Antichrist?

We in the 21st century Church often look back on the first century church as if it was "the good ole days". We read about the early church in the books of Acts and the letters of Paul and assume it was this loving, problem-free community of believers who "had everything in common, selling property and possessions to give to anyone who had need" (Acts 2:44-45). We imagine them huddled around a fire together holding hands and singing "Kum Ba Yah."

But the early church was wrought with challenges, some of the most notable being the dangerous sects and cults which developed. One of these cults in particular, the "Gnostics", began teaching that Jesus didn't actually come to earth in bodily form, but only as a spirit, or ghost. The reasoning behind this was that they believed everything physical that we can see with our eyes is evil (such as the human body), and everything invisible that we cannot see is good (such as the human spirit & soul). Therefore, they thought Jesus couldn't have actually had a real body because that would have made Him evil, and He certainly wasn't evil.

This teaching was particularly dangerous because if Jesus didn't have a real human body, He couldn't have actually spilled His blood on the cross, and it's only by His shed blood that we are forgiven, for "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22). As crazy as this teaching sounds, it was a major deception in the early church and led many people astray.

Those in the cult of gnosticism were known as being "antichrist" because they were "against" Christ or "ANTI" Jesus coming in the flesh.

The disciple John was very close with Jesus. In his gospel, John referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. John was also the disciple who laid his head upon Jesus' chest at the last supper, and the disciple who stood at the foot of the cross while Jesus was being crucified, watching his blood being spilled out. Before His death Jesus even told John to watch over his mother Mary. It's safe to say that John was probably closer to Jesus than anyone. And, John definitely knew that Jesus had a physical body. He laid his head on Jesus' chest for crying out loud.

So, John addressed this heresy head on. John wrote four books in the New Testament: the gospel of John along with three letters. In the first two of his letters, we read about this false teaching called "antichrist." These short two letters are the only places in the Bible which refer to "antichrist."

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." - 2 John 1:7

"This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." - 1 John 4:2-3 [Note that "antichrist" was already in the world in the first century]

"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.." - 1 John 2:18 [Also note that according to John, the "last hour" was in the first century]

"Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son." - 1 John 2:22

The above verses from the letters of John are the ONLY places the word "antichrist" is used in the Bible and each time he is addressing the false teaching of gnosticism. Interestingly, the word "antichrist" is nowhere in the book of Revelation.

"Antichrist" is nothing more than the first century cult of gnosticism along with those to taught it. In spite of what we might read in the fictional book series "Left Behind", Hollywood movies and many well-intentioned pastors today, gnosticism (antichrist) is 2000 years behind us.

What a tangled web we have weaved since then. Because we have distanced ourselves so far from the historical context, we have made the first century cult of antichrist about a future Satan-inspired one world ruler. It's not exactly what John had in mind.

There is often a big difference between popular Christianity and historical Christianity. We need not fear a future world leader named "antichrist". When Jesus said He now has all authority in heaven and on earth, He meant it.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have HEARD, which we have SEEN with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have TOUCHED—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." - 1 John 1:1

Will You Marry Me?

In the ancient world when two kings from distant lands came together and wanted to form a covenant, such as a covenant of peace or a covenant of trade, they would write the terms of the covenant on two copies of stone tablets, which were essentially their "rules of engagement". Each side of the tablets would contain writing. So, for example, tablet #1 would have rules 1-5 written on the front, and rules 6-10 written on the back. Then, an identical copy of this was made on another tablet.

Each king would take their copy of the covenant and place it in a wooden box, which was referred to as an "ark". This was their "Ark of the Covenant".

Now, each king would typically have their own god who they worshiped. So, king #1 would take his ark back to the temple of his god, and king #2 would take his ark back to the temple of his god. So, there was a copy of the covenant in each of their temples. The idea was that their respective gods would punish them if they violated the rules of the covenant. King #1 would essentially say, "If I violate any of the rules of our covenant, my god will punish me", and King #2 would do the same.

