"Jesus Culture"

"Culture is a word for people's 'way of life', meaning the way groups do things. Different groups of people may have different cultures. A culture is passed on to the next generation by learning, whereas genetics are passed on by heredity."

If you've been walking in the faith for a while, you may have experienced different cultures of Christianity or Adventism specifically. Depending on where you live, how you are raised, which church you attend-- you can note obvious changes in culture. The way people worship together, the songs they sing, the way people dress, vespers experiences, similar vocabulary, trends in health.

And in so many ways culture is great. Culture is warm because as humans we love belonging, and when we become participants in Adventist or Christian culture, it makes us feel like we belong to a church. Culture can provide opportunities of faith networking and rituals that can help deepen our spirituality.

And yet lately I've been thinking that although culture is intrinsically valuable at heart and will be naturally created in the context of religion... it is also extremely dangerous.

The first reason why I believe we have to take caution with our beliefs and cultures of Christianity is that culture is exclusive. Cultures set expectations for the way people are to live and act. Culture groups then form tight fitting communities. And it can be difficult to witness to others when your culture is so strong. I think as humans we love pride, and to think that our culture is best. And while it's great to love your culture, it can also create walls between loving other people who aren't like us (who weren't raised in the same church, religion, or area of the world.) We may be tempted to think "they don't serve the same God as me". Not realizing that the God of the Universe is not confined to the culture we feel most natural or safe in. That He may be God of people groups and cultures and even religions we do not understand.

The second reason why culture can be dangerous is that often times, we take culture and begin to practice it- simply because it is what we are taught or used too. Culture is often passively learned, inherited by second nature- which means depending on where you come from, your culture will be different. (Some likely better than others.) But the problem is when we take our culture, and become active participants, without ever evaluating the why behind it. 

The third and most important danger, I believe about culture groups, is that for many of us, participating in the culture we create can be more important than the God we serve.
For example, as a member of a strict Adventist culture I may believe that by not watching movies, by eating healthy, and singing Christian songs with other believers, I am walking with God. And that because I am part of a culture, my faith is justified instead of seeking God's will and walking in a life of purity with a relationship with Him. We can let cultural values dictate how we live our life instead of going back to the Word of God and trying to seek Christ's standards on each issue. Or we can refuse to leave the culture we are used too, when Christ calls us, because we have overly attached one culture to our religion.

Somehow I believe that the Jesus we read about in the Bible was a cultural rule breaker. And that He might not just participate in one culture of Christianity if he was currently walking on the earth. I could maybe see Jesus tattooed or hanging out in bars, or traveling to different cultures and worshipping with different people groups. I think he would challenge what we believe a good "Christian culture" or "Adventist culture" looks like by teaching us to question our faith, teaching us what it means to be radically in love with Him.

I'm not trying to bash Adventist culture- I think it's great; conservative or liberal it's great if you know Jesus- and if your life is being transformed by Him. I think it's cool how so many Christians worship God in different ways. I'm just curious if Jesus were walking with us, how he would go about with relationships and communities, and culture. Like what would "Jesus culture" be like in comparison to Adventist or Christian culture? He calls us to love everyone, not only people like us. And He also calls us to be salt and light. So how do we do that? How de we create cultures that are inclusive not exclusive, founded on beliefs and religions not only inherited or learned (but upon studied out principles of faith), all the while keeping Christ's perspective of what really matters most (faith working itself out by our love).

The Lust of the heart

This morning I went to a sabbath school focused on the lust of the heart. In particular we were studying Matthew 9:27 which states

"You have heard that it was said "You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you than anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

This verse points to the idea that Christ's standards are so much higher up than earthly standards. That sins do not only exist when the act is performed but that God seeks even that our thoughts would be pure.

Ephesians 4:22 says "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds.."

The heart is powerful and valuable. Proverbs 4:23 commands us to "Above all things, guard your heart, because it is the well spring of life."

