This picture is of the Riverwalk; a mall in New Orleans.
Today, I decided to spend my Saturday...shopping for Christmas gifts. Well, it really wasn't the best way to spend my day. I've come to the realization now of a few things:
1. I don't like the mall
2. I don't like busy outlet centers
3. I don't like shopping
4. If it fits the above category... I don't like it.
There were many points in which I wanted to give up and head home. However, my remedy to the many times of frustration was the thought of my wife opening up gifts on Christmas morning. It was worth it for me to endure a long day of "suffering" (I use that word very lightly) in order for Brooke to receive my love through gifts. I still love this time of the year, I promise. My challenge to you is think online. It's a beautiful source for shopping.
While I was in the mall, I decided to go to a store that was very popular among my generation or younger. I picked out a few items and proceeded to the register. The young college age guy behind the counter took my items and began ringing them up. What I thought to be an easy exchange turned out to be an interrogation. "Sir, would you like to open up a store credit card?" NO "Sir, would you give us your phone number?" WHY? "Sir, would you please give us your email address"? WHY? These questions came so fast that I wasn't clever enough to give a humorous response. My thought of simply picking out an item and buying it with cash turned out to be a process I wasn't ready for. What ever happened to the old system of buying what you can afford with cash? (Debt is a monster, don't fall for credit cards.)
This experience reminded me of what we often do in the church. We seem to place grace aside and focus on so many efforts on our part for salvation. For example, someone comes forward after hearing a message (an American idea of an invitation), they are given a list of 6-7 questions by someone they often times don't know. After answering the questions, the "counselor" determines what God has done in their life. I'm not saying this in itself is bad, but it runs the risk of confusing people to having to do certain steps that may go outside of Scripture. You must trust in Christ Jesus AND then.... You can "rededicate your life" OR "invite Jesus into your heart" OR "transfer your letter to this church" OR.... the list goes on... Those people that heard Peter's great sermon in Acts 2, responded with a question in verse 37..."what shall we do?" Peter's response was simple: "Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."(Acts 2:38).
Look at Ephesians 2:8-9 with me. Paul writes, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." This word for grace is: charis (khar'-ece: acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace, and other words to describe it i'm sure). We are given salvation (the act of being rescued from the domain of darkness and into the light of God's righteousness), as a benefit, a favor, an unearned gift from the Holy Father. Why should we place many questions within the process? I believe that salvation is an act from God. He saves. He draws lost sinners to Himself. We must be careful not to add any work from our part in salvation.
Some may say, "Dave, James talks about salvation AND works." Does this contradict Scripture? I'm glad you're thinking that. I don't believe it does. If you look at Scripture, you'll see that once we are saved, (justified, Romans 5:1), we are made right in the sight of God. We are given His gift of...HIMSELF. What happens next is beautiful. God begins a work in us that sets us apart for His purposes; to become holy. We are saved through the blood of Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit daily sanctifies us to become more like Jesus, for the glory of God the Father (look at the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:3-16). Look at John 14:15.... I could give you many more if you want more Scripture on this. (justification, sanctification, glorification.. I was saved, I'm being saved, I will be saved... I'll blog on this later).
So...I was reminded today of the glory of God, His grace in salvation, and the reminder that I'm not a big fan of shopping.
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