Faith and Faithfulness

I have been having some awesome and healthy conversations with many different people about the idea of losing ones salvation and works righteousness or Faith vs Faithfulness. While planting Netcast, it is important that we are very clear on where we stand on these issues as a church.

Here's where I get confused on the losing of ones salvation because of their level of faithfulness in the end. If I can lose my salvation based upon the level of my faithfulness, than I can also gain it based upon the level of my faithfulness, and I can also keep my salvation based upon my level of faithfulness. This theology is fully man centered. It is fully based upon my faithfulness to God and not God's faithfulness to us. It is God who has accomplished and paid for our salvation through Christ on the cross and there is no amount of faithfulness that I can strum up to gain it, obtain it or lose it. It is a free gift, given by grace alone through faith (not faithfulness). The faithfulness that we have to Christ comes as a response of gratitude because of what He has accomplished. This faithfulness is not required to keep our salvation but rather offered as a demonstration of our worship.

I am not naive enough to think that there is not much mystery on this topic. Much of the human heart and salvation is a mystery because it is not visible to the human eye but only visible to God alone. Jesus alone knows what is in man's heart; John 2:23-25 So, we do not know who truly is a believer and who is just an unbelieving servant who knows the masters will (Luke 12:41-48). I think there is enough warning in scripture that points to perseverance, hatred of ones own sin and the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit as the key to discerning the spiritual condition of the human heart.

"Private Practice" It's just not for me.

I know this may come as an unusual post, especially from me. I tend to be pretty liberal when it comes to the things I watch on TV or listen to on the radio. I'm not typically "that guy" who's like "burn all your DVD's and CD's, their demon possessed.". I still love stand up comedy, sometimes with really bad language. I caught myself laughing hysterical at "Jersey Shore" last week as I watched my 1st episode. I can still jam out to some Eminem, JayZ, and Usher without my spirit feeling overwhelmed with conviction. I say that to prep you for what's coming next.

Last night I got home from an awesome date night with my bride. We watched the 8th inning of the World Series (Boring) and then headed to the bedroom. We turned the TV on because Beth wanted to catch the last 30 minuted of Private Practice. In 30 minutes of Private Practice I was exposed to:

1. Gay men having sex in a car.
2. A married man confessing he is homosexual to his wife
3. A gay man telling his wife and male lover that he is HIV positive.
4. Peter telling Violet that his mom was a slut and murder.
5. A man being told by (Sheldon; the Psychiatrist) that since his wife is a vegetable, that he should find another woman.
6. A man raping his vegetable wife and trying to get her pregnant.
7. A 30 minute quickie agreement between Addison and Sam.
8. Charlotte being beaten and raped.

All that in 30 freakin minutes. I could only imagine what the whole episode was like.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 is very clear and says: "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality."

We know from God's Word that our maturity in Christ is directly tied to our sexuality. Honestly, this type of exposure to sexual sin is not healthy for any of our sanctification. If we honestly are committed to growing in Christ, I would warn us all to avoid these types of scenes. I am not saying that you have to boycott the show all together or anything like that. However, I am saying that as followers of Christ, we should use wisdom and discernment. If something (such as this) is clearly a hindrance to our sanctification, we should kill it.

Would love to chat more about this blog with my legalists, liberals or anyone else.

You would not believe, even if you were told.

I wanted to share this verse with you as I am praying about what the Lord seems to be up to with Netcast and how he is building our church. I honestly thought that it would take months, even years to develop the type of team that God seems to be building. Today as I read this verse that Steve sent me, I felt the Lord whisper, "You wont believe what I am going to do through you guys, even if you were told." Exciting yet scary!!

Habakkuk 1:5 "Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

If we are right in thinking that the Lord is on the verge of doing big things through Netcast, we need to guard ourselves from the attacks that are guaranteed to come our way. Spiritual warfare is real and there is a battle consistently waging war between our flesh and our spirit. Secret sin, pride, dis-unity, jealousy, envy, sexual sin, demonic forces and other things will begin to pop up if we are not careful and on guard. I am pleading with you to stay connected in community and be authentic about your temptations and sin. If you are on the Netcast core team or even considering it; we are all in this together, therefore we fight together.

Netcast Halloween Trick or Treating

As we continue to build community among the people who God has sent our way, we would love to invite you out to Trick or Treat with us. We'll all meet at 15 1/2 Pierce Ave and head out together. It will be a fun time to just hang and connect with eachother. You can dress up or be cooler than the rest of us and dress normal. Feel free to bring anyone who'd you like to bring with you. Can't wait.

Netcast Halloween Trick or Treating
October 31st 2010 @ 5:30pm
15 1/2 Pierce Ave. Beverly, MA

October Update (Netcast Church)

Just wanted to give an update from Netcast Church. We are almost 2 months into the church plant and never thought that we would already be seeing the hand of God on our ministry like we have been seeing. For months, maybe even years before moving, Beth and I had been praying that God would prepare the hearts of the people who would join us in the planting of Netcast. Now we are here seeing how God has been answering our prayers. We had our first "Netcast Vision Party" on 10/10/10 and over 30 people came out to be a part of it. Our core group is probably somewhere around at least 15 people already.

The stories that we are getting from the people who are committing to be with us are are crazy. I am hoping to get some of the stories on-line through video soon. In the meantime, you can check out a blog of one of the families (Josh and Erica Sturgeon) who have committed to be a part of the Netcast Core. The story is full of God's providence and faithfulness. A must read http://ericamsturgeon.tumblr.com/post/1382184232/netcast

If you are in the area tonight, please visit our "2nd Netcast Vision Party" it will be at the house from 5:30pm - 7:00pm. Beth is making a huge Chili dinner. We will have the Pats game on, hang out with the new people who God is sending our way and I will share a some about what we envision the Netcast Community looking like. Can't wait. Also, please join me in praying for our meeting tonight.

I also want to thank those of you who have been supporting us financially and prayerfully over the past year or so. None of this would even be possible with out you guys. Christ is so incredible and He gets all the glory for the fruit we are seeing.

http://www.whatisnetcast.com/