The Key to Talking to Anyone about Anything

If you haven't noticed, people say a great deal of stupid things. It's probably not true, but doesn't it seem like everything is more controversial than it used to be? I don't know if it's because of the increasingly ravenous news industry, or if it's our cute little social media tirades, but stuff just gets blown waaay out of proportion these days. I know for sure that social networking has given people the mirage that they have teeth to their arguments, but it's only as they sit by themselves in front of a computer screen (as I am doing now). People say things that I know they wouldn't be saying to someone's face. So I think it would be helpful to you and I both to lay down some ground rules when talking to anyone about anything (of significance).

5) Face-to-Face
Anything worth talking seriously about is worth meeting face-to-face. I understand there are situations in which that isn't possible or practical, but meeting with the person shows that they are worth your time to talk to. It should be obvious, but don't ever talk about the deep topics online. People are a lot bolder, and therefore more crass, when they are online. Facebook arguments bear literally no fruit, and are usually harmful (I have been guilty, and I'm ashamed). One last note, if you struggle with online arguements, don't read YouTube comments (they are faith shattering).

4) 360° View
I've hear it said that part of the reason Abraham Lincoln was such a great politician was because of his uncanny ability to understand both sides of the issue. It is crucial that when you are talking to someone, that you understand where they are coming from. If you can't even fathom why someone thinks the way they do, then you are probably arrogant/ignorant and have no business talking about life issues. I think this sort of thinking would be valuable when talking about gay marriage, for example. I try to imagine what it would be like for someone to tell me that God would hate it if Amy and I got married. Of course that sounds offensive, that's the love of my life! There will be times that you simply cannot relate to somebody, and please don't pretend to, but you owe it to others to try and understand their motive for thinking the way they do.


3) Intimacy
A big reason that much of Christian evangelism fails is because of a lack of intimacy. You are trying to change a person's worldview, their very core being, without being friends first? That doesn't work in any arena. If you want to change someone's views on something, they need to see you live it out. It means nothing to me if Michael Jordan promotes Hanes underwear; it means a heck of a lot more if my buddy Sam Landis promotes Hanes. Weird example perhaps, but you get the point.



 2) Honesty
I have blogged about this subject at length before, but being honest with them and with yourself is super important. Let's be honest, their are some mass murders in the Bible that are kind of tough to understand. There are some ways we talk about God that sound really cheesy to most people, just be honest about that. Be honest that other people have good ideas too, and they have some legit questions that deserve an answer. There is a really thought-provoking song by Propaganda called "Forgive Me for Asking" in which he exposes some of the blinders that people put on their eyes, especially with regards to religion. I think honesty starts with deep reflection. Pair this practice with tip #4 and you can critique your own beliefs by asking questions that people are really asking. You may have to struggle through some things, but you will honestly believe in the end.


1) The most important trait when conversing over important matters is very possibly the key to living a godly life- humility. If pride is the root of all sins and the opposite of God, then humility may be the mark of a changed heart. Humility is deeply linked with #2, but we need to understand that we are not experts on...anything. We are people with limited knowledge and limited capabilities to even understand things. This may rock your world, it may even crush your spirit, but sometimes...you are wrong. *gasp* I don't know when everyone started thinking that they were supposed to be right about everything. Of course I think I'm right (otherwise I wouldn't think that way) but I am also willing to admit that there are things I don't know and will change my opinion if there's a good reason to. Speak to others with the gentleness that comes from humility.


There you have it- gun control, money, religion, sports, food, or whatever. Now you are equip to talk to anyone about anything. Be humble, or be quiet!

What's the Big Deal with Sex?

I was thinking the other day about sex, which I'm allowed to do, and I found myself thinking "Why is sex outside of marriage a sin?" I get the whole "Do not murder" thing, and stealing, lying, jealousy, anger, etc. I understand those, because they can really hurt other people. But why sex? I realize there are many times sex is harmful to others (and I'll explain that later) but most of the time people have sex they don't consider it a big deal and both people leave all the happier. So why is God such a stickler about sex?

Sex is a metaphor deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Many times, especially in the prophets, God uses adultery as a metaphor for Israel's unfaithfulness to him. Take a look at some of the OT references for "lust" and "adultery" and you will see that they are used literally less times than figuratively. Look at Jeremiah 3, Ezekiel 23, and the whole book of Hosea. Ezekiel 23 gets very graphic (makes my list of naughtiest Scriptures). Hosea is actually told by God to marry a prostitute (Gomer)  and take care of her. Several times over, God uses the prophets to convict the Israelites of committing adultery with idols and false gods. Why the awkward metaphor?

I think it's critical that we understand the way God made sex. He invented it along with the creation of humans, and commanded them to do it! Pretty sweet commandment. He made it for procreation, of course, but he also made it the most intimate, connecting bonding of a man and a woman. Intimacy is such a deep neurological bond, and adultery is a violent breaking of that bond. [I tried to find a good link for the psychological connections made by sex, but the websites all contained some kind of awkward picture, so you'll just have to trust me.] I think people who have had meaningful sex can understand what I'm talking about, whether for good or for bad. God, on the physiological and psychological levels, made sex for 1 pair of intimate partners.

To answer the question, I would say that sex outside of marriage is a big deal because of the way God designed sex. Intimacy by definition is not something to be shared with anyone and everyone. God made the gift of sex and he put its boundaries on marriage because that is simply how he designed it. I can't really argue with that.

We all "know" that extramarital sex and homosexual sex is a sin, but I am always hearing questions as to why. Hebrews 13:4, and 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:40 are two very clear commands to remain a virgin until marriage (among many others). I also keep hearing that the law against homosexuality is exclusively an OT thing, but that isn't true either (Romans 1:26-27). God has designed sex for a particular purpose, whether we like it or not. One last caveat, lust for a woman outside of marriage is just as much a sin as a man lusting for a man. Christians get a little to hung up on the homosexual thing, and are much more forgiving of heterosexual lust; both are sins.

The final metaphor for sex that I want to highlight is that of Ephesians 5 and Revelation 21. The ultimate point of sexual intimacy and marital faithfulness is to reflect the love of Jesus for the Church. The prophets wailed about Israel's unfaithfulness and the epistles warn against sexual immorality because God is making a point. Just like he is preparing the bride (the church) for the wedding ceremony of Rev 21, so too he is preparing us for faithfulness with our spouses. Your purity and your marriage are an act of sharing the Gospel. Your purity is a direct reflection of Christ's love for us. So when we fail in sexual immorality, we are damaging the imago dei and the picture of Jesus.

