Did Jesus Come Just to Kick Your Ass?

For several years one of my favorite sentences that gets to the heart of the matter concerning the gospel comes from Philip Yancey. In his book What's So Amazing About Grace?,
he quotes a gentleman who was asked to summarize the bible in 10 words or less. The response was, "We're all bastards and God loves us anyway." I believe that captures the essence. None of us really deserves or has earned God's love. His love comes our way because he loves us and wants to love us. We can relax and embrace his love or rather let it embrace us. Sure, it matters how we live our lives. But not so much that we need to feel pressure to get it just right each and every moment of the day. That get it just right perfectionism leads to huge blowouts eventually. Receiving grace is difficult for a proud country full of proud people of which I am one. I long to receive it more fully.

Here are some more words that illustrate the same sentiment that Yancey conveyed. These were recently emailed to me by a friend. They come from a sermon by her pastor, Peter Hiett.

So I’m convinced your deepest problem is not the cigarettes you smoke or the alcohol you drink in secret. It’s not the slander you speak and the gossip you cherish. It’s not the pornography you pleasure yourself with when no one’s looking. It’s not the baby you aborted; it’s not that you betrayed your brother, cheated on your bride, lied about the whole thing, and retaliated with murder [King Herod]. It’s not even that you slaughtered the Lamb and killed the Messiah. Your deepest problem is that somewhere deep down inside, you believe Jesus the Messiah rose from the dead just to kick your ass, when, in fact, He rose from the dead so you would believe all is forgiven. It is finished! Justice is accomplished. And the Father is pleading, “Come home, come home, come home!”

Comments

[Totem to Temple]

I've asked the same question myself most every day.

[Phyllis]

I happened to be at Lookout that Sunday. It was the most powerful sermon I've heard in years. I couldn't stop crying, and had to restrain myself from standing up and shouting. It was truly amazing. Thanks for the reminder

[Ben]

Thanks for your honesty and heart Phyllis.
Totem, it is good to hear from you too. We do tend to take so much more on our shoulders than we need to. May you hear words of blessing and kindness in your soul today.

Ben

[Daryl]

Forgive me for jumping in, but I was really taken by these comments. I am from New Zealand, but just visited lookout last sunday, and was totally blown away.

Could you tell me what sermon you are referring to, and how I could get my hands on a copy?

I have been checking out lookout's website. What a blessing. Really.

Thanks,
Daryl Bay

[Ben]

Hello,

My name is Ben Castille, I am a author from Fort Worth, Texas. I am writing you because I feel we have something in common (the word ENTHEOS).

As an author I needed to find a unique word that would best describe my book and how I felt about the subject of life, love, work and happiness. I chose “ENTHEOS” as the title.

When you selected the word ENTHEOS for your organization or business you probably did so (like I did) for it’s beautiful meaning (ENTHUSIASM OR SPIRIT WITHIN).

I am inviting you to read “ENTHEOS” the book. I believe it will strengthen your connection with the word and perhaps add new and exciting meaning to it.

Order you copy at Barnes & Noble.com

There is much to be done but all is well “ENTHEOS” Get some!

Kindest regards,

Ben Castille

PS: Please email me with your comments on the book. Your participation is critical to the evolution of this philosophy. When I come to your area for my book singing it would be a privilege to meet you and sign your book.

[DB]

People need to hear this more often. Maybe every day.

[ben]

Thanks DB. I liked the title of your blog so much I added a link to you on my site.

[Dan]

Please pray for a miracle for my marriage (Berdell and Dan) to be restored soon. We will be forced into bankruptacy

Thank you.

Dan.

[ben]

Dan, I lift up you and Berdell to our God for wisdom and restoration. May He touch you both.

[Aaron S. Wilson]

I'm not sure I understand what Hiett is talking about. Pardon my ignorance here.

And whatever he's talking about, I'm not seeing the necessity to use profanity to make the point.

Could anyone explain?

[ben]

Beats the hell out of me! :)
Just kidding Aaron. He's trying to say that most of us are afraid of God. We think it is our sin that is the biggest deal but our biggest problem is that we won't receive the grace and tenderness of our God. He's not saying sin isn't an issue but that we can get lost in worry, guilt and shame and miss out on the stupendous radical love of God because we see him as a stern, cold, disciplinarian and not Abba, a loving father.
Using the word ass instead of buttocks or rear end was probably a little for shock value but also it helped people to get past their 'church face' and get in touch with their underlying shame. The antidote for shame is acceptance which is a part of grace. God accepts us even in our heinous sin, (Romans 5:8) but that isn't the present reality for most of us. Blessings to you Aaron if shame isn't part of your battle. Thanks for stopping by.

