Judge not?

A common phrase in today's lingo is: "Don't Judge me. Only God can judge me." This type of thinking is most often stated because one is either completely ashamed by their actions or they acknowledge the fact that God is infinite and wise while we are finite and often foolish.

But the phrase "Only God can Judge me" should scare individuals if they do not have a relationship with him. Think about it for a moment. God is holy. You are not. God is wise. You are not. God is perfect. You are not. Without the sacrificial act of Jesus dying for our sins we would still be regarded as enemies of God. Once you have place your trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus it changes everything. You have now become a friend of God.

But does that give us the right to judge?

This is a tough subject to approach. And I am going to admit, I don't have all of the answers. But I think this is a topic that is worth wrestling with in today's culture.

We live in a day of Postmodernism. Historians have placed the start of this era and the death of modernism on Sept 11, 2001. Regardless of where you place the beginning of this time period, the fact remains that it is driven mostly by one distorted worldview of Relativism.

Relativism is the idea that there are no absolutes. (Stating that there are no absolutes kinda defeats its purpose yet this idea remains for the majority of people in the twenty-first century). Religions that teach there is exclusivism are rejected by the population as a whole. "How can you tell me what I ought to believe?"

This idea becomes even more scary when it is coupled in with morals. Moral Relativism is the concept that my morals and beliefs are private and each individual is entitled to his or her one belief system. One is allow to do and believe whatever he or she wants as long as it does not interfere with the freedom of another. (this is where the subject becomes very tough to interpret because how can you tell if it is really interfering with another's freedom.)

Yet, in the midst of Moral Relativism many in the Western world still believe in a "god." This God may or not be a real person but it brings many individuals much comfort to believe there is someone out there that has his or her best interest in mind. And he is the only one that can judge them.

Who is God? I believe that Jesus Christ is God. Why? He said he was. My case does not rest simply in the fact of that he claimed to be God for many have suffered psychological delusions of grander where they believe they are a divine being. I believe Jesus is God because he predicted his own death and resurrection and was right about it.

Jesus said, He is the way, the Truth, and the Life. And that people could only come to God through Him. He wasn't stopping people from coming to know God but allowing himself to be a bridge between our fallen humanity and the holiness of God.

So, with all that being said........ what about judging others. Did Jesus even speak on this topic? YES!

"Do not judge."- Jesus

He actually said those three words. Do NOT JUDGE. The problem for all of us who want to take this as a license to disobey God is Jesus didn't stop there!

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way that you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."- Jesus

These words were given by Jesus not because he wants you to avoid judging each other but because he wants you to be careful on how you judge.

Jesus says, Before you start going around acting like the Righteous Police and trying to get everyone to clean up their lives to take a deep breath and think about it. To examine oneself. What are your motives? Are you calling this person out because you generally care about their well being or are you doing it because you are in a bad mood, mad at them, or want to see them embarrassed?

If you are a Christian you have been set free from the bondage of sin. What does that mean? The thing (the plank) that you have been struggling with can be set free. Jesus died not just so you can go to heaven one day but so that you can be set free from your addictions and problems today. Allow him to take away your plank. To give you free sight. To set you free!

So, what's this judgement thing about?

Once you have become free you have the capacity to set other people free. As you walk in freedom you will have opportunitie to tell others how Jesus has set you free. As you remove the plank from your own eye you can tell others that God can remove the speck in their eye. You can tell them that He is not mad at them for their mistakes and shortcomings but does want to see them set free from the pain that their sin has caused.

It's okay to call other people out when they are doing something that is harmful to themselves and others. They might not thank you in the moment but looking back they will be glad you were a good friend and told them how them can be set free from the life they are living.

This needs to all be done in love. Jesus, God incarnate, held on the knowledge of the universe. Yet not everyone believed and trusted in what He had to say. Yet he knew when to speak and when not to. He showed us how knowledge empowered but love becomes the most powerful force in the universe.

