Faith In More Than Steel

Why I Love My Church

Today is May 16th, 2012. On May 16th 2005, I was preparing to graduate from high school, hated my life, wanted to kill myself, and found that church was for absolutely crazy psycho people who spoke in tongues, and if you didn’t speak in tongues, then you must not love Jesus. I hated my school (christian school) that I attended, and frankly, I don’t remember much from high school other than that my thoughts were dominated with suicide, hate, and darkness. I did not know God, nor did I want to. 

Over the next two years I continued to chase this darkness, wallowing in my depression and looking for ways to stimulate it. Then something broke forever inside of me on March 6th, 2007. I finally stopped running. I finally stopped fighting. I finally gave up. In my bed, face down, tears swallowing me, heart dismantled from the effects of sin in a relationship I had no business being in with a woman, Jesus met me right there, in my mess - and He called me to Himself and saved me. That was the night I gave up and clung to Jesus for the very first time. Note that I did grow up in and around church and hated everything about them. They were full of fake people, full of boring people, and full of judgemental people. I wanted nothing to do with them.

Flash forward to May 2009. It’s been two years since I “got saved” and I may as well not have been. I lived in Orlando for a year and a half, and enjoyed the fleshly desires of life - sexual immorality, drunkenness and other forms of debauchery, all stemming from a desire to please people. I grew tired of the party life in Orlando, and realized that I needed to move back to Florence. To this day I still don’t know exactly why I decided to move back, but I believe it was the Holy Spirit guiding me. Jesus may have saved me, but I didn’t grow for 2 years because I wasn’t in a Gospel-believing Jesus declaring local church. I still hated the church, wanted nothing to do with the church, and thought that church was still for crazy boring people who are stuck in 1984 (their hairstyles and clothes). I had plenty of opportunities to attend a church in Orlando, but had only one frame of reference - the church was old, outdated, boring, and not for me.

So in May 2009 I moved back to Florence. As soon as I moved back home, my life started going 90 miles per hour. To avoid going down a tangential path, I’ll just say that a LOT changed in a very very very small amount of time. Jesus used one of my best friends to invite me to church when I got back home. Of course, I scoffed at first, but his hook was this: “hey dude, the music is amazing!” - Since I essentially worshiped good music as god, I was all in. One Sunday in May 2009 I walked into NewSpring Church on the Florence Campus at Francis Marion University. There were less than 50 people there, which I loved, because at this point, I didn’t want to talk to anybody, or get to know anybody. But as soon as I got out of my car and began walking into the McNair Science Auditorium, I strangely felt at home. These people were all — happy. Wearing jeans. T-Shirts. Vans. Tank Tops. There were no old people snarling at me in suits. They looked…normal. Imagine my shock when the pastor of the church was preaching in the same get up - just a graphic t-shirt and jeans. I was blown away - “FINALLY!!! A Church where I can feel normal!” I’ll be honest, I had no idea who Perry Noble was, who Brad Cooper was, who Clayton King was, and I CERTAINLY didn’t understand the concept of studying my Bible, practically doing what it says, or anything else related to church culture that was positive. All I knew that Sunday was this - I could fit in here. By the end of the service though, I learned something new. For the very first time, I heard the Gospel preached, and understood what was being said. No thees and thous, just practical Bible teaching centered on a growing relationship with Jesus. I may have been saved by Jesus and His Gospel on March 6th, 2007, but I didn’t understand that the Gospel doesn’t JUST save - it grows when you’re in the local church. 

After that Sunday, I caught fire. I began to run after studying God’s Word for the first time in my life. I learned of the advent of sermon podcasts and was introduced to guys like Mark Driscoll, Judah Smith, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel and Steven Furtick. All because of the local church. Not just any local church, but MY church. NewSpring Church is a church where change takes place, and I am living proof.

I began to serve and volunteer at our Florence Campus that fall with the Parking Team after becoming an owner at the church. I did that for about six months, and grew with excitement each week - I was, strangely, LOVING Sundays for the first time in my life! It was absolutely a joy to be at church every week because the GOSPEL of Jesus was being preached and taught, and I was changing and growing every week! It was just mind blowing what was happening in the town I grew up in. Lives around me were being changed, people were coming to saving faith in Jesus, and it was happening in MY church! Crazy. 

