Hanging our hats

We Christians hang our hats on some scriptures while totally ignoring others.

The church that I grew up on, hung it's hat on Ephesians 2:8-9. It is the passage that I had to memorize for my public interview to be confirmed. Here it is.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This verse taken as it is, points us to salvation thru faith, no works involved. It allowed us to just believe and not take action in the world. But now look how this passage changes when we add verse 10.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

When I add verse 10, I am no longer free to ignore a hurting world. We are not saved by works but we are called to act out in love in this life. Where we hang our hat says everything about what we believe.

Here is another example. The church I grew up in hung it's hat on John 3:16.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

That same church that loved John 3:16 completely ignored 1 John 3:17 which says:

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Where does your church hang it's hat? What passages do we ignore to our peril?  Or I should say what do we ignore for our pleasure? What do we ignore so that we can continue living our turned in, selfish American lives?

There are other places to hang our hats than what we were taught growing up.

The Christian faith is more that a way of believing.  It is believing in a way of life.  A life that sees others, that loves God and neighbor.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
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I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs