Stream of Consciousness

My name is Brian Briggs. These are the things that I think about.

[miklocks]

God not only ordains the end, he ordains the means to the end.

Alan Ross, Recalling the Hope of Glory (via miklocks)

[tblaberge]

I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.

C.S. Lewis (via pureblyss)

[brianbriggs-blog]

Seeker-Insensitive

I’ve always been curious about the country Japan. I especially admire the honor, respect, and family values that the Japanese people are known for. There was a point when I actually considered moving there. I made arrangements to visit with a family that lives there so that I could get a first-hand experience of the culture and how they live life. When I arrived, I noticed something strange. It felt a lot like America. So much so that during my stay we only ate American foods, only viewed American entertainment, etc. Were they trying to give me an “American” experience so that I would not be made to feel uncomfortable? Were they afraid I'd be turned off by their way of life? I began to wonder, "Maybe Japan just really isn't all that different from America?" 

I’ve since returned to America, still not really sure what to think about Japan. I still have no idea if I’d ever want to live there or not. Were they Americanizing everything on my behalf? If so, I wish they had simply welcomed me into their home, and lived as they truly are. Sure, many things would have been foreign to me. In many ways I would have felt like an outsider. But honestly, that’s what I wanted. I wanted to see a different way of life. I wanted to see an alternative to the only thing I’d ever known. But maybe there really just isn't a significant difference between Japan and America? If that's the case, I don't see any reason to go back. 

-

If you are part of a "seeker-sensitive" church, this is probably how genuine seekers feel when they visit. 

[brianbriggs-blog]

Confronting Sin In the Church

Confronting sin among Christians is no easy task. More often than not, when sin is confronted, it is seen as a personal attack and defensive walls are put up.

  “Who do you think you are judging me? You’re not perfect either, you know. Jesus said not to judge others.”

  Not exactly, here’s what He actually said:

Matthew 7:1-5 (NLT)

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” (Emphasis Added)

Jesus is not saying it is a sin to judge others, but rather, He is speaking against hypocrisy. Jesus said that when we “see well enough” we should “deal with the speck in (y)our friends eye.” This way we confront our own sin before confronting the sin of another and we are both restored to unity in Christ. 

  In 1996, Tupac Shakur released the anthemic song, “Only God can judge me.” This has become the mantra of a generation. So who was right, Tupac or Jesus? Believe it or not, they were both right.

  Paul says in 1st Corinthians 5:12-13 (NLT)

  “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

  It is not our responsibility to run around judging the sins of unbelievers. Should we be surprised that sinners sin? (That is not to say that we should not boldly proclaim the truth of man's sinful nature and need of a savior) However, “…it certainly is (y)our responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” In that same chapter, Paul took this a step further when he said:

  “…you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.” (V. 11, NLT)

  If confronting sin in fellow believers (and in some cases, even excommunicating them) is a command of scripture, then why is it seen as a negative thing by the Body of Christ? I believe there are many reasons, one of which is that it is not done as prescribed by the Scriptures.

So what is the scriptural way to confront sin?

  Galatians 6:1-2 (NLT)

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.  Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”(Emphasis Added)

  Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” (Emphasis Added)

  How to Confront Sin in the Church

  Be clear in your definition of “sin.” Always define sin based on what the Bible actually communicates, not based on your own biases, traditions, or opinions. Only confront sins that the Bible has already clearly confronted.  

Be godly. Do not confront the sins of others if you are habitually living a sinful lifestyle. This is the hypocrisy Jesus spoke against.

Be gentle and humble. You are not the moral police and you are not trying to win an argument. Check your motives, and only confront out of genuine love and concern.

Share each other’s burdens. You are not here to drag sin into the light and move on. You are here to walk with people through struggles and to pray with them. Only confront sins that you are willing to bear the burden of. Be transparent about your own burdens so that they can carry yours, too. 

Confront it privately. Never confront someone in public, or worse, on social media. This comes across as a personal attack and causes people to put up defensive walls. 

Follow the Biblical process of reconciliation. If they still do not listen to you, see verses 16 and 17 of Matthew 18.

  Matthew 18:16-17 (NLT)

“But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” 

    Why is it so important that we get this right?

  James 5:19-20 (NLT)

“My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.” (Emphasis Added)

  We are not just performing behavior modification. We are “saving that person from death.” We are refusing to stand idly by and watch our brothers and sisters die. We are choosing instead to save them. 

