Grace Versus Religion

There's an interesting story in John 8 that shows just how low religion can sink. Jesus had been telling people about how He was the Light of the world and how that when they came to know the truth, they would be set free. As He showed them that it wasn't their religious background or affiliation that gave them status with God but that it would be their relationship to Him that mattered, the Jews began to become more and more angry. Tell a self-righteous person that his religious achievements don't impress God and you're setting yourself up for a fight.

The first thing they did was to try to defend their connection to Abraham in an attempt to set forth their religious pedigree. Jesus plainly pointed out to them that their religious identification didn't seem to be making any difference in causing them to live a life of faith in God. "If your relationship to Abraham is such a big deal, why isn't it affecting the way you live?" Jesus asked in so many words. (See John 8:39)

That was all it took. Now, He had gone and insulted their self-righteous pride. Mess with a man's religious identity by telling him that God isn't impressed and that it's not doing him or, for that matter, anybody else any good and you're asking for trouble. The problem they faced was that they couldn't deny that what Jesus said was true. So they took the defensive strategy that religion always takes when cornered. They attacked the messenger.

"Oh yeah?" they chided. "Well, at least we weren't born of fornication!"(See John 8:41) Of course, they were referring to the fact that Mary, the mother of Jesus, wasn't married to Joseph when she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Their attempt was to shut Him up by trying to embarrass Jesus, even shame Him by pointing out what they believed to be a deficiency in Him.

Make no mistake about it - this weapon from hell is still often used against those who boldly stand for the truth of God's grace. Authentic grace and performance-based-religion are like baking soda and vinegar. Try to introduce grace to self-righteous pride and a reaction is sure to erupt. When the message you share is iron-clad (and the message of pure grace is biblically sound), don't be surprised when the attack is turned against you.

I've heard it all myself. I've been accused by some people of not believing the Bible, of trying to establish a denomination with myself as the leader, of founding a new cult (called McVeyism by this particular critic), of lacking credentials, of being arrogant, of merchandising the gospel. The list goes on. My two favorites are "How can that guy teach the message of Christ living through us when he's overweight?" and "Steve McVey is a liar with a bad haircut."

Then there are the internal accusations - the ones that have come into my mind through the years. Those are much more personal, cruel and painful, even though I know they aren't true. Have you heard those accusations in your own mind?

Whether the voices that seek to silence us are external or internal, we will do well to remember one thing. We are in good company when these kind of attacks come, for the Lord Jesus Himself faced such moments. If you continue reading in John 8, you'll see that they finally accuse Him of being demon possessed. (See verse 48). The enemy will stop at nothing in trying to silence anybody who proclaims the pure truth of God's love and grace in a world of self-righteousness.

We are in a battle in our efforts to spread the message of grace. It's not a battle with flesh and blood either. This is a revolution and revolutionaries are often fired upon. The reality is that it goes with the territory. Much is at stake and the enemy of our souls will not stand idly by while we advance the Kingdom of God by spreading His love and grace.

If you feel attacked, you're not alone. If you feel belittled at times, you're not alone. If you feel alone, you're not alone! Let's join our hearts and hands and stand strong. We aren't fighting for victory. We are fighting from Victory and He assures us that through Him we will prevail.

In the thick of the battle, hymn-writer and gospel preacher, Isaac Watts wrote these words three hundred years ago that still serve us well today. May they be an expression of our own hearts.

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease?
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign
Increase my courage, Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy word.

Thy saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer, though they die;
They view the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.

Baby Got Book

Figure out your own object lessons from this video. All I know is that it's so ridiculous I couldn't stop smiling from start to finish :)

Want To Know How To Be Rid of Bad Habits???

I put this video on my blog several years ago but just came across it again. It illustrates so very well the approach that religious legalism takes toward counseling people by telling them to find the strength from within their own willpower to make changes in their lives. I think it's hilarious but, sadly, illustrates scenarios that are all to true to life in "Christian counseling" everywhere.

Are You Going Blind?

Jesus encountered many people who were physically blind during His earthly ministry. However, there were only two groups that He ever called spiritually blind. One of them was the Pharisees. The ironic fact about this group is that they believed with all their hearts that they saw things more clearly than everybody else. (Modern Pharisees still believe that.)

What was the cause of their spiritual blindness? Legalism. Perhaps nothing so effectively destroys a clear vision of the face of the Divine Lover like legalism. The danger with legalism is that it usually doesn’t cause a Christian to be struck blind instantly, but gradually.