In the case of the ancient Israelites, the Lord first offered them a direct relationship with no rules, asking them to be "a kingdom of priests" (Ex. 19:6). This was God's "Plan A". However, because they were afraid of direct relationship they asked for a rule-based covenant like the Egyptians and all the other pagan people around them (Deut. 5:27), after all, they had just spent 400 years in Egyptian slavery and it was all they knew. Because of their fear they asked to be servants instead of children - they asked for religion instead of relationship. "We don't want to be that close to you. Just tell us what to do." This was the "Plan B" chosen by the people.

This put the Lord in a very uncomfortable position.

Now, because Love must honor the human will, He was forced to be both their covenant partner AND the God who would punish them if they broke any of the covenant rules. So, God wrote two copies of His ten commandments, which were the terms of the covenant. Because the Lord doesn't have a "god" over Him, both copies were given to the people and placed in their Ark of the Covenant and then into the Jewish temple. These were easy commandments which could be summarized as "love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself". It was the bare minimum, God made it easy, for He did not want to be forced to punish them. Nevertheless, by the time Moses descended the mountain the people were already worshiping a false god.

As their covenant partner, the Lord was very grieved. As their God, He was forced to punish them as their God. This roller coaster of blessing and punishment continued for about 1500 years. It was terrible. Both God and the people looked forward to the day when they might get the opportunity to get back to "Plan A" - when they could be a "kingdom of priests" with direct relationship with the Lord.

There was only one way back to Plan A.

See, covenants are only in force as long as both parties are alive. "For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it" (Heb. 9:16). So, for this rule based covenant of death to be abolished, one of the covenant partners had to die - similar to what we see in a marriage covenant today, "Till death do us part". It was either going to be the people or God. So, God had a choice to make. Who was going to die?

God took on flesh and became a human being in order to die and put an end to the old covenant and establish a new covenant of life. Jesus said, "I came that they might have LIFE." We often say that Jesus died for our sins which is true in a sense, but what He really died for was what sin was doing to us. "The wages of sin is death." Sin was killing us. It's not about punishment, it's about restoration. God doesn't punish the record of our wrongdoing, He cancels it (Col. 2:14).

Jesus didn't die to appease the "wrath" of an angry Father, He died to appease the "wrath" of sin. Jesus died to "set us free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2). He died to abolish the old covenant and create a new one.

Back to "Plan A".

God's no longer interested in you not keeping the rules, because that covenant is abolished. God died, the covenant ended. It is now completely "obsolete" (Heb. 8:13). We are now free to re-marry Him all over again, under far better terms. Marriage only has one law. LOVE. "Love each other as I have loved you" (John 15:12).

And someone is proposing right now.

The New Covenant is a unique covenant, in that it is between God and God (the Father and Jesus). We have nothing to do with it. Thankfully, it's not based on our performance. We can "rest" in the finished work of Jesus Christ - our new groom.

The only question remaining is, Will you marry into the family or not? If you do, everything that is His is yours, and everything that is yours is His.

"Will you marry me"? is the question He is asking the world.

What is your answer?

Cross Over the Jordan

The LORD led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, through the Red Sea and into the freedom of His presence and provision. For 40 years they wandered aimlessly through the desert learning to trust His guidance as they followed the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. The cloud shaded them from the daytime heat, the fire warmed them during the nighttime cold. "Manna" appeared on the ground every morning - bread crumbs from heaven to satisfy their hunger. Water flowed from rocks for their thirst. Throughout the 40 years their "clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on their feet" (Deut. 29:5). They were cared for just as we care for our children today with shelter, food, drink, clothing and the security of our presence. This was their "childhood". The people looked forward to inheriting what was promised to them - the Promised Land - which was a land which was exceedingly beautiful - "a land flowing with milk and honey". After the 40 years they were told to pass over the waters of the Jordan River and enter the land.

When they did, they experienced a complete shift and change.

Adolescence.

Instead of passively living in the LORD's mercy and grace and being sustained by Him with food and provisions, they now had to partner with Him in all that they did. They had to actually *occupy* and *take* the land, which required action on their part. They had to cross over the Jordan and shed one way of thinking (passive slaves) for another (proactive sons) because the wilderness paradigm no longer applied. They were "growing up into Him". They were to change their thinking [repent=rethink] by taking hold of their promised possession by *occupying* and *taking* their rightful inheritance, driving out the squatters - the trespassers - the enemy - by force.

