What Do You Do With That?

A friend of mine posted an article from Outreach Magazine that was written by Perry Noble. The title was "A False Teaching That Drives People Away From Church." He explains what he heard from another pastor while watching some sermons online. I'm amazed at how people can simply let some of this stuff go.

The unnamed pastor that Perry spoke of said something about how all of us must understand that we are nothing more than a walking disappointment to our heavenly Father. WHAT? Really? And while I am blown away by statements such as this one, unfortunately far too many people believe this nonsense. You will not find this statement in Scripture. It was never uttered by Jesus. EVER! And it just goes to prove why so many people have nothing to do with church. I mean, it's one thing to make statements about those who don't know Jesus, but what about those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord.

Before anyone thinks they need to come and correct my thinking I want to make a few things crystal clear. I realize that Paul wrote that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." I know that Isaiah made the statement that "we all like sheep have gone astray." But nowhere do we find such a blanket statement about God's disappointment of us. Would it be fair to say that is saddens the heart of God when we walk outside of our identity? Does it seem logical that there are things that grieve the Spirit of God? Doesn't it make sense to think that God simply wants for us to walk in abundant life each and every day that we live? I would say "Yes!" I don't have a problem thinking that God is saddened by our choices. Not in a disappointed kind of way but in an I really care about you kind of way. This isn't the best for your life, and I really don't want you to miss out kind of way. There is a difference.

Actually, when we read the Scriptures we discover a God who continually reached out to a stubborn people. Continued to pursue His creation. And ultimately sends His Son to deal with the mess they had created. Jesus came to restore our vision of God. To reconcile us back to our Creator. To rescue us from our brokenness. The Father didn't set this plan in motion (before the foundation of the world) because of His disappointment. He did it out of His great love for us. That is the testimony of the Scriptures. Not only that, but to think that we will always be a disappointment leads us into a life of defeat. Why try? The odds are stacked against us.

No friends, the testimony of the Scriptures is that you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ. The testimony of the Apostles is that you have been made a new creation. Old things have passed away. Rather than a disappointment, you are the apple of God's eye. His image and likeness in the Earth. You are loved, accepted, and part of the beloved. A far cry from this pastors misunderstanding about humanity and the nature of God. Think about it. I desperately want to see people live in everything that God has provided for them. I want them to know the freedom they possess, the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit, and the full forgiveness of sin. I want fear to be eradicated from their minds, and for them to live as more than conquerors in this world. If all we will ever be is a walking disappointment to God then we might as well hang it all up and just hope there is enough mercy to get us through.

The reason why most people swallow this type of thinking is because it agrees with their own sense of self-worth. This is how they feel about themselves already. Or it's how religion has taught them to feel. Never measuring up. Always missing the mark. Just a big screw up among the masses. All the while Jesus is pleading with us to believe with Him. To see the treasure that we truly are. To enjoy the abundant life that He has provided. I ask you, which of these requires the greatest amount of faith to believe: You are (and will always be) a walking disappointment to God OR I am free forever from condemnation?

Walk with people who want to edify you rather than put you down. Listen to the leaders who believe the best about you rather than the worst. Find a church family who is going to draw out of you everything that God placed within you, rather than try to fit in with those who are constantly living below their created design. This madness has to end. Paul said that we should have joy and hope in believing. To believe that you will always be a walking disappointment creates neither.

You should enjoy the journey. You are being conformed to the image of Christ.