Divine Relationships

The goal of any relationship is to leave someone better off than when we found them.

This is true of friendship, romantic relationships, marital relationships, and family relationships. 

This blatantly spits in the face of the value of our culture. In 21st Century America we are all about instant gratification. What can I get out of it? How can this benefit me now?  

I wish I knew this concept earlier in my life because when you grasp it. When you get it. It wrecks you. You can't stay the same. 

For example, in a dating relationship between a boy and girl. Many cases they are in the relationship for purely selfish reasons. She is cute. He is athletic. I am lonely.  I have a low self-esteem. I I I. 

We take our brokenness and take it to another broken person to not feel broken. Its the blind leading the blind. 2000 years ago Jesus said, "The two shall be one." This implies the reality that the two whole people shall be united together to become one whole person. (Not 1/2 person +3/8 person= One person)

Not perfect by any means of the word but whole. 

To be whole means to be holy. These two words actually come from the same word in the Greek. It is when "all the parts are present and working as they were designed."

To be whole or holy means to have one's identity fixated on the fact that because of Jesus's Actions on the cross we have incredible value in the eyes of God. We are valued no longer as sinners but as saints. We are valued no longer as distant from God but as people who have been bought near. We are valued no longer as servants but as Kings and Queens. With Authority. With dignity. With honor. 

When one brings himself/herself to a dating relationship he or she must be whole. They enter into the relationship to offer themselves to the other. 

This same truth ought to be apply to any and all relationships we have. We bring ourselves to others not to get something from them but to give ourselves. To leave every and any situation with them being better off because you were in their presence. 

There are two possible things that can occur to dating relationships. This is the fact that they can end up being engaged and then married or have a breakup. As child of the king a breakup should not look like it does in the "world." 

Yes, hurt shall come and pain will arise. But if you were whole before the relationship and if you were in it to give of yourself and not merely to receive, (There is a purpose in receiving from others but it ironically only occurs when you give) things will be okay. 

Why?

Because your goal weather you ended up marrying the person or not was to leave them better than you found them. 

I write this blog a few days before I get married. What an exciting time in my life. But what also a scary time. Not scary in the sense that I am afraid but in the sense of the unknown. What does it look like to love and be loved and give of myself wholly and fully?

I do know at least one thing. My goal and purpose in marriage cannot be about myself.  It needs to and has to be about the other. My purpose fixates on the idea that I will leave her better off each day. Not in a controlling and trying to fix any and all things kind of manner but in the "I really do care about your best interest" kind of way. 

Jesus knew who he was. He was a whole person. He was a holy person. He brought himself to every relationship. He never care what people thought about him because life wasn't about himself feeling good. It was about living for others. 

And you know what?. Every time Jesus hangs out with me I am a better person. He does it. He makes me better. Not by controlling me with guilt and shame but through his loving kindness. 

Jesus, teach me to have divine relationships. Teach me how to respect others above myself. To honor others above myself. Walk with me. Talk with me. Guide me today in this journey. To the end goal that you might be glorified. That you might be praised. Thank Risen King Jesus. 

Powerless

I was reading my bible this morning and I was struck by a sentence. I could no longer continue after I read these words. Have you ever read something and felt so connected to those words that you could no longer continue. Here they are:

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."

These words are written by Saint Paul to the church in Rome roughly 2000 years ago. The wonderful thing about the words of God is that they never change. We change and we are transformed but His words remain the same.

We can look at the context of the verse and ask what the author was trying to communicate to the orginial audience and then seek counsel through the Spirit of God to the personal application of the day. The wonderful thing is: They are usually the same thing. What God was speaking through Paul 2000 years ago is exactly what we need to hear today.

Paul is writing a letter to the church in Rome explaining the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Good News! That we were created good, have disobeyed God in word and deed, have a redeemer name Jesus that has saved us from hell and for heaven, and that one day Jesus is going to return to earth and restore the world to the way it gets to be.

