WHAT IF WE THREW THE BUTS OUT?
Posted by Mike Foster:
You know what frustrates me the most? When I hear the word “BUT” in conversations about second chances.
What does the word “BUT” do:
“BUT” is about caution. “BUT” is about holding back just a little. “BUT” is our escape route. “BUT” is our Plan B.
Plain and simple: IT’S THE WATERING DOWN OF RADICAL GRACE!
Instead of passionately going for it and risking everything we place our trust in the “BUT.”
Tell me if you’ve heard or thought this before about second chances:
“But what if he cheats again?” “But what if they aren’t truly sorry?” “But what if it doesn’t work out?” “But some people say…”
All those “BUTS” have the same predictable result. No real change. No grace revolution. It’s just business as usual. And quite frankly, I’m tired of business as usual!
When I daydream I often wonder what kind of world it would be if we all pushed through our fear, prejudice, and judgment and fully surrendered to a movement of radical grace.
Are you with me? Are you ready to go for it?
The path is clear..The only way we get there is by throwing the “BUTS” out!
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.potsc.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
blog comments powered by Disqus
Recent Posts
Archives
#POTSC
+ View All
POTSC's Twitter
Recent Comments
Gabe Taviano says: Reminds me of the trip to Cambodia two months ago. ...
mike foster says: i will have to admit the first step into the ...
Alece says: it's not about running blindly, but about walking calculatedly and ...
Alece says: it's not about running blindly, but about walking calculatedly and ...
That’s really cool, but what’s the next step? How do we get the “BUTS” out?
When people use the word “BUT”, it’s just an indication of their lack of faith, usually driven by fear. But as 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Fear is from Satan, love is from God.
I’ve also noticed the use of “BUT” and “SHOULD” in people who have been baptized, but not yet filled with the Holy Spirit, which gives us that power, that certainty, to push through obstacles, in spite of the fear that Satan throws at us. When you have that Spirit, you can, as is written in Phillipians 4:7, that “peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Oops, I didn’t mean to imply that *every* person not Spirit-filled is full of fear, nor that all Spirit-filled Christians were always free from fear. Satan will use every opportunity to sneak in any cracks in the armor of God!
I love it. You’re right. We hold back. Excuses prevent us from going all the way. Good call.
Can you really show true grace if you hold anything back?
Good word mike, i get caught up on but all the time.
Everyone’s “But” needs liposuction.
“But” you can’t lead groups any longer to Mexico. “But” we don’t DO that kind of evangelism. “But” we can’t have those kind of people on our campus we’ll lose families leaving the elementary school. “But” we don’t see how ministry to them means KNOW,SHOW and GROW GOD.”But” they have felonies. “But” who does ministry to the homeless camps?
GRACE says..”Yes” take folk to Mexico. “Yes” we’ll do that evangelism. “Yes” we can make a place for them.”Yes” God will help us to include all in our KNOW SHOW and GROW in God work. “Yes” let’s go to the homeless camps. Yes” we care that they have felonies they need our grace.
Better to be a wet water walker than a dry boat sitter any day.
I’ve recently been trying to communicate with someone who keeps saying “what if…” and “I don’t believe” and “hopefully someday”. Really what they are saying is they don’t believe God changes lives, and they believe they have the right to judge hearts. Unbelief is so crippling to grace and we can fall into so easily!
BTW – God nailed me with this hard about six months ago, so I am not trying to speak without seeing the plank that is in my own eye/life. Now, I am trying to recognize how far someone has come (even if only a step) instead of looking at how far I want to believe they have to go. I’m learning to leave that journey in God’s hands and celebrate today instead.
@ed thanks for sharing that. cool stuff.
@sarah i know i make too many excuses. and i just wonder what im really missing out on.
@jason great point!
@ray now thats a good one!
@tim right on! i hope we are never accused of sitting in the boat and we all get wet!
@sherie so true. im not sure how we can be transformed in any area of our life with the “buts” around.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ron Swanson, Brenda Renderos, Lisa Oyer, POTSC, Amber Parker and others. Amber Parker said: RT @POTSC: WHAT IF WE THREW THE BUTS OUT? http://bit.ly/6El73Y #potsc [...]
I was wondering “how do we get our “buts” out of the scene?”
thanks, Ed.
We have to risk our emotions. DECIDE its better to live at risk of being hurt than to hold back from love and forgiveness. Only THEN we can act out God’s grace to others.
Great post!
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by BrenRenderos: So true!!! RT @POTSC: WHAT IF WE THREW THE BUTS OUT? http://bit.ly/6El73Y #potsc #fb…
[...] Mike Foster suggests that we throw our ‘buts’ out! [...]
My husband says that But is a B.S. converter meaning everything you said either before or after it is BS. Like I really want to believe you, but I just can’t. I try my best, but I just have a hard time having faith. I love you, but…..
Add your comment