a natural progression...

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become"

-Henry Martyn (Missionary)

I know I am not Catholic. How do I know I am not Catholic, because I don't need to do anything to get into heaven. Good news all you Protestants - we can lounge all day before we are raptured to lounge some more. Too bad for those suckers who worked their butts off...

Lately I have been struggling with this idea of works vs. faith. And now, on the eve of my voyage to Brooklyn to partner with a ministry there, I wonder why this feels so natural - so correct? Why does it feel like this year will be all for naught if I don't go do something about it? Are not I saved by the grace of God, isn't that enough?

I am not sure where this theology comes from.

John Calvin would say we are in a place of total depravity - look around - 'everyone nods their head'. And since we are in this place, it is only be the grace of God that He pulls us from the miry clay and begins to redeem us (with full redemption coming soon, but not yet). Therefore we must conclude that yes, it is our faith in God that saves us, nothing by our own power - all by His.

Now this is where something went terribly wrong.

Somebody suggested that because we are saved by the grace of God we should then respond like as if we were sitting in a lazy-boy eating a good old bag of Lays. Because you've got faith right? Wrong.

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:26

Jesus also speaks frightening words on this topic,

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit...If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15: 2, 6

I have said a couple of times on this blog that something feels kind of off. Like I watched the first half of Star Wars but pressed stop just before Luke finds out his father. It is kind of an awkward place to be. Our professor last week made an interesting comment, more like an observation in regards to fourth year students at Bible Colleges. For these students, who have been steeped in academia for so long, there is an incredibly real danger that they will simply fizzle out; that the passion will be gone. Now obviously this is not a rule, more or less a trend that He noticed. But its got to make us think, doesn't it?

Are we living our lives repeating the first half of the movie over and over again? Or is our Father calling us to press play on the incredible things he has in store for us.

Please excuse the cheesiness of that last line, but it remains my conviction that a lot of us (myself included) are getting a little too comfortable with the lines we already know - with a script that we know all to well.

So as I leave for Brooklyn I ask that you would pray for boldness and courage. As I minister to the organizations staff, to the children of Brooklyn, and listen to God as He calls. Also, I would ask that you would pray for obedience, that I would react willingly to the calls of my Father while in Brooklyn; along with that, that I would abide in the Spirit. That no decision would be made outside His perfect wisdom and discernment. And for safety, that would be helpful.

Thank you friends,

Jacob.