Susan Cottrell's Blog, page 63

Religion = Death

I learned something new today. Religion means to tie back, constrain, as in bondage. Fascinating! Religion is about constraint, about a return to bondage.

Isn’t that the truth? Haven’t you been sick to death of all the rules and regs associated with world religions? “Do this, don’t do that.” Religious rules are man-made. They are invariably about what you can do to be right with God.

May I tell you that Jesus comes right alongside you to say he’s sick to death of religion also? He said as much to the religious leaders of his day (Matthew 23). Religion is bondage to striving to do for God (as if we could really do things for him–He’s GOD). Instead, Jesus came to do something for us–something we could never do–to reconcile us to God. Amazing. When we work for God, we are trying to pay for the gift he wants to give us.

Look at it this way. Your neighbor invites you and your family to dinner. It is a lovely five-course meal that obviously cost a lot of money. As you’re finishing the last chocolate truffle, she says it would be nice if you would pay something to offset the cost. Maybe $20. Suddenly, the whole focus has shifted. You are chilled and you can’t get out of there fast enough. That is the implication when we come to Christ through grace, but soon well-meaning church members suggest things we can “do for God” (again, as if). “Don’t you want to do this for Him, after all He’s done for you?” Well, I thought it was a gift. No? Then why did you say it was a gift? Yes? Then why are you asking me to pay?

Or, turn it around. This neighbor invites you to this lovely dinner. At the end, you say, “May I pay you? I have $20.” Do you blame her for being hurt? She would rightly think, I don’t want you to pay for this. Take it a step deeper: $20 wouldn’t even pay for the wine, much less the filet mignon, lobster and foie gras. Not even the chocolate truffles. You clearly don’t understand the magnitude of the gift. You have reduced her generous offering to a financial transaction and insulted her deeply in the process.

So it is when we “do for God” when we clearly have nothing to offer Him except our open hearts. He doesn’t need our work (can’t He accomplish what He wants without us? He is God…). He wants our hearts.

Oh Lord, remind us that You have given us a gift beyond measure and you want us to rest in it and enjoy it and enjoy You. Above all, show us how to enjoy YOU.

 

“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.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“Then they said to him, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’” John 6:28-29

 

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

The Picture of Grace

What comes to mind when I say the name “Jesus”? Do you think of his love? His grace? Forgiveness that only he provides? Or do you think of everything he is against? If you think that question is facetious, read these words of Philip Yancey:

“Recently, I have been asking a question of strangers–for example, a seatmate on an airplane–when I strike up a conversation. ‘When I say the words “evangelical Christian” what comes to mind?’ In reply, mostly I hear political descriptions: of strident pro-life activists, or gay-rights opponents, or proposals for censoring the Internet. I hear references to the Moral Majority, an organization disbanded years ago. Not once–NOT ONCE–have I heard a description redolent of grace. Apparently that is not the aroma Christians give off in the world.”

What have we been doing? When someone asks about the hope that lies within us, how do we answer? Is anyone even asking?

Brothers and sisters, Jesus turned the world absolutely upside-down when he came to earth as a man. Upside-down and inside-out. Any value humans have anywhere in the world is because he conferred us value. We count the years of our calendar from the date of his appearance. Every corner of the world has been incalculably, permanently marked by his life.

“Lord, save us from your followers,” the bumper sticker says. Yes, Lord, save us from those who preach what we must do instead of what you have done. Save us from  the stench of works instead of the aroma of Christ. Save us from the threat of condemnation instead of you, the picture of grace.

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

The Rainbow Connection

My husband, daughter and I are on a ship right now. Out over the vast ocean, we saw a rainbow shooting out of the clouds into the water. Unlike most rainbows off in the distance, this one was right in front of us. We followed the arc around to the left and found the other side, pouring into the water. The top went behind dark clouds, but what we could see formed an arc, a perfect half-circle. What kind of phenomenon was this? Suddenly, the right side became transparent, like a hologram, then flickered out. The left side grew brighter, and suddenly it too was gone. Who is this God who creates such majesty?

My eyes were already full of tears. I am so easily moved by the power of God, by evidence of His nature—in a unexpected lightening storm, in a small child being kind to an even smaller child, in an old man pulling out a chair for his wife as she makes her way into it. I wonder if my tears at such things will stand out to my children in years to come when they remember me.

In moments the whole rainbow event was over. Perhaps others on the boat also saw, but it seemed to be a private showing. How many millions of delights does God offer us, intimate gifts to say, “Don’t forget that I am right here, all the time.”

When we draw near to God, we experience His presence. He reveals His grandeur to His children who love Him and seek after Him. The more we seek Him, the more we experience His presence. Oh, Lord, let our hearts look for You in every moment. Lord, I want my heart to be satisfied and to find my rest in You.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

Behavior Modification Program??

