe in you”. Jesus’ response was real and honest. He says, “No, you’re actually going to run away from me and scatter and leave me alone.” The disciples can’t be trusted.They’re unreliable. They’re going to mess up, but it doesn’t matter. Jesus was still going to cross. It’s not about their love for him, lack thereof, their degree of faith, courage, or lack thereof. Rather, it was about his love for them. Jesus was going to the cross regardless of what anybody believed about him. How’s that for grace? So that sets the stage for what he says next. Jesus presents to them an offer and a promise.

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

PROMISE OF TRIBULATION

Jesus promises tribulation. You might be thinking, “Well that’s not the kind of promise I was expecting!” The reality is, we may bring fewer problems upon ourselves as we obey Jesus’ commands, but we will definitely still have them. We have far less control over things than we think we do. Understanding this removes a false hope. And Jesus is about giving us real, living hope. We are promised struggle as long as we are in this world. There are big tribulations that rattle us quickly and comprehensively like September 11th, the 2008 Recession, getting laid off, personal tragedies (death of a spouse, child, or loved one), and significant persecution. COVID19 is another example of a bigger tribulation. It’s turning life upside-down, making us uncertain of the present or future. It’s showing us the fragility and instability of life. Many of us have a real problem with that because it’s showing us that we don’t have as much control as we thought. As a result of COVID19, reports are showing that due to the isolation we’re in, there’s a spike in cases of domestic violence, child abuse, and suicide. Peace is in very short supply. Life is also filled with daily, mini-tribulations like situations and conflicts that rattle us, and little persecutions for our faith. Even something like a red light throws us off the train tracks. Busted water pipes and broken down HVACs in the winter frazzle us. But Jesus pairs this promise of tribulation with an offer.

OFFER OF PEACE

In the midst of tribulation, Jesus offered His disciples peace. Jesus did not promise peace, he offered it. He said, “you may have peace.” People may associate themselves with Jesus, they may like him, use his name, or wear a cross necklace, yet be devoid of his peace. When Jesus wanted to comfort and strengthen His disciples, He spoke of his victory, not their victory. They have no victory in themselves, but Jesus knew that His victory would be theirs.It’s the same for us. We gain the peace Jesus offered by finding it in Him and through the Cross. It is received from Jesus through a relationship with him, not achieved by us.

Importantly, Jesus offers a peace that doesn’t merely whisk us away from tribulation or only attainable when the tribulation is removed. Rather, it is a peace that coexists with tribulation. It is a peace which is realized in and through conflict and struggle. Jesus had perfect peace that coexisted with his great suffering. He didn’t have to remove the cross for peace to arrive. He had it in the Garden of Gethsemane and he had it on the cross!

When you look back at the Psalms, King David grew in this peace. In Psalm 23:5 he prayed to and glorified God by saying, “You prepare a table before me in the midst of my enemies”. David doesn’t say “apart from them”, but in the presence of them. Jesus essentially says, “in Me you may have peace, even in the midst of tribulation.” But how? If people can associate themselves with Jesus, like him, call upon his name, or wear a cross necklace, but not have peace, how exactly do I receive this peace and how can it co-exist in tribulation?

HOW CAN WE HAVE PEACE IN TRIBULATION AND HOW CAN THE TWO CO-EXIST?

David received a profound peace that came from two truths he constantly wrote about in his Psalms. David experienced throughout his life a “crucifixion” of his heart that foreshadowed the actual Cross. As you read the Psalms, he pours out his heart about his deepening knowledge of his radical sinfulness and his deepening knowledge of God’s radical love despite his sin. On this side of time, the cross serves for us as a tool or an instrument, or a barometer, that ultimately reveals to us those two important things that God revealed to David. The two sides of the Gospel coin are:

Side #1

The cross reveals the radical nature of our sin. Our sin is so bad that Jesus had to die on a cross for us. It should be a humbling thought. Pride is at the epicenter of sin. Pride is me at the center of my life. Pride steals peace. Our pride is in direct conflict with the truth of our sinful nature. Our pride gives us Illusions of invincibility and sinlessness, or we just don’t think we’re as sinful as God knows we are. When tribulations happen, our pride - or position at the center - is infringed upon, and it causes us to be overcome by fear and panic. We need the humility that only the cross can give.

