Freedom and Life

I've been listening to a radio ministry called Key Life with Steve Brown. This guy rocks.

I first heard him over the radio a couple of days after Luke committed suicide. I was grieving and struggling over the question of whether or not those who commit suicide are forgiven and get to be with God. I whipped open my Bible to the Book of Matthew and read about the "unforgivable sin" Jesus talks about in Chapter 12.

Catholics say that suicide is the unforgivable sin because you can't confess and repent, because you're dead. Or maybe you can repent in purgatory, but that's a whole other topic. What I discovered in the book of Matthew is that the unforgivable sin is actually the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (31 "And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven". 32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."- Jesus's words from the New International Version) Basically, they were accusing Jesus of performing miracles in the name of a demon, their accusation was blasphemy.

After I read that chapter two days after Luke shot himself, which is definiately a sin (defined as selfish actions outside of God's will that lead to death spiritual or physical), but is not the UNFORGIVABLE sin, I turned on the radio. The first words I heard were Steve Brown's voice saying that suicide is a very selfish thing, it is sinful, but it is not THE unforgivable sin. What a relief!

Do I know for sure that Luke is in heaven? No. But based off of scripture I know that God will forgive him. Luke knew Jesus, had a relationship with the Father, however Luke had a lot of anger in his heart. Hate for another person and love for God can not co-exist (1 John 4:20). Luke let his anger rule and it caused him to be bitter. Bitterness is deadly.

So...on to my point. I like Steve Brown. He said something that blew me away today. When people come to know the Lord often times they become really legalistic and want to follow the Law perfectly. They can get really upity about it. What am I talking about here, it's not just new Christians, but many Christians whether new or old. Christianity isn't about being a good person. It's about life and liberty through Christ.

The most important thing to know as a Christian is to know that you are free! You have been saved from your sins and now have the freedom to do anything. You even have the freedom to sin. Yes, you read that right. But make no mistake, sinning has consequences. Sinning, as I defined above, is being out of God's will. Sin has consequences. But the important thing is that you know you are free. You've been made free through Jesus's sacrifice and you have been raised up to a new person through Christ's resurrection and ascension.

Yes, Jesus was resurrected (walked out of the tomb) and yes he did ascend (physcially go up into heaven). And yes, he is alive. And no, you will not find his bones in any tomb on earth. About he having a wife and children: well, neither the Bible nor any historical records have any account of that. Not saying it couldn't happen, however wasn't it Jesus's purpose to come to our world and die for our sins? And doesn't Paul say in the Bible that it is better to be unmarried for a married person's interests are divided between their spouse and God. Wouldn't Jesus' interests be soley focused on the Father's interest?

He didn't seem like any average Joe carpenter to me, just trying to make a living and trying to survive like the rest of us . He was radical, and offensive, and claimed to be one with the Father. Either he was crazy or he was one with God. I believe the latter because he changed my life.

So, the reason I even mention Steve Brown is because he's like a friend to me even though I've never met him. I don't always 100% agree with everything he says, but he seems like a kind man, and is not afraid of, lovingly, telling people the way things are. Sometimes he offends, but Jesus offended people. I feel like he GETS it. Not a lot of people do.

In my experience with Christians I have typically been able to put them into one of two categories: legalistic, perfectionist, self-righteous Christians or all-embracing, anything-goes, let's twist scripture to not offend people kind of Christians. Steve Brown is neither one.

I didn't become a Christian to be perfect. There are unbelievers who are a lot better than I am at being loving, being kind, diligent, faithful, etc. But that's the thing: Jesus takes you right where you are at and you become a new person. You're saved from death and sin, and your new life in Christ starts. That doesn't mean that life is easy or pretty, my life has been pretty difficult.

I've gone through some pretty rough stuff. I don't want to be perfect, I want to be where life is. The body decays and dies, but spiritually I'm growing and growing. I'm getting more and more life. That might sound crazy to you, but it's true. I'm becoming more like God. Not because I become a god, or gain some god-life power, or anything like that. But God truely wants me to be like Him. Loving, and full of light, and love. The world is dying but those who know Christ are living. At least I hope.

Where are all the other Christians who get this? They are so hard to find. It's not about being perfect. I just want to be around other people who want to know God who aren't wacko.