Sinning doesn't matter?

Today, Oct. 30, 2009 a person asked:  "I once heard you say a few years ago, “If anyone leaves here feeling like they can sin, then I know I’ve done my job,” or at least something close to that. I was hoping that you could explain your reasoning on this."

It's a great question so I took the time to respond.

Here’s what I do and most likely did say. “When people hear the gospel of grace they can get the idea that sin doesn’t matter.” Or, “If you leave here wondering if Dan thinks sin doesn't matter, I’ve done my job.”  It's a statement I make to jar people's thinking.

The gospel can give people the idea that behavior doesn’t matter.

Here's why I say that. The Apostle Paul addressed the same issue. The gospel can give people the idea that behavior doesn’t matter. (I regularly hear that concern) If you aren’t getting the impression, when hearing the gospel, that behavior doesn't matter then you aren’t hearing the gospel. Romans 4 is one of many places where righteousness apart from behavior is explained.

Romans 4:5b And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works...  (Don't forget that David was a bad man)

One can read Romans 4:5ff and make the following conclusion. Since righteousness with God is faith-based and not behavior-based then our behavior doesn't matter.

Paul’s concern about this reasoning is expressed in three rhetorical questions listed in Romans 6 and 7. Why is he asking these three questions? He’s asking because he knows his readers at Roman are thinking them.

1. 6:1 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2. 6:15 - What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?
3. 7:7 - What then shall we say? That the law is sin?

If those hearing the gospel can't ask, “Is it ok to sin all we want?” (Paraphrase of question #1) then they aren’t hearing the gospel that Paul preached.

When was the last time you heard a preacher step back and say, "I bet some of you are thinking that I'm saying it's ok to keep sinning all we want?"

Grace Freak
Pastor Dan Rockwell

What not how

Reading the Bible can be frustrating.  I’m not talking about frustration because I don’t understand it.  I’m talking about frustrating because I DO understand it and so much is left out.  The Bible is filled with things I should and shouldn’t do.  But only occasionally does the Bible tell me “how-to” do or not do something.

Here’s an example of a how-to.  People who stole should get jobs and earn money and then give to others (Eph. 4:28) I know it’s not a clear 10 step program on overcoming theft but at least the text indicates that working hard and generous giving are on the positive side of stealing.  Having said that, in a world filled with self-helps and how-to’s, the New Testament is sadly lacking.

"Leaders focus on what not how."

 

Jesus is no better.  He said things like, “You feed them,” without the slightest hint of how to get the job done.     He said, “Go and make disciples,” but didn’t set up an outreach program or develop a 12 step discipleship system. So I’m asking myself why Jesus and the Bible are so lacking in the how-to business. 

Here’s an idea.  Leaders focus on what not how.  Leaders show us WHAT should be done and what’s worth aiming at. They explain what really matters and paint a picture of a preferred future.  But, they don’t tell us how.  Managers and followers figure out how.  When I think about it, that’s the way I want it.  I don’t like someone telling me what to do and then proceeding to tell me how to do it.  It's degrading.  If you’re going to tell me how to do everything, do it yourself.  You don’t need me.

"It’s eternally relevant because He didn’t explain how."

Jesus explained the “what” of life when He said, “Love God and Love your neighbor.”  It’s a timeless, cross-cultural principle that applied then, applies now, and will apply in the future.  It’s eternally relevant because He didn’t explain how.  It’s true He lived it.  And yes I know New Testament commands are expressions of those two life principles.  But drilling down into the commands still doesn’t yield an attainable, measurable, 10 step program on how to love my wife. 

Being a Christ-follower can be frustrating because there are plenty of what’s and not enough how’s.  Here’s a news flash.  That’s how Jesus wants it.  Any other way destroys the eternal truths that direct and sustain life.  Any other way is measurable and attainable.  Any other way is too low, too easy, and too juvenile.

Grace Freak
Pastor Dan Rockwell

Dreary Drizzle

Worries are like dud fire-crackers.  We light the fuse, toss the miniature explosive, run for cover and eagerly wait for the anticipated yet surprising blast.  But all we do is waiting.  We’re paralyzed by the expected. 