The last time I had my eyes examined, the ophthalmologist gave me a warning as she looked into the pupil of my left eye. “There is something here that you shouldn’t be worried about now, but at some point it will need attention,” she said. “What is it?” I asked. She continued, “I see the very early stages of a cataract in this eye.” “A cataract?!” I asked in disbelief. The ophthalmologist continued, “This isn’t something to worry about now. It will probably take it many years to grow to the point where you’ll need to have something done about it. I’m just telling you so that you can have it checked over the years.”

Some Christians begin their new life in Christ with perfect vision. However, as time progresses, like a cataract, legalism begins to gradually grow in their lives until it eventually blinds them to the presence of Jesus Christ in meaningful ways. Intellectually, they know He is there, but they gradually lose their experiential sight of Him.

They talk about times they have seen Him in the past, but have completely lost sight of Him actively working in their lives today. They have, as Jesus said about one church, “lost their first love.” Legalism suffocates love, thus cuts one off from the very life force of the spiritual disciplines.

Sometimes people with failing vision have been known to pretend to see better than they do. That’s what a Christian legalist does. In an effort to keep up appearances, those blinded by legalism profess all the more loudly about how clearly they can see. They go through religious motions, but with each passing day their view of the Divine Lover’s face grows more dim. Those actions which were once animated by His indwelling life and which were motivated by love now become religious routine. They have traded a Person for performance.

They read the Bible, but it doesn’t read them. They say prayers, but don’t pray. They watch and listen, but no longer see and hear. (See Mark 8:18) They are more than willing to tell everybody around them how to walk, but don’t have the vision to know where they are going themselves. They are “blind leaders of the blind.” (See Matthew 15:14)

The source of legalists’ behavior is not love for Jesus Christ, but dead, religious duty. They believe they can gain God’s favor because of what they do. The miss the point altogether that it isn’t a certain behavior that brings God pleasure. God is pleased by faith. (See Hebrews 11:6)

Those blinded by legalism typically get hung up on the technicalities of the religious rules they deem important, but have lost sight completely of the things that are really important. They argue over incidental things that have no eternal value. They are missing Jesus!

Jesus spoke to them in Matthew 23, telling them the way it is. Peterson describes the scene in The Message, when Jesus said to them,

You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment – the absolute basics! – you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?

Much of Matthew 23 is filled with the renouncement of Jesus against the legalism of the Pharisees. Their obsession with rules above relationships was the definitive evidence of their blindness. They were missing the whole point, says Jesus.

Have you become blinded by legalism? Some might argue that a Christian can’t be a legalist. They understand the word to refer only to those who hope to become a Christian by their works. While that certainly is one expression of legalism, it isn’t the only way a person can act as a legalist.

The Apostle Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians because of the threat of legalism in their church. False teachers had come into the fellowship there, teaching these young Christians that, along with Christ, they needed to embrace the law. Paul wrote to them to say, “No! Your life isn’t built around the law! Your life is in Jesus Christ!” He asked them, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:2)? So, He knew they had the Spirit. He wasn't questioning that. What He didn't know was what they were now going to depend on to go on in life.

Again, Paul wasn’t writing to them because he was concerned that they might misunderstand salvation. He knew they had believed the gospel and received God’s Spirit. How could they become confused about what it takes to become a Christian? They had already become Christians! His concern for them was that, as Christians, they might become ensnared in legalism.

The Pharisees were not believers in Christ. The Galatians were. It is possible to be a legalist whether a person is a believer or non-believer. Anytime our focus is on doing the right thing to gain God's favor or make spiritual progress, we have fallen into the clutch of legalism. Let's keep our eyes on Christ Jesus because legalism is a disease that will most certainly make us go blind.

Songs Of Love From Heaven

Perhaps no medium on earth has the capacity to affect a person’s emotions like music. Music has been used throughout history to move people into action. It has motivated men to charge forward into battle. It has often been a prerequisite to making love. Music has caused some to sit still in reflective silence and caused others to get up and dance. It has soothed fussy babies until they drifted off into a peaceful sleep. It has been used at weddings to celebrate a new life together and years later at funerals to grieve the end of that shared life. Music has been a comforting companion to prisoners and slaves. It has given expression to a celebration of victory. Certain music has even been proven to increase the amount of milk a cow gives! Music – it can make us laugh or cry. It can give us feelings of nostalgia, joy, hope, sadness and even anger. Its power is nothing short of miraculous.

