-on friday, during my daily siesta at au bon pain in the student center, i was enjoying a cup of coffee and a cheese croissant, and i found myself reading the book of romans. it's always struck me as a beautiful book in its false sense of simplicity. what i mean is, i read something, and think "man, that's just good fundamental truth." but then, i read it again, and it's so complex! no less beautiful or fundamental, but there's always more to it than i'm willing to see at first. seeing as how i've never been a very diligent bible reader, i think i'll stay away from commentary and the like, and just throw out a couple of verses/passages/phrases that struck me in that time.
ch 3, v 21-26
"but now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. for there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. this was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forebearance He has passed over former sins. it was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
ch 5, v 17-21
"if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men...now the law cam in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
ch 6, v 14
"for sin will have NO dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
ch 8, v 24-25
"for in this hope we were saved. now hope that is seen is not hope. for who hopes for what he sees? but if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."
just some really cool promises from a pretty crazy Father.
-my bostonian friend emily oldham (blog on the right) shared with me a book called theirs is the kingdom by a guy named robert lupton. lupton started a ministry in a poor area of atlanta called family consultation services, and this book is filled with short anecdotes about his time there that are both stirring and convicting. one of them struck my attention the other day. he tells the story of a woman who lived life to the fullest, until her husband died. from that day on, her life was never the same. she became a pack rat, incredibly independent, confined to a wheelchair inside her house (by choice). grasping at life instead of clinging to Life. then he compares this woman to the Church (sorry for another long quote. it's worth it):
"the church is engaged in a similar struggle. we are in a death drift that moves us from serving to preserving. we feel it carrying us along. our spontaneous fellowship soon becomes a program. bearing one another's burdens becomes a budget line item. self-sacrificing friends become paid professionals with titles (counselor, minister, director) and salary packages, longevity guarantees, and retirement benefits. our meeting places turn into "holy places" with stained glass, polished oak, and locks. taking "no thought for tomorrow" becomes sentimental rhetoric as we build bigger barns and amass insurance and endowments and reserve funds against the unpredictable events of our future.
but the church has no future. we have only the present. in this present moment we must spend, lavish, and give away our tomorrows for the sake of His kingdom today. in short, we must die. today. that is the only way to save our lives. the church is called to live at golgotha. if perchance tomorrow morning we discover that our depleted spirits have a new supply of energy, that the emptied offering plate is full once again, and from sacrificial dreams whole new dimensions of life have burst forth, then we will begin to understand something of what the resurrection is all about. on the other side of death, each death, stands our risen Lord. and He beckons us."
wow. i had to read that 3 or 4 times before it sunk in and really grasped me. how true is that?
-speaking of my great friend emily oldham, i'm headed to boston this weekend to see her. i'm really pumped for this. i like boston. a lot. i think it's better than new york. judge. i'll let you know all about it.
feel free to comment on any or all of this.
1 comment:
i too had to read it several times. Solid c-nut. This quote really means alot to me. "meeting places turn into "holy places" with stained glass, polished oak, and locks. taking "no thought for tomorrow" becomes sentimental rhetoric as we build bigger barns and amass insurance and endowments and reserve funds against the unpredictable events of our future." I have not stepped foot in a church in almost 3 months. I feel terrible because of that and im not proud of it by any means. I have learned to worship where I am though, in the moment...riding in my car, riding my bike, sitting on my porch, talking to a friend. you get the idea. I guess what i am saying is that ive matured lately not having that support group that took for granted and was basically at my disposal. i miss those days. miss you c-nut.
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