[brianbriggs-blog]

What Does it Mean to be "Fishers of Men?"

I love fishing. I love learning about the seasonal patterns of fish, using different types/colors of lures, and trying different techniques to attract them. There are few joys in life greater than seeing a large-mouth bass strike a top-water lure just before setting the hook. Especially when it’s a big one (almost as big as it is in the story we tell the next day). Fishing is a therapeutic experience, even when we don't catch anything. It’s a good opportunity to get away from the noise of life and enjoy God’s creation.

  “A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.” –Unknown

  In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus said to His first disciples, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” (NLT) I have heard many well-meaning people take this concept and explain it as the modern style of fishing described above (called “angling”). The idea is that fishing for people is only as effective as the “bait” that we use. If we’re strategic about things like the time of year, a flashy and attractive “lure,” doing and saying the “right” things, then and only then, we might “hook” someone with the “gospel.” Every good angler knows that a successful catch requires deception and manipulation. 

  But is that what Jesus meant? Let’s consider the context. These were first-century fishermen. It wasn’t their hobby; it was their livelihood.  These men did not fish the same way that most of us fish. They weren’t casting with rod and reel. They were casting and trawling (dragging) nets. I think this gives us a clearer picture of what Jesus meant when he said he’d show us how to fish for people.

  The gospel is not “bait” that we must wield in order to “hook” people for Jesus. The gospel is, however, the net that we cast to reconcile lost humanity to the Father. We trawl this net daily, as the gospel becomes our spiritual livelihood. It requires no additional attraction, deception, or manipulation to be effective. 

  In John chapter 10, Jesus uses another metaphor to describe the gospel, calling himself “The Good Shepherd.”

  “25Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. ” (NLT)

  The gospel is both the deepest and highest truth in the universe. As Christ’s ambassadors, we can share the gospel with the confidence that His sheep listen to His voice and follow Him. It is the Father that gives them to Jesus, and it is Jesus that gives them eternal life.  

  So what is our role in proclaiming the gospel? The Apostle Paul describes it this way:

  1st Corinthians 1:17-18

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (NLT)

 1st Corinthians chapter 3:5-6:

“We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” (NLT)

  So as Jesus teaches us to “fish for people” let us remember that we must cast the net and we must drag the net. We must plant the seed and we must water the seed. It is God who gives the increase, and no one can be snatched from His hand. 

[brianbriggs-blog]

Why a church Can't Help You, but The Church Can

Working in a church, I see a lot of things that most people might not see. I hear a lot of things that most people might not hear. One of the things that I see time and time again are people that attempt to turn to the church in a time of crisis. People walk through our doors with power cut off notices, needing gas money to get to work the next day, when they're contemplating suicide, when they've run out of options and have nowhere else to turn (Not including, of course, the church they went to before us and the church they'll go to after us). 

With situations like this presenting themselves somewhat regularly, our church has a prescribed policy for how to handle them. When I first heard this policy and the amount of help that we offer, I was angry to say the least. I remember, as an intern, chasing someone down in the parking lot and stroking a check for the amount of their power bill because I couldn't stomach the conversation I had just overheard in our church office. "The church should do more to help people in need," I thought. While this is good, noble, and true, unfortunately I was only treating a symptom, not the cause.

The cause of this problem is not that the church isn't doing enough to help people. One of the main causes is that people turn to a church, an institution with a building, a sign, and a 501(C)(3) for help.  They should turn to the Church, the family of God, the Body of Christ, that they live life with on a regular basis. God designed us to live in community. The book of Acts describes believers going so far as to sell their own possessions to meet the needs of others. Even dating back to the Old Testament, God's command for Israel was to care for the poor in their tribe so that there would be no needy among them. From the outset of creation, God saw that it was “not good for man to be alone” and thus he gave us the gift of relationships in a community that resemble the common unity shared within the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). 

When we live in isolation, we forfeit our support system and directly violate God's design for our journey of faith. I know, I know, your faith is "personal" it's something that's "Between you and God." I hear you. I just know that you're wrong, and love you enough to tell you that you're wrong. It was never meant to be personal, it is meant to be shared. When we have need, including even the simplest needs like friendship and accountability, we will never get it by asking a religious institution for a handout. Ultimately it is God that meets our every need, and more often than not, He chooses to give His gifts of grace through people. Unless we are covenant members of the local Church, we are not giving, getting, or being what we need to be. 

