Baking A Batch Of Salvation

I saw an ad for a church on my Facebook page this morning.  I clicked it.  I couldn't help it.

It said a lot of the usual stuff, in the usual ways, but all the while saying they were the church for people who didn't like church anymore but still liked Jesus.  I can appreciate that.  I think there is a little too much of this language everywhere you look in the church world these days, but I get it; a lot of people are burned out on the whole "church" scene.  So, there is a move underway, by some, to recast the church in a new, "hip" light.

Now, I like "hip" a lot!  I don't think of myself as "hip" at all, but I like it when I see it!  What I'm not real fond of is trying to be "hip" for the sake of "hip-ness".  I mean, if you are "hip", let your "hip" flag fly!  But I don't think "hip" is a good thing to work at...especially in church.  It just looks a little off.  Kind of like Tom Hanks' multiple characters in "The Polar Express".  You knew that train conductor was Tom Hanks, but something was just not quite right...

Sorry...tangent...

So on one of the pages of this church's website I saw "Becoming A Christian.  It's As Easy As ABC".  It then went on to spell out the ABC's:

1. Admit you're a sinner...
2. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you to pay for your sins...
3. Choose to accept His free gift of forgiveness, by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior...

...and that was pretty much it.  Presto, Magico!  We just baked up a batch of salvation!  We have the list, we've checked it twice.  We followed the directions...Yep!  We're all saved now!  Doesn't it feel good?!

The problem is...Jesus never said any of this...

1. Jesus called us to repent, to rethink our entire way of living our lives, not just the bad things we do.
2. Jesus called us to believe in Him, literally to place our confidence in Him, not just something He did.
3. Jesus never asked permission when He forgave, no one ever had to accept His forgiveness, He just freely gave it whenever the opportunity presented itself.
4. Jesus said "...I am Lord...", "...I have come to save..." He is Lord and Savior whether one accepts it or not, it is who He is.

The question then becomes "Will I continue to fight for my own way, or will I recognize that His way of life is far superior to my own?"

This question is relevant both without and within our churches today.  Too many church attendees (either full time or part time) today have settled for an ABC christianity.  We have traded the beautiful, loving, adventurous, passionate, interactive relationship with the Creator of everything (both seen and unseen), and changed it for a three part formula that when mixed together and baked in the oven of human life, someday comes out smelling of fresh baked salvation from hell and into everlasting heaven.  

I'm sorry, it's just not good enough news for me.

Why do we do this?

Because it's easy.

It's easy to understand a formula; relationship is hard.  It's easy to believe three things, say a prayer and then wait for heaven; it's hard to develop a new life passion.  It's relatively easy to work hard to break a bad sin habit; it's impossible to become a different kind of person on my own.  It's easy to show up to church every Sunday, read some bible verses, pass out some tracks to people on the street; it's hard to become involved in people's messy lives, to meet people's needs, to be interrupted from something I want to be doing to spend time with someone else.  It's easy to give 10% of my money; it's hard to not want anything.  It's easy to feel guilt and condemnation; it's hard to get on with living His life.  It's easy to study doctrine; it's hard to love my enemy.

The real beauty of salvation is when we choose to follow Jesus (become His disciple) and we begin to learn to trust Him for everything, He saves our live's now!  We don't have to wait for heaven!  The glorious, beyond our wildest imagination, reality of a future heaven will take care of itself!  And where else would we go??  We've followed Him with our whole lives, of course we will follow Him into the next!

The real beauty of salvation is that we are invited by God (by way of gentle, loving command) to participate with Him in His great saving (reconciling) work in this life.  Jesus called this being salt and light.  Jesus said our good deeds would bring glory to God.  Jesus commanded us to love one another.  Jesus invited us to follow His example and make disciples, immersing these ones (through their interactions with us) in the reality of the triune God.

The real beauty of salvation is intimate and passionate relationship with Creator God.  It is not a formula.  It does not always make sense.  It is certainly not without danger.  It does require much effort, although I cannot trust in that effort.

The real beauty of salvation is it is truly good news.  Right here, right now, and for eternity!

Do You Have Your Jesus Camo?

I know, it's a gruesome image, but we use some gruesome language.

Consider the hymns we sing on Sunday mornings:
"There Is A Fountain <Filled With Blood>"
"Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus"
"There Is Power In The Blood Of Jesus"
"Are You Washed In The Blood"
"Covered By The Blood"

I watched a message on YouTube the other day of a preacher talking about the "gospel".  The gospel by definition is "Good News", this was what he was proclaiming is the good news:

"Jesus went to the cross so that you don't have to!  He took your place.  When you are washed in the blood of the Lamb, when you are covered in the blood of Jesus, then when God looks at the cross He doesn't see His Son, Jesus, He sees you!  And when He looks at you, He doesn't see you, He sees His Son, Jesus!"

I understand that might sound like some good news at first, not having to be crucified ourselves (...wait, didn't Jesus talk about us taking up our cross and dying daily?  Didn't Paul claim to be "crucified with Christ"?  Anyway.....), but really, the good news is I can hide from God by drenching myself in Jesus' blood?  Jesus' blood camouflages who I am so God can no longer see me?  Let's not even take into account that what appeases God is His eternally bloody Son.  And how long do I have to keep up this charade?  Is there any point in eternity where I can stop wearing my Jesus camo and God will be ok with me being in Heaven?  Do I just sneak by Him at the pearly gates as He's reading the paper, hoping that He doesn't look too closely as I walk by, "Oh, hey Son, be sure to wipe your feet so You don't track too much blood on the carpet."

Jesus went to great lengths to communicate the love of the Father, not His blood lust.  He went to great lengths to communicate how we are infinitely special to Him, how we are His sons and daughters, so much so that yes, He did send His Son to die a horrible death by crucifixion.  But is that moment in history frozen for all eternity?  Is God always looking for a bloody Jesus?  Are we to perpetually live with eternal Jesus camo?

Jesus communicated a loving Father, not just in the act of the cross, but towards us His children.  Paul understood this and communicated it over and over again in his letters.  James understood this.  Peter understood this.  John understood this possibly more than any one.

When God sees us, He isn't looking for His bloodied Son, He sees us, warts and all, and loves us just as we are.  That love is what will wash us.  That love is what will cure our sin disease.  That love is what will transform us into His very likeness, His image.

Let's trade in our Jesus camo for His very way of life, only accesible because of the cross, His eternal life.