Posts Tagged ‘judgement’

17
Dec

How Far Is the East From The West?

   Posted by: Matthew Rathbun    in Christian World View

ForgiveUs-NoText

The Practicality of Psalms

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west,  So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

The funny thing is that even though God forgives, people don’t.  There are always those who will hold your mistakes against you.  Oddly enough those who will readily accept forgiveness will not extend it.  The church seems to the highest level of self-righteousness.  It’s as if the miracle of Christ’s death was reserved solely for them and any other failure is left for them to exploit or judge. 

It makes it difficult for those who are trying to move on with their lives to do so.  Recently, I received a series of emails from a friend on-line who then called me.  He did so because he was having an affair, which he terminated and wanted to go to his wife and Pastor to ask for forgiveness and face the consequences.  However, the fear of judgment from his church was what was keeping him from confessing. Think about that for a minute.  This guy’s biggest fear was how his church would treat him.  If this isn’t the most backwards thing I’ve heard, I don’t know what is.  Honestly – I completely understand his fear.

Now, he’s left with not wanting to tell either his wife (who would share with her Pastor) or the Pastor.  Of course I’ve encouraged him to tell his wife and Pastor anyway.  We prayed and I wish that I had more to offer him.  Yes, you must face the results of sinful decisions but that’s for God to order – not man. 

I want to close this post with this – If the God of Creation and most Holy of Holy can disburse sin as far as the east is from the west, than who are we mere mortals to “punish”, gossip, harass or re-introduce a failing? 

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2
Jun

What’s a “Wannabe” to Do?

   Posted by: Matthew Rathbun    in Church Body, Purpose

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I’m a Wannabe

There is no question in my mind, that I love Christ more than anything, except perhaps myself.  I know that it’s not popular to voice this type of confession.  I know that people will judge, but the reality is that I still do things my way.  I don’t WANT to be that way – I’d love to know how to “die to self”.  As passionate as I am for Christ, I have a hard time abiding in his mercy and benevolence.  I desire to be more like him, but simply fail – often. 

I am not comforted by the fact that others have this same struggle.  I have desire to show His love, but fail.  I have a passion for seeing God’s best in people’s lives; but not always the patience to build the trust needed to convey this.  I’m a “Wannabe”….

I want to have the Wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Samson and the passion of David.  I want to show love, as Christ did and to have His humility. 

Getting Over Ones’ Self

I think it’s not only hypocrisy, but an out right lie to think that any of us are where Christ desires us to be.  I laugh when I recently heard someone say  “God has really worked on humbling me, He’s done that to use me for better things.”  Isn’t this presumptive in and of itself?  I use this example, but I think that while judging the “humble guy’s” motivation for bragging about being humble, I was judging his motivation. 

Psalm 69:5

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee.

I am foolish. I’ve squandered opportunity to share with my passion with friends and family at times.  I’ve been cynical of how others have related to God and questioned their motivations.  I’ve not always been wrong, but there are many times when I’ve questioned God’s wisdom without simply trusting that His way is best. 

All of this has made me nutzy, and struck with guilt at my own arrogance.  I’ve not always been able to maintain my status as a “Wannabe”.  Luckily we find this verse in 1st John:

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Using Power for Good and not Evil

I love picking on the goofiness of the church and even with the prelude of the preceding paragraph, I can tell you that not all satire or snarky remarks about the Church are about God.  Hardly any of them are.  The Church has so lost the heart of God in pursuit of melding with the culture to the point that I find…..well, stupid. 

The culture today is running, not walking, away from “Church” we’re not what we were intended to be.  I find it hard, at times, to separate my cynical side; from my “Wannabe” side.  when I see a TV evangelist with the corny “Christianese” lines and swinging his jacket over his head, while asking for money – I just laugh and think THAT’s what the world thinks of us all. 

I want the church to be so much more, but where is the line?  At what point does recognition of the church’s failings just become judgment?

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1
Mar

“Just Live it” Series – Being in the World

   Posted by: Matthew Rathbun    in Christian World View, Daily Walk

Do not Hide your Light

On March 1, 2009 I shared my heart in a sermon regarding being in the world, but not of it and what that really means.  My premise is that too many Christians have missed that fact that Christ’s mission was to the non-believer and that he was effective because (well other than being God) He engaged people and built relationships. 

The church of today is far too content to “play church” on Sunday morning and to turn their nose up against those who don’t believe; forgetting that the only difference in some of us is that we yielding to the call.  I am the chief sinner amoung you and I struggle every day with religion.  Organized Church has become the land of the Pharisee and not refuge for the broken sinner.  We must stop play-acting for our Church friends to the exclusion of the rest of the world.  Life-style evanglism is the most effective tool we have go show Christ’s love.  Not yelling from street corners, not rebuking young scared girls in front of clients, not “preaching” hatred against our elected officials.  We are called to be more Christ like.  Read the references in the slide to see how Christ engaged the “sinners’.   BTW:  We are all sinners….

One of our first steps is to know when to take a stand. This video clip is a great introduction to not being afraid of “man”, but in being a “light to the world”, even when it’s not comfortable.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.789723&w=425&h=350&fv=viewkey%3D91afd072f75c83d0cbc4]

Here are my slides and references from the sermon:

[slideshare id=1086182&doc=onlinejustliveitjudgement-090301064129-phpapp01]

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