Life has happened so I have been somewhat invisible the past few days. That means, of course, very little interactivity here or anywhere else.
I remember as a teenager I had an almost every Sunday ritual. At the invitation during church, I would walk forward to “rededicate” my life. I was convicted over the fact I was not living the way I perceived a Christian was supposed to live so I did the only thing I knew to do: walk forward and “rededicate.” I look back now at the foolishness of that, but partly blame the folks around me for those actions.
Why? Because I like to blame others?
No.
Because no one took me aside and said, “Bill, everyone is going to struggle. Everyone is going to sin. You don’t need to “walk the aisle” every Sunday. Confess your sin on a daily basis. Use the Communion time to refresh your heart.”
I didn’t know any better. I was just a hormone-filled teenager struggling with a whole bunch of junk and being told “God only uses clean vessels.” Say what? If that is the case, I’m still in trouble. Even Isaiah recognized the sinfulness within and pleaded for the cleansing touch of God.
Frankly, if God only uses clean or “righteous” vessels, we are all in trouble. The only vessels I know are chipped and marred, smudged and filthy. But still usable. I call that GRACE.
Any thoughts?
This is part of my random posts based on this book.
Oh I did that re-dedicate thing over and over, too, Bill. Must have been our legalistic culture? A lack of solid teaching … or grace? An innate need for attention or accolades?
Sigh.
Obviously it’s not limited to just the US culture, Linda 🙂 I’m from Ukraine and while the idea is not promoted, nothing is being said against (or explained about) it either.
I have no doubt it was part of my legalistic culture Linda. I also look back and see the need for attention. Too bad I wasn’t taken aside and talked to.
That is exactly what happened to me Zee. Although at that time it was promoted.
I think the mainstream churches are still preaching that sort of idiocracy to gay teens causing a lot of confusion and an inordinate number of suicides. We all ought to trash the 2000 yr old nonsense and settle for common sense.
i can’t speak for gay teens jeff although it is still being preached for all teens. I don’t agree that biblical teaching is nonsense. 🙂
I don’t think you can have it both ways. You say what you were being preached caused you to think you had to go up and down the aisle every week. You have since decided that was nonsense. What you were being preached was someone’s version of biblical teaching. Somehow I think the biblical teaching you were getting was nonsense. Or it was spot on perfect and you were a bit nuts.
I should have said “Not all biblical teaching is nonsense.”
Oh Bill, if it were possible, I’d hug you right now. I did the same thing! (Granted, I also thought that I should set an example to my friends because they did not really want to go up front on their own.)
Thank God for His grace… I am coming to terms with the idea that I might never understand the reason for it, but I am thankful for it.
Thanks for sharing.
Hug accepted. 🙂 i didn’t have many peers in the church so i can’t say I did it for them. As for grace, I accept it but will never understand the why.
A big Amen to this. We are all broken and sinful. It’s when we recognize this and step closer to God, and away from sin with each choice that we begin to tip this scale, but we will never be sinless.
The teaching of being sinless just sort of rankles me a bit. 🙂 if that is the case then I am in deep you-know-what. I find it much more refreshing to step closer to God.
Chipped and cracked jars of clay – everyone of us. Thank the Lord for His great grace!
Blessings, Bill!
Not much to add to this Martha.
Though I wish with all my heart I could be a totally sinless, clean vessel, I look back at the chipped and marred, smudged and filthy vessels of the Bible whom God used for His purposes and I have hope.
you speak my language Pam. How much I sometimes wish sin was not a problem, but God draws me back to the flawed, messy lives of His people.
I recognize that I am an unclean, chipped and tattered vessel with cracked and peeling paint. And I realize that Christ forgives me and accepts me as such. But one of the continual thorns in my side is my inability to forgive myself …
… it’s like a boat anchor chained to my feet …
You are so right David. Forgiving ourselves is often the hardest thing of all. Every time I look in the mirror the enemy wants to remind me of what I have done. I claim His grace.
I call that grace too. We learn a lot as we age, don’t we? Releasing our guilt into the hands of God is one of those things, and accepting his grace in return. Thanks for sharing this, Bill.
We learn a lot and i sometimes wish I could learn more. 🙂 Release and accept is important. Thanks Lisa.
I am definitely a *cracked pot* with multiple chips, leaks, and flaws. Only a Master Potter could make any use out of me – and because of Grace, He does.
GOD BLESS!
Some would call me a “crack pot” but I don’t think they have this in mind. On your topic: I, too, have multiple chips and leaks. Thanks Sharon.
I run into that with teens too, and try to fix that concept whenever I can. We are humans who will still mess up at times, and God is patient and loving with us as we talk with him and make things right. But you’re right, it never negates our salvation.
Re your comment on my post, Wow, you’re fast. This post is hot off the press. I was still revamping some lines even.
Thanks, Bill. How are you and your family? How is ministry life?
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
A recent camp some of our kids went to pushed this type of thing, especially when it came to being baptized all over again. What for I don’t know. problem is this is a parachurch organization so fixing it is a problem.
As for the family: we are doing ok. Some stress and some of it comes from my crazy busy schedule right now. Other than that ministry life is good. Thanks for asking.
I never thought re-dedication was ever necessary. Certainly revival is. 🙂
Agreed.
I am waving my white hankie. yelling, come on brother, preach it.
Somehow I can picture that Betty. 🙂
I like this post and your perspective looking back. I’d say that your lesson learned has been passed on to others again and again.
I sure hope it has been passed on Daniel.
Excellent, Bill. A good reminder to avoid legalism and count the victories in a day for He who stood in our place.
Thanks Floyd. I always want to avoid the trap of legalism.