Where would I go?

An uncomfortable truth about Christian life that many people avoid is captured in the expression "Come as you are, but Jesus loves you too much to leave you there." Change is an expectation of Christianity, and for many of us, change is scary and uncomfortable, even if we are unhappy in our lives. This expression, or phrase, "Come as you are, but Jesus loves you too much to leave you there." tells us that at some point, you will encounter something in your Bible, from the pulpit, or from another pastor that challenges your beliefs or actions. Often, when this happens, it serves as a correction or rebuke regarding behaviors that we or someone we care about may be practicing. Perhaps a passage or a pastor addresses a negative thinking pattern we hold, such as excessive complaining or worrying too much. When this happens, it can sometimes feel like a personal challenge, leaving us feeling guilty or convicted about our language or choices. While guilt isn't the goal, the push to change and embrace a life of Holiness that honors God is. And whether you realize it or not, when you are pursuing Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior and aligning your life to His, you are pursuing Holiness. That's why the Apostle Simon Peter wrote this:

1 Peter 1:13-16

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Like it or not, correction is beneficial for us because it leads to spiritual growth. When we feel convicted—whether from something we've heard or read in the scriptures it should prompt us to respond with humility. Responding in humility means repenting of and turning away from our wrongdoings, and when we do that, we align our thoughts and actions with those of the Holy Spirit. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote:

Romans 12:1-2

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And also this:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

Correction is good for us. It is training for righteousness and equips us for the work of God, but that doesn't mean we like it or that we even accept it when it happens. Many of us, instead of being humble and submitting to what we heard or read in Scripture, will instead become angry. We get mad at the Pastor or the church, or sometimes we even get mad at God. Then what do you do? Do you react with thoughts such as: How dare He say that living life as a drunk is bad or that I can't have sex with whomever I choose, whenever I choose? How dare God or that Pastor condemn gossiping!

Or do you leave the church and find one where the Pastor only says things that make you feel good? Or do you close your Bible and walk away, because 'what kind of god would expect you to change? Doesn't forgiveness mean you can do what you want?' Well, Paul had something to say about that as well, in the book of Romans:

Romans 6:1-7

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

If getting offended, leaving, or quitting isn’t the right response, and neither is embracing our sin as a character trait or identity, what should we do if we feel upset or angry about what we heard from the pulpit or read in the Bible?

If it came from the pulpit, whether what was said was from me or any other Pastor, I encourage you first to look into the Word and ask if what was said is consistent with the Word of God. If it's not, and it's me, please come talk to me. Life is a learning process, and I am always learning. So I admit, I may need correcting at times. But if, when you're looking into the Word for clarification, you discover you were wrong, then you will have some pretty important questions to ask yourself. Things like: Do I believe the Bible, or do I follow culture? Do I trust that what the Bible says is meant for my good, or do I dismiss it as mere fairy tales with a moral lesson? Will I continue in faith even when I disagree or don’t fully understand, or will I revert to my old ways? Every Christian will face this test at some stage in their walk with God. To pass this test, we need to respond as Simon Peter did in John 6. Let's take a look at that passage now.

"Lord, to whom shall we go?"

John 6:60-69 reads like this:

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

66 After this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Peter's response in this passage is extremely important. He isn’t denying that the things Jesus said are hard to hear or understand. Instead, he says that there is nowhere else to go, that he knows Jesus is the Messiah, and that in Him was life. So his answer was simple when Jesus asked if they would leave too, "Lord, to whom shall we go?"

In front of a large group of followers, Jesus said things that the crowd could not accept. Before the small portion we just read, Jesus spoke about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, something we now understand as having to do with the covenant between God and man, and is immortalized in our Communion service. Knowing that the crowd struggled with this, Jesus pushed it further with what we just read a moment ago. This led to many turning away from Him and returning to their homes. To them, Jesus sounded like a madman; they were discouraged and disillusioned. This was not the prophet they had expected or wanted. How could he ask such difficult and confusing things of them and speak in such a stern manner?

But when Jesus turned to the 12 and asked if they too would leave Him, Peter spoke for the group and said, "Where else could we go? We know that you are the Holy One of God."

God is far more concerned with your character than your comfort.

If you know that Jesus is the Messiah and that God is real, where else can you go but to God, even when you don't like what He is saying? Can you really turn from Him? And if you do turn away, do you realize that you have fallen into the same sin as Satan? By rejecting truth, you state by your actions that your thoughts and your ways are superior to God's thoughts and ways, and that, my friend, is pride.

However, when we choose to respond as Peter did, recognizing that Jesus is the only true source of hope, we are choosing life. We choose to let go of another part of our old selves and strengthen our faith a little more. We are choosing God's ways over our own and embracing His Truth instead of our beliefs. This doesn’t mean that challenges won’t arise; rather, it signifies our commitment to endure and trust the Lord, even when it is painful. It shows belief in the fact that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is the One who holds our tomorrows and understands how everything fits together. It shows trust and faith, and understanding that God doesn't always focus on our present comfort but rather on our future and our eternity. As you will often hear me say, God is far more concerned with your character than your comfort.

Jesus is life and truth, the Holy One of God, anointed as the sacrificial lamb to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. To turn away from Him is to turn to death. There is no other path to heaven, no other way to have peace of soul. No other way to live fully and abundantly here on earth and in the hereafter. Jesus is the only way.

John 14:6-7

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

So, I ask you today to consider in your heart, to make the decision: are you all in with Jesus? It's never going to get easier; in fact, the Bible says it will be harder as we get closer to the end times, which is why it's so important to make the decision now, before the days get darker and the day of judgment comes. We don't know how long we will have to endure, how long it will be before He comes back, so we need to decide now to endure to the end, because where else can we go?

So if Scripture says something you don't like, something that ruffles your feathers, where else can you go? Scripture isn't changing, and turning towards death is foolishness, so where else can you go but to the cross? What else can you do but lay down those burdens, those conflicts, those bad habits, and submit yourself to the Lord?