Who do you say I am?

I have had some conversations with people about "religious" things, and the one thing that gets said that I think annoys me the most is "Pastor said ..."  Maybe it's not Pastor, maybe it's CS Lewis, or Francis of Assisi, or insert any other "famous", or "learned" name in.

Now, it's not that we shouldn't try to learn from others and it's not that there is no authority in what these people say, the problem I have is that they are people.  People are not perfect, people are sometimes wrong, and frankly I don't care what people say nearly as much as what God says.

The biggest reason why I have a problem with "Pastor says...", is that when it comes down to it and you stand before the throne, it won't matter one bit what your pastor, or CS Lewis, or any other person says about God.  What will matter is the answer to the question "Who do you say I am?"  That is what do YOU believe?

So, here is a small essay that I wrote as a teen about what I believe.  It's interesting looking back now at what I wrote.  I will reproduce it exactly, including some spelling mistakes.  Oh, and there is one swear word...

What I Believe

Here is what I believe, kinda a statement of faith for me.  This is just me hashing out what it is that I believe, in no particular order.

I believe that there is one true God, that He had His son die so I might live.  I believe that He sends His Holy Spirit to comfort and heal us.  I believe that God loves me and wants good things for me.  I believe that God is in control of everything, my finances, my love life, or lack thereof, and my future.  I believe that miracles do happen today, I have seen them.  I believe that I will be married one day and that God will bless that marriage.  I believe that the Bible is the flawless, holy word of God.  I believe that God can and will speak to his people, even though I have never really experienced it myself.  I believe that being a pastor is hard work and a job that I do not want.  I believe God will never and has never and can never fail us, when it appears as though he has, we don't know all the facts.  I believe that things do work out in the end for those who love God.  I believe that there is power in the spoken word, and that for many thoughts to achieve there full potential, they must be said out loud.  I believe that it is not a crime to open a door or push in a chair for a woman.  I believe that worship is a gift from God that should be fun and at the same time approached with reverence.  It's quite the privilege.  I believe in helping when I can, and making time to be there for a friend.  I believe in the sanctity of marriage, to paraphrase:  What God has joined let no man tear apart.  I believe God has a plan for my life, and that although I may fell like a little guy in the grand scheme of things, with God's help little guys can do big things too.  I believe that being considerate to others is not a bad thing, and that being taken advantage of is a risk you take when you treat others the way that you should.  I believe that abortion is murder.  I believe that homosexuality is wrong, even if that makes me a homophobe.  I believe that sex outside of wedlock is just as wrong, but gets overlooked by Christians for the most part.  I believe that wrestling is real (just kidding).  I believe that people take themselves far too seriously, and that Christians could use a little more humour in their lives and could laugh at themselves a little more often.  I believe that God has a great sense of humour, just look at what He's made and what He's got us doing...  I believe that God made us each and every one in His likeness, not that of an ape, orang-utan, or chimpanzee.  I believe that math is fun.  I believe that sometimes bad things happen to good people for what appears to be no good reason.  Shit happens.  I believe that swearing won't send you to hell.  I believe that you should be careful what you say.  Words can hurt.

So that is what I believed as a teen.  It's interesting looking back, now that I am 37 and seeing how some things worked out.

So, I ask you "What do you believe?"

The Big Three

So I'm sitting in church the other day and I notice that the pastor has mentioned the same three sins again.  I call them the big three.  His choices:  drinking, smoking and pornography.  First, I do want to say that smoking as far as I can tell isn't a sin.  I think it is a stupid life choice, but not a sin.  He doesn't mean drinking altogether, but drinking in excess.

I start thinking about the big three.  I don't smoke, I can probably count on my fingers the number of drinks I had all last year, and I am at a point in my life where pornography does not have a hold on me (thank God I can say that, it wasn't always the case, and maybe I'll write about that sometime).  So, does that mean that I have it all together?

The simple answer is no.  The biggest problem with the big three idea is that I think it can give people a false sense of comfort.  I think of the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector:

Luke 18

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

So often we look at the pharisee (or any other character in the bible that failed in some way) and see them as something separate from ourselves, almost as if they are some alien species.  How could they possibly be so stupid?!  They missed the whole point.  The irony here is that in so doing we are the pharisee.

How does this make a difference in my life?  Well I was walking the dog the other day, and praying as I went (thanks Andy for that idea!).  I think God spoke to me about my big three.  

1.  Acting out of frustration:  I have four children aged 4, 3, almost 2 and 7 months.  I love them and wouldn't trade what I have for anything.  Sometimes dealing with them can be very frustrating.  I have been learning with God's help to not react when frustrated.  It hasn't been easy or flawless, but it has been amazing.

2.  Not treating God's name as holy:  Again on a walk with the dog I started to paraphrase the Lord's prayer.  "God my father in heaven, Your name is holy..."  Here I stopped.  I don't always treat it that way.  There have been times when I treat his name as a throwaway...  I am not one who freaks out over every word, but the way we speak matters.

3.  Judgementalism:  I have noticed recently that I have walked into certain situations with a poor attitude.  I think that the person can't do this as well as I could.  Why are they even there?  Wait, does God use the humble for noble purposes?  Hmmm.

Anyway, that is my big three.  I mention them not out of false humility so people tell me how awesome I am (I am pretty awesome), but to remind everyone that your big three and mine may not be the same, and that if you don't drink, smoke, or indulge in pornography, you can still find areas for God to work in your life.