What do we do? Does believing lead to worship? Is believing in itself worship? Or, is worship by itself evidence of [a] belief? Then we have what I think of as the 'next layer' of questions. Is a belief something we only hold to be true, with or without any type of worship occurring? Does worship of a person, place, or thing have to be preceded by some type of stated belief in something relative to that person, place, or thing? Or, does believing in something cause that 'something' to evolve into a belief? And does that whole operation only take us back to our original questions involving believing and worship?
I think we need to get the experts involved here, and who better to go to than the esteemed James Hastings for widely accepted and very much accredited definitions of the two words behind all of this confusion.
Worship, both as subst. and verb, was formerly used of reverence or honour done to men as well as to God, and so occurs in Lk 14:10..... (A Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 4 )
Hastings goes on to make the point that New Testament worship of GOD grew out of the Jewish Synagogue Worship concept, and that the worship of the members of the Early Church closely resembled what took place in Jewish Synagogues.
When we go on to our other key word, belief, we're left to determine an adequate definition from Scripture(s) referred to by Hastings.
Belief occurs in AV (Authorized Version) only 2 Thessalonians 2:13 'b. of the truth'; to which RV (Revised Version) adds Romans 10:17 'b. cometh of hearing'.... (A Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 1)
The meaning of the word belief coming from the Scriptures referrenced by Hastings coincides in large part with what we find in Nelson's Dictionary of Christianity.
Belief Trust and assurance in a person, thing, or idea which is held to be true; emotional and intellectual assent to a set of values and ideas; conviction about the reality of the object of a religious faith. (Nelson's Dictionary of Christianity, Pg. 80)
To go just a bit farther, we'll also develop a Biblical definition for one who holds certain belief's to be true.
Believer Synonym for Chrisian, especially one who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Nelson's Dictionary of Christianity, Pg. 80)
To fully appreciate the significant differences in our key words, belief and worship, we really have to take a close look at the Scripture referred to by Hastings in his definition of the word worship.
'But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.' (Luke 14:10 AV [Authorized Version, which is how the King James Version was originally referred to])
Remember that the word 'worship' connotates not only reverence and honor for GOD, but also reverence and honor given to, and recieved by, other men as well. In this Scripture from the book of Luke, JESUS was giving instruction on how not to seek out worship, or reverence and honor, from man. The point HE was making here was to remain humble, regardless of who had invited you to wherever you were. The lesson we should take from this seemingly innocent lesson on seating arrangements is that although we've been invited to the most majestic mansion to partake of the grandest wedding feast man cannot even begin to imagine by our most Holy HOST, we shouldn't let the fact that each of us were singled out by HIM to receive a personal invitation to the wedding banquet ever come between us and being humble not only before the LORD, but also before man as well.
Our look at a Biblical definition of the word 'worship' leaves us with the understanding that the reverence and honor given and received by man isn't necessarily restricted to matters related to the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT. But, what we find in the meaning of the word 'belief' combined with what a 'believer' is commonly construed to be is that even among non-Believers it's understood that a Believer is someone who holds the truths about the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT to be the basis for a firmly focused belief in GOD.
So with the meanings of our keywords established, I'm going to do something a bit different than is my norm. I'm going to leave it up to you to go back to our original questions, and answer them based on your understanding and guidance, not of anything I've presented today, but by HIS Holy Spirit.
Be Blessed!
Terry
Friday, October 14, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
One Extreme To The Other
The way we see ourselves has a lot to do with even beginning to understand what Salvation is, much less being able to fully receive the gift of Grace. I'm not just talking about before we approach the Throne of Grace, or only about looking back from a Redeemed position before GOD. Before we claim the SAVIOR's blood as atonement for our sin, and are declared Righteous in the FATHER's eyes, we have to realize just how bad our position was. This has to go way beyond simply mouthing the words of what some call 'The Sinner's Prayer' in which a person acknowledges that they are lost in sin and under the condemnation of that same sin, of which the sentence, or punishment, is [Spiritual] death. I'm not saying that the facts in this prayer aren't correct, but I am saying that they're only effectual if they are spoken from the 'innermost' parts of a person. How many of us realized just how filthy and disgusting we were in GOD's eyes while we were clothed in the garments of sin? In one of my earlier posts, I made reference to the fact that JESUS HIMSELF made the decision to accept the FATHER's Will, and by making that choice, HE effectively separated HIMSELF from the FATHER for just a moment. That was the moment HE, for the first time in HIS life, felt the absence of HIS FATHER's eyes on HIM, and HE cried out.
