Hackers

Screwtape to Wormwood: "What we want, if men become Christians at all, is to keep them in the state of mind I call 'Christianity And'. You know - Christianity and the Crisis, Christianity and the New Psychology, Christianity and the New Order, Christianity and Faith Healing, Christianity and Psychical Research, Christianity and Vegetarianism, Christianity and Spelling Reform. If they must be Christians let them at least be Christians with a difference. Substitute for the faith itself some Fashion with a Christian colouring. Work on their horror of the Same Old Thing." C.S.Lewis - The Screwtape Letters

I like it. I like it, alot. This is the church - my church, your church, every church. All congregations have a sect of people that think this way. Let's call them the Improvers. They are always trying to make everything better, or so they think. They are the ones afraid of change but they are also never content. Their discontentment shows in the way they try new things that are really recycled old things. It's usually the same thing with a different name. The solution?

The Hackers. Strip it down, shake it out, back to basics kind of Faith. (Can I get a amen?) Yeah, I think that's us. Those of us who just want it to be real. Real worship, real teaching, real God. One word: rel-e-vant. Not Sunday morning only stuff but a daily, moment-by-moment walk with the Holy One. We don't care what it's called as long as it's real. Chill. I'm not looking for a revolution, I'm talking about a revelation. Him revealed. It's time.

Christianity doesn't need any help. No sideshows, no fireworks, no smoke and mirrors. No "and." God said, "I am." If that's true, then "Christianity is."

What Lies Beyond

"I'm tired of feeling on the edge of nothing. I'd rather be on the edge of something." Credit to Heather Mays for the quote of the day.

I started thinking about our church and what edge we are on. Because we have most definitely been on an edge for a while. But we are moving - from the edge of nothing to something. That is all too clear. Tonight was a night where hearts broke, tears fell, relationships mended, and walls fell. Tonight, God showed up. Benji confirmed this by telling me of several other conversations he had. God is doing something.

But it's not the edge that is changing, it is what is over that edge. What lies beyond? Revival? Awakening? Does it matter what it's called? Of course not. What matters is that hearts are changing from within. God is moving, not in programs or methods or guidelines, but in the hearts of the servants. He is changing people on the inside and that certainly changes the outside. What do you do to make an egg stronger? Boil it. The inside changes and the whole darn thing goes from fragile to maddeningly tough. (I sometimes have trouble peeling them. Don't make fun of the slow boy).

So, yeah. Let's boil! If that is what it takes. Strengthen the whole by strengthening the parts. Our part is being strengthened. Why? Because, I think, we are not afraid of what lies beyond the edge. We, the hungry and thirsty ones, welcome it.

I got dibs

I'm calling dibs on the C.S. Lewis quote of the day before someone else steals it for their blog. (jab for the day).

"Do not let us mistake necessary evils for good."

I like that. It's back to that whole justification thing, I think. We try to convince ourselves that we must do some things, even if we know we shouldn't, and usually because it's easier for us. It keeps us from doing the difficult things and we like that, right? We want a calm sea, a smooth road, and an unwinding path. So we take the way that has the least obstacles. Self-deception is what Spurgeon called it. Making ourselves believe it's right so we don't have to face what's wrong. Because, usually, what's wrong is us. We have followed through with something and now we are stuck. If we believe the evil is good, what could possibly be wrong?

Truth

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Christ Jesus. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. (1 Corinthians 3:11-13)

I was thinking about this verse and my life, what my foundation is. I think right now I'm closer to God than I have been in the past and that makes it easier for me to see some of my past mistakes. I see my foolishness and the things I had made myself believe. I see how I had tried to justify my actions and feelings. The big one? Twisting the Scriptures to fit my plan and what I wanted.

The re-defining of our faith. Times when we take everything we believe and all we know about God and start turning it, molding it into something more suitable for us. Something that fits better into our lifestyle and makes us feel better about the choices we are making. What could God possibly detest more? To take His gift, His love, grace, mercy, and compassion and spin it for our own benefit. And for what? To ease our consciences? To avoid facing His conviction? To keep our precious pride intact by never having to admit we're wrong? To allow us to live in ways we shouldn't be living anyway? It's practically laughing off everything He has done for us, including Jesus' sacrifice. A crucifixion that meant nothing - how does that sound?

It's no wonder we encounter hard times because we bring them on ourselves. We leave God no choice but to exercise judgment on us. And then we have the nerve to ask why it's happening. A little awareness and recognition of ourselves wouldn't hurt, would it?

"The truth shall set you free." There is one foundation, one truth. Everything we are and do must fit into the pattern already provided by Him. We can try our best to change His way of doing things but it is unchanging. Only in His ways will we find freedom, joy and happiness. Only on the foundation that has already been laid.