I have said it before, but because of the times we live in, the purity talk is much more a "damage control" talk. Many reading this have probably been unfaithful sexually, and it's far too late to talk about keeping your virginity. But just like God with Israel, and just like Jesus with the unfaithful church, you are continually being re-purified for the wedding banquet. What has God given to us, and we messed up, that he cannot restore? So I encourage you to stay pure, whether that is a continuing action or a new start.

What's the big deal about sex? Purity is an act of evangelism and a prelude to the wedding banquet.

Who Told You That?

This blog is brought to you commercial free by Genesis 3:11.

Hopefully we all know the setting for this scene, but if not go and read the first two chapter of Genesis first and come back. There are two phrases in the Genesis 3 narrative that really strike me when I read it: the first is God asking Adam and Eve "Where are you?" That is the opposite question for most of us, we want to demand that God reveals himself because he seems to be hiding. Genesis 3 reveals that from the very beginning it has been man that is hiding. The implication: ask yourself where you are before you demand God's revelation.

The second phrase that has a special ring to me is in verse 11, "Who told you that you were naked?" Who told you that? This is one of the most relevant self-esteem questions that anyone could ask. I realize that there are much bigger implications in the narrative, but it is a vital question that we need to ask ourselves today too.

There are two polar opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to unhealthy self-esteem. Obviously, there is too low self-esteem, and there is too high self-esteem. In my dispassion, both seem to be equally pathetic to me (with my 'suck it up' personality) but I forget that they are listening to the wrong voices just like I do sometimes.

For people with low self-esteem, I am tempted to say "suck it up," but instead I encourage you to listen to different voices. Maybe you have a dad who tells you that you are no good, you are disappointing, or they just apathetically acknowledge that you exist. Maybe your peers perceive you as ugly, untalented, goofy, dumb, etc. The only reason that I could tell you to suck it up so bluntly is because I am on the outside. My mom was supportive of me all the time. For some of you reading, though, you haven't been affirmed or accepted nearly as much as you need. My advice to you is to ask these two questions: Who told you that? How does God see you? I guarantee you that God is not the reason for you undervaluing yourself. Read about God's care for his people in places like Romans 8 and Psalm 23. Does God ever make you feel bad? You better believe it. But if you are down on yourself you have to ask "Who told you that?" Don't let Satan make you less that God desires you to be. God thinks highly of you.

To the proud I must say that we are stubborn bunch. I struggle with pride, being a male, and I sometimes forget what God has declared me to be in favor of vain and fruitless pursuits of man's praise. If you think that you are superior because of athletic ability, intelligence, humor, or any other worthless pursuits, just remember who we are. It is by the grace of God that we can take in breath, wake up in the morning, or roll out of bed. We were dead in our sins (Rom 3:23, 5:8) and had no hope. And we want to brag about...what? We need to remember who God is and who we are in light of that. Look at 2 Corinthians 4, Philippians 2, and Psalm 8. You are a pretty big deal, huh? Who told you that?


Any identity apart from the identity found in Christ is worthless. Don't let the world or Satan tell you any different. Whether you are shooting too high or too low, my advice to you is the same-- remember who you are in Christ. Read about it! God might tell you a thing or two.

Where the Demons Hide

In our world today it is truly amazing what we can pass off as acceptable. Just think about it with me for a minute. Here are some things that are legal: smoking, drunkenness, adultery (in certain situations), pornography, strip clubs, abortion, marijuana (kind of), and even prostitution in some places in Nevada.

People willingly sell tobacco which shortens life, inhibits bodily functions, smells crappy, and doesn't even provide anything for the body aside from a buzz. You can get piss-face drunk as long as you are in a private home (and everyone always stays home, and never drives of course). Adultery, as you can read in the linked article, is becoming incredibly common. Porn is destroying the Biblical, or even decent humanistic, view of sex. The average age kids are seeing porn is now 11 (and decreasing). How can that be acceptable--because it's a multi-BILLION dollar industry. Many mayors in the nasty Chick-fil-a ordeal criticized the CEO for saying "I support the Biblical idea of marriage" and they smeared the guy  for "pushing his agenda," and saying "they do not hold the same values as [Philly, Boston, Chicago]. Yet, those cities are home to dozens of strip clubs, bars, and adult stores (what is "adult" about viewing porn?), respectively. But Sam Cathy was out of line...

I am not going to talk about the concept of rape-abortion, but I do have something to say about the can't-keep-my-legs-closed abortions. "It's a woman's body and rights." As Trip Lee says in his song "Beautiful Life" --"don't get me wrong, God agrees that women have rights. That goes for unborn women too, give 'em life." You do not have the right to decide what to do with the life of a baby. No use of shifting terms or redefining "life" can escape the fact that God knit that child together, and it is killed. I know that's heavy, but that is the heart of God, deal with him on that.

I am not going to pretend that the government making those things illegal will do much of anything, and I don't even think the government does/should legislate morality. The government won't change the heart of people. This is a church problem!

That is why it is so important for people of the church to be sanctified and set apart from the same practices of the world. What is even more evil than those things listed above is that those in the church can be engaged in the same things and still be able to preach to people. Those same people can teach Sunday school or talk about purity! Beware your demons, deal with them now or they will consume you to the point where you can carry on with your life and look me in the eyes while your house is filled with scandal. The enemy is prowling around at your door, don't give him a foothold.

The church can't wait every 4 years to have passion about something. Keep your stinking vote, we need to be advancing the kingdom of heaven by getting to the hearts of people. Instead of waiting for legislature to pass a prohibition on all things naughty, we should engage the hearts of the chain smokers, the prostitutes, the strippers, the drunks, the young women who feel like there is nowhere else to go. It should break the church's heart that women feel like there is no other option; they should know that the church will be there to carry her. Instead, all these people assume, usually rightly, that the church will wag their finger instead. We willingly give the government the church's responsibilities.

Maybe we forgot who Jesus is, and what his mission is. Get out there, church.

Answers

Our society is funny, if you haven't noticed. Even in the ultra-conservative, Bible-belt, gun-touting Midwest I can see post-modernity creeping in. Absolute truth is on its way out and subjectivity and relativity are hot. We are so driven by the desire to conquer what is unknown to us, which is in itself not a bad thing, but the quest for answers is a new form of idolatry.

