Romans 2:9 "There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile."

I've heard several times, from several people, that much of the turmoil in America today is due to the general abandonment of God and His commands, upon which our country was originally founded. This would seem to follow Paul's words here in Romans. The Jews have had trouble from the beginning, always happening after they turn from God. Maybe it's our turn, as Gentiles, to face the trouble that Paul predicted.

In the Old Testament, the key to turning disaster around for the Jews was for them to turn back to God. The first question for us in America is, if our problems are do to our turning from God, then should we expect any of the already proposed courses of action to fix things to work? Or do we need to turn back to God and the biblical principles we once held?

The second question is, what does it change? I hope that if Christians in America realize what's going on, they will find renewed purpose and urgency in being God's representatives here on earth. It's as important or more so that ever that we Christians live our lives as beacons in this dark world.

Anyway, there's my thoughts. Let me know what you think.

Something to strive for

I heard this quote a while back at Evangelical Free Church of Naperville, and was recently reminded of it by the song "Infiltrate" by Worth Dying For, an amazing Christian worship/rock band. I hope that someday I'll be able to honestly say all of this for myself.

Anyways, here's the quote:
"I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me.
And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me — my banner will be clear." (Source: An anonymous young African pastor on the day of his ordination.)

No more 'but'

Okay, I just heard a great sermon last night. And during the sermon, I realized something. I've been looking at my Christian life all wrong. I've always thought, "I'm saved solely by God's grace, but He's disappointed, or angry, when I sin." Well, here's the thing: There is no but. I'm saved by God's grace alone, no if's, and's, but's, however's, or when's. Grace alone.

But what does all that mean? Well, it means I can stop trying so hard. I can relax. Does it mean I can sin without remorse? In the words of the Apostle Paul, "By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:2). Grace is the only lifeline available to us, which is able to keep us from falling into hell. When we realize that, we will grab onto it with such tenacity, that we will never let go. Now that's a fine image, but how does that translate into our daily lives? It means that God's grace is always on our minds. It's the first thought when we wake up, it's the last thought before we drift off to sleep. We meditate on grace, and how much Christ went through to grant us that grace.

That still doesn't answer the question of how we can relax and stop trying so hard to please God...or does it? You see, if God's grace, and the trials and tortures that Christ went through to give it to us, is always at the forefront of our minds, then how could we possibly imagine sinning? Letting go of control means letting God improve us. It means dying to ourselves, and that is what Paul meant when he wrote "We died to sin". Our job is not to make ourselves perfect. That's God's work, and He's the only one who can do it. Our job is to marvel at His wonderous grace and love, and worship Him for both it, and for being such a God as would offer that grace and love to us lowly sinful humans.

The Westminster confession tells us that our chief duty is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. And that is just what I am proposing. Let go of control, and just sit back and marvel at, and prais Him for the wonders of our God and His gifts to us.

Well, that's all I've got for now. I'm planning on reading through all of Paul's letters and posting about what I read, so be sure to come back now.