This was a shadow of things to come.

Just as the Israelites were delivered from slavery by following the LORD through the Red Sea, we are first delivered by following Him through the waters of baptism. This is what it means to be "born of water."

"Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." - Jesus

But Jesus said we also must be "born of the Spirit". This is the second body of water to cross - the Jordan River - for the Jordan is what transforms slaves into sons. From "takers" into "makers". The Jordan is what separates wilderness wandering from the Kingdom of God. From renters to owners. This is what it means to be "born of the Spirit". Following the Spirit of God away from the perceived safety and security of today's wilderness toward the hope and future of tomorrow's promise. Toward a land "flowing with milk and honey". Toward your own personal Promised Land. First, through the still waters of the sea. Then, through the rushing waters of the river.

Are you a child of God who feels as if you are wandering aimlessly in the wilderness? Do you love the Lord yet feel like there must be more than water and manna? You may need to cross over the Jordan. Ask God to lead you through the second baptism in rivers of living water. Cross over the Jordan and into your inheritance. Be filled with the "Spirit of sonship". You may need to risk the manna of today in order to receive the honey of tomorrow. New wine requires new wineskins.

May we grow up into Him in all that we are. May we leave the bread crumbs of our childhood for the steak of tomorrow. May we be born of water *and* the Spirit.

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." - Romans 8:15

Fruit

No person or denomination has perfect theology. Not me, not you, not anyone. Ironically, the quicker we let go of the illusion of knowledge the quicker we stumble into the Truth. There were two trees in the Garden - Knowledge and LIFE. One caused death, one brought life. One does stuff. One is stuff.

Human beings have this insatiable desire to side with those who believe the same way they do - the same way their parents did - their grandparents did, etc. It starts as cliques in grade school and ends with what we call religion. Our desire to feel included and "right" far outweighs an honest, childlike curiosity for the Truth. The real Truth. Even if the bridge to the other side is a little shakey. Even if we have to go alone. Regardless of the implications. Like orphans searching their whole lives for their birth parents, regardless of what they might find out about them. Faith is the essence of things hoped for.

I have talked with many people - Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Charismatics, Baptists - who are simply showing up on Sunday mornings because their parents did, and their parents did, etc. They believe in God, they're pretty sure He's Jesus and they are simply "doing" the only thing they know to do.

Go to church.

But it needs to be a Lutheran church. A Catholic church. A Methodist church. Because I would never betray the dead faith of my grandparents. That is, if it works out schedule-wise. For sure on Christmas and Easter though.

Theology is important but Jesus didn't say we will recognize good doctrine by how it aligns with our statement of faith, He said we will recognize it by its fruit. That is, it's result. Is the teaching causing real life change and pointing people to the King of kings? If so, eat and be filled. If no one in your church pew is dramatically changing for the better, throw it out and leave.

Seriously. If you're not excited about God you haven't been properly introduced.

We must not judge. We must not be offended. Look at the fruit. A person could have been transformed from a drug-addicted prostitute into a missionary in Africa. If their doctrine seems a little "off" to us, we need to take a good look at our own. Take God out of your denominational box. He was never there anyway.

You cannot cage a Lion like this.

B E H O L D

Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian denominations? Can’t God write an easier to understand book? If the Bible is the authoritative, inerrant and inspired Word of God how on earth do we all arrive at so many interpretations? What’s worse is that the people within each denomination each believe they have the “correct” interpretation, so we all separate ourselves from the others in order to not let any “false” doctrine creep in. We each believe we have it all figured out (or at least we believe our pastor does and we really “like” him) so we box ourselves into a building and label it “Lutheran” or “Catholic” or “Baptist” or “Methodist”. Or, if we don’t want our particular label to hinder any newcomers we will get ‘seeker friendly’ and swap out our “Baptist Church” sign with a “Community Church” sign while holding to the same doctrinal exclusivity. 