Side #2

The cross also reveals God’s infinite and costly love. Despite my sin, Jesus willingly and gladly died for me, thus securing me. Insecurity steals peace, it makes us unsure of ourselves. Our insecurity gives us illusions of our unlovability in God’s eyes. When tribulations happen, our insecurity causes us to be overcome by fear and panic. We need security that only the cross can give.

Like David, we need to have a growing belief in both aspects - our radical sinfulness AND God’s radical love. All Christians wrestle with this and vary in depth of belief of either or both sides of the Gospel. For example:

Christian #1

Some have a deeper understanding of their radical sinfulness, but a shallow understanding of God’s radical love. This is why there are Christians that struggle with peace because they’re self-demoralizing. They say/think things like, “Of course this is happening to me!” They tend to have a defeatist mentality and say/think things like, “I’m doomed!’ They also say/think things like, “I have to stop sinning so much! I have to do better!” They think tribulation is happening as punishment for their sin. But they forget the cross in the sense that they forget God’s radical love for them. They forget that the tribulation isn’t happening as punishment because Jesus bore it on the cross on their behalf.

Christian #2

Some are on the opposite side of the pendulum. Some have a deeper understanding of God’s radical love, but a shallow understanding of their radical sinfulness. This is why there are Christians that struggle with peace because they can be so self-righteous. They say things like, “How can this be happening? I'm not perfect, but I'm mostly good!” They tend to have an entitled mentality and think, “I’m invincible.” When tribulation comes, they say things like, “I have to love God more, I have to do better!” Tribulations are an inconvenience to them. They may be prosperity-driven, meaning, “If I’m good, God will bless me.” They forget the cross in the sense that they forget their sinfulness. We simply live in a broken world, mired by sin, and we aren’t exempt from trouble. Jesus was the best and still suffered.

In both of these Christians are the destructive subtleties of works-based religion, in which salvation and peace depend on me. This explains how we can religiously associate ourselves with Jesus, like him, call upon his name, or wear a cross necklace, but not have peace. Like the disciples, we simply don't trust God as much as we think we do. When my righteousness is based on my effort, not Christ’s righteousness, peace will be in short supply. If salvation depends on me, then everything in my life depends on me, and peace will be in very short supply. Whether you say, “I have to stop sinning” or “I have to love God more,” both are putting the responsibility of achieving peace on yourself. You see, the more “me” that is involved in my life, the less peace I have. The more Jesus, the greater peace we will have. In Christ, we are neither invincible nor doomed. We are victorious in Christ and in him is our peace. It’s not in us and we can’t create it. It's received, not achieved. It’s through an intimate relationship with Jesus, not a religious association with him.

Crack the Code

This is why David could say something like, “You prepare a table before me IN THE MIDST of my enemies.” David didn’t have perfect peace, but he knew where to go for it. He knew where to kneel. He had an intimate relationship with God. He grew in increasing knowledge of his sin and it humbled him. This knowledge made God’s love for him increasingly radical and real. This is where the tango of a relationship with God happens. As a result, David could pray things like, “This is happening, but I know you love me, and you’re working everything for my good.”

To begin this lifelong journey of increasing peace, we must crucify the flesh by first repenting of our pride, sin, and self-righteousness (the things that separate us from God) and put our faith and trust completely in Christ and his finished work on the cross as the payment for our sin. Paul said to the Galatian church (Gal. 2:20), “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Christ in me is the key. As Jesus lives in and through us by way of The Holy Spirit, we must continuously kneel at the cross, rest in Jesus’ finished work, and rediscover and grow in our knowledge of both our radical sinfulness and God’s radical love on a deepening heart-level, so we can have the humility and security that cultivates peace.

Today we can say because of the cross, “This is happening, but I know you love me, and you’re working everything for my good.” Because of the tribulation of the cross and it’s victory, our tribulation is an opportunity and it is purposeful. We can say, “Your will be done, Lord.” and mean it.