[Janet Mattern]

I really would like a copy of the sermon, Did Jesus Just Come to Kick Your Ass? by pastor Peter Hiett. I have not been able to access it. Please help!
Janet Mattern

[Janet Mattern]

I am not sure if my first message posted ,so here it is again, I woul like a copy of, DId Jesus Just Come to Kick Your Ass? by Pastor Peter Hiett. I have not been able to access it.
Janet Mattern

[Dan]

Please pray for my marriage (Berdell and Dan) to be restored. The divorce is at the final stages. She came to me about 3 weeks ago and wanted to restored something(friendship or marriage she was not sure). She changed her mind. Now she wants the divorce again.

The divorce is not final yet. Pray that God puts circumstances in our lives to restore the marriage before the divorce is final.

Thank you.

Dan
mbaclassengineer@yahoo.com

[Daniel Yoder]

Pray for my marriage (Berdell and Dan) to be restored before the divorce is final (maybe within a month the trail). Please place this pray request at your church too, we need all the prayer we can get. We have been married for 10 years.

Thank you for your prayers.

Dan
(mbaclassengineer@yahoo.com)

[Dan]

Pray for my Marriage (Berdell and Dan) to be restore before mediation on Aug 3, 2006.

Pray for a miracle to happen.

Thank you.

[ben]

You got it Dan.

[Lydia Coleman]

Hello Ben I hope you don't mind my jumping in here. I happened upon your site. This is in answer to Janet Matterns question who is trying to find one of Peters sermons. Janet my name is Lydia Coleman, I know the Hiett family pretty well you could say :) so I found the information for you while I was here. The sermon was not actually titled "Did Jesus Come Just to Kick Your Ass?" But rather was titled "Why Jesus Rose From the Dead. Matthew 14:1-12" It was preached on May 2,2004 and can be obtained through the church. They were kind enough to find it and confirm it for me from the quote above. The website is www.lomcc.org
God bless I hope this helps.

[ben]

Lydia, Thank you so much for your kindness and help.

[Dan]

Prayer for restore my family and marriage (Berdell & Dan) before the divorce is final. My wife is a Christian. She stated the GOD gave us free will. GOD will forgive for this divorce. Our mediation is Aug 3. Prayer for me to be open to GOD and for GOD to grant me wisdom, knowledge, and guidance. Prayer for my daughter for protection of the hurt and pain.

[Dan]

Pray for a miracle to restore my marriage (Bedell and Dan) and the family before the diovrce is final. We just went through mediation. My wife could not agree to anything. Now we have to go to a hearing for the divorce. I believe that God will restore this marriage before the divorce is final. Pray for my wife to go to a retreat this weekend (Aug 18, 2006) called the encounter. It will change her life.

Bye for now.

Dan

[Dan]

Pray for a miracle to restore my marriage (Berdell and Dan) before the divorce is final. We are at the last stages of the divorce processs. My Christian wife told me at church,God will forgive her for the divorce that she wants. She stated in the New Testimiate "We live in the period of Grace, and forgiveness, no consequences." I do not understand breaking up marriage and family (1 child, 9 year old daughter) that God is ok with this. I read in Malachi 2:16 (I think), "GOD HATES DIVORCE"

Pray for miracle that Berdell (my wife) goes to my church's ladies weekend retreat call an Encounter.

Please put my pray request at your church, friends, and yourself.

Thank you and God Bless you.

Dan mbaclassengineer@yahoo.com

[ben]

Dan, Why is she so ticked at you?

[Dan]

Prayer need for my Divorce Hearing on Monday Dec 11 at
1:30 pm.

Prayer for fairness of the Judge and to have
everything 50% 50% especially the visitation.

I am offering her 80% of the stuff and between 25% to
45% of the debt, I will take the rest.

Prayer for a miracle to happen to restore the marriage
(Berdell and Dan)

Thank you.

God bless,

Dan (mbaclassengineer@yahoo.com)

[ben]

Dan, Good to hear from you. Blessings to you during this difficult time. I do lift you both up for a miracle.