Pastor's Blog

Pastor's Note - June 30

As we approach the 4^th of July weekend, I wanted to simply provide some words on freedom from the Bible. Just as sin is our great captor, Christ is our great liberator. It is interesting to note that in these passages, Scripture tells us we may be freed from both sins of “law-breaking” and sins of “law-keeping,” from both licentiousness and legalism. We are enslaved to sin when we perpetually break the law of God, and we are enslaved to sin when we try to earn righteousness and favor by keeping the law of God. Both enslave, and both are contrary to freedom in and faithfulness to the Lord. May these verses encourage you by the freedom offered in Jesus!

• Acts 13:38-39 – “Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.”
• Romans 6:17-18 – “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”
• 2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
• John 8:34-36 – “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.”
• Galatians 5:1 – “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
• 1 Peter 2:16 – “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”
• Isaiah 61:1 – “ The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…”
• Romans 8:1-4 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Pastor's Note - June 30

I hope you’ve heard me say by now how important it is to gather and be together. I know it’s not always easy. If I’m honest, total isolation sounds heavenly on some days. Yet there’s a reason Scripture commands us to gather together in worship, and all the more because of the coming Day of judgment. Social connection and physical presence, particularly in worship, is part of how we are kept in the faith and made ready to meet the Lord (see Hebrews 10:24-25). The importance of social connection has been corroborated by the social sciences. I came across an interesting study that examined the benefits of extraversion. It’s commonly held that some people are more extraverted, and some more introverted. Some are energized by being around people, and some are energized by being alone, as the thinking goes. This study found something interesting, though. It found that, according to twitter user Rob Henderson, “Regardless of whether they themselves were introverts or extraverts, people instructed to behave like extroverts subsequently felt better than people instructed to behave like introverts.” According to the study he cites, participants were told to participate in a discussion, and were “randomly assigned to an “introverted” or “extraverted” condition. Instructions for the extraverted condition emphasized that they should behave in a talkative, bold, and energetic manner for the group discussion. Instructions for the introverted condition emphasized that they should behave in a reserved, compliant, and unadventurous manner for the group discussion.” Observes rated how each participant appeared, and each participant self-reported on their own feelings during the discussion. The study found that those who were told to act extraverted had much more positive feelings, and were observed to be more positive. This was true regardless of each person’s “actual” levels of extraversion by trait. Simply put, people who act more outgoing will end up faring better. This makes sense. God has hardwired us not to be alone. He has formed us to be socially connected. We all need time alone – even Jesus withdrew to rest and pray. But, we also need to be together, and all the more as the Day draws near.