The 180 Church Podcast with Dr. Sammy and Friends

Just to be clear, Who is my neighbor?

Many of us struggle with mercy not because we have bad intentions, but because it's a hassle to go out of our way to help others. Just like the priest or the Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, we pass by, thinking someone else more qualified will help. However, Jesus calls for all of us, not just a select few, to display the radical generosity that He had for us when He died on the cross. More than just a call to action, this is a call to reflection, as we should ask ourselves whether we are truly embodying Christ's vision of love and generosity. And should we ever doubt our ability, remember that no one starts out perfect, but by starting we will gradually and inevitably build the skills necessary to truly embody Christ's vision.

Seeking God’s Presence in a Troubling World

As we get older, our fears multiply to a point of omnipresence, and our worries can feel suffocating because of how much of our attention they take. To deal with our anxieties, we often resort to various unhealthy coping mechanisms, which may not rid us of our problems. However, the good news of the gospel emphasizes that we have a God who, like the calming presence of a caring parent, wants to protect us and sustain us through our concerns. Through the story of Elijah and his call to God, we learn the importance of seeking out God’s presence, unplugging from a distracting world, and intentionally withdrawing from troubles to connect with God’s quiet voice that sustains us.

Systematics

In the course of the Christian life or in one’s investigation of faith, the thoughts and considerations for how we should live a life in Christ brings about the question of, “how?” Through the many voices, iterations, and interpretations of how we should live our lives, it’s worth noting that the systems set in place through adherence to the truth in the scriptures and of the faith experience introduces a filter for gleaning value from a multitude of angles and perspectives. From introduction into the Christian community to how we exist in and through it, systematic theology offers a lens by which we can formulate an orderly, rational and coherent account of the doctrines of Christian faith in our own lives.

What Spiritual Confidence Looks Like

If spiritual poverty results from a poor vision of God, then spiritual wealth results from having spiritual confidence. The prodigal son returns to his father because he has confidence that his father loves him and will not turn away from him. Likewise, God invites us to approach Him with shameless audacity in knowing we are deeply loved by Him, as well as shameless intimacy in wanting to be close with Him. He doesn't promise that we will get a fish if we ask for a fish, or an egg if we ask for an egg. Instead, the Father promises that when we approach Him as the beloved, seeking a relationship with Him, we will receive the greatest gift of all: God Himself.

What Spiritual Poverty Looks Like

How often do we say we believe in God, but do not trust Him enough to provide for us? If we face difficulties, whether minor or major, and believe that God will not help us, thinking we have only ourselves to rely on, we are suffering from a poor vision of who God is. This poor vision is not only a shame, but it is also dangerous, as it leads to spiritual poverty, lack of faith, mistrust, and bitterness. As Jesus reminds us in Luke 11, if even we as sinners will give to our beloved children, then how much more will the Lord, who loves us so much that He shed His own blood for us, give to us. If we correct our poor vision of God, we will see that He cares more about our flourishing than we ever will. He will provide; all we have to do is ask. 

Submitting to God’s Plan A

We are often aware of God’s promises for us, but sometimes there are temptations that influence us to make plans of our own instead of waiting for His promises. In the moment, it can feel as if we’re struggling too much for God’s plan for us to be worth it, so we start to lean towards our own plans. The truth is, even if we can’t see the entirety of God’s plans, sometimes God will put us through a trying time to discipline and grow us in order to grow us into deeper people. Given that he wrote our lives and created the universe, we can entrust to him the plans for our own lives.

Dependence

Who does the kingdom of heaven belong to? Jesus encountering the rich young ruler in the gospel of Matthew leads us to consider his question of whether good deeds would help him gain eternal life. However, the reasoning that heaven is for good people who keep commandments is challenged by Christ who, previously, in the presence of children, stated that the kingdom belongs to them - those who depend on salvation by the goodness of the Father. The measure of our good works holds no weight compared to a salvation dependent on the goodness of God, because by faith we recognize our saving grace, and through God, all things are possible.

Our Spiritual Inheritance

Our lives are informed by more than just psychosocial factors; they are impacted by the degree to which we accept truths about God's character and our identity in Him. As long as we fail to trust that God will give us better than what we can get ourselves, we will succumb to self-fulfilling prophecies about how our lives will fall short of our dreams. The truth is, we are children of a Father who loves us and wants to prosper us, who has already overcome all sin and generational brokenness. When we entrust to Him our deepest fears and desires, we lay claim to the spiritual inheritance He has promised us.

Spiritual Direction

In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Jesus warns us that if we do not forgive others, we will experience pain and torture, just as a wicked servant would from a rightfully angry master. This may seem forceful, but the real question is, what is going on in our hearts if we cannot bring ourselves to forgive others? Heaven and Hell are both as much directions as destinations. If we constantly harbor self-righteousness and bitterness, we are harboring Hell in our hearts, and Hell becomes both our direction and destination. However, when we choose to love and forgive, just as God loves and has forgiven us, we are choosing to experience Heaven now and forever.

Why Our Struggle is Not Against Flesh and Blood

Many of us may dismiss resistance and suffering as a natural yet unexpected part of life. We should expect resistance, especially when we are trying to share the Gospel to others, because there is also a spiritual force - known as the enemy of God - that is at war against us. When the enemy inevitably tries to discourage us in our moments of triumph, joy, and spiritual breakthrough, we should recognize the resistance we feel as spiritual warfare and as an encouraging reminder that our actions are moving us towards God.