Who's Your Daddy

I preached a sermon this past weekend titled "Who's Your Daddy", speaking into one's identity. Realizing your identity isn't just about knowing who you are, but also whose you are. For far too long, we have let society determine the way we view ourselves, our worth, importance and value. For students today, social media has given a numerical value on which they base their social standing. For the first time ever, young people can determine their 'worth' using actual numbers provided by their peers. Social media however, is not the problem. The problem is people really don't know who their Daddy is!

We act like we have all our problems in order, as if God doesn't already know that you are a complete mess! We know He knows, but we act like He doesn't. We think we have to be perfect and we rarely show our weaknesses because we believe the lie that exposing our shortcomings actually makes you weak. But my Bible says in 2 Corinthians 12 that when I am weak, Christ makes me strong. So why do we try to cover up our weaknesses?

Did you know that most people believe that they have to start acting 'better' before they walk into a church? The problem is most Christians believe this about their own walk with Christ. They say things like, "I need to get right", "I need to pray more", "I need to read my Bible", etc. When did Christianity ever become about getting 'right' or doing 'more'? Let's just be honest for a minute. We hardly ever dwell on how much God is in love with us right now. We rarely bring to mind what our Daddy calls us. If you trust Jesus with your life, He actually calls you His child (1 John 3:2). You are a son of the Most High King. You are a daughter of the Creator of the Universe. God is proud of you! So much so that He adores you, even though you are a mess! That's the beauty of His love. It's unconditional, meaning it's not based on your choices. He loves you regardless if you believe or obey. God is not in love with a future you. He is crazy about you right now! As Brennan Manning says, "I dare you to trust that [God] loves you just as you are and not as you should be because you'll never be as you should be."

When you dwell on the reality of what God calls each of us, the more passionate you'll become about Him and the less attractive sin will be. We as humans start to base our identity on how well we are doing spiritually rather than what God has declared over us in Christ. My identity means that I am beloved, a child of God, delighted in, forgiven, washed clean, free, a temple of the Holy Spirit, adopted into God's family, co-heir with Christ, righteous, new, a saint, set apart, an ambassador of Christ, a co-laborer with Christ, a sweet aroma, never alone, a masterpiece, wonderfully made, bold, having guaranteed victory, holding a secured future, whole in Christ. My identity isn't what people call me. It's what my Daddy calls me!

Turn The Other Cheek

Have you ever been frustrated by the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5 about turning the other cheek? So if I get punched in the face, I'm supposed to let my attacker punch me again? Is that really what it's saying? This is just the beginning of people not understanding exactly what is being taught. Just because I'm a Christian does not mean I have to let people walk all over me. Let's look at the context...

When Jesus speaks in Scripture (words in red), you have to understand that His audience are Jews. They are Jews who are living under the Mosaic law. That is, the 10 commandments and the 613 other laws that the Jews put into place to 'keep' one holy. (365 laws of things not to do, 248 laws of things they are to do). Talk about a list of rules! Therefore, when Jesus starts talking about turning the other cheek, these Jews would have known exactly what He was talking about. In this culture, the cheek was the symbol of relationship. To kiss one's cheek was a sign of peace and fellowship. To strike someone in the face meant that you were attacking the relationship. This is why in some cultures still today, to slap someone in the face is the ultimate sign of disrespect. When slapped, you were no longer friends. How dare someone disrespect you like that! But what Jesus is teaching is actually offensive to this crowd because He was challenging their pride and forgiveness. To turn the cheek meant to re offer the relationship. This kind of grace was unheard of! In fact, isn't it odd that Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek (a sign of peace and fellowship) when he was actually coming to betray Him. Have you ever noticed Jesus' response? In Matthew 26:50 Jesus says, "Do what you came for, friend." What?! Jesus calls Judas: friend?! If you didn't understand the meaning behind turning the other cheek, you would have missed Jesus doing so right here in this verse. The moment Judas goes to betray Jesus, Jesus still offers him grace. Jesus turned the other cheek immediately. Jesus re offered him the relationship right there on the spot. Notice that Judas was so filled with shame and condemnation that he missed the grace that God was offering. It wasn't that God didn't forgive Judas, it was that Judas couldn't forgive himself. This is where many Christians live today...

