Praying for Boldness

We have forgotten that we are believers today because of a long line of men and women who boldly spoke up when silence would have been easy, even desirable.

They were told to shut-up, but they would not and could not.

Acts 4:20, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

In situations where we would pray for safety and protection, they prayed for boldness.

Acts 4:29, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

After severe beatings, Dr. Luke, the careful historian, writes that they rejoiced rather than whining. When it would have been smart to shut up, they kept talking.

Acts 5:42, “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

Their message was simple: Jesus

Their mission was simple: Talk about Jesus.

Those of us who are gripped more by fear than faith cannot imagine a boldness like theirs. But, we can step toward it.

Step one: Pray for boldness. (When was the last time you did that?)

Step two: Go beyond praying for opportunity to praying, “Help me seize opportunities to speak up.”

Step three: Go beyond praying to seize opportunities to praying, “Help me make opportunities to speak for Jesus.”

The story of Jesus escaped the first century because of bold people who spoke up when they were told to shut-up. Without their boldness, we would not have heard the story of what they heard with their ears,  saw with their eyes, and touched with their hands.

No Demands – No Obligations

Christianity is not about demands and obligations. It’s about love and love can’t be demanded.

Life, on the other hand, is filled with never ending demands. Do…do…do, go…go…go, work…work…work. But, grace can’t obligate.

The only demand of grace is receiving it by faith. The more I talk about grace the more I enjoy grace and the more I want to talk about it. I’m addicted.

Grace means gift. Gifts exclude compensation.

Any attempt to pay for grace blocks it. 

Rewards:

God protects free grace by rewarding service. Rewards remove any hint that obedience is payment for grace.

God pays for service – rewards – so no one can brag they are paying for grace.

Illustration:

Think of God as a graceful dancer. Our maker dances His way to us. The melodies of grace permeate His presence.

He risks looking foolish by dancing alone. All we do is take it in. As the music sinks into our hearts, He invites us to join.

He leads. We follow.  We respond. It all starts and ends right here in the dance of grace.

Grace cannot demand love.  Grace enables love.

How to be a Friend of “Sinners”

It’s a great compliment to have self-righteous Christians complain that you’re too friendly with non-Christians. The religious elite made a similar complaint about Jesus – the friend of sinners (Lk. 7:34).

But there’s another side to this issue.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Our friends predict our future.

How can you be a friend to “sinners”?

The inner circle:

Cultivate and develop an inner circle of three deeply committed believers. One of them should be a visionary like Peter. One should be a doer like James. And the other, should be a lover like John.

Questions to ask before becoming a “friend of sinners”:

1. Do you know who you are?
2. Where do you look for approval? Or, who are you trying to please?
3. Are you deeply connected to committed believers?
4. Can you explain the gospel quickly, simply, and clearly. (The best way to do that is tell your own story of trusting Jesus.”
5. Do you deeply love “sinners”? If God loved the world, so can you.

Three attitudes:

Every believer who aspires to be a friend of sinners knows they are:

1. “One of” not “one above.” Christianity isn’t morality. Christianity is Jesus. Everyone is in the “falling short” bucket. The fact that you may sin less doesn’t make you sinless.
2. Not trying to change or reform “sinners”. Your job is sharing Jesus. Changes are his business. Getting people to sin less, might make life better, but it doesn’t help in the long-term.
3. Dedicated to serve others, not be served. Jesus came as one who serves and you aren’t above Him. The path to influence is the path of service. Solve a problem. Meet a need.

Embrace these attitudes or you’re doing more damage than good.

Be a friend of sinners. But, fasten your spiritual seat-belt. You’re in for a challenging ride.

The Tongue Rule Challenge

Of all the people in the world, Christians should use words more skillfully than anyone.

Ephesians 4:29 (GNB)

Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.

Sadly, we have a reputation for speaking against things rather than for. Frankly, we are often known for negativity.

Positive speech, in some Christians circles, seems like a sin. We go so far as to suggest that railing against something indicates strength and holiness. In reality, tearing down is unbiblical, misguided, and weak.

Yes, there are exceptions. Jesus hammered the religious elite. If you’re inclined to fight, attack denominational leaders who choose law over grace. Call them pretty coffins full of dried up bones.

But, the tongue rule may be a better option.

The tongue rule:

“Only open your mouth to make something better.”

Other than that, be quiet.

Even if you’re pointing out a problem, only point it out so you can explore how to make it better.

Sounds simple enough. But, James, the brother of Jesus said,

But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. James 3:8 (GNB)

Developing a graceful tongue:

If you enjoy challenges, adopt the tongue rule challenge.