CHALLENGE

If you haven’t put your faith and trust in Christ, do so now! In tribulation, at best, you have self-help and positive self-talk. These things are only surface level strategies that never get to the root of your problem. If you haven’t put your faith and trust in Christ and his work on the cross, then you’re at the center of your life. Everything depends on you and as long as you’re at the center of your life, you will have a surface level peace at best. You may have apathy disguised as “peace”, a sort of calm that really comes from just not caring about what’s happening, but that’s not right. We should care about what’s happening.

If you have put your faith and trust in Christ, which of those two aspects of the Gospel do you struggle with? Which side of the pendulum do you tend to sway to? Do you tend to have a deepening knowledge of your radical sinfulness, but a shallower understanding of radical God’s love for you? Or do you tend to have a deepening knowledge of God’s radical love, but a shallower understanding of your radical sinfulness? Or do you struggle with both?

CONCLUSION

No one lives a life of automatic and constant peace. We all encounter both little and big tribulations that throw us off kilter, confuse us, and catalyze worry. Profound peace in tribulation comes from the shedding of our pride through a deepening humility over our sin. And profound peace in tribulation also comes from the shedding of insecurities through a deepening understanding of God’s love despite our sin. It all begins with Jesus and the cross. Through his crucifixion, Jesus overcame sin. Through his resurrection, he overcame our greatest tribulation: death. Take heart, he has overcome the world for us. And he has given us the instrument before which we must continually be kneeling and resting - the cross. Jesus was always telling his disciples to believe. But despite their belief or unbelief, Jesus was going to the cross regardless. Jesus knew that when they saw the cross and then his resurrected body, The Holy Spirit would reveal just how deep their sin was, but also how deep the Father’s love was for them, thus cracking the code on peace. This same offer is also for us today. Receive it. Let the sheer grace of God in Jesus Christ transform your heart and relieve you of the pressure of having to overcome the world yourself.

Marriage (Or Any Relationship) During COVID19 Isolation

Streamsong Church — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Things getting chippy? Married couples, you're spending a lot more time than usual with each other during this COVID19 time of isolation. As a result, you might be exprreincing more friction than usual. Accept this as a reminder for you. We hope this ministers to you and helps you navigate the day-to-day...

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" - 1 Corinthians 15:3

Tim Keller said, “The Gospel shows us that we are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

Our flawed and sinful nature leaves us alienated from God. No effort of ours would repair the damage, sooth the wrath, heal the brokenness, and release the chains of our self-chosen slavery. God did not choose between justice and love, but in one fell swoop He demonstrated both His astonishing love for us and His necessary justice, by taking on Himself the punishment due to us. Once we rest in this for ourselves by faith in Christ, it changes our relationships, especially marriage. The truth of our radical sinful nature humbles us. The truth of God’s radical love secures us. This new humility and security we have in Christ enables us to speak to each other about our flaws and sins and yet forgiving each other. Every incident of confrontation, confession/repentance, and forgiveness is painful yet leads to deeper wisdom, love, and joy in one another.

QUESTIONS TO ASK:

1.) Do you genuinely believe in both sides of the Gospel, both your radical sinfulness AND Gods radical love?

2.) After the confrontation happens, is there any one of those two important and necessary disciplines and fruits of faith - confession/repentance and forgiveness - you struggle with or are not practicing?

Many Christians struggle in their belief of both sides of the Gospel. For some it’s easy to accept their radical sinfulness, but hard to accept Gods radical love. For some it’s easy to accept Gods radical love, but hard to accept their radical sinfulness. We struggle to repent because we don’t truly believe the depth of our sin. We struggle to forgive because we don’t truly believe the depth of Gods love. Repentance and forgiveness REQUIRE BOTH deepening humility and a deepening sense of Gods love for you despite your sin. The catch is nobody is knocking both out of the park, and we never will in this life, it's God's way of keeping us dependent on Him. We all struggle with one more than the other or both all together! Identification is KEY!

Personally, I struggle the most with confession/repentence, admitting I am in the wrong to my wife. This is because I have deep-seated pride that God is still grinding away at. I genuinely believe that I am sinful and I genuinely believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins, but that acknowledgement of my sinfulness hasn't gone deep enough in light of God's lovr for me, and I need it to go deeper. It's painful but it will grow me in humility, and build me in wisdom and love.

