The Ineffective Christian

By Vinnie MacIsaac

Johnny Cash once sang, “You’re so heavenly minded (that) you’re no earthly good…,” and I’ll add such is the Ineffective Christian.

I recently was apart from an internet exchange with several professed Christians where one person was issuing a seemingly stern rebuke to others for partaking in secular TV shows, books, and movies of any kind for any reason. The logic went like this; Jesus is coming, we need to be serious, we should fast, prayer, study, and not waste a second on any distraction.

I agree, Jesus is coming, there is no time to waste, you will find few with the degree of zeal I often call for from people of faith to engage, but the problem with the above attitude is it self-sanctimonious and it assumes the truly devoted Christian is a fasting, praying, studying machine, who is concerned only with their own degree of holiness. It ignores such statements of Jesus as, “Occupy until I come.” (Luke 19:13), “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’” (Luke 7:34) And, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17).

–Johnny Cash

The Ineffective Christian is no different than yesterdays Jewish leader in the day of Jesus who were fearful of being touched by a Gentile for fear of being made ceremonially unclean. They locked themselves up from the rest of the world, they judge it, condemn it, label it. They’d go up to the temple, in word, deed, attitude, and mindset, to cry out, “’I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!’” (Luke 18;11). Such people keep the little ones from Jesus, all the while claiming to be a part of this elite disciple of Jesus (see Luke 18:15-17).

Walking with Jesus surpasses duty because it means knowing Him. Jesus is more than a list of rules; He is the rule of life. He is a friend of sinners. When on earth He did not stay on the mountain praying to the Father 24/7 rather He came down to the valley of sinners yet sinned not. I wonder what He exposed himself to in the company of harlots, drunkards, and greedy tax collectors? The problem with Christians today is they live not like their Savior because they have declared themselves too holy to be incarnate with their world like Jesus was.

The Apostle Paul penned words of such profound meaning that we have not even until this day began to unpacked nor grasp them. Consider the following:

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 ESV)

This is where it gets hard, so forgive me, this may sting a bit; The Ineffective Christian is one who cares more about his or her status, reputation, and self-righteousness then gathering people for the coming Kingdom of God. Yes, time is short, so get off your Holy Mountain and get into the Valley where the real need is before it is too late.

Amy Grant, who has had her own issues over the years, in her youth penned this basic absolute spiritual paradox;

I’d love to live on a mountain top

Fellowshipping with the Lord

I’d love to stand on a mountain top

‘Cause I love to feel my spirit soar

But I’ve got to come down from that mountain top

To the people in the valley below

Or they’ll never know that they can go

To the mountain of the Lord

The scriptures are full of examples of Jesus going to the mountain tops to pray, and we likewise we must do so too but the real action happened when He came down to be with the people. Prayer, Bible study, and personal piety ought not to be ignored for they are of the utmost importance for those who follow Jesus, but if you never come down to the valley where the people are your life will lack action, purpose, and above all the very power of God. I have come to the very heart-felt sobering understanding that sometimes our lives lack power in part because we are not in connection with the people for whom Jesus wants us to pass the power unto.

I recently came across this thought in researching Christian balance;

“There are persons with a diseased imagination to whom religion is a tyrant, ruling them as with a rod of iron. Such are constantly mourning over their depravity and groaning over supposed evil. Love does not exist in their hearts; a frown is ever upon their countenances. They are chilled by the innocent laugh from the youth or from anyone. They consider all recreation or amusement a sin and think that the mind must be constantly wrought up to just such a stern, severe pitch. This is one extreme. Others think that the mind must be ever on the stretch to invent new amusements and diversions in order to gain health. They learn to depend on excitement, and are uneasy without it. Such are not true Christians. They go to another extreme. The true principles of Christianity open before all a source of happiness, the height and depth, the length and breadth of which are immeasurable” (1T 565).Listen, fellow believers, don’t get swallowed by the world, don’t live for its idols, and don’t chase it’s ways, for they are empty and it is all vanity as Solomon said, literally a vapor passing away. Don’t exclude yourself from real life so far that you are not of any earthly good. Piety is a good virtue; you do need to be faithful, yet so is being relational also a good and needed virtue. If you are so heavenly minded that you have zero points of connectivity to the people around you, then I humbly suggest to you, that you are out of balance, and in danger of being The Ineffective Christian.

A wise poet once said, “I know there’s a balance see it when I swing past.” (Between a Laugh and a Tear). Find the balance… And don’t be The Ineffective Christian.

Other Sources:

• Testimonies To The Church, Volume 1, p565. Ellen G White.

• Between a Laugh and a Tear, John Mellencamp

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The post The Ineffective Christian appeared first on Simply Vinnie - Unpacking The Complicated.

Grammys, Gays, and Grace: An unlikely trio

By Vinnie MacIsaac

[This is a re-blog of commentary on the 2014 Grammys and the selective public outcry.]

If Christ was not too holy for the worst sinners of His generation who do we think we are standing in judgment of our generation? What part of Christ like are we Christians missing?

