BoldGrace

There is a new TV show called "Moment of Truth" where the contestants are rewarded only if they tell the brutal truth when asked some potentially very damaging questions about their lives.  It’s amazing how money can motivate we humans to hurt ourselves and others. 

As I thought about this show and listened as people in the audience seemed so surprised at some of the deep dark secrets being told by the contestants it reminded how ingrained it is in all of us to judge others that seem less moral then we are.  Yes, any of us can find someone who is less moral then we are but do we really think there isn’t someone out there who is more moral then us?  What if the whole world around you knew your deepest and darkest secrets?  It would be quite humbling for any of us wouldn’t it?  I suspect if you were put into that position that it would change the way you judge others wouldn’t it? 

I guess that’s one of the main issues I have with organized religion.  People in organized religion want to decide who God will accept and who He will reject based on the standard of morality.  I don’t have a problem with any group of people who are encouraging each other to live the best lives possible but each of our lives are are so different and it is impossible for any of us to really know who is living their best life possible.  Let me give you an example of what I am trying to say:

My wife Nancy is always telling me what a wonderful, beautiful, kind, and loving person I am.  At least in her eyes I can do no wrong.  When I tell her I feel the same way about her she always rejects it and puts herself down.  Now here’s the thing, I know my wife better then any person who is now living except for God and what I know is that if you knew all that she had been through from the time she was a small child you would realize that her growth as a human being is far greater then mine. 

Now back to my issue with organized religion:  Organized religion sets up a specific moral standard that everyone involved knows is required to be considered a part of the "FAITHFUL".  If people don’t live up to that standard they are looked upon with suspect.  It doesn’t matter that they may have a story that if you could know every detail of their life you would be choked up with pride for how well they actually did under the hand they were dealt. 

I love the way my wife looks at me and feels about me but I will never allow that to make me think I’m good enough to judge others or to think I am any better then she is.  I have learned not to be sucked into false righteousness.  God knows my story and I would never want to answer some of the questions He could ask of me in front of the whole world. 

The reality check that I am talking about here is the very reason why God needed to show us a grace so bold that once we truly accepted it we could never again condemn another person for anything, even unbelief.    Once you truly understand Bold Grace like this you can’t even judge yourself and that’s where this great peace comes in. 

We often talk about being Perfect here at Bold Grace, but we not talking about an earned perfection.  We are talking about a God who sees a perfection in each of us that we can’t see because HE knows every single detail of our lives and how those details led us down the paths we each have taken.

My path compared to my wife’s path was much easier, so how could I dare claim to be a better person then her?  Unfortunately organized religion is full of people who do dare to claim a higher moral life, that is until their own "MOMENT OF TRUTH" comes to the surface. 

Are there humble, non-judgmental people in organized religion?  I’m sure there are, but I would not say that is the norm.  In fact I would say it is rare to truly find such a person because they are constantly being bombarded with a message of judgment and condemnation of folks who aren’t living like the organization says they aught to be.

Someone will undoubtedly say that I am judging and condemning people in organized religion.  I must answer that by defining what I mean above when I talk about people who are judging others whom they think is less moral then they are.   When they judge people they are making a distinction about who God will accept and who He will reject based on the moral standard they have been taught.   When I make judgments about them I still fully believe God accepts them because He knows their entire story and their individual paths.  I never condemn the person regardless of how much I may hate their message, but I will condemn the message of anyone who thinks they are somehow more acceptable to God because of some formula of morality they have followed.

If we would each in the quiet of the night face our own "MOMENT OF TRUTH"  I am convinced we would get up the next morning with a much kinder attitude toward all of God’s beautiful children.

Peace to All Who Will Understand.

 A few years back I worshiped with some Quakers for about three years and I would often hear them use the word "Clarity" when they were pondering something that was bothering them.  I think that is a very good word and one of the things Jesus came to do was to bring clarity to our minds.

The first thing He did to accomplish this for us was to rescue us from a system that had our minds full of turmoil.  That system was the LAW.  The LAW consisted of the Ten Commandments plus approximately 630 other laws that had been handed down to the Israelites through the years.  The turmoil in our minds comes as a result of desire to live up to God’s standard of righteousness without the ability to do so.   Listen to the following scriptures:

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

  

Gal 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

As you can see from the scriptures above it is impossible for any of us to live up to the law demands and therein lies our great problem when it comes to being right with God based on our performance. 