'And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”' (Mark 15:34 NKJV)
The point I'm after here is that GOD, who had and still has, a deep abiding love for HIS SON, turned HIS eyes from HIM for the moment in time that CHRIST was covered with the stench and slime of mankind's sin. That is what we have to understand about our status before the blood of CHRIST washes us clean, just how dirty we were. If we don't have an appreciation for just how repulsive our sin was to GOD, then we can't appreciate just how much HE loves us. These two issues have got to be viewed as so important to one another that one cannot exist without the other. GOD's love and man's sin are both necessary for the shed blood of CHRIST to have any meaning or value at all. They are polar opposites of each other, and only when Grace has been given and received do they reflect the extremes man has started from and then ended up at.
All of this brings us full circle, back to the point of us having to be fully aware the revulsion man's sin holds for GOD. Note that I've made clear that it's man's sin that is unbearable for GOD. It was man's sin that caused the FATHER to turn HIS eyes from HIS beloved SON. It was, and is, man's sin that separates man from GOD. It's man's sin that is the opposite of GOD's love.
'But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.' (Isaiah 59:2 NKJV)
To emphasise just how extreme GOD's position is towards sin, let's look again at the first Scripture we referenced, then at the documented words of one of the handpicked followers of GOD's SON. Here we have the words of GOD, who couldn't bear to look at HIS SON while HE was covered in [mankinds] sin, voicing the fact that JESUS was HIS beloved SON, and that HE was well pleased with HIS SON. We have to reconcile that one of the reasons that GOD was well pleased had to have been because CHRIST had accepted, and was fulfilling, the FATHER's Will. The other part of GOD being pleased that HIS SON was following HIS Will involved the FATHER knowing that a very important part of HIS Will would include being covered with mankinds slimy and disgusting sin, if only for a moment.
And,
'While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is MY beloved SON, in whom I am well pleased. Hear HIM!"' (Matthew 17:5 NKJV)
The first of these two instances in which GOD declared JESUS to be HIS SON, 'in whom I [HE] am [is] well pleased' was at the baptism of CHRIST by John the Baptist. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler among the Jews, came to HIM, and acknowledged that only a person sent from GOD could do the things HE'd already done.
'2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered and said to him, “Most ssuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."' (John 3:2-6 NKJV)
In order for this discourse to Nicodemus to have the meaning it should have, we have to keep in mind that this conversation took place after CHRIST had been baptized by John the Baptist. Also, remember that it was after JESUS came up from the baptismal waters that the Spirit descended like a dove and alighted on HIM. Where we're at here is that JESUS taught by example, first HE did something, then told us that we're to do the same thing. HE proved to us that it could be done before requiring us to do it, and have no doubt, we are required to follow HIS examples.
The second instance we've already looked at was when JESUS was transfigured in the presence of Peter, James, and John [the brother of James] up on a high mountain. Some key things here is the location up on a high mountain. In my mind, this is setting the stage for things to come, which is what a lot of the teachings and parables of CHRIST did. A key point here, to tie this setting in with Old Testament history is that more often than not, when GOD spoke to Moses and other prophets, HE did so in a similar setting, that being up on a mountain someplace. This gives the connotation that HE is to be reverred in a position much higher than we can attain for now, and that while HE has done the heavy lifting, so to speak, we do have to come to HIM. To take this just a little bit farther, to illustrate this scenario, we need to take a quick look at the admonishments of the apostle Paul to those members of the church there in Rome.
'1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' (Romans 12:2 NKJV)
A key word here, renewed, ties this instruction of Pauls to the whole concept of how man separated himself from GOD by the sin of disobedience. Before man, in specific Adam and Eve, sinned by an act of disobedience, man was not separated from GOD. Man had a daily walk and conversation with HIM. Paul is very clear here that we shouldn't be conformed to the ways and wiles of this world, and that everything about our everyday lives should be in service to the FATHER, and that in itself is not an unreasonable thing.
