Our world is ready, able and committed to making Christians look like the most troubled and dangerous people on planet Earth. We don't do bad helping them accomplish their goal. I understand that the Bible tells us to be set apart from unbelievers. I even understand the command to not be unequally yoked in our marriages. Where and when do we decide the line to not be crossed comes to play? If we had to wait until we were perfect to have an effective witness; no one would ever hear about Jesus. Purpose would disappear and Christianity would go away replaced by religiosity.
In my book, While I Was Yet Sinning, I address this very point. We are a fallen people who cannot make it through a day without sinning. We have raised the bar so much for everyone else so that we can make it under the bar for where we are at. Christianity has become more than simply putting our faith in Jesus. It's kind of like having the move to complete the secret handshake. We may be able to "wow" others with our life decisions; but we are only fooling ourselves. We are a fallen people who need to understand that our only focus in life should be Jesus. When we are known as a fallen but forgiven person, our witness becomes much clearer.
Pretending is one of those activities that keeps Christians going. The first harvest festival I attended was a dress up affair. People were asked to come in costume and to be ready to find out who was who regarding Christian figures. What I found were two groups of people. There were those who dressed and did their role well. Then there were those who were determined to win by choosing characters who weren't well known. No one dressed like Jesus or even selected his character to copy. Interesting to say the least. As such the lesson learned was that no one even thought about being Jesus.
Yet, isn't that what we are supposed to be doing daily? Being more like Jesus almost seems like a command in many churches. That is certainly the expectation that God has for us. Yet, we associate with other fallen characters. We fulfill that role of "sinner" best because that is what we are. We are not God and never will be. We are sinners and will only be perfect when Jesus takes us home. Yet, we act like Jesus will never come back. As Christians, we are told to be more like Jesus every day. We are to transcend the barriers that others have put up. However, we are fearful because of our own sin. Being found out is scary so we don't invite the question.
Who are you? I am a sinner saved by the grace of God through Jesus our Savior. I should have stopped after the first 4 words; I am a sinner. This doesn't define what I should "do" but only what I am. The definition of what I am shouldn't prevent my life from showing Jesus to my world. What would the world be like if Christians actually took the command of Jesus seriously. Remember that he gave only 2 commands. The first was to love the Lord God with all of our being. This command includes the first 4 of the Ten Commandments. The second was to love others as God has loved us. This encompasses the other 6 of the Ten Commandments.
Surrender of our will and way of thinking will enable a sinner like me to be Jesus to you.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Would you die for your faith?
People have asked me that question and I can faithfully say that I would die for my faith. Let's be a little more tough on me. Would I deny Christ if my children were going to be killed based on my answer? Knowing they would be tortured before their deaths would I stand by and not waiver in my faith? That would be easier with friends or enemies. My kids have accepted Jesus as Savior and will be in heaven. I know this as witnessed their accepting Jesus with me. That part is uplifting. Knowing they may be tortured or even killed because of their faith is a whole different ball of wax.
We don't like to think about death. That should be a positive part of our life. We all will die eventually. For the Christian that death came a long time ago in the Garden of Eden. From that day forward all of mankind have been born dead. Our lives only seeing life when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. They may kill the body but will never be able to kill the soul living for Jesus. That is good news. My last breath out here on earth will be followed by my first breath taken in heaven. That is promised for all believers. No exceptions. All those who remain dead will not be in heaven. All those who have been born again (spiritually) will see heaven.
Back to the original question. Would I die a physical death for a spiritual life for all of eternity? Having just made the case for the born again the question seems kind of unnecessary. I guess the matter is relegated to the conditions of our world and my relationship with God. Do I believe what the Word says? If I do, there should be no fear of death. That doesn't mean we have to like death. It's just that physical death has no hold on our spiritual life. Why? Because for the believer the physical death means little. Non-believers don't understand my stance. There have been more than once when non-believers have stood there shaking their heads when they have heard the Gospel.
Would you die for your faith? Well, would you? The day is coming when we Christians in the free world will be killed because of the faith we hold. This is part of counting the cost we do when we consider taking Christ's offer of eternal life. Many say "yes" to part of the package and not all of the deal. The Bible says that mankind will hate us because of Christ in us. The Bible says we will be ostracized by non-believers because of the faith we have been blessed with when we accepted Jesus in the first place. When we consider old age or terminal illness, death is accepted more because there is a physical problem that creates a worldly expectation. But, we are stopped dead in our tracks when a child dies.
