Posts tagged as:

Bible

The Word in our hands

by Jessica on March 20, 2011

I watched this video recently and tears waded along the rim of my eyelid. I could not not be moved.

They danced. They sang. They held a party.

And they cried.

For what?

For the 20 copies of the same book that sits on my shelf. For the pages I so carelessly read and leave, rather than cling to. I call it precious, but do I weep for it?

Does my heart long to see the words of my God in my own tongue? Can I even imagine what it would be to have never held a Bible and looked upon its pages?

And yet, here is a group of people…brothers and sisters of mine in Christ who upon receiving the New Testament in their own language for the first time celebrate.

The Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us. And the Word of God was made ink and is held in my hand.

But do we cherish it so? With our many translations and Bible covers and footnotes, do we see it for what it truly is?

The Word of God.

We debate of over it. We discard what’s uncomfortable or confusing. We leave it more often on the shelf than we should.

Do we treat it as holy Words? Words set apart for life and living and completeness.

Do we see it was more than a Sunday School accessory? It is living and active.

Do we not believe then that the words between Genesis and Revelation are God-breathed?

Or is it just a pretty little book full of proverbs and nice little stories of morality?

Do we see it as holy?

Is it worthy of our tears?

Do we have this joy for God’s Word?

Or is it just another mark on our to do list?

*Please take the time to watch this video. I promise it will be worth it.

356. Driving with beautiful boys to mail a love letter

357. Happiest baby smiles

358. Visiting Mawmaw and meeting Leon (“He’s so good to me…”)

359. A baby that sleeps

360. Baby laughter

361. Happy yellow headbands

362. Just the way you are

363. Purple pens

364. Sunny days and fun parks

365. Encouragement from a beautiful friend

366. Family that will let you cry and feed your kid when babies cry, anniversaries are far apart, and street vendors are ridiculous.

Tagged as: Bible, Living Passionately

{ 1 comment }

He is a God who can defend himself.

by Jessica on March 15, 2011

in Living Passionately

There’s been a lot of talk in the last few weeks about hell and love, Rob Bell and the Reformed. I watch and read and wait. I want to say something, I really do. But I can’t. And so, it builds up in me.

It’s hard to be oblivious when it swirls all around you. I find myself catching glimpses and reading articles and comments. Often the words spelled on the screen catch me off guard…

Those Calvinist are such haters…they want everyone to go to hell.

They’re just a bunch of angry, judgmental people.

Those Reformed…they think they know all the answers.

They don’t know what they believe. They just blindly follow their leaders.

Their God is a god of hate.

I’m shocked. Taken aback. I shrink into my little corner and want to hide.

Is this what people think about me? Is this how they view me? Do people really think I want everyone to go to hell?

Sure, I didn’t call Rob Bell a heretic or say “Farewell, Rob Bell…” It’s not me directly that those assualts are thrown. But they are thrown. And they hurt. Because I am a real person. Not a drone, not a mindless follower of today’s hottest preacher.

I search for myself…no one searches for me. And my heart breaks.

If you want to put a label on it then, yes, I am a Reformed, Calvinist-believing Baptist.

I hold to the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed. When that first question of the Heidelberg Catechism is asked, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?”

I reply,

“That I am not my own, but belong–body and soul, in life and in death–to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood…”

And these words, they ring with a resounding Yes!,

“It is only because of the doctrine of judgment & hell that Jesus’ proclamation of grace & love are so brilliant & astounding.” Tim Keller

“God’s not mean…he’s holy. If you cheapen that holiness no one wins and God isn’t perfect.” Matt Chandler

I believe in a very real and very literal hell, not because I think God is the enemy and Jesus the hero. No–

I believe because I am a sinner and God is holier than my mind can ever fathom, and Jesus–He is God.

God as man paying the penalty of sin for me. Sin demands punishment and that punishment is hell apart from faith in the saving work of the Cross of Christ.

How can we be a Church, the beautiful, redeemed body of Christ, if we’re throwing darts and arrows at each other?

How can we deny that Jesus is indeed the very God who demands perfect holiness?

How can people say “love wins” and “grace wins,” when out of their mouth spills obvious disdain and ridicule?

How can we proclaim the Gospel to all people when we’re tied up in getting it straight among ourselves?

I will respect you and love you even if we fall on opposite sides of the theological fence. No one has all the answers, but hopefully we believe what we believe because we are convinced it is true.

It’s better to stand firm with what you believe than to leave it to relativism.

And, in all truth, God…He’s big enough to defend himself.

That’s not to say that others shouldn’t speak against what they believe to be bad theology, because it’s true…poor theology affects real people and that’s where the danger lies.

But for me, right now in this debate of hell and love and holiness, it causes more havoc to my soul to watch and read than it does to proclaim how I understand the Bible.

And in the end…Truth will always win.

photo credit

Tagged as: Bible, truth

{ 17 comments }

God Gave Cain a Chance

by Jessica on January 18, 2010

in Scripture

Cain was upset. God did not regard his offering as He did Abel’s. Cain was offended. Angry. I’m sure we might be too if God was pleased in the offering of a brother or sister and not our own.

But it wasn’t just the offering. God saw into Cain’s heart and he said,

Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. (Genesis 4:6-7)

God gave Cain a chance. He warned him, ‘Your heart is intent on evil. Sin is awaiting to ensnare you. What are you going to do about it?’ He warned him. Spoke clearly to him of what was ahead if the attitude in his heart remained unchecked. But did Cain listen? No.

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:8-12)

Cain ignored God’s warning. And, as God had said, sin found him. Ensnared him. It was costly.

Cain’s jealousy cost him his brother’s life, his family relationships, and his community. He would now be cursed. Set apart by his unholiness.

But still, God did not desert him.

Cain feared for his life, “I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me” (Gensis 4:14). Despite his sin, despite his unwillingness to obey the voice of God, the Lord still took care of Cain. He calmed his fears and said,

“Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:15-16)

The Lord provided. He redeemed Cain’s sin, just as he does ours. He calls us to submit to him and resist the devil. Apart from God we’re not so different than Cain,

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:3-6)

But, first, we must humble ourselves and listen.