If you struggle with one or both of them and it is chipping away at your marriage, pray and ask God for faith if you don’t have it already. Then pray and ask God to cultivate a deepening sense in you of which one (your radical sinfulness or Gods radical love) you struggle with, start making hard decisions in your interactions, and trust God and His timing. The less we practice this and the less we are proactive in genuine confession/repentence, and genuine forgiveness, the more resentment that will build up and the more your relationship will slowly dissolve.

Blessings,
Pastor B.

Hate Has a Home in the World

Streamsong Church — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0400

“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.” - John 16:1

Jesus is with his disciples in the upper room, sharing his final meal with them before he goes to the cross. During this meal, he has shared some of his most remarkable teachings. He washed his disciples' feet. This not only displayed God’s radical, sacrificial love for them, but also what they should go and do for each other. He’s taught them that he is the way, the truth, and the life. He’s taught them that he is the true vine. He’s taught them where joy is found, and commanded them for the umpteenth time to love one another. He now gets into his next teaching in which his purpose is to keep them from falling away. How did he get there? What would cause them to fall away? To answer this, we have to rewind the text…

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ - John 15:18-25

After talking about joy and loving one another (things easy to listen to), Jesus takes a 180 degree turn and talks about being hated. When we sign up for Jesus, we come into a relationship with many benefits, but it also comes with some threatening realities as well. This is a difficult text to stomach. Hate is a strong word, it always has been, but particularly these days. There’s a deep place in all of our hearts where we want to be loved and accepted. There’s nothing wrong with that, those are good desires. But because we go to people for approval, we fear rejection or the idea of being hated by them.

Before we continue further, we should get a question out of the way. “Is how much I am hated for my faith a measure of how well I am doing as a Christian?” In other words, “If people don’t hate me, does that mean I’m of the world and I’m not living up to the faith I claim?” No.

It’s often contextual. I coach a high school golf team on the side. I’m very intentional about loving them well as Jesus commands me to, but also sharing Gospel truth when possible, also as Jesus commands me. I have very good, healthy relationships with my student-athletes. The respect and trust I have established with them is the reason I can go deeper with them. I don’t know if they “love” me, but I’m certain they don’t hate me. Does that mean I am not doing a good job as a Christian? No.

In another situation, I was recently approached by a disheveled man outside as I was leaving the doors of the Corner Bakery. He was asking me to drive him to a beer distributor so he could buy alcohol. It was 9:30am. I told him I would not. But I also said that I had very good news, and I shared the Gospel with him. He became on edge, raised his voice, and accused me of judging him. I thought he was going to beat me up. I told him that I was not judging him, that I have my own sin I reckon with every day, that I believe this message for myself, and that it is transforming me in how I live and how I treat myself and others. If I felt like I was going to get beat up, did I do a good job as a Christian in this situation? I don’t know, perhaps.

How do we make sense of Jesus’ words? The ways and patterns of the world are sometimes overtly, but more often, subtly averse to Christianity and Christians. In our western culture, we see it subtly (like an undercurrent) in the media. An example would be on a major news network, when somebody professes faith in Christ and shares how much their faith means to them, but then it goes viral on social media that the “Christianity stuff” was edited out, never to see the light of day. Or in TV shows, the "Christian" seems to always be portrayed as the weak, dorky, timid, unappealing one out of the group. We also see it overtly (like a big wave) in our workplace and in schools when talk of “Christianity” is sharply condemned.

When you look at the Gospel and all of its teaching, it’s honestly no wonder the world is allergic to Christianity. The Bible confronts us and unapologetically exposes realities that we don’t like to acknowledge, like “sin”. Because of the world's hatred of Christianity’s teaching of sin, the world tries to redefine sin as physiological and emotional malfunctions that can be treated with science, medicine or technology, not as a spiritual reality that has a devastating effect on our hearts, minds, life, eternity, and standing with God.

