Chuck Ryor

A new feature of “Chuck Ryor.com” will be “THE LEFTOVERS.”  These are my incessant ramblings that veer toward irreverence and lunacy.  I’ll categorize them separately from “RANDOM THOUGHTS” or “PRISM TRAINING,” so it is important that you read them as such.

Sometimes when I sit down to write I have so many thoughts rolling through my head that I don’t know where to start.  And so I don’t.  That’s what life and writing has been like for me lately.  So much to think about, so much to do, so much on which to reflect, that all I can do is nothing.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” – Psalm 46:10-11

When all of my thoughts come cascading down on me and I’m left with a single theme to sum up my existence at this moment, all I can do is cry out for grace.  The world, the flesh, the Devil, the church – they all want more from us than we can give.  They expect perfection – even perfect humility (which sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?).

Here’s my confession:  I’m in full-blown rebellion…it’s what I’m terming a “Grace Rebellion.”   Any person or group who puts more pressure on me than the God of my salvation does (which is not at all) gets a chance to “Talk to the hand” (as the kids used to say – now they’ve moved on to other means of blowing folks off).

I can’t take the culture of “expectation” inside the church any longer.  You know how this goes because it’s most likely why you can’t stand going to church.  The pastors expect you to act a certain way, you expect them to act a certain way, and even though neither is truly capable of keeping that going for any length of time, they continue the façade because somehow we’ve all believed that this is the way it’s supposed to be.

I’m reading Dr. Steve Brown’s “A Scandalous Freedom:  The Radical Nature of the Gospel.”  I have to confess that I’m a Steve Brown cult member.  While others follow Keller, Piper, Stanley, Chan, Driscoll, or Hybels, Steve Brown is the one who could actually get me to consider drinking the Kool-aid.

*Quick joke at tragedy’s expense:

“Do you know why no one tells Jim Jones jokes any more?”

“Because the punch lines are too long.”

Anyway…this book is hitting the spot.  Like a good cup of coffee or a Diet Coke (or “Five hour energy” drink if you can afford it).  I’ve quoted Steve Brown before in my blogs, but he’s worth quoting again.

“The good news is that Christ frees us from the need to obnoxiously focus on our goodness, our commitment, and our correctness.  Religion has made us obsessive almost beyond endurance.  Jesus invited us to a dance…and we’ve turned it into a march of soldiers, always checking to see if we’re doing it right and are in step and in line with the other soldiers.  We know a dance would be more fun, but we believe we must go through hell to get to heaven, so we keep marching.”

Steve Brown – (pg. 82 – A Scandalous Freedom)

I know what I and others feel is true.  The church is lethargic about mission.  The church is lukewarm and loving it (as Francis Chan is known for saying).  However, the solution to our lethargy is the get to know the love and grace of God afresh.  Instead of gritting our teeth and trying harder, we need to take a deep breath and realize that the God of grace is slow to anger and abounding in love.  A God this kind makes you want to celebrate.

And obedience founded on anything but a response to His loving kindness is a prelude to self-righteousness and self-dependence.  It’s all about Christ.  I have nothing to offer him but a thirsty soul dying to hear the comforting words “My child, I love you.”  When my parched spirit is refreshed, then I’ve got something about which to dance.  Only His grace will spur me on when I feel overwhelmed.

And it’s when the world is clamoring for my attention and allegiance that I hear him say, “Be still and know that I am God.”

*These asides only happen in “THE LEFTOVERS.”

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24

I’ve finished Tim Keller’s book “Counterfeit Gods” and have not been disappointed.  I highly recommend it to you.  The men’s study I lead is going through it and it is a remarkable book.

Finishing the book was the culmination of a solid year of heart searching about why I do all that I do.  I must humbly and embarrassingly admit that what I’ve found in the recesses of my heart was not good.   Most of it is indicative of how easily I’ve made idols out of the good things in my life.   When things become about me, I tend to become selfish and envious of those who have what I want.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” – Philippians 2:3

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.” – James 3:14

I’ve often wondered what the context for this verse in James was all about.  Why would anyone “boast” about his or her bitter envy and selfish ambition?  The neighboring verses shine light on the subject.  In the pursuit of vain glory (honor for oneself), a person must exalt themselves and their thinking to the highest place.  Often what drives the egomaniac is selfish ambition.  These supposed people of wisdom have a self-centered motivation.  Conceit leads to all sorts of dysfunction.

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:  sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21

When people have influence for motives that are pure, certain characteristics will manifest themselves.

“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” – James 3:17

A year ago I might have read or written the previous 350 words and concluded that I needed to try harder to please God.  Bear down…bear fruit!   Not any more.  I’m realizing as never before that my compulsions, my behavioral abnormalities (yes…my sin), is merely an echo of what my soul is truly crying out for from my Creator, my Father, my God.

My response – and the one I’d encourage you to have in response to greater awareness of your brokenness – is to run into the presence of God.  Don’t walk.  Run.  Flee to the Savior for refuge.  It is because of Christ’s finished work that we can run to God.  Jesus has redeemed us and credited His righteousness to us so we’re perfect in the Father’s sight right now.  And He knows how we struggle.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:15-16

Jesus is the high priest who opens the way for us to be able to search our sinful hearts and not completely collapse when we see just how bad they are inside.  And looking inside makes us once again realize just how fortunate we are to have a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love.