Grace Gems - The Intent of Scripture by Jeff Turner

The intent of the scriptures is to reveal a God who is infinitely loving, good, and loyal to His creation. This revelation, though often missed and obscured by the ignorance of certain of the scriptural writers, is perfectly revealed, unhindered, in the person of Jesus Christ!

What the scriptures do *NOT* seek to reveal are their own perfection, and internal harmony. The truth of God's nature, from beginning to end, is what they are attempting to communicate. Again, this message is often missed or misinterpreted, due to the pre-Christ understandings of those who wrote the scriptures, but is ultimately at the heart of all that they seek to reveal. Even when things are gotten wrong, the right answer is always God's love.

What we often do, however, in the name of apologetics, is use the scriptures to prove the perfection of the scriptures, instead of to reveal the true nature of God. This is where we often fall into error and unnecessary debate, for the scriptures are not seeking to prove their perfection, but to reveal God as infinitely loving and good, which is an understanding that sometimes runs contradictory to the writer's understanding. The beautiful thing about God is that He has allowed men - yes, even sometimes ignorant men - to tell His story, but has finished and perfected it Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ. Every misconception and every improper view of Himself is done away with through the revelation of His Son.

When we make the scriptures themselves the point of the scriptures, however, we are not left with perfection. When we see, however, that their purpose is to reveal God as loving, even when that means contradicting themselves, we are left with nothing but perfection.

Jeff Turner

Grace Gems - Grace Revealed in Jesus

For years, the Gospel that most have been exposed to is one that has emphasized personal sin, and, therefore, the need for personal forgiveness by a personal Savior. In short, the message has been one that centers around the individual and his need for saving. When this message became twisted, distorted, and turned into a hell-happy, condemnation circus, naturally, the feelings of personal guilt, and individual condemnation became overwhelming and excruciating. After all, the whole message was focused on the individual, and so when it went awry it wreaked havoc on our individuality.

In the name of course correction, many have adopted a grace message which, while containing truth, is simply an opposite, but equally individual-centered message. It takes away the individual's sense of guilt and feelings of condemnation, and leaves them feeling free as a bird! The euphoria that one experiences is similar to that which a newly licensed 16 year old driver feels while taking their first solo drive in their new car. The problem, however, is that the individual self remains at the center of the message, leaving people open to the misunderstanding that they are now free to do certain things without worrying about how it affects others. "I'm free!", many cry, but the sad truth is that they have simply traded personal condemnation for a personal freedom that can quickly become as much of a snare as was the condemnation.

The Grace exhibited in the life of Jesus was not one that indulged personal freedom at the expense of others. No! It was an others-centered love that would do anything for the betterment of another. Paul, the apostle of Grace, spoke of the necessity of serving our spouses, submitting to parents, governmental authorities and the like, not because he was a hardnosed "law" preacher (as if!) but because the Jesus type of Grace empowers us to be others-centered, and to lay our lives down for the betterment of others. The Grace revealed by Jesus causes us to love and live for the "other" and not simply for ourselves!

The false Gospel of personal condemnation, however, has created an imbalanced response that only emphasizes personal freedom. You are free, don't get me wrong, and God is *NOT* a demented Santa Claus who makes lists, checks twice, and always finds you to be naughty rather than nice. He is Love! And Love keeps no record of wrongs. However, Love, when internalized and experienced, becomes manifest through a life of others-centeredness. It will cause you to delight in emulating Christ's example and in giving of yourself for the benefit of others. While some would label such a thing "law", it's actually the fruit of experienced love.

Dear friends, the Gospel is not primarily a message about individual sin, salvation and freedom! It's a message about humanity, and about how God sees the world. When it becomes active in our lives we will naturally shed all forms of self-centeredness, and burn to live for the betterment of others - and we'll love every minute of it, by the way!

Jeff Turner

Religion by Jeff Turner

"Religion" is not a person, nor a group of persons. It is a system that enslaves the mind and stunts the growth of the inner person.

It discourages critical thinking, the asking of questions, and listening to the Spirit for oneself. It demands uniformity. In order to belong to the system one must look the same, talk the same, think the same, and do the same as other members. To break with the norm is to risk cold shoulders and possibly excommunication.