But if we really believe we built our tree-fort on the correct branch, what are we so afraid of? Do we really need to agree on everything in order to get along? If two people who confess Jesus Christ as Lord disagree on the meaning of God’s sovereignty is it really time to build a separate building? What happened to us? What happened to “Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged” (1 Cor. 13:4-5)? Somewhere along the line we started believing that salvation is about correct doctrine rather than being reconciled and restored to the God of love. Somewhere along the line we started worshiping the “Father, Son & Holy Bible" (my interpretation, of course) instead of worshipping the “Father, Son & Holy Spirit.”

There’s a peculiar story in the book of Genesis about Jacob working for his deceitful father-in-law, Laban. Jacob had worked for Laban for many years and had been cheated by him over and over again. Jacob wanted to get away from him and start his own family somewhere else, so he made a deal with Laban for a portion of the flocks to be given to him for his many years of work. This would allow him to leave and start a new life with something of his own. They agreed that Jacob would take all the spotted and speckled sheep and goats as his wages. Laban agreed to the terms, knowing that spotted and speckled lambs were considered flawed. This is when the story gets really weird:

“Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted.” – Genesis 30:37-39

As the animals came to drink, they would see spotted, speckled and streaked branches at their watering holes, which also happened to be their breeding ground. As they came to the water, drank and bred, they did so while looking upon the spotted branches. The result was that they reproduced spotted and speckled offspring. And it was all because of what they saw when they came to the water.

We read that the Word of God is referred to as “water” in the Bible (see Eph. 5:25-27; Heb. 10:22). Not only that, but the Word of God is also referred to as a “mirror” (see James 1:23).  What’s even more interesting is that way back in the book of Exodus the Israelites were commanded to make the washbasin for the Temple out of “bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle” (Ex. 38:8). The Word of God cleanses us in much the same way as the washbasin made of mirrors cleansed the Old Testament priests before they went into the presence of the Lord. They were to examine themselves in the mirror and then cleanse themselves of what they "brought along".

So, we see that the Word of God is like cleansing water which reflects and reproduces what we bring to it. When we come to the watering trough of God’s Word, we will reproduce what we see. Not only that, but whatever our heart is set on when we come to the Bible is what we see in the Bible. 

As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man. – Proverbs 27:19

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23

The Bible will reproduce whatever is in our hearts when we come to it. Are we coming to the watering trough with too much "baggage" - with our minds made up about a particular doctrine or way of thinking? If so, the Bible will reflect it back to us and reproduce more of what we see. This will do nothing more than convince us to continue justifying our own “interpretation” – to draw even deeper lines of separation between us and others. This is the “knowledge which puffs up instead of builds up” (1 Cor. 8:1).

Or, are we coming to the watering trough with a humble, open and hungry heart? If so, we are a soft piece of clay in the hands of the Potter – a blank canvas for the Holy Spirit to splash with revelatory color and a kind of “knowing” which isn’t about doctrine, but about a Person. Love Himself.

So, getting back to this issue of all the denominations. I believe the story about the spotted & speckled sheep teaches us that we should concern ourselves less with bringing interpretive methods and doctrines to the Bible and concern ourselves more with the attitude of our hearts when we come to the Bible – the watering trough made of mirrors. What we bring to the Bible determines much of what we see in the Bible – good or bad. The Word of God is a “mirror” which is “living and active” (Heb. 4:12). Jesus never told us to “be right” about the Bible (which is a book). He told us to become the Word of God (who is a Person). What we "know" often keeps us from who we need to know.

May we set aside all the labels we have for each other and come to the pure water of the Word. May we set down what we think we "know" and come to the watering trough with humble and hungry hearts. Like little children may we bend our knees, open our hearts and be filled with the love and revelation of the Word Himself, Jesus Christ.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8

He Just Wants You Back

Anyone who has lost track of their child, even for a few seconds, knows what it feels like to have waves of panic well up from within the deepest parts of their soul. At that point it doesn't matter what your child did to get lost - it doesn't matter - you just want your child back and you will do ANYTHING to find them. You will lose all composure and YELL and SCREAM for them. You will run around the block, you will approach complete strangers and ask for help - you will do anything. You just want them back in your presence. You just want to make sure they are safe. No one knows them like you do.

When you finally find them you run to them with open arms - you throw your arms around them and squeeze them tight saying, "Where did you go! Why did you leave me!" Nothing is stronger than the parent-child bond.

God is like that too.

You are God's child. He loves you so much. It really doesn't matter where you ran off to or what you have been doing. Seriously. It doesn't matter.

He just wants you back.

Did you know He will hug and kiss you before you even say sorry?

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." - Jesus describing His Father in Luke 15:20

God is no longer interested in your sin.

He is interested in YOU.

Our Father's Children

As a father nothing, and I mean nothing, is more annoying than listening to my kids fight and bicker with each other. It literally drives me insane. Anyone else feel this way?

But why? Why does this make me so crazy? As parents we often find ourselves saying and doing crazy things as a result of our kids fighting. The other day I just stood there yelling unintelligible words [I think it was the word STOP mixed with the word NOW = SOW!!] as my 7 year old boys were talking down to my 2 year old daughter. The argument was essentially a battle of 7 year old logic versus 2 year old logic, which as a parent would actually be funny if it wasn't so annoying and accompanied by the hell-raising whining noises coming from their mouths. My boys had their Pokemon cards in neat little stacks, and my two year old daughter felt the need to swat them down. Cue the hell-raising whining noises followed by yelling and pushing with a sobbing 2 year old as a cherry on top, unable to figure out why her brothers don't like card swatting.

I got to thinking about that yesterday and came up with some ideas about why it makes me so crazy...

I believe it bugs me so much because they are my children and there is no easy way out of the situation. It requires me to get involved and problem-solve. It makes me feel like a failure as their father. I don't want to have to get involved. I want them to just know how to get along based on the lessons I provided them in the past. After all they are my children, not my slaves - I shouldn't need to command them around. I feel like I shouldn't need to give them rules to live by - they should just know by now, shouldn't they?

Maybe not. They are just kids after all. I guess that's what parenting is all about - showing them the right way and praying that it will eventually make sense to them - that eventually by the time they leave the confines of my protection that my desires for their good - for their best lives - will finally become their desires.

"The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father." - Galatians 4:2

As parents we make the rules because without them our "heirs" will die. They just don't get it - as my wife Susie keeps reminding me their little minds don't yet have the capacity to understand right and wrong - the knowledge of good and evil. They must be told. It must be demonstrated for them.

Repeatedly.

That's why it bugs me so much. I want them to get it. Like, now.

Don't get me wrong, my kids are growing up far too quickly - before my very eyes. But sometimes I want them to learn faster. I want them to remain children but operate with my will & desires so they stop fighting with each other and start helping each other. Sometimes I wish I could just impart my will & desires - my Spirit - within them so they would "get it" yet still remain my little children, intimate with me, under my roof, under my care – yet with my spirit of wisdom so they walk alongside me as sons instead of behind me like slaves.

"And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father." For the Helper, the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to." - Galatians 4:7; John 14:26

I think all our fighting and bickering frustrated God too. I think it frustrated Him to the point of death. It frustrated Him for the same reason it frustrates us. After all, we are made in His likeness. Relational. Loving. Nurturing - with all the joy and frustrations that go along with it. He will never leave us or forsake us, but we sure grieve Him from time to time.

We all pay a steep price for our children - for them to "get it". Thousands of hours requiring truckloads of patience. Buckets of blood, sweat and tears are the prerequisite for even a chance at success.

  
The joy of parenting is watching as our kids finally start to get it. It warms our heart like beaming rays of sunshine as they willingly cling to the essence – the spirit – of what we taught them.

  

Without. Being. Told.

I watch on as my 7 year old son encourages my two year old daughter as she colors her picture, or as my two sons give up their favorite things for the sake of the other. As they get older and older my rules and commands will begin to fall off their souls like training wheels off a bike. Not because they aren’t good rules, but because they have accepted and trusted in my wisdom which has taught them how to ride the bike.