And what comes out of our hearts is our thoughts- which form our actions- which form our habits- which form our lives. So our thoughts are extremely important to who we are as individuals, because they determine who we are.

Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.."
And 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to take every thought captive to Christ
So that our thoughts would be on noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable things. (Philippians 4:8)

Talking about sexual immorality and lust, if we truly get to the heart of the issue, instead of discussing sex and pornography and what is appropriate before and after marriage and boundaries. The real heart of the issue lies in desire, in longing.
The longing for love and acceptance.
God creating with a desire for fellowship, for uniting with a person heart and soul, to be one with them as Christ wants to be one with His church.

The first Ten Commandment states that You shall have no other Gods before me.
And yet Satan the ruler of our fallen world, is the Father of counterfeits and lies.
He knows that God created our hearts with a deep need for love.
So often he teaches us to exchange our desires for Him: for love, fulfillment, purpose, joy in exchange for sex, instant gratification, temporary belonging, pleasure.

Satan wants us to look for fulfillment and meaning and purpose and joy and satisfaction in anything but Christ. He tempts us with work, with money, with food, hobbies, drugs, and with relationships.

If He can get us to focus on earthly things, maybe He can distract us from spending time with Him.
If He could convince us that we wanted something on this earth, maybe a relationship with someone, more than a relationship with Him.. then He would win in teaching us to serve idols- without even realizing that we were serving two gods.

Friends, we are living in such a corrupt world. There is so much darkness around us and it is difficult sometimes to see examples of true authentic and pure spiritual living. And if we look to the right and the left and ask our brothers and sisters what our principles are instead of looking to God, we may fall into lies.

Enter Matthew 7:13 where the Bible commands us to
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Sexual immorality and lust are sins. No doubt. But also wanting anything in our heart, more than Christ is a sin. Choosing to grumble, and be unsatisfied with the blessings God has given us is a temptation from the Devil.

Anything we run to before we run to God is a sin.

Friends, we can't put our value in things of this earth. I can't put my value in things of this earth, in what people say, what people think, in relationships, in my work, in my possessions, in the things I want. For these things will so quickly fade, they will so quickly deceive my heart.

But we have a Father in heaven who yearns for us.

We have a Father who is constantly knocking on the doors of our hearts. Who knows everything about us and chooses to love us anyways with a love no one on this earth can comprehend or replicate. Friends, we have a Heavenly Father who is full of grace and forgiveness. And He's calling us up higher- to a higher standard than where we have been.

And I don't know about you- but I want to follow Christ's call upward. I want to know of the higher standard.

I want to know what it means to be so fulfilled by His love for me that my desires for everything on this earth fade away so dim. I want to know how to be so in love with Him, that nothing on this earth really matters so much. I want to know His love for me. And I want to know how to walk in His standards of purity- not mine- not this worlds' - not anything I've been taught from a book. I want to know of Christ's standards of purity, and of His grace, and love that fulfills everything our hearts desire.

Because when I know the love of Christ, the fulfillment that He brings to my heart, then the lust of my heart is no longer even an issue. Because I am so fulfilled by Jesus that I don't want anything more.

Mother

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  Isaiah 49:15

I was taking care of a child who was handicapped and extremely sick. The child was helpless, the needs were heavy and burdensome to care for the child. Yet the mother spoke tenderly to her daughter calling her Princess. The years of care and care for this child, seemed to only deepen the love this mom had for her. For this girl was her daughter- who came out of her womb- and nothing the daughter could do could change the mom's love.

How often we doubt our heavenly Father's love for us. I think if we could understand the depths of His love- we would experience more life transformation- not from acting, but from living in that kind of love.

And yet so often I wonder of my worth and value, because I place it in external measures like performance and law-abidance. I look to earthly people to confirm my value instead of looking to my Father who created me.

And yet seeing the love of some of the mother's in my hospital- seeing that deep, genuine real love. Although our earthly love is so flawed compared to God's. It just brings so much hope and inspiration to my heart to know so much more that God sees my journey- where I've come from and where I'm going- and He loves me no matter where I am at.