Jesus is the founder and finisher of our faith. Our faith. NOT our actions! Oh, our actions naturally flow as we get to know Jesus more and more, and entrust ourselves to Him more and more. But our actions are a byproduct of our faith. Yet, how much time do we spend focused on, teaching, and striving to correct our actions? It’s like watering branches hoping for fruit. Jesus begins and ends (created, cares for, and directs) our faith! Faith is the only thing He cares about because that drives everything else. He doesn’t have us in a behavior modification program! (Thank you, friend Sherri, for that beautiful description.) If you read Jesus’ interactions, He doesn’t talk much about behavior compared to the heart. Oh yes, He talks quite a bit about behavior, but it is never from a list of to-dos, as though He expects us actually to do them. When He talks about behavior, it is always to drive us to despair at how badly we fall short of the standard. “Go and sell everything you have and then come follow Me.” “Unless your behavior surpasses that of the Pharisees, you have no part in the kingdom of heaven.” “If you lust, you have committed adultery in your heart.” “If your right eye offends you, cut it out!” These are all indictments to show us that we cannot do this thing. Why? To drive us to despair! Why? So we know the only place we can turn is to Him. Oh, God, what a turnaround from the focus of throngs of His followers, with their seven step-plan to a better prayer life… and all seven steps start with the letter “P”! Jesus did not come to give us a program—He came to give us life, abundant life. I’m overwhelmed by His generosity, intimate kindness, and love for me. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter, gives me life.

2 looking to Jesus, the founder [originator]/author [captain, chief leader, prince] and perfecter [finisher, who brings to completion] of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2.

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

Thanksgiving Reflections

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. We spent the day with people we love. My sisters, next to me and center, my niece, far right, all our husbands and some of our kids. The men bonded over football, and we women laughed ourselves silly in the kitchen. Yeah. It was fun. We enjoyed those who were with us and remembered those who weren’t. My sister said, “Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, even more than Christmas. Just food and family — and being thankful.” Beautiful.

I so love my family. I hope you got to enjoy your family, and that your day was wonderful, too!

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

Lavish, Abundant God

Our God is an awesomely creative, amazingly abundant, beyond-our-imagination God. This flower is a beautiful, garden variety (ha) flower–just one of thousands of types of flowers. But below is a closeup of one of hundreds of tiny flowers inside the flower. I mean, really.

What is the mind that comes up with this? And why?? For delightful discoveries too deep to plumb over the millennia? To show us just a glimpse of who we’re dealing with in this universe? Then there is the pincushion flower… and the inside-out flower… And this is just flowers. (Do we even know how many types of bugs there are?)

I am overwhelmed with the grandeur that is our Creator. I am undone at His magnificent creation. And I am completely dismantled to grasp that He offers a personal, interactive, loving relationship… with me.

I have no words. …except, Thank You, Jesus.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

Garbage In, Garbage Putting up its Feet and Turning on the TV

Lately, I’ve been taking stock of my eating habits. I’ve always tried to eat somewhat well to maintain health.  But lately it’s been more than just eating enough spinach and beets. I’m slowly realizing that even “benign” foods like too much wheat and cheese are settling in and causing me trouble. (Am I going to start talking about stiff joints? Absolutely not.) While never an all-out junk food junkie, I have been quite casual over the years about putting junk in without a thought of getting it out again. (I am not talking about weight but about a smooth-running machine.) How do I think garbage in will have no consequences… much less produce life and health? Getting the toxins out again is much harder than not eating them in the first place. (Just because it’s there does not mean I need to eat it.)

This brings me to my thought life. I realize I can be quite casual about my thoughts as well. Thoughts about another person come in and I let them stay. (“She’s a pain in the neck, isn’t she? I hope she’s not in my small group.”) Thoughts about me come in and I entertain them. (“I can’t believe I forgot that appointment. I’m such an idiot.”) My brain is every bit as precious as my body. Thoughts have an enormous impact on our well being, peace, joy, and from our thoughts spring our actions. Thoughts have consequences. We want to guard our hearts–not from the evil that will come out, but for the evil that goes in.

If an enemy came in laden with poisons for me to eat, I would shove him out the door. But when they come in the form of brownies or chocolate pie, they’re harder to resist. If an enemy puts negative thoughts in my head, I would want to shove those out as well. But when they come disguised my own thoughts, they are much harder to recognize.

I do have an enemy putting thoughts in my head. He is out to destroy me, and I need to shove him out. As quickly as I delete my irrelevant email, I must reject deadly thoughts–and replace those thoughts with thoughts from the wellspring of life.  Ah! Now, that’s refreshing!

“The water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

Life Beyond the List

How are you doing with that to-do list? That infernal list we all have that hangs over our head. The one that tells us we haven’t quite yet measured up. That no matter what you do you fall short. That list of what’s acceptable and what’s not — or how we’re falling short as Christians (reading, praying, serving). Maybe it’s the spouse who is never quite happy with us, the job we can never do quite well enough, or the house that’s never quite as clean as Mom taught us was absolutely necessary. Maybe it’s a list we inherited, or the standard we have set for ourselves.

That list is a killer. Even if you complete it, it’s absolutely without power to restore life. That list is the death inherent in the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the one God said don’t eat from. Is it even possible to dispense with the list? I taught about this list at a retreat last weekend to some of the most precious, beautiful women I could hope to meet. One sweet young mom said, “But if I don’t have my standards, who am I? I’ll be left with nothing. I won’t even know who I am.”

Ah, there it is. The list of required behavior (to be a good Christian, spouse, parent) feels like security to us. It gives us something tangible to hold. Like a safety rope. To let go of the list is unnerving. We feel like we’re free-falling. The irony is that the to-do list keeps us small. Confined. It prevents us from seeing exactly what is beyond that security. But that is the journey of discovery, isn’t it?

Jesus’ talk about abundant life is not the offer to keep a better list. Peter biffed it plenty, but he also walked on water. A man who was blind from birth was able to see for the first time. Lazarus, who was dead and buried, came walking out of his tomb. I think this is more like the abundant life Jesus had in mind for us. It is absolute dependence on Him to live His life through us! It’s also to forgive someone who’s hurt us. To let God straighten out an issue instead of having to jump in to fix it ourselves. To trust His sovereignty when our world seems to be falling apart.

These examples are only a sliver of life lived from the Tree of Life instead of the Tree of Knowledge. God wants to take us beyond the confines of our own behavior and give us new life, to show us something we haven’t yet seen. To take a risk because He told us to. A man who stays in a hated job because he’s afraid to open his own business. A woman who stays with a man who beats her because she’s afraid of what’s out there. Sure, it’s awful, but what else can you do? We figure, better the demon you know than the demon you don’t know.

But staying with the familiar is also a risk. Avoiding the unknown is also a risk. Giving up your life day by day on the small and uninspiring is also a risk. Of course it’s scary to trust an unpredictable, uncontainable God — but less scary than trusting myself as God. Don’t you think?

“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world… why do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”… according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion… but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” Colossians 2:20-23 (emphasis added)

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

Mean Streets

You can find almost anything on the streets of New York, including scams. One is the shell game. A guy stands at a makeshift table with three cups, and he puts a ball under one cup. You pay money to bet that you can follow the ball as he moves that cup around. You follow very closely, and you’re sure you know which cup the ball is under. And you did follow it. But he had replaced the ball by sleight of hand. You lose.

When I lived in New York, my good friend Holly told me how she was taken in by this scam. She was standing there, watching, ready to place her money. She looked up and saw a well dressed man, behind the fray, who gently shook his head no. She knew he was right, she told me. She knew it. But all she could see was extra money for rent, for bills… and she was so sure. She placed her bet. Of course she lost. Of course she felt terrible. That man had tried to protect her, to prevent her from throwing away hard-earned money. But her desire had overwhelmed her. The idea of extra money cost her not only the imagined money but the real money.

We want what we want. We want more than we have. We want a free lunch. But whatever we may hear, it just doesn’t work that way.

But here’s the thing to remember: no matter what is going on in the world–in politics, in natural disasters, in economics–we have a God. We have a sovereign God. Our God is able to override those politics, disasters, economics. Never fear. We can rest in Him. Always.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1. The rest is history.

Filed under: Abiding In Christ

Being Undragoning

“There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.” So begins C.S. Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

When Eustace discovers he has been turned into a dragon, he is more than dismayed. He tries to peel off the scaly skin, and he does. But he finds another skin underneath. Again he removes it, and again he finds yet another skin. How long will this go on? Yet a third time he scratches off his skin to find another underneath. Then Aslan says, “You will have to let me undress you.” Afraid of his claws, yes, but Eustace is desperate enough to let Aslan do it.

How beautifully drawn is the picture of our dilemma. We realize our dragon skin, and we are are powerless to remove it. We try, oh yes, but to no avail; we keep finding a skin underneath. Aslan says we must let Him do it. We are afraid of the claws, but we are even more desperate. Finally, we lie down and let Him do it.

It hurts. Oh heaven, it hurts. But it is cool and refreshing. We feel soft and smooth. And free. Finally free.

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. Romans 9:16

Filed under: Abiding In Christ