Comments on: iMonk 101: When I Am Weak: Why we must embrace our brokenness and never be good Christians

By: crisis of significance « listening to the wind

crisis of significance « listening to the wind — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:26:55 +0000

[...] iMonk 101: When I Am Weak: Why we must embrace our brokenness and never be good Christians (internetmonk.com) [...]

By: Some quotes from posts that have made me think! « New Covenant Christianity

Some quotes from posts that have made me think! « New Covenant Christianity — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:26:06 +0000

[...] Contextual concerns aside, let’s read Paul’s words as a basic “reality board” to the Christian life. read more … [...]

By: Lamby

Lamby — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:18:07 +0000

I have been fighting perfectionism all my life! Thank you for your insights. I’ve been sharing with a Christian friend who is deeply committed to Christ and has an unbroken intimate relationship. That’s where it’s at–not the do’s and the don’ts that I grew up with and still struggle with. “There’s nothing that can separate us from the love of God.” Praise God! I thank you for helping me take one more step toward accepting my humanity and finding that rest that Jesus talks about. I’m broken and it’s OK! Hallelujah!

By: Hillary

Hillary — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:18:20 +0000

“Wanted religion more than grace” . . . poignant in so many ways. This piece is fantastic. Thank you.

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:14:33 +0000

I’ve just finished skimming thorough people’s posts, and I agree with so much of what has been written. But as I’m deeply wrestling through my struggles right now, I wonder if there is any point in seeking things such as counselling and healing prayer. Further to that, is it even worth praying and asking God to take some or all of these things away?

By: Hayil

Hayil — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:27:02 +0000

For the Easter sermon this year, my pastor didn’t preach the “normal” sermon that one would expect to hear for that day. He instead read this piece word for word. He didn’t add his own commentary, he just allowed these words fall into our ears and let the Lord awaken our response to them. The reactions were mixed. They ranged from indignation to adulation. But, no matter what we thought of what was said, we talked about it! I felt like standing up and applauding when he finished! Thank God for Brad’s guts to do something as outrageous as read a blog for his sermon! We need more people thinking outside of the man-made box of rules of church.

All I could think, as he was reading this post, was that I was so happy that my son came to church that day and was hearing this! I’m sure he came to fulfill his twice-yearly, obligatory, I have to attend church or mom will kill me services. You see, he’s not quite as perfect as the rest of us sitting in the pews. He struggles with God and he struggles with himself. How important it was for him to hear, that we all struggle; we all have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. The nuggets of truth in your writing gave my son reassurance that he is loved and isn’t hopeless, too far from Jesus. He can see now that Jesus loves him right where he is. But, praise God, He loves my son too much to let him stay that way!

Thank you for writing and posting this work. Thank you Brad for having the courage to read it! And thank you Spirit for using it to move within your body and open our eyes to some new ideas that have always been there.

By: Anna A

Anna A — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:11:44 +0000

Jan,

You are coming across very harsh, for a pastor. To say that someone who has problems with various sins, isn’t a Christian, doesn’t live in the same world that I do.

I know some Christians who have to fight the same temptation all the time, and even Paul talks about his thorn in the flesh.

I know of Christians who cry out in utter loneliness, because not one person at their church seems to see (and care) that they are alone at Thanksgiving. Sure, we brush ourselves off, and rely on Christ, but a pair of tangible arms and legs would make a big difference.

I’m glad that you are able to overcome your depression and all the problems that it caused you. Not everyone has that grace. If you look at the people that the Catholic Church considers saints, most of them probably wouldn’t fit your category. Some are weird, some go out in the desert, only to find that they are followed. Some are wealthy and try to give it away; others are poor in material possessions. One other major characteristic of them is the awareness of their own sin, and the need for the Blood and Grace of Christ to heal them.

You might be interested to know that Bernadette, the young woman who saw Mary at Lourdes, wasn’t permitted by God to receive healing from those very waters.

By: D R Morse

D R Morse — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:09:42 +0000

I just wanted to share this for I do believe we grow in grace II Peter 3:18
A Vision of Love
Sometime in 2000 I was at a friends house where we were meeting as a small group. While we were waiting to get started, a couple of the guys were just chatting about how there are more women in church than men. As soon as those words were spoken, I was in a vision. It was as if I was seeing everything through Peter’s eyes, thinking his thoughts, experiencing his emotions and the emotions of those in the room who felt as he did. We were at the Last Supper. John was leaning on Jesus breast, talking with Jesus in such open affection. As Peter watched his open show of affection, I felt his contempt, his disdain, if you will – such indignation! Others in the room were feeling the same as Peter, so it was very much amplified in my emotions. Peter was thinking a “man” would not be so “fawning” and that John was just a youth, that he needed to “grow up”. I can still feel the disdain and contempt when I recall the memory, them perceiving John as fawning all over Jesus, (much like it must have been to them when Mary Magdalene washed His feet). As I was witnessing this I “heard” the words, “Only love will take you to the Cross!” The scene immediately changed and I was in utter darkness, but could hear wailing as women sobbed. I knew I was at the foot of the cross and I could not see anyone, but as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I saw the shapes of people. I “knew” that the women were there, Mary, Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, and many women. I also knew that John was there as well. And I felt such tremendous love. At this point I was weeping uncontrollably. Suddenly the scene changed and I was witnessing a great upheaval as mountains were burning and turning into hot red lava, just being disintegrated as they burned, rose, and then melted away into a hot red flow, The verse came to my mind from Psalm 97:5, “the hills melt like wax at the presence of the Lord.” I had always interpreted that verse as a display of God’s wrath, His judgment, but at that moment I realized that the mountains were not melting because of anger or wrath or judgment, but it was pure love that was melting them! The heat of that love was incredible. I began experiencing waves of love tumbling against me like those of the ocean. Then I “heard” a voice say, “Faith will move mountains, but love will melt them! My love will melt the mountains!” The group waited for me to compose myself, and once I stopped weeping, I was able to tell them what I saw. I was “out” of the vision, but still experiencing the waves of love. I worked nights at that time, and during my shift, I kept having to lean against a wall or pillar, anything stationary, because the waves kept rolling over me to where I could barely stand. Even days later, if I stopped to remember or retell the vision, I would feel the waves of love. As I reflect on this, words can’t convey the intensity of all the emotions I was allowed to experience from those around me in this vision. In a small way, I have some idea of how God experiences the feelings of all humanity at all times. After “feeling” the intensity of such love, I will never “pooh pooh” emotion, or the expression of it, especially that love, for after all we are created in the image of Him who is love, especially now that we are “born again”, for in so doing, I would rather be able to be at the foot of the cross than despising the feelings of ones who are and will be able to go there or anywhere in the footsteps of love. As one who sometimes has difficulty openly expressing affection, I truly want to experience and demonstrate this intimate, pure love now more than ever. This is the love that the Church had for each other in Acts and the love John himself wrote of. And if you notice, Peter and John ministered together after the Crucifixion. I believe Peter saw in John what he himself lacked, and not only recognized it, but he appreciated the love in John that he had once so despised!

