I'm Back!

Hey y'all! 

It has been a crazy busy but absolutely beautiful spring break over here. 

I can't wait to edit photos and share with you all that God showed 

us through our mission trip and the D-Now we attended!

Until that all gets done, enjoy this silly video. 

My rendition of Ice Ice Baby. 

You know you're jealous ;)

Funny story- I once got a speeding ticket because I didn't notice a steep drop in the speed limit... because my sister and I were trying really hard to memorize the words to this song! Ha!

Next goal is to create a catchy way to memorize scripture like this. Amen? 

A Discerning Spirit

I've had no less than thirty friends on Facebook post this video this past week. 

It definitely has some poetic and legitimate points about God's grace 
and being an authentic Christ follower.

But the theology is a bit off, and without a discerning spirit, it's very easy to let some beautiful truths mingle with half truths, misleading phrases and blatant lies. 

We watched it and discussed this video in Sunday School this week because I wanted to be sure that my students were thinking for themselves. I want them to listen to a sermon, a study, or a video claiming truth about Jesus and be able to test it against the scripture they know in their hearts. 

My biggest concerns with this particular video were 

1) the claim that Jesus came to abolish religion and hated religion, and 

2) the inappropriate use of "It is finished" at the end of the video. 

First, the poem's thesis is that Jesus and religion are two 

completely separate and opposing entities. 

Now, it is a matter of semantics, depending on your perception of the word religion.

And I really think that what Bethke means is self righteousness, or legalism. 
But that's not what religion means, although there may be negative connotations associated with the word religion itself. Depending on the dictionary you use, religion means something like: an organized set of beliefs concerning a higher power, or organized worship. 


"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophet; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17


Christianity is a religion, one that is centered on Jesus.  
So I don't think He hates that 
(although people who follow Christ still sin, and He does hate sin.)


In fact, James 1:27 says "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. "


And as much as it's easy to call out the church on everywhere it screws up, the church is there when natural disasters strike to help feed, clothe and rebuild communities; the church has helped raise awareness and crazy amounts of money to end human trafficking; the church has begun a nationwide trend in adoption that is NOT a last resort for families who can't have children, but rather an outpouring of love for children who need families. 


That is pure, undefiled religion.


As far as the ending, the final verse of the poem says,
"So for religion, no I hate it. In fact I literally resent it.
Because when Jesus said, "It is finished" I believe that He meant it.


Now if we refer to the fact that Bethke probably means legalism or self righteousness in place of that word religion, that line is understood. However, when he quotes Jesus, it can be misleading to the reader. It makes it sound like Jesus was saying that religion is finished, when in fact it was Jesus' sacrifice. It was the power of sin that was finished. It was God's separation from man, and salvation through keeping the law that was finished.  And using that quote out of context to serve the purpose of the poem is just not good, y'all.

I definitely appreciate the passion behind Jefferson Bethke's poem. 
His words aim to call a culture of church goers to be Christ followers
I know that a lot of older, wiser, more educated people have put in their two cents on the theology of this poem/video, but I thought that it was important to emphasize that we need to be examining whatever we put in our minds carefully. 


And because we are to represent Jesus in everything we do (Col 3:17), let's make sure that we know who Jesus is so that we can represent the true Christ, and not what we want Him to be or what's trendy in the young Christian subculture.  


I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've seen the video
or if you're so over this discussion already,
how are you careful to distinguish the true Christ
from what's trendy at the time?

A Silly Song and Some Advent Truth

First, a funny video to make you chuckle.

Now that you're all smiles,

This next video truly touched me and has helped me to refocus on Christmas

as a season of Advent

a time of looking back at Jesus on earth

that beautiful gift of salvation

and looking forward to the day when He'll return

I hope it resonates in you the same.

  GOD WITH US

Poem by Isaac Wimberley

The people had read of this rescue that was coming through the bloodline of Abraham

They had seen where Micah proclaimed about a ruler to be born in Bethlehem

Daniel prophesy about the restoration of Jerusalem

Isaiah’s cry about the Son of God coming to them

So for them—it was anticipation

This groaning was growing, generation after generation

Knowing He was holy, no matter what the situation

But they longed for Him

They yearned for Him

They waited for Him on the edge of their seat

On the edge of where excitement and containment meet

They waited

Like a child watches out the window for their father to return from work—they waited

Like a groom stares at the double doors at the back of the church—they waited

And in their waiting, they had hope

Hope that was fully pledged to a God they had not seen

To a God who had promised a King

A King who would reign over the enemy

Over Satan’s tyranny

They waited

So it was

Centuries of expectations, with various combinations of differing schools of thought

Some people expecting a political king who would rise to the throne through the wars that he fought

While others expecting a priest who would restore peace through the penetration of the Pharisee’s façade

Yet a baby—100% human, 100% God

So the Word became flesh and was here to dwell among us

In His fullness, grace upon grace, Jesus

Through Him and for Him, all things were created

And in Him all things are sustained

God had made Himself known for the glory of His name

And this child would one day rise as King

But it would not be by the sword or an insurgent regime

It would be by His life

A life that would revolutionize everything the world knew

He would endure temptation and persecution, all while staying true

Humbly healing the broken, the sick and hurting too

Ministering reconciliation, turning the old to new

A life that would be the very definition of what life really costs

Saying—if you desire life, then your current one must be lost

And He would portray that with His own life as His Father would pour out and exhaust

And Jesus would be obedient to the point of death, even death upon the cross

So just 33 years after the day that He laid swaddled in the hay

He hung on a tree suffocating, dying in our place

Absorbing wrath that is rightly ours, but we could never bear the weight

So He took that punishment and he put it in the grave

And He died

And when I say that He died, what I mean is that He died

No breath, noheartbeat, no sign of life

God is a God of justice, and the penalty for our sin equals death

That’s what Christ did on that cross

Then… On the third day, in accordance with scriptures, He was raised from the grave

And when I say that He was raised, what I mean is that He was raised

Lungs breathing, heart pumping, blood pulsing through His veins

The things that He promised were true

He is the risen Son of God, offering life to me and you

Turning our mourning into dancing

Our weeping into laughing

Our sadness into joy

By His mercy, we are called His own

By His grace, we will never be left alone

By His love, He is preparing our home

By His blood, we can sing before His throne

Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

So now we, as His bride, are the ones waiting

Like the saints that came before, we’re anticipating

He has shown us that this world is fading

And He has caused our desire to be for Him

So church, stay ready

Keep your heart focused and your eyes steady

Worship Him freely, never forgetting

His great love for you

Immanuel, God with us

How are you staying focused this Christmas season?