Lately friends, I feel like I've stumbling. It's a trap I've fallen into before. And I'm finally aware of where I stepped out and how tripped up I've become. It's frustrating to fall back into sin- especially something that you've worked hard to overcome- or that you promised yourself you would never go back too.

But I have so much to thank God for, because He doesn't give up on me and He doesn't give up on you. And His love is so much deeper and wider and more abundant than anything I can imagine.

The Strayed Son or Daughter

Often in my life, I get frustrated with something and my frustration turns to anger and sometimes my anger even turns to blaming God. And it's at these hard valleys in life- that I need God most. Yet the Devil works so hard, to convince my mind that I'm undeserving of God's grace, that I'm too low, too needy, too emotional, too far from God at the present time to come back and make that connection.

So I run and flail from the things I need most. I need prayer, I need Jesus, I need friends. And yet I want distance, so I run. I rebel. I try to flee the people and God who love me most.

And it's after I've attempted to run away, to fix it on my own, to avoid the issue- that I finally find myself lying on the ground in the mud, in the dirt, all alone. And I remember..

Wait I need Jesus.

Jesus can you still save me?

Jesus do you still love the one covered in dirt?

And the wonderful news is, friends. That He loves us, oh how he loves us. Luke 15:22-24

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’
This is a story I know by heart. And sure there's times I roll my eyes, because I say: why so much love for the rebel child? When the good son has been there all alone being obedient.

But friends, when you find yourself convicted. When you find yourself enslaved by sin. When you find yourself wondering far away, this story quickly becomes your story.

He runs to meet you.

He sings and dances over you.

He celebrates with you. Not only the big steps and conversions. But when you find your way back to Him again, He celebrates that with you.

He is a God of mercy. He is a God of forgiveness, of hope, of love.

And when you become a child of God, he won't just abandon you for messing up or straying. He will look for you. He will fight for you. Your identity is safe in Him as a son or daughter.

So take courage, no matter how far you've ran, no matter how far you've strayed. You can still come home.

Affirmation

I think we often overlook the power of the words that we say- especially to the people we love.

With my friends that live with me, I think the one thing that really makes a big difference in our house is that we affirm each other- not just once a day or once a week. But we affirm each other all the time.

You did a great job on your test.
I love your painting.
Your an amazing nurse.
I love your dress.
Great job on running that mile.

It's something I used to be really uncomfortable with: the affirmation thing. I didn't use to want to compliment people unless they did something exceptional.

I didn't want them to get the wrong idea or give them something they didn't deserve.

For a while, words seemed cheap. And I didn't know if it was worth it to give compliments.

I still really struggle sometimes. Because it's just so easy to jokingly criticize someone or to put someone down.

But you never know how much that may hurt someone. Words can stay in our heads for a long time.

When I'm at the hospital, I speak super sweetly to my kids. I tell them "Your doing great. Your being so brave. Your doing an awesome job."

And in the beginning you feel a little silly saying those things.

And maybe the kids struggle to hear them. Because you might not believe what you are saying, they might not be able to accept it.

But after a while, it gets easier to praise people. You start believing what you are telling the kids. The kids start believing in their worth and capability.

And I think in so many ways, as grown ups and adults, we're still the same. We need the affirmation and encouragement because we sometimes struggle to believe in ourselves.

When we tell people who we see them becoming, we help them to grow into that person.

"You are so kind. You are so brave. Your doing a great job."

We never know how much a difference these words make until we are the ones really struggling and we are hearing them. Sometimes it's enough to really change a life.

It sounds silly sometimes. Sometimes I feel like a push over saying those words. And yet if I imagine Jesus on this earth, I think he would give a lot of affirmation. Not just meaningless words but words that spoke to the heart of who people were and who He was changing them into.

He would speak words that brought life and power. That made people feel forgiven and accepted and loved.

And so I think if we want to be like Jesus, we could learn to talk more like Him. We could learn to affirm more.