Now unfortunately the organized church of today still does not get this because they continue to preach a gospel that is a mixture of law and grace.   If the Law that God provided could not make us righteous what makes the church think they can do a better job of coming up with another standard for correct performance?  Paul also tells us that there is no law that can make us right.  Listen:

Gal 3:21-22 For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

When Paul says "a law" he is clearly saying that there can be NO standard of human performance that will ever make one right with God.  He goes on to say that we were all failures when it came to our performance but the promise God made to redeem all of mankind came about because of the FAITH OF JESUS.   Yes, it is given to them that believe and thanks be to God one more time because he will not leave any of us in unbelief.  Paul tell us his own conversion came about because of his unbleif……..listen again to Paul’s account:

1 Tim 1:12-17 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 The grace of the Lord was POURED OUT on Paul abundantly along with the FAITH AND LOVE  that are in CHRIST JESUS.   Paul was converted out of UNBELIEF and was GIVEN faith and love.  And the best thing is he says this conversion was given as an example for ALL  that will eventually believe in the awesome Lord.

Now let’s get back to the CLARITY issue for a minute.  Why do church folk have such a hard time understanding this very BOLD GRACE?   I believe Paul again gives us the answer:

2 Cor 3:13-18 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.  But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.  Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect  the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Turn on your televisions on Sunday morning or go to almost any local church and you will hear the LAW preached.  And where you hear the law preached you will find DULL minds.  And how does one get away from this DULL mind?  Turn to the LORD of Bold Grace.  You will find freedom.  Your vision of others will become clear.  You will see the image of God everywhere.   You will see his Glory more and more even in the worst of circumstances and this glorious vision of a FAITHFUL GOD  will transform you more and more from the inside out.

Are you seeking CLARITY OF THOUGHT?  Give up your quest to be righteous by your own beliefs and performance and be awakened to this loving God who has always loved you, loves you now, and will never abandon you regardless of how bad you think you are.  Allow me to leave you with one last scripture because I know there are many out there that have their minds full of turmoil (self condemnation) because of what they are hearing preached every Sunday.

1 John 3:18  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Peace to All Who Will Understand,

Cliff

Titus 2:11-15

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

1. First of all Paul tells us in verse 11 that this bold grace has appeared to ALL men.  That means undeserved favor has appeared to all men.  It does not appear to men or women who deserve it because there aren’t any. 
2. Secondly, he clearly shows us that this bold grace has some very specific purposes for all of our lives.  It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.  Teaching us to live soberly, righteously, and godly, and he is clearly talking about our earthly lives (this present world).  Now the very obvious thing about this bold grace is that it is given to us before hand  in order that we can have all these wonderful goals.  Without the knowledge of being loved unconditionally (even though we don’t deserve it) we could never move toward what grace teaches us.
3. Third, in verses 13 & 14 we also see the clear description of what Bold Grace really is.  Christ giving himself FOR US!  Not a few of US, or some of US, or just those of US who deserve it, but for ALL OF US!  And just what is HIS goal for us?  To purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

In a recent comment Bruce said:

It wasn’t until I found this group of friends at boldgrace that I finally found true community. Even with the great distances between us, there is more love, friendship, compassion, and community than I’ve ever seen in any traditional church. The reason? We have no leaders, and have no need for any leaders. We’re simply a bunch of friends on a journey together, enjoying God’s peace and grace. No agendas, no power struggles, no funds to collect, no building to pay for, no need to build community (because it just “happened”). It’s not to say we’re without our challenges and pains, but they seem to be rare. This is probably the only true community of which I’ve ever been a part.

I feel the same exact way and I know Geo, Steve, and Mindy would also agree.  As I thought about what Bruce wrote it made me realize the reality of his last statement in my life also.  He said:  "This is probably the only true community of which I’ve ever been a part."  

So, what is it that makes our friendship so special?  I can only answer for myself but I believe that the very root of the answer is found in NOTHING.  By that I mean each of us came to this understanding of God’s very BOLD grace by ourselves as individuals and when we came together as a "COMMUNITY" here at boldgrace.com we did not bring anything else with it.  Bold Grace by its self plus nothing is our secret and I believe it is the great secret that makes the Gospel good news indeed.

Does that mean that we don’t share ideas that can improve our lives in the here and now?  Of course not.  We often share and talk about different books we are reading and how new things we are learning help us understand this life more clearly.  We also love hearing all the different comments that encourage us to keep this site open.  As Bruce said, we have No agendas, no power struggles, no funds to collect, no building to pay for, no need to build community (because it just “happened”).  We are only here to share this unbelievable peace that is a direct result of realizing this BOLD GRACE. 

Some may wonder why we so strongly reject adding anything to it and the reason is simple.  It is God himself who gives us the answer:

2 Cor 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Grace has taught me to accept myself the way God accepts me.  Grace has taught me to accept Bruce, Geo, Steve, Mindy, and everyone else exactly the way they are because it is GOD who takes our weaknesses and shows us His PERFECT POWER in spite of them.

Yes, we do believe we are perfect because we believe His Grace really does have POWER.  He doesn’t need us to do something or believe something for His Grace to Work.  Who ever comes to our site will not be asked to change anything in their life.  We will tell them they have always been loved, are loved now, and will always be loved by a God who truly loves without conditions. 