[desertmanian-deactivated2015021]

My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes - many times - my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens - and it happens every day in some measure - I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth.

John Piper (via yesdarlingido)

Love John Piper! This generation NEEDS this revelation!

[brianbriggs-blog]

"Do not despise these small beginnings."

Just wanted to share a thought that might encourage you. 

I'm sure you've all seen some of the "Messy Mondays" videos from BlimeyCow on Youtube. If not, it's a teenage guy, that happens to be a Christian, that makes funny and typically thought provoking videos about random topics. For the most part his videos are done very well and you should check them out if you haven't. 

I always thought that this guy had been making videos for about a year or so. I had never heard of him until his sudden burst of popularity, so I just figured it was all new. But today I went all the way back to his first uploads from 6 years ago. Apparently this guy has been doing this for 6 years, since he was barely even a teenager! I had no idea. 

Here's the point: His early videos are TERRIBLE! I couldn't even finish them. I would have deleted those things years ago if I were him, but I'm glad he didn't. It made me realize that we have to start somewhere. His videos may have been awful then, but look where he is now! "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” -Zech. 4:10 We all have things we are interested in, or maybe even totally passionate about that we aren't very good at...yet. Don't give up before you start, and don't give up because you suck. Only give up on something when you know that it's not right for you. If you know you're suppose to do something, then just start. Start somewhere, somehow. Don't worry about if it's excellent or not. Just start! And keep going. Keep growing. It may take 6 months, 6 years, or maybe even your entire life to get great at it, but in the end it will be worth it.

[brianbriggs-blog]

Digging Through the Trash

Have you ever accidentally thrown something away? Maybe it was that crumpled up five dollar bill mixed in with a receipt, and the gospel tract someone gave you at the mall. Maybe it was something even more valuable. Yesterday I was lying in my bed, trying to justify staying there until the last possible second. Then it hit me. "DANG IT!" I shouted as I jumped out of bed. Maybe I shouted something else, I can't remember. I don't remember much before noon. I'm sure my wife remembers, because she seemed pretty startled by my outburst. I had just come to the realization, quite out of the blue, that I had thrown something important away the day before. I remembered it like it was yesterday (because it was). There I was, reaching into my jacket pocket and tossing it in the trash. Why did I do that?! At the moment, I was thinking I didn't need it, but it was actually quite important. 

So I didn't waste any time. I headed straight for the garage. Our garage is where our trash sits until I finally get tired of being nagged asked to go to the dump. It's kind of like purgatory for trash, except there's only a negative outcome and I'm not God. So, it's not really anything like purgatory. Anyways...I had just administered eternal damnation to the trash the day before, so there was only one bag in there. "Awesome," I thought. "I'll only have to search through one bag." So I began the search. I know now that trash bags were never intended to be untied after first being tied, but I eventually managed to get it open. This is when I realized that this bag had not come from the kitchen, but had come from the upstairs. When a trash bag comes from the upstairs, it's from one of two places: 1. The bathroom or 2. The diaper genie. I never thought I'd say this, but I wish I could have stuck my face into the bathroom trash. However, I was not that fortunate. Instead, I unleashed the fury of double digit diapers that undoubtedly singed the nose hairs of my unborn great grandchildren. I literally held back vomit as I my gag reflex kicked in. Then I ran away. Far, far away.

I then concluded that what I had accidentally thrown away was still in the kitchen trash can, so I went back inside. I grabbed some cleaning gloves out from under the sink and began my search. This didn't smell as bad as the first bag, but it was certainly gross to dig through. The things that stuck out to me most were the funky onions, the raw chicken trimmings, and the emptied contents of our vacuum cleaner. I'm not sure who invented gloves, but I wish I did, because I'd like to thank them personally. Granted, they're probably dead (Perhaps I could leave flowers at their grave). Finally, I saw something...could it be...YES! I found what I had thrown away. It had some mystery dust from the vacuum all over it, but I didn't care. I'd found something of value, right there in the midst of that disgusting trash can.