That’s my child.

When they come of age they will leave my rules behind completely and be free - relying instead on the deposit of wisdom I’ve placed within them rather than the confines of my rules - rules which I hate having to enforce. 

God is like that too. 

Rules are not needed where His Spirit exists. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor. 3:17). We still may fall down from time to time, and those times may serve as reminders about why the rules once existed. But rather than try to put training wheels on a mountain bike, we must get back up and keep riding the bike in freedom, not only because our Father told us to, but because we simply like being with Him where He is - in complete freedom.

God doesn't want slaves & servants, He wants sons & daughters. He wants to share all that He is and all that He has with those who seek His own heart - with those who take ownership and responsibility in His estate.

Without. Being. Told.

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant doesn't know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends." - Jesus

But What About You?

Early on when I first started following Jesus (from a distance) I bought myself a big thick study Bible. You know, the kind of Bible that has notes from "scholars" on every page under the verses which told me what the verses mean. I would read the Bible, and of course in many cases I had no idea what it meant so I quickly glanced down at the study notes and read what the scholars told me it means. This went on for years. In fact, when people would ask me about certain passages I would quickly speak up and just regurgitate the notes from my study Bible. It made me look pretty smart. It even made me think I was smart. Not only smart, but it made others think I was close to God. I kind of liked looking smart. I also liked not having to spend more time talking to God trying to find the answers I was seeking.

There was just one glaring problem with that - I never got to know God for myself. The "scholars" served as a mediator between me and God so I never got to know Him personally. If I had a question, I would "go" to the scholars rather than lean into the Holy Spirit. Looking back, I didn't know God as well as I thought I did. In fact, I don't think I knew Him very well at all. The bad fruit in my life demonstrated  where my roots were truly planted - in the minds of men rather than the Word of God.

When Pilate was questioning Jesus before His crucifixion, he asked Jesus, "Are you King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?"

For some reason Jesus was really concerned about the source of people's knowledge of Him. There was another time after His resurrection when He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" The disciples replied that some people thought He was John the Baptist, some thought He was Elijah, some just a prophet, etc. But then Jesus followed up with a more direct question, "But who do YOU say that I am?" Then Peter blurted out, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Because of Peter's response, Jesus told him that he was really blessed because men didn't reveal that to him, but the Father revealed that to him from heaven. In fact, Jesus said that direct revelation from God would serve as the foundation of His church (Matt. 16:18).

When I was a boy I used to collect baseball cards. On the back of the cards there were the statistics of each of the players including their batting average, home runs and that kind of thing. I got really familiar with some of the players. In a couple cases I even got their autographs. But I never knew them. Not even one.

I've learned there is a big difference between knowledge about God and knowing God personally. Jesus didn't say that we will learn to recognize the voice of other sheep, He said His sheep will hear His voice. We must not let anyone stand between us and God - not a pastor, not a priest and certainly not any study notes. God doesn't want fans. He wants friends.

The Remedy

We can think of 'sin' as a virus which is in the world, in the air around us within the spiritual dimension. Some people are dying from this virus and don't even know it, nor would they have any reason to know about the vaccine. They are too busy to concern themselves with conspiracy theories like that anyway.

Other people are dying from the virus and know it, but they see the vaccine as too risky. Based on what they have seen so far, the effectiveness of the vaccine hasn't been proven. The side effects may not be worth it - they figure dying slowly may outweigh the perceived negative side effects of the vaccine.

And then others rush to take the vaccine but then see some lingering effects of the virus around them and lose faith in the vaccine's effectiveness. This uncertainty cancels out the work of the vaccine and keeps it dormant within them with no effect. Because they have lost faith in the vaccines ability to save them, they stay away from all others who appear to be infected with the virus thinking they might become contaminated. It's really no use telling other people about the vaccine - these people don't really believe it works anyway. They figure if they get really sick from the virus in the future they will just go to the hospital and get a booster shot to see if the dormant vaccine inside them will start working. For these people, the vaccine inside them is really more of a personal life insurance policy.

