Grace is Easy, Accepting its Hard

Why do most Christians struggle to accept the grace we have been freely given?

For by grace, you have been saved through faith. 

And this is not your own doing;

 it is the gift of God, not a result of works, 

so that no one may boast. 

Ephesians 2:8-9

This question is a difficult one to answer. Though I believe that people around the world struggle with it, we in the United States have a particularly hard time with this concept. I know that I do. And these three topics I address are the reason that I struggle to accept grace in my own life and the reason I believe that we struggle with it as a country. 

The first part of what stands in our way is ourselves. In the US we have the idea of the America Dream, which at its core is the belief that we can do and become whatever we want if we work hard enough. We believe that we will receive whatever we work for and that we deserve whatever we get. The idea of reaping what we sow has been instilled in us from our earliest days. Some may say, that as a society we love getting things for free, but even in this I believe that we subconsciously think that getting something for free is really a way of the cosmos paying us back for being a good person. Think about it, we accept gifts, no problem, unless they are too big. Once it reaches this threshold we feel guilty. I think this is because it is so generous that we cannot justify why we deserve it. With grace, it is the most generous gift we can ever receive with the highest cost that has ever been paid. There is no way that anyone can justify in their mind that they deserve to have the God of the universe die for them. So to accept grace is to accept our own unworthiness. 

Psalm 31 does an excellent job at explaining the position we must adopt to accept grace:

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;

my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 31

So we are the first thing that stands in the way of us accepting grace easily. The second is the loss of control. This also stems heavily from the American Dream. We like the idea that we are in control of our own lives, it is not until things start falling apart that we start to look outside of ourselves for a cause. In an average conversation overheard in any public place, you can hear people explain how they brought about their good fortune and blame others for any woe they have suffered. Accepting the fact that someone else helped us or provided our good fortune is contrary to our nature. It reveals the biggest lie we believe that no one else actually believes about us. We have no more control over bringing about our salvation that we do about the orbit of the earth or the flow of the tides. Accepting grace leads to the destruction of the illusion of self-sufficiency. God did for us what we could not do for ourselves, we had no control or say in this. It is this fact that makes grace hard for us to accept. 

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you;

therefore I despise myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:1-6

The third thing that stands in our way is fear. This is wrapped up in the other two. Another aspect of the American Dream, though it is never spoken of, is the idea that we are supposed to be fearless in all that we do. Nothing is supposed to unsettle us. Nothing is supposed to give us pause. It's the belief that we are the greatest nation on earth, we can conquer anything without batting an eye, and as a citizen, we should be as fearless as our nation. This is the lie we most easily see through, because even though we would never say it out loud we are terrified. And what are we terrified of the most?Easy, the things that happen outside of our control. The things we could not stop if we tried. The things that no amount of preparation can prevent or hasten. We are scared to trust God because it forces bravery we are not used to. With Him, we have to face our fears, because the more we know him the more we know we are not in control of anything. God can be trusted and He will destroy our fear.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;

 I will strengthen you, I will help you,

 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Grace is hard to accept because to accept it we have to accept so much more. We have to accept that we are undeserving. We have to accept that we are not in control of anything. We have to accept that we are afraid. Grace brings us to our knees, but it is right where we need to be.  

Resources:
Why Is Grace So Hard To Accept? (2012, July 3). Retrieved December 22, 2016, from http://www.truthandway.org/blog/why-is-grace-so-hard-to-accept

McNulty, K. L. (n.d.). IMPACT- The Problem With Grace. Retrieved December 22, 2016, from http://www.madradioshow.net/impact/impactgrace.html

Mayer, M. (2014, September 15). Grace is Hard to Receive. Retrieved December 22, 2016, from http://everysquareinch.net/grace-is-hard-to-receive/

Picture borrowed from http://www.flowingfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/11776.jpg

Tattoos

I often get asked questions about my tattoos and tattoos in general. Some I get often are why did you get that? What will happen if you change your mind and don't like them? And the ever famous how much did it hurt? Today will just be a few answers to commonly asked questions about tattoos. I got the list of questions from Ella Ceron's article on Thought Catalog, but the answers are all my own. If anyone has more questions feel free to ask!