Music was born in heaven, flowing from the very heart of God. It framed the universe at the beginning of time. When God spoke to Job about the time when He had lain the foundation of the earth, He referred to it as a time “when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).

A word search on singing in the Bible presents a fairly strong case that God likes singing. In both the Old and New Testament, we are encouraged to sing before the Lord. The Psalmist said, “Come before Him with joyful singing” (Psalm 100:2). The Apostle Paul said that believers are to be “singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

Singing has a prominent place in the Bible among God’s family of faith. It has been the hallmark of many great moments in our lives. Consider the role that singing played in just a few of the pivotal moments in the history of God’s people.

✦ When God delivered Moses and the children of Israel from Egypt, they walked through the Red Sea on dry land. When they reached the other side, they sang together. In fact, Exodus 15 is called “The Song Of Moses” to this day.

✦ When the people of Israel dedicated the city wall around Jerusalem which had been rebuilt under the leadership of Nehemiah, they sang. (See Nehemiah 12:40-42)

✦ When the ark of the covenant was returned to Israel, singers were appointed to mark the occasion. As they sang, King David danced with delight. (See 1 Chronicles 15:26-29)

✦ Paul and Silas sang in a Philippian jail at midnight and God caused an earthquake to shake open the prison doors. (See Acts 16:25-26)

Singing is a way to express the consuming passion of our hearts. The melody and tempo of a song enhance the content of the message one desires to communicate. For a young man to tell a girl he loves her is appreciated, but to sing it to her can make her absolutely giddy.

Singing preceded this world and will outlast it. Music will be an integral part of our lives in heaven. (See Revelation 5:9; 14:3; 15:3) It is quite obvious that God has a real affinity for music.

Did you know that you can gaze into the lovely face of the Divine Lover through the lens of music? Certain songs move me deeply, causing me to experience a sense of intimacy with my Father in awesome ways. I seldom hear or sing The Love of God, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, or A Mighty Fortress Is Our God without choking up at the time. The great hymns of the faith teach us theology and touch us in the deep places of our heart.

There also have been many modern praise choruses written which facilitate a deeper sense of intimacy with the Divine Lover. It is troubling to see that some modern choruses put forth a weak or aberrant theology, but many can be useful in providing a track for praising God in a way that can cause us to experience Him in a fresh way. A good chorus lifts your heart toward heaven.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can only hear the Divine Lover’s voice within the context of religious music. Remember that He can make Himself known to you in unlimited ways. He isn’t about to surrender everything outside the church doors to the world. Music written apart from His life is pirated material and the Divine Lover can reclaim it anytime He wants.

I was speaking on this subject at a conference one day when I asked the group, “Are you able to hear God speak to you if there is no religious tone who what you hear?” The audience waited for me to continue. “Close your eyes and listen to the song I’m about to play, “ I encouraged them. “Perhaps you have heard the song before, but this time, listen for the voice of the Divine Lover in it.”

Then, at a spiritual retreat, in a room filled with Christians, I played a recording by a well known rock singer, Joe Cocker. The words he passionately sang are, “You are so beautiful to me. You are so beautiful to me. Can’t you see? You’re everything I hoped for. You’re everything I need. You are so beautiful to me!”

As the song played, grown men and women began to cry. For the first time, many were hearing their Divine Lover’s voice from a source they had never thought to consider before now. For every person there, this song would never again be the same. God’s love had redeemed it and brought it into the kingdom as a gift for those who listened.

Does this concept seem uncomfortable to you? If so, consider this question: Why should Jesus Christ be restricted to only communicating to you in religious ways? He is Lord over all the earth and can use anything He chooses at anytime He wants to express love to those who are His! One unmarried lady I know says that she listens to a radio station that plays nothing but romantic love songs and that she often hears the Lord sing to her through those songs. Who would tell her she is wrong?

I have experienced a sense of transcendent joy that couldn’t possibly find its origin in fallen man at times when I have heard certain non-religious music. I was enthralled as I watched The Phantom of the Opera on the theater stage where we attended the play. On another occasion, tears filled my eyes as I attended a concert by the great Italian singer, Andrae Boccelli, despite the fact that not one word was being sung in English.