On Oct. 25 I preached at Good News on “Preparing for Dark Days” from Luke chapter 9.  Early in the week, a dark cloud started looming over my head in anticipation of the dreary drizzle I was sure Sunday would become.   I want Church to be uplifting, don’t you?  It doesn't feel uplifting to say, "Someday, some time; the lights go out for all of us."  It may be lying in a hospital bed, standing by a coffin, landing upside down in the ditch hanging from a seatbelt, it may be children gone wild, or it may be public failure, but some day it happens to everyone.  It’s a stone-cold serious thought that seems better left unspoken.

Acknowledging the ominous dark voice whispering, “It's sunny now but there’s a storm brewing somewhere,” isn’t stupid but Christians who pretend that life is a Disney Land when it isn’t are.

When Church was over and while the faithful Good News volunteers restored the theater to moving-going shape, I began to realize my speculations had been baseless.  I kept seeing an unanticipated joyful freedom on faces.  Where was the dreary drizzle I’d expected?  What happened?   How could I talk about the inevitability of dark days without dragging everyone through the mud?  I’m sure there are many reasons that haven’t hit me, but two seem applicable. 

Perhaps setting expectations about dark days sets some of us free from guilt. Those who believe that trying hard to live a good life, obeying God, praying, church going, or having enough faith, guarantees smooth sailing, live under a crushing responsibility to attain and preserve the “good life” by being “good.”   But, in a broken world we should accept the inevitability of dark days and it doesn’t matter how “good” we live.  I can’t find one Bible character exempted for dark days?

Trusting Jesus isn’t about exemption from dark days it’s about enabling through them.

Acknowledging the ominous dark voice whispering, “It's sunny now but there’s a storm brewing somewhere,” isn’t stupid but Christians who pretend that life is a Disney Land when it isn’t are.  Somehow, I think just saying bad things happen to “good” Christian takes some of the pressure off.  I know it sounds gloomy.  But at least we don’t have to blame ourselves for every disaster coming down the pike.

During lunch, Jason, (the father of our grandchildren) mentioned the second and most important reason the drizzle didn't descend.   While walking across the room, he said, “Focused confidence in Jesus will carry us through the storm. Now that’s gold.”  I always like it when he enjoys something I say.  Did you notice the words “through the storm?”  Living in a broken world means life from beginning to end includes dark days.  Trusting Jesus isn’t about exemption from dark days it’s about enabling through them.

 

The dreary drizzle I expected on Oct. 25 blew over.  It turned off surprisingly sunny.

Grace Freak

Pastor Dan Rockwell

www.graceunplugged.org 

Pastor's Confession

My heart hurts for believers grappling with sin, frailty, and failure. I am one of them. I think we all wish there was a magic pill or secret formula that makes all the bad stuff go away. If I could just click my heels three times maybe I could get home? To make matters worse, some Christians wrongly believe that overcoming sin is the norm. The “over comers” give me this not so subtle message that there is something wrong with me if I haven’t overcome deception, lusting, coveting, greed, anger, worry, hate, selfishness, vengeance, stealing, slander, gossip, bitterness, guile, pride, jealousy, dissention, envy, etc. etc. etc. … on and on … gag me with a spoon. And those aren’t the “worst” sins.

What’s worse is, I do not love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. Sometimes I don’t even think about Him. And I definitely do not, I repeat, do not love my neighbor like I love myself. That’s just too much to ask. “Who is my neighbor anyway?” Oh, and don’t forget this little gem, “do everything without grumbling.” Are you kidding? Grumbling is one of life's compensations.  Oh no, when I typed, “Are you kidding,” I think it was grumbling. Ka-ching on the sin-o-meter!!


Don’t misunderstand the intent of this post. I’m not suggesting we just give into the dark side. But I am getting something off my chest. I’m exposing the dirty little secret that’s frequently swept under the carpet. Sinning is a problem that doesn’t have a magic solution. It keeps coming back like a bad rash. Overcoming sin in my life feels like trying to catch a herd of greased pigs. Eventually catching and corralling one doesn’t help much because the rest of the herd stands around jeering at me. And to make matters worse, while I’m trying to coral the next greased oinker, the one I just caught gets away … again!

Spending time obsessing about my sins, failures, and frailties is a serious bummer and an expression of my sinfulness. Frankly, I've got something much better to think about.  So I’m turning toward grace and learning to walk by faith again today. Damn the pigs, I'm moving on.

Dan Rockwell
http://www.graceunplugged.org/

Vision

Tuesday evening’s leadership meeting was the second time I brought up a problem I see brewing at Good News. It was briefly mentioned at the previous week’s meeting. And, between the two meetings, I sent emails to the leadership team explaining my concern.

