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Introducing: The Sin Issue

"What sin issue ..?", should be your bewildered response.

How can I say that sin is not an issue? I can say this because sin is not an issue. Not between you and God, anyway. The traditional Christian doctrine on sin has had cataclysmic effects on the health and effectiveness of the church, choking believers with the idea that their sin is separating them from God and blinding many to the freeing message that the Gospel contains.

Unfortunately, for the sake of thoroughness, I will need to briefly explain the doctrine of sin as taught by most Christian denominations (or variants of this basic explanation). In short, the doctrine of sin says that sin is an issue between man and God. It says that every time we do something that does not come into line with the Bible, or sin, then God holds it against us and we need to repent; all stemming from Adam's original sin. Terms like 'be holy' and 'get sanctified' are commonplace when this is taught. The basic outcome of having a doctrine of sin in the body of Christ, is that Christians become increasingly sin-focused or sin-conscious.

Unfortunately many Christians think that it is a noble thing, to feel condemned and guilty all the time, to focus on the wrongs and then strive to right them. To put it bluntly, this is madness. It's what the Apostle Paul calls self-righteousness (Philippians 3:9), where we attempt to vainly attain a standard of right-living in order to somehow please God. Many Christians use guilt to fuel their convictions and live out their 'Christian' lives. How many of you know that you cannot reproduce anything else but who you are and what you have? Due to this reality, Christians impose guilt and condemnation on other Christians; reproducing themselves in those they are discipling (In keeping with Matthew 28:19).

Sin is only an issue because we have made it an issue. If this statement is true, then the Bible needs to be able to back it up, right? Of course, however, most people don't let the Bible get in the way of what they believe, let's hope you do.

Let me start by asking you a few questions: How many times did Jesus die for our sins, how long does this sacrifice hold and who does it apply to? The answer to the first question, according to history, is once. According to the Bible, it is also once. Hebrews 10 puts it pretty plainly:

• v10 "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." 
• v12 "But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever ..."
• v18 "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin."

All three the questions are answered above: Jesus died once and He will not die again, why? Because 'Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them' (Message). This sacrifice was for ALL people. This sacrifice was for ALL TIME.

The result: Your sins are forgiven past, present and future.

Please read the follow-up posts to this one, as this is an incomplete study, with more statements than evidence. The evidence is to follow.

Top Tweets #1

Some of the top Tweets that have found there way onto my Twitter account this week:

"When you forgive people they no longer control your happiness" - @rickwarren

"Preaching tells us why. Teaching tells us how. We need both" - @pastorbrady

"CHURCH: Where Spirits are lifted. minds are renewed, faith is increased and priorities are challenged, by God's Word!" - @brianchouston

"That awkward moment when you karate kick a board during a sermon ... and break your foot" - @celebritypastor

"We're not home yet, but if grace doesn't make you dance a little on the way, we must not have heard the same gospel" - @louiegiglio

"Your Google search history is the real you" - @prodigalism

"Just do it! (But don't get caught). Nike." - @trevornoah

"'Joint heirs with Jesus' apparently means something different in Colorado" - @chrchcurmudgeon

"That awkward moment when the pastor randomly starts singing an old hymn ... and expects the band to accompany him ... " - @worshipsoundguy

Follow me on Twitter @istartliving

That Was Good

"I've been in the word longer than you've been alive, but that was good" 

This was the reaction of a lady that was in the congregation while I was preaching last Sunday. She made the effort to find me after the service was done and after introducing herself she promptly told me the line that I quoted above. She must have been in her mid-sixties, old enough to be my grandmother (theoretically of course), but her eyes had a sharpness and a keenness that held my attention for the few minutes that we spoke. I didn't just listen, but I heard her.

After this encounter it got me thinking: what was it that got her excited, why did she need to come and tell me these things, barely being able to contain her enthusiasm at the same time; did I say something right? It didn't take me long (four to five seconds) to know that it had nothing to do with me, rather it had everything to do with the message I was delivering. You see, good news does that to people. It helps people to see who they are, to realize their purpose, to encourage them to breakthrough and to know that none of it has to be done out of their own efforts.

The 'gospel', as Paul calls it is the very embodiment of good news. It carries with it a relevance that transcends context, a power that breaks open the hardest of hearts and a truth that sets people free. You see, we can be in church our whole lives, read the bible every day and still have no idea what the gospel really is. We look at Christianity like a religion instead of seeing it for what it is: becoming one with Jesus and enjoying the benefits of this union.

Paul is quoted in Romans 1:16 as saying, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes ..." The Apostle Paul had tasted and seen the effectiveness of the good news, so much so that he put it in writing, saying that there was nothing to persuade him otherwise. He'd seen the results of the gospel being preached with undiluted accuracy, the miracles that followed (Mark 16:17), the healings that took place and the freedom that was part and parcel. It made him come alive.

