blog
Typically we think of the gutter as that homeless person either living on the streets, or in a car. You know, that person that pushes the shopping cart all over town with an assortment of discarded items that has now become their personal treasure. Maybe it’s those people you see in line eating at the soup kitchen. Not so. Life’s gutter is found in many places. The corporate world, the soccer mom, construction worker -from the college professor to the college student – all places we encounter people searching for identity and purpose in life.
The gutter is a world filled with a quest for freedom. Left to the limits of the human intellect this search for freedom may take on many forms or philosophies. Some may think freedom is experienced thru questioning authority, or pushing the limits of the social norm. Others may search for freedom thru relationships, substance abuse, status, financial independence, or even apathy (after all – if I don’t care about anything – then I’m not bound by guilt – thus I’m free).
The bottom line: the gutter is a monster that has numerous shapes, countless teachings / philosophies, and is a charismatic communicator that has the ability to sugar coat its poison – effectively deceiving even the “brightest and most educated.” In a sense the pursuit of freedom has left our culture in a “zombified” state – marionettes on a string thinking one’s free.
The gutter is all around us. We have the answer – we have Truth Himself. We live with “one hand to the gutter, and one to the sky.”
This is our daily call as a child of God – to give God glory. To glory Him in our relationships, or work, thru our learning and application - thru our passions and thru our pain we offer unto God a lifestyle of Glory. Our prayer is “Today God – what opportunities will you bring my way that I may offer you Glory?”
Religion – the number one killer of Christianity. Freedom within the body of Christ is experienced when we are a) equipped to be “real” about our position in this “journey” of faith, b) when individuals within the body of Christ courageously expose their position, and c) when individuals are embraced, accepted, encouraged, and equipped to press forward in their pursuit of Christ. The bottom line, is that none of us have “arrived” yet! Some may be further down the road to spiritual maturity – some may be wrestling over the basics (“God, are you REALLY real?), while others may be plagued by addiction. As we chose to be real it opens the door to hope, and our opportunity to love God, and love people.
What does God truly want from us? Does He want our time, or money, or involvement in the community? Does He want us to memorize scripture, lead Bible studies and help others to grow in the Faith? As a community of faith we realize that before we can truly experience a life of freedom that influences the communities we live in, we must first wrestle with this question. We are convinced that the foundation for all that we are, and all that we strive to do, is based first and foremost upon having a biblical perspective of the fact that we need God. We need His presence in our lives – teaching, guiding, and bringing hope. We need His correction in our lives when we have been caught “reaching for the apple.” We need His peace when life’s storms attempt to shipwreck us emotionally. The list is endless. We are the finite – the blemished, that need an infinite and perfect God. We must come to the conclusion that the first thing God would want for us, is simply to acknowledge our need of Him.
All that we are, all we have been given, and all we have yet to become is Gods. Our time, resources, skills and talents are all His - entrusted to us by His design. Jesus, when praying, said to the Father “in the same way you have sent me, now I send you.” This message is not solely a message to the 12 Disciples, but to the body of Christ at large. No matter where we are in our journey of faith – God can use us. He knows our strengths and weaknesses, and says essentially – your perfect for the job! The call is to live generous lives beyond ourselves that recognizes the need around us, and extends Gods resources as an act of worship.
Simply put - community. A place to experience encouragement, and strength when life’s pain has a firm grip on our throat – squelching any remaining strength we may have at the time. It is a place bend down - grab and arm – wrap it around your shoulder – lifting – sometimes carrying your brother or sister in their time of need. It is a place, where as a community, we stand together in solidarity on the principles of the ancient scriptures that have united us as a family. It is a community, not just with an open door, but rather a place where the body is equipped to actively seek out others - extend a hand and strain towards the cross.
In the midst of life’s journey – we stop to put things in perspective: Regardless of who we were, who we are, and, through God’s refining process, who we have yet to become – we rest in the fact that we are totally and completely loved by God. As a community of faith we embrace the “empty” cross. We take time to look at the holes where the nails once were - the blood that flowed and stained the cross. We imagine the punishment that our Savior went thru on our behalf, as a demonstration of perfect love. We rejoice in that fact that the cross is empty – and the Jesus Christ rose from the dead as a symbol of His authority, and the life He offers. In essence – when we were at our worst (imperfect) – He was/is at His best (perfect). As we both experience this love, and rest in it, our lives can’t help but be transformed. No longer do we “perform,” in a futile attempt to gain God’s approval, but we rest in His love. As we experience this perfect love, it begins to take hold of our hearts, and minds resulting in actions based on love, rather than performance.
The Cross - an Instrument of physical and mental torture leading to an ultimate death. Death wasn’t immediate – it was a process. Forgiveness of sins: immediate! Dealing with the consequences of sin: process.
Just as the Apostle Paul chose to identify with the cross (Gal 2:20), so we too are faced with the same decision. To courageously place ones past on the cross of crucifixion does mean complete forgiveness of past disobedience thru Gods mercy and grace. It does mean a restored relationship with the One True God. It does mean a future “sealed in Christ.” However as mentioned above it also may mean a future filled with many “arguments” with your past self, past tendencies, past addictions, past mind-sets.
As stated earlier – crucifixion was not an immediate death. For the person who found them self crucified – their death usually came in the form of suffocation. In order to breathe they would have to force the weight of their body upon the nails that pinned their body to the cross. Then, pressing into the nails, they would force their mangled body skyward in order to draw in a breath of air.
With this in mind: For some, past lifestyles, that are now hanging – crucified on their cross - are now beginning the process of death. However, what happens in a week, or a month, or a year down the road, when this past lifestyle somehow manages the strength to press upon the nails forcing its dying self skyward – only to take in a breath and scream out – “please let me down!” “I made you feel good before….I can do it again…I’ll be good. . . just. . please. . let me down!”? Will that person be equipped, and feel the freedom to be real and share their battle with others? Will they experience the open hand of another reaching out to lock arms with them?
The Cross: A place that the poison of sin – that has clouded our vision, our thinking, and our desires for so long, is now canceled out. We see with a new perspective, we begin thinking with the mind of Christ, and we identify with the heartbeat of Christ. It is a place to experience freedom and life itself.
The Shift Campus 35355 Eicher Rd Albany OR 97322 The Shift Offices 1298 Elm St SW Albany OR 97321 (541) 791-9356