Aside from the obvious irony of the statement "there's [absolutely] no [none] such thing as absolute truth" there is a big problem with the way we view truth. The problem is similar to that of daddy-issues; people have abused the truth constantly to manipulate people toward some agenda. Big surprise, people caught on and don't like to be manipulated. Just as a high school girl thinks all guys are butt holes because of several bad break-ups, so too we think truth is too good to be true. It's a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bath water. We have over adjusted in order to protect ourselves. The truth is, however, that there [absolutely] is absolute truth. People hold truth in such high esteem that they try and protect themselves by keeping the truth unattainable. That's why nobody can just walk in and tell me that there is an absolute authority who gives absolute guidelines.

The problem isn't with truth, it is with God. People don't like God. Ironically, we are so driven by finding the truth, finding answers, that they will bulldoze any truth that isn't to their liking. The problem of pain is the perfect example. Why do bad things happen to good people? God shows us a few things:
1. There are no good people. Genesis 3 and onward reveal that to us. Only Jesus is good.
2. God doesn't care if we demand answers. Who's in charge here?
3. God does as he pleases and doesn't need to explain to you or me why he does what he does.

The story of Job is totally antithetical to our post-modern desires. It would make a good movie (probably staring an emotional Will Smith) until chapter 38. God isn't held accountable for his action, he simply confronts Job in a battle of identities. "Brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you shall answer me." There is no Hollywood resolution to the problem, no shoot-em-up brawl, and no feel-good reunion. God gives Job the business, and not once does he explain his motives or heart or plans. Why?
Because he is God.
We want answers just like Job, sometimes even yelling to the sky demanding them, but God isn't concerned with answers. He is concerned with who you are and who he is. And thus Job shuts his trap.

The truth stands for us today. Like it or not, God is God. If he was accountable to us, who would he be? If we could fit him in a test tube or under a slide, who would he be? If all he was and is and does could fit in one book, an encyclopedia set even, who would he be? If he fit every one of my expectations for how the world should work, who would he be?

Maybe your problem isn't an intellectual hang-up, maybe it's a problem with submitting to a God who doesn't work on your time by your rules. That doesn't make him any less God. What kind of god works how we want him to? Remember, we don't even know what good is, how are we going to council God?

Stop hiding behind the excuse of subjective truth. Stop running from God because he doesn't satisfy your intellectual taste buds. You may find out that you know a lot less than you think. God doesn't owe us answers any more than a potter owes the clay an explanation.

Am I saying not to ask questions? Heavens no! But I am warning you to examine the heart of your questions. God doesn't demand mindless submission, but by his very nature (omniscient God) it is impossible for us to have all the answers. Take captive every thought and submit it to Christ.

He is God and we are not-- there's your answer.

Survivor

Was Jesus just a spiritual survivalist? Was he a Jewish Bear Grylls, trying to survive the perilous attacks from the religious elite (wolves)? I think we can all agree that that isn't the case, and if it were, he would have done a terrible job.

Jesus wasn't a survivalist, but it seems like many of his followers are. What I mean by that is this: we are just trying to get through the day-to-day, and hopefully not lose our faith by nightfall.

Don't pretend to be the exception; are you just trying to survive?

Jesus says, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10). The original design of man at his genesis was to have abundant life. Surviving wasn't in the vocabulary of Genesis 1 and 2. I think a lot of us don't know what it means to have life abundant.

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all." (John 6:63). Being alive has little to do with breathing, hearts beating, or brain activity. Anberlin says, "there's more to living than being alive." Are you too focused on life in the flesh to see that you have little or no life in the Spirit?

Here are some signs that you may be living as a spiritual survivalist.

Like the lawyer in Luke 10, you ask questions like "Who is my neighbor?" Luke says that the lawyer was "trying to justify himself" and so do we when we ask similar questions. These questions may be "How far is too far with my boyfriend/girlfriend?" or "Is a tithe just 10%?" Perhaps those are innocent questions, but the real question should be "How much can I save for my husband/wife?" and "God, take what you want from me." If you are asking questions to find out the minimum level of commitment/obedience that it takes to make it through, you are simply rationing obedience. You want to make sure you aren't too holy, but just holy enough to survive.

This one is for me just as much as anyone else. If you are worried about money, then you are just a survivor. In Matthew 6 Jesus tells his disciples that tomorrow has enough worries on its own. He asks them if they think they are less valuable than birds and flowers. What we concern ourselves with the most, that thing is likely the lord of our life. What we desire from our money is comfort, but more than that it is control. I don't need to rely on God if my savings are stacked. You need to questions whether money is your god. Want to know how to unchain yourself from money? Jesus provided the answer earlier in the same chapter: "But when you give to the needy..." Money is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. Survivors worry about having enough to provide for themselves.

Here is some news that may hurt your feelings, but Jesus didn't die just for you. He died for his bride, the church, and he died for the redemption of the world. Someone may have lied to you if they preached to you a totally personal faith. People who have a faith that is only personal will make an idol out of their own salvation. What I mean is that you aren't concerned with God's kingdom, with his people, or with his will; instead you are concerned with "staying saved," making yourself feel better, or maybe even personal piety. God's heart is clearly for the community, not for the lone wolves. A mark of someone with a hyper-personalized faith is the desire to make it to heaven. There is nothing wrong with longing for heaven, at all, but if that is your sole desire, then you are missing God's mission for you in the present. If you are most concerned with your salvation, then it it your lord. A survivalist is just trying to make it through without getting their hands too dirty. But let me tell you, if your hands aren't down in the grime, muck, and crap of this world, trying to pull out the lost, then your hands will still be dirty with their blood.

If you feel like you are always being beaten by the same sin, and are always having to fight harder and harder to survive, you are missing the abundant life. I have said something similar before, but we can only fight so hard, do so well, and win so many times before sin will get the better of us. Instead of a heroic fight with sin, in which we want to be the martyr, we should submit to the power of Christ and his sufficient freedom from sin. If I said I fully understand the balance of fighting and surrender, I'd be lying. However, I do know that we must cling closer to Christ than to our own sword. You don't need to hide in the shadows waiting to ambush sin, that is for survivors. You need to cling to the abundant life that Jesus has already given.

The point I want to stress is that too many Christians are thinking that they will barely make it into heaven and feel like they are constantly falling in and out of grace. That is not the kind of life God gives. I am confident in my salvation because I know I can't survive on my own. I am confident in my salvation because of the work of my savior. Because I know my future, I can live life abundantly now. Praise God for that!

We were made to thrive, not just survive.

My Heroes

I need to give thank to some people for where I am today!
At Ozark I heard someone (either Matt Proctor or Bob Russell) mention that they had a list of 10 of their heroes in the faith. I think that is a fantastic idea, and would like to take the time to thank some of the most important people in my life. I haven't been a Christian for too terribly long, nor have I been in one place for that time span, so I will give you my top 5.

Sam Landis-
I met him at another friend's house after third grade was over. We hit it off (it was easy, we live one street from each other) and have been best friends since that day. I had to have been incredibly frustrating because he worked on me for 6 years without ceasing.
He always pushed me to be more like Christ, even before I knew what that meant. He never gave up, and he brought me to Christ. He is the example of long-term faithfulness because of his persistent love and care for me. I literally owe my life to this man.
We have butted heads many a time, but that's what brothers do. I know that he would do anything for me, and I am so grateful that he never gave up.

Eric Semjenow-
We both agree: we don't remember meeting. He was the first friend I made at youth group. We have spent countless hours doing some random, stupid, crazy, fun stuff. But we have also had some of the best conversations on God and his world. I miss him like crazy, and I don't miss many people in my life more.
His faith has been so steady, and his faith truly, deeply inspires me. Unlike Sam and I, who are expected to behave, he is pursuing godliness like a savage. He inspires me more than he will ever know.
For his friendship, his brotherhood, his persistent faith, and for his genuine desire to see God's kingdom come, I am thankful!

Jim Landis-
I was just Sam's chunky friend, but Jim (and the whole Landis family for that matter) adopted me and all my weirdness. Had he not been the presiding minister, he would've been in my wedding party. He has been a spiritual older brother, but he is just brother to me.
He recognized my youthful ignorance and has pushed me to challenge my knowledge. He has made me a better student of the Word, and he is invested in my future. Thank you Jimbo!

Gary Semjenow-
What a guy. He took me in as well. I must have seemed like a street rat to him, always sitting at their dinner table. He was my first small group leader ("The Body Builders" we were called) and he forged a strong group of faithful believers (Sam, Eric, and I). He knew that I didn't have a father to teach me Christ-likeness, so he subtly adopted me as his son. I can see in his eyes that he has a genuine love for me. He has invested in my future like few others, and my heart leaps when I see him again. I'm thankful for a faith father like him.

Bill Westling-
Last, but certainly not least. In fact, I'm sure he would want to be last on this list, because he is one of the most genuinely humble men on earth. He took over as my small group leader and invested countless hours into my brothers and I. He would work hard all day, then come home late and jump immediately into discipling us. Bill and Tracey have genuine love for everyone they discipled and continue to encourage us all. Everyone who knows them has agreed that every church could use more Weslings. I praise God for Bill and the amazing heart that God has molded in him. I'm sure they are blushing as they read this...just accept it Bill, you folks are one of a kind! I am thankful for their care.

I am filled with memories and love when I think about these people. I've been blessed lavishly by these people. The part that stings is that I am in the same place as only 1 of my heroes now. I miss my heroes so incredibly much, and I cherish the times when we re-unite.

I love you all, and I thank you a million times for saving my life. God undoubtedly used you to take me away from a life that would've led to death. I praise God because of you. Thank you also to every person in between that has loved me as their own. I'm eager for the time when we all celebrate in heaven.

With Love, your son.

Just Be Yourself?

If you could explain what "cliche" means, you might use the expression "just be yourself" as an example. It is used for dating advice, making friends, father-daughter talks, dating advice...Just relax and be yourself.

What does that mean, really? If you would ask Freud he might say that yourself is a vicious monster hellbent on sexual conquest. Awkward, yes? If you asked Darwin he would likely say that you are a lucky beast that has basic needs to meet. I don't want to be like that either. Who is "yourself?"

Unfortunately, Scripture says that we are sinful if left to our own devices, and  I'm not going argue with that. So bad luck for those seeking dating advice: being yourself is terrible (horrific, awful, detestable) advice.

"Be yourself" gives lazy people a bull crap excuse to stay in sin by saying, "that's just who I am." Wrong! Don't get me wrong, God has gifted us all uniquely. What I am not saying is that we should ignore what  God has "wired" us for. However, God doesn't "wire" you to be an idiot.

And now, an example: I am naturally disposed to deflecting critique and blame away from myself. Following the advice to "be myself," I just accept my plight and continue to pretend like I am the exception to all critique and rebuke. Where does that put me? That is the nonsense that Lady Gaga promotes (hiding behind a noble cause), and not just her but our philosophy of culture. 

In KB's song "Open Letter" he recieves a letter from a girl struggling with lesbian lust do to loneliness and the line says, "they tell me to accept that I was born this way," and the statement is immediately rejected with the blunt line "that's a lie, this is lust."

"Be yourself" is harmless enough until you make that your life's motto; then it becomes an excuse to be a lazy transient who refuses to acknowledge the sin in your life.

So what should it mean? Perhaps "be yourself" would be better replaced with "be honest." If you are trying to get a date, be honest. Truth is, I'm a huge geek, who can quote a few too many lines from Lord of the Rings, and I'm about as cool as adult braces. Amy was cool with that, and now I'm married. Be honest.

Yet, some people would still use "be honest" as a weapon. I've heard sin be downplayed instantly by 4 words, "At least I'm honest." *clap clap* Bravo, you know you're being foolish and are willing to admit it, but, by George, you won"t do anything about it! Being honest has its limits as well.

The simple solution is this: be holy. Jesus says in Matthew 5 "be perfect." Compare that to the original "be yourself." Our idea sucks. God doesn't want you to come to some state of self-actualization, nor does he need you to be satisfied with your self-image (see Holy Bible for details). God's desire is holiness. self-image and self-worth are inseparably tied with God's view of us, not our view of us. That's the truth.

My goal is to be who God desires me to be, and many times that will involve not being "myself." That isn't being fake, that is the call to holiness and self-surrender. God has called us higher. Praise him that  he has!

Ex Nihilo

I just want to share something cool with you. This isn't an original thought or discovery, nonetheless let me share.

God is very cool. He made the world out of nothing. Everything we see, hear, smell, is all from him. Not only did he simply "speak" the world into being, he did it ex nihilo. Have you ever meditated on that before? We ask questions like "I understand spiders, but ticks? Seriously God?" We think that there are things we would do differently. That's noble, but you can only imagine and "fix" what God has already made!