We've established that GOD's love and man's sin are extremes on what called be called, quite correctly, the scale of life. We've also made it clear that GOD, whose love cannot be questioned, loves us so much more than HE hates sin that HE wasn't only willing to, but in fact did call upon HIS SON to separate HIMSELF from HIS FATHER as a part of keeping HIS FATHER's Will. I don't know about you, but in my eyes, the love my heavenly FATHER has for me is a love far beyond anything I've ever even imagined. It all comes down to whether or not we can see ourselves through the FATHER's eyes. If you've ever been a parent, and had a child do something that upset you so much that you didn't even want to be in that child's presence right then, then you've taken a tiny tiny step in HIS shoes. Very tiny though, and very far from seeing your child as HE sees HIS. But in spite of how upset you were with your child, to the point of having to walk away from them for just a moment, you still loved them with all your heart. Now you've taken another tiny tiny step in HIS shoes. Then, when the realization came that even though you will always love your children, regardless of how bad they may act at times, there are times that you don't like them very much, you've taken a third tiny tiny step in your FATHER's shoes. I sometimes wonder how GOD can love me at all, considering all that I've done that only HE knows about, and that right there is why I believe that we'll never be able to see ourselves through HIS eyes as completely as HE does. We couldn't handle it, we can't even begin to conceive of both HIS complete enmity of sin and HIS unconditional love of us, but we need to be constant in our strivings to develop an understanding of both. I promise you that with each new bit of understanding will come greater peace in HIM and a deeper humility before HIM.
HE went from one extreme to the other for each one of us, have you?
'And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”' (Mark 15:34 NKJV)
The point I'm after here is that GOD, who had and still has, a deep abiding love for HIS SON, turned HIS eyes from HIM for the moment in time that CHRIST was covered with the stench and slime of mankind's sin. That is what we have to understand about our status before the blood of CHRIST washes us clean, just how dirty we were. If we don't have an appreciation for just how repulsive our sin was to GOD, then we can't appreciate just how much HE loves us. These two issues have got to be viewed as so important to one another that one cannot exist without the other. GOD's love and man's sin are both necessary for the shed blood of CHRIST to have any meaning or value at all. They are polar opposites of each other, and only when Grace has been given and received do they reflect the extremes man has started from and then ended up at.
All of this brings us full circle, back to the point of us having to be fully aware the revulsion man's sin holds for GOD. Note that I've made clear that it's man's sin that is unbearable for GOD. It was man's sin that caused the FATHER to turn HIS eyes from HIS beloved SON. It was, and is, man's sin that separates man from GOD. It's man's sin that is the opposite of GOD's love.
'But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.' (Isaiah 59:2 NKJV)
To emphasise just how extreme GOD's position is towards sin, let's look again at the first Scripture we referenced, then at the documented words of one of the handpicked followers of GOD's SON. Here we have the words of GOD, who couldn't bear to look at HIS SON while HE was covered in [mankinds] sin, voicing the fact that JESUS was HIS beloved SON, and that HE was well pleased with HIS SON. We have to reconcile that one of the reasons that GOD was well pleased had to have been because CHRIST had accepted, and was fulfilling, the FATHER's Will. The other part of GOD being pleased that HIS SON was following HIS Will involved the FATHER knowing that a very important part of HIS Will would include being covered with mankinds slimy and disgusting sin, if only for a moment.
'And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is MY Beloved SON, in whom I am well pleased." ' (Matthew 3:17 NKJV)
And,
'While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is MY beloved SON, in whom I am well pleased. Hear HIM!"' (Matthew 17:5 NKJV)
The first of these two instances in which GOD declared JESUS to be HIS SON, 'in whom I [HE] am [is] well pleased' was at the baptism of CHRIST by John the Baptist. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler among the Jews, came to HIM, and acknowledged that only a person sent from GOD could do the things HE'd already done.
'2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered and said to him, “Most ssuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."' (John 3:2-6 NKJV)
In order for this discourse to Nicodemus to have the meaning it should have, we have to keep in mind that this conversation took place after CHRIST had been baptized by John the Baptist. Also, remember that it was after JESUS came up from the baptismal waters that the Spirit descended like a dove and alighted on HIM. Where we're at here is that JESUS taught by example, first HE did something, then told us that we're to do the same thing. HE proved to us that it could be done before requiring us to do it, and have no doubt, we are required to follow HIS examples.
The second instance we've already looked at was when JESUS was transfigured in the presence of Peter, James, and John [the brother of James] up on a high mountain. Some key things here is the location up on a high mountain. In my mind, this is setting the stage for things to come, which is what a lot of the teachings and parables of CHRIST did. A key point here, to tie this setting in with Old Testament history is that more often than not, when GOD spoke to Moses and other prophets, HE did so in a similar setting, that being up on a mountain someplace. This gives the connotation that HE is to be reverred in a position much higher than we can attain for now, and that while HE has done the heavy lifting, so to speak, we do have to come to HIM. To take this just a little bit farther, to illustrate this scenario, we need to take a quick look at the admonishments of the apostle Paul to those members of the church there in Rome.
'1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' (Romans 12:2 NKJV)
A key word here, renewed, ties this instruction of Pauls to the whole concept of how man separated himself from GOD by the sin of disobedience. Before man, in specific Adam and Eve, sinned by an act of disobedience, man was not separated from GOD. Man had a daily walk and conversation with HIM. Paul is very clear here that we shouldn't be conformed to the ways and wiles of this world, and that everything about our everyday lives should be in service to the FATHER, and that in itself is not an unreasonable thing.
We've established that GOD's love and man's sin are extremes on what called be called, quite correctly, the scale of life. We've also made it clear that GOD, whose love cannot be questioned, loves us so much more than HE hates sin that HE wasn't only willing to, but in fact did call upon HIS SON to separate HIMSELF from HIS FATHER as a part of keeping HIS FATHER's Will. I don't know about you, but in my eyes, the love my heavenly FATHER has for me is a love far beyond anything I've ever even imagined. It all comes down to whether or not we can see ourselves through the FATHER's eyes. If you've ever been a parent, and had a child do something that upset you so much that you didn't even want to be in that child's presence right then, then you've taken a tiny tiny step in HIS shoes. Very tiny though, and very far from seeing your child as HE sees HIS. But in spite of how upset you were with your child, to the point of having to walk away from them for just a moment, you still loved them with all your heart. Now you've taken another tiny tiny step in HIS shoes. Then, when the realization came that even though you will always love your children, regardless of how bad they may act at times, there are times that you don't like them very much, you've taken a third tiny tiny step in your FATHER's shoes. I sometimes wonder how GOD can love me at all, considering all that I've done that only HE knows about, and that right there is why I believe that we'll never be able to see ourselves through HIS eyes as completely as HE does. We couldn't handle it, we can't even begin to conceive of both HIS complete enmity of sin and HIS unconditional love of us, but we need to be constant in our strivings to develop an understanding of both. I promise you that with each new bit of understanding will come greater peace in HIM and a deeper humility before HIM.
HE went from one extreme to the other for each one of us, have you?
Friday, September 30, 2011
Says Who?
Here's what GOD doesn't want; HE doesn't now, and has never, wanted a bunch of mindless zombies wandering around falling to their knees at certain time chanting 'Praise GOD Praise GOD Praise GOD' all in unison. Another thing HE doesn't want is anyone doing anything in HIS name because it's what they believe is expected of them, and that includes going to church. Now let's make sure we understand something here, we don't want anybody reading this and going rogue or something. When I just said that HE doesn't want people doing things just because they believe that what they're doing is what Christians do, that's exactly what I meant. GOD don't want people ending up like the folks Paul was talking about there in Rome who had a 'zeal' for GOD, but it wasn't based on knowledge of GOD, or HIS righteousness.
'For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for GOD, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of GOD's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of GOD.' (Romans 10:2-3 NKJV)
Lots of times we'll have people who only go through the motions, and they've convinced themselves that it really doesn't matter what's in their heart, so long as they are in church every Sunday and try to squeeze in a couple of Wednesday night services a month. Then we have those who are, as Paul said in this Scripture above, 'seeking to establish their own righteousness.' With these folks, there really is no telling what we'll see or hear, and that's why I find it so important to test everything by the Scriptures.
I started out by talking about what GOD doesn't want, now let's make sure we all understand what HE does want. First of all, let's get rid of that notion that everybody is automatically a Christian. I was in conversation with a lady the other day, and the subject of what we each should do to spread HIS Word came up. She felt like her work was done, because she was a [basically] good person, and cared about others. When I brought up the question as to whether everybody she knew was a Christian, because if not then she still had a ministry to fulfill, she told me that everybody was a Christian from their moment of birth. So where does that leave the confessing and professing? Do we just throw all that JESUS bled for right out the window? This is where we end up with 'baptizing' infants. I probably shouldn't say this, but like my wife says, sometimes I don't play well with others (or maybe that was all the time). The Bible, HIS Holy Word, says absolutely nothing about baptizing infants. Scripture does talk about dedicating babies to the LORD, that is what Joseph and Mary were doing with JESUS when Simeon was led by the Spirit into the temple to see the MESSIAH.
'Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought HIM to Jerusalem to present HIM to the LORD.' Luke 2:22 NKJV)
What we have to keep in mind here, in this particular instance of JESUS as an infant being 'presented to the LORD' is that Joseph and Mary were doing this in accordance with the Mosaic Law, which was still in effect. I used this example of infant dedication on purpose, just to settle any questions about whether we should dedicate or baptize our babies. Think about it, JESUS was the fulfilled prophecy for the children of Israel of the MESSIAH. Until HE began HIS public ministry, which by the way started much earlier than the guestimated age of thirty years old since HE was teaching in the temple at a much younger age, it was crucial that HE was raised up the proper Jewish boy by HIS parents. It stands to reason that if it was required by the Law that infant boys be baptized, then HE would've been baptized.
Later, when CHRIST was well into HIS public ministry, HE made it quite clear just how precious children were to not only HIM, but to the kingdom of GOD as well.
'Then they brought little children to HIM, that HE might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when JESUS saw it, HE was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to ME, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of GOD. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of GOD as a little child will by no means enter it.' And HE took them up in HIS arms, laid HIS hands on then, and blessed them.' (Mark 10:13-16 NKJV)
While this Scripture is used traditionally to teach us just how important it is to have the proper mindset, in regards to complete trust and obedience, to be received into the kingdom of GOD, let's look at the last part of verse 16. HE picked the children up, and '[HE] blessed them.' HE didn't take them down to the river and baptize them, HE didn't sprinkle water or oil on them and pronounce them saved, and HE didn't issue any additional instructions that either of these things should be done. HE 'blessed them' and that was what we should do with our children, bless them by being good parents to them, raising them in a household dedicated to the LORD, teach them HIS Word, and then praise GOD when they each make their decision to seek salvation by the blood of CHRIST and the grace of GOD. I know that I've really rambled on about this infant baptism thing, but this is important. If a child is raised up from their earliest awareness and has been taught that they were saved by an infant baptism, and never seek the salvation of CHRIST, where will they be on that Great Judgment Day? See how just one tiny little 'extra' that somebody decided to add to HIS Word can escalate into someone going to hell?
Since we're already on the subject of adding man's traditions to GOD's commandments, we may as well continue on.
'Then the Pharisees and scribes asked HIM, "Why do YOUR disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" HE answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophecy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors ME with their lips, but their heart is far from ME. And in vain they worship ME, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " ' (Mark 7:5-7 NKJV)
This is where we find ourselves if we're not careful about being misled, and it happens more than people know. GOD doesn't want us to be misled by anybody, that's why HE gave us, each and every one of us, HIS Word. HE wants us to learn more about HIM and HIS Ways by reading and studying the Scriptures. HE promises us that every word in our Bibles was inspired by HIM to be written, and it's all for our sakes. If we would focus half as much time and energy learning more about our LORD GOD as we devote to learning sacraments, or ritualistic prayers to this saint or that saint, we would learn in short order that none of these things are even in the Bible. Don't take my word for it, do what I've said many times before, READ YOUR BIBLES! Go to church, hear the sermon, then test everything by the Scriptures. I get real nervous when a pastor delivers a sermon out of a denominational circular or newsletter, with no reference to Scripture at all.
Here is the bottom line, it's like I said at the beginning, GOD never wanted a bunch of stooges running around like idiots praising HIM all the day. HE wants us each to make our own individual choice to seek HIM. HE doesn't want us to be led and influenced by things that somebody started out doing for whatever reason years before that has no basis in Scripture. We each have a responsibility to HIM to make sure that everything we believe ourselves and teach others is Scriptural. If you are told something that is contrary to what you've read in your Bible, question it, say something like, "Hey, show me that in the Bible, because I don't know where that is." If it isn't in the Bible, it's because GOD didn't want it there, and that was for a reason.
In the meantime Brothers and Sisters before the LORD, be Blessed, and be vigilant. The devil can creep in at any time, and he will every chance he gets!
Terry
'For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for GOD, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of GOD's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of GOD.' (Romans 10:2-3 NKJV)
Lots of times we'll have people who only go through the motions, and they've convinced themselves that it really doesn't matter what's in their heart, so long as they are in church every Sunday and try to squeeze in a couple of Wednesday night services a month. Then we have those who are, as Paul said in this Scripture above, 'seeking to establish their own righteousness.' With these folks, there really is no telling what we'll see or hear, and that's why I find it so important to test everything by the Scriptures.