Religion makes countless demands on your time, energy, finances, etc..., but never so much as tosses a bone in your direction as payment. It takes, and it takes, and it takes, but it knows nothing of giving. It never says "thank you", for your participation, as your services are seen as obligatory.

Consequently, it can do nothing but produce head cases and control freaks, or burn outs and drop outs. A healthy, balanced lifestyle is not something that "religion" is able to contribute to.

In the Kingdom, however, there is a celebration of diversity!

It frees the mind, and increases our capacity for love, life, laughter, and creativity!

The King always encourages us to think, to feel, to ask and to experience! In the Kingdom, you're encouraged to be different. To be unique! You're celebrated when you color outside the lines, and with the brightest crayon in the box, for to break with the norm is to look like the King!

The Kingdom gives, and gives, and gives, with no expectation of being reciprocated. It is not interested in what we can do in return, as it's foundation is self-giving, others-centered love. It appreciates, and honors those who serve, while never pressuring you to "do more" or to "be more". It's culture is so healthy, unforced, and warm that, in time, it naturally causes one to want to serve in every and any way possible. Spiritual, emotional and even physical health are the natural consequences of life in such a realm.

Bottom line: Religion kills, isolates, and creates the very problems that it rails against, while the Kingdom gives life, includes all, and benefits everything it touches.

Which realm are you living in?

Jeff Turner

Grace Gems - God Has No Dark Side

God has no dark side.

Jesus revealed the full and complete truth about God, His past, present, and future - His "I Am-ness". Who God was revealed to be in the person of Jesus is Who He always was, even in the Old Testament, and is Who He will be in the future, regardless of our views on the second coming.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever..."

What the Son revealed about the Father is the ultimate truth. He was not concealing a part of His nature which would be revealed at a later time, but revealed the whole picture. Jesus was non violent and non retributive (cleansing the Temple does not count as violent) and therefore neither is His Father. Jesus does not marginalize or discriminate and therefore neither does His Father. Jesus does not inflict men with sickness or disease and therefore neither does His Father. He does not stir up storms and natural disasters to discipline the disobedient and therefore neither does His Father.

Unfortunately, many see Jesus as having come the first time as a gentle Lamb, but then insist He will return as a violent and vengeful lion. The truth, however, is that who Jesus was is still Who He is. There is no further installment to come in which we'll see God's dark side. No, what Jesus revealed was sufficient and what Jesus revealed was eternal love.

God has no dark side.

He is good.

Jeff Turner

Labels by Jeff Turner

People love labels. In fact, our brains are predisposed to label, and we actually tend to remember things better - like a shopping list, for example - when we place items into categories. This is a fine practice when it comes to remembering what you need from Wal-Mart, but not so admirable when it comes to people made in the image of God. 

Believer, unbeliever. Saint, sinner. Baptist, Pentecostal. Calvinist, Arminian. Charismatic, cessationist. Catholic, protestant. Jew, Gentile.

All of these and more have been used to divide humanity into quadrants.

What we love about labels is that once we've placed one on a person we can take away their individuality and assign them to a group. Then, instead of getting to know the person in order discover who they are as people, we can just assume that what is true of the group is also true of them. It dehumanizes people and makes it easier for us to attack and slander them since we no longer see them as they really are.

When we attack them we are not attacking a sincere father or mother who loves their family and works hard to provide, just like us, we're attacking an idea that we've linked them to. We're not attacking a person with feelings and emotions who hurts and bleeds the same as we do, we're attacking a worldview that we've come to despise. When we label people we lose them. They become easy to blame, and easy to maim. They become easy targets on which we can vent our frustration.

But we're wrong to do this.

Jesus has successfully removed the religious barriers that provided us with ammunition to label one another. In His death He has shown that all were in need of Grace, and that no one had their stuff in order. The uptight, religious man has to admit that he's in much of need of mercy as the heroin addict. The preacher must admit that he's as needy as the pimp. There is no difference. When we label one another we deconstruct the work of Christ which deconstructed the religious machine with it's labels and designations.

EPHESIANS 2:14-18
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

By Jeff Turner of Sound of Awakening