The other day, a friend of mine was complaining about a fever blister he was struggling with.  Now, I know that in the big scheme of things, a fever blister is a minor annoyance, rather than a major catastrophe.  Nevertheless, it is still bothersome, so like a good friend I told him about how I found that Medicated Chapstick was really good for easing the pain and actually healing the sore.  I had a brand new one in my pocket, which I gladly handed over.  Now, what friend would have kept quiet in such a circumstance.  We recommend things to people all the time that we think will help them.  Most of us would do it even if someone who liked the opposing brand was standing right there.  We share our story and whoever else can share their story, and in the end, the person with the fever blister will decide which one is the best.  All we can do is speak the truth as we understand it.  Now, to be clear, I do not get any kick-backs or royalties for Medicated Chapstick, however, I do think it is a great product and would recommend it to anyone.

I don't think that I am alone in this.  I'm not speaking specifically about Chapstick, but about any type of product that we use, which we have found to be beneficial.  Some of us MIGHT NOT jump to promote something like Chapstick because it is so relatively inconsequential.  However, would we feel the same if the product that we knew to be the BEST could and would actually save LIVES.  Would we still remain silent?  I can only hope not.  It is hard to imagine someone would stand aside and say nothing, as someone else was dying and could be saved.

I guess the only exception would be if we really didn't think what saved us could or would save anyone else.  It's like being on a ship that sinks in the middle of the ocean, and floating for days in a life jacket, only to believe once you are saved that you could have treaded water, and REALLY didn't need the life jacket to survive.  In that case, you might not tell a friend going on a cruise that they should keep a life jacket close.  Instead, you might tell them that they really don't need one, but that they should just rely on themselves.  Of course, we would look at that and think how idiotic that thinking would be, but don't we do the same thing concerning the saving message of Jesus Christ.

A central understanding of Christian faith is that "while we were dead in our trespasses, Jesus Christ died for us."  It is only with the full awareness of our sins that we can truly understand the price that Jesus Christ paid for us.  Only when we truly appreciate how dead we were and how mired in the depth of our sinfulness we are, can we likewise appreciate what God in Christ has done for us.  Therefore, if we REALLY believe in what Jesus has done, shouldn't we be proclaiming it from the roof tops.  So, if we aren't, then what does that say about either our gratitude and appreciation, OR whether or not we really believe in what Jesus has done for us.  

Recently, I have been debating with a seminarian who doesn't know what he believes about what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  For him, the plain meaning of Scripture doesn't make sense to him, so he is exploring other options, such as; was Jesus just a good example for us to follow, was his victory over sin and death something he accomplished for us, but doesn't necessarily erase our sins.  It comes down to a discomfort at what has been characterized by a feminist theologian as the "messiness" of the "traditional" understanding of the atonement.  In fact, a Presbyterian minister recently stated that she believed that if God did send His son to die for our sins, then he is nothing more than a celestial child abuser.

However, let me make it clear that this Presbyterian minister is NOT the norm, and is considered WAY out there, and that we will eventually and hopefully see the seminarian move away from academic imagings and return to the plain meaning of Scripture.  Unfortunately both attitudes stem from a tendency of all of us NOT to recognize the depth of our own sinfulness, the need for it's payment, and the reality that only God can do it.  So, if we operate from a "I'm a good person" way of thinking, then ultimately, we don't NEED Jesus to do anything for us, and so what Jesus did on the cross is meaningless.  Then we have to ask ourselves, if we don't need Jesus dying on the cross for our salvation, then what is the point of it?  

The POINT is and will always be that our salvation depends on what Jesus did on the cross, and no other explanation by itself speaks to the reality of Scripture and our own inclination that Jesus died for us, and we are spiritually alive because our Redeemer lives.  Once again, is this something worthy of sharing.  It is IF we believe it, but as we can see there are seminarians, ministers, and I am sure lay folks who see it differently.  Therefore, we cannot be dissuaded by false philosophy or slick messages, but proclaim steadfastly, persistently, and consistently what we KNOW to be true; that Jesus Christ died for us so that we can live for him.  Now, that is much better than Medicated Chapstick, so let's not remain silent, but shout from the roof tops that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

In the Lord of Christ, Pastor Bob