There is nothing boring, outdated or worth hating at NewSpring. Jesus is the focus every day, every week. 

After the Lord reconciled me to an old friend, we began to talk regularly again, and he invited me to our student ministry summer camp, the Gauntlet in 2010. I went, full of a sense of adventure, and had my WORLD rocked. Jesus saved me from sin in 2007, but he didn’t have all of me yet. I was still holding on to things and people that were keeping me from fully being committed to Christ. Tuesday night at the Gauntlet, I surrendered EVERYTHING in my life to Jesus. I was 100% at a loss for what to do next, but other godly men rallied around me and helped me know what next steps to take - and they all started in God’s Word. It was amazing. Everything starts and ends at God’s Word. 

2010-2011 was the fasted period of my whole life. I grew in student ministry. I began leading a small group of high school guys. At one point, I was leading 15 students a week. I had no idea what I was doing, and still really don’t. I’ve just learned from the mistakes. I got to see life change happen in 2011. Three friends I used to work with were saved at a NewSpring service last year. I had a chance to really help a friend who was struggling with a personal issue and she felt 100% welcome at NewSpring during a very tense message. She had a breakthrough because at NewSpring, it’s ok to not be ok - but it’s not ok to stay that way. 

I’ve never seen a church that helps people grow with Christ so efficiently. 

Admittedly, the last part of 2011 I lost my focus. I took my eyes off Christ and the progress He brings, and I put my idols above Him. Church culture and ministry became something that was more attractive than Jesus for me. I went through a period of  repentance around those issues, a season of bitterness, and a season of shame. I’ve come out of that very recently with a clearer focus of who Jesus is than I’ve ever had, and what my role in the church is supposed to be, by God’s Grace alone. 

I give all that history to let you know one thing: It is ALL about Jesus Christ at NewSpring Church. And THAT is why I love my church! It’s not about me, or you. It’s all about Jesus. 

I’ve learned to steal my joy back from the devil by serving JESUS CHRIST every week at my church. You wanna get your joy back? Serve the Lord in the local church. You wanna get your strength back? Serve the Lord in the local church.

My identity isn’t HOW I serve, or WHERE I serve, it’s in WHO I serve. I made too many poor decisions to serve man more than Christ last year. That’s over. That’s done. I now serve Jesus alone, because He gives me life, He gives me strength, He gives me joy, He gives me peace and provision, and He gives me growth.

Jesus is why I  have life, why I have an amazing Gospel-Centered Bible-Believing Disciple-Making Church to serve in. 

I love Jesus! He has given me a church worth loving for the first time in my life these last few years, and I know that the best is yet to come!

I AM going to get to see Jesus save 100,000 people at my church across this state over the next 10 years. I AM going to get to see Jesus bring life to my lost friends. I AM going to get to see Jesus make Himself known to the entire state of South Carolina through the power of the Holy Spirit. NewSpring Church is just the willing vessel by God’s Grace for the Holy Spirit to do miracles. 

I LOVE my Church!!!

AJW

10.03.03 It is a peculiar stupidity that allows me to become so easily discouraged. my usual order of things: (1) pray for God’s guidance and wisdom (2) ignore or betray the convictions He gives me (3) charge or doubt Him because of the disorder and confusion in my life. is there peace in our hearts? are we not lying to ourselves and others, professing a faith we scarcely believe in? may God forbid we become comfortable here! but rather than seeking happiness we should value this restlessness. if we didn’t first feel the pain of a cut, what would prompt us to clean and wrap the wound, preventing infection or worse? this emotional pain of ours (if I may assume I’m not alone in my sadness), as with physical pain, is often a sign that something is wrong. rather than dress the wound, or even question the cause, don’t we choose spiritual numbness (entertainment, socializing, education or career ambitions…) and so decide not to feel the infection of our entire lives? this sickness or infection is disobedience and self-absorbtion, a lack of love for God and other people. I am sick with myself, and too much with this world. but there are certain moments, radiant with sorrow and pity, where my soul is set on fire by the love of Jesus! he does not avoid or deny the suffering of the world, but takes it upon himself in its most extreme. far from our mediocrity and compromise, his crucifixion challenges us to suffer wildly, dares us to love recklessly, even foolishly. my friends, when will we grow tired of mediocrity and compromise? God, forgive our selfishness. please soften our hearts and open our ears to your truth. let us die to oursleves, and give us a new and wonderful life. help us see You in those around us and show them the patience and gentleness You’ve shown us. let us love the unlovable as You have loved us. You are beautiful, just beautiful, my Lord! -ajw 

