The first link between my soul and Christ is, not my goodness, but my badness; not my merit, but my misery; not my standing, but my falling; not my riches, but my need. He comes to visit His people, yet not to admire their beauties, but to remove their deformities; not to reward their virtues, but to forgive their sins.
~Charles H. Spurgeon
Salvation
July 27, 2010 by Michael BrewerGod Owes No Explanation
July 25, 2010 by Michael Brewer“Truly, if God were to give an account to every one of his works and actions, he were but a poor, simple God.”
-Martin Luther, Table Talk
From Cradle of Filth to Grace
July 25, 2010 by Michael Brewer“Black is my heart,
Black is my heart,
Black is my heart,
I am nemesis…”
-Nemesis, Cradle of Filth
It may surprise many of you to learn that I have one, and only one, favorite band. A band whose albums I buy regularly. That band is Cradle of Filth.
*Pause for the shocked gasps and murmurs of dissappointment.*
Cradle of Filth is my favorite band for three reasons. First, I really enjoy the musical composition. In the world of black metal Cradle of Filth really stands out. Through the speed of the tempo and the growled/screamed out lyrics you can hear and appreciate a very complex, and well developed, instrumental compilation of harmony and rythmn, crescendos and fortissimos, and a note progression that encompasses the entire spectrum of highs, mids, and lows.
Second, each album -from beginning to end- tells a complete and connected story (as heretical and blasphemous as that story might be). The stories tend to be on the darker, desperate, and destructive side and pay hommage to the Flesh, but the tales nonetheless are intriguing, filled with depth, and offers the listener (or reader if you cannot understand the gutteral expression of the lyrics) much to consider.
Finally, and most importantly, Cradle of Filth has been a direct challenge to my Faith. As noted in the previous paragraph, Cradle of Filth shares epics that pay hommage to the flesh. Not solely to sexual desire, but also honoring the satisfaction of anger, lust, revenge, self destruction, and so on. I would almost say that they have an Anton LaVey, Satanic approach -which is a Satanism that does not worship Satan, but rather worships the Flesh and Carnality.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! I know, right? How can I listen to such garbage? Hear me out. There are a lot of anti-Judeo-Christian lyrics and allusions throughout their music, and there is also a lot of anger that is directed at Christian and pseudo-Christian concepts, practices, and ideals. Some of that anger and some of the points that they make, I confess, I agree with. The music allows an insight into the perceptions of some of those who are outright and openly disgusted with us. It give me the opportunity to see how Christians (and cult groups claiming Christian/Christian-like) are seen by those who feel hurt, wounded, angry, enraged, hateful, resentful, spiteful, etc., etc. with the Church and the church.
Sometimes listening carefully is an invaluable tool. It allows us a glimpse into someone else’s world view. It is an opportunity to learn. Music doesn’t scare me, fringe social groups don’t scare me, fringe religions don’t scare me, but ignorance -and especially ignorance within the Church- terrifies me. We can’t reach out if we don’t understand. If I spent the past twenty years of your life abusing you, I would be out of my mind to expect that you would be willing to allow me to come to you with open arms and comfort away all your woes.
It is too easy to write the fringe cultures and counter cultures off. It is too easy to say, leave them to God. It is too easy to say, well let’s just pray for them. BUT listening, letting them say what they feel they have to get off their chests, approaching them ready to discuss the hurt and why it was awful men and women who hurt them and not Christ, meeting them on their ground and at their level is another story altogether.
Cradle of Filth reminds me that there is a large number of people who feel hurt, misled, wounded, deceived, rejected, hated, etc. by the Church. It reminds me that I am to be prepared to feel backlash directed at me for the wrongs of others who came to these people in the name of Christ. They also remind me that I need to live honestly and sincerely.
There is a fed up attitude with c h u r c h i a n i t y among a significant group of unbelievers (and believers) -especially amongst these fringe groups. Amen, I’m fed up with it as well. I can’t live by churchianity. I can’t live, nor abide, by false piety, distorted fundamentalism, or faked holiness/righteousness. And if I am to live sincerely by my Faith then I also can’t write these groups off as lost or in God’s hands (which in churchspeak means “I’m not touching them.“). Rather I am to -as Christ commands- go out and make disciples of men. It is not a cute matter of “Oh you’re just like me, we’re so cool. Repeat this cute prayer and your worries are over.” It takes time, effort, long suffering, honesty, hope, God’s Love, trust in God, and the understanding that we don’t save people, God does.
My job is to Love the LORD with my heart, mind, and soul; Love my neighbor; and plant the seed. Grace is not to the worthy, but to the unworthy…and all of us are unworthy.
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves?
July 21, 2010 by Michael Brewer
It began with a statement: “God helps those who help themselves.“
It was a comment left after a friend shared Psalm 9:9-10. I stated that the quote was from Benjamin Franklin, and not found in the Bible. I was corrected when the commenter (another good friend of mine) stated that it actually originated from the Greek Mythos. So I did a little research.
