Elevate Your Day with Andi and Brian Hale

When Beliefs Fall Flat

Today, we’re looking at a second sign that you’re in a mid-faith crisis. If this sounds familiar to you, remember: You’re not alone!
Sometimes, we hit a mid-faith crisis not necessarily because we doubt, but because we simply start asking questions. Why does my church teach this or that doctrine while the church down the road teaches the opposite? Why must I hold certain political or scientific views to be considered a Christ-follower? Why am I required to hold positions on issues the Bible says nothing about?
Most times, these questions feel threatening to our Christian friends and communities—maybe even our pastors. So there’s little chance to explore the answers or grow as a community into a more Christlike faith. It may feel like our only way to question is to leave the faith entirely.
But even this is not found in Scripture! In the Bible, we find an expectation that as we grow and mature (in life and in faith), we’ll outgrow some things we believed before and need to “level up” to a more mature position.
Acts 17:11 ESVNow these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
The writer of Acts described a group of faith-curious seekers in Berea as “of more noble character” simply because they did their own research to discover if what Paul was teaching rang true.
Hebrews 5:10-14 ESVbeing designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
And the writer of Hebrews expressed frustration that so many believers remained like infants, still needing milk when it comes to truth and unable to chew solid food. “Let’s move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward in maturity!” the writer pleads.
Hebrews 6:1 NLTSo let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.
Friend, if you are ready to move beyond simplistic teachings and really dig into what it looks like to follow Jesus in your time and place, this is reason to rejoice, not despair. May you find joy and good partners as you move from milk to solid food, oh person of noble character!

When Doubt Creeps In

Have you had a “Mid-Faith Crisis”? What did that look like for you? For many of us, it starts with wondering what happened to our faith, why we don’t think and believe the way we used to. But the good news is that, while this is a painful crisis, it can be healthy, even necessary.
John 6:60-69 ESVWhen many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)  And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,  and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Initially the crowds that followed Jesus were excited. They lived hard lives, and here was something new. Jesus brought healing, and comfort, and the promise that God’s kingdom did not belong to the powerful but was right here among them.
But for many, the excitement wore off quickly. John writes of a time when the crowd started to dwindle, when even his disciples started to grumble, and many turned away from him.
Jesus turned to his closest twelve friends and asked, “Do you want to leave me, too?”
Notice that they don’t say “No! You’re the best! We never doubted!” In fact, we know for sure that many of them were bewildered most of the time.
But they stayed. They kept going, even when they didn’t understand.
Matthew 17:20 ESVHe said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Most of us today experience something like this. There was something in the Christian message that caught our attention, and we were excited. But it hasn’t all panned out the way we hoped or expected. Life continues to be hard, and for so many reasons we’re just not as sure as we once were.
The good news is that faith doesn’t require certainty. The twelve who stayed with Jesus were still quite confused and went on to let him down—even abandon him on his hardest night. But they kept trying, kept following, kept searching. Not perfectly, not by a long shot.
When we’ve lost so much faith that we can hardly keep going, how do we know when to throw in the towel? Jesus said that faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains—and “a mustard seed isn’t very much.”

Confession - The Holiness of the Habit

In confession there is freedom, and healing, and joy, but make no mistake, confession is hard work. Confession is one part of a journey that should lead us into becoming people who are more like Christ. True confession will bring about life change, and change can be hard.
In the Old Testament book of Ezra, the scribe (Ezra) is full of grief because of his people’s disobedience to God. The weight of grief was so heavy upon Ezra, it was painful. The Israelites, including priests and key leaders, had chosen to marry people who worshipped idols, and not the One True God. God’s holy people were living in an unholy way, and Ezra couldn’t hide his response.
“When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled” (Ezra 9:3).
To our modern sensibilities, this whole chapter can feel odd and unfamiliar, but the principle remains. Confession is our response to unholy living, and turning to live a holy life is our response to the forgiveness we find in confession. Ezra’s raw confession led the people to brokenness over their sin, confession of their repentance, and ultimately a return to God.
Holy living is a response to being forgiven, not a condition of being forgiven.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to correct a sin he saw in them. The church confessed their wrongdoing with great sorrow. Paul then said something unusual; he said this confession brought him great joy. Why would this bring joy to Paul?
“See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done” (2 Corinthians 7:11).
The confessed sorrow produced good fruit. No longer weighed by their failure, the people were able to follow God eagerly and earnestly. Confession frees us from the burden of holding on to our failures and allows us the freedom to make godly decisions moving forward. Unbridled from our regrets, we’re freed to focus on living a godly life.
Are you having difficulty moving forward? Maybe there’s a burden you need to release to God.
Read Ezra 9 and 2 Corinthians 7 and remember that while confession may sting for a moment, the future joy outweighs the momentary pain.

Confession - The Humility of the Habit

We live in a world that is always trying to sell us on the supposed “perfection” around us. Advertisements tell us that our lives should look a particular way. Social media is a highlight reel displaying typically only the best of what is happening in everyone else’s life. Within all this seemingly utopic world, it can feel like there is no room for imperfection.
This is what makes a habit of confession, well…feel awkward at times. At least getting started it can be. It is uncomfortable to talk about the parts of our lives that are not picture perfect. We veil the brokenness. We hide it from others and ourselves. We put on these masks of performance and perfection that begin to shape our identity.
Titus 3:4-7 ESVBut when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
James 4:7-10 ESVSubmit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
When we confess our sins, we finally get to take off the mask. We get to approach God in authenticity and humility and experience forgiveness. James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Catch the order here. First, we draw near to God. Then, we clean up. So often we think that we must clean up before ever showing up. We think we must get our lives together before trying to be forgiven. We think we need to work for it. But God, in his love and grace, wants you to come just as you are.
Just show up, then let God help clean up.
Invite God into the pains, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. As we create a rhythm and habit of humbly confessing our sins, God gets the opportunity to speak truth and life into our hearts. We take off the mask and get to experience life with God as his sons and daughters.
What is one mask you can take off today to be real with God?

Confession - The Hunger

Confession.
As daunting as confession seems in advance, its God’s remedy for a broken heart.
Romans 10:9-13 ESVbecause, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
 
Matthew 16:15-18 ESVHe said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 
While confessing your sins is critically important to humbly approaching the throne of God, there is perhaps a more important confession. Confessing “Jesus is Lord” is the foundation of the Christian faith. Scripture promises that the result of a genuine confession of the Lordship of Jesus is that, “you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). This is the same confession that Peter made, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
 
We are born with a longing for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Therefore, the assurance of salvation satisfies the deepest hunger of the human heart—Eternity with the Creator.
 
Many religions practice confession. What sets apart confession for the Christian is WHO our confession is directed to. Real value is found when confession is directed toward the only one who can save. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one comes through the Father except through him (John 14:6).
 
When we reach out to Jesus, we have assurance that we will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11). The fear of shame scares many away from the Holiness of God. But God welcomes us into his presence with humble confession. Our brokenness is made perfect through his unconditional love. That’s the good news!
 
No matter what you have done, God is standing there with open arms. You are not too far gone. His grace has no limit. You do not need to earn your way back to God with good deeds. Confession is the cure.
 
Have you confessed Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you live that confession out on a daily basis?Stop right now. Make this foundational confession: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and my Lord and Savior.” Now, take a deep breath, embrace the gift of God’s grace, and go live it like you mean it.