This last week I had the pleasure (honor) to preach again at Journey in Rev. Keith's absence. We went through the 1st 14 verses of Galatians chapter 3. One of the things that stuck out to me was the legalism that the Judaizers adhered to. Their thinking that you had to have faith plus. Not just faith alone, but faith plus. Pentecost listeners just believed and wham! the Holy Spirit did his stuff. Abraham, David, Saul etc. just believed. Faith. That's all we need, child like faith. Even today religion says that unless we dress a certain way, look a certain way, act just right, listen to the right music, we are not being sanctified. That's a load. If we have a tat, or drink a dark beer, or listen to 98.3 on the radio, we are heathen. Would most of American churches allow a dirty homeless man to come in and hang out? If so, would they stare, murmur amongst themselves, sit him in the back? Heck a few weeks ago at Journey (www.journeyinbend.org) I had a couple of homeless guys sitting next to me rolling smokes in the back. Legal smokes. I watched with baited caution, thinking this is where Jesus would be hanging out, knowing that He as well as I would make him "light up" outside. So forget the legalistic holier than thou attitude, thinking your works will get you to the front row in Heaven. It's all about your heart. Jesus hung out with the drunks, hookers, and thieves. He came to save the lost, not the well. He came to hang with the less fortunate. We should use Him as our role model, not the pastor, or man who lets everyone know just how holy he is. It's a heart issue. Check your heart. How's your pulse today.
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