Reading this verse, this sentence, this thought, made me a little upset. You see, because Im American. I am no powerless. I'm an athlete, I'm not powerless. I have worked hard for everything I have in my life. It's humbling to be called powerless when all we are feed every day is the complete opposite. Pop-culture tells me I'm special (like a snowflake). But powerless, never.

This is a place where one needs to tend lightly. Because I am not taking about low self-esteem. I am not taking about having emotional/psychological issues like depression or the opposite end of narcissism. I am taking about our sense before God awaken us to the truth of who he is!

Maybe the best way to explain what I am trying to say is through a story.....
A few years ago I worked at a summer camp. I was in charge of teaching sailing for a part of the day. I dont know why they chose me considering I have never sailed myself before the one hour orientation I received. But there I was. The camp was for kids ages 8-18. And many younger kids had a difficulty sailing. It is tough. The wind blows fast and without warning.

One day, as two 9 year olds were out of the lake the wind did increase without notice. The students panic and pulled on the rope and they went so fast that the sailboat capsized. Without hesitation, I jumped into the water and went after them. I swam toward them in the heavy winds and waves until I reached them. At this point, I flipped their boat for them and told them to get inside. We dumped as much water out of the boat as we could as I began to swim two 60 pound boys plus the boat to the shore.

They were powerless. They were stuck. Have you ever felt stuck and didn't know what to do? There was nothing they could do. They were waiting and crying for help until their hero came to rescue them.

This is the message of how much God loves us. That when we didn't even know we needed to be saved that Jesus took our place on the cross.

Later in the scriptures we see God call us other words, "Children," "Saints," "Forgiven," "light." But it didn't start with you choosing to be a better person. Moralism only gets you so far. Trying to be a good person only gets you so far. You are powerless to come into a relationship with God. It's only after he awakens you by His spirit that you can follow him.

This sounds like fatalism but it is not. The truth is that it starts and ends with God but it is also about you. God's spirit awakens us to the truth and the fact that Jesus is Lord and in that awakening moment we are brought to crisis moment. Which way are we going to go in life.

I think of Paul's conversion. He sees a light that blinds him. It is Jesus from heaven. He proclaims, "It is I, Jesus, the one whom you are persecuting." He is blind for three days until God sends a man named Ananias to heal him. In that instance Paul is completely healed and can see again. Paul is awoken to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah but Jesus himself but still has a chose to make. Does he follow his leading and lose all he has worked for his whole life?

Paul was powerless. He was blind way before he was physically blind. Ironically, It took him becoming blind physically for him to see spiritually what was happening.

Before, God awakens us to the truth that He is real we are left in a state of blindness. Without power. But he flips on the light switch so that we can see the truth of who he is.

What role do believers have in the role of salvation then? As a believer, your responsibility is to follow Jesus. Fall in love with Jesus. As unbelievers see how your life has become transformed by God they will chose to follow him as well when they are having their next crisis moment.

You see, we had no power but now we have unlimited power from on High. The Holy Spirit has given us the empowerment to follow him and share his love with the world. You were powerless now you are full of power but this power is from God alone. Will you be a person of power of loving others and by laying down your life for the other?

Offensive Love

God's love is incredibly offensive. Not in the sense that "The Pirates need to generate more offense" but in the sense that his love is above and beyond our cognitive understanding of what is good and right.

We have unintentionally shape our understanding of God and His love toward us based on our experience and the love we have receive from others. If one wants to judge by this merit he or she will continually underestimate the capacity God has to show favor, grace, and love toward his children.

I am a Christian and believe in the mystery of the Trinity. I believe in One God yet he has revealed himself in three characters. We call this the Father, the Son (Jesus, the Christ), and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in power and authority for there are literally one but they are different in their roles. The Father creates and sustains the world, the Son sacrificed himself showing us the great love of the Father, while the Holy Spirit empowers us for daily living and enlightens us to the truth that Jesus in the Messiah.