We also see it a lot in the world's response to the absoluteness of the Bible. While we do have choices on some things, God doesn’t give us a choice on a lot of other things. When Jesus says to “love your enemies”, it’s not a suggestion or a recommendation, it’s an absolute command. Most people, Christian or not, agree with the sentiment behind that command. It sounds beautiful in theory. However, when the rubber meets the road and we actually have an enemy in front of us, our true colors come out and we want the choice to hate our enemy, disparage, slander, and think of them as we please. Loving our enemies is very difficult in practice. The world loves options and personal freedom of choice. It hates absolutes. The human heart naturally bends towards self-sufficiency and independence and we don’t want somebody to tell us what to do or think. If you’re a person that doesn’t believe in moral absolutes, you won’t take to Christianity very well. Christianity doesn’t give us very many options. The world hates that and it’s going to hate you to some degree when you take absolute positions from the Bible.

Jesus’ words to his disciples are clear: the world will hate you. The world will have a general disdain, an often subtle or sometimes overt hatred, towards you and what you believe. Sometimes it’s thinly veiled passive aggressiveness, meaning somebody won’t overtly attack you face-to-face for your faith, but inside when you walk away, their heart may boil over your biblical positions. That’s the common situation we face in our modern, western context in America. In other parts of the world, it could be more overt like being killed for your faith in Christ.

So how do we share and live out our faith without fear? Jesus continues...

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. - John 15:26-27

When we believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins, he was buried and was raised on the third day, we receive the “Helper” - the Holy Spirit - who dwells in us. The Holy Spirit gives us an identity shift that empowers us to bear witness about Jesus. If you shy away from sharing and living out your faith in the midst of people who aren’t Christian for fear of hatred and rejection, it’s ultimately an identity issue that you have. Either your identity is in what other people think about you and the opinions of others, or your identity is in Christ and what God thinks about you. If your identity is in other people, you will be swayed by their opinions. You will walk on the edge of falling away from Jesus, obedience, the message, and the mission. When your identity is in Christ, what people think about you won’t ultimately matter. It’s okay to want people to like you. It’s a poor witness to be somebody who isn’t nice, trustworthy, and likable, but their opinion of you won’t matter so much that it keeps you from sharing the greatest news the world will ever know.

Simply put, we need more of the Cross in our lives. It tells us two very important things. The first is that it tells me of my great sin. The Gospel deeply humbles us. We need humility to share our faith and live out our faith in front of the world. It’s fundamentally prideful to not share our faith out of fear of rejection or other people's opinions because, in that case, we’re only thinking about ourselves and our reputation, not the good of another person. We need the deepening humility that the Cross cultivates in us.

The second thing the Gospel tells us is of God’s great, radical love for us. His love fortifies us and builds us up. His infinite love is the approval I’m seeking after, whether I realize it or not. If I’m always going to others for the approval and affirmation I seek, I’ll never get it. I’m not meant to find it in others. Seeking other people’s approval will only lead me to shrink away from sharing and living out the Gospel. The security of a deepening understanding of God’s love for me is another component I need in order to share and live out the Gospel regardless of the world’s hatred towards me.

As Christians, we tend to struggle in one of these areas more than the other. We’re either too prideful to share our faith, or we’re too fragile to. I think I struggle the most with pride. I find that when I don’t share my faith with somebody when I think God might be prompting me, it is because I’m afraid of what they might think of ME. I’m thinking of myself too much. I need God to drive these Gospel truths of humility deeper and deeper into my heart. I need to be humble enough so I think of myself less and share for their good. Perhaps you’re on the other side of the spectrum and you need to be built up enough so you can be open to and handle the rejection that might come. Where do you fall on this spectrum?

In conclusion, we shouldn’t seek to be hated and wear it like a badge of honor. But we also shouldn’t avoid the hatred of the world either. We should put our identity in Christ and what God thinks of us and not in the thoughts and opinions of other people, lest we fall away. As we put our identity in Christ, we should earn people’s trust to speak into their lives. We should love people unconditionally and speak the truth of the gospel in love. And Come what may.

Prayer: Father, humble me and secure me in your love so I can share and live out the Gospel without fear of the worlds hatred toward me. Your Son, Jesus did nothing but help people, bless people, love people, and forgive people, but was scorned, mocked, hated and rejected for calling people to faith in him. Jesus was so secure in Your love and his identity was so steadfast in You, that nothing could curb him from the mission and the message. I want that. Help me, please.

- Pastor B.