1 Cor. 13 "I Am Nothing"

1 Corinthians 13 – Brandon Hatmaker “I Am Nothing”
Monday, June 30th, 2008

In chapter 13, Paul gives us a full list of the things we often think offer us spiritual significance. They are the things and are symbolic of things that we tend to gain personal value from or most often the things in which we measure personal success in faith.

Yet Paul said that even in these things, we are nothing and gain nothing without love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-4

Our church’s recent study of the Book of John has given me a fresh reminder of Jesus’ mode of operation that Paul discusses in chapter 13. Simply put, it’s all about love and action motivated by compassion for others.

In John 5, Jesus had made his way to Jerusalem for a feast for the Jews. While he was there, he stopped by the Sheep Gate Pool. A place where hundreds of those who were sick and diseased crowded with hopes of healing from the stirring of the waters.

I love it that Jesus picked out one guy. He chose a guy that was unable to help himself into the pool. He was a guy that had been unable to walk for 30+ years. Scripture says he was an invalid. Jesus healed him. He didn’t use the pool. He just told him to get up, take up his mat, and walk (even on the Sabbath).

Later we see that this was the man who pointed Jesus out to the Pharisee’s as the one who told him to “carry his mat” on the Sabbath, which was against the Law. He sold Jesus out. This act of healing was the catalyst in the increasing tension for Jesus in Jerusalem. The tension that eventually led to his death on the cross.

This was not an accident. Jesus knew what He was doing. He knew in the eyes of others, he was breaking a major religious Law. He knew how it would be received. He knew it would cause tension. He was using it as part of the plan to redeem.

Here is the crux of the story for me: Even in an action that caused tension leading to his death, Jesus used an act of compassion. He healed. He didn’t just stir up trouble and talk trash. He shared love, and God’s purposes prevailed. He did the same with the woman at the well in teaching about grace, with the royal official in teaching us about faith, with the feeding of the 5000 in teaching us about the bread of life, with the healing of the blind man and revealing our spiritual blindness, with the woman caught in adultery to teach us about mercy… the list goes on and on, and is always through an act of love and compassion.

But…

We worry too much. We worry that if we really choose this path of compassion that things won’t get done, maybe out of a fear that we won’t succeed. We fear that we’ll let God down if we don’t accomplish what we set out for. We fear that others won’t see us as leaders or won’t appreciate our methods and choose not to follow us. For me, it’s always been related to a lack of trust and faith, even more so, to a lack of revelation (vision) from God. That’s my fault, because God has been speaking through the life of Jesus from the very beginning.

Simply put, pressed down, in its simplest form and at the heart of it all, Paul said it and Jesus lived it, without love we are nothing. Nothing. We gain nothing and we are nothing. The word used for love is closely translated “charity”, an act of affection or benevolence.

So we have to be careful. We have to search our hearts and motives often. Paul reminds us that even, “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

We so easily make it about us. Even serving. We so easily lose perspective and can even give of ourselves selfishly… that’s crazy. And humbling. Almost seems impossible. Maybe that’s the key… we simply cannot do it of our own strength. That’s why Jesus reminded us in John 15, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” That’s an easy connection that is easily forgotten.

I’m glad it’s about love. I’m learning to trust love more. In love there is redemption. There is always a plan for reconciliation and mercy. There is always a fan for the underdog, always a hand for the down and out, always a place of healing for those seeking healing. Love takes the pressure off that we so often place ourselves under. The pressure that leads to condemnation that scripture tell us does not exist. The pressure that leads to worry that scripture tells us not to hold. The pressure that steals our joy, that Scriptures says is not only our inheritance, but in the Lord is our strength.

We have a great example through Jesus. It can certainly be trusted.

1 Cor. 5 "Spiritual Pride"

1 Corinthians 5 – Brandon Hatmaker “Spiritual Pride”
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

“Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.” - 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

In context, Paul is specifically talking about those who are spiritually proud and as a result are casting stones, primarily at him (and probably others). In chapter four, he drew attention to their bragging and desire to have high position and reminds them of their calling to be servants and to remain faithful. He wrote about maintaining humility and perspective in realizing that we have sins that even we don’t see. He gives multiple examples of the Apostles lifestyle and attitude of humility and simplicity that they should model. He is telling them very directly that they need correction and that he is bringing it, whether it’s “with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit”, he’s about to bring the wood.

Enter chapter five.

While Paul is indeed giving us guidelines for church discipline, given how much time he spent on calling out their arrogance in the prior chapter, we can’t help but see that he’s also saying, “hey when you look at the evidence, you should be expelling yourselves”. He goes on to give them a list of sins, a list that most of us can relate with. Why? I think some of the reason was to call out personal sin that was truly wide spread in the Corinthian church, but also in hopes to recover from the aforementioned “annihilation of humility”. This is a great lesson for all of us. They had lost perspective and replaced it with the self-deceiving sin of Spiritual Pride. The sin that runs rampant in Christian circles today. Paul tells us that pride in leadership can work it’s way through the entire church (vs.6). While some leaders may have the discipline or ability not to allow it to drag them into blatant, habitual, and self-justifying sin, most of their followers, students, or even “disciples” do not. Certainly church discipline was being established, and without correction of their ways, they would be sure to experience it… but first, Paul is writing a warning in love and is planning to send Timothy. Less he do what he warned in chapter four and show up with a “whip”.

Father, we are nothing without Christ. Because of Grace we are children of God, not of our own doing. Teach us to keep that perspective as the foundation of all our motives and actions. As we lead, help us to see how our attitudes and actions impact those around us. Keep us from Spiritual Pride. As we find confidence in who we are in Christ, remind us of what we are not without Him. Amen.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

1 Cor. 4 "Humility Annihilation"

1 Corinthians 4 – Brandon Hatmaker “Annihilation of Humility”
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

I thought it a profound statement of both humility and perspective that Paul would say, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent”. In it, he both affirms that he is doing the best he knows how before God, and still acknowledges that He cannot grasp the fullness of God’s perfection. So easily we make the opposite claim that our conscience is clear, therefore we are innocent. What Paul is certain of, however, is that we who cannot even see where we might be guilty, certainly do not possess the ability to find the same in others. In this, we should refrain.

Why?

Because in doing so, we annihilate the possibility of maintaining any sense of personal or spiritual humility. Our very own nature will cause us to compare and contrast. We will find heightened fault in others and an elevated opinion of ourselves.

Instead, we are reminded: God will bring light to what is hidden in the darkest of places. He will expose the motives of men’s hearts. This should bring comfort to one who stands before God maintaining perspective and humility.

For those searching for faith, I hope they find encouragement in these words. Our God is truly a just God. In His timing, He will not let evil prevail. He stands up for what is right, pure, noble, and true. His ways are higher than our ways. It makes His Grace even more amazing. It makes discovering what it takes to be called a child of God, an even more worthwhile pursuit.

1 Cor. 3 "Bottle Rocket Wisdom"

1 Corinthians 3 – Brandon Hatmaker “Bottle Rocket Wisdom”
Monday, June 16th, 2008

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.” 1 Corinthians 3:18-19

Here are a few of Matthew Henry’s words on chapter 3: “To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to self-deceit. The wisdom that wordly men esteem, is foolishness with God. How justly does he despise, and how easily can he baffle and confound it! The thoughts of the wisest men in the world, have vanity, weakness, and folly in them. All this should teach us to be humble, and make us willing to be taught of God, so as not to be led away, by pretences to human wisdom and skill, from the simple truths revealed by Christ.”

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about leadership and “self-deception”. I guess that’s why Henry’s words on self-flattery and self-deceit ring a bell with me. While I agree at the highest level on how impacting this state of ignorance is on an individual and thus on an organization, I’ve come to an opinion about self-deception that is often not discussed, yet is addressed in 1 Corinthians.

I believe that most of us are indeed semi-aware of our areas of “self-deception”. I know that sounds counter-intuitive and even contradictory, but I think it’s true. If I was to sit down and make a list of the things that others might say would be my shortfalls, I think I would be surprisingly close. Most of us would be.

