"Do not ask questions, just believe"

Celsus, a 2nd century Greek philosopher & opponant of Christianity wrote in his True Doctrine, "some [Christians] do not even want to give or to receive a reason for what they believe, and use such expressions as 'Do not ask questions; just believe,' and 'Thy faith will save thee.'"

How many Christians today have the same understanding of their faith? Just as belief without reason didn't convince many Greeks, it doesn't convince unbelievers today. In Greek times Christians were mocked for their counter-cultural actions. They were the butts of jokes and easy scapegoats for all things wrong. In today's culture Christians seem to be increasingly disregarded and mocked as well. Could there be a connection?

Even more dangerous than being mocked by non-believers, is not having relevant answers for the next generation of Christians. As large part of my ambitions in seminary will be to challenge and solidify what I believe so that I can, in turn, train other Christians to do the same, especially teenagers and college students who are abandoning the faith of their parents and grandparents at an alarming rate.

Grieve or Gloss??

"You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient." -Ephesians 2:1-2

I believe one of the struggles of growing up in a Christian nation, in a Christian home, is our tendency to gloss over our sins. Several experiences at work have highlighted this for me lately.

First, one of my co-workers admitted that she smoked, but referred to it as her "only vice." Really? ONLY vice? She went on to say that she didn't do drugs or murder people, so smoking was okay.

A guest recently ordered a Diet Pepsi, but when I brought it asked if I could bring a blend of Regular and Diet because she was trying to wean herself off of Regular Pepsi, but Diet tasted so bad! I applaud her effort to rid her life of an idol (I know, strong word, but it was something other than God that she couldn't live without - we all have them; and need to get rid of them). But again, she mentioned Pepsi as her only vice.

On the flip side, I had a conversation with another co-worker last night. He was talking to another server about the "Sunday crowd" and said something obscene. I pointed out that wasn't a very nice thing to say about Jesus's church to which he replied that if he was going to hell it would be for far greater things than what came out of his mouth. He admitted he has many vices - and didn't care.

My experience in the Church has been to call good people, with few vices, away from hell by saying the Sinner's Prayer and we leave the truly amazing transformations for those with really big sins. So we say the prayer and walk out the door and continue to gossip, lie, worship ourselves, and live in unforgiveness. We are never taught to grieve these sins for what they are! And the result is a half-hearted church-goer, who is still just as empty and lonely as before.

"All of us once lived among [the disobedient] in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else." Ephesians 2:2-3

We won't be able to genuinely acknowledge the great gift God has given us through Christ Jesus if we aren't able to admit, and then turn from, our sinful nature. Why would we cling to the mercy of God if we never admit we are guilty?

"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one can boast. For we are what he had mad us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." Ephesians 2:4-10

As a Church we must call people from all walks of life to grieve their sin for what it is - an abomination that keeps us far from a perfect God - so that we can be drawn to and immersed in his immeasurable love, not just spared from hell to be a good church-goer.

Experiencing Christ's Love

Love has always been an awkward thing for me, to be honest. Conceptually, it's great. What I struggle with is the whole accepting it thing. Maybe it came from the death of my parents at a young age; or maybe it's just human nature. I really don't know.

But what I do know is that I have heard my whole life that "Jesus Loves Me," most kids raised in the church have - but what did it ever mean to me. Conceptually, it was great! But instead of really accepting it, I have always continued to lean on my own strength - there is less trust and risk involved that way.

A couple weeks ago, Garrett and I decided that we would call Quest Community Church in Lexington our home church. We liked Quest because the people & the preaching was real. It acknowledged the radical step it is to not just become a follower of Christ, but then to radically follow him wholeheartedly (a jump much scarier than salvation).

Almost 3 weeks ago I made that leap. I didn't know what I was in for or what "wholeheartedness" looked like, but I knew the only way to find out was to leap.

Tonight I made another leap - acknowledging that I had never really "experienced" Christ. Oh, I've said the sinner's prayer at least a dozen times (typically out of fear of going to hell), but I've never just let his love penetrate every part of me. And to be honest, I'm not sure I've yet had a real Jesus "experience," but He has given me a heart to not stop pursuing Him until I have.

Just like 3 weeks ago, I really don't know what lays ahead. But life without Christ's love just doesn't seem all that spectacular anymore. Thank you Jesus for not only starting a good work in me, but also being faithful to carry it out until completion!

Inductive Bible Study

This is an excerpt from a blog about the importance of 1) Inductive Bible Study and 2) learning the original biblical languages by Ajith Fernando.

Those who lead God’s people into understanding God’s Word would be greatly helped if they get a feel of how the Bible was written originally by studying the original languages. It is hard work, and today with all the resources we have to access information quickly, studying what the original language says seems to be very counter-cultural. But our Seminaries are primarily not in the business of producing technicians who know how to handle available resources. They are in the business of nurturing men and women of the Word—people who can not only access resources but also who can think biblically, people who have a close relationship with the greatest wealth there is in the world—the Word of God. It is worth going through rigorous study in order to become more skilled in handling such a great treasure.

This is truly the main thing I am excited about as I launch my seminary career. For so long I have longed to better understand the bible, but didn't know how. This fall I will better learn both Inductive Bible Study (with the book of Matthew) and Greek - and yes, I'm excited. I'm ready to put in the long hours and hard work to do it because quite honestly, I'm tired of being stagnant. As I've heard said, we only change when the pain of remaining the same is greater than that of the pain of change.

St. Applebee's

I was pretty disappointed last week when I saw my schedule at Applebee's. As a previous server while earning my undergrad, it was the quickest way for me to start making more than minimum wage her in Kentucky. I've had to work nights since Garrett went back to work and this last week it meant Wednesday & Saturday nights plus a Sunday morning shift.

I was devistated. Not because I think I'll go to hell for missing church, but because I was going to miss out! Garrett and the kids even got a double dose of worship this weekend and I was off to worship once again at St. Applebee's.

That was the spirit I walked into work with on Sunday - expecting the usual Sunday crowd. (as a side note people after church generally don't treat their servers like Jesus would - sorry, it's just the truth)

I was shocked to find Jesus moving among our guest! To the guest that gave my co-worker a $47 tip - THANK YOU!! She's going back to church next week - for the first time in a long time! And to the family that paid for my table's meal - I think I was just as blessed as they were! I was so surprised to find Jesus show up in such a tangible way that I just stood in awe!

God you are so amazing! Thank you for meeting me where I am - even if it's not exactly where tradition tells me I should be!

How my Journey Began

Life never seems to go as planned. Here I am living in Kentucky, renting again (with a house still for sale in IL, serving at Applebee's (again), and back to being a stay-at-home mom (argh). What would possess me to leave a job I loved and uproot my family?

I blame my husband!

Over late-night coffee Easter weekend he pointed out that the only place I belong is in academics. I've always knew I wanted to teach at the college level, there was just never a topic I loved enough to dedicate my life to and life was too hectic with our 4 kids and my full time job to pursue any adjunct work.

That conversation (plus an amazing session with Ravi Zacharias at Catalyst West) persuaded my to dedicate the rest of my life to preparing young men and women to understand and defend their faith. What that looks like? God hasn't revealed that yet. He's just pointed me to Asbury Theological Seminary and said "Go!"

I've created this blog to record and sort through my thoughts on this journey. So, for the record, I'm a little anxious and 100% unsure about all of this. But at the same time I couldn't be more excited!!