Living TrueFaced -- Jason Brown

If it were easy for the Galatians to turn from the gospel of grace to the gospel of good works, then it's easy for us too.

Of course, I know I am saved by grace. I know there's nothing I can do to earn God's love and salvation. I can get the test question right. But often I live as if I am not saved by grace. This was true of the church in Galatia. They began to believe they had do something to please God. And Paul understood the slippery slope this would lead them down -- after all, he was a Pharisee of Pharisees and knew better than anyone the ramifications of believing we must do something to curry God's favor.

For me, the most dangerous result of my believing I must do something to earn God's favor is the attitude I have towards people who are not yet following Christ. Rather than extending them the same grace God has shown me, I demand they believe and act like Christians. Can you believe my hypocrisy? My self-centered, greedy, small, comfort-loving, enemy-hating, sin-defending soul has been forgiven, loved, blessed, healed and called simply because God has decided to show me kindness . . . and yet, I throw it all out the window in my approach to people who don't follow Jesus. Though God made no demands of me before he loved me, I make all sorts of demands of people who have never known his love. I know it's crazy, but it's true . . . pray for me to connect the grace God has shown me to the way I treat others.

As Ken and Bill have reminded me many times on Sundays, the problem with the world is not them but me.

Some other things that struck me from the sermon:

The Dove commercial.
We can't speak face to face until we have a face.
You can't love a mask.
We all experience guilt and pain. Instead of dealing with this openly, we wear masks.
God is angry when we try to fix ourselves rather than let him do it.
Sin done to us will always ignite the sin that is in us.

Take a minute to post a thought.

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Posted on Mon, January 26, 2009 by Jason Brown

6 comments (Add your own)

1. Greg Wallace Dolmage wrote:: It is really easy for me to be like the Pharisees and constantly set up rules of living or modifications to my behavior so that I stand out. I do this because then I can say, "I'm Christian because I do this and I do that," or better yet, "That person doesn't do that or that, so I must be a better Christian then they are." If I am better, then I'm not the worst, and that is fine with me.

I also do this, because it puts me in control. If I just have to do these things to achieve God's love, then I can know where I stand with God.

The problem with both of these actions is that they are based on the idea that God loves like we do. HE DOESN'T. Romans 5:8 says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus said that there was no greater love than giving one's life for a friend. That is what he did for us before we even tried to love him back.

I am incapable of earning this love by doing this or that. It is already there. I am incapable of controlling this love because God passes down readily and freely, even to the people I am unwilling to love. This makes God unpredictable and capable of saying things I don't want to hear such as, "Love your neighbor," and "Love your enemy." This is risky, scary in fact, but the math seems to go like this: If you would just receive this grace, mercy, and love, then it will flow out from you.

Still, it just seems safer to be a Pharisee, but we were not called to be safe. We were called to be disciples.
Tue, January 27, 2009 @ 8:36 AM
2. Heather wrote:: Here's an honest thought that went through my head while watching the clip of the Dove commercial that Bill showed us on Sunday: Yep. THAT is why I'm 28 and still single.

Because that IS the standard I am measured against in our American society and I fall short of it. How can I expect to attract - much less captivate - any guy I'm interested in if they're all looking for the perfect woman and THAT'S the image they have in mind. And not because they're shallow, but simply because it IS attractive and that's the image that has been fed to us, so that's what we tend to desire and pursue. Even if it is only an illusion.
Tue, January 27, 2009 @ 5:42 PM
3. Jeanne Pike wrote:: Greg Wallace Dolmage wrote:
"The problem with both of these actions is that they are based on the idea that God loves like we do. HE DOESN'T. Romans 5:8 says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus said that there was no greater love than giving one's life for a friend. That is what he did for us before we even tried to love him back".

Jeanne concurs:
What humans fail to realize is that God, our Father, did create us in His image BUT we do not measure up to His Being. We are an absolute creation of the Creator. We have no clue that we are clueless! Limitations are set in our minds. We are human. We live life thinking we are "ok" because we have our health, our intelligence and capacity to judge. We even forget that SuperBowl Sunday is a gathering of people God created. All of a sudden on earth, humans decided to put God in their "convenience box"-return to Him when He is needed and when it fits in their itinerary. We forget that we were made for a reason. I, for a long time, missed church to watch the Minnesota Vikings play against GB Packers -esp against the Jaguars. (We gotta win SOME times). My human-ness took over my whole being. It's still there. Just recently, I was sitting right in front of another Viking fan at church (ERC) and I felt elated that there was another that shared my common interest and goal: That the Vikings made the play-offs...Have I gone mad? Anyhow, they didn't win that game on that Sunday but the Vikings did make the post-season. I enjoy cheering on my Vikings. Lately, I've enjoyed cheering on Christian leaders that reap their harvest in the fields where Christ is a stranger.
This gives me great joy knowing that there are so many new Christians that now share a life in Christ. Living a life in Christ with ERC family has brought more joy in my life.
Back to the topic: The Grace of Salvation is there for the taking BUT God knows why, when and how His created-beings will receive His Gift. The Power of God is strong within our community because there are so many of us that have come together to know our Creator better. Humbly, we have the wisdom of knowing that God's existence is omnipotent. There's a multitude of revelations that have not been tapped into because our minds have a cutoff point that we fail to acknowledge. As Greg puts it: CHRIST DIED FOR US. That's what we need to know. We are forgiven. Then with God's mercies, timing and more grace, we live moment by moment aware of His blessings and demands but only through our obedience and willingness we will learn more of His Nature.

True Faced, removing the mask-"What mask?" This has so much influence in maintaining or re-constructing my ideas of self-worth. What am I afraid of? What am I hiding from? God knows who I may be fooling even though others don't. Removing the mask displays my whole face-without make up, my hat and sunglasses...ahhhhhh! [At least, comb your hair! Put some lipstick on!]The fear, the shame, the guilt are all revealed. Step 9 of the 12 steps (J. Baker, Celebrate Recovery, 1998) in Biblical comparison: Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gifts". So this step halts every move I'm about to make, even my "coming to the altar". I have to put a hold on my praise and worship to my Creator- First, figure out why I feel guilty? Fix relationships, do my best to forgive and ask for forgiveness from those that I've offended or hurt...remove my mask- THEN, come back to altar and make my praise and worship acceptable in the eyes of my Father God. Lots of work. This is a life-long journey. Thanks be to God for His BIG-ness! Little-bitty me in this huge universe can actually cause goodness or harm-and knowing I have the freedom to choose WHOM to serve. Awesome thought. In all actuality, True Faced is a spiritual, mental and emotional recovery program for the bold that come to realize GOD's omniscience. Like what's been said by TRUE Friends: "You're not that bad...you're not that good either. You can do better..." Thanks, Pastor Bill for being so animated in your presentation of the Word! Great job!
Wed, January 28, 2009 @ 8:15 AM
4. Heather Gates wrote:: Part 2:
After receiving an email from a concerned friend who just read my previous post here, I thought maybe I should add another comment. This is basically what I told her:

No, being single at 28 is not the end of the world, but - as long as we're being "true-faced" here - yes, it is a struggle at times. And I know I'm not the only single woman in her upper 20's who feels this way. Overall, I am pretty happy with my life and I'm very happy with God. But I do want to be married, and I would've preferred to have been married earlier if it had been my choice. But I'm still waiting. And sometimes it's hard, but that's OK.

So that's where I'm coming from with the previous post. The Dove commercial just struck me as something that hits home with every girl's desire to be seen as beautiful and how easy it is for us to believe those messages from society that say we aren't good enough just the way we are. And that's why we put on our masks. But when you become part of a community of people who are sincerely following Jesus and who are serious about loving each other the way Jesus calls us to, then it becomes safe to take off the mask and deal with reality. And I'm glad to say that this is the kind of community I have found here.
Wed, January 28, 2009 @ 12:25 PM
5. Almita wrote:: For simple people like me, just allowing myself to wonder what people think of me (my character/performance) is the first step toward becoming masked. Is it really possible to not care what others think of you? When your desire is to present yourself as a testimony of who Christ is and what He has done in your life, how can you not care? This is my conflict. I do truly want others to be drawn to Jesus by what they see in me, but I don't want them to see me without seeing Him. On the other hand, letting others see my flaws and struggles allows them to recognize that I am just as they are - desperately in need of the Savior and His Holy Spirit to live as He would have me to live.

Perhaps this is the most important reason for living TRUEFACED. Allowing my true identity to be seen -(a sinner saved by God's grace and living a life that represents the blessings of being saved by His grace as well as the struggles and victories to overcome my inherent sinful nature) - presents to others a very realistic picture of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. I will continue to let the light of my Savior shine through me and, with His help, purpose to be honest to myself and to others (as He leads) about my struggles and victories in overcoming all that is not like Him. Thank God for His Holy Spirit!
Thu, January 29, 2009 @ 7:18 AM
6. Jason Brown wrote:: Great comments above -- everyone. Almita, I really appreciate your thoughts on why it is so important to live true-faced. My experience with people is that all of us ultimately want a place to acknowledge who we are, but pursue becoming better.
Thu, January 29, 2009 @ 8:32 AM

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