1. Did it hurt?

This question generally irritates me, because lets face it when someone is repeatedly stabbing you with a needle it is going to hurt to one degree or another. Better questions is how much did it hurt or how would you describe the pain? The best way to give you an idea of how much it hurts is to pinch yourself where you want the tattoo, and then do it about 20 more times. You get numb eventually, but it wont tickle to start off with. The way I would describe the pain is a warm sensation with occasional pinches. The pain also depends how close you are to a bone, bones hurt, but most people have the pain tolerance for tattoos.

2. Don’t you regret them? 

Be warned you will probably piss off whoever you are asking. We are sick of this question. For the most part we have thought about what we want to get for quite a while and there is a reason we got it. There are some people who regret their tattoos, but most of those include alcohol or heartbreak. Personally I will never regret any of my tattoos, because regardless of whether I like them forever they are the physical representation of memories and they represent who I was when I got them.

3. Don’t you respect yourself?

Yes I do, but from that question I am guessing you don't respect me. That is okay in my book. A similar question Christians get to this question is "Do you think your tattoo is sin?" No I don't because Leviticus 19:28 is in reference to gashing yourselves. It was not the same as tattoos today. It was a cultural law that was protecting the people of Israel from dying from infection. And in Revelation 19:16 Jesus has King of Kings and Lord of Lords tattooed on his thigh.

4. How are you going to feel about them when you’re old?

I am pretty sure that I will think they are as awesome as I do now. They may fade and look different with time, but that is okay. Personally I think it will be really cool to have a generation of grandparents that are all tatted up. And like I said before my tattoos are milestones for my life, I am excited to have them when I am old so that I can't forget the full adventurous life I have lived!

5. Does that mean you only date other people with tattoos?

Hahaha no, but it is definitely a perk. :)

6. But what does it mean?

This is probably the most dreaded question that I get. Not because I don't like sharing, I don and I knew it would happen when I got a tattoo. The reason I hate it is because people only half care, they want the 30 second teaser of the story. If you ask this question please be prepared to hear the whole story and the heart behind it, otherwise just don't ask. For you teaser people out there here are the short stories about my tattoos. I currently have two, though that will soon change. The first one I got is a anatomical heart composed of the words of 1st Thessalonians 2:8 and it is positioned over my heart. I got this because I want this verse to be at the heart of everything I do, I want it to be the very fiber of my heart. The second one I have is a iceberg in a diamond shaped box. I got this as a reminder to myself that when I meat someone I only see the top 10% and I have no right to judge them by it and a reminder to others to do the same for me.

7. How much did you pay for that?

This question offends some people, but for me I don't really care. It does depend heavily on how its asked. If there is even a hint of condensation it quickly because anger invoking.

8. What do your parents think about them?

Well I have great parents. Mom thought they were cool right away. Dad was a little slower to warm up to the idea. They both are pretty on board with them now. I can say the same for everyone I know. I have some family members who still aren't huge fans of tattoos. Overall the thing is though I am 25, I am a mostly functioning adult and have been for a while, it doesn't really matter what my parents think and its none of your business. Once again for the record they thing they are great.

9. Would you ever get them removed?

No, unless I had to for some medical reason. One it is very expensive and can be as painful as getting it done. Like I said earlier I love my tattoos and they are a part of who I am and they are a reminder of who I have been. I am going to keep mine, unless I have a really cool idea for a new one and one of my old ones is in the way. Okay probably not, but that is the only way.

Questions borrowed from http://thoughtcatalog.com/ella-ceron/2013/12/the-9-most-common-questions-people-with-tattoos-get-asked/ .