Understanding that the cheek was a symbol of relationship will help you understand exactly what Jesus was teaching these Jews in this culture and how this applies to us today. Grace is a beautiful thing because we do nothing to earn it. God is constantly turning His cheek to us as His grace covers us daily. Where in your life do you need to be offering grace to others? Or as Jesus would say, "where do you need to turn the other cheek?"

He Said What?!

Just heard the new Lil Wayne album and think it's funny how things change. I used to love jammin' to his songs claiming that I don't pay attention to the lyrics. I'd say things like, "I'm just loving the beat!" or "This one's good, it don't cuss." As if cussing is what makes his music 'explicit'. Do we even pay attention to what we listen to anymore? Or do we not notice because he uses different verbiage to make it sound cool? For example, his intro song talks about having sex with a shark. That ain't cool, that's weird. He talks about murdering people because that makes you tough and respectful, right? He talks about abuse like it's normal, sex like it's a game to see how many "hoes" you can sleep with, and drugs like they're cool and get you places in life.

The crazy thing is, we buy this stuff as if they're talking about something new! The reality is, we've heard all these songs before. It's not hard to talk about how many women you've conquered, how many overdoses and 'close calls' you've had, how hardcore you are, or how money has bought you happiness (which it clearly hasn't since you are constantly trying to escape reality with drugs). HELLOOOOO... Is that entertainment? Last time I checked, the most insecure people I know have to continue to let everyone know how awesome they think they are. As if killing people and slappin females makes you awesome.

This kind of music does not speak to real life nor does it benefit society. But our young people love it! It's a problem because there aren't a lot of awesome beats with positive messages that aren't corny and suck. In fact, Christianity has sat too long in the back seat, putting out rappers with poor flow and style and claiming it as music for God. I'm sorry, you just suck. Where are the artists that know how to speak truth in a raw and talented way and do it with excellence? Well, let me introduce you to one. His name is Andy Mineo and he is changing the game with strong lyrics and head banging beats. Oh, and the best part about his music? You leave encouraged and strengthened. In this culture of Hip Hop, we've allowed the same garbage to flow through our minds. As Andy puts it in his song 'You Will' he says, "Them strip clubs, money, drugs. Come on cuz, you borin us. We've heard it all before and I'm still unimpressed with that sort of stuff..." and he's right. It's time for this generation to talk about stuff that actually gets you places in life. His album drops April 16th. Go get it and support this 116 movement of being unashamed for the Gospel of Christ. This is real life! This message changes lives!

I'm No Orphan Anymore

It's heartbreaking to watch some students chase after things that don't really matter. They get wrapped up in their looks, grades, sports, who they date, where they work, and who they hang out with. As they get older, they continue to find their worth in what they do rather than who God says they are. As I talk with Christians and listen to the words they use to describe themselves, I'd be curious to find out how many actually believe that they are children of God. Pause and think about that for a moment. If you are in Christ, you are actually a child of God, a son or daughter of the Creator of the universe (1 John 3:2, Galatians 3:26).

There is a song called "All He says I am" by Gateway Worship and the lyrics to the bridge says, "Chains are broken, scales are on the floor, truth is spoken, I'm no orphan anymore." The truth spoken to us through the Word of God breaks chains of sin and bondage and when we realize that we are children of God, we realize our identity...that we're not orphans anymore spiritually. Christ calls us His own. Now that is something to be encouraged about! That is something to celebrate!

I was really challenged by a thought last week from Reggi, our Worship Pastor. He said, "Rather than think about who I am in Christ, we should think more about who Christ is in me." When we think about who we are in Christ, the thought is still revolved around us. Our strengths. Our weaknesses. The things we've done and want to do. When we shift that thought to think about who Christ is and then realize that He actually lives IN us, it changes the game. Christ calls us sons and daughters. Christ calls us righteous. Christ calls us worthy. Christ calls us good. Why? Because if He is IN us and if He is those things, then that makes US those things! Jesus' identity is now our identity and if God is for us who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? There is no shame or condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1, John 3:18). There is only love and grace. A grace that accepts you long before you believe or behave...