The amazing thing is that when people really get this message of Bold Grace it does have a powerful effect on their lives.  The security of an indestructible love has more power than all of man’s greatest wisdom.  Just knowing that God will never leave you, never forsake you, never abandon you, and that He will be standing by you even in your weakest of moments is a knowledge that is our greatest resource here on earth.  This LOVE from God comes without judgment or criticism.  This LOVE comes with freedom to choose our own way.  We can choose a painful life of striving to be good enough or we can choose a peaceful life by believing in this Bold Grace, but either way God will STAND with us.

Bold Grace plus nothing is the secret to true community.  God made us all in His image and I am so glad that my eyes can see the beauty of that image in myself and in the world around me. 

Rom 8:38-39 I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us.  We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.

The following verses tell us that God has taken complete responsibility for what we need to learn while on this earth.  Maybe that’s why He tells us to quit judging each other.

Heb 8:10-13 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

  

Heb 10:16-18  "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

    

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

 

1 Thess 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

 

    

Matt 7:1-4 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

  

1 Cor 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.

Isn’t it a peaceful feeling that we do not have to rely on anyone to teach us what is most important?

And isn’t it a peaceful feeling to know it is not my job to judge others?

Wow, if the church quit teaching and judging, what would be left?  I guess they didn’t get that memo from God.

Gen 2:15-17 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

This video is for my fellow travelers who think there is no way out. Speak up and use your voice. You will find some who don’t care at all, some who care a little, and some who care a great deal. Maybe we can’t solve all your problems but at least you will find someone who cares here at BoldGrace. 

Matt 10:29-31"Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. Every hair on your head has been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.

 We won’t judge you.  We won’t condemn you.  We won’t point out all your weaknesses.  And the reason we won’t is because we know your value.  There is a God of Perfect Love that you can trust.  He leaves none of us behind.  He will never forsake anyone.  He has a plan for you that is perfect.  We hope you choose to awaken to the LOVE that surrounds you, but either way His LOVE will wrap you up and hold you safe at all times.

Many years ago I heard a wonderful sermon about ten very powerful words.

IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME!

Now at the time of that sermon I was much more in to self righteous behavior because most sermons that I heard surrounded the idea of how we could please God.  The funny thing is that even though now that I understand Bold Grace and realize that I don’t have to do anything to please God I still find these ten words to carry great power.

The reason is because I fully realize that God has given me complete freedom to create the world in which I want to live on this earth.  I know he won’t reject me regardless of what I choose to say or do.  I know His love is not based on me but rather on who He is.  Knowing this makes me feel incredible.  To know that God is willing to let me choose my way, good or bad, and that at the end of the journey He will still be standing by me side.

So, for me these ten words help me focus on what kind of a person I really want to be. 

My beautiful southern cousin Connie quoted the following:

“Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” (George Elliot)

I want to be a person that others feel safe with and IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME.

My beautiful daughter Mindy quoted the following:

“”The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.”
–Joseph Addison

I want to be this kind of friend to all.  I want to understand the secret that few discover and IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME.

Kevin Beck wrote the following:

What’s stopping us? Fear. Anxiety. Ego. Pride. Selfishness. Desire for power and control. Our false selves.  We can (will and do) experience true community and hospitality when we awaken to our interconnectedness and oneness.

God has given me complete freedom to choose my life hear on earth.  At 56 years old I am very clear that the things that Kevin mentions above are the very things that will block me from being all that I want to be.  I can no longer use the excuse of being young and dumb.  I can not longer use the excuse of feeling guilt and shame because I don’t.  I have great peace with God and because of that peace I feel a sense of awe for the image that lives within me.  I no longer want to live in lies and illusions.  I want to allow this image in which I was created to come fully to the surface of all that I do and say and IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME.

I thank each and every person who comes here in the name of true friendship.  Let us put our false selves away and focus on the reality of who we really are.

I no longer believe I have any power at all to reject God.  I do believe God is all powerful and it is His will for me to find my way in the understanding of His perfection.  I also believe He has give us great freedom to see for ourselves, experience for ourselves, and choose our own way on this earth.  One thing He will not let me choose is to stay in a state of illusion.  Sooner or later He will reveal the Glory of our creation to each and every one of us.  Until that time I want to use my freedom wisely and so I will get up each morning with these ten little words always in my mind……IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME!  Godspeed to  ALL.

