Pastor Steve's blog: The Grace Alternative: Recent Comments

Comment on ELEPHANT IN THE CHURCH: WHERE ARE TODAY'S DISCIPLES?

ElizabethH. — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:50:59 GMT

Cool idea for a sermon series! Some churches have the opposite problem: lots of solid believers, but where are the new "converts"? Something to ponder.

Comment on HOW TO RECOGNIZE IF I'M UNDER THE LAW

Jennifer — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:15:35 GMT

I am replying to my own comment I wrote 11/11/20009. Both the church and self condemnation means we are brought under the law. When anyone says to me "you must do something in order to recieve blessings" even when they say to me you must stop having relations, you must move out of that house; they are putting me under the law. Those that are bound by law will always put others under the law. The law was given to bring us believers to our knees, to the realization that we can not do anything to get God to bless us...We are already blessed! We through the death of Christ have the inheritance of the world, (Rom. 4:13) not the seed of the law brought to us through the Grace of Christs death on the cross. The realization of God's grace can only bring us away from sin, His love is the only thing as leaders that can flow from us, not accusations or rules but pure love as Christ loves us, as God sees us we are to see others in the Light. Then and only then can the captives be set free from sin!!! There must not be one shred or teeny bit of yeast of the Pharisee as Jesus reminds us so much in the Gospels because it will contaminate the Good News: Jesus died for all of the sins of the world, He is the same: Yesterday, today and tomorrow! amen

Comment on HOW TO RECOGNIZE IF I'M UNDER THE LAW

Jennifer — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:55:16 GMT

So, what if I am not married, living with a man and a Christian judges me for this (worse yet, I judge myself)saying I must not know God's love (or whatever the judgement/trust God...) otherwise why would I continue to live in sin???
What if the reason for not wanting to marry is not wanting to subject ourselves to the possibility of being hurt again so deeply both emotionally financially and leaving children to suffer? We both trusted God in our previous marriages that this would not happen to us but it did. Some things "hold no water" in a pre-nup. once divorce comes along like income tax evasion and non-payment of mortgages... and to what extent a person will(not) go to harm the other (using children, etc...)

Comment on HOW TO RECOGNIZE IF I'M UNDER THE LAW

Gabriel Kushin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:29:26 GMT

How would you define the term 'Law' as you're using it? How is Paul using it in this context (Romans 7)?

It sounds like you're claiming that a Christian is placing herself under the Law when she focuses on her performance, associates God’s favor with her behavior, loathes herself after sinning, rationalizes, minimizes, or blames others for her sin, is judgmental toward those who commit sins that aren't even tempting to her, or tries to hide her sin? Is this what Paul has in mind when he employs this terminology?

Comment on WHY SAME SEX ATTRACTIONS?

jan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:33:27 GMT

I think another aspect of same sex attraction might be a reaction to what is seen as abuse of power in male-female relationships. Well-intentioned Christians have often distorted the idea of women's submission and male leadership.
This is tragic, not just because it is so destructive, but it also perverts our concepts of God's nature and character. If we demonstrate that two equally precious, competent humans enter into a committed relationship where one willingly lays down his life for the other, and the other willingly submits herself to him, we would have a human display of the Godhead and the true relationship of the Church to Christ.
In Christ, the uncreated God willingly took on the role of a human being who suffered to bring about the very best for the ones He loves (those people who will believe in Him) But in adopting that role of a creature instead of creator He was no less God. In a similar way, we are taught to lay down our lives for one another in our sexual/marital relationship.
I think this is where my discomfort about same sex relationships stems from.
In the sense of being outside what God allows, it is no different from a married woman looking with desire on someone besides her husband. Or any other pattern in which we ignore or go beyond the boundaries laid out for us in God's word. My heart is sad when my friends tell me they've decided to live together, gay or straight. Because although they're convinced they/ve found love and happiness, I know it will bring the greater separation that sin brings to every one of us that chooses options that God will not allow.

(Edit at will, I have to go to work. I have a lot more thoughts to share on this one!!)

Comment on WHY SAME SEX ATTRACTIONS?

mossrock — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:53:41 GMT

Hey Charlie, I am sorry for all the abuse, unkindness, and self-righteous attitudes you have apparently suffered at the hands of Christians. And I know, at the same time, these words are not going to just automatically erase or even ease your pain. But I also know more and more what I was told as a new believer, that is, to keep our eyes on Jesus, whom even hardened criminals recognized as being without sin. Little hurts as well as big hurts received from others can all be laid at the foot of the cross. Jesus asks us to trust only him. All the pain in this world, sins we have done and sins done to us, were carried by Jesus on that cross. My humble little advice would be to try spending some time alone with Jesus each day, to try opening your heart to him even for a few minutes at a time, meditate on him, read your Bible, all the while asking God to reveal to you what he wants you to know, without it being clouded by misinformation and misunderstandings. And perhaps, even probably, I think, God may just put in your path some Christians who do not act in this stereotypical way. We all have our struggles, mine is food, but we can't let any of these things get in the way of getting to know the One who loves us most. Don't worry about resolving all these issues right now; it's a learning process for all of us, but please consider opening your heart to the One who created and knows you beyond all else. Love God best, and he'll take care of the rest.
Truly may you find his peace.

