This morning, I started reading through Martin Luther King’s letter from a Birmingham Jail. I was shocked and saddened to see his pain and yet was invigorated to see his faith and resolve to see a new day for our cities and country. His desire to see our country ridded of racism become a reality or at least be given rights of equality as any other man in America.

One statement he wrote stuck with me and is worth sharing with others who would say they are Christians pursuing to grow in their faith. MLK, went on to say that the KKK wasn’t as much a problem as the Moderate, indifferent White people. Their response was… “Be quiet, don’t protest, this isn’t a good time to speak out against our country.”  MLK saw the pressing dangers not so much in men with white masks but men in church pews and political offices that didn’t care to do a thing. These are men that were Christians and maybe even so called mature in their faith, yet their sins weren’t secret KKK meetings, but their sins before God was doing NOTHING. This I am sure was even more offensive to God, than a sin of indifference.

I am reminded of  the subtle sins of Christians all around me including myself. For many of us, our sins of the past have long been tamed; drunkenness, sexual immorality, coarse joking and offensive language, lying stealing etc.

Yet, the God I read about in our Bible says that he knows the heart of man, and weighs his thoughts and reads right through us.  So He sees our pride, our arrogance, or laziness and indifference. He see passivity in the hearts of men and He pukes. He rejects religion. Absolutely hates it, he wants the heart, the passion and a pure pursuit of reckless holiness for His people.

As a maturing Christian, I am seeing the need to not just look for my obvious sins of misbehavior, but look to the root of my sins and the more subtle ones. When I find them  and see them I am saddened and concerned. I can operate so civilly, not causing a ruckus in the Christian Community or my family and friends, and yet God sees right through me, and he despises them. I think God see things like MLK did. He’s not as concerned about the obvious sins, they are obvious! He is really concerned about the subtle sins that fester and settle and stain, deep into our daily thoughts, attitudes, affections and desires of the heart. These I am convinced are far more dangerous in our church than the obvious ones.

Jesus and the Cross is our solution. Sin is offensive to God, hidden ones and obvious ones all.  We can give Jesus our sin and he gives us righteousness. By His blood we are washed white as snow. By the cross, rebels are redeemed, sinners made saints. Our hope and help is here.

Prayer…

Oh God might you make us people of conviction and passion for truth and justice in our city, to speak truth and seek the good of all people in our city. Thank you for MLK, his example, his courage and perseverance for progress for the good of all mankind. Forgive me of my pride and my Ethno-centrist tendencies.

Help us to live out you call and live out our faith, globally engaged  and connected Christians in our community, caring not simply about ourselves and people just like us, but people you love and call the least.  Thank you for your grace and goodness. Lead our church Father in brining more of your kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

—Pastor Ryan

Other Resources

John Piper on MLK’s Letter.

This Sunday Join us at Imago Dei Community Church as we continue in a teaching series through the book of Philippians.

This week Pastor Ryan will teach on Philippians 3:12-4:1 In this section of scripture we learn that Paul was exhausted from his imprisonment and yet finds the strength to press on, and call others to do the same. He finds Christ to be his power and strength to face the challenges and fatigue, discouragement and doubts.

Imago Dei meets Sunday @ 4pm (our NEW TIME!) for a weekly Worship Celebration on Sunday’s at Crosswinds Presbyterian Church. Children’s ministry is provided (Info on Celebrations page). Missional Communities are beginning to gather for mid-week community…Go to the Communities page to learn more.

Please join Imago Dei this Saturday, December 24th at 4pm for our Christmas Eve celebration service. Pastor Ryan Rice will be teaching from the book of Philippians, in a special installment of the “Dear Phoenix” series:

…who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11 ESV)

Invite your friends, invite your family, invite your neighbors to come and celebrate the good news of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! Childcare will be provided for children up to 4 years old. We meet at Crosswinds Presbyterian Church, 20125 N. 15th Ave in Phoenix. Click on the map below for directions:

Join us on Sunday, the 18th for a special Sunday of live Christmas music, fun, and fellowship as we bless the Tramonto neighborhood.

WE WILL NOT BE MEETING FOR CHURCH ON THE 18th! 

Instead, we will be meeting at Pastor Jonathan and Meredith Seabourn’s home in Tramonto (click for map), just north of Carefree Hwy, right off I-17. It all starts at 5pm. More info can be found on our online community: The City, or right here.

Also, Imago Dei would like to announce that starting on January 1st, we will be meeting for church at 4pm on Sundays instead of 5pm at Crosswinds from now on. Please join us then, and spread the word!

Yesterday, November 16th, Pastor Ryan spoke at the Marketplace Bible Study which is held regularly by the Alliance Defense Fund. Ryan talked about the massive tidal wave of confusion that is plaguing today’s 20 & 30-something men in American culture. He shared that confused young men dominate our day, feel a general disappointment with life, and have burdens of unresolved and misunderstood pain, loneliness, and a sense of drifting. Ryan lays it all out, and shows us where to go to get back on track. We have the video available below, courtesy of Marketplace Bible Study:

Hey Imago Dei friends and family! Justin Bizzard over on The Resurgence (good site!) had a great blog post that gives some compelling reasons for joining a church plant (brand-new church). Being that Imago Dei is a church plant, this is extremely relevant and useful in communicating just some of the ways that we’re different:

Top 10 Reasons to Join a Church Plant:

1. If you want to see Jesus do something new and are sick of the status quo.
2. If you dream of being part of something bigger than yourself.
3. If you want to get into a fight/enter a battle for the kingdom of Christ.
4. If you feel a constant itch to see people who don’t know Jesus come to know Jesus and you believe church planting is the best way for the gospel to advance.
5. If you want to give your time, money, energy, and talents to starting something new and you want to make sacrifices to see a mission to succeed.
6. If you fully support the vision, mission, doctrine, and leadership of a church plant.
7. If you want your faith to grow and you want God to fundamentally meddle with and change your life.
8. If you want to love your city.
9. If you want to watch God move in ways you never imagined and you want an adventure (with all it’s discomfort and risk).
10. If you’re not afraid to bank your life on Matthew 16:18 (“I [Jesus] will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”).

If you’re interested in joining us (or just curious): take a look at our Beliefs and Purpose pages, come to our weekly Sunday Night Celebration Service, check out one of our mid-week Missional Community groups, or just contact us by email or phone. Together, as a Christian family, we can bring the good news of Jesus to a city so desperately in need of it!