On this past Saturday my wife, daughter Mindy, & I traveled 5 hours one way to be at Geo & Bonnie’s all day lamb & chicken roast.  I went because it is seldom I get the chance to be with all the contributors at Boldgrace.  We were all there plus a lot of people I have never met. John T and his wife traveled from Canada just to be with us and enjoy this great day.  We had some great food and great discussions about life.  Some of the discussions centered around the freedom that those of us at Boldgrace are experiencing as a result of believing God is perfect as well as his plan.  Needless to say some of the Christians who attended who are still heavily involved in the organized church took issue with our beliefs and yet we were able to eat and drink together with a spirit of joy and acceptance, (at least I felt that way). 

I have only one question to ask our readers and I truly want people to respond.  Here is the question:

What’s stopping us from being the community of God’s children?  And when I say "US" I’m talking about the entire human race.

At this gathering there were beer drinkers, smokers, couples who lived together, some who cussed, some who judged harshly, some who ate to much, some who talked to much, some who were full of love, and others who were bitter………..and the list goes on & on because this gathering simply represented the human race.  And yet, we all got along. 

I personally think we all got along, even though there were great differences because Geo & Bonnie had provided an environment where everyone felt welcomed and accepted just the way they were and they knew it.  Show me a church that will allow that kind of a community and I will join. 

The organized church has utterly failed at true community.  Most of the time people who attend church can never really let their hair down and truly be themselves with out fear of judgment.  I can say that I really loved being with those people this past Saturday (and there were a number of conservative christians present, but I was able to enjoy them because I was completely and fully myself……and that could never happen in church.

Well, anyway, that’s just my take on it.  I would love to hear how others feel about what TRUE COMMUNITY IS?

To Geo & Bonnie,   THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE…….NOTHING MORE & NOTHING LESS, JUST CHILDREN OF GOD WHO UNDERSTAND THEY ARE PERFECT.

I chose for the greater part of my life to attend church.  I also chose to be very involved in every aspect of church life.  I can say during all those years I was devoted to being the most loving person I could be.  From the beginning I did not believe in the concept of HELL and that’s probably why I concentrated so much on preaching and teaching about love.  I wanted more then anything to help people see the perfect God of love that I worshiped in my heart.  I was also convinced that the message of pure love would get through but now as I look back I think it was more my stubborn pride that didn’t want to believe I failed.

When I finally left the church it was because I had been humbled so much by the message of a bold grace that reaches every single human being.  I was forced to come to grips with the limited nature of church life.  I say limited because that’s exactly what the organized church message is….LIMITED.  The strings that are attached to it are so binding that true freedom is an impossibility.

The reason I don’t attend now has nothing to do with whether I would enjoy it or not.  I always loved going to church.  I loved singing the hymns and being a part of a group.  I loved teaching and preaching and I always gave my very best every time I stood in the pulpit.  Unfortunately the more the message of bold grace gets into your heart the more you fully realize your connection to all mankind.  At least for me, to go to church now would make me feel disconnected.  Bold grace enables me to walk into a jail and sit with the most hardened of criminals and feel at one with them because I know our oneness is not something I or they created.  Of course the sad thing is I am not allowed to go to our county jail because I’m not sanctioned by a church.  The message of God’s pure love pounding in my heart is not enough.  

In my earlier years in the churches of Christ I was denied being an "ELDER" (that’s a big deal) because I wouldn’t say that unless your baptized God has no power to save you.  All I would have had to do is comply with the basic idea that you have to do something to be OK with God.  Well, I wouldn’t do it then, and I won’t do it now.  I also won’t set myself up as superior to ANYONE because of what I believe or do.  I have and will always teach that GOD’S PLAN DOES NOT REST IN THE HANDS OF MEN.

Where ever I go or whom ever I am with I feel connected because I know who connected us.  Whether someone agrees with me or even likes me will not change this connection.  I now truly feel like I am worshiping God without the constraints of time or place.  It is an eternal worship that has always been and always will be. 

Let me finish by saying that I have no need or  desire to get people to leave the church.  I had to take my own journey just as everyone else does.  I had to find out for myself just as everyone else does, but for those who are at a place in their spiritual journey that the organized church is not giving them peace then I want to be that voice of one crying in the wilderness.  A voice that says there is a straight path that one can not fall off of.  A voice that never points to myself but rather only points to the God that has provided us with a grace so bold that most christians still can’t believe it.

I have been condemned by many.  I have been called a false prophet who leads people to HELL.  I am feared by some ministers as an agent of Satan himself.  All of this is because of one thing……..I CLAIM THAT GOD IS PERFECT, AS IS HIS PLAN.  I claim that God will not fail anyone.  I claim that the life of Jesus is more powerful than the life of Adam.  Because of Adam death came upon all men, but because of Jesus LIFE has come to ALL MEN. 

I would like to close this post with my favorite quote that has affected me in all I do and say:

NOTHING REAL CAN BE THREATENED, NOTHING UNREAL EXISTS, AND THEREIN LIES THE PEACE OF GOD.

Peace to All!