Trying to explain God in human terms is very difficult for He (even using gender is incorrect analysis) indescribable. The best one can do to explain and understand the glory of the Father is to look at the Son. The author of Colossians, Saint Paul, show the resurrected Christ seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven in a vision. He says two important things of God: "The Son is the image of the invisible God"  and "God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him."

What's the point. We can fully and truly know God through the character of Jesus Christ. If we have some understanding of God that does not match up with how Jesus acted then we need to repent (change the way we think) at once.

Many of the religious people in the First Century did not like Jesus. They were offended by how he did things. He was offending people before he was born. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. God chose to bring His Son into the world through a teenage Jewish girl who was engaged to be married. Many people would have looked at Jesus and mocked him calling him a bastard child. Neither did Jesus get married. This is more common in today's culture but not in the First Century! In addition, Jesus who was a teacher with much authority, chose disciples that were the rejects of the day. The majority of his followers were fishermen and tax-collectors.

What is this Jesus guy doing? As you read through the Gospels you will see that he continues to offend the religious yet stun the "Sinners" by welcoming them into his life. He breaks down their man-made religion and reveals the true heart of God. "To seek and save the lost."

There is an account of great offense that Jesus brings in Luke's Gospel. Some Pharisees (this was a devout Jewish sect that held morality to a high standard) invited Jesus to have dinner at their home. This was the greatest level of intimacy in the Jewish First Century culture. As they are enjoying their meal and woman who doesn't even get named walks right into the house. She is simply called, "a sinful woman." She does the oldest thing. She falls to the ground at the feet of Jesus, pouring perfume and washing his feet with their kisses and hair.

This event caused the Pharisees not to be mad at the woman but at Jesus. But why? Because he was not offended at the woman. She was unclean. She was unholy. She was unworthy. She was a SINNER. She was a woman. She wasn't one of them. She wasn't a child of Abraham. The Pharisees say about Jesus, "If this man was a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is- that she is a sinner."

Jesus explains why he is not offended with a story (this was pretty common for Him).

"Two people owed money to a certain monelender. One owed him 500 days of wage, and the other 50 days of wage. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?

His rhetorical question was answered correctly by Simon, "The one who had the bigger debt forgiven."

If the Pharisees and many Christians today it is about doing more right than wrong. Life is about achieving perfection; more good deeds than sins. But the thing is no one is perfect. And if we are honest with ourselves trying to achieve perfection is hard and it is tiresome task.

The very fact that God sent His Son Jesus to die in our place is the fact that we could not rescue ourselves. That is
God's
Great
Love.

That he chose to love everyone equally. You might say, "Well, Jeff. Don't we all? No, I don't think so. We might try to love everyone equally and unconditionally but this again is a task that you and I fail.

God's love is offensive because your eternally  status before God is not determine by how you act or what you do. It is totally, 100% in the fact that he loves you and me and us and paved the way for us to have an eternal relationship with Him.

Jesus didn't care that the woman who was at his feet was considered to be a sinful woman. He didn't view people in light of their sin but in light of how much he loved them. To this day, Jesus' love is incredibly offensive to many. It is "too good to be true." We many times believe this because we believe the falsehood that God can only love me by how good of a person  I am. You are not a good person. You are however, a child of God. A prince or princess in God's kingdom. Forever loved and forever cherished simply because you are you.

Because this woman had a huge debt her understanding of God's love was able to increase. Y(our) ability to love others is directly proportional to the love we have received. To those who have received grace in light of their error how much greater has their capacity to show grace increased. 

As you walk through life today, I pray that you know that there is a God and He is madly in love with you. I pray that you can reflect on your life and understand no matter what you have gone through that God is willing to fully forgive you of everything. 

And when He forgives; He forgets. 

The time Jesus went to a wedding

I was reading in the Bible today about when Jesus went to a wedding. It is unclear who the bride and the groom were because they are not the focus on this story. Some Historians believe that it was a friend of Mary, the mother of Jesus, but no one knows for sure. 

