Rewards. Rewards. Rewards.

     I took a personality test once administered by my lovely wife. When I was done taking this test, it gave Biblical leaders that, based on their accounts in the Bible, had the same personality traits I do. Abram/Abraham was my guy. The first thing that came to my mind, "Oh man, the guy that sold out his wife to the pharaoh.... what guy..... why couldn't I get like, Jesus or something?" 

     

     My curiosity eventually made me eat my own words. I decided a year ago to go a 12 week study on Genesis. Thanks to my wonderful go-getter attitude, a year later, I'm on week 5. Well needless to say it's impossible to study Genesis, the beginning of HaShem's relationship with Creation, without studying the microcosmic story of Abraham. Here's what I have gathered about my kindred leader:

     He's not perfect, neither am I.

     Despite HaShem bestowing glory on Abram by blessing his offspring. Abram was wrought with faithlessness. I know that faithlessness isn't something I should play up, but stick with me. I quickly learned of Abram's short comings. not just his dealings with spiritual pollution in Egypt, but how he raised himself up out of his insufficiencies and reaffirmed his relationship and faith in HaShem and his promises. 

     How can I model this?

     Abram, after he was done in Egypt, did something. He left Egypt, a spiritually dark time for him. It effected his relationship with G-d, even when G-d intervened and brought plagues on Egypt and restored Sarai to Abram, despite Abram not relying on HaShem's protection. Abram then left Egypt he made his way to the Negeb, to the altar that he built for the LORD, and then invoked the name of HaShem, then moved to Bethel, a place that was higher physically than Egypt and more fruitful than the Negeb. Despite dropping the ball, which is something I can get good at, Abram didn't trek on from that failure, he moved back to the last place G-d spoke to him, then spiritually reconfirmed himself. After having restored himself, He moved to Bethel, a better place to be. 

      Abram, didn't take the mistake and built off the mistake, he instead removed it, and built off the firmness of the LORD and moved forward. 

     Abram clung to the promise of G-d.

     Even in Abram's faithlessness (the questioning of the fulfillment of the Covenant) He still clung to the promise given to him. Abram, in the midst of waiting for the fulfillment of the covenant began to lose his way. HaShem, responds by reminding Abram of His aid and involvement. 

     Abram had prepared an offering, which in this culture, was used during the confirmation of a covenant. You would pass between the split carcasses meaning that if you broke this covenant you would be split apart as consequence. Abram noticed that a burning pot of smoke and burning torch passed between the carcasses. Suggesting that G-d was ratifying the covenant. To reaffirm Abram's faith.

What I should remember:

"G-d's blessing and promise do not flow out of Abram's obedience; but rather, Abram's faith and obedience are a response to G-d's lavish promises." 

Goodness and Grace are never the reward for belief, but my faith should always be the response to the flow of Grace and Goodness.

Leadership and Responsibility are not given to me because I deserve them, instead they should be the response to example that has been laid out for me. I should take up my position (no matter where or what that is) not because it is what is owed to me (which it isn't) it should be because G-d has called me to, and has allowed me to do so. Leadership is a response, not a reward. Our Faith in the promise of Christ should not be to receive life instead our belief and faith should be the response to the offer of salvation. I don't want to love because I get a reward, I want to love because I am loved first. I don't want to work to get a paycheck, I want to work because it's my duty.

Genesis 11-16

Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins. - Alexander MacLaren

Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins.

Alexander MacLaren

Most of the Body of Christ gathers to worship corporately in song and praise for a good solid 30-50 minutes a week which equals to1560-2600 a year. There are 525,600 minutes in a year this makes the percentage of the Church gathering to worship together, 0.3957382039573821% of our year….[i]  Funny enough, if every Christian that’s the same percentage of our lives that we worship God together in our lives. Does it seem weird when we do something once a week, but we look at the numbers it is so little?

            This isn’t a shame on you essay. It’s a thought essay. I want to find out what I’m doing as a young Christian. This is my way of taking inventory, if you will, relating it to myself; and, understanding my walk with Christ. I don’t intend on presenting a problem, harp on said problem then not offer a solution to the problem. I digress.(did I use that right? “I digress” is a phrase I have always wanted to use but have never used it right. Just like the “when in Rome” scene in Anchorman, a grossly inappropriate movie.)

            Now my math may be way off. I did take a lot of math classes in High School, they were just remedial and repeats because I had initially failed the course. The percentages can be different based on denomination, occupation, residence etc… What if…(dun dun dun) the church gathered for at least 1% of the year and worshipped and sang to Jesus? That’s roughly two and a half times more than we do now. I understand that worship carries through out the day. But there is something to be said for coming together as a body and praising Jesus through song. Right?

            There used to be a church on the interstate between Austin and Dallas that had a banner that plugged it’s 30 minute service. There are other churches that have plugged their streamlined easy experience services. I cannot tell you about the motives behind these practices, but I can ask the question again. Why don’t we spend even one percent as a church together in worship of our creator. 

            We all need to know that what we do during the day can be fragrant to God.[ii] But there is something to be said for gathering together as a family, as a bride, as a body to worship Jesus. This intent isn’t to call anyone out, or to shame anyone into raising their hands during worship; but, rather, to talk it through.

            Is it realistic? Is it conventional? Or even do able? I don’t know. But what if? What if admiration and worshipping the Creator of everything took precedence in everything we did? Altering how we even do the smallest business? Our careers, our lives our plans all revolved around Jesus and whether or not we’re fragrant in our public and personal lives?[iii]

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[i] Taking the average time a year, which would be 2,080 minutes.

[ii] Read a book called Praise Habit by David Crowder.

[iii] For the record, that’s how our lives are supposed to be…..

Do you remember how old you were when you became an adult?

How rebellious is it to be a Christian?

     I am a 25 years young man in a church that is constantly in growing pangs. These aren't always bad things, they expand and contract the Church.

     My biggest struggle is to find my place in this Church. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; about the Church being a body, and every part having it's place, just like body parts. I know I am being built for super cool things; my goal is to figure out what things I have been built for. I know where I'm called and I also know where I am.

     This issue isn't a new one; but it's not like this issue hasn't been addressed. At some point an individual should take on their responsibility and transition into their role as an adult. Given today's culture, the age of transition is in the 20's. This age is a difficult one, forget the teens the twenties are where it's at. I feel like unless a church specializes in the 20 something's then it's hard for these brothers and sisters to find authentic community, in a body that caters to families and elders. Twenty somethings are those that have no family of their own, too old to be young and too young to be old enough. 

     As has been mentioned before, that the twenties are where each individually finds his or herself and really makes their relationship with Christ their own. So in these years, there is such a wide variety of walks and maturity levels. It would seem to be a daunting group to take on and disciple. In Acts, which tells us the history of the church, I would assume the Apostles some of which still had the memories of Christ still fresh in their mind. Were sent out to sow the seeds of what we reap today. 

     Each individual in Christ is part of something bigger than themselves. This body that we are inducted into is more important that our relationship with our friends, family and world. I find it funny that Jesus calls us to be outside of mainstream culture so that we can influence mainstream culture, so we did it; we ejected the church from mainstream culture and made our own bubble, with it's own mainstream, underground and indie subcultures. The problem is we brought along the same unhealthy habits and problems that the world had. Some of these little plagues are problems with our human nature, and thus can creep into our church life.

     Can one say that the church is plagued with the same problems that the world is? The answer is yes, and this is something that I, as a young person, am figuring out. Problems that plague my peers, plague me.  My struggle as a young adult in the body of Christ is finding my place. My role in my church. Until recently I have lived in the future, my career was in the future tense, my marriage is in the future tense... I'm coming to an era of life where everything that was going to happen is starting to happen. I'm ready to start taking on my roles in the Church. My personality is taking shape to start taking responsibility. I'm excited. I have my fears and I have my doubts, but I'm ready to take them on.

     My name is Ryan Hansen, I am a young adult in the body of Christ, looking to take on my role as a leader.