NOTE: Thursday evening’s post – Same-sex unions and the church: are we even asking the right questions? – has garnered 3,000-plus views over the past 48-hours. Hopefully I can serve as a helpful resource for those who want to think seriously and non-judgmentally about difficult issues – DEREK
It’s Sunday morning again, and it all comes back to worship. Throughout the world, people are making their way to church to offer thanks to God, and to celebrate the restored relationship we enjoy because of Jesus.
Large churches, bursting at the seams; smaller congregations, some with only a dozen or so in the pews; sinners with conservative preferences, sinners leaning left; young adults, baby-boomers, children, elderly; the wealthy, the poor; those who struggle, those who should struggle; healthy and sick, employed and unemployed; blue-collar, white-collar; educated, not; gay and straight; red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his sight….
I, personally, will stand alongside my brothers and sisters at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, and I will know beyond a doubt that many will have disagreed with some of the things I’ve written this week; and many will have issues with something I say next week; and some probably hold strongly contrary views when it comes to matters I care deeply about.
And that’s OK, because we love Jesus, and we all approach the throne of grace equally grateful for God’s generous love.
PERFECTION? You see there is no perfect church, and no collection of Christians who get it all right all the time. But there is Jesus. And the moment we take our eyes off of Jesus then we lose our way.
Let’s not get distracted from the whole point of Christianity, and that is our restored relationship with God.
A lot of people are losing their way over this conversation about same-sex relationships, regardless of where they stand. Let’s not get distracted from the whole point of Christianity, and that is our restored relationship with God. Accept God’s amazing love, follow Jesus, and remember Romans 8: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
It’s Sunday morning. Let’s worship together, continue to journey together, and walk in the light – DEREK
Well said! Thanks Derek.
Sent from my iPhone
>
Great post! God’s grace is so extravagant! Thanks for putting into words what many of us are believing in our hearts. Thank you for your ministry.
Thanks, Aaron!
Blessings – Derek
[…] conclude by quoting this post – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – from Sunday morning. You especially need to read this if you’re angry about the […]
The problem is when I start with “me” and then go to the Word, I will be deceived; if I start with God and then go to “me,” I’ll find truth and freedom. Everyone needs to give himself or herself to Jesus unconditionally to be a disciple, and in doing so, we find the path to life. But if we say, “This is who I am, and God must satisfy my needs,” then we will create a new and alien faith.
That’s a good quote. Where is it from?
But this whole conversation, from the literalists to the relativists and everywhere between is fraught with the same danger. I know too many faithful believers who struggle honestly with this issue to not leave room for differences in interpretation – all disciples and Bible scholars.
God is certainly my starting point and I have every confidence that Jesus inhabits the words I am sharing.
My prayer is that the disagreements within the body stop distracting the world from the Gospel.