As I washed it off, something occurred to me: Sometimes we have to do the same thing with people. In this life, we're going to encounter a lot of people that we typically wouldn't associate with. Maybe they smell like a legion of dirty diapers, or maybe they carry salmonella. Or maybe we just don't like the way they dress, the words they use, the reputation they have, or the way they treat us. Maybe they're just really annoying. Maybe we think of them as if they were trash. But here's the reality we have to understand: At some point in their lives, they have thrown away something valuable. Deep down, there is something valuable that is worth discovering, if we're willing to. Maybe it's a skill, a dream, their self worth, their faith, or their true identity. Maybe they've long since forgotten about what they've thrown away. The question is: Are we willing to dig through the trash to find it? 

[brianbriggs-blog]

Why I wrote in Ron Paul in the 2012 presidential election

"Wait, what?! You wrote in Ron Paul?! Why would you waste your vote like that? Oh, you're a Christian? Don't you know that a vote for anyone but Romney is a vote for Obama? You're supporting a MUSLIM!"

Thank you, well meaning, but ignorant hypothetical person. 

Yes, I've heard it all. Yes, I realize Ron Paul will not win this election. No, I did not waste my vote, and no, I did not make a pseudo-vote for Obama. My goal here is not to sway anyone's opinion on any particular candidate. Anyone reading this has either already voted or no longer has the opportunity to do so. My goal is not even to tell you why I think Ron Paul is the best person for the job. My goal is to explain the principles that led me to my decision to write him in rather than voting for a party's representative. I personally believe that our current political system is seriously broken. The two party system is complete and total crap. We should be voting for people- not political parties. We should be voting for the best person for the job- not for who has the most money backing their campaign. The "big two" political parties spend billions, yes billions, on their presidential campaigns. How is anyone supposed to compete with that? The vast majority of people are simply too ignorant, lazy, and/or apathetic to do research and make an informed decision about who they truly believe is the best presidential candidate. They are content to vote based on party, political propaganda,  TV attack adds, biased media, etc. 

I understand the logic that leads people to believe this was a wasted vote. In our current system, and especially this election, either  the republican or democrat candidate will win. There is no denying this. But THAT, my friends, is the problem. It is true that a vote for Romney would have helped keep Obama out of office, and it's also true that a vote for Obama would help keep Romney out of office. I do understand why people vote this way. However, I also understand that this line of thinking is rooted in fear. "Well, I don't want that president, so I better vote for the guy who has the best chance at beating him." But THAT, my friends, is also the problem. That line of thinking is why we have a broken, piece of crap system two party system. It is perpetuated by fear and ignorance.

To be honest, I almost voted for Gary Johnson. I agree with Gary Johnson on just about everything but abortion. Out of all the names on the ballot, he's the guy I would have voted for. I had reasoned that voting for a "3rd party" would help tear down the two party system, so I almost did. But then, I realized something. I realized that I was considering doing the same thing I'm frustrated with other people for doing- voting based on party. In the end, I had to vote for the person that I felt was best for the job, and that was Ron Paul. 

[brianbriggs-blog]

My Thoughts on Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage

I’m sure we’ve all noticed that the debate on homosexuality and same-sex marriage has escalated quite a bit lately. These are some of my thoughts on the subject. I do not claim to have all of the answers here, and I certainly don’t hold a monopoly on truth. It is my hope that some of the observations I’ve made can help you in your own understanding of the issues at hand.

Let me start off by saying that I love gay people just as much as I love anyone else. I do not hate them and I am not afraid of them. I don’t claim to understand how they feel or what they've been through. I don’t support their sexuality, but I do support them as human beings. 

As a Bible believing Christian (I realize not every person reading this fits that category), I believe that homosexuality is indeed a sin. I haven’t met very many homosexuals that don’t recognize this, but I have met plenty of heterosexual Christians that zealously deny it. Sin could be defined in a number of ways, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s just say that sin is indulging in anything that is outside the will of God for a person’s life. That includes actions, but it also includes the state of a person's heart and mind. I believe homosexuality is a sin, yes, but I do not believe it is some kind of super-sin that is worse than all the others. I believe that it affects a person more deeply and can have greater consequences (in this life), but I believe that to be true of all sexual sin, homosexual or heterosexual. I believe a person that indulges themselves in homosexuality is indeed a sinner, but guess what, so am I. And so are you. We are all sinners in need of a savior. Make no mistake- I am not condoning homosexuality or any other sin for that matter. I believe all sin is wrong and that we should be making every effort to be led by the Spirit of God rather than our sinful nature. I say that to say, Christians should not be treating homosexuals any differently than they would treat anyone else that is living a sinful lifestyle. Really, what is the difference?