Still others recognize both the virus and also the dramatic effect the vaccine has had on the people who really believe it works. These people see how, when mixed with belief, the vaccine not only cancels out the work of the virus but also reverses its effects.

These people take the vaccine and let it radiate throughout their bodies. They tend to it. They feed it. They fan it into flame. They trust the seed will grow even before it pops through the dirt.

Soon, these people continue to breathe in the contaminated air around them without suffering from any negative effects of the virus. They become bold - the fear of the virus has lost it's grip on them. They walk right into the epicenter of the outbreak. The virus simply dies when it comes into contact with them. It's as if they are now clothed in a robe of protection. The virus no longer has a place to stick. It no longer has any power.

"For you, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - 1 John 4:4

The Mystery

I've often heard it said that as Christians what we need to do is "move over" and let God take control of the "steering wheel" of our lives. This same idea of us moving over and God taking over is conveyed through other familiar expressions such as "let go and let God" and "Jesus take the wheel" and statements like that. But are we really supposed to get out of the way so God can do all the driving? Are we really just along for the ride?

Statements like those sound wise but surprisingly this is not what Scripture teaches. In fact, the New Testament actually teaches the opposite. The Gospel is much greater than us moving over to the passenger seat.

The reason that "Gospel" means "good news" is because it is inclusive - God not only includes us in His divine plan, but we play a vital role - a central role with God. God is not seeking to replace us but to embrace us as new creations compatible with His nature. He no longer calls us servants, He calls us friends. He chooses to work through the uniqueness of our soul - according to our created purpose - rather than squashing us out or moving us to the side. He doesn't violate us, He inhabits us. This was His plan all along - the reunion of His Spirit with ours. Then, He teaches us how to drive.

When trying to explain this God-human reunion to the Colossian church, the apostle Paul referred to it as "the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:26-27). In his letter to the Corinthian church Paul said something similar: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?...The two became one flesh. Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit" (1 Cor. 6:15-17).

This wonderful and amazing truth has profound implications. God now goes where we go. God now lives where we live. God now talks when we talk. God now walks when we walk. We are His "ambassadors" in every sense of the word. This is why the apostle John could say with confidence, "as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).

This is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to our faith. Do I really believe the gospel - that God so fully embraces every aspect of my being that He can work through my interests, hobbies, personality and sense of humor? Do I really see my entire self as being righteous, clean, and acceptable? Or do I only believe those things are some “spiritual” part of me that is far off and irrelevant, not really me? If the latter, then the gospel is no good to me in the practical moments of every day.

For the gospel to manifest powerfully in my life, I must believe that what Christ has done in making me new pertains to the real me who wakes up every day and lives a normal life. Then I’ve begun to understand my personal union with Jesus Christ. Jesus lived thirty-three years in authentic human flesh to show that His divinity is compatible with our humanity. And His divinity is entirely compatible with your humanity - regardless of how dirty the enemy makes you feel.

So, I would like to propose some new analogies for describing the Christian life...

I'm driving the car, in the driver's seat, and I'm sitting on God's lap while He whispers in my ear. God gave me the steering wheel and put His hands on top of mine. I feel His joy and pleasure when I make the right turns. I feel His nudging when I don't. But He never forces the wheel. He never tells me to move over. He loves being with me as I learn how to drive.

Like a father teaching his son how to swing a bat, God stands behind me smiling with His arms around me and His hands over mine, showing me how to make a level swing. He likes that I swing a little differently than His other kids - He thinks it's cute - but every bit as effective. He will never leave me nor forsake me. Why? Because I am "united with Him in spirit" and my body is the "Body of Christ."

But beware - like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, there are those who instead prefer the comfort of religious predictability - the old way of rules and separation from God over the new way of relationship and union with God. For some people the gospel is just too good to be true. They can't really bring themselves to accept the truth of being united with God. They feel too dirty. It feels like too much - it's just too much responsibility. They are worried about what people may think if they really start to walk this thing out with that kind of confidence, or rather that kind of "God-fidence". It sounds too much like blasphemy.

So watch out! Jesus was crucified for it.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." - Jesus