1. It’s a journey.
2. Receive and enjoy God’s favor.
3. Treat others the way God treats you.
4. Find some friends who are on the “tongue taming” journey with you.
5. Start again after you screw up. Grace is beginning again, again.
6. Talk less. But, realize silence isn’t the goal, building up is.
7. Only speak to make things better.

Are you Worse than a Fool

The Proverbs mercilessly expose and attack fools.

Top 10 marks of a fools:

1. Hate knowledge.
2. Repeat their mistakes like dogs eat their own vomit. Fools don’t learn from experience.
3. Come to ruin.
4. Slander.
5. Blab on and on.
6. Run headlong into trouble.
7. Reject advice.
8. Love sharing their opinion.
9. Instigate arguments.
10. Make light of hurting others.

Two things worse than being a fool:

If being a fool isn’t bad enough, two qualities put us in a category more reviled than fool.

Know it all’s:

Proverbs 26:12 (ESV) Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov. 26:12 reminds me of a quote from Edward DeBono. “Those who think they know, don’t.”

Every negative quality about a fool seems to stem from being wise in your own eyes.

Of all the know it all’s I know, educated, closed-minded believers are the worst. I confess. I am one. I often carry the burden of knowledge.

The first quality of wise people is they seek wisdom. Knowledge, certainty, and lack of curiosity destroy us. But, wise people know they don’t know.

Blabber mouths:

Proverbs 29:20 (ESV) Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov. 29:20 directly connects to, “those who are wise in their own eyes.” Who is hasty with their words? People who are deluded about their own wisdom.

Three suggestions:

1. Say, “What if I’m wrong?” (Even if you think you’re right)
2. Invite, explore, and implement wise counsel.
3. Stop talking so much, unless you’re talking to ask questions.

Wisdom is behavioral not intellectual. We behave our way into foolishness or wisdom.

The Long Holy Nose

Christians, under the guise of holiness, judge and condemn “sinners.” When we do, we condemn ourselves.

What makes you better than others?

• You don’t murder. But, you hate.
• You don’t rob banks. But, you steal another’s reputation with gossip.
• You aren’t a drunk. But, you disobey your parents.

I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I’m trying to help you see that Christians aren’t above others.

Stop looking down your long holy nose at people God loves.

The long holy nose makes us ugly. I’m convinced that the ugliest people in the world are self-righteous, good-living, religious people. The truth is, “We” need God’s love as much as “they” do.

Holy living is not an excuse from compassion, respect, or kindness.

Holiness:

Lets call fellow believers to holiness. The issue isn’t should we live holy lives. The issue is how we grow in grace by faith.

Inviting Christians to holiness requires transparent connection. Apart from connection, calling fellow believers to holiness is self-righteous and arrogant. When you call someone to holiness, get in it with them.

Faith:

Lets call people who aren’t believers, to trust in Jesus. The issue isn’t moral reform. It’s Jesus.

Inviting people to trust in Jesus requires connection. Connection empowers the call. Disconnection makes us look like arrogant fools.

Let’s call fellow believers to trust God in new ways. We need to trust Jesus today like we did when we trusted Jesus for the first time.

The people “out there” didn’t make Jesus dirty when he rubbed elbows with them. They won’t make you dirty when you connect with them, either.

Love:

Love is not rude or arrogant. Love is kind, patient, hopeful. Love endures. You have permission to live a holy life and treat people who don’t know Jesus with Love.

No Outsiders Allowed

Casually read the life of Jesus and you’ll see Him persistently extending grace to outsiders. He’s an outsider-focused individual, living an outsider-focused life. Even the training of the 12 occurs within an outsider focused context.

On the other hand, a casual review of church programs reveals a decidedly insider slant. Churches typically expend their time, energy, and resources on themselves. Frequently these activities don’t enhance believer integration into the community. Rather, they are segregated or limited to a small, comfortable number of outsiders. In brief, these activities are barriers not channels to extending grace to others.

Note on Integration.

I was taught that good Christians lived separated lives. Separation meant isolation. However, Jesus never lived in isolation, nor should we. Graceful living drives us toward integration. In this case, separation is demonstrated by distinctions like love and compassion not isolation.

What if?

What would happen if churches did fewer insider facing programs and decided to integrate into community programs that already exist? Could Christian fellowship occur in an outsider context? Could spiritual growth take place while participating in a YMCA program?

On the other hand.

Jesus spent time alone with His disciples. Churches should have alone time, where shared values dominate conversations and the freedom of sameness is fully embraced and enjoyed.

Now what?

Since it’s comfortable and natural to build programs for ourselves, I suggest grace-oriented Churches resist the drift inward by intentionally limiting exclusive insider-only activities.

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What’s hindering believers from living outsider focused lives?

How can graceful believers live outsider focused lives?