Glory Behind Common Faces

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Posted by Daisy

Deep wells of glory behind common faces
Where is the wonder, where is the wonder?
~ Sara Groves

I have never heard a complete and thorough description of the way we are made in the image of God. People have suggestions and ideas, but nothing certain. Still, the idea is pretty wonderful, especially considering all the ways in which we and the Creator of the universe are different – and there are many. But we are clearly told that the lives of men and women have value because they were made in His image. (Genesis 9:6)

In the Old Testament the glory of God dwelt first in the tabernacle and then in the temple, but anyone who had their head on straight knew that a building could never hold God; there was just no use. I mean really, to expect someone who fills up an entire universe, the ends of which we have yet to find, is quite ludicrous. David knew this; Solomon knew this, and yet God chose to be associated with those places and objects in order to meet with His people.

With the advent of the ministry of Christ things began to change, and before He ascended Jesus promised His disciples that His Spirit would be with them in a way that had not been the case before. In numerous places the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit as a seal, a down payment or deposit given to believers. In the past year or so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this “deposit” we’ve been given.

It makes sense to me that God would have to use a priceless commodity to redeem us nasty little humans. I mean, with the kind of sins I myself have committed in my brief 34 years – to be just and still justify me, I can see how that took the sacrifice of Christ. That part makes sense to me. But a down payment? That could have been made with something a lot less priceless. God used a lot of festivals and ceremonies to remind His people of His faithfulness to them and His ability to save – perhaps he could have used something like that as a down payment. And yet instead, in keeping with His unbelievable graciousness, He left us His very own Spirit. That is wonderful. Not only does this down payment remind us that God will redeem what he has purchased, but it is also a pledge of our inheritance.

I think this “glory behind common faces” we see each day should change us in three ways:

1. We should be lost in wonder when we think about all of the “good pleasure of God’s will” that led to our seal in Christ, the Holy Spirit of promise, and our inheritance to come.

2. This wonder should affect the way we live each day, remembering that God is returning for his purchased possession, and we must make ourselves ready.

3. Lastly, I have a feeling that if we really saw those around us as creatures made in the image of God, and some of those creatures to be the very temples of God’s Holy Spirit, they would be much easier to serve – not out of duty, but out of joy.

I don’t want to go another day without being swallowed up in the wonder of His grace and glory.

A Meal With Jesus

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Posted by Andrew

There’s a great article up at Gospel Centered Discipleship summarizing Tim Chester’s book A Meal With Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, and Mission around the Table here.  Among other things, the article states the following:

Meals bring mission into the ordinary. But that’s where most people are—living in the ordinary. That’s where we need to go to reach them. We too readily think of mission as extraordinary. Perhaps that’s because we find it awkward to talk about Jesus out- side a church gathering. Perhaps it’s because we think God moves through the spectacular rather than the witness of people like us. Perhaps it’s because we want to outsource mission to the professionals, so we invite people to guest services where an “expert” can do mission for us. But most people live in the ordinary, and most people will be reached by ordinary people…Jesus’s command to invite the poor for dinner violates our notions of distance and detachment. Mission as hospitality undermines the professionalization of ministry. Mission isn’t something I can clock out from at the end of the day. The hospitality to which Jesus calls us can’t be institutionalized in programs and projects. Jesus challenges us to take mission home. It may be a surprise, given my emphasis on meals, but I loathe church lunches—those potluck suppers in drafty church halls. They’re institutionalized hospitality. Don’t start a hospitality ministry in your church: open your home.

To read more, click here, or click here to purchase Chester’s book.

Because He is a Christian

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Posted by Jamin

I am a Tim Tebow fan. He is one of the most exciting players in any sport today. While watching the super bowl last Sunday, I kept thinking to myself “I wish Tebow and the Broncos would have made it.” He is also one of the most exemplary Christian athletes in all of pro sports. His sincerity and humility is unrivaled by all others who share his profession. To be clear, I am a Tim Tebow fan.

What I am not a fan of is the way that I have seen some in the Christian community respond to the criticism Tebow receives. The conversation goes something like this:

Question: Tim Tebow is such a great guy, why does everyone say he can’t play quarterback?
Answer: Because he is a Christian. Continue reading →

A Letter from Christ

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Posted by Daisy

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

I have always found this to be a fascinating and somewhat terrifying verse. Christ begins the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5 following with the depiction of those who are blessed or happy. This portrayal surely would have been surprising to many who were listening. When he hit the comments about the scribes and Pharisees and their righteousness, the crowd must have been shocked. The Pharisees, as a group among the nation of Israel, were known to be those who valued holiness and rightness with God seemingly above all else. Continue reading →

Matt Carter Interviews Colt McCoy about Idolatry

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Posted by Andrew

In the following video, Matt Carter, Lead Pastor of Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas, interviews Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy, former star quarterback for the Texas Longhorns.  They talk about faith, idolatry, and the devastating BCS championship loss in Colt’s final year in college football.

Can a Christian Vote for a Pro-Choice Candidate?

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Posted by Zach

The simple answer is no.

Now, I realize that this is offensive and there are already numerous objections that are rushing to your mind but, before you chase after me with torches and pitchforks, please allow me to address those objections.

God holds us responsible for the authority he has given us. A king is judged for how well he rules a kingdom. A business owner is judged for how well he rules a business. A father is judged for how well he rules a household. Regardless of the size of one’s responsibility, we all have an obligation to manage what God has given us, whether big or small. In a democracy we are like little kings. We all have a say in what happens and we cast our approval or disapproval, as little decision-making kings, in the form of votes. A king rules a kingdom, a business owner rules a business, a father rules a household, a citizen rules a country (with other citizens).

To put your “yes” and your approval on a candidate or law that promotes abortion is sin. It means that you are accountable for taking a small part of the responsibility that God has given you in a democratic-republic and managing it poorly.

Now, I’m sure by this point you’re fuming mad and think I am some ignorant, backwoods idiot. I know there are many reasons to disagree with what I’ve said. Therefore, allow me to address the objections by those who disagree, below. Continue reading →