Only love will take you to the cross. Of all the disciples, only John followed Jesus to the cross. Only the women and John were there. The glory of God won’t, the revelation of God won’t, sheer determination won’t, having authority over devils won’t, teaching won’t, deliverance won’t, having the power of God won’t, the anointing won’t, the fire of God won’t. That is why people can experience the fire of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, miracles, signs, and wonders, and yet not go with God. Only the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23), the one who leaned on Jesus breast, was at Jesus side during the trial, and at the foot of the cross. Love will go there in the face of all opposition. Love will drive a woman to wash Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:37-39) in the company of those who despise her, no matter how they try to stop it, no matter how they speak against it, in the face of what they think or say. Love will go on in the face of the fear of man. Love will press in when everyone and every thing says Stay back! After all 12 disciples vehemently expressed their loyalty, and Peter most emphatically of them all – Peter the bold, outspoken one – yet the humblest, weakest, most despised (John being the youngest of the apostles and the women) followed their heart of love. Peter cursed the Lord openly, John and the women went to the cross (John 19:25-27). When you hesitate or draw back, pull away from the Lord, love is not in operation, fear is. There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18). Perfect love casts out all fear. Peter was fearless, bold: John was intimate.
Psalm 97:5 The hills melt like wax at the presence of the Lord. I used to picture that as a judgment, God’s wrath going forth. After this revelation, now I know it is His love that melts those hills, those mountains of unbelief. Faith may move the mountain, but love melts it!
The Israelites and Moses experienced the manifest presence of God, but love brought Moses into the reality of God. The Israelites wanted a way out of everything, Moses wanted the Way. Love will go anywhere with God, high or low, easy or hard, rocky or smooth. Enlarge me, enlarge my capacity for Your love. In Song of Solomon, the bride hears the Bridegroom at her door, but doesn’t want to get her feet dirty. Love will get its feet dirty. Love will go where it’s hard, where it’s unpleasant. I would rather be a John! Show me Your way of love, no matter how hard or painful. Baptize me in love, drown me in love, smother me with kisses of love – knock down the walls, I’ll help You! Let me lean on Your breast that I may hear Your secrets, see as You see, from Your point of view, from the position of Love!

Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would offer all the goods of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned and despised.

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:28:23 +0000

So…I’m reading you to say that I can’t overcome sinful habits and I might as well face it. No matter how much my adultery, lies, hatred, greed, or pride hurt Christ and others, I’m going to have to accept that there is nothing Christ can do but forgive me. That’s your gospel, the “power of God unto salvation”?

He has no power or I have no way of receiving it to keep me from being a slave to sin even though Christ condemned slavery to sin? For all who find hope in this message, I would have to believe

If you think his was Luther’s message, then you couldn’t be more mistaken. He was very, very clear about what he called active and passive righteousness, something you have failed to do.

I know what you desperately want to get across, but I have little pity for that pastor you mention who kept a mistress for years because he had a bad marriage. It was this very hypocrisy Jesus condemned! What of those whose trust he violated year after year? Of course he can be forgiven, but the scars he has left will remain for the rest of his life.

I’m a recovering addict, married three times, and have suffered repeatedly from clinic depression, yet I am currently pastoring two churches, have been clean since 1995. Of course, I’m still a sinner in need of the blood of Christ. I have nothing to boast of, least of all in what a great sinner I am. I understand forgiveness and grace, their glory and my need, but your message offers little hope in my eyes for those needing more than forgiveness. (Yes, there is much more than forgiveness in the gospel. It also contains the righteousness of God). I hear little of the hatred Christ himself had for sin while he loved the sinner.

You’ve given a theology of the flesh void of the Spirit, Romans 7 without Romans 8. It is true no good thing dwells in my flesh, but “those in Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with it’s passions and desires.” Your piece is built on anecdote rather than exegesis and the consequences is a gross distortion of the gospel.

You have made the words of Christ about keeping his commandments, about overcoming, about freedom in him to be completely nonsensical.

Men and women “addicted to porn”, among the other sins you mention, are not Christians no matter what they profess. They are lost souls in need of real, tangible grace that will empower them to repentant, to change.

Your cheap grace is exactly what Bonhoeffer decried in the Cost of Discipleship. It isn’t grace at all, just a cheap rationalization for those who refuse to drop the hammer and nails.

This is the “Christian” message the secular moralist mocks. Well they should.

By: iMonk

iMonk — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:04:34 +0000

Because Jesus’ promise to sinners is good.

If your life brings you assurance, that’s great. Mine doesn’t.