Found this incredible thought on the old mewithoutYou blog. Absolutely describes where I am at these days. 

Source: http://web.archive.org/web/20040624012350/http://mewithoutyou.com/journal.html

Are You Spending More Time With Jesus’ Bride Than Your Own?

What do you love to do for fun in marriage? One of the hardest things to stay focused on in Church culture is what you do for fun outside of church. If you’re like me, you’ve made the mistake many times of your Church culture being the only fun you have. There are two problems with this view. One, it is idolatry. If you don’t learn to keep Jesus at the center of your life, then you will be consumed by false gods and material things. Some of us need to get out of bed with Jesus’ wife and back in bed with our own, as many marriages suffer because of the idolatry of ministry. This is a big problem in church culture today. Many pastors/leaders are not disciplined enough to learn to disengage from church culture as their only source of “fun” or community, and forget to have fun and date their wives. I believe this is a growing epidemic at churches where it is attractive to make your CHURCH CULTURE the center of your life, and not your SAVIOR the center of your life, and that is a dangerous thing for a marriage to experience.  This is a grave mistake as it steals your joy and happiness, and elevates your idolatry of created things over your worship of Creator God. 

Secondly, recently I have become EXTREMELY comfortable in the church and lost sight of why the church exists: to be missional with the Gospel and practically intentional with the world I live in and the Gospel it needs. This starts in my marriage. How I lead my wife is dependent upon how Jesus leads me. When church culture is the only fun you have, you can easily make the mistake of not knowing how to disengage from it and become incredibly burned out, or quit entirely - on your church and your marriage. I went through a season where growing in church culture was the goal, and not growing with Jesus Christ. It’s something I’ve had to recently repent of, and it all started with one thing: a realization that God’s Word was not an essential part of my life in the way it needed to be - sure, I studied the Bible to look good to others, teach others, and help others, but I wasn’t allowing it to teach me, help me, wound me, or heal me. Church culture and church status was my god, and I was sacrificing a healthy relationship with Jesus for elevated status and people pleasing. 

All of this may be a bit tangential to the concept of fun and dating your spouse, but I point to it to say this: Ministry is uncomfortable calling, not relaxing leisure. We need to learn to relax and have fun in our marriages in a way that consistently bring glory to Jesus. Now, don’t think that ministry isn’t fun - it can be enjoyable and fulfilling. I have a BLAST serving in student ministry at my church. But, when someone asks you “what do you do for fun” and your response is “I serve at my church” you need to check yourself if that is the first thing or ONLY thing that pops into your head - ESPECIALLY if you’re married. Men, your wife is not your ministry or project, your wife is your spouse, and you are called to serve her, have fun with her, love her, date her, enjoy her. Men, she is your standard of beauty. Your wife is not a process or program, she is a person. We need to learn to separate church life from home life. A relaxed and happy marriage is one that revolves around Jesus, not ministry or church culture. Men, we have to learn to say no to people, and yes to Jesus’ call to serve our wives.

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)

Paul, the writer of Ephesians is saying here to have fun and enjoy your wives by serving them and dating them - do not be harsh means do not neglect them or put anything other than Jesus Christ before them. This is a standard I wish to hold myself to:

1. Christian

2. Husband

3. Father

4. Minister

If any of these change order, then idolatry happens.

We need to disengage from idolatry and stop disregarding God’s Word, which is the only thing that can change our hearts and marriages on a daily basis through the Holy Spirit and a relationship with Jesus. It is the real vessel to Biblical fun in marriage.