At this wedding there is Mary, Jesus, and the disciples of Jesus. There is no mention of Joseph. Joseph was the earthy father of Jesus and historians have taught that he passed away during those 18 years of history that are not included in the Bible. 

We encounter Jesus when he is born, when he is 12, and then when he is 30. Jesus took over the family business of being a carpenter but his life was radically changing and he knew it. He experienced the heavenly father when he was baptized in the Jordan River. In that account the Father says of Jesus, "You are my Son, with whom I love and with you I am well pleased." 

Jesus is tempted in the desert for a long time but is able to overcome because of the assurance that he received in being the son of God. After this account, Jesus spends time with His Heavenly Father and asks him to show him his disciples. 

Jesus picks his disciples and a few days later we find Jesus, His disciples, and His mother all at a wedding feast. Up to this point Jesus had performed no miracles (besides being born). He told his newest disciple, Nathaniel, that "Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

In other words Jesus was telling him that “You don’t just have to believe my words, what I am saying here. I am going to perform signs that will back up the truth of what I’m saying and prove that I am who I claim to be.”

And three days later they are at this wedding. Nathaniel must have been waiting to see if Jesus was truly the Messiah. Jesus himself must have been a little nervous. This is a side of Jesus we generally don't think about. But Jesus was 100% God and 100% human. His humanity was in the fact that he had emotions just like you and me. 

I wonder if Mary was nervous approaching Jesus. After all, He is now the man in the house. Mary found out the wine was all gone. Which was a huge embarrassment in the First Century. What words should I say to my son? 

And then she speaks! "They have no more wine."

That's it???!?? She knew that he would know exactly what to do. She didn't fear but knew that her baby boy was also the GREAT I AM. But was he ready?

His response seemed incredibly hesitant. "Woman, why do you involve me. My hour has not yet come." 

What does he mean that his time or hour has not yet come? He was baptized, He has overcome temptation, and he has picked his disciples for ministry. It was time. And he knew it. 

It doesn't say in the text but I assume that either through words or by how Mary acted it encouraged Jesus to perform his first miracle. She doesn't argue with her son but simply says to the servants, "Do whatever he tell you." 

Mary might have prompted this miracle but I don't think so. Instead I think we don't give Mary enough credit for her encouragement of her son, Jesus. She knew he was ready to begin the ministry, that is why she asked him. 

The story tells of how they bring Jesus between 120 to 180 gallons of water and he turns it into wine. It is noted that this wine was better than the original wine! *Sidebar* Jesus was not encouraging people getting drunk but provided enough wine for the entire feast which could last many days depending on what has determined**

There is many spiritual applications that we can take from this story. But the focus that I wanted to take was on encouraging you to know that you are ready. What have you been waiting to do? What have you said you wanted to start doing but haven't yet? 

I have heard this phrase that I think is important to read here: "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift that is why it's called the present."

Live today to the fullest with the boldness and assurance that the God who changes water into wine also will give you whatever you need to accomplish whatever you need to accomplish on this day. 

The Passover Lamb

Happy Palm Sunday. Okay, I am a day late. But to be fair Sundays are incredibly busy in my life right now. This past weekend we had a lock-in Friday night into Saturday Morning and then Youth Group on Sunday night.

I was thinking about Palm Sunday as "Spazz" and his puppet friends explain the meaning of Easter through a parody of "Thriller" but the late great MJ.

And as I was thinking a random thought invaded my mind. I thought, "How much more would we love Jesus if we knew the Old Testament?"

Now, to be fair, knowing the Old Testament or the New Testament or any creed or belief is meaningless without leaning into a personal relationship with Jesus. I think of many Jews in the first Century, or even today. They knew about the prophecies about the coming Messiah but didn't recognize Him when he didn't fit into their understanding of who God was.

I wonder how many times this is the case? We miss what God is doing because He doesn't fit into our box of what God should look like.

