Changed Hearts, Changed Lives

It seems the new trendy thing for christians in America to do is abandon all of the luxuries and blessings we've been given to empathize with those in other countries or social settings. Which is fine (1 Corinthians 9:20) as long as it's done in the right heart.

Sometimes I think we try to blame things on the world instead of owning up and realizing it's our own fault. What good does blaming our heart issues on an inanimate object do?? We can sit around and complain to the computer about how much time it wastes or get angry with the 'media' for corrupting us but it comes down to a heart issue.

Christianity is a life-long life-changing process that can only happen when we become broken. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" - Psalm 34:18 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" - Psalm 51:17 One of the hardest things for us to do as people is let go of our pride and control. Ultimately, it's a heart issue.

The only difference in any church building between two people singing songs and giving money is their hearts.

-One is truly worshiping because he has forsaken his own gain for the gain of Christ. What he sings has meaning, what he gives has meaning, how he interacts has meaning. He has truly grasped what it means to be a Christian and can rest in the grace of the Gospel.

-The other does things out of show. He does things because he thinks he is expected to, as if there's some kind of check-list with things like tithing, going to church, reading over small group material, etc. and God will one day give the person with the most checks the best seat in Heaven.

This is exactly the idea Jesus is trying to get across in Luke18:9-14. The tax collector was broken before God and held nothing as his own to boast. But the pharisee thought that because he did all of his "chores" for God that week that he was better off. "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 18:14

Christianity isn't about doing things to do them, it's about doing things to worship God; it's about giving God our everything and submitting our desires to His glory.

"Either change your name or change your conduct" - Alexander the Great.

Beginnings..

When I was 8, my church was hosting a Power Team crusade for the week. The Power Team is a group of men who share the message of Christ using their feats of strength to draw people to the events. I had attended every night and halfway through the week I realized that these guys, being the strongest and biggest guys I had ever seen, could do nothing by their own strength against the powers of Hell to avoid suffering forever. They were breaking bricks and blocks of ice, tearing apart license plates and phone books, and bursting hot water bags, but were utterly defenseless to Satan’s grasp. Then they told us the one thing that was saving them; the one saving grace - something that we are given that we don't deserve - that keeps them from experience eternal Hell. That thing is the death of a perfect man on the cross paying the price for our sin. His death serves as a sacrifice for my sin and a once-and-for-all substitution for all mankind. Nothing can take me away from Him and I'm forgiven for my sins. I gave my life over to Christ that week and was baptized shortly after.