There’s nothing wrong with the people on the team. It’s not a matter of sincerity, passion, or a willingness to work hard. Furthermore, we all agree that the past three months are exceptional months in the history of Good News.

Here’s the deal. The leadership team is so consumed with pressing, urgent needs that we can’t get out in front of Good News. The tyranny of the urgent blocks us from thinking long-term. I’ll spare you the details of the discussion. The move to the Cinema Center makes everything go haywire.

So what’s this post about? It’s about a sustaining bond of love that binds a diverse team of four guys together around a passion to turn people toward grace. One of the sustaining influences in my life is the shared vision that binds us together. The direction for the leadership team isn’t clear. The vision is.

Now let me talk like a mad man. I want Good News to always be going haywire in some ways and in some areas. I want to get really good at doing some things but at the same time I want us falling apart in other areas. Extending our reach and expanding our influence for grace isn’t about creating a retirement community. It’s about launching into the unknown, risking failure, and, at least in some areas, struggling to keep up.

Boy this post sounds like a contradictory mess. Whatever happens, vision binds and drives us into the future.

Grace Freak Dan
http://www.graceunplugged.org/

Pessimism for what it is

I just completed the Monday morning edition of Good News News and it excites me once again to think about the Good News family. Every week I hear more stories of people extending their reach and expanding their influence for grace. More success stories. More enthusism.

The pessimist in me is waiting for the hammer to fall. I’m waiting for the excitement to end. As I type this, I even wonder if the pessimist in me isn't actually hoping for the hammer to fall putting an end to this foolish excitment. And more than that, I hear a nagging voice whispering, "It won't last and you're going to crash and burn. Don't put yourself out there. Don't risk it. You'll look foolish when you fail. You better play it safe."

Play it safe. That’s it! That’s the temptation. Hedge your bets so you won't look too foolish when you fail. It’s funny how we eventually get back to self-centered, self-protective pride. And now my pessimism is seen for what it is. It's the need to love and protect myself rather than give myself wholly to Jesus.

Pessimism is safety.

For Grace,

Dan

A small patch of blue

It's overcast this Saturday morning. I'm in the office with a cup of coffee the loving woman in my life just graciously brought down. (She's amazing) Decided to light my pipe and finalize tomorrow's sermon. If you're wondering, the aroma doesn't leave a nasty after-smell so Dale is good with it.

It's been 14 months since Good News began seriously working to become an outsider focused church. The changes are mind blowing. Truth is, the insider focused Good News of a year ago is disappearing and a new outsider focused Good News is appearing. The opportunities and responsibilities are staggering. It feels a little like riding a tornado.

Not only is Good News new, I am too. There's new focus, direction, and passion in my life. I keep wondering if the passion I felt in August of 2008 to refocus ministry will wane. But in reality it's not waning it's growing. Every new person at Good News is like throwing gas on my fire. Every new person only fans the passion to reach more. For those who know me best, you must think an alien has taken control of my body.

I'm learning about a Jesus who persistently worked to turn more people toward grace. If anyone could have established a worship center with a high platform and a great band for all to "come and see" Jesus could. But rather than embracing an exclusive "come and see" approach, He also lived, led and taught a "go and tell" vision. Instead of settling in one spot He persistently went out, sent out, and reached out. He inconvenienced Himself in order to reach others.

Well the pipe is out and I see a few patches of blue peeking through. There are loads I don't understand and only a few clear patches. The brightest point of clarity centers on turning more people toward the free grace that keeps reaching me. It may be a small patch of blue but it's all I need.

Grace Freak Dan
www.graceunplugged.org

Pastor's Blog - Freedom

Woke up this morning at 4:00 a.m. and started thinking. That's a bad thing to do if you want to sleep till 6:00. Started thinking about the goal of my teaching at Good News. I think I can say it in one word, freedom.

I want believers and unbelievers alike to be set free. The bondage breaking statement I can make for believers is Christian living begins when obligation to live it ends.

Jesus wants a love relationship with us, not a law relationship. One thing that characterizes love relationships is freedom. For example, my wife doesn't want my fidelity because of a vow taken years ago. She wants my fidelity because I freely choose to cherish her today. Anything less is unsatisfying. When we follow the rules dominated by a sense of obligation, we are good moral people but we aren't living the Christian life.

Grace Freak Dan