I don't know whether that lady had ever heard the gospel presented to her as it was that morning. All I know is that it changed her, it made her come alive. On your quest for truth, if the gospel of Jesus Christ does not sound like good news it probably isn't. If it hasn't got life, it can't make you come alive. Don't settle for an inferior gospel, pursue the real gospel of truth and power.

Taking a Look Back - 2012 in photos

I came up with a list of photos that remind me of some of the more epic events of 2012. Looking back helps me to remember that a year spent wisely is never wasted. It also serves as a reminder that bad choices have consequences, unfortunately. But, the idea is to learn and not make the same mistakes again.

Leopard attacking security guards in India

Polish rider takes a dive during the summer Olympics, London

Felix Baumgarten jumped to a 14 mile free fall from space

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in New York

Waldo Canyon fire encroaching on Colorado Springs, CO USA

A North Korean military band randomly jamming in a rice paddy

Bradley Wiggins taking the Tour de France with great time-trialing

Marekane - tragic, yet so avoidable

By far my favourite photo of the year - Oscar and Arnu

The Fallacy of Excellence

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (Col 3:23) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31) 

Fast-forward 2000 years  and we find a major section of the body of Christ using these, and other verses like them, to justify what they call excellence in serving within the body of Christ. This term excellence has become so entrenched in charismatic church movements that it is not even questioned anymore. Money is thrown at programs and equipment in the name of excellence, hours of practice and rehearsals are done in the name of excellence and people are exalted and marginalized, at the same time, in the name of excellence.

There is no biblical precedence for us, as Christians, to strive for excellence. In fact, the Apostle Paul says quite the opposite. Paul says, that it is by Gods grace that he is what he is, and by implication, that he does what he does (1 Corinthians 15:10). A striving for excellence is in fact a quest for perfection, something that we can't attain. Only One was perfect, only One was blameless and only One can make us perfect - Jesus.

My question to those who are striving for excellence is, WHY? Why focus on something that can't be attained no matter how much you try? Why try and change imperfect flesh into perfect divinity? At this point, I can hear the question that many people will be retorting with, "If we don't strive for excellence, then we portray the body of Christ as amateurish and cheap" Here is a wake-up call, we are amateurs! At this point you may want to read my post on Money In Sports, money is always the game-changer. Before I get too carried away let me make my point by quoting some irrefutable scripture:

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. - (I Corinthians 1:26-29)

With emphasis on verse 29, "that no flesh should glory in His presence". All glory belongs to God. The more we strive for excellence in the name of "excellence brings Him glory" the more we are in the flesh and make standards our idol, worshiping excellence, instead of God (Gal 3:3). So, what is the solution, what should we be focused on instead?

Jesus has made us perfect. Our very nature is perfect, there is nothing to strive for (2 Cor 5:21) We need to trust our new nature to be excellent, by His grace, through faith (Eph 2:9). By focusing on Jesus and understanding who we are in Him (Col 1:28), then operating out of that. We will become more excellent accidentally than we ever could have been on purpose. Unbelievable? Believe it, it works! Jesus has made you excellent, understand it, believe it and then live it - it's effortless!

Beyond the Veil!

"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" - Romans 6:16

The question asked by the Apostle Paul, above, is one which I have been pondering. Why does he ask such a, seemingly, obvious and redundant question? This simplicity of it, makes me wonder if there isn't more to it, and I believe that there is!

I often think that we do things in life, expecting totally different results to that which we end up getting. For instance, if you invest your money in some sort of investment scheme that promises a certain return and when the investment finally pays out you get nowhere near the return promised, in fact you lose money. Naturally you will be disappointing.

One of two things could have happened here: Either you were deceived into thinking that there was be money to be made, or there really was money to be made and due to unforeseen circumstances (market related), your return was less than initially expected.

When Paul asks the question above, I think he is speaking to those people who fall into the first category; the one of, "I was taken for a ride". You see, it is human nature to measure and weigh things and then make decisions based on the outcome of your predictions; thus, making YOU god in your life. 

By submitting yourself to YOU, your logic and your intellect, you are in fact engaging in one of the most common forms of idolatry, known as pride. You thus become a slave to your limited knowledge, abilities and obvious frailties.

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey ..? When we obey our impulses and selfish desires we get deceived into thinking that the returns on this will be advantageous; we become slaves to this illusion. This is the veil that clouds carnal decision making. 

Our decisions must be made in the spirit, backed up by the word and covered by prayer. Without this we will be at the mercy of carnal mindedness, which can only lead one way ...

"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" - Romans 8:6