This is the
conclusion of Garth Young’s story. If you missed the beginning, last Sunday,
you can find it here. If you would like to contact Garth directly, please email him: garth@airqualitypdx.com.
* * * * *
For
the past eight years I have been evangelizing at the Clackamas County Jail. All
the men at CCJ are criminals; many are hardened men and are hostile toward
anything that doesn’t satisfy their own cravings for self-centered hedonism. My
purpose in going into the jail is to declare the essential themes of God’s word,
to the men – having had so much in common with them, spiritually speaking. The
following is what I preach and hold dear.
The
bible declares that Jesus is the Son of God, the unblemished sacrificial lamb
who gave himself as a ransom for sinners.
One of the fascinating things about the bible is that over a span of
thousands of years, with many different human writers, disciples everywhere
know it has only one Author. All the writings of scripture are inspired by God
and without error. God reveals himself to us through his word and has given an
undeniable calling to follow Jesus; his sheep will hear his voice and follow
him. The message of the bible is often referred to as “the gospel” and means
“good news” or “glad tidings”.
The good news is that God the father sent God
the son into our broken, fallen world as a servant in order to purchase
salvation for all who will believe. Here is the gospel in three points (1)
Everyone is guilty of sin (Rom 3:23), (2) The penalty for sin is death (Rom
6:23), and (3) Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins (Rom 5:8). The
entire bible from Genesis to Revelation is pointing to Jesus. His death
actually purchased salvation for the people of God. Salvation is a free gift
that cannot be earned, and everyone who believes in their heart and confesses
with their mouth that God raised Jesus from the dead will be saved (Rom 10:9).
Jesus’
crucifixion seemed like a simple punishment for criminals of the day, but
divine meaning of sacrifice can hardly be overstated. The cross is the place
where the justice of God and the love of God come together, the very same place
where justice was satisfied and love was poured out like a river.
The
life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is what sets captives free, and we who
were imprisoned experience that very freedom as we trust in the great
achievement of Christ for ourselves. Jesus led a perfect life without sin; he
was God in human form. So, for a sinner like me, here’s where the good news
becomes even better: the perfection that was required of me and was impossible
for me to accomplish was achieved through Christ’s perfect obedient life. The
death that I should have died, Jesus experienced, taking all my sins with him
and nailing them to the cross. Because Christ was raised from the dead there is
complete assurance that I am not still in my sins and my faith in him is real
because He lives forevermore.
One
way of explaining this is to say my deepest motivations had changed. When God
put faith into my heart I came to know Jesus, who he was, and what he did was
for me personally. Along with this miracle came the new desire to follow Jesus
– a desire stronger than sin. The flesh is still there with its sinful desires
but the new desire is the motivation for following Christ. Now that I have been raised with Christ, I am
to set my mind on things above where he is, seated at the right hand of God
(Col 3:1). The goal of growth, discipleship, and maturity can truly be pursued
now since he has covered me with his righteousness and I have been sealed by
the Holy Spirit as a guarantee, for the praise of his glory (Eph 1:12-14).
God’s
word is much more than instruction. He speaks to me through his word and has
communicated to me, that I am his. I also understand through reading the bible
that as a follower of Jesus, I must persevere and continue trusting him,
knowing he will finish the good work he has started in me. The evidence of faith is works. If someone
says they have faith without works then their faith is dead (James 2:26). There
must be a good fruit that comes from a heart of faith, because if there is no
godly fruit it’s not a real faith that saves. More importantly, what is the
basis of your faith? Paul says you are saved by grace through faith and not of
works lest any man should boast (Eph 2:8-9). The basis of real saving faith can
only be found when it is resting upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. Some may want to say that their faith is based
in how hard they worked, how strong they were, how smart they were, what church
they attended, how many good things they
did, how devoted they were, all in his name, etc. but on that final day Jesus
will say I never knew you (Matt 7:23).
January
6, 2002 is the last time we attended a meeting at the Oregon City Followers of Christ. Prior to our
departure we heard the gospel - through the hearing and reading of God’s word.
The hearing came through our radio. It was at this point that we seriously
began to seek something more than the FOC. There were many convictions, but
what was most disturbing was the idea that going to that church would in some
way make me holy. I didn’t have a lot of understanding, but I did understand
the only way I could be justified was through faith in Jesus. I was very
immature when we left, but ten years later I can truly say God has been
abundantly merciful. We have come so far since the day we first understood the
good news, and there is no wondering if we have made the right decision.
We
had nowhere to go. We just wanted to find a church where God’s word is taught
and believed. Elaine and I were baptized September 8, 2002 in Kooskia, Idaho.
We had made some friends in Kooskia because that was the home church of one of
the radio speakers we listened to. It wasn’t easy finding a new church as well.
Our marriage was struggling but eventually the Lord sent Christian people our
way who sat down with us and helped us work out the problems in our
marriage. After eighteen months of going from
church to church we finally settled down and began regularly attending a church
in Gladstone, OR where we have stayed and have matured significantly in the
love of Christ.
Now
our hearts have come to rest in the comfort of our heavenly father. In view of
the supremacy of God nothing else matters, the main purpose for which everyone
is created is to bring him glory and enjoy him forever; it is only by his
working in people that anyone can will or do anything that pleases him. He is
the one that matters and he is the only one worthy of worship.
As
I said in the beginning, this is a brief summary. It’s not possible to touch on
everything that could or should be said. I have tried to put everything on the
table that is crucial to understanding what has happened to Elaine and me, and
how the grace of God has changed us from the inside out.
In
conclusion, there is an invitation and a warning. I sincerely invite anyone to
dialogue with me about any of the questions that may have come up in your mind
as you read this. The only reason I have written this is because it seems a
fitting platform to reach people I dearly love, the same people that may not
otherwise be reached. Secondly, in view of the distorted emphasis that
salvation is somehow connected to being part of the OC FOC, and the lack of
bible teaching, I do not see how it is possible for the truth to be achieved
while remaining at FOC, in its current state.
The FOC has insulated itself from the truth, and is leading people in a
path away from the righteousness of God. I know that may seem offensive, and
many will not want to hear about the responsibility they have. The truth is
that God is in control and people are held responsible for their lives. The question
you must ask yourself is, am I in Christ because of His mercy and grace? Or am
I standing upon the merit of my good works?
