The Magnetic Pull of the Dark Side...

Over the holidays we went and saw the latest Sar Wars movie. Like any good fantasy, it captures some real things about living in this world which contributes to its popularity. In one scene Rey peers into a dark pit, which apparently is a portal for peering into the dark side. (spoiler alert!) she can't resist the draw of this dark pit and ends up heading right into it. I couldn't help but identify.

This week I started reading the Bible again and the movie scene played over again in my mind. In spite of a good God who created a good world, we chose darkness over light. The truth is even the best of us love the darkness more than the light. I'd like t say because I'm a pastor that I'm a good guy. But it's not the evil out there in the world that is my problem but my own propensity to choose evil over good. We are all a strange mix of amazing potential for good but a crippling love for the bad, the dark, the selfish. Our problem is internal and we all have it. It's why Jesus came. It's why we need his rescue and regeneration.

In our culture, the church needs to be more open about our love for the 'dark side', not to justify it or to promote it, but to model what it means to walk in repentance and belief. I remember the first time I spoke about sexuality at my church. I wanted to talk about the things I did right, the times I avoided temptation. The thinking was that I needed to be a good example of spiritual strength. But I was challenged to take a different path and I'm so glad I did. The underlying truth is, my life contains sexual failures. So instead of painting a perfect picture, I spoke of my struggles in light of the gospel and God's purpose for sex. It was difficult and scary but I think it connected better with people and pointed more directly to Christ.

Comments

Why Do Church As Family?

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. - Ephesians 5:15–21 ESV What is the big purpose of your earthly life now that you belong to Jesus Christ? The New Testament reveals that God's explicit will for your life involves serving Christ by pursuing his way of life and joining him in making disciples. All of which brings glory to his name. (Col 2:6-8, 5:17, Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:6-8) How are you going to do this? Well, that's the million-dollar questi...

The Gospel Is Attractive: By Charlotte E. Craig

I am grateful for the insights and gift of words God has blessed Charlotte with and the blessing she is to our family. This short piece from her Instagram feed is a helpful reminder of the kind of 'countercultural' movement that characterized the early churches and turned the Roman Empire upside down. There is s a great need for believers and churches to return to the way of Christ and his Apostles. Something that has always struck me about the personhood of Jesus is how countercultural He is. Love your enemies. Forgive those who hurt you. Submit to governing authorities. Align yourself with the poor and oppressed. These are only a few of the controversial, yet beautiful teachings of Jesus. As followers of Christ, these are principles that we are called to mimic in our own lives. Yet, I find more and more that the focus of modern Western Christianity is to simply make being a Christian “look cool.” Not only does this come across a...

The Gospel Has Two Shoes

The Gospel has two shoes. The church reformers of the sixteenth century were right when they insisted that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Yet the good news of the gospel is not only that we are saved by grace, but also that we are called by grace into Christ's plan for his church. The pattern of teaching throughout the New Testament often referred to as 'the faith' or 'sound doctrine', lays out the basics for both our salvation and for fulfilling our calling. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) Christian faith is not merely mental assent to the facts about Jesus. Just agreeing with the great truths of the gospel; is som...

More Than Words...

Search This Blog