This was my second Sunday attending the services at Infinity Church here. Pastor Aaron really brought the word this morning and gave me a new perspective on a popular passage. Also included in this blog are reflections from a chapter I just finished in a book I'm reading.
Pastor Aaron finished his series through the New Testament book of Ephesians today. His sermon was on the Armor of God in chapter 6. His message was incredible and I want to share what I pulled out of it. Much of it was refreshers on what I had heard before, but the first point I found intriguing was Pastor Aaron's s statement that the Armor of God WAS God. Each of the pieces of Armor describe a characteristic of God and provide for us the protection from the enemy. He referenced passages like Genesis 15:1 and Psalms 18:2, 30, 35 and 28:7 all referencing God as our shield. In John 14:6 Jesus claims to be the Truth, which is what we're supposed to attach around our waist.
Where this all became real for me is when Pastor Aaron made this passage a proactive stance, not just a passive defense. The phrase "stand firm" becomes key. This of course implies resistance, giving resistance to evil. I have always considered a struggle with sin to be a bad thing, but as Pastor Aaron addressed, we will always be in a struggle with sin. Pastor Aaron went as far to say that if we are not struggling with sin, then we've already surrendered. The Christian life is full of constant battles against sin, evil, and the Devil. There is no sitting back and chillin'. It is a constant struggle against the principalities and powers of darkness. But there will always be a struggle.
This spoke to what I had been reading in the book unChristian by David Kinnaman. Kinnaman and a friend, formerly part of the Barna Group, decided they wanted to find out what the world's perspective on Christianity really was and why there seemed to be such a disconnect from Christianity. They took special note to several areas and took a chapter to address each. The first area Kinnaman addresses in hypocrisy. He does not take this chance to defend Christianity, but describes how we were tagged with this title and what we as Christians need to do to remove this label from us. Essentially Kinnaman concludes that this perception comes from the importance that Christian's place on appearance. What happens is Christians preach a Gospel that puts so much importance on being good, not sinning, and doing good deeds. Interestingly many "outsiders," and even many "insiders" who are classified as "born-again" Christians believe that good deeds and behaving will get them into Heaven. It seems that Christianity portrays that doing good will get you into Heaven, instead of the reality that a relationship with Jesus Christ will cause you to love and live a better life. "Our passion for Jesus should result in God-honoring, moral lifestyles, not the other way around (45)."
Because Christians, along with the rest of society, have such a high view of appearance, it seems that many in Christianity feel like they need to demonstrate that they have it all together. You see, the problem is not speaking of striving for a moral lifestyle, the problem is pretending like we have it all figured out, when everyone knows we don't, including outsiders. What Kinnaman calls for is Christians to humble themselves and become more transparent. We need to be open and willing to discuss the problems we have as a church and as a body of believers. Not only will this help the church progress, but the transparency is respected and helpful for those on the outside. They already know we have problems, so why pretend like we don't? Teaching the world about the love of Christ will save them, not telling them what they must do or how they must act.
The most powerful part of all this comes when Kinnaman begins to conclude this chapter. "Our research shows that Christians believe the primary reason outsiders have rejected Christ is that they cannot handle the rigorous standards of following Christ (45)." You see Christians have elevated good works so far above God's grace that many people don't even get the chance to experience that grace and freedom from sin and bondage because our message has been expressed in a way that they many are convinced they must be good and holy before coming to Christ. Christians should become more transparent and open about our own problems and struggles with sin and elevating God's grace over our good works. "The Gospel-the Good News of Jesus-is that God has released us from the endless striving to measure up to God's standards, let alone the expectations of other human beings." You see, the expectations and moral goals we place on each other have become similar to that of the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus' time. I'm not completely dismissing the importance of a moral lifestyle, and neither is Kinnaman. But he does suggest that the balance has perhaps swung too far in the wrong direction.
Well that went a lot longer than I intended and I still have so much more I want to say. So instead, get the book and read it. Kinnaman says it all a lot better and more clearly than I could ever hope to say it. I hope it raises awareness and at least causes you to think. I would love for you to leave comments and tell me what you think. Discuss it. I'll leave you with this quote from author Jim White at the conclusion of the chapter that really clarifies everything. "We must stop presenting ourselves as the message and begin presenting Jesus as the message (58)."
To God be the Glory.
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