On fear and stuff...

I’m really struggling with the whole “faith alone” thing. In my experience I’ve seen far too many people use this doctrine to their advantage, as an excuse t sit on their hands. Ephesians 2:8 is constantly quoted as people use this “freedom” to advance themselves rather than God’s kingdom.

I’m not trying to glorify myself, really. If we’re saved by what we do, I’m as damned as anyone else. I’m merely inquiring as to where it was that Jesus went from being our savior who deserves our life-long efforts & said we need to take up our cross & deny ourselves DAILY (Luke 9:23), to the guy who justifies our greed, racism, and fear. It’s fear that prevents people from doing what they’re called to do. I love it everytime I hear Dan Yemin yell “our comforts are tying us down, holding us back” (listen to Paint It Black).

Jesus called us to love each other & said that people will know we follow him by how we love people (John 13:34-35). The Bible later discusses how love & fear are unable to coexist, and that those who claim to love God but hate their brothers (perhaps by denying & contributing to the existence of racism) is a liar (I John 4:18-19). Denying yourself means not letting fear control you, but rather answering God’s call on your life. Fear will exist, we’re just not permitted to let it affect us in a negative way. Fight fear by loving Jesus and tackling fear with the confidence of Brian Urlacher, or maybe Brian Dawkins (Chicago/Philly).

Racism is real. It’s a result of fear, which Jesus instructs us to conquer. Fight back. It’s scary as all hell, but when we fix our eyes on Jesus, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace (Hebrews 12).

Peace.