Comment on WHY SAME SEX ATTRACTIONS?

Pastor Steve — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:14:02 GMT

Hi Charlie.

Hey, I'm sorry if you felt this was an attack on you or on gays in general. That was not my intent or my heart. I am sorry for the pain you received as a young man struggling in church, shamed by christians, etc. I honestly cannot imagine how that must feel. And for your pain, I am sorry.

You said, "God is nicer than Christians." No doubt. But as a Christian I desire to reflect His love and kindness and am wrong when I do not. God's definitely nicer than Christians. He's also nicer than non-Christians.

Regarding your statement "only God is the judge. Only God." True. Not me, not you, not anyone else. And as a Christian I want to know God as He is revealed in Jesus Christ and in the Bible.

Also, when you said, "It must feel great to know that you are so wonderful and good, and that you will be the only ones who God takes into heaven." Yikes. There must be Christians like this, but none that I know. I'm not happy when people go to prison, for instance, let alone if someone goes to hell. I'm not happy when people live apart from God today and don't know His love, acceptance, promises in Christ.

Charlie, the Christian message isn't that Christians are better than others. The Christian message is that we're all broken and tainted with sin. It messes up our relationships, our thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, desires, etc. But graciously, God offers forgiveness and restored relationship and true acceptance in Christ. For all who trust Jesus for forgiveness. Christ who died for our sins. Your background doesn't matter, your ethnicity, lifestyle, straight, gay, bi... these are not the issue. Christ is. God accepts those who know they are sinners and run to Christ for God's forgiveness and acceptance and righteousness.

If that's not the gospel you heard in church you didn't hear the Gospel. If you want to chat more about this--I'll chat with you privately. If you just want to delete this and chalk me up as another hateful Christian--that's less than desirable but I can respect it.

Steve

Comment on WHY SAME SEX ATTRACTIONS?

Charlie Perkins — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:25:53 GMT

Jesus loves us all. Christians just love to attack gays because we are easy targets. We are not a part of what society accepts as normal.I was brought up in a church that said that homosexuals make God throw up. I struggled for years, trying to deny who I really was because I didn't want to fail God, my family and the church. No one can ever imagine the lonely feeling a young gay person feels because they know that they don't belong. So many commit suicide because of this. I finally quit fighting and decided that I was going to be true to myself. Christians are always speaking as if they were God. I hope that God and Jesus are nicer than Christians. If not, then I'd rather go to hell. For some reason, I thought that Jesus was all about love and acceptance. Religions have distorted what they want from the bible. That's why there are so many different churches and faiths. They all create their own rules about what they think God approves of. It's mans ego that does this. They decide who is or isn't going to hell. Only God is the judge. Only God. Jesus loves us all. It is a shame that Christians are not more like him. It must feel great to know that you are so wonderful and good, and that you will be the only ones who God takes into heaven.

Comment on WONDERFUL WOMEN AND CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Danielle — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:43:33 GMT

When I read this comment I was moved to speak. For years I struggled with being a woman, I hated the idea that I was an afterthought of creation that I was the "weaker vessel". I became a fierce, dominant, striving woman and although I accepted pretty much everything else the Bible had to say, I couldn't accept what I THOUGH God's stance was on womankind. Then I read a book called, "What Paul Really Said About Women" and I was completely enlightened and have felt an enormous amount of healing in my life. I suggest anyone read it.

The essential points I feel moved to express are that we as women do not have to be content in lesser roles simply because some argue that men should hold the higher ones. I believe this is a plow of the enemy to keep wonderful, on fire for Christ women out of the places where they could best further the kingdom. Many of the verses that are held over women as cues that we are less are taken out of cultural context and the proper translations are not explored. In Paul's time a major shift came into play and women were leading churches. The whole "braiding hair" controversy comes from the fact that during that time only prostitutes braided their hair and lavishly adorned themselves - Paul is essentially saying don't dress in a way that makes you look sleezy. The book far more eloquently explains God's roles for women that is deeply rooted in scripture. Please, anyone if you are struggling with this concept at least read this book, its short. In the end we are free to decide what we will think, but at least round out your view by looking at scripture in context

Comment on WHY SAME SEX ATTRACTIONS?

Lesli — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:48:18 GMT

I can only speak for myself... After so many years of opression and forced shame I am proud to finally voice who I am. As for the sin part... not everyone agrees that same sex relationships are sinful. I believe that it is possible to be a Christian and be in a relationship. Period. Who are we as humans to judge what God sees as love?