I love when someone really gets the Gospel and begins to live under a banner that reads "It is Finished!" I love when they declare that publicly in the arena of social media. I love to watch how this juicy morsel tempts others to swoop in and warn everyone of the danger of taking the Gospel too far. It's like watching a bucket of bloody chum on shark week.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
"All other religions give advice, and they drive everything you’re doing on fear."
Tim Keller
I am reposting and linking because the Resurgence blog post is good. I am reposting and linking because Keller's original talk is good. In truth, I'm reposting and linking because I needed to hear it again. That's the funny thing about "gospel amnesia," I'm never really cured of that pesky illness.
This post and Keller's original words at the GC event caused a bunch of thoughts to begin swirling around my brain. I know it is a common theme around here, but a good one to keep in front of us regularly. I've started my own list below. Feel free to join me.
Good advice is offering up fancy theology.
Good news is telling others the simple story about Jesus.
Good advice will teach security in traditions, vestments and liturgy.
Good news will teach security in Christ alone.
Good advice takes people to a perfect church.
Good news takes people to an empty cross.
Good advice leads others to memorize a catechism or confession.
Good news leads people to memorize three words: "It is finished"
Good advice says "this is how we do it right."
Good news says "This is what Jesus did. It's done!"
Good advice nails a list of "do's and don'ts" to the wall.
Good news points people to three bloody nails.
Good advice talks about dressing your best for church.
Good news talks about being dressed in the garments of Jesus.
Good advice gives a pair of gold-plated/diamond-studded handcuffs.
Good news gives a pardon.
Good advice says, Jesus plus something.
Good news says, Jesus plus nothing.
That will get the ball rolling, feel free to leave your own in the comments below.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
A few years ago, I remember hearing an explanation of our Christian walk that went something like this:
We are all climbing a mountain and sometimes we struggle where we are with our climb. When we see people who are farther up the mountain, we can get jealous of them and their climbing accomplishments. At the same time, when we look down the mountain and see others that are not as far as us, it is easy to talk about how far we've climbed above them.
The teacher went on to explain that we need to reach down to those that are climbing below us and help them out. You know? Help them with their climb, so they can be up with us. We need to climb together, because climbing is hard work and it is easy to slip and fall down that mountain. He added a bunch of illustrations about sure footing, climbing up and not sideways, etc...
I'm not a mountain climber. Just going up and down the stairs in my house reminds me of that fact.
I've been wondering and thinking if this is even a good illustration for our walk. I'm beginning to think it's not.
What about an illustration, that we are not climbing AT ALL?
What about an illustration that says Jesus already climbed the mountain for us and there is NOTHING left to climb? That seems like a more appropriate illustration, but it begs the question...what do we do while Jesus climbs?
The simple answer is nothing. How can we add anything to the work Christ accomplished (or in this case the climb He finished).
Follow Christ? Hang onto Christ? I'm hopeless. I will let go and I will wander. It is in my nature to not follow and to let go.
So, what about this illustration: We are not climbing a mountain. Christ climbed the mountain for us. We don't hold on to him. We don't follow him. He holds onto us. He won't let go of us. He takes us up the mountain personally and delivers us to the peak. It's all Him. It's all His effort. We don't add anything to the climbing.
We live under a banner that says, "It is Finished!" Caput. Done. It is Jesus plus nothing.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
For the past two years, I have worn an "I Am Second" bracelet. I have had more opportunities to talk about Jesus because of this dumb rubber ring around my wrist.
If you haven't checked out the site, drop by and watch a few of the videos. They are filmed/edited well.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch