"The Lord will send you to strange places to teach you about His sovereignty." - Pastor Leonce Crump

And it happened. I moved to Denton, Texas. A city rich in diversity with friendly people, thriving local businesses, and a fascinating "hipster" culture.

As quickly as I was welcomed, I was challenged just as fast. Denton: a wonderfully remarkable culmination of the church and the unchurched. We begin our series by discussing religious backgrounds in need of a Savior. We begin with Grace and Identity.

Los Vallucos y Familia

In El Valle, despite Catholic cultivation and traditions, the majority didn't come from a churched background. For many, the model of religious principles was being raised as Mexicans and indoctrinated as Catholics which meant that being called Catholic was another way of being called “Hispanic.” Frankly, I never met a Christian that was a Mexican until I became a one!

Several years ago, some friends and I went to a local pub in McAllen where the Catholic Church had an open-question session called "Theology on Tap." While the priest didn't drink, I'll be the first to say that my beer was delicious. More importantly, it was the young priest's response to a question from someone in the audience: "tradition can trump Scripture."

Family is the official religion. Parties are the gathering, dinners are community groups, tortillas y tequila are the elements of communion, and getting drunk is being filled with the Holy Spirit. Religion was stellar and following this model meant having a "pass" on everything else.

You remember, member?

Identity is founded the family; teaching against this was considered heresy.

The Bible Belt of Texas

North Texas is referred to by many as "The Bible Belt" and the claim many will make is that everyone is a Christian. The majority of the population was raised in the church, come from generations of church attendees, and could recite verses from the Bible by the time they could speak. Orale.

I've had the privilege of sitting down with several people and having heard their stories, it seems everyone can remember their upbringing in church: bible trivia games during Sunday school, wearing their “Sunday’s Best,” knowing clear and distinct differences between Baptists and Presbyterians, and most importantly finding their self-worth in religious morale.

Questioning the Christian Checklist is heresy.

The "Nitty-Gritty"

As I reflected on both cultures, I realized that there is a dismissal of grace and identity, though it is the same Gospel that brings them to Jesus.

In El Valle, identity is grounded in the matters of the family. Disgrace or disapproval meant the abandonment of god; leaving little to no room for forgiveness. Anyone suffering from an identity crisis turns to whatever is pleasing to the flesh in hopes that it will give them value, security, or peace.

In the Bible Belt, identity fell in the matters of "Christian Law" and when the law was broken many were left in confusion, shame, and at loss of value bearing remorse and a tragic understanding that taught repentance was only for the perfect.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast." -Ephesians 2:8

The Grace of Jesus' Gospel

How does Jesus’ gospel draw these two cultures to Him?

By extending grace, forgiveness, and faithfulness that is found in Him.

For the Valluco, the Gospel means hearing some of the most significant words anyone could say to their children, “You are forgiven and I love you.” The Gospel means finding value, security, and peace in Jesus because He is faithful, just, merciful, gracious, and kind. It's not about perfection, but forgiveness.

For the Bible Belt Christian, the Gospel is being covered by the grace that is in Jesus not by works or lack of work, but because of His finished work on the Cross; works are a response to the saving grace of Jesus Christ not a means of acceptance.

It is through Jesus where grace and identity are restored as He reconciled the churched and unchurched to Himself through His work on the Cross. Amen.

Hasta manana, si Dios nos da la vida, amigos...

Oso

Give To The Mission: Valluco En Denton

It's 5:30 a.m. and the morning's night is cold and the further distance outside of the city limits the more quiet it is. As the coffee brews and my mind begins to realize that I'm awake, I smell the familiar scent that travels through every Valluco's nose, one that is strange to the outsider, but an embrace of home to the natives: tortillas. While coffee has an aroma that allows most to start their day, the smell of freshly hand-made tortillas puts it to shame. It's Sunday. A day where masses will gather to celebrate Diosito and praise Him for the cross. It's a time of mariachi. It's a time for the mariachi to shine their boots and tune their instruments before driving to the church. It's a time for fathers to be at HEB, Junior's, Jesse's, or Dorita's shopping for the best meat and seasoning at 6:00 a.m. It's a time for hijos y hijas to wake up and make sure their siblings are getting ready for church while moms, abuelitas (who we called "bueli"), and cousins are getting the food in order so when they get back from church, they can begin cooking.

It's Sunday. A day where families will worship the tradition of religion through the church. It's a time where families will become one despite the events that passed during the week. It's a day where children are made much of at church and during the BBQ. It's a time where the party begins at 12:00 p.m. and we don't believe in invitations.

It's Sunday. A day where families from los barrios go over to everyone else's home to celebrate the arrival of Sunday. It's a time where fathers begin their weekly routine of lighting the fire: some with charcoal over a cast-iron BBQ pit, some with mesquite logs over a caja de muerto, and others with kindle, twigs, and large branches in between three cinder blocks on the ground with a grill set on top. It's a time where rituals mean nothing more than bringing the family together.

It's Sunday. A time where the poor are rich. It's a time where jokes are made and the laughing is so hard that one needs to be fanned down because they may choke on the very air they're trying to breathe. It's a time where soccer games are played- "Football es para los americanos." It's a time for service and the communion of family.

It's Sunday.

Hasta,

El Oso