Bob Young Resources

This Fourth of July will likely pass fairly quietly–hard to get excited about #233. As a nation, we will celebrate, but many are no longer certain what we are celebrating. Are celebrating the freedom to do whatever we want? The Bible calls that license, and the concept yields the word licenciousness. Are we celebrating the protection and purpose of God as the guiding star of our country? An increasing number would deny such. The identity and value system of our nation is in question. A recent survey by George Barna suggests that our nation now has the following five characteristics:
• Absence of a shared vision for the future
• Value confusion leading to inability to make appropriate decisions
• Elimination of community and loss of a sense of common good
• Deterioration of respectful dialogue and fruitful exchange of competing ideas
• Abandonment of moral character and personal decency

George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” At Valley Forge, he prayed: “Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me Thy servant, who humbly prostrates myself before Thee.” He also said, “To the distinguished character of a patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of a Christian.”

This nation was founded as a Christian nation. The founding fathers had a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Today, there is a movement to remove God from our history and our foundations. To paraphrase a thought often repeated: “If this occurs, America will no longer be good. And when America ceases to be good, we will cease to be great.”

England also had a great Christian statesman in its early years. A man named William Wilberforce grew to prominence at an early age. At age 28 he came to faith in Christ and almost gave up politics to pursue ministry. John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace”, convinced him to stay in politics. His initiatives changed the world; probably the best-known is the abolishment of slavery in England.

On this day, I invite to pray that our nation might acknowledge and embrace our godly heritage and God will raise up leaders who lead from the foundation of firm faith in the living God who has penetrated this world and demonstrated his love in giving his Son, Jesus Christ, that we might be redeemed–from sin, in relationships, in purpose, in life, and for eternity.

Today’s “quote” is two thought-provoking questions. Good questions, important questions. Questions that can guide and change life. Think about them. Pray about them. Accept the challenge they present. Make certain you are investing your life in others, in the things that matter for eterntiy.

If the church where you attend went away tomorrow, who would miss it?
If there were no me, who would miss me?

A quote which my friend Grady King uses to close his emails:

 “The church is only the church when it exists for others.” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If you have not seen the buzz about the Monday posting by Len Sweet and Frank Viola, you need to read what they have written. The church must get back to what the church is about in the mind and plan of God. This is the glory of the church, and the power and future of the church.

Here is the website: A Jesus Manifesto. We must join this discussion and talk about how the challenge is met.

My mother collected little tidbits and sayings. She put them everywhere–in the textbooks from which she taught, in the multiplied books of poetry and inspiration she collected. I recently ran across one that I heard her cite on several different occasions. Unfortunately, I do not know the original author.

I have planted a garden, so I know what faith is,
I have seen birch trees swaying in the breeze so I know what grace is,
I have listened to birds caroling, so I know what music is.
I have seen a morning without clouds, after a shower, so I know what beauty is.
I have read a book beside a wood fire, so I know what contentment is.
I have seen the miracle of the sunset, so I know what grandeur is,
And because I have perceived all these things, I know what wealth is.

I fear that by and large, we don’t get it, haven’t gotten it,l and are in grave danger.  Grace extended does not include grace received.  That God initiates does not exclude, but rather demands, human response-ability. 

We have not read the Old Testament with an eye on grace.  Yet, the Old Testament God is a gracious God.  God acts with the desire that even closer relationship might be established with his human creation.  More often than not, the opposite occurs.  Man walks away from God rather than closer to God.  This is the story of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah, and Babel.  Despite the initiative of God, the gifts given and the possibilities granted–mankind often (usually) fails to respond to God’s love and mercy (grace).

The continuing story finds God seeking man through covenant relationship with promises and rules.  Covenants with Abraham, Moses, and David co-exist until the time of Christ.  The human response changes hardly at all.  God’s people still walk away from him frequently, despite his gracious provision and promises.

 The Bible says the new covenant is better.  In what ways?  Better promises, better mediator, better representative before God’s presence…you can make your own list from the book of Hebrews (and from other parts of the New Testament).  The New Testament is NOT better because it eliminates man’s responsibility (or response-ability).  If anything, it increases the expectation.  If anything, it demands more.  Grace fully demonstrated cannot be satisfied with a quickly spoken “thank you.”  Such a gift demands profuse gratitude, thank-you cards and letters, gratitude expressed again and again.

We have belittled grace.  We have made it automatic.  We have eliminated the human side because of the overwhelming power of the God side.  As Paul argues through Romans 5-6, may it never be.  Indeed, the power to overcome sin and bring human creation to new ways of living and understanding is incredible.  But the incredibility of God’s action does not eliminate my response–it rather demands it continuously within an undeserving relationship established (solely) because God has initiated it, and maintained (solely) by my continuing faithful response.

May we never make the mistake of thinking that God’s grace in Christ eliminates human response-ability.  In reality, it makes fully possible a valid response, because we have seen what God is really like, the extent to which he will go on our behalf, even when we do not and cannot deserve it. 

Are you willing to give up what you are for what you can become?