Bringing this home to our question becomes a very serious issue. If we were standing before the executioner that was to take the physical life of our child, would we deny Jesus as Lord and Savior in order to spare our child violent death? Would we serve God's purpose or Satan's purpose? The question is rather simple to hear but very difficult to accept. I've had the pleasure of praying for all of my children when they accepted Jesus as Savior. My confidence of where they will go when their physical bodies die is secure. But it's MY child. But it's MY grandchild. But it's My daughter. But its MY son. That is exactly what the Father said when Jesus was sent to earth as a child, while he grew up, and his death and resurrection. Yet, the Son said, "Not my will but your will be done."
Will our kids who believe be able to assure us to the degree we won't deny Christ? Will our extended family and friends be able to do the same? Do you think your kids know that you would die for Jesus? Do you think you could tell them today the truth about dying for Christ? Perhaps today would be a good time o have "the talk." Tell them about what is to come. Let them know that you love them so much that you will be the example of how to NOT deny your faith. Thus concluding your chance to have input into their remaining days or years on earth. They can take it. They can understand more than we know. They will only be able to rise to the occasion if they are taught regarding the love of God that lives in us.
Would you die for your faith?
We don't like to think about death. That should be a positive part of our life. We all will die eventually. For the Christian that death came a long time ago in the Garden of Eden. From that day forward all of mankind have been born dead. Our lives only seeing life when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. They may kill the body but will never be able to kill the soul living for Jesus. That is good news. My last breath out here on earth will be followed by my first breath taken in heaven. That is promised for all believers. No exceptions. All those who remain dead will not be in heaven. All those who have been born again (spiritually) will see heaven.
Back to the original question. Would I die a physical death for a spiritual life for all of eternity? Having just made the case for the born again the question seems kind of unnecessary. I guess the matter is relegated to the conditions of our world and my relationship with God. Do I believe what the Word says? If I do, there should be no fear of death. That doesn't mean we have to like death. It's just that physical death has no hold on our spiritual life. Why? Because for the believer the physical death means little. Non-believers don't understand my stance. There have been more than once when non-believers have stood there shaking their heads when they have heard the Gospel.
Would you die for your faith? Well, would you? The day is coming when we Christians in the free world will be killed because of the faith we hold. This is part of counting the cost we do when we consider taking Christ's offer of eternal life. Many say "yes" to part of the package and not all of the deal. The Bible says that mankind will hate us because of Christ in us. The Bible says we will be ostracized by non-believers because of the faith we have been blessed with when we accepted Jesus in the first place. When we consider old age or terminal illness, death is accepted more because there is a physical problem that creates a worldly expectation. But, we are stopped dead in our tracks when a child dies.
Bringing this home to our question becomes a very serious issue. If we were standing before the executioner that was to take the physical life of our child, would we deny Jesus as Lord and Savior in order to spare our child violent death? Would we serve God's purpose or Satan's purpose? The question is rather simple to hear but very difficult to accept. I've had the pleasure of praying for all of my children when they accepted Jesus as Savior. My confidence of where they will go when their physical bodies die is secure. But it's MY child. But it's MY grandchild. But it's My daughter. But its MY son. That is exactly what the Father said when Jesus was sent to earth as a child, while he grew up, and his death and resurrection. Yet, the Son said, "Not my will but your will be done."
Will our kids who believe be able to assure us to the degree we won't deny Christ? Will our extended family and friends be able to do the same? Do you think your kids know that you would die for Jesus? Do you think you could tell them today the truth about dying for Christ? Perhaps today would be a good time o have "the talk." Tell them about what is to come. Let them know that you love them so much that you will be the example of how to NOT deny your faith. Thus concluding your chance to have input into their remaining days or years on earth. They can take it. They can understand more than we know. They will only be able to rise to the occasion if they are taught regarding the love of God that lives in us.
Would you die for your faith?
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
My dogs ran away!
This is the second time they have run away from my new home. In all fairness I did leave a gate open in the back of the property. Is that all it takes for a dog to escape? Apparently that and a sunny day! They did come home a couple of hours later dragging their tails between their legs. They too can feel the guilt of doing what they have or have not done. Cats just don't care either way. Dogs depend upon their acceptance by their owner and anyone else they come in contact with. You need to know that I'm no "dog whisperer" and I cannot fix their psychological problems. What I can do is pet them, feed them and play with them. They like that. That's why I'm so puzzled about why they run off. My guess is they are running to something rather than away from something or someone.
People aren't much different. At least I'm not much different. I have it good. Even with all of my valid complaints I have it good. Food in my belly, shelter over my head, and God to take care of all my needs. Every time I ran away I thought I had good reason. I didn't. Sometimes I ran away from and sometimes I ran to. Like my dogs, my running off affects those who are around me. When I have ran physically (or geographically) away my friends, family and even my enemies were affected. he same applies to psychologically running away. Sometimes the effect on others has been what damaged or destroyed a relationship. Never, did running away solve any of my problems. Not once have I learned enough to not run away again.
When I stop to think about this running away; it's clear that there is a form of manipulation going on. While it's difficult to see my dogs as manipulative, the same cannot be same about human beings. Dogs are able to lick a hand, wag their tail, and be back to where they left off. Humans are different. They are complex with their processes. Unlike dogs, there is a need to be understood and loved even when we are bad. I was once told this: "If you every doubt who loves you more, put your significant other and your dog in the trunk of your car for a couple of hours. Then open the trunk and see who is happy to see you!"
God tells us that he sees us coming back while we are far away and runs out to meet us. He arranges a party to celebrate your and my coming home. He knows as we know that home with him is the only good place to run to. When we do come home God is ready to forgive us. Not like humans forgive (or don't forgive) with conditional love but with godly love. Why would he do this for us? Why would he do this for anyone? Why would he do this time and time again when we run away? The simple answer is we are loved by him without condition. He doesn't like it when we run away (our action) but loves us as his creation. Wherever you or I go, we can never get out of the reach of God's love.
My dogs came home. How could I not love them. I didn't love what they did. I do love them for who they are. I wish my life had been in this order from when my life began. However, my life was marked for those I ran away from as well as those who ran away from me. After all, we are not God. Yet, we should live our lives so that no one runs away from God or us. It's a difficult task to take our eyes off of ourselves and allow God to use us to do his will in the lives of those around us. Our dogs and sometimes even cats can teach us the simplest piece of who we are to be. I still don't want to see them run away. Just as Jesus doesn't want to watch us run away.
People aren't much different. At least I'm not much different. I have it good. Even with all of my valid complaints I have it good. Food in my belly, shelter over my head, and God to take care of all my needs. Every time I ran away I thought I had good reason. I didn't. Sometimes I ran away from and sometimes I ran to. Like my dogs, my running off affects those who are around me. When I have ran physically (or geographically) away my friends, family and even my enemies were affected. he same applies to psychologically running away. Sometimes the effect on others has been what damaged or destroyed a relationship. Never, did running away solve any of my problems. Not once have I learned enough to not run away again.
When I stop to think about this running away; it's clear that there is a form of manipulation going on. While it's difficult to see my dogs as manipulative, the same cannot be same about human beings. Dogs are able to lick a hand, wag their tail, and be back to where they left off. Humans are different. They are complex with their processes. Unlike dogs, there is a need to be understood and loved even when we are bad. I was once told this: "If you every doubt who loves you more, put your significant other and your dog in the trunk of your car for a couple of hours. Then open the trunk and see who is happy to see you!"
God tells us that he sees us coming back while we are far away and runs out to meet us. He arranges a party to celebrate your and my coming home. He knows as we know that home with him is the only good place to run to. When we do come home God is ready to forgive us. Not like humans forgive (or don't forgive) with conditional love but with godly love. Why would he do this for us? Why would he do this for anyone? Why would he do this time and time again when we run away? The simple answer is we are loved by him without condition. He doesn't like it when we run away (our action) but loves us as his creation. Wherever you or I go, we can never get out of the reach of God's love.
My dogs came home. How could I not love them. I didn't love what they did. I do love them for who they are. I wish my life had been in this order from when my life began. However, my life was marked for those I ran away from as well as those who ran away from me. After all, we are not God. Yet, we should live our lives so that no one runs away from God or us. It's a difficult task to take our eyes off of ourselves and allow God to use us to do his will in the lives of those around us. Our dogs and sometimes even cats can teach us the simplest piece of who we are to be. I still don't want to see them run away. Just as Jesus doesn't want to watch us run away.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Stepping off the curb
Sometimes I believe I am a klutz. Plain and simple, trouble seems to present itself in such a way that I can't seem to avoid. Sometimes I even see it coming and yet don't dodge, avoid, or escape the situation. When I was in high school I injured my right ankle. Later in life I began to have trouble with my ankle "spraining." When I would be walking along minding my own business, my ankle would fold under me and down I would go. This condition continued to get worse over time. I finally had enough. I made an appointment to have the surgery needed to correct my problem. When they opened up my ankle, they found an entire set of 3 muscles gone. No wonder I was always falling. They made me new muscles and I haven't had a sprained ankle since. I was in my mid 30's when I had the surgery.
My ability to safely step off the curb had been fixed. I still get a reminder of that surgery whenever the weather changes. Safely accomplishing any feat is important to everyone. No one can avoid the world they live in. It is important that we take a serious look at the issues in our lives and deal with them sooner than later. I'm the king of procrastination. It's not the title I would choose to have describe me. But I am a procrastinator of a lot of areas of my life. I intend o fix that one item on the car...but don't. I have scheduled an appointment for that exam all men hate. Yet, I mysteriously forgot that the appointment was a week ago. And so we go on in our lives perpetuating problems and compounding various areas of our lives.
Okay, here is the shocker: God wants us to step off the curb regardless of the misgivings we have with the actual task. God isn't boxed in by anyone. He isn't defined by human words and certainly doesn't have any boundaries he needs to obey. What we have a difficult time with is wrapping our head around His choices for our life. I've had a total of 17 vocation changes. Most were because the Holy Spirit pushed me to them. Those times where it wasn't of God, the "klutz" move ruined God's perfect plan for me. Klutz isn't just a physical act. Klutz is our taking our lives and dedicating them to ourselves. When self is running the show, less that best is what we get and give. That's not all! When we begin to hurry and disregard His timing, klutzing happens.
Whenever we step off the curb, we need to be in that frame of mind and spirit that answers the call of God in our lives with confidence. We may asked to say or do some really crazy sounding things. Yet, we should still go and fulfill the word of the Lord through us to that world. The test in the Old Testament for a prophet to be truly of God was to evaluate his prophecies. If he was truly giving what God asked him to give; the word would be fulfilled ALL the time. If your prophecies did not come about, everyone knew you were not of God. People know when we step off the curb in our will as opposed to His will. Still, I continue to try and be god of my world and take decisions on my own. We have been created for better.
Not knowing is okay. Being the one who refused to say or do something is okay. Learning to believe God can take care of us is okay. You are okay with God regardless of your decisions you make in your life. God loves the real deal...the man or woman of God you were intended to be. How did we get off track? The simple and complete answer is; Sin. Okay, that was anticlimactic. We have grown so used to making our world roll forward with no inclination of asking God what he wants in our lives and the lives we are surrounded by. Let's step off the curb today and ask God what he wants us to think, say and do. It's not that difficult.
My ability to safely step off the curb had been fixed. I still get a reminder of that surgery whenever the weather changes. Safely accomplishing any feat is important to everyone. No one can avoid the world they live in. It is important that we take a serious look at the issues in our lives and deal with them sooner than later. I'm the king of procrastination. It's not the title I would choose to have describe me. But I am a procrastinator of a lot of areas of my life. I intend o fix that one item on the car...but don't. I have scheduled an appointment for that exam all men hate. Yet, I mysteriously forgot that the appointment was a week ago. And so we go on in our lives perpetuating problems and compounding various areas of our lives.
Okay, here is the shocker: God wants us to step off the curb regardless of the misgivings we have with the actual task. God isn't boxed in by anyone. He isn't defined by human words and certainly doesn't have any boundaries he needs to obey. What we have a difficult time with is wrapping our head around His choices for our life. I've had a total of 17 vocation changes. Most were because the Holy Spirit pushed me to them. Those times where it wasn't of God, the "klutz" move ruined God's perfect plan for me. Klutz isn't just a physical act. Klutz is our taking our lives and dedicating them to ourselves. When self is running the show, less that best is what we get and give. That's not all! When we begin to hurry and disregard His timing, klutzing happens.
Whenever we step off the curb, we need to be in that frame of mind and spirit that answers the call of God in our lives with confidence. We may asked to say or do some really crazy sounding things. Yet, we should still go and fulfill the word of the Lord through us to that world. The test in the Old Testament for a prophet to be truly of God was to evaluate his prophecies. If he was truly giving what God asked him to give; the word would be fulfilled ALL the time. If your prophecies did not come about, everyone knew you were not of God. People know when we step off the curb in our will as opposed to His will. Still, I continue to try and be god of my world and take decisions on my own. We have been created for better.
Not knowing is okay. Being the one who refused to say or do something is okay. Learning to believe God can take care of us is okay. You are okay with God regardless of your decisions you make in your life. God loves the real deal...the man or woman of God you were intended to be. How did we get off track? The simple and complete answer is; Sin. Okay, that was anticlimactic. We have grown so used to making our world roll forward with no inclination of asking God what he wants in our lives and the lives we are surrounded by. Let's step off the curb today and ask God what he wants us to think, say and do. It's not that difficult.
Monday, November 3, 2014
The loss of innocence
We have a lot of definitions of innocence. The word is dependent upon the understanding of the definition and how it is applied. Innocence can be discovered as young as a baby or into the senior years equally. A lot of our "I remember when..." are experiences are born from the discovery of innocence. The innocence discovered can be positive, negative or anywhere in the middle. How we experience innocence focuses our future. Quite often that focusing alters the way we think of others as well.
Experiencing the discovery of an innocence ends one element of our lives while awakening while beginning another. I don't think we are always looking for the moment when innocence is thrust upon us and those around us. We even go so far as to not see the innocence even when we are confronted with the revealed innocence. The first time we witness a birth; innocence is dumped us. We express our these discoveries in many different ways. .However, we are unable to undo that moment. Innocence is like that.
Sometimes, but not often, innocence is there doing it's thing and we haven't been able to see because of the inattention we live. And yet, when we experience some events the innocence has been ripped away by someone or something involved in our lives. Birth and death are both innocent experiences as we are that innocence. No one can experience them for us. Even wen untimely, that experience is ours. Those first moments and last moments are ours. They cannot be taken away. People try to take innocence from us. Unless they are at the top of their game, they will fail. That also means that no one can experience these two with us. They have their own innocent event going on.
When we look at the purpose of innocence we see our own experiences as well as the definition of innocence. It doesn't matter which one drives the process; it just means that innocence is individually experienced. Sometimes when we have a big innocence event we find it hard even to put words together that adequately explain the event. We, ourselves, are overwhelmed with what has taken place and because of this the words cannot come. Yet, innocence has been dropped on us changing once again the world we live in.
Have you ever been telling a joke to someone and someone blurts out the punch line before you can get there? Many have been in situations where the "innocence" has been stolen. The person doing the stealing is getting nothing. The one who is getting to the innocent event receives some but not all of what they needed. For many innocence is too painful to risk further exposure to other innocence events. A child living with the forever innocent memory seems always to remember the negative as they avoid experiencing the loss again.
When Jesus came to earth, lived his 33 years and died then rose from a terrible death innocence was dumped on the people around him. Some were so overwhelmed they could not say anything. Some seemed to always be in the right time and place that their innocent event was what made their day. Where innocence is tied with new events or thoughts, think of all those who had a "first" innocent event. Mary and the virgin birth, Peter walking on water, and John witnessing the terrible death of his Savior to name a few. Just as those religious authorities sought to stop the innocence of Jesus' life; there are some who still to this day try to stop the event in their lives and the lives of others.
I don't remember being born. I haven't experienced dying yet. In between these two innocent events lie many positive and negative innocent experiences. When I think back on these events I find it difficult to focus on the negative. I think that's where God wants our hearts and heads. Fix your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Look for the innocent event. Relish it as it happens and anticipate positively the next one. Should we focus our Christian life in that manner we will see all sorts of innocent events taking place. You may not be able to "redo" the event but you can engage the next one. You are a innocent event for someone. Christ is that event through you.
Experiencing the discovery of an innocence ends one element of our lives while awakening while beginning another. I don't think we are always looking for the moment when innocence is thrust upon us and those around us. We even go so far as to not see the innocence even when we are confronted with the revealed innocence. The first time we witness a birth; innocence is dumped us. We express our these discoveries in many different ways. .However, we are unable to undo that moment. Innocence is like that.
Sometimes, but not often, innocence is there doing it's thing and we haven't been able to see because of the inattention we live. And yet, when we experience some events the innocence has been ripped away by someone or something involved in our lives. Birth and death are both innocent experiences as we are that innocence. No one can experience them for us. Even wen untimely, that experience is ours. Those first moments and last moments are ours. They cannot be taken away. People try to take innocence from us. Unless they are at the top of their game, they will fail. That also means that no one can experience these two with us. They have their own innocent event going on.
When we look at the purpose of innocence we see our own experiences as well as the definition of innocence. It doesn't matter which one drives the process; it just means that innocence is individually experienced. Sometimes when we have a big innocence event we find it hard even to put words together that adequately explain the event. We, ourselves, are overwhelmed with what has taken place and because of this the words cannot come. Yet, innocence has been dropped on us changing once again the world we live in.
Have you ever been telling a joke to someone and someone blurts out the punch line before you can get there? Many have been in situations where the "innocence" has been stolen. The person doing the stealing is getting nothing. The one who is getting to the innocent event receives some but not all of what they needed. For many innocence is too painful to risk further exposure to other innocence events. A child living with the forever innocent memory seems always to remember the negative as they avoid experiencing the loss again.
When Jesus came to earth, lived his 33 years and died then rose from a terrible death innocence was dumped on the people around him. Some were so overwhelmed they could not say anything. Some seemed to always be in the right time and place that their innocent event was what made their day. Where innocence is tied with new events or thoughts, think of all those who had a "first" innocent event. Mary and the virgin birth, Peter walking on water, and John witnessing the terrible death of his Savior to name a few. Just as those religious authorities sought to stop the innocence of Jesus' life; there are some who still to this day try to stop the event in their lives and the lives of others.
I don't remember being born. I haven't experienced dying yet. In between these two innocent events lie many positive and negative innocent experiences. When I think back on these events I find it difficult to focus on the negative. I think that's where God wants our hearts and heads. Fix your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Look for the innocent event. Relish it as it happens and anticipate positively the next one. Should we focus our Christian life in that manner we will see all sorts of innocent events taking place. You may not be able to "redo" the event but you can engage the next one. You are a innocent event for someone. Christ is that event through you.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Who are you cheating on?
What!? Here we go again...another post intended to back us into a corner. It seems like I've been cheating all of my life. From what I understand in Scripture, so have you. Thank you Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and restoring us to a relationship with you. We usually go with our first thoughts when we hear questions like this one. That is usually wrong. Well, maybe most of the time anyway. Whether we cheat on a test, use a radar detector to avoid obeying the law, or cheat on your taxes, we will not be able to find a person on earth who has not cheated. Don't get me wrong, cheating is not okay because "everyone is doing it." It's a subject where we humans put some behaviors and words in a negative sense or positive sense based on what we want. Opps!
When we knowingly choose to disobey the law we sin. When we knowingly choose to obey Jesus we sin. When we knowingly choose to avoid a stop sigh by driving through the parking lot of a store we never shop at, we sin. It may seem funny or nitpicking to some when we go from the obvious to the mundane in the issues that come to mind. To be honest, not only do we poke fun at some of the things mankind does, we also poke fun at the consequences of those actions. To be honest, I've done more than my share. So, why do we do this? Why do we wink at some of the choices we cheat on? I don't have all the answer to these questions. What I do have is a Biblical command to not be selfish. That may sound like a simple answer to a complex question but none the less selfishness is at the bottom and center of our world and our being.
So, just exactly who are we cheating on? Again, the simple answer is God. This question not only addresses the issue with believers but also the non-believers as well. When we cheat we first injure our relationship with God followed quickly by the damage to our relationships with those close to us. To be honest, looking at cheating from a single action scenario, we can isolate the behavior and not put it upon any other behavior. What's the first behavior that comes to mind when we talk about cheating? If you are like 90% of the population (I made up the percentage) you are with good company in your denial.
I've talked before about starting places and ending places. When we are considering the beginning of cheating our minds begin to rationalize and justify our pending behavior. So much so that there appears to be little or no guilt when the deed is done. In the beginning mankind was innocent and pleasing to God. Satan tempted mankind to cheat and eat the fruit on the tree. That is when mankind fell from grace and separated from God. We've been cheating ever since. It doesn't matter whether we admit it or not; cheating remains wrong. If we took the subject literally, we would all be dead from the consequences. However, God made a way for us to cheat our own death. Can you imagine!? We have been given the hallway pass! We have been told we have won the lottery. Can anything be so wonderful as cheating death? Nothing that I can think of.
So, you and I give our lives to Jesus and live happily ever after. Not even close! We will be convicted of our sins and some will engage salvation given freely in order that we can cheat death. We who believe will be alive for eternity. Those who choose to not believe will be unable to cheat their way out of hell. Just as cheating has a beginning; it also has an end. The beginning comes at conception. The end comes in eternity in heaven or hell. Very real consequences on both accounts. The choice before us is renewed moment as our lives move on. Do we choose to not cheat? It's a simple question and request from God. Yes, we cheat in many different ways. Do we have a choice? Yes, we have the choice to stop the behavior or to continue on with the sin.
What will you choose for today?
When we knowingly choose to disobey the law we sin. When we knowingly choose to obey Jesus we sin. When we knowingly choose to avoid a stop sigh by driving through the parking lot of a store we never shop at, we sin. It may seem funny or nitpicking to some when we go from the obvious to the mundane in the issues that come to mind. To be honest, not only do we poke fun at some of the things mankind does, we also poke fun at the consequences of those actions. To be honest, I've done more than my share. So, why do we do this? Why do we wink at some of the choices we cheat on? I don't have all the answer to these questions. What I do have is a Biblical command to not be selfish. That may sound like a simple answer to a complex question but none the less selfishness is at the bottom and center of our world and our being.
So, just exactly who are we cheating on? Again, the simple answer is God. This question not only addresses the issue with believers but also the non-believers as well. When we cheat we first injure our relationship with God followed quickly by the damage to our relationships with those close to us. To be honest, looking at cheating from a single action scenario, we can isolate the behavior and not put it upon any other behavior. What's the first behavior that comes to mind when we talk about cheating? If you are like 90% of the population (I made up the percentage) you are with good company in your denial.
I've talked before about starting places and ending places. When we are considering the beginning of cheating our minds begin to rationalize and justify our pending behavior. So much so that there appears to be little or no guilt when the deed is done. In the beginning mankind was innocent and pleasing to God. Satan tempted mankind to cheat and eat the fruit on the tree. That is when mankind fell from grace and separated from God. We've been cheating ever since. It doesn't matter whether we admit it or not; cheating remains wrong. If we took the subject literally, we would all be dead from the consequences. However, God made a way for us to cheat our own death. Can you imagine!? We have been given the hallway pass! We have been told we have won the lottery. Can anything be so wonderful as cheating death? Nothing that I can think of.
So, you and I give our lives to Jesus and live happily ever after. Not even close! We will be convicted of our sins and some will engage salvation given freely in order that we can cheat death. We who believe will be alive for eternity. Those who choose to not believe will be unable to cheat their way out of hell. Just as cheating has a beginning; it also has an end. The beginning comes at conception. The end comes in eternity in heaven or hell. Very real consequences on both accounts. The choice before us is renewed moment as our lives move on. Do we choose to not cheat? It's a simple question and request from God. Yes, we cheat in many different ways. Do we have a choice? Yes, we have the choice to stop the behavior or to continue on with the sin.
What will you choose for today?
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Being yourself requires guts!
With the world at odds regarding you being who they want you to be, the best move is to be your self. The problem is that a lot of people are expected to be something they are not. Case in point. If you are raised to believe in a certain denomination (church group), you will be expected to keep the tradition and stay with that church. To choose anything other is tantamount to treason. Many families have been torn apart when their son/daughter choose the faith of their spouse. While we have history as an example, this affects women more than men. Women have had the one down placement for most of the time since creation. Children are also relegated to being who their parents want them to be.
I was discussing my beliefs with another person of faith. Suddenly, he said something that stopped me dead in my tracks. His belief was contrary to mine. Of course mine was the right one; but he thought his was right as well. This is just an example of religious association. We have all kinds of beliefs that are contrary. When I was a teenager driving my first car, I was a Ford man. I had friends who were Chevy or Mopar people. We were loyal to our stance. It was that choice that determined our focus. I still choose Ford but have also chosen the other two as well. I've even chosen foreign made cars. I guess I just lost my loyalty to the made in America belief.
There is a meal that I love but causes others to fake barf! They disagree and use their voice and body language to tell me I am nuts for liking what I like. The dish in question is liver and onions. Other than my sister I do not know anyone who shares my opinion. My six siblings grew up with me and ate the same food I ate but now have different favorite dishes. Some are just traditional like roast beef or fried chicken. When I go out with people to a restaurant for dinner and they serve liver and onions I will sometimes, despite the groans and fake barfing, order the liver and onions. They don't have to like it or eat it. However, their opinion is very loud and demanding. What I believe is good and what they believe is good crash head on.
I've visited many churches in my lifetime both here at home and out of country. The method of presenting Christ to the audience was different in almost every setting. The Gospel was the same but the message was offered in a way that best fit their congregation. If you want to have others consider and accept the Gospel we need to present that Gospel in such a way that they desire to know Jesus and NOT our biases. While we are a people who tolerate other beliefs and means of worship, the message of salvation through Christ remains most important. If you could choose any means of putting forth the Gospel, wouldn't you try to learn what is the best and most accepted means of their hearing and believing?
I shouldn't want people to be like me. I should want people to be who Christ means them to be. Trying to lead people to Christ is often mistaken as trying to lead people to Steve. We should put forth a view that says Jesus is primary in all of our beliefs. We are a pathetic place in our portrayal of Christianity and our personal witness. The world is going on the wrong path and don't want to engage much less change the way they think and the opinions they have. They could very well write that same sentence about me or you. Who is right is not nearly as important as being whom Christ has led us to be. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross permanently changed our relationship with God. We can accept people dressing differently, eating different food and even their speaking a foreign language as long as the same belief about Jesus is present.
Being yourself requires guts! Boldness takes on a whole different meaning when we consider boldness in a Christian context. Jesus did not teach tolerance regarding belief in him. He did urge tolerance in such a way that the Gospel would be heard and considered. Today you and I will have time to engage others in their world. Live in such a way that they are hungry for Christ who lives in you. It takes guts to take a stand. Sometimes when we take a stand that stand is based on our beliefs at that time. When we learn additional information our way of living and loving Jesus may change as well. In turn we are able to see what other's believe and adjust our presentation of the Gospel. That being said, go out and be whom God has created you to be!
I was discussing my beliefs with another person of faith. Suddenly, he said something that stopped me dead in my tracks. His belief was contrary to mine. Of course mine was the right one; but he thought his was right as well. This is just an example of religious association. We have all kinds of beliefs that are contrary. When I was a teenager driving my first car, I was a Ford man. I had friends who were Chevy or Mopar people. We were loyal to our stance. It was that choice that determined our focus. I still choose Ford but have also chosen the other two as well. I've even chosen foreign made cars. I guess I just lost my loyalty to the made in America belief.
There is a meal that I love but causes others to fake barf! They disagree and use their voice and body language to tell me I am nuts for liking what I like. The dish in question is liver and onions. Other than my sister I do not know anyone who shares my opinion. My six siblings grew up with me and ate the same food I ate but now have different favorite dishes. Some are just traditional like roast beef or fried chicken. When I go out with people to a restaurant for dinner and they serve liver and onions I will sometimes, despite the groans and fake barfing, order the liver and onions. They don't have to like it or eat it. However, their opinion is very loud and demanding. What I believe is good and what they believe is good crash head on.
I've visited many churches in my lifetime both here at home and out of country. The method of presenting Christ to the audience was different in almost every setting. The Gospel was the same but the message was offered in a way that best fit their congregation. If you want to have others consider and accept the Gospel we need to present that Gospel in such a way that they desire to know Jesus and NOT our biases. While we are a people who tolerate other beliefs and means of worship, the message of salvation through Christ remains most important. If you could choose any means of putting forth the Gospel, wouldn't you try to learn what is the best and most accepted means of their hearing and believing?
I shouldn't want people to be like me. I should want people to be who Christ means them to be. Trying to lead people to Christ is often mistaken as trying to lead people to Steve. We should put forth a view that says Jesus is primary in all of our beliefs. We are a pathetic place in our portrayal of Christianity and our personal witness. The world is going on the wrong path and don't want to engage much less change the way they think and the opinions they have. They could very well write that same sentence about me or you. Who is right is not nearly as important as being whom Christ has led us to be. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross permanently changed our relationship with God. We can accept people dressing differently, eating different food and even their speaking a foreign language as long as the same belief about Jesus is present.
Being yourself requires guts! Boldness takes on a whole different meaning when we consider boldness in a Christian context. Jesus did not teach tolerance regarding belief in him. He did urge tolerance in such a way that the Gospel would be heard and considered. Today you and I will have time to engage others in their world. Live in such a way that they are hungry for Christ who lives in you. It takes guts to take a stand. Sometimes when we take a stand that stand is based on our beliefs at that time. When we learn additional information our way of living and loving Jesus may change as well. In turn we are able to see what other's believe and adjust our presentation of the Gospel. That being said, go out and be whom God has created you to be!
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