Now for the loaded Question:

Why should the church not be attractional? (ok so thats a new word) –
Why should we not become the place that people want to go “because everyone knows your name…”
While I do not think we should compromise on the Gospel Message – I don’t think being an attraction is a bad thing… Your thoughts?

Imagine if we actually were not so shallow!

Imagine being arrested,  tried, convicted, flogged, tortured for your transgressions;

Imagine carrying your own cross to the place where you were going to be killed;

Imagine being mocked & hearing others mocking this righteous man next to you;

Imagine Asking to be Remembered in Paradise;

Just Imagine

Imagine being forgiven – while not baptized.

Imagine being forgiven – while not possessing the gifts of the Spirit.

Imagine being unclean – and yet offered salvation.

Imagine not being a man of good works not being able to boast of anything

Imagine being Invited into Paradise;

Are we not all like one of the two thieves on the cross?

Imagine being the guy tending to the flock of sheep only to see the sky brighten up and hear the Angels Glorifying the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – telling you a farmer – that GOD IS WITH YOU!

Imagine being the Son of Man – the Son of God walking into the temple at such a young age knowing that these are the same people that you came to die for – the same people who will crucify you because you threaten their CREED but saving them with your Final deed of your resurrection.

Imagine being the proud disciple of Christ knowing that one day the writings of the Old Testament – the same writings that many in your culture have grown up to memorize, would be carried out to end the life of your blessed friend.

Imagine hearing that friend tell those in the temple that he would raise it up again in just 3 days… and wondering what that really meant.

Imagine being the one who kissed Jesus,  what was once a sign of respect would be forever eternally changed to a sign of betrayal.

Imagine being the one who wanted to kill the guard for taking away your master – only to have that master heal the guard.

… now

Imagine only moments later you run away and deny the Christ you have spent so much time with.

Imagine watching your friend be beaten, bruised, scorned – FOR YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS -

Imagine being the one to help your friend carry the tree – the Cross – knowing that soon he would be killed – murdered – crucified – after being tried by a kangaroo court where the justice of the peace washed his hands of the situation…

Imagine hearing those words -   IT IS FINISHED -  and watching your friend – your master – the Son of Man – the Son of God Dead on the cross – as the guard cuts his side open to ensure death’s final blow has actually been completed…

… Can you – just for a moment

Imagine those things in your life that this Jesus has died to wash away so that you may be presented faultless to the Only Wise God…   Were you born to live a life of happiness, a life of getting and having all your desires – or to die to self so that others may Gain?

Don’t you realize that you Killed Jesus?

after all my friend -  It was Your Sin that He died for.   (and mine…)

Stop imagining and take Faith knowing that the Father who sent His Son sees you as faultless – because of this sacrifice.

Rejoice -HIS GLORY HAS JUST BEGUN.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARdwIWDnE90

So what does this have to do with Faith?    - dont worry I will get there I promise:

Over on the CARM website I have been discussing with a number of folks – some who are Mormon, others who are Jehovah Witness – and some who are professing christians even -

WHAT does it take to become a Christian.

1. Repent of our sins and Trust in Jesus Christ.

So what exactly is this “Repent” thing –   is it feeling sorry for our sins?  is it changing the way we think about our sins,  is it a “Transformation” of the mind?  or is it stopping from sinning all together?…

The greek word for repentance comes from their word metanoia – its root is meta “to change ones thinking”

Paul wrote that God saves us:

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (Titus 3:5-7) King James Version

In Romans Paul tells us that Grace is no longer grace if we have to work for it… Grace simply put is an undeserved gift.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So how does this fit in with POOP?   

I think the issue of salvation by works is simply that – a bunch of Poop.   Will we ever be good enough to merit the grace of God based on our actions?   Based on our feelings?   Based on our ability to follow the law?

My daughter would have been content going to sleep sitting in her poopy pannies ~ she only said sorry when she was caught.

I thought this was an interesting illustration – we come to the Heavenly Father sitting in our Poo unable to get the stench of our sin off of us – and God takes us as we are because of the Propitiation of His Son – The place Christ Jesus took on the cross.     Suddenly our noses become open and we realize that we smell like poo… and we want to change.   That change – that transformation is done by the “renewing of your mind”

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2) King James Version

My daughter was only convicted because she was caught.    I am happy that my God has saved me – in spite of my blindness – even for the things I have not been caught on and don’t even realize yet.

My daughter will grow out of this phase – I hope quickly but I cannot help but imagine what God thinks about my poopy faith sometimes.

Four monkeys were placed in a room that had a tall pole in the center. Suspended from the top of that

Are we not smarter than a monkey

pole was a bunch of bananas. One of the hungry monkeys started climbing the pole to get something to eat, but just as he reached out to grab a banana, he was doused with a torrent of cold water. Squealing, he scampered back down the pole and abandoned his attempt to feed himself. Each monkey made a similar attempt and each one was drenched with cold water. After making several attempts, they finally gave up.

Then researchers removed one of the monkeys from the room and replaced him with a new monkey. As the newcomer began to climb the pole, the other three grabbed him and pulled him down to the ground. After trying to climb the pole several times and being dragged down by the others, he finally gave up and never attempted to climb the pole again.

The researchers replaced the original monkeys, one by one, and each time a new monkey was brought in, he would be dragged down by the others before he could reach the bananas. In time, the room was filled with monkeys who had never received a cold shower. None of them would climb the pole, but not one of them knew why!

So – is the crowd pulling you down?

We are told in Ephesians that God’s vision is Bigger than ours.

Now unto HIM that is able to do more than we can ask or imagine! – Ephesians 3:20

What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?     is this not the same question as WHAT IS GOD CALLING YOU TO DO?

The easiest way to think about this is as follows:

Of course it is important for us to realize that you cannot have one without the other –  James stated that Faith is dead without works…   The scriptures tell us that we are Saved by Grace – it is a GIFT of GOD, not of works, lest any man should boast.

Questions: —