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. NLT Romans 12:2

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.  They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. NLT John 17:15-16

I am not a huge fan of the Grammy’s. I guess I was at one point in time but at the moment life has been focused in other areas, yet it cannot be denied that the event is a huge cultural mega circus of our world. With 28.5 million viewers this year [2014] how can an event like this not impact the world we all live in? It is one thing to not be tuned in to the cultural events of this world, and yet it is a whole other thing to become a public spectacle because of them.

We as Christians living in difficult times cannot ignore the culture around us. The question we face almost daily is how to live in a world that is not our home nor of our making. How do you live in a world devoid of God, passing away, saturated with moral messages we cannot adhere with and yet be those recorded in Jude 23 & 24? And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (Jude 1:22-23 ESV)

Jude, the brother of James and ergo the brother of Jesus, says we are to live in this world with the type of mercy that extends to those who doubt God, who live contrary to God, who’s sin is like a stained garments yet while hating sin we are at the same time we seek to snatch them out of the fire to come.

Culture Wars are dividing God’s people into an all-new American Civil War and Christians are the big losers.

Excuse me if I step on any toes here but we can’t snatch people from the fire by heating up the flames of hell under their feet. Why are Christians at war with the entertainment industry rather than seeking to bring God’s Grace to it? Is the power of the Cross that weak in our minds and hearts that we don’t believe our God atones for all sin in all places at all levels? The problem is not always with those who live contrary to the Gospel in the world but it is sometimes with those who refuse to extend and proclaim the Gospel to those in this world.  Do we think we are so holy, so far removed from that level of sin,  that we have no need to sink to that level to preach the Word to sinners such as them?

Think about it; 28.5 Million viewers watched the Grammys. Did we have even one Christian there who took to the stage to use the platform to even say one word of Grace to this generation?  Well, we did have Christians there, and they did make a huge impact and splash, not snatching people from the fire but condemning them in it. One walked out and then took to Twitter to slam the sinful behavior of the performers. The other took to Facebook to slam them while promoting his own work as the solution to their sin. And so, 28.5 million people saw no Grace but they are all abuzz about the judgmental nature of Christians now not because of the sin of the Grammy’s but because we walk not like Christ. Wow, is this the message we want to leave the world with?

Katy Perry was once a Christian Contemporary Gospel singer. She grew up with conservative values.

Don’t get me wrong, many sinful actions took place at this event. Gay marriages were performed on stage, people danced around half-naked, and one performer (a former Christian herself) even performed as a Witch surrounding herself with demonic figures and this is all great sin and I do not excuse it; but what did we expect of the world? Did we think they’d be serving Communion crackers at the Grammy’s?

I don’t have a solution. I don’t know how to live in the world and not part take in its sin. What I do

Gay marriages performed at 2014 Grammy’s

know is this; Christ hung out and made best friends with harlots, hookers, extortionists, addicts, blasphemers, liars, and thief’s and He not only did not sin but He extended His Grace to them in non-judgmental ways. He even went as far as to build His church on them! If Christ was not too holy for the worst sinners of His generation who do we think we are standing in judgment of our generation? What part of Christ-like are we Christians missing?

We don’t have to approve of sin, in order to lover sinners. You don’t have to be a second “Holy Spirit” for it is who He convicts the world of sin, not you! But you do need to share the love of God to all those who need to be snatch from the fire. I pray for the day when we send Christians to Hollywood not to judge it, but to love it, pray for it, minister to it, and become heaven ordained missionaries to it. And the first rule all missionaries must learn; is to learn the local culture so you can communicate in it, rather than be excommunicated from it.

I am firmly convinced the Bible presents marriage as between opposite sexes only. Marriage was meant by God to be between a man and a woman. Likewise, the Bible forbids Witchcraft in any manner. As a Christian, I have to accept there are limits on my actions when I accept Christ. While I can sympathize with people of faith who were insulted by the ungodly behavior I also need to remind them that the people performing such actions at the Grammy’s where representing pop culture, not Biblical culture. We’d have reason to be upset if they were claiming that this was a Biblical mandate but the venue is not the church, but the media and we need to accept they are not the same thing. Paul’s culture and the shared culture of all the New Testament writers were clad with all kinds of behaviors they were not permitted for Christians; like homosexuality, Idolatry, and foods offered to idols. Paul spent zero percent of his time seeking to get Rome to change by passing laws and reforming cultural norms. He preached Jesus. Only when people accept Jesus do we have the right to expect them to conform to the mandates of Jesus.

Paul and the Apostles sought to reform Rome by the preaching of the Gospel of Grace not nationalism clad in religion.

“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then he bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”
Ministry of Healing, p.143

Sources About The 2014 Grammy’s Controversy 

• Huff Post Reports: Kirk Cameron Thinks Grammys’ Gay Marriages Were An ‘Assault On The Traditional Family’
• BCN Reports Christian Singer Walks Out On Grammy’s 
• CNN Reports: Grammy Awards attracted 28.5 million
• Youtube Katy Perry Performs at 2014 Grammy’s 

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Love Letters In The Sand

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Seeking Sinking Simon

The post Grammy’s, Gays, and Grace: An unlikely trio appeared first on Simply Vinnie - Unpacking The Complicated.