An argument I hear a lot from Christians is, “If God is perfect and doesn’t make mistakes, then He made them gay for a reason. He loves them the way they are because He made them that way.” Blaming God for our sin is a very dangerous game to play. Couldn't we make the same argument to justify any of our sins? I do not believe it is God's desire for anyone to be gay, and here’s one of many reasons:

Romans 1 “25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.”

Now, I realize that not everyone believes the Bible is true. I get that. So I don’t necessarily expect you to change your stance because of what it says. But if you claim to be a Bible believing Christian, you need to see this. Romans clearly says that people “traded the truth about God for a lie.” It also very clearly says that homosexuality is sinful. Argue all you want, you’re arguing with the Bible, not with me. When people deny the truth of God and begin to formulate their own pseudo-truth (or more commonly, the idea that there is no absolute truth) then it’s no wonder people don’t see the error in homosexuality, or any other sin for that matter. Not only are they denying the truth about God Himself, but denying the truth about who He is calling them to be. 

We can also look back to the very beginning of time to find God's ideal design for our sexuality. God created man, and decided to make a help-mate suitable for him. Genesis 2:24 “24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” God’s intentions are very obvious. He did not even give Adam the option to be homosexual. He made woman, and instituted the very first marriage involving one man and one woman. Think about the primary purpose for our sexuality: procreation. God designed our sexuality for a number of reasons, but the most important being for offspring. Does this not say something about His intentions for our sexuality? There’s simply no future in homosexuality. Of course, this was all pre-sin. After the original sin, we are all born sinners through the seed of Adam.

Because of our fallen world due to sin, people may be born homosexual. I know a gay man that has desperately tried to stop being gay for over ten years and feels as though he can’t. I have talked with people that have gay feelings and urges that they do not understand or want. There is substantial reason to believe people are born with these tendencies, but here’s the thing- how is that any different than being born any other kind of sinner? Whether or not a person is born that way is not the issue here. We're all born sinners. I was born with the desire to have sex with as many women as possible, but just because I feel that way doesn't make it right. The same logic that people use to try to justify homosexuality could be used to justify heterosexual sin, or any sin for that matter. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that even Jesus Christ was tempted in every way, and yet was without sin. Just because someone is born bent towards sinning (regardless of what the sin happens to be) doesn’t make it alright. Jesus lived, died, and rose again to set us free from sin. I firmly believe that a person's heart, mind, and sexuality can be changed by God if they let Him. 

My beliefs on same-sex marriage are still being formulated; this is where I’m at right now. From a political standpoint, I have to recognize the fact that not everyone holds the same values and beliefs that I do. I do believe that a person should have the right to be a homosexual, just like I believe a person should have the right to practice a religion that differs from my own. I believe God gives us the ability to make decisions based on our nature. Why should the law of the land be any different? I believe in a Biblical definition of marriage: a man and a woman. That is how I define marriage, and therefore I do not personally advocate any other definition of it. That is a moral view derived from my beliefs. But what if our government defined marriage differently than I did? What if I lived in a country where heterosexual marriage was the minority? Would I want the government telling me that I could not have a wife? No, I would not. Should marriage even be an institution of the government? Shouldn't it be an institution of the church? If there truly is separation of church and state, then the government shouldn't have the authority to grant or deny marital status anyways. On that note, what about the Christian denominations that endorse same-sex marriage? I disagree with their theology, but I do believe that they should have the legal right to have that theology. The bottom line is, we cannot legislate morality. There is a huge difference between being for same sex marriage and being for the right to same sex marriage. I disagree with it on a personal level, but from a legal standpoint, I don't think it's the federal governments decision to make. 

To all of the self-appointed (internet) activists out there, please just stop. I’m speaking to both sides. The arguing, the hate, the ignorance, the intolerance, please just let it go. Everyone please offer the same respect and courtesy to other’s beliefs that you expect towards your own. Your beliefs don’t make you a more highly evolved human being and they don’t make you a better person. Get off your high horse. Just for the record, most of the homosexuals that I know respect me and my beliefs even though we disagree. 

