Enjoyment and Shame

I don’t have this all figured out by any means, but I am thinking through and getting to experiences glimpses of what it means to walk freely with Jesus. There are many hindrances to enjoying God. Religion, misunderstanding God, shame, guilt and obligation just to name a few.

Shame is looking at ourselves through the view of what we have done, rather than what Christ has done for us, and how He sees us.

Why is it important to understand that Jesus dealt with shame on the cross? Simply because shame and guilt are barriers to the full enjoyment of God which comes through relationship with Him.

I was a member of a 12-Step program for many years. I am in debt to that program and those people. And for all the positive things that I think we can glean from them, there is one thing that really bothers me. Before speaking at any meeting people introduce themselves by saying’ Hi, my name is Roger and I am a _________ .” (Fill in the blank with any addictive sin). I was reminding myself of my sin at every meeting. I was keeping myself in bondage to a particular addiction, and much like many religious institutions, I was told that if I left the meetings I was doomed to return to a life of addiction and sin. My self-concept had become completely centered on a the particular sin with which I struggled.

Shame keeps us focused on the sin within ourselves rather than on the One who dealt with the penalty, power, and one day, the presence of that sin. We see ourselves as dirty when Christ views us as clean. We view ourselves as guilty when Christ views us as innocent. We see ourselves as powerless when Christ has given His power to us through His Spirit. We wait for the day when the presence of sin is removed and forget that the kingdom of God has brought about a destruction of the power of sin here and now.

Does this mean that I should ignore my sin? No. It is not a matter of ignoring it; it is a matter of focus. I’ve related to God through the filter of my sinfulness for a long time and I wound up “gratefully depressed.” Yes, I was grateful for the cross, but I was depressed in the failures, shortcomings, and sin of my life. I was focused on my sin. I came to God as a groveling, shameful servant rather than a child, friend and Bride. I was measuring my self-worth by what I was doing and not doing, and what others were doing and not doing, instead of how the Father and Bridegroom saw me.

Heb 4:16 Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This verse tells us that we may come before the throne of grace boldly. Unfortunately, many people have interpreted this to mean loudly and forcefully. But in the context of the Father who wants us to know Him it means that we can live with God confidently, bluntly, freely, openly, cheerfully, courageously, fearlessly. . . How can that be possible? Because shame has been dealt with on the cross allowing us free access to the throne of grace!

Knowing the love of Father, who wanted a Bride that was a perfect match for His Son, and the passionate Son who saw Her, and was willing to do anything for Her makes all the difference in the world. God accepts you as you are! Right in the middle of your process of transformation! He is not discouraged or frustrated with your sin. His power is sure! At the end of all things we will be part of a holy, pure and blameless Bride! And He sees you as you will be....

See yourself through God’s eyes today!

Wayne and Friends

We had a great time last night meeting with people who are on a similar journey. Some were still in traditional congregations and some had been out of traditional settings for some time, but all of us are passionate about living loved by the Father. I'm sure we will be seeing each other again...

Wayne is a breath of fresh air for those who want to learn to have a dynamic relationship with the Father outside of obligations, rules, rituals and traditions. I highly suggest his writings and podcasts if you are on this journey!

Migrating

Kid3: Dad, do angels have wings?

Me: I dunno son, I guess so...

Kid3: Do they migrate?

LOL

Getting the oil changed. Getting our licenses renewed. Going to the girls basketball game. Going to hang out with Wayne Jacobsen and meet some folks on a similar journey. Looking forward to it.

Christian Hedonism

Found this is John Piper's book Desiring God which is online:

Christian Hedonism is a philosophy of life built on the following five convictions:

l. The longing to be happy is a universal human experience, and it is good, not sinful.

2. We should never try to deny or resist our longing to be happy, as though it were a bad impulse. Instead we should seek to intensify this longing and nourish it with whatever will provide the deepest and most enduring satisfaction.

3. The deepest and most enduring happiness is found only in God.

4. The happiness we find in God reaches its consummation when it is shared with others in the manifold ways of love.

5. To the extent we try to abandon the pursuit of our own pleasure, we fail to honor God and love people. Or, to put it positively: the pursuit of pleasure is a necessary part of all worship and virtue. That is,

The chief end of man is to glorify God

BY

enjoying him forever.

I haven't read the book yet, but there are a lot of implications in these few sentences....

Why don't more Christians enjoy God?

Is praise the natural result of thorough enjoyment of something or someone?

In what ways does my enjoying God bring Him glory?

Are there things I can do to help me enjoy God more often and more deeply?