Jason Salamun

It enchains you.

It oppresses you.

It manipulates you.

It breathes fire upon you.

It is the dragon of religion.

That dragon called religion is an enemy of the gospel of grace we find in Jesus.

The dragon controls us with fear.

The gospel compels us with love.

The dragon steals joy.

The gospel brings joy.

The dragon captures.

The gospel frees.

For far too long, we’ve allowed the dragon to dwell among us.

Some even claim the dragon is one of us.

Others say that if we ride the back of the dragon, it will lead us to paradise.

The dragon is sneaky.

Somehow this hideous creature can go unnoticed.

But it leaves a footprint.

It’s shaped like hopelessness or pride.

Some of us will hate ourselves when we don’t think we’re good enough. (Hopelessness)

Others of us will worship ourselves and think we’re better than the rest. (Pride)

Pride is what got the serpent known as satan booted from Heaven.

As recipients, bearers, and communicators of the gospel, we are to be on guard for the dragon.

When we come across that nasty dragon…

Slay it.

With grace.

After all, it’s not about what you’ve done.

It’s about what’s been done for you.

By the King of kings.

In the presence of the King…

Pride is replaced with humility.

Hopelessness is replaced with hope.

And the dragon of religion is replaced by the grace of God.

That’s good news.

When was the last time your mind was changed by what you read in scripture?

Growing up, I had beliefs that contradicted the bible.

For example:

As a young lad, I had this notion that everyone will get a chance to accept Jesus when they die and escape hell.

I had nothing to base it on except my own rationale  and hopes.

But then I studied my bible.

It was clear in the teachings of Jesus that some will experience eternal hell.

And even though I didn’t like it, I accepted it, and now find myself pleading for people to love and follow Jesus.

The bible changed my mind.

I had the same experience when I realized how real grace was and how bad religion is.

I once had that mixed up too.

I thought religion was good and grace was a cop out.

How else would people be motivated to do the right thing?

Then the bible changed my mind.

I discovered love was a better motivator than fear.

Not to mention grace is poured all over the bible like gravy on mashed potatoes.

You can’t escape it.

Grace is real, wonderful, and yes, amazing.

Today, I’m studying a few controversial issues through the lens of scripture.

I could list them and open a can of worms, but I’m not.

Maybe another time.

The point of this post is to simply ask:

When was the last time the Bible changed your mind?

Just wondering if there are others like me.

We have one heart.

In our hearts sits one throne.

This is what you and I center our lives around.

God makes it very clear that there is one God and it’s him.

And that all other gods are cheap substitutes.

But here’s the deal:

We all have bowed down to the gods.

Even good things can become gods.

It can also be ourselves, spouse, children, boyfriend, girlfriend, money, career, sports, pop culture, food, pets, politics, sex, church, you name it.

Often they are.

And we pat each other on the back for it.

There’s a better way.

Jesus.

Jesus is the only object of our worship that won’t ruin us.

A ravenous wolf eating its prey doesn’t like to be bothered.

And neither do the gods.

Don’t be something’s prey!

Worship Jesus.  Enjoy his creation.

You see, there’s a difference between worship and enjoyment.

When God is your God, everything else is done in worship to him.

The gods in their rightful place are often blessings.

Your relationships. Your kids. Your career. Your money. Your time. Your pleasure. Your everything.

But when the gods let you down or die (and they will).

Who will turn to?

What will you do?

Who will you be?

Jesus never lets us down.

He is alive and will never die.

Put all your eggs in his basket.

Live and breathe for him.

Love others as a result.

And if you’re a communicator of the Gospel… go after and anger the gods.

And plead for Jesus to take his rightful place at the center of our lives.

“I cut my long baby hair.”
Song:  Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine
Why it Strikes? As I grow and mature,  I see remnants of immaturity that I need to grow out of.

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”
Song: Anthem by Leonard Cohen
Why it Strikes? Reminds me that God is the remedy for my depravity.

“He said I have many mansions. And there are many rooms to see. But I left by the back door. And I threw away the key.”
Song: The First Time by U2
Why it Strikes? Jesus spoke of finding hidden treasure in a field and then going to sell everything you have to buy the field.  Yet sometimes, I settle.