Try to imagine a new color?
Okay, don't hurt yourself.
Try to create an entirely unique animal?
Good luck.

Anything you imagine will use recycled parts from other animals. The point is that anything we create, no matter how awesome, is only a secondhand image of what God has already made.

God is the only one who truly imagined something, created something. We have simply recycled things in a creative way. I don't have a deep spin to put on this, I am simply amazed. In the words of the great scholar and theologian Ron Burgundy, "Don't act like you're not impressed."

[Grace and peace.]

2009

Many of us think about the past and what we would change if we could. I can't change anything,  but I do know what I would change. I was a junior in high school in 2009, and I didn't stray from my faith or anything, but I would say that 2009 held many of my deepest regrets. If I could write a blunt and totally honest letter to myself, this is what it would say. Perhaps you can learn from my mistakes.

Dear self,
 It's me, well...you. I'm am writing to you on Sept. 15, 2012. I want to let you know what you are about to do. Playing football was fun, right? You're knee is going to poop out, so I hope you had fun pretending to be a tough guy. You've been a Christian for about 3 years now, and you think you've got it together. Allow me to tell you how wrong you are.

You are the equivalent of a spiritual toddler, and you are going to make some toddler-esque mistakes. You think that you have to get out of high school so that you can pursue the "real thing."You're desire is to give up some of the potentially most fruitful ministry opportunities you will ever get. While you are worried about going to Ozark and experiencing "real Christianity" you are missing everything important.

You are self-righteous, pretentious, and easily indignant and jaded. Your piety and zeal are misplaced at best. While you turn your nose up at your peers, they are dying. And your youth group? You think you're leading them, but they aren't being discipled. Your dear friends are going to hit a wall in college and many of them will fall hard. If only you could re-focus!

 Stop looking down and your classmates and show them the love of Christ! You are showing them that Jesus doesn't want anything to do with them, and that they are unworthy to be in your presence. You have to be more intentional with your friends because you are going to regret it later if you don't. If you only knew where some of your friends are headed... You are going to try and make up for lost time next year, but you will have burnt too many bridges and disconnected with too many people. You are going to toss away the time and ministry that God has granted you...I beg you, don't do it.

The good news is that the beautiful girl you are dating is going to be your wife someday. You are going to love it! However, you have to prepare yourself now. You have to stop looking at that crap on the internet, because you're going to have to tell her one day and it will break her heart. Ironic...looking down on your peers for being promiscuous, then you go and consume that same thing on the internet. You know why? Deep down you are jealous that you don't get to do the stuff they're doing, so you make believe. You are making wounds on your heart that take a long time to heal. Ask God to renew your mind, because you are a hypocrite.

Don't let anyone tell you that you are being too serious, because that is horrible advice. You aren't serious enough. You don't understand the seriousness of your actions (or lack of). You aren't just acting grown-up, don't worry what people say. You may be weird, but you aren't acting. You do need to enjoy your short years in high school more, but you do need to remember that you are fighting for lost souls, and that isn't a game.

Strengthen your friends! Sam and Eric will stay your best friends and will fight at your side, encourage them every chance you get. Their faith will inspire you, but there is no reason that you three can't do big things now! You can do a lot more than you give yourself credit for. Stop waiting to start ministry; ministry started the second you accepted Christ. Stop pretending you are a martyr and get to work.

Fight for holiness, strive for Christ-likeness, and love people because they need to see it from you! You suck at empathy, so work on that. You are "wiser" now than I will ever be, but you are only wise in your own eyes. Love is what you need; not knowledge, training, or a change in scenery...you need Jesus, man. You aren't too mature to learn. Stay humble, stay hungry.

Sincerely, You (2012).

So Beautiful

Possibly my favorite story about Jesus is from Luke 7:36-50. Simon the Pharisee invites Jesus to an exclusive party of teachers, influences, and swag doctors of the day. To use a line from Batman Begins, the room would be full of a bunch of "sycophantic suck-ups who smile through your teeth at me." This high-brow party full of yuppies and hypocrites would certainly be uncomfortable for the average joe (or Jolene) to attend. Not only would it be uncomfortable, but worthy of harsh punishment. Think about it, would you feel comfortable crashing a party full of rich people? Now imagine you are a lady of the night...careful now. An already uncomfortable situation just got infinitely more awkward.

This prostitute comes in the room with reckless abandon. This woman doesn't care who she is; all she knows is that she is desperate to be close to Jesus. She moves through the crowd of people, some of whom are likely clients, and pours out her perfume on Jesus' feet. This perfume represents her lively hood and her income. She gives up everything to be with Jesus.

She is literally raining down tears onto his feet. Feet are a lowly place in this culture, so this would be the humblest showing of submission and disregard of culture. She goes as far as to kiss his feet; as one does to a king. She is a broken woman before the Lord.

Seeing that she has soaked his feet, she needs to dry them. She doesn't have a towel. All she can do is let down her hair and dry them. This would've been beyond scandalous. A woman letting down her hair? This act is exclusive to intimate relationships, and certainly not for public viewing! Perhaps the Pharisees even thought that Jesus was sleeping with this woman. This woman's intimacy is on full display.

Down his nose Simon looked at them. "If he only knew who that is he's touching..." Jesus probably in righteous anger says simply, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Bring it on," Simon scoffs.

Jesus tells a parable to explain that someone who is forgiven much loves much, but he who is forgiven little loves little. Does that mean that people with a darker past are capable of loving Jesus more that the B.U.I.C.K.'s? That's an issue for you to work out with Jesus yourself. Perhaps what he is saying is that Simon saw himself as righteous, and self-righteousness comes in conflict with loving God. Maybe he is saying that only the broken-hearted can  love Jesus with their whole heart; only people who know they don't deserve the love of God can receive the love of God.

The next section speaks for itself:

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.

What a slap in the face. "I'm not even going to look at you. All I can see is this woman who is desperate for my love and has showered me with the humblest gifts, while you only have me here for personal gain and publicity." Which one are you?

Jesus then tells her that her sins are forgiven because of her faith, reckless worship, and scandalous humility. Don't you want to be like that? I want that so badly! 

I'm getting closer to being a daddy, and I can't help but imagine my potential daughter(s). Jesus shows this incredibly messed up woman the compassion that only an intimate father-daughter relationship could produce. I imagine Jesus lifting up her face and saying to her tear-filled and swollen eyes "I love you, daughter, and you are so beautiful to me." Imagine this woman's heart breaking immediately. 