So here’s what we think, “I already know the things you think I don’t know.”

My point? Most of us know the practical side of our issues. Most of us are working diligently to personally counter them. Most of us see very clearly how our attitudes and personalities impact negatively what we are attempting to do. They are embarrassing and for “x” amount of years have not been able to do anything about them. We don’t know how to fix them so, although they are true, we get defensive and don’t want to hear about them.

Paul is telling us that pride is our greatest deception. The biblical solution is humility. Pride casts it’s shadow on all our obvious flaws. It’s the lens in which is magnified all our issues (obvious and hidden). The problem comes when we address the “list” of issues that others may think we are oblivious to and fail to deal with the deep seeded issue of pride. Pride is the heart behind the fear of failure, insecurity manifested as arrogance, false humility, selfishness (all forms), and is the driving force in defensiveness… the list goes on and on. We cannot address these issues properly without dealing with our personal, professional, and spiritual pride. They are not self-existent.

Chalk this one up as one of those obvious things that… well, isn’t. It reminds me of a scene from the movie Bottle Rocket where Bob asks Dignan, “Why is there tape on your nose?” To which Dignan points to him firmly and replies, “Exactly!”

Paul calls us to recognize that our greatest wisdom would be to find ourselves fools. What a lowly thought. Exactly.

1 Cor. 2 "Finally"

1 Corinthians 2 – Brandon Hatmaker “Finally”
Friday, June 13th, 2008

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.” 1 Cortinthians 2

There it is. Finally. This scripture captures what I hope for as a pastor (and also shows a little perspective on the fact that none of us have it ALL together). The hope: that what we see and experience does not come from personal ability or skill, but that what we experience is so obviously from the movement of the Holy Spirit that no one can deny where it came from. I know my nature and my bent towards wanting to take credit. I don’t want to look at life and ministry and say, “see there, two years ago when I made that decision because I was so smart and I knew what I was doing… that was the point when this thing started really clicking… man, what a strategic hire, risk taking sacrifice, creative idea, display of service, etc… You may be thinking, truly it will require these things as well, I agree. We must steward our gifts. But the key is that our faith and leadership does not rest on our own wisdom, but instead, on God’s power.

Father, I crave to see a powerful movement of your Spirit. I confess my fleshly desire to divorce my mind from Spirit in areas of leadership. I confess my desire to please man and impress you for the wrong reasons. When I let those parts of me take over, I tend to try and take over. I tend to make it about my abilities, my work ethic, my ability to solve problems… Father, teach me to wait on you, to trust in you, to crave being a part of where you are moving instead of asking you to be a part of where I’m moving. Make my agenda Your agenda, that my faith might rest on your power alone. Amen.

1 Cor. 1 "All We Need"

1 Corinthians 1 – Brandon Hatmaker “All We Need”
Thursday, June 12th, 2008

There are two key things that stand out to me today in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. The first is found in verses 4-9:

“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

What encouragement. Paul reminds us that we do not lack any spiritual gift as we wait on the return of Jesus. He’s reminding us that we have all that we need to live the fullest of life in Christ, to overcome any trial or temptation, to live in peace and contentment with no fear of condemnation, and to live a life of purpose because we have already been given the mission.

I’m reminded of Jesus’ words in John 5, “"My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." Through the Spirit, His work continues.

The second thought comes from verses 22-25:

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.”

Paul reminds us what both the Greeks and Jews looked for. The fact is, it’s exactly what Jesus gave them, and it still wasn’t enough for them. He gave them miraculous signs. He displayed wisdom that baffled the wise. Yet many still rejected Him.

We do the same thing. We ask and look for circumstances of revelation. When we see them, we reason them away. Even when we recognize them as a gift, we easily forget them with time or don’t allow them to actual change us. Why? Because life-change is deeper than circumstance. It’s spiritual and it’s heart. There is an amazing tension found through scripture between God’s movement and man’s responsibility to respond. While God uses circumstance to move us towards revelation, true revelation is always found beyond circumstance.