God sure does some strange things. At least from my understanding of life. For example, If I were God I would have never thought about giving up my only Son to be murdered on a cross and by his death buy back his sons and daughters (us!). But that is why it is good that God is God and that you or me is not God.

God is always in the business of rescuing. He is close to the brokenhearted. I believe that when He looks at the hurting his heart breaks. But it is in those moments of heartbreak and sadness that we open ourselves to hear and receive from God.

He knew we had a sin problem. Saint Paul later, reflecting on his conversion, viewed sin as death. He said, "The wages of sin are death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

And when there is a problem God is on the move.

God started with a man. He started with Abram. A old man. And through that man he developed a covenant to bring redemption to the world.

Many years later God's people (The Isralities later called the Jews) were in Egypt. They were in slavery and were very oppressed. So the Lord sent a man named Moses to speak to Pharaoh to request for their freedom. The Pharaoh continued to deny Moses his request. As a result God chose to send Plagues to try and soften Pharaoh's heart. The final of these plagues lead to what is now known as the "Passover."

The Lord wanted to show Pharaoh he was serious and gave His People instructions on how to avoid this plague. He told the Jews to take a lamb, an innocent and pure and best lamb, and kill it. They were to take the blood of the Lamb and place it on their doors that night. When the Lord went through Egypt He would know to pass over their houses instead of killing their first born.

There are some amazing connections between that Jewish holiday of Passover and what Jesus did for us.

1) The Lamb Connection

Jesus, who was perfect. 100% man and 100% God did not contain sin. He was completely pure and without sin. He, being like the Lamb, in the Old Testament shed his blood for us on the cross so that when the Lord looks at us He no longer sees our sin.

If you are a Christian you celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover without even knowing it. God has given us the chance to take the blood of the Lamb and apply it to our lives. The Question for us is to we apply it to the "door" of our lives?

2) The Week connection

In the Old Testament there is another connection that relates more directly to Palm Sunday. The Jews were taught to bring their best lamb to the temple to be killed for their disobedience. They needed to bring that lamb one week in advance. They needed to do this in order to prove that this lamb was without defect. It would be looked at and made sure it didn't die in that time period. And at the conclusion of the few days. The lamb was killed and they were freed to go.

In the same way Jesus entered in to Jersualem as their King. People waved palm branches and cried, "Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven."

The word Hosanna means, "Save us!"

The first century Jewish population viewed Jesus as their earthy king. They thought he was there to save them from the evil Roman empire. They didn't realize that Jesus actually knew that Rome was going to destroy the temple a few years later (See Matthew 24).

Jesus had a bigger plan. He was going to save people from their sins and begin to build his kingdom. And as we know from reading the rest of the story, "Jesus is coming back!"

This is good for those who have the "blood of Jesus" on their doors but bad for those who have harden their hearts to the message of the Gospel.

Jesus is our passover Lamb. The one who has come to bring you and I life. As we enter into this holy week may each one of us reflect on our relationship with God. Have we allowed the work of Jesus to transform our life?

The shame game

One of the biggest misconceptions I have noticed recently is that people have a difficult time telling the difference between guilt and shame. 

Guilt is when you do something wrong and you feel bad about it. This is good. If you didn't feel guilty for doing something wrong you would continue to do the injustice. 

Shame is when do something wrong and even after you ask for forgiveness you still feel bad about it. Shame can cause people to go down some serious roads that are not fun. Including but not limited to low self-esteem, depression, cutting, and even taking one's on life. 

In some cultures shame is an important aspect of life. Last week, I heard a missionary that was stationed in Japan, tell a heart wrenching fact. This was that in Japan shame is important. But they think it is honor that they are protecting. Let me explain: In Japan if you do something wrong you do not ask for forgiveness but you bow down until you believe it has been long enough. In addition, their culture holds perfection as the ideal. If one is under such pressure they go into their room and do not come out for a very long time. This is very common in Japan. In addition, the most honorable way to die in Japan is to take one's own life. Countless people have died because they cannot live up to the standard of their society. 