"Your sins are forgiven."
Just like that. 

Jesus doesn't need our talent, our charisma, or our strength. To borrow a quote from Timothy Keller "all you need is need." Jesus loves us so deeply in spite of our countless mistakes and he shows us compassion. Let us not be like Simon, who used Jesus for his gain. Let us be like the unnamed woman who risked it all to be intimate with Christ.

Play Fair

One thing that bugs me about discussing God with people is that it's never really fair. Theology seems to be the only study science in which everyone is an expert. What's the deal? I want to try and be fair, set the record straight, level the playing field, etc.

Let's say I don't understand something about Psychology, maybe I don't even like something about it. Who would argue that I am equip to argue with a Psychologist that schizophrenia is made up? What would give me the right to argue with an engineer that a building is stupid because I don't like the way it looks? Ok, weak examples maybe, but the point is this: everyone pretends to be an expert in theology, but not in other studies. Why? Glad you asked.

The cynic, ever-clever, would say something like, "The building and the schizo are real." Here is the presuppositional problem: Science studies the observables> God isn't observable> God is unscientific> faith is contrary to science> religion is for dummies. If religion is for dummies, then any dummy can do it. Faith, after all, is made up so I can make up whatever I want about God! That makes total sense...except I don't make up my religion, God is infinitely bigger than our understanding, and I don't get to call the shots.

The average atheist spends their whole life believing what their teachers tell them and suppressing the possibility of a God, all the while getting further from honest exploration of life. It would take an extremely honest agnostic to actually study the Bible and give it a chance. If we are honest, not many of us are willing to give Origin of Species much of a chance (although it does collect dust on my shelf alongside Reason for God by Timothy Keller). So let's be honest with each other!

If you were honest: -You are out of your range of expertise. "But I've read the whole Bible; five times even." Wow *clap clap* you got it down then. Don't be absurd, there are people devoting their entire lives to the study of the Bible, don't sell it short of a legitimate science.
-God isn't appealing to you. I mean, he makes you do stuff sometimes! God is hard to believe in because we can't fit him under the slide or in a test tube. Sometime you don't want to believe.
- You haven't been fighting fair. You live out the fallacy that "God is illogical, therefore he doesn't exist." You know better than that.
- You may be more afraid of the consequences of being wrong. You know the stakes if you are wrong, and that's a lot to lose if you've been wrong.

If I am being honest: -There are many things I don't know about God. That doesn't scare me. What kind of God would I serve if I could know everything about him? (answer: small god).
- There are even things I don't like about God. I don't like that he ordered people killed in the OT, I don't like that he allows injustice, and I don't like that he is in charge sometimes. But then I remember that he is God, and that's not a cop-out answer, it's reverence and fear.
- I can't empirically prove God. That used to bug me more, but I know more than ever that God is at work and that he is more real than anything.
- I have been arrogant. The reason you don't believe may be because people like myself treat you like you're an ignorant fool or like you aren't allowed to ask question. Forgive me!
- Many of my brothers don't know why they believe and couldn't articulate it if they did. There has been an atmosphere of Don't ask Don't tell around the church. That's played-out; ask away! Email me, Facebook, Tweet, text, snailmail, telegraph (maybe not), just ask!

For Christians: You will never argue someone to Christ. You are working on two totally different intellectual playing fields. The reality is that the heart has to break first, and who can do that? Be prepared to answer questions that someone might have, but don't forget that it is God who can change the human heart.

I hope I was helpful. Again, feel free to ask me any question you have and I may answer "I don't know" but I'm not afraid of your questions and neither is God. Faith without question is blind, and that's not God's desire. Let's all agree to play fair now.

Sin by Any Other Name

I was already going to blog about homosexuality and all the hype about gay marriage/union/rights, and then came along the whole Chick-fil-a scandal. First, I would like to be perfectly clear that I don't feel hatred or even anger toward homosexuals, nor am I homophobic. I understand that homosexuals are, in fact, people too. I realize that they contribute to society, they work hard, and most are probably good and loving people. I am opposed to gay marriage, but I'm not more opposed to it than any other sins.

I have to make it clear that homosexuality (the act of it) is sinful (1  Cor. 6:9-10, Rom 1:24-27, Lev 18:22). That isn't something that I see reasonable to argue about. Whether there is a "gay gene" or not, I'm not the expert, but it seems as though some are much more susceptible to being attracted to the same sex. Is that wrong? I think it is clear that only lusting or physically engaging someone homosexually is the sin, not the attraction. It is the same as me liking woman, but not lusting after them. The thing is though, God's design is not gay marriage. You can be mad at me for that, but it's not me you need to fight. I would also just like to say this: I see that it would be incredible hard if someone were to tell me that it was wrong for me to love my wife. I understand why there is such an uproarious defense. However, if God is telling me that the way I live is wrong, I have no choice to respond to this God.

I think there is a much bigger, over-arching problem than simply gay marriage. There is a lack of love, and a lack of communication. Both sides won't admit to doing wrong, both sides are unwilling to listen, and both sides aren't showing much love to each other. So allow me to do my miniscule part to clear the air.

First, Chick-fil-a. I think the whole situation is idiotic. Just because they support the Biblical idea of family, doesn't mean they hate gay folks. I certainly don't hate gay people, you would be crazy to assume that. This has been blown way out of proportion and doesn't even deserve this paragraph! Cities have the right to rid themselves of whatever business they want, and so does every individual. They have the right, but not a good reason. It's slightly ironic that Christians are most often deemed "hypocrites" when this is one of the most hypocritical moves I've seen from the secular world. It is just as hateful to try and shut out Chick-fil-a for its beliefs. Chicago, Boston, Philly, etc. want to exclude CFA, but CFA is not excluding anyone by stating their beliefs. Seems silly. I am sick of hearing about it, and I'm not going to give it any more attention.

One thing that proponents of same-sex marriage are claiming is that by not allowing them to get married, they are being treated in a sub-human way with sub-human rights. That sounds like a cry from a highly emotional teenage girl. It seems incredibly fallacious to me... It may surprise you, but I'm actually not sure if I care whether gay marriage is legalized. It doesn't make it any less/more sinful, it doesn't change much of the way gay people live together (there's plenty of heterosexual couples who disregard marriage and live in sin). The only argument I see against gay marriage is that it is opening the flood gate to allowing all other sorts of sinful laws. I know we should take a stand against immorality in our country and be an impacting effect on the people here, but we have lost power in the government. We have several rich, carefree, detached politicians who pass laws without asking us. Maybe our impact is more effective person-to-person? I don't have a good answer, but I'm not sure it changes much.