What I discovered was the saying first originated as, “The Gods help them that help themselves,” which comes from an Aesopian fable titled “Hercules and the Wagoneer.” This saying has been passed down from culture to culture taking many similar forms. We find the evolved (and commonly used) wording: “God helps those who helps themselves” used by Benjamin Franklin in “Poor Richard’s Almanac of 1757“. However, before Franklin, it is Algernon Sydney in his 1698 article titled “Discourses Concerning Government” who is attributed with bringingt us the familiar saying we know (and use) today.
What I find most interesting about that saying is that it is rather antithetical to what Scripture teaches, for our mighty God has come to the aid of the helpless. It is our Father in Heaven who reaches down to help the man who could not free himself from the bondage of sin and death, and who could in no way please the Lord with any working of his hands.
Isaiah calls our righteousness, the absolute best we can offer up to God of our own accord, “used menstrual rags” (a more direct translation of “filthy garments” from Isaiah 64:6). God declares that there is none who are righteous before Him, and apart from faith there is nothing we can do to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Even then, that faith required to please God, the faith to call upon the name of the Lord, the trust we must place in Christ as our Lord and Savior is not a work of our own, but rather a gift of God (Ephesians 2:1-10); that precious faith for faith.
And having been given that precious gift of faith, we may rest assured in our mighty Father because his great mercy, steadfast love, and abundant grace is never failing. He is the mighty One who mercies whom He will and compassions whom He will (direct Greek translation of mercy and compassion found in Romans 9:15). In Him we can rest assured that He is indeed our refuge; mighty and strong to Save, for He has come to the aid of the weak and helpless.
“…For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
-Romans 5:6-11
God helps those who help themselves? Most assuredly not, for who can even begin to help himself in the sight of the Lord?
FREEDOM! Detaching USS Essex
July 14, 2010 by Michael BrewerThree years, and now it is over. I thought I would be more excited than I am, but I depart with a bit of sadness.
A Quick Thought: The Church Hand in Hand
July 6, 2010 by Michael Brewer
I propose that when the church links arm-in-arm with anything (political parties, social activist groups, etc.) other than the church, we inherently give ourselves over to corruption. Particularly it is political party associations that I have in mind. Especially when we ask “How can you be a Christian and still vote for…” Let us be ever watchful of what we link ourselves with in this world. Too often, I believe, we find ourselves with strange bed fellows.
Building a Blogroll
July 6, 2010 by Michael Brewer
I’m building my Blogroll and “Sites of Interest” links. Interested in being added? Leave a comment with a link.
Blessings,
Michael
God Help Me Forgive…
July 3, 2010 by Michael BrewerOne of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
I revisit this place in my life every year like clockwork. For hours, it seemed, I stared at his picture and the picture of that place trying to understand myself. Old wounds burned and ached, and I was left wondering why I couldn’t find it in me let the past go.
Foolishly, I try to convince myself that I have forgiven, that I have let go, that it is all said and done with, but then something happens to bring me back here. The wounds feel fresh, the anger is still alive, the bitterness is well rooted. I put the mess out of sight and out of mind, but the effects of what happened still resonate.
Bitterly, I’ll look up towards the heavens and quietly ask God how long shall the wicked shall prosper. I remember it all so very well: silver spoons and silver platters that have known no stains. Inflicted misery with no remorse. Vengeance, Lord, vengeance.
Yet who am I to cry out for vengeance? Who am I to demand retribution? Did I not transgress God’s holy Law? Did I not once find myself condemned for my own wickedness? My thoughts, my actions, my words, have on more than one occasion been deserving of death in the sight of the Lord. I was a debtor who could not ever hope to pay his own debt, for even my very best is despicable before God.
I once loved my sin. I could do no other. I was a slave to my sin nature, and dead in my trespasses and sins. Yet God rich in mercy, full of compassion and grace, took pity upon this miserable wretch. The Holy Spirit regenerated my heart, open my eyes and ears to the Gospel, granted me faith, and called me to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. His righteousness accorded to me by faith in Christ through the unmerited grace of God.
I love much, for I have been forgiven much, so why can I not forgive? I have hurt people in my past, and have treated others in the way I was treated. I am no innocent by any stretch of the imagination. These, and much more than I could ever recount, have been forgiven. My debt cancelled.
It is a hard road that takes us to the place to forgive and let go, and I have not quite yet gotten there. I see, however, the necessity. Though I have never been asked by them for forgiveness, I nonetheless understand that I must forgive as I have been forgiven. I just cannot do it on my own.
Many years I have spent crying out to God to take from me these memories, the flashbacks, the haunting emotional echoes that ring through me when they are least wanted, and I have not had these things taken from me. Perhaps, they are to remind me of my weakness, that it is through Christ that I can do anything at all. I can choose to deny my flesh because the Lord’s grace is sufficient for me, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness.
I want to forgive, but I cannot on my own forgive. I need to rely upon the Lord to grant me the ability to forgive, and to forgive all over again each time it is necessary.
Lord, grant that I might forgive.
God Saves Bad People
June 30, 2010 by Michael Brewer
“The Best of Times” -Sage Francis
June 20, 2010 by Michael BrewerThis doesn’t really have much to do with faith and theology; I just happen to be a fan of Sage Francis.
