A woman recently complained that she was brought up with the idea that God was like a surveillance camera, constantly filming everything we do, holding over us the continual threat of vicious retaliation should we step out of line. As a result, this individual decided that God was not for her and embarked on a life of pretty much doing whatever she wanted.
Whatever it is people hear about the God of the Bible, the whole concept of a Big Bully in the sky shouting at us, “Behave or else” is skewered when compared to how He has revealed Himself to humanity.
This weekend we are going to be studying what the Apostle John, the disciple who knew Jesus best, wrote about why Christians live as they do. Ironically, fear of punishment is not the primary motivator, but instead our relationship with Christ. Make no mistake, John is very big on living like a Christian. We won’t find any, “It really doesn’t matter how you live” from him. But his motivation is so different from the “Surveillance Camera God” mentality. Rather than fear, John reminds us of who God has made us – part of his family. He takes us to the cross and shows us the contrast between good and evil which cannot be compromised. For John, it wasn’t a matter of “I have to live like a disciple of Jesus,” but, “I want to”.
If you find yourself identifying with the woman described in the first paragraph, join us for one of our weekend services. Your relationship with God is too important, too good to be spoiled by an “I have to” life.
Saturday evening worship: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am
Hawaii Lutheran Church (WELS)
- Community Lutheran Church
- Honolulu, HI
- Community Lutheran Church holds protestant chapel services in Honolulu, Hawaii near Pearl Harbor, HI. We are next to the USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hickam Air Force Base, and Fort Shafter Hawaii. Look for us directly behind the Salt Lake, Hawaii, Target.