Seasons

As the sun comes out and colors us golden and it's finally nice enough to really dive into the waters, I have to think about the seasons. About the changes of the weather over a period of a year and about the changes God has brought into my life and seasons I have been through.

Friends, God is a merciful God and I love my journey with Him. And I really hope you know the Savior. I hope you haven't just read about Him, haven't just heard Him preached about. But I hope you met Him. Because He's the best friend I've ever had; He's the only thing that brings peace and joy.

There was a season when I felt expected to follow the rules. When I thought that God was harsh and judgmental. I based my identity on being a "good Christian girl". Yet I worried about my performances. I worried about grades and doing the right things. I thought I knew Jesus- but I didn't know the peace. I didn't realize that every worry on this life is so small compared to His blessings.

There was a season where I really struggled with loneliness. God was blessing me and teaching me so many lessons in faith and trust, and what it meant to do the right thing even if you were alone. But as I moved around so much in middle and high school, there were many times I was alone. And I learned that it was ok to be alone because God is always our best friend.

There was a season of surrender and confusion. Where my prayers became deeper and desperate where I asked God to break my heart for everything that broke His. Where I struggled with finding the will of God, wondering where my identity and purpose lay. And finding the God of the Universe asking me to lay it all down, to simply trust Him to guide me.

There was a season where I struggled with depression. Where I felt so hurt by relationships and I felt so alone in dealing with that hurt. The pain seemed too deep, too personable to share with other people. I wanted to fight it out myself. I hoped that ignoring it would take the pain away. But it didn't go away on it's own. I had to pray desperate prayers, I had to ask for help.

And there was also a season of harvest, when everything seemed to be going picture perfect. A season of meaningful friendships, joyful adventures, genuine love and experience, and spiritual and professional growth.

And looking back, if I could talk to myself when I was 12, or 15, or 20 years old, even 22. I would encourage myself to embrace the season and not to worry about the struggles. Not to worry about the hardships, because God would prove faithful. Not to judge others because you never know what season they are in, where God is taking them.

He always has provided in my life. I trust He always will. The season I'm in right now is really beautiful because I'm in a place I've never been doing career things I never imagined. I feel like I'm finally beginning to conquer night shifts. I've almost finished all my BSN classes. And I get to be a pediatric nurse- I get to take care of beautiful sick children. And I love it. I didn't think I would like it- but I truly love it.

I don't know what season you are in. If it feels more like winter- and things are hard- or if the air is bright and the sun is shining down on you. But remember that God is present. That He created you, that He loves you, that He promises to fulfill the good work He started in you. And if you are struggling, remember that it gets better.

Trust me it does. If not soon here on this earth, heaven will be glorious.

Striving

Where has our gratitude gone?

Society teaches us to strive for more and more. Better jobs, more efficient ways of doing things, faster wifi, instant communication, instant gratification, more goods, more popularity, more money = more satisfaction.

When are we going to be content? When are we going to be grateful?

Ecclesiastes 4:6 says "Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind."

I don't know about you friends, but I want a grateful heart.

I want a heart that has joy because Jesus is more than enough for me.

I want to stop striving for the things of this world and be content with the relationships God has given us with Him and with family and friends.

I want to recite Psalm 4:7 which says "You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound."

And I have to be really honest, and say sometimes that's not where my heart is at.

Sometimes I make lists of the things I want instead of lists of the things I'm grateful for.

Sometimes my prayers consist more of gift request lists than praises of gratitude.

Sometimes I forget that Jesus is truly enough for all my needs.

And yet friends, we have so much to be thankful for because even in our selfishness, He is a God of mercy. And He knows our struggles with materialism, with wish lists, with idolatry, with competing desires... And He says come to me.

Come to me you people who are heavy burdened. Come to me you people who are grasping at things you are not able to obtain.

Come and I will give you rest. Come and I will give you satisfaction.

I will give you waters to drink of that will never run dry.

Come to the well so you don't have to strive or be thirsty any longer.