To all the Christians reading this, please don’t hate anyone. If you feel compelled to share the truth, please do so in love and humility. And please, stop quoting Leviticus. Nobody is impressed by your ability to use Google. The people you’re trying to persuade probably don’t understand the Mosaic Law and how it relates to us after the atonement of Christ, and I would venture to say that you don’t either. What people need is a heart change, not a behavior change. If you change the behavior, but not the heart, then where is the value in that? Christianity is about genuine love for God and behaving a certain way because of His love for us, not as a means to earn His love. And if you claim to be so passionate about homosexuality and same-sex marriage, let me ask you: When was the last time you were passionate about ministering to a gay person? (and no, I don't mean politely telling them they're going to Hell) I guarantee you that you go to church with gay people that desperately need someone to reach out to them and stand with them through their struggle. When was the last time you were passionate about doing that? When was the last time you were passionate about fighting against human-trafficking? When was the last time you were passionate about ending hunger or poverty? When was the last time you were passionate about helping orphans and widows? Don’t you think God is a little more concerned with these things than whether or not you are winning a political argument? You can only stand on so many soapboxes before they topple. You can only give your life to so many causes, choose wisely.  

[brianbriggs-blog]

Be sure to check out the original. This is one of my favorite Thrice songs. Don't just hear it- listen to the words and ask yourself if it describes you. If it does, then do something about it. 

[littlethingsaboutgod]

A Letter from Christian Guys-- Read it ladiess

[brianbriggs-blog]

littlethingsaboutgod:

  Girls, could we talk to you right out of our hearts for a few minutes? It is awkward for us to talk about something of this nature, in person, so we thought we would write our feelings.

Read More

[brianbriggs-blog]

Is who you are defined by what you do? Or is what you do defined by who you are? 

[brianbriggs-blog]

Badge of Honor

"I'm a sinner just like everybody else." 

"I'm not some 'holier than thou' kind of Christian." 

"I sin all the time, at least I'm 'real' with people about it." 

If you know any Christians, you've probably heard them say something like those phrases. If you are a Christian, you've probably said them yourself. I know I have. Truth is, we take pride in this attitude toward sin. Truth is, we find comfort in our sin. Truth is, we consider ourselves better Christians for being "down to Earth" and "real" with people. Truth is, we wear our sin like a badge of honor.

Lately I've been challenged by the Holy Spirit to rethink this mindset. Now, anyone that knows me could tell you that I am not even close to legalistic. In fact, a lot of Christians strongly disagree with my beliefs and some would even fiercely criticize me for them. Do not write this off as legalistic, overly religious ranting. As Christians, the Word of God must be the absolute authority for how we think, speak, and act. Let's look at a few things the Word has to say on the subject:

Ephesians 5

 1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

   “Awake, O sleeper,       rise up from the dead,       and Christ will give you light.”

 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 3

 1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

 4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

 7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God

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But it's okay to sin as long as we ask for forgiveness right? Don't you know that love wins?! Nobody's perfect! All fall short of the glory of God! I get that. I'm not talking about perfection. I'm certainly not perfect. And neither are you. But Jesus was. If we are to be imitators of Christ, shouldn't we be aiming for perfection? The sad reality is that we think it's okay to sin as long as we don't commit the "really bad sins." The sad reality is, a lot of Christians feel superior because they don't cuss, drink, smoke, or get tattoos (since when are any of those things inherently sinful anyways?) but we feel no remorse for our sexual immorality, coarse joking, or impure thoughts. We feel no remorse for our greed, selfishness, or mistreatment of others. We will argue and debate over things that should be left up to personal conviction, and ignore things that are emphatically forbidden by scripture. We think it's okay as long as long as deep down we really love Jesus. After all, he hung out with the "sinners", right? He didn't even like religious people! Jesus came to heal the sick, not make them comfortable while their sickness killed them slowly. Jesus did not mix words when he said, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments." If we do not obey Him, we do not love Him. No matter how hard we try to convince ourselves that we do. I'm all about being real with people. I'm all about being relevant. And that's the point. We can call it being "real", but continuing to live a sinful lifestyle when we are in Christ is not being real at all- It's as fake as we can get. It's a form of Godliness, but denying its power. God is challenging me to cast my badge of honor aside, and take up my cross. Perhaps He's been challenging me with this from the moment I was born again, and it's taken me this long to accept the challenge. How long will it take for you to accept it? 

[brianbriggs-blog]

Ultimate Impact Challenge

So often we hear people talk about changing the world. Deep down, everyone wants to be able to make a difference. Everyone wants to make their mark on the world. Everyone wants to make an impact. There's lofty talk about changing the world floating around blogs, books, and church slogans. However, so few actually achieve this worthwhile goal. This begs the question, “Why?”

It’s never been easier to make a global impact. These very words can (and will) be posted on the internet and be available for billions of people to read. Producing professional level media can be done on consumer level products in bedrooms and basements, and can then be broadcast internationally. If there has ever been a time when it was feasible that one person really could change the world, that time is now. We live in an age that knows no limitations. And yet, we are limited. What limits us? The easy answer is “Fear” but I’m not convinced that is the sole limiting factor. It’s not that people don’t try, it’s that they don’t succeed.

When I think of people that have changed the world, there are few names that come to mind. Gutenberg gave us the printing press. Alexander Graham Bell gave us the telephone. Thomas Edison gave us the light bulb. Karl Benz gave us the gasoline powered automobile. The Wright brothers gave us the air plane. Leonard Kleinrock dreamt up an “Information Flow In Large Communication Nets”, which we know today as the “Internet.” (But I thought Al Gore invented the internet?) Of course, that’s only to mention a few. There are hundreds of men and women that have significantly changed the world as we know it. Many of them only played a small role in the developments that they are accredited. Some of them invented something, some of them stood up for something, some of them wrote something, some of them said something, but all of them did something. Chances are, they didn’t even realize the effect that they would have on the world at the time. While any of these people are certainly worth mentioning, there’s one name that stands apart from all of the others.

There’s one person that has had a larger impact on the world than anyone else in history. Yeshua Messiah, aka, Jesus Christ. Whether you believe he was just a noble man, a good teacher, a figment of people’s imaginations, or really the Son of God, there’s no denying His impact on the world. More than 2,000 years after his life here on the Earth, there are roughly 2.2 billion people that claim to follow Him. His impact even spans to those that lived and died before He was ever born. The simple fact is that every person in the known world has been affected by this man’s life in some way, regardless of his or her religious beliefs. Like it or not, it’s true. So how did someone have this kind of impact on the world? This was before the internet, before electricity, before any form of modern technology. If all of us wannabe-world-changers find ourselves left in a frustrated stupor with all that we have available to us, how could someone, under those circumstances, possibly make an impact of that magnitude?

The only thing we have any record of Him ever writing are some scribbles in the dirt. What makes this man’s life, teachings, death, and resurrection so timeless? Regardless of the spiritual and eternal significance of these things, the fact that we even know about them today tells us something powerful about Jesus’ methods in world changing. One would think that being born of a virgin, living a sinless life, performing miracles, fulfilling thousands of prophesies, dying on a cross for the sins of mankind, being resurrected three days later, then ascending into the Heavens would be enough. Evidently, those things wouldn’t have gotten the job done without one other element. You see, the fact that we are even aware of the impact that Jesus has on our lives is directly related to the impact that he had on twelve men. Sure, Jesus preached to large crowds and performed miracles for hundreds, if not thousands of people, but we see him making an intentional effort to specifically impact the lives of these twelve men. Interestingly enough, we see him spending most of His time pouring His life into three of the twelve. It’s because of the impact that Jesus had on these men’s lives that He is able to continue to impact our lives today. If Jesus had not intentionally made a personal impact on the lives of specific people, Christianity would likely not have survived a single generation.

It’s not our accomplishments, our words, or our contributions to society that truly change our world. It’s the impact we have in the lives of others. It’s the impact we have in even just one person’s life. Here’s why: people are multipliers. People might as well be giant multiplication symbols. Everything you invest into a person’s life, if invested well, will yield a return 30, 60, even 100 fold. You have no idea the difference you can make in the world through the difference you make in one person’s life. There are a few people that have had a significant impact on my life. As a result, I am in a position to impact the lives of hundreds, and thousands of people throughout my lifetime. And the same could be true of every person that I impact.

The possibilities are endless. The limitations are gone. Perhaps we should stop trying to change the world, and start trying to change lives? Perhaps our ambitions, although noble, are actually what limit us? Jesus changed the world forever through a few ordinary men in a few years. The best part? We get to continue what He started for the rest of our lives. We get to change the world one life at a time, just like Jesus did and continues to do. You have but one life to live. One life to give. How will you make your ultimate impact? 

[nadeensnyders]