This Chapel at Northwestern segment features pastor, actor and writer John Lynch. John is also the co-founder of a ministry called True Faced.
In his message to University of Northwestern students during their daily chapel service John Lynch makes the distinction between trusting God and pleasing God.
Going down the path of trying to please God can seem right. After all, he’s done so much for us, of course we want to make him happy. Trying to please him doesn’t work.
We mess up. And then we look around in shame. We can’t see anyone else who has messed up. Everyone else looks the same. Everyone else is wearing a mask, saying they are good enough. We spend time and effort working on our sin, trying to achieve an intimate relationship with God.
All our efforts get in the way and we can’t see God anymore.
This happens often in the church. People grow cynical and cold. Conversations become superficial and guarded. No one believes anyone because they can’t believe themselves. If you catch them when they think no one’s looking there is deep lonely pain in their faces.
Through a dramatic presentation John reminds the students of the folly of endeavoring to please God through human effort.
“When we do this, when we embrace this path you guys, we reduce godliness to a ridiculous formula. More right behavior + less wrong behavior = godliness.”
John condemns such theology focused on human effort because this theology disregards the righteousness and power of God.
We are who God says we are, and God says we are redeemed. No exceptions, not expectations, no guilt.
Chapel at Northwestern – John Lynch
Key Scriptures: Romans 6:14,
The University of Northwestern is a Christ-centered liberal arts university, founded in 1902, and located in St. Paul, Minn. that works closely with Northwestern Media.