I think that we are a little too affixed on the issue of gay marriage, and have made homosexuals seems like extraordinary outcasts in the Christian community. It seems like almost every kind of sin/sinner is more accepted than the homosexual. For whatever reason, we have made homosexuality the line in the sand. I don't know why, but I do want to apologize to any and every gay person who has ever been truly victimized by the church. I won't apologize for calling sin "sin." Sin by any other name is still sin. The apology is for treating you all so poorly. I apologize for making several jokes in my life about gay people, and I apologized for the times when I have shown any hate toward you. You deserve better treatment from those under Christ (and myself) there is no doubt about that.There are 5 verses in the Bible dealing with homosexuality, but over 2000 dealing with giving to the poor. Yet some of the greediest people out there are church goers like me. I apologize for our sometimes twisted priorities and focuses. We need, I need, forgiveness.

Something that I can't emphasize enough is that sin is the same in God's eyes. My sin, your sin, "fag lovers," and Phelps alike- we are all sinners. What we deserve for our sin is death. God is totally holy and perfect, and because of that we are unworthy to be in his presence. I have darkness in my past that is as sinful as anyone else's on Earth. But God, in his incredible kindness, has given us Jesus to make us holy and worthy in God's sight. That's offered to anyone; all you need is need.

So what's the solution? I don't have a 12 step program for rehabbing homosexuals, or for any other sins you deal with. I didn't pull myself out of my own sins. You need Jesus...plain and simple. Cry out to God. The verse following 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified,  you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." How great is that? I was once greedy, idolatrous, and sexually immoral, but I have been washed! Praise God that he is in the business of changing people.

I hope I have shown the love of Jesus to you and not left you without something to think about. I just hope that we could learn to love better and that we can make a difference in the world with our love. Anger won't solve our problems, and the government can't bail us out of our depravity, so let's try something different. I don't have to hold up, I just want to say that God love ya.

Itching Ears

I hear about a lot of people who are breaking away from the traditional idea of church. Bono, for example, doesn't really agree with sticking with one church, but instead drifts around and takes his own spiritual journey. That doesn't make him a bad person, and of course "the church" is certainly more than one building, congregation, or denomination. However, this is another side-effect of over-personalizing faith. Faith is consistently referred to as a personal or private matter. Jesus (and any Christian who has ever read the Bible) should tell you that faith is anything but private.

People everywhere are beginning to tune-in to t.v. preachers, online sermons, and do anything they can to stay out of a church building. What's wrong with that? They are hearing the Gospel aren't they? Yes, and that's certainly good, but what is the church for? The church isn't only to hear the Gospel is it?

One of the most important functions of the church is to be a community of faith, and one of the most important functions of community is accountability. I understand that I sound negative quite often, but almost anyone would agree that accountability is a problem everywhere. It isn't spoken about enough, isn't encouraged as strongly as it should be, and it isn't practiced the way it has to be.

Accountability is critical, absolutely vital to the church. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Hebrews 3:13, and Hebrews 10:25. Our purpose in to encourage, strengthen, and build up. How can you build somebody up if their foundation is crumbling already? We want to ignore other people's flaws because we are afraid to hurt feelings, to push them away, or bring them down further. Or is it because we know we would have to come face-to-face with our own shortcomings?

Accountability is not: meeting at Starbucks every Tuesday and talking about how you both have a porn addiction and feeling bummed about it for five seconds. Accountability needs to be more painful than that. I have been blessed to have two friends who were willing to ask me how I was doing and what I was failing at. They have had a resounding effect on my life. I knew that I could tell either of them what I was struggling with, no matter how dark, and they would pull me up out of it. The pain was strong, but worth it for becoming more like Jesus.

James 5:16 is a bit overlooked in the Protestant church. We would prefer to just keep it between us and God. That is because we have it backwards. There is something more immediate and shameful about confessing your sins to other people; it involves a great deal of trust. We see that God is forgiving and we know that he won't tell anyone else, so we feel safer. But shouldn't we be more ashamed to tell the faithful, holy, and still-wrathful God that we have rebelled against him and put ourselves in his place? Regardless, it is important for us to confess our sins to one another. What's the problem, then?

2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." Is that not an exact description of some of our churches? When Joel Osteen is the preacher of the biggest church in our country, we have a problem. 

The truth is- we don't want the truth. That is obvious in the way we function day-to-day. Marriages fail, families crumble, churches die, Christians fizzle out, and the truth is suppressed because we don't want it. I don't want to hear that I am wrong, so you must be wrong. You don't know what I've been through, so how can you tell me that what I'm doing is wrong? You don't know how I grew up, who are you to judge? "Judge not, lest ye be judged!" We've become futile in our thinking and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. 

What you want to hear is not usually what you need to hear. It's like lying on a calorie counter- you may have good looking stats (what you want to see), but still be getting fat (what you need to see). It does you no good to ignore reality. It all comes back to humility...you can't be held accountable if you are proud, and you can't be humble unless you realize the wickedness that we have all committed against God. If you needed to read this, don't ignore it. We need to expose our darkness and snitch on ourselves. Get to church and get accountable.

Beware of your itching ears, they will betray you. They will lead you off the narrow path. What do you want: to keep believing the load of bull you feed yourself to avoid having to make tough decisions, or do you want to live forever? You can keep the lies, I choose to live with my eyes open.

No Regret

I am, once again, inspired by a song by Lecrae... I'm not too embarrassed because, really, hardly any of my blogs aren't inspired by someone who is much wiser than myself. In this song Lecrae reflects on the life that he has walked away from while the chorus (sang by Suzy Rock) asks "Was it worth it- the hurt, and the pain, and the life I chose?" Quickly it is answered with "I'll do it again in a heartbeat."

I heard a question once, I don't know where from, but the question was something like "If there was no eternal life, would you still follow Jesus?" So, what would you say? I think the way that we answer that question is very telling. If you answer no, then do you believe that your life (the finite one)  is none the better for following Jesus? That is for you to wonder, but I want to share with you why I would still say "I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Thankfully there is eternal life awaiting me, and I've never been more sure of that then now. It is interesting to ask the question above, though. I don't want to contradict 1 Corinthians 15, because I do know that we will raise with Christ. The hypothetical question isn't really the important part, because it is just that- hypothetical. I simply want to share with you the joy of my life in Christ.