What about you? Have you ever felt shame. "Shame on you," someone might utter. Do they realize what they are saying? Words are powerful. They have the power to kill and the power to heal. Which way are you choosing to use your words today?

This topic of shame gets even more personal when we talk about religion. Religious shame is the worst because it pends eternal damnation if you do not listen to what I have to say. Religion was never meant to be about controlling another person but expressing love. 

I think of my religious upbringing and of my current occupation. (as a youth pastor). How much shame have parents put on their children to live a life without mistakes? They do this primarily because they themselves have made mistakes and they would be heartbroken for they made the same mistakes. 

The good news is that you do not have to live in shame. Shame is a lie. You are good enough. You have a purpose. I believe that if you are reading this that you have a purpose because you have a father in Heaven that loves you. 

No matter what you have done or what has been done to you. He loves you. I believe that. I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus was and is a real person and is really God. That he died the death that we deserved so that we could live the life that he deserved. He was the prefect sacrifice for your, mine, our sin. 

If you struggle with shame I want to let you know that you are not the first person and you will not be the last. This is a universal issue. Some deal with it more than others. Did you know that the first humans dealt with shame?

This story is at least 6,000 years old (depending on how you date the earth. I believe it is older than 6,000 but that is a discussion for another time).

The story includes God creating the first humans. Adam and Eve. (not Adam and Steve). I know I am very insensitive and I repent of that in JESUS NAME!

Anyhow, God creates the first humans and places them a garden. He calls this place Eden. Eden is wonderful. There is an all you can eat buffet of food, a life time of no work, and the best gift ever they were both naked. 

This place is perfect except for one thing. A serpent. Some made this story literal, some don't. Some make the serpent the devil while others say he is a representation of evil. If you need to believe this story is literal then that is okay and if you are on the other side of the boat and believe that this story is a legend you can still learn a lot as well.

God instructs the person humans that they may eat from any tree in the garden except for the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." He tells them that if they eat from the tree that they will surely die.

Enter the serpent.

He approaches Eve (the woman) and asks her a question: "Did God really say you should not eat from any tree in the garden?"

Eve responses but adds something to what God says, "God said, 'You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"

Did you catch it?

You must not even touch it! God didn't tell her that. Of course we all do that. We imagine what people think or say to us and add in shame. 

She was fearful. God gave them a good rule. He knew that if they knew the implications of their sin that not only would they be filled with shame but all the other negative emotions in the world. God was trying to spare humankind from having to deal with death and hatred and pain. But He also knew that humans needed to posses free-will. 

The serpent tells the woman that if they eat from the fruit they will be like God knowing good and evil. But the question we must ask is why did they want to be more like God? After all if one reads back a few pages in the Bible he or she will realize that God created humans in His image. 

They were already like God! They just didn't trust him. They had pride in their own ability. 

The shame game continues as God goes into the garden to find Adam and Eve. The first thing they do is hide. They hide because they realized they were naked. 

The shame game turns into the blame game as each person begins to blame the other for their error. 

God could not shamed them and killed them and started over again. But instead he had a different plan. He didn't give them a get out of jail free card. There were consequences to their actions. But he made them a promise. The promise was that one day He would send His Son Jesus who would be the seed of the woman into the world to save the world from their sins. 

What a promise. What a loving loving daddy. That even though we were in the right. We disobeyed the God of the universe. He thought of a plan of redemption. 

Adam and Eve should have felt guilty. They disobeyed God. When you do something wrong I give you permission to feel bad about it. Because you feel bad you will make sure things are renewed. I also want to give you permission not to feel shameful though. 

I want to encourage you to realize that when you make a mistake that your mistake is not your identity. You are a son or a daughter of God. You were created in the image of God and made with a purpose. I pray that you find your identity as a children of God and find vision and purpose in your life.