Father, once again I find comfort in your greatness. There is sufficiency found only in you. Continuously teach me to trust in your ways. Teach me to pursue your heart and to surrender mine.

Romans 16 "The Same"

Romans 16 – Brandon Hatmaker “The Same”
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

“Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.” – Romans 16:25-27

Paul closes his letter by reminding us that not only is God able, but also that He alone is worthy of all glory. He is both mystery and revelation. Sounds complicated but it's not. Why is this? So that all nations might believe. Sometimes it’s the simple things that are so refreshing to me. This is our God. He’s been the same from the beginning in His plan for redemption. We can rest in this truth. We can grow in this truth. We can trust in this truth.

Romans 15 "Thank God"

Romans 15 – Brandon Hatmaker “Thank God”
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” – Romans 15:1-4

I’ve been going through a “mini” season of doubt the last week or so. Not the doubting of faith, but the doubting of my faith emphasis. I’ve been wondering if I’ve been teaching too much on keeping our emphasis on others. Seriously. I’ve felt the temptation to stop talking about serving others so much and concentrate more on matters of faith that are more “self-help”. Mostly because I’m afraid people will get bored. Weird.

Today I’m comforted and reminded. I’m not making this stuff up. The emphasis of the Gospel is on God and others. The emphasis of the Life of Jesus is on the Father and others. The emphasis of the Pauline Epistles is on God and others. It goes on and on.

The thing I love about reading the Bible through a chapter at a time is how it forces you to keep things in perspective. You can’t help but see what are mega themes and what are minor themes. You can’t help but see the emphasis of God and others throughout every doctrine, every practice, every discipline, and every motive.

Thank God, literally, for the fruit we get to experience, the journey we get to be on, the lives we get to see changed, the contentment we embrace in confidence as a child of God, and the freedom we have in Christ…

… all while we keep the emphasis on God and others.

Romans 14 "Disputable Matters"

Romans 14 – Brandon Hatmaker “Disputable Matters”
Monday, June 9th, 2008

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.” – Romans 14:1

So which one’s faith is weak? The one who lives in the freedom they profess, or the one who denies himself certain liberties as an act of conviction or discipline? Scriptures have been used to support either side. It’s been debated for a long time. I think this is left open to interpretation for a reason. I believe it’s an intentional tension that requires discipline, discretion, and discernment on both sides.

The bottom line is, “disputable matters” exist. Many of us have a conviction on how faith should be lived out, how freedom should be lived out, and how discipline should be lived out. We have our own convictions that are based on scripture, our nurture, and our culture. I’m not talking about the unchanging truth of Scripture I’m talking about the disputable applications that shape how we choose to apply them. Although we are often convinced of our own convictions, we are not always right to press them on others. Verse 4 says, “To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

Paul clearly reminds us that these are things that should not divide. Verse 19 and 20 say, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food”. We should press into knowing what God is saying, what the Spirit is convicting, and how we should respond with concern for others in mind. Live by what you believe. I guess you could say, “believe what you believe”. Be convinced. That way, no matter your actions, they are from faith and lived through the filter of loving God and loving others.

But don’t forget that others are living their faith unto God as well. Hopefully they are not trying to live our convictions before God, but instead, their convictions before God. Hopefully their convictions are based on sound doctrine (for their sake, and their listeners), but here in Romans 14, we are told it’s not necessarily ours to police. Verse 3 says, “The man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.”

Let’s not ignore the “therefore” of this verse. It’s the summary and the reason Paul engages this topic. It’s found in the closing verses:

“So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” – Romans 14:22-23

Romans 13 "Love and Law"

Romans 13 – Brandon Hatmaker “Love and Law”
Friday, June 6th, 2008

Paul leaves no room for argument or confusion. Love is the fulfillment of the law. He sets the table in chapter 12 for our need to present ourselves a living sacrifice, he describes what that looks like as we exercise our gifts (vs.3-8), he gives us the filter in which those gifts should be used (vs.9-21). Now in chapter 13 he uses the same stream of thinking to explain submission (13:1-7). That stream is summed up in the fulfillment of the law… Love God, Love Others… How? More than we love ourselves. Why? Because the time has come:

“Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. – Romans 13:11-12

Paul clearly states the only way to live as a follower of Christ is to “put on” the armor of light through “putting on” Christ, wholly and completely. This is our spiritual act of worship. This is the presentation of our living sacrifice.

“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” – Romans 13:14

The truth is so thick in these passages, yet he’s only just begun. Paul is setting the table for Romans 14. Here he gets into the mud. Here he calls us out in how to deal with one another on a heart level. He deals with us and how we treat one another when we disagree on the most intimate, most personal, most significant part of who we are… our faith and how it is manifest in our lives.

Father, teach us to allow your truth to saturate our entire lives. Even areas we feel we already have. Teach us Love. Amen.

Rom. 12 "The Leadership Gift"

Romans 12 – Brandon Hatmaker “The Leadership Gift”
Thursday, June 5th, 2008

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8

Paul reminds us that what we have is from God. They are gifts and are spiritually endowed. Even our experiences are gifts. If we are encouragers, along with Spiritual enablement, it typically comes with a history or disposition of positive influence that fosters more encouragement and a positive attitude. This is a gift. If our gift is contributing to the needs of others, it typically comes with the ability and/or stability to give because you have. This is a gift. If it is showing mercy, typically it came with a history of experiencing and understanding mercy. While this can often be the result of a season of trail, it is a gift.

Leadership is no different. Many times we see it as ability alone. But it’s not. It is a gift that is shaped by our influences. And it’s an influence based on position. We know that because the word used here in Romans 12 for leadership means to stand before in rank, to preside, maintain, be over, to rule. Paul is telling us that we have a responsibility to use our position in leadership to honor God. The ability to lead is a gift, and the position of leadership is a gift.

Scripture tells us if we have the gift of this influence and position that we should govern diligently, which means with eagerness, earnestness, forwardness and carefulness. Since our position of influence is a gift. How we use it is everything. “How” we lead others is just as important (possibly even more important) than “that” we lead others. This is the difference between leadership and servant leadership.

In these few verses, we are reminded that we are who we are because of God. He is shaping and using our experiences and our exposures for His glory. He has been intimately involved with the development and endowment of these gifts, therefore, He should remain intimately involved with the USE of these gifts. And heart attitude is everything.

Throughout the rest of chapter 13, Paul gives us the list in which all these gifts must be filtered through. Whether we are speaking truth, encouraging, giving, exhorting, leading, or offering mercy they are to be done in the shadow of these attitudes of faith and heart:

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought. (vs.3)
Cling to what is good. (vs.9)
Honor one another above yourselves. (vs.10)
Keep your spiritual fervor. (vs.11)
Be joyful in hope. (vs.12)
Be patient in affliction. (vs.12)
Be faithful in prayer. (vs.12)
Share with God's people who are in need. (vs.13)
Practice hospitality. (vs.13)
Bless those who persecute you. (vs.14)
Rejoice with those who rejoice. (vs.15)
Mourn with those who mourn. (vs.15)
Live in harmony with one another. (vs.16)
Do not be proud (second time this is written). (vs.16)
Be willing to associate with people of low position. (vs.16)
Do not be conceited (a third time) (vs.16)

Because of our nature, that’s a tough list to filter our actions through, but these “filters” determine whether we are using our gifts for ourselves or for God’s Glory. As believers, we often assume we are acting out of these, but we should take time to evaluate our own hearts. They show us if we are going “around” God or going “through” people to get where we are going. Each one is as indicting and full of neglect as the other. What do we neglect? Loving God and loving others. The greatest commandments.

They filter whether we are speaking “truth” to someone to glorify God or speaking “truth” to glorify ourselves. They are the difference between showing mercy to show how merciful we are and offering it to show how merciful God is. They are the difference between giving generously so others might think we are generous, verses us giving from a thankful and cheerful heart recognizing God’s provision in our lives. It’s the difference between secular leadership and servant leadership.

Father, Your word is so clear and you remind us so often. I think about Luke 16:15 where Jesus accuses the Pharisee’s, He said, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.” In whatever pursuit we have, please show us when we are neglecting Your ways. Your Word teaches us that all we can do should be an overflow of what YOU are doing in our lives. Start within each of us. Don’t allow our faith to become toxic, neither to ourselves or to others. Protect us from our own selfish ambition.

Romans 11 "My Own People"

Romans 11 – Brandon Hatmaker “My Own People”
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

“I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. – Romans 11:13-16

Sometimes I forget that Paul was a Jew. I don’t know why, but I do. There comes a lot of pride (the good kind) from a strong lineage. And Paul loved his people. I forget how much this probably hurt his soul that what they hoped for so long, they now reject. His own people were blind to what he was trying to show them.

I can’t help but now make the jump to God. Can we truly comprehend how we grieve the Spirit when we, as God’s own creation, reject Him? Obviously for eternity’s sake, but let’s not forget how we do it daily, even as believers.

This makes Grace even more profound to me today.

Romans 10 "Hind-Sight"

Romans 10 – Brandon Hatmaker “Hind-Sight”
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” - Romans 10:8b-10

In these few verses, Paul reminds us what was written about the coming Christ through quoting scriptures from Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and Joel. It’s amazing when you look at it all from hind-site how many could still miss it. It's a perfect fit. The hope they had been looking for since the beginning stood before them, He gave His life as scripture had outlined, and now Paul is showing them directly how it is in line with God’s Word.

So many times we pray for a sign. We ask God to affirm that He is really there. We ask Him to give us a reminder of His hand. I’m so thankful when He does. Today I’m thankful that He always has. This is just one of many of the gifts of God. And it’s in plain sight. The question is, are we looking?

Rom. 9 "Cognitive Dissonance"

Today I'm reminded how great it is to know and be around others who are much smarter than me. A good friend of mine who is the VP of Global Sales for a software company headquartered here in Austin wrote this about Romans 9 Today. I can't decide if I'm more impressed by how incredibly insightful it is or the fact that it was sitting in my inbox by 5am. I love hearing stuff like this from guys out in the real world. Thanks Alex, for your input:

June 2, 2008 – Romans 9 “Resolving Cognitive Dissonance” on verses 30 – 33 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

In 1957, Leon Festinger published a theory of cognitive dissonance, which has changed the way psychologists look at decision-making and behavior. The theory of cognitive dissonance states that contradicting cognitions (as any element of knowledge, including attitude, emotion, belief, or behavior) serve as a driving force that compels the mind to acquire or invent new thoughts or beliefs, or to modify existing beliefs, so as to reduce the amount of dissonance (conflict) between cognitions (beliefs). Two beliefs are said to be in conflict if one belief follows from the opposite of another. Basically, if you introduce a bit of knowledge to a human that is in conflict with beliefs they already hold they will face a level of discomfort similar to extreme thirst or hunger and will try to resolve the dissonance by:

· Changing beliefs - if the belief is fundamental and important to you such a course of action is unlikely.
· Changing actions – deciding not to experience the new belief again
· Rationalizing existing beliefs - which is probably most common

What the heck does cognitive dissonance have to do with Romans 9? Everything; Paul was introducing the ultimate cognitive dissonance to the Jewish faithful. The ultimate conflicting belief to the followers of law. Think about it; if I hold firm to my belief that everlasting life is contingent upon my adherence to a set of rules and earning my way to heaven through acts that I perform to please my God; Romans 9 and all of the New Covenant are a problem. Jesus is the stumbling block and He is shaking rules based religion to the core. The Pharisees have no choice, they must resolve the conflict that Paul is creating in their mind. But it is a deeply held belief and so they are far more likely to either ignore the teachings as a rant of a mad-man or rationalize their existing beliefs (well Paul may be right, but God will surely still let me in Heaven because I am a good guy)

The only answer is to change our beliefs. To understand grace vs. works. This brothers is the leap of faith. To resolve the conflict that Jesus creates in our minds by picking the toughest path, the New Way; change our beliefs.