I was not a Christian until high school, so I can remember life before God. As I've said before, that is somewhat of a humbling privilege. I don't remember a whole lot because middle schoolers aren't the most contemplative bunch, but I do know the difference in my life. 

If you knew me at all, you would know that I was awkward physically, socially, and emotionally. I dealt with a little bit of depression, at times even wondering what difference my existence even made. My brother in Christ, Sam Landis, was instrumental in leading me to Christ- not just planting a seed, but growing it as well. I'm sure if you asked him he would, rightfully, tell you that is was all God. God used a young man's faithfulness to draw me in, and I changed...a lot!

People who knew me well enough before knew that I cursed like a sailor, wanted a girlfriend more desperately than I wanted God, and had no driving purpose in my life. God has changed me so much that I don't even recognize it at times. For example: the person I am now would only be the wildest day-dream of myself 4 years ago. The things I struggled with back then are silly to me know, but that is without a doubt only by the grace of God working in me.

What I Missed: I left behind some opportunities by accepting Christ. No it wasn't some kind of sports scholarship (which some folks are more than happy to tell you about) but I did miss out on some things that the world sees as valuable. I left behind the typical idea of what high school is all about: getting drunk, getting high, stacking money, staying fly, living up the players life (another Lecrae reference). In all honesty, I was probably far too gawky and bashful to pull any girls, but I wanted nothing more than to get chicks. That would probably be the driving force behind my life had I not encountered Christ. The funny thing is, a lot of guys I know still live for that.

What I Gained: I could certainly talk about this for much longer than what I missed, and I will probably write a whole 'nother post about it. I have been thinking about this post for days and thinking about how my cup overflows with joy! As I sit here, I am saved, sanctified, joyful (not just happy), and hopeful because I know that someday I will be glorified with Jesus! Don't mistake all this joy for being a therapeutic remedy for my once melancholy life; I have counted the cost and have made the informed, intelligent decision to follow Christ. Now that I have, I can tell you confidently that what I "gave up" to follow Christ is infinitesimally trivial compared to the joy that I have now, and the greater joy that awaits me. I don't follow Jesus because he makes my life better, and sometimes my life is a lot harder because I do, but my life is better because I have decided to follow him. Any hardships I face are met with the promise of James 1, Romans 8, and Matthew 6. I used to deal with anxiety, but I have peace with God. I used to desperately need the approval of people, but now I have been called a co-heir with Christ. I used to want money and a big house, now I am content with whatever my circumstance. There is nothing I'd rather be doing than following the will of God.

Please don't mistake my words for arrogance because I wouldn't have any of this peace apart from God. I have made mistakes and will surely make more, and there are some things that I would take back if I could. But if you ask me about following Jesus at the end of my life, "Was it worth it- the hurt, and the pain, and the life [you] chose?" I'd do it again in a heartbeat. When I die I'll have no regret.

Can you say the same?

re·pent

[ri-pent]: to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better

This is the final post of a series of definitions that I think are important for Christians to understand clearer. This is a word that I think is both misunderstood and under-used. Repentance reliant on the former word, humility, and is a vital part of Christian faith. Repentance is the beginning of our very lives as Christians. What does it mean to repent?

A lot of people would probably define it as feeling sorry for a wrong they've done, but not just sorry, really sorry. That's not all there is to it. That definition is a result of over-personalizing salvation (like the idea that all we need to do to accept Jesus is say a special little prayer and accept him as our "personal savior"). Jesus is very much a personal God who wants to be personally intimate with you, but he isn't only my God. His personality isn't based on how I, or anyone else, perceives him, but rather it's based on who he actually is. Obsessive, selfish, custom designed faith leads to the American idea of faith being "personal and private." The real Jesus, the Biblical one, does not define repentance as being really sorry. I should probably get to the point, huh?

Repentance starts with feeling sorrow; conviction is obviously the first step. However, repentance calls for a reversal, not just a tap on the brakes. To be repentant means to take a change in direction. You may have heard the analogy that the Christian walk is like being on a tread mill- you can go forward, but it's hard, and if you stop moving you are actually going backwards. That's the truth. Sinning is like running backwards on the treadmill- you will eventually fall off the back! If all you do is feel "really sorry," it is like standing still on the treadmill; you're still going backwards. Repentance is realizing that you're an idiot and that you've been running the wrong way, and now it's time to turn around and run the way that the treadmill is designed for. 

Feeling sorry for what you've done isn't always hard. I've seen a lot of people be "sorry," but really it's just because they are sorry that they are in a bad spot. Feeling sorry is sometimes used as an excuse to not have to live with the consequences. I've seen too many people hide behind the fact that they feel bad, so they are off the hook. Repentance goes so much deeper than that! 

Repentance is scattered throughout the Bible as a command to turn back toward God and away from their idols. If you don't understand the severity of sin (being idol worship at its core (the idol being yourself)) I encourage you to read an older post I wrote. 

My favorite picture of repentance is from Acts 2: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized..." Can you feel the desperation of the people as they groaned "what shall we do?" The first attitude of repentance is humility! You have to realize your brokenness, helplessness, and desperate need to be saved from yourself. The problem is, I don't think that many of us feel like we are desperate for anything. Our pride tells us that we don't need forgiveness, just look at any argument you've ever been in.

One thing I've learned to be 100% true in my short walk with Christ is this: you can feel sorry for sin as much as you want, but until you legitimately hate sin with all your being, you will never get away from it. I remember feeling sorry many times, but repentance came when it finally clicked that sin was killing me, and I needed to hate it and turn to Jesus. That sounds so simple, but I'd be willing to bet that you and I haven't examined ourselves enough to see the rotten stuff inside of us that we need to turn from. 

Something I can't stress enough is that you don't have the power to bring yourself to repentance (see post). Read Romans 2:3-5 and see that it is God's kindness that will take you there. 

As we are approaching a time of supreme pride in our country, don't forget that what we need way more than freedom or independence is a repentant heart. As Christians we should ask God to turn our hearts back to him, for our country to do the same, and for the rest of the world also.

Conviction of sin is important, but if it is without repentance we are no better off than any pagan. Which way are you walking? No matter how long you've been walking backwards, you can turn around and receive the same reward that I am promised in Christ. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.