Featured Image: His touch and presence! That is the central truth of belief and faith: that He touches and knows us personally!
Today’s post will examine two Youtubers who make excellent points about faith, specifically an authentic walk with Christ and others! Rev. Trevors and Lee Malaulau create content to encourage critical thinking and self-reflection.
Revered Ed Trevors is a Canadian Anglican Pastor (Halifax, Nova Scotia). He answers questions online and speaks on a variety of contemporary issues. Lee Malaula from New Zealand explains his channel in his description:
“Hey, I’m Lee. I help Jesus-followers break free from religious striving and finally live from rest in the goodness of God. This channel is for those who are spiritually mature, hungry for more, and done with hype, fear-based religion, and pressure Christianity. I don’t have all the answers—but I’ve found peace in Christ I never had before. And I’m here to share that journey honestly, with simplicity and clarity.”
https://www.youtube.com/@leemalaulau
Why “Christians” tend to be judgmental
Why many Christians are full of hate and judgement?
“They haven’t given themselves over to Christ.” This is tragically true. When an individual or group of people promotes political power and influence to force their religious ideals onto others. This goes counter to the kingdom of Jesus! In my post warning about the yeast of the Pharisees, I explain how that just a small amount of yeast makes the entire amount (loaf) of bread rise. The desire to control, manipulate, and use others spreads throughout an organization or institution.
The Solution: We must “give up” ourselves to Christ. Willing to let go of our bias and ideas! We must be born again according to Gospel of John. Rev. Ed reminds us of how that babies have needs but learn how to be self-sufficient as they develop into adults. “It’s a life long process . . .embrace the life Jesus calls us to.” We ask God to show us His way and we align ourselves to Him. We let hatred, judgment, malice, and other attitudes that are counter to Jesus go. The old life fades as we embrace God’s way!
A.I generated image: Jesus speaks with the earnest rich young man.
The tragedy of the rich young man
Matthew 19: 16-22 Berean Standard Bible
The Rich Young Man
(Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30)
16Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”
17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18“Which ones?” the man asked.
Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, 19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’f”
20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”
21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
The young man walks away from Christ because he rejects the cost of repenting and truth. Repentance comes about through action. Jesus has revealed to him the one thing that is keeping him from eternal life and the young man walks away sad.
Commentary Sources:
https://www.gotquestions.org/rich-young-ruler.html
https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/19/Matthew-19-20.html
Emphasis mine. First, the young man earnestly seeks Christ. He is seeking to honor God by obeying the law. Second, He desires eternal life and views Jesus as a Good Teacher. Got questions and Bible Ref provides insightful commentary:
“The young man was obviously religious and sincere in his pursuit of righteousness. His problem was that he considered himself to be faultless concerning the Law. And this is the point that Jesus challenges.”
Bible ref explains:
“The man seems to sense he is still missing something despite following Judaism as closely as he has. He wants Jesus to tell him what key action—or work, or deed—he can do to be guaranteed a place in heaven.”
Key Truths of this passage
“Salvation comes to those who admit their need and are willing to follow God, regardless of what He asks of them. Those who come to Jesus for salvation by God’s grace do so understanding that they are not truly good and need Jesus’ goodness instead of their own. Those who insist on their own merits, or won’t follow when God’s will is unpleasant, are not going to be saved (Matthew 19:21–22).” Bible Ref.
“The young man decided that Jesus was asking too much. “He went away sad, because he had great wealth” (verse 22). Rather than obey Jesus’ instructions, he turned his back on the Lord and walked away. The man’s choice undoubtedly saddened Jesus as well, because Jesus loved him (Mark 10:21).” Got Questions
Being religious wasn’t enough, the young man doesn’t perceive his lack of love for others because he loves his wealth and status more than the poor! Grace opposes self-righteousness. Self-righteousness blinds a person to their own sins and distance from God.
Does our lives represent Christ or the anger and malice of our divided nation? Are we living by grace, faith, and hope trusting in God to transform others or trying to impose religious ideas on others? Seeking to be more like Christ or to be the dominate cultural/political force in our nation?
Being Religious Vrs. Walking with Christ
Lee explores issues of modern religious Christianity as he puts out his family’s laundry. His perspective considers why people are leaving the religious approach to following Christ. The Gospel is simple: the challenge is to accept God’s grace and walk with Him. Grace restores us to walking with God–going back to resting in Christ and being united with Him.
God invites us to a relationship! Religion and religious systems are human efforts–trying to “earn our way back.” He encourages us to return back to God–simple surrender instead of striving. Asking God to restore and heal our wounds. We rest in Christ and His presence and ways! I explore this in a earlier post linked below.
As we rest and fellowship with God, He transforms us! This is a process that we might not immediately perceive, but faith tells us that He is at work! Paul reminds believers in Phillippi that God will finish His work in their lives: focal verse is highlighted
Thanksgiving and Prayer
(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Colossians 1:3–14)
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. 8God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
God completes what He starts! This a source of hope and encouragement in our faith journey. Verses 9-11 is an extended prayer for the Phillippians. We can pray these words over ourselves and others! God will give us discernment to guide us.
Being Authentic
We daily represent Christ through our actions and interactions with others. Making time to reflect on our thought patters, evaluating our motives, and emotions grounds us in our present moment. Holy Spirit guides as we seek God’s truth and presence.
It’s important that we respond to His leading and seek His presence and truth. A time comes in the journey when one realizes that others aren’t going to understand or respect your situation or actions. Some will mock, others maliciously accuse, and others will avoid you openly.
In these seasons, we remind ourselves that God is ultimately our Judge and that His grace is sufficient for our weaknesses, failures, and sins. If you’re still in a community that does not supports or encourages you then it’s wise to move forward. Leaders and others who use shame or guilt to manipulate, use, and abuse people are not honoring or walking with God.
Jesus warns us in the Gospels of the false prophets. He reminds us that we will know them by their fruits. How does our lives reflect Christ and His ways? Are we surrounding ourselves with others who authentically follow and seek Christ? If not then why not?
Being authentic allows others to connect with us as we in truth. I’ve written about attachment styles and trauma–particularly how we attach and form relationships with others. Healing is a process and requires humility and teach-ability. Healing requires us to see ourselves and others accurately and with compassion. We consider that everyone has wounds and difficulties in life.
A.I. Two friends walk on the journey together. They encourage each other and press forward in the journey.
Words of Grace & Hope 