All posts by dax

Relevant Non-Sequitur

In Christ, Righteousness

I have enjoyed poking around a bit with a non-sequitur recently. That’s a latin term that literally means ‘does not follow.’

So you could be talking about elephants and ask how big their wings are. Or when speaking of how fast a car can go, ask which color makes for a faster car.

Uhh… that just doesn’t follow.

So here’s mine. Consider Jesus’ teaching on the Sermon on the Mount:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Great imagery. Housebuilding. Rain and storms and blowing and beating and houses that stand and fall.

But the question is, who works harder? Who do you think works harder in building their house?

If you’re not on the lookout for my non-sequitur, you might slip and say… the one who builds on the rock. I mean, he’s building on the foundation, he’s the Christian, he is building something that will last. That other guy, he’s building a shoddy piece of work that won’t even last a single storm.

And if you say that… you missed the point of Jesus’ teaching.

Because the point has nothing to do with effort. Nothing at all. There is no comparison between the two builders in that regard at all. There’s no reference to sweat, labor, effort. One might work much harder… or they both might work the same. That has absolutely nothing to do, in this teaching, with the point.

The point — and the only thing that matters — is… who you are building on. You can put forth extreme effort and not be on Jesus, and the house falls, or put forth little effort, and have the same result. There just isn’t a distinction made.

Your effort in your salvation is like speed and car color, or elephants and wings. It is a non-sequitur. Salvation is Jesus’ effort, and Jesus as the foundation. Faith’s object, not your strength.

May we guard our hearts such that we trust in Christ alone… even as we build.

Go Ahead, Jump In

Grace

“Go Ahead, Jump In.”

I think those are some of the scariest words in the human language. At least it appeared that way to me as a parent, watching one of my girls on the diving board being ‘encouraged’ to leap into the deep end of the pool for the first time.

I could see the fear written on her face… and even a few tears.

That didn’t deter the teacher. They’re prepared for fear, and for tears. Another helper comes up behind the diving board, ready to ‘help’ my daughter take the plunge.

So in she went.

And again. And again. And now… a swimming class isn’t complete without a jump off the diving board. She’s a fish… wanting to try the new leap, the dive, the cannonball… and swim to the side on her own. She can’t be stopped in the freedom that the deep end brings. Her huge smile belies the idea that she was ever afraid.

The deep end of Christianity is the incredible grace of the gospel. We fear that living in acceptance of God’s incredible favor will bring license or failure or harm; instead it brings freedom and joy and peace.

Overcome your fear. Jump in today!

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

Pastoral Authority

In Christ, Quotes

As a pastor, therefore, my real authority — my true authenticity, whether in the pulpit, or the office, or in the confessional, or at the end of a piano at a cocktail party — lies in my fidelity to the Gospel, not in my assorted competences (real or imagined) in other fields.

(From Robert Farrar Capon, in The Mystery of Christ)

I really like this quote… even though I’ve never been at the end of a piano at a cocktail party… as it points to the continuing center of our only hope and our only wisdom.