Oh the Places I Would Go

(per a suggestion by Grant Sundberg)

I have spent many hours dreaming of exotic places and far off location to travel to some day. Many places have crossed my imagination from tropical paradises, arctic tundras, planets of fiction, and even right around the corner. Picking a top ten will be challenging, but here goes nothing. These are in no particular order.

Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat has long held my fascination. The history that it has been part of and the lives that it has seen could fill books upon books. Places like this hold the weight of history and culture. This massive Hindu temple was created under one of the great empires of history. The legend holds that it was created in one night by a divine architect, while I doubt the validity of this it is something that I must see with my own eyes before I die.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Hogwarts, located in the Highlands of Scotland and has been the premiere educational institution of magic for young witches and wizards for over 10 centuries. Besides being picturesque with its towers and stone work, it has also seen some of the greatest witches and wizards to ever walk the earth. Hogwarts makes my list because of the history, world class education system, and the chance to catch a Quidditch game on a clear day.

Berlin, Germany November 9th 1989
The destruction of the Berlin wall was a symbol of oppression and communism. The wall was the physical representation of restricted travel and communication between Russian controlled Eastern Europe and Western Europe. It was also a major step in the ending of the Cold War. This event makes my list because it was a a pivotal point for Europe and a major event in human history.

Gallifrey 
The great home world of the Time Lords, the watchers of the universe. To visit the plant of the people who perfected time travel and created unbelievable gadgets (my favorite being the sonic screwdriver and the chameleon circuit) would be mind blowing. To see the battle grounds of the time war and to walk where the greatest of their warriors walked would be the best trip I could hope for. All of these things and the slim chance to meet the Doctor is why Gallifrey made the list.

Crater Lake
Crater Lake is one of those place that calls my heart to visit. It is a beautiful display of creation and it would be a wonderful place to commune with God and nature. I would love this to be part of a larger trip of hiking the PCT, but I would take it all by itself as well. This makes the list because of its sheer beauty.

The Moon July 20th 1969
"That's one small step for man, on giant leap for mankind." This would be amazing to be part of. The first time a human stepped foot on a celestial body other than the earth, it had to be breath taking. To step where they stepped, and if I was there I would have only demanded to be 3rd. Lets be serious very few people know who the third man who stepped on The Moon was. So for the universal ramification this event could have it makes the list as well.

My Funeral 
Though some may find this part of the list morbid I do have a good reason for wanting to travel here. I want to travel here so that I can hear the things people are saying about me and if I don't like what I hear then I will be able to change my life accordingly. Just Kidding. I want to be there to make sure everyone who out lasts me shows up and says really nice things, otherwise I will hit them with my cane.

Pamukkale, Turkey
These waterfalls are made of mineral deposits from the natural hot springs. It has long been a religious and cultural spot for many of the people who have inhabited Turkey. The water are said to have many healing properties and are listed as a World Heritage Site. The reason they made the list is well look at them wouldn't you put them on your list too?

Jacksonville Florida The Summer of 2012
There is really no reason that I don't want to go back to Jax this year. I made some great new friends, I deepened friendships I already had, I had an amazing team, and I even some days liked my job. I miss Rita's on the beach, Angies Subs, and Tijuana Flats. I grew and learned more about myself and they way I lead. I was able to see life transformation in the people around me. And I miss the sun and the warmth.

Marianas Trench 
My last entry on the list is my deepest as well. I think there is something poetic about being at the lowest point that is reachable on the earths surface, knowing that wherever you go its all up. It is a great reminder that even the lowest points in life are just the starting points of our next great adventures.

So that is my list of where I would travel to if I could travel anywhere. Have a great day and find your next adventure. 

Every Watch

You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

~Psalm 91:5-6

I read the above verse for my time with God this morning. I had to post it because it is such a comfort. That we have no need to fear at anytime of the day, because God is always with us. It is just what I needed today.