“Don’t you know son that I love you? And I don’t care where you’ve been. So please come home.”
Song: Please Come Home by Dustin Kensrue
Why it Strikes? It’s for all the prodigals and a beautiful portrait of God’s grace of which I still need.

“Rest in my arms, sleep in my bed, there’s a design -to what I did and said.”
Song: Vito’s Ordination Song by Sufjan Stevens
Why it Strikes? Peace comes through trust. I’m a restless spirit who often needs to be reminded, and rest, in God’s providence.

“The kingdom of the heavens is now advancing. Invade my heart. Invade this broken town.”
Song: Your Love is Strong by Jon Foreman
Why it Strikes? God’s moving…despite me…and for us.

“Come all you weary, move through the earth. Spurned in fine restaurants, kicked out of church.”
Song:  Come All You Weary by Thrice
Why it Strikes? Jesus is better than religion and he came to save sinners like me.  This song also reminds me of why we started our church.

“I am so easily satisfied by the call of lovers so less wild.”
Song: Wedding Dress by Derek Webb
Why it Strikes? Is Jesus enough?  Is Jesus my joy?  Or am I using him for something else I love more?

“You’d hate for the kids to think that you’ve lost your cool.”
Song: Pork and Beans by Weezer
Why it Strikes? I care way too much about what other people think.  I’m learning to care about that less and less and hopefully, care for people more and more.

“The people he knew were less than golden hearted. Gamblers and Robbers. Drinkers and Jokers. All soul searchers. Like you and me.”
Song: Christmas Song by Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Why it Strikes? This lyric reveals the company Jesus kept.  Too many of us Christians tend to not look at ourselves as “one of those people” which is sad, because we are.  May I not forget.

Any lyrics striking you these days?

When intangible dreams evolve into tangible realities, it’s pure magic.

Yet one of the great scandals of our day is how many dreams remain just that- dreams.

We reside in a culture that shouts, “chase your dreams” to our face yet whispers, “don’t cause a scene” in our ear.

As a result, we exchange the thrill of dream chasing for the pill of rat racing.

I should know.

My life is a dusty bookshelf of forgotten and neglected dreams.

Sitting still while I seek God’s will.

But God doesn’t make it that complicated.

When you see your neighbors house on fire…

You do something about it.

All around you are fires (needs, hurts, injustices, fears, you name it) that need to be put out.

Do you see them?

God has equipped you with talents, passions, and resources to help extinguish them.

Will you?

We’re not promised tomorrow but we’re here today.

For a reason.

Follow Jesus, turn your dream into a mission of love, and go until you get a no.

At least that’s what I’m learning to do.

There’s a great lie floating around our culture.

That some things are secular.

And other things are sacred.

It’s perpetuated by church-going and God-rejecting folks alike.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Psalm 24:1 tells us the earth is the Lord’s along with everything and everyone in it.

God’s a big God.

He doesn’t look at his creation and see a slice that he doesn’t control.

Neither should we.

Yet Christians do this all the time.

Secular work.

Secular music.

Secular movies.

Secular schools.

Blah, blah, blah.

And culture lets them.

It keeps them out of their hair.

But it’s all a lie.

Everything is sacred.

This world is full of sin.

Things aren’t as they should be.

Yet Jesus stepped right into the mess.

I sin a lot.

I am not as I should be.

Yet Jesus stepped into my mess too.

Thank God Jesus didn’t act like many Christians.

He didn’t see me as secular and avoid me.

He loves me, redeemed me, and is changing me.

What would happen if we started seeing everything as God’s?

Whether it was intended for him or not.

Culture.

Work.

Politics.

Food.

Places.

The internets.

Everyday things.

Everyday people.

It’s all his.

Every story is about him.

Every song longs for him.

Every philosophy is searching for him.

Look for it.

When you learn to see God in all things,

even ungodly things,

it will rock your world.

Because you begin to get a glimpse of the hugeness of God.

That he’s bigger, better, and more sovereign than you can imagine.

He’s working through things many Christians would not approve of.

He even works through the messiest of people.

People like us.

Stop splitting your life into slices.

By what you think is God’s and what’s not.

The truth is this:

If you’re a follower of Jesus,

God gets the whole pie of your life.

Not just a slice.

You are free to be whole.

You don’t have to pretend to be any more or less than you really are.

Stop believing the secular/sacred divide lie.

Stop living it too.

You’ve got better things to do.