Don’t misunderstand the point. I’m not suggesting that every time we have a positive feeling, it is God manifesting Himself to us. I recognize that our emotions can be manipulated by various influences. However, I also believe that Christians are sometimes guilty of dismissing the pervasive presence of Christ in this world by relegating experiences that aren’t directly religious as being “non-spiritual.”

I can almost imagine that when I listened to Andrae Boccelli in concert, Jesus was saying, “Isn’t this great? Steve, I love seeing how you enjoy this concert. I can’t wait until you get Home. I have even better ones waiting for you here.”

Remember that the Divine Lover lives with us where we are and speaks the language of our lives. Do you have a concept of God that allows Him to express Himself to you in unexpected ways, even in ways that aren’t ordinary? He can use many kinds of music to express Himself to you.

Listen to this non-religious song by Joe Cocker that I've mentioned and see if you can hear the Lover of the Universe singing to you...

To Make You Feel My Love

At Grace Camp this past weekend, Art Henkle sang this song by Bob Dylan and challenged us all to listen for our Father's voice in the lyrics. The version below is by Grammy winner, Adele. I encourage you to follow along with the lyrics below the video as you listen to her sing it. We can hear the voice of our Father's love in many places if we have ears to hear.



"Make You Feel My Love"

When the rain is blowin' in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love.

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong.

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawlin' down the avenue
No, there's nothin' that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love.

Though storms are raging on the rollin' sea
And on the highway of regrets
Though winds of change are throwing wild and free
You ain't seen nothin' like me yet.

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love.

Don't Give Up!

When we face the temptation to quit, the enemy of our souls lies to us. He points out every deficiency in us that we are willing to consider, both real and imagined. He reminds us of our weaknesses. He describes our future to us in bleak, dreary terms and tries to strip away any hope that our present course could possibly lead to a good outcome.

He attacks our thoughts and tries to pull down our emotions. He wants us to be weakened and become depleted physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Through wearing us down, he hopes to go for the knock-out at the right moment.

Don’t give in to the lies! Persevere! The Bible says that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. He will lead you through the difficult terrain you may be on at the moment. He will not abandon you or leave you to find your own way.

When we are tempted to give up, we often think of reasons why we aren’t suited to advance through the trying circumstances we face. We see the challenges before us as monumental and our own weaknesses as glaring. In that moment of temptation, we must not fail to remember that our challenges aren’t to be compared to our abilities, but to the ability of the omnipotent God we serve.

Despite any limitation you may have, you are not a quitter. Your faith in Christ is all you need and it doesn't even have to be "great faith." Even a cry of desperation directed toward Him is a prayer of faith. When choosing to persevere feels like you are trying to walk against the current of a fast moving river, choose to act like who you are. Call upon the Christ who indwells you and press onward. A grace walk is a divinely empowered walk. It is one in which you have the capacity to rise above feelings and thoughts that would cause you to move in a wrong direction and cause you to choose the path that God has called you to walk.

I’m not suggesting that you reach down into your own humanity, your own ability, your own self confidence and keep on going. None of those are sufficient resources to give you sustained forward momentum. I am challenging you to choose by faith to depend upon the One who lives inside you. Acknowledge your weakness and appropriate His strength. Those who do so will find that instead of crashing, they “get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind” (Isaiah 40:31, The Message).

How do we finish well? When everything in you screams that you should give up, how are you to keep going. The Bible tells us it is by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the same, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). What was the attitude of Jesus toward the shame of the cross? The Bible says he despised it. Do you find yourself in a situation you despise? Remember that the One who indwells you will enable you to endure the cross you bear.

You may think you don’t have enough faith to persevere, but He, alone, is the “perfecter of [your] faith.” Again, you don’t have to have great faith. You only need to depend on the One who lives inside you. His faith is enough for the both of you. He perfects (completes) your faith by infusing it with his own. When you feel like your faith is weak, remember that “the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, King James Version).

Jesus Christ looked beyond the cross and saw “the joy set before Him.” That motivated him to endure the cross. The Bible says about Moses that he “persevered because he saw him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). James wrote that “we consider blessed (happy) those who have persevered” (James 5:11).

There is power in Christ-empowered perseverance. Whatever your circumstance may be, don’t surrender to it. Lean into Him as your Source. You aren’t made for giving up under pressure. Look beyond the immediate stressful factors and see a better day ahead. It will most certainly come. Until it does, decide to persevere and, by God’s grace, follow through with your decision.