Rebel

As a pastor's kid growing up, I unfortunately added to the stereotype. I rebelled without having a reason to rebel. I bought into the lies the devil sold and chased after meaningless pleasures. Although those mistakes have shaped the man I am today, I still wish I wasn't such an idiot. I believe many young people buy into the lies thinking the activities of the world are fun. But those lies never satisfy. Just look at the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The son rebelled and in verse 17 it literally says, "When he came to his senses..." The son realized that the lifestyle he was walking in wasn't fun and he was acting like an idiot. He comes up with a plan to return to his father's house. In the next several verses, we see an incredible picture of the grace of God. But before the grace could be received, the son still had to make a choice...do I continue to live like the world or will I choose Christ?

As a youth pastor, I witness students making the same mistakes. I am heartbroken over how many students would rather follow their friends to failure than stand alone in their faith with Christ. Our society makes it seem like being a rebel is cool. But a rebel is doing something that nobody else is doing. In today's culture, it seems like most students are involved in illegal or wrong activities. We claim it as being a rebel or risky or cool because we do what we're not supposed to do. But again, a rebel is doing something that nobody else is doing. A very small amount of students are living for Christ. If you want to be a true rebel, then do something that no one else is doing. How about being a rebel for Christ. It seems like very few are standing alone or standing up for what they believe, actually living to make an impact for the Gospel. It only takes one student to make an impact...

Are you willing to take a stand for Christ even if that means standing alone?

Everlasting vs Eternal

Have you ever realized that the words everlasting and eternal don't mean the same thing? Yet they are interchangeable in some of the verses that talk about life after death. Everlasting life is really talking about the life we will have with or without God forever, but eternal life has no beginning. (Mind Blown). So, when we accept Christ and are given eternal life, whose life do we now possess? My physical body had a beginning but now that I am spiritually united with Christ, I have eternal life - life with no beginning or end. Having eternal life means that you now possess God's divine life. Andrew Farley puts it this way, "Eternal life is not your life made better. Eternal life is not your life made longer. Eternal life is an altogether different life - a life not your own now imparted to you. Eternal life is Christ's life." John 14:19 says because Christ lives, I also will live. Colossians 3:4 says when Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

It doesn't matter that your family jokes about you being an "oops baby". You were God's idea before you were your parents 'mistake'. Before the world existed, God knew you (Jeremiah 1:5). And now that we have eternal life in Christ, we are able to live a new life. A life united with God. A force that had no beginning!

The Right Question

As I read the Gospels, it's interesting to note how many times Jesus answers a question with a question. The disciples ask Jesus how they are to respond when people ask them who He is...Jesus responds by asking them who do you say I am? The Pharisees question Jesus' miracle on the Sabbath...Jesus responds by asking them if it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath? The list goes on...

In my own experiences in ministry I have often found that if I can respond with a question, most people will be able to digest and discern for themselves the answer. However, learning to ask the right question is the most important yet challenging thing to do.

In order to keep a conversation going, questions that only require a yes or no answer are absolutely the worst kinds of questions. And when dealing with students, this usually ends the conversation. Asking questions differently can get to the heart of what actually needs to be discussed. I say this because usually when I am asked a question that causes controversy or is a grey issue, there is a hidden reason behind the motives of the question. Most people are looking to get around the 'rules' or push the boundaries in what they believe. They want to know things like how far is too far and how close can I get to the line without crossing over. Instead of sharing our own convictions, we need to ask better questions in response to the things people ask us. Andy Stanley writes a whole book on this subject titled, "The Best Question Ever". Spoiler Alert: The best question ever is to ask yourself: What is the wise thing to do? A lot of regrets can be avoided if we replaced our questions with the thought of, is this wise?