I believe the world has a horrid view of Christianity and Christian marriages. They see it as boring, old, outdated, stupid, a waste of time, judgemental, and fake. This view is caused by mostly church culture (especially in the South) and specifically the sin within church culture. How can we practically change the world’s view on such an important issue as the attraction of Jesus? The issue isn’t “does church look fun” it’s “Am I having fun with Jesus?” Well, let’s look at what Scripture says in regards to learning to have fun with Jesus. If we apply what Scripture says about fun to our marriages, then our marriages will be more happy and enjoyable than ever before, because Jesus will be the CAUSE of them and the CONSTANT for them.

TRUTH: I Need to have Gratitude in Whatever I Do.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,  just as I try to please everyone in everything I do,not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (ESV)

The Bible literally says to give God GLORY in WHATEVER you do. Giving God glory is as simple as being obedient to Jesus joyfully and walking in fun with him. He promises this to us in John 10:10:

 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)

Look at what the Bible recommends for us in this life. Life is hard, and will always be hard, but it doesn’t have to be full of depression only, especially in marriage. 

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NLT)

So all of this begs the question, how do you CONSISTENTLY have fun DESPITE your circumstances? Maybe you are going through a divorce. Maybe you lost a child recently and are giving up on God or ever being happy again. It’s possible your husband just lost his job. Maybe you haven’t been happy for years and you don’t know where to turn. Here is what the Bible recommends we have.

Gratitude!! God commands it, and expects it, and it is the key to happiness in this life.

 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, - 1 Timothy 4:4 (ESV)

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, - Hebrews 12:28 (ESV)

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV):

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him;  bless his name! - Psalm 100:4 (ESV)

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

 Sing to him, sing praises to him;

tell of all his wondrous works!

  Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

1 Chronicles 16:8-10 (ESV)

There are literally hundreds more of these verses of thanks in the Bible, and it is the main way we experience happiness in this life and in our marriages! It brings glory to God when you have fun in a Biblical way, and you can do that by simply thanking Him!

I will praise the name of God with a song;

I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30 (ESV)

So, the key to having fun is thankfulness. Be thankful always and learn to have fun! Date your spouse, pursue your spouse, but first pursue Jesus, pursue time in His Word, pursue repentance, and pursue obedience to God. Fun is a byproduct of thankfulness, and thankfulness is a byproduct of repentance. When we repent, we are thankful to a loving God, and our thankfulness produces happiness and joy in our lives and marraiges that only Jesus can give.

How can you be more thankful, specifically with your spouse? What do you know you consistently take for granted? How often do you and your spouse have date night?

If your marriage is in need of a kickstart, make sure you hit up Pastor Mark and Grace Driscoll’s Real Marriage Tour. There are still two dates left to attend in 2012. I went in South Carolina two weeks ago, and it was life changing! Brought a huge perspective changer for me in how I view marriage. The sinful habits you form BEFORE you are married can be broken by obedience NOW to Jesus.

“Your biology will catch up with your obedience. Your theology determines your biology.” - Pastor Mark Driscoll.

Can’t attend the conference? Watch the Real Marriage Sermon Series from Mars Hill Church.

Thanks for the chance to learn from you, Pastor Mark! 

Have You Forgotten Your Name?

Do you remember how you got your name as a baby? Were you aware of what was going on when your parents decided to name you? You may not have even been born yet, or maybe they decided to wait until after you were born to name you. Maybe you were adopted, and your biological parents didn’t name you, but your adoptive ones did. Maybe you pulled a Chad Ocho-Cinco and legally changed your name, but you’ve forgotten your original identity or you want to rid yourself of it for whatever reason.

The odds are that most of us didn’t choose the name we were originally given. Not only is this a practical concept, but a Biblical one as well. Look at what the Lord says in Jeremiah 1:4-8:

⁴Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

⁵ ”Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you;I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

 ⁶Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”⁷But the LORD said to me, ”Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,and whatever I command you, you shall speak. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

What I love about this passage is it speaks to two HUGE things that will absolutely set you free when it comes to condemnation and learning your true identity:

1. The Word of the Lord is Jesus (John 1:1) and in JESUS alone we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Because we are new in Christ, our identity is also new. The name given by your parents does not define you eternally. Check out what Jesus says in John 10:27-30:

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

This begs the question, what is Jesus’ voice saying?

²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. - (Galatians 3:26)

In Jesus, my name isn’t Andrew. It’s son. More importantly, I’m an ADOPTED son. 

¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-6)

Look how beautiful verse 6 is - God raised US up with him. God took me in as HIS Child when I was abandoned in my sin, and dead in my rebellion. I was dead, in a bodybag. And God ripped open the bodybag, covered me with the love of Christ, and saved me - just in the nick of time. He took me in as His own kid. That’s. Just. NUTS.

Here’s the big idea of point #1 - You had no role or credit in forming yourself. God formed you before the beginning of time, gave you a name, gave you a purpose, and gave you a future full of hope in Christ alone.

2. God Works And Always Has Worked For You, NOT Against You.

A good Father doesn’t work against His children. He works with them. Since we know that we have a name of endearment (son or daughter) then we know He will not fail us (because He is perfect, Deuteronomy 32:4) and He will not abandon us (because He is faithful, 2 Timothy 2:13).

When you were a brand new baby, a doctor had to deliver your messy, disgusting, bloody, weird-looking, crying, helpless self from the depths of the womb. He pulled you out of comfort and warmth and put you in the hands of your parents, entrusted with taking care of you and helping you grow up healthy. The doctor won’t put you back into the womb, into a place that would harm yourself and others.

This is EXACTLY what God did for me spiritually. God cannot and will not put me into a place where HE will harm me, because I am His kid (John 10:27-30).

When I was helpless, when I was bloody, when I was messy, and when I was disgusting, HE pulled me out, (Psalm 40:1-3) HE cleaned me up, (Luke 7:22) HE comforted me, (Matthew 11:28-30) and HE placed me under the care of Jesus Christ, (1st Peter 5:6-7) who calls me His FRIEND (John 15:15) and God, the Father, calls me his SON! (Romans 8:14-17) This is the love of God, found perfect in Jesus Christ alone. Through Jesus, God delivered me from the hand of death and sin.

This brings me to the big idea of point #2 - Why is God with me? Why am I His child? Why did He choose to save me? We need look no further than Jeremiah 1:8 - God did everything and does everything to DELIVER me from the hand of evil. 

Jesus Christ is my identity AND my deliverer.

I am a son, I am an heir, I am delivered.

Eyeballs

³³ ”No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. ³⁴Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. ³⁵ Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. ³⁶If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” - Jesus in Luke 11:33-36

The human eye is so crucial to understanding the Gospel. Without eyes to see, we cannot possibly understand who Jesus is, and what His will is. I want to point out a few observations this passage of Scripture teaches us.

1. Healthy Eyes Breed Healthy Hearts (v34)
2. Careful Eyes Breed Careful Hearts (v35)
3. Healthy and Careful Eyes are ALWAYS Focused on God’s Word.

Our eyes are thermostats for how hot our hearts actually are for Christ. They set the temperature of our hearts. Verse 36 is the big idea of this passage as it points to LIGHT being the reason our hearts are hot for Christ. If there is a LACK of light, then our hearts are obviously cold.

Since we know that Jesus calls himself the light of the world, (John 8:12) that means the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what melts our stone cold sinful hearts and sets our hearts on fire for HIS vision for HIS Church. Jesus doesn’t use cold hearts. He melts them.

There are several observations we can make about the distinct correlation between our eyes and our hearts. 

• The more reckless our eyes are, the more reckless our hearts become.
• The more lazy our eyes are, the more lazy our hearts become.
• The more lustful our eyes are, the most lustful our hearts become.
• The more distracted our eyes are, the more distracted our hearts become.

Conversely:

• The more pure our eyes are, the more pure our hearts become.
• The more focused our eyes are on Jesus, the more focused our hearts become on Jesus.
• The more intentional our eyes are to look at Jesus, the more intentional our hearts become to LISTEN to Jesus.
• The more our eyes surrender to Jesus, the more our hearts will become surrendered to Jesus.

Where is your heart today?

What are you looking at?

What are you focused on?