I started out by talking about what GOD doesn't want, now let's make sure we all understand what HE does want. First of all, let's get rid of that notion that everybody is automatically a Christian. I was in conversation with a lady the other day, and the subject of what we each should do to spread HIS Word came up. She felt like her work was done, because she was a [basically] good person, and cared about others. When I brought up the question as to whether everybody she knew was a Christian, because if not then she still had a ministry to fulfill, she told me that everybody was a Christian from their moment of birth. So where does that leave the confessing and professing? Do we just throw all that JESUS bled for right out the window? This is where we end up with 'baptizing' infants. I probably shouldn't say this, but like my wife says, sometimes I don't play well with others (or maybe that was all the time). The Bible, HIS Holy Word, says absolutely nothing about baptizing infants. Scripture does talk about dedicating babies to the LORD, that is what Joseph and Mary were doing with JESUS when Simeon was led by the Spirit into the temple to see the MESSIAH.
'Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought HIM to Jerusalem to present HIM to the LORD.' Luke 2:22 NKJV)
What we have to keep in mind here, in this particular instance of JESUS as an infant being 'presented to the LORD' is that Joseph and Mary were doing this in accordance with the Mosaic Law, which was still in effect. I used this example of infant dedication on purpose, just to settle any questions about whether we should dedicate or baptize our babies. Think about it, JESUS was the fulfilled prophecy for the children of Israel of the MESSIAH. Until HE began HIS public ministry, which by the way started much earlier than the guestimated age of thirty years old since HE was teaching in the temple at a much younger age, it was crucial that HE was raised up the proper Jewish boy by HIS parents. It stands to reason that if it was required by the Law that infant boys be baptized, then HE would've been baptized.
Later, when CHRIST was well into HIS public ministry, HE made it quite clear just how precious children were to not only HIM, but to the kingdom of GOD as well.
'Then they brought little children to HIM, that HE might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when JESUS saw it, HE was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to ME, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of GOD. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of GOD as a little child will by no means enter it.' And HE took them up in HIS arms, laid HIS hands on then, and blessed them.' (Mark 10:13-16 NKJV)
While this Scripture is used traditionally to teach us just how important it is to have the proper mindset, in regards to complete trust and obedience, to be received into the kingdom of GOD, let's look at the last part of verse 16. HE picked the children up, and '[HE] blessed them.' HE didn't take them down to the river and baptize them, HE didn't sprinkle water or oil on them and pronounce them saved, and HE didn't issue any additional instructions that either of these things should be done. HE 'blessed them' and that was what we should do with our children, bless them by being good parents to them, raising them in a household dedicated to the LORD, teach them HIS Word, and then praise GOD when they each make their decision to seek salvation by the blood of CHRIST and the grace of GOD. I know that I've really rambled on about this infant baptism thing, but this is important. If a child is raised up from their earliest awareness and has been taught that they were saved by an infant baptism, and never seek the salvation of CHRIST, where will they be on that Great Judgment Day? See how just one tiny little 'extra' that somebody decided to add to HIS Word can escalate into someone going to hell?
Since we're already on the subject of adding man's traditions to GOD's commandments, we may as well continue on.
'Then the Pharisees and scribes asked HIM, "Why do YOUR disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" HE answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophecy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors ME with their lips, but their heart is far from ME. And in vain they worship ME, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " ' (Mark 7:5-7 NKJV)
This is where we find ourselves if we're not careful about being misled, and it happens more than people know. GOD doesn't want us to be misled by anybody, that's why HE gave us, each and every one of us, HIS Word. HE wants us to learn more about HIM and HIS Ways by reading and studying the Scriptures. HE promises us that every word in our Bibles was inspired by HIM to be written, and it's all for our sakes. If we would focus half as much time and energy learning more about our LORD GOD as we devote to learning sacraments, or ritualistic prayers to this saint or that saint, we would learn in short order that none of these things are even in the Bible. Don't take my word for it, do what I've said many times before, READ YOUR BIBLES! Go to church, hear the sermon, then test everything by the Scriptures. I get real nervous when a pastor delivers a sermon out of a denominational circular or newsletter, with no reference to Scripture at all.
Here is the bottom line, it's like I said at the beginning, GOD never wanted a bunch of stooges running around like idiots praising HIM all the day. HE wants us each to make our own individual choice to seek HIM. HE doesn't want us to be led and influenced by things that somebody started out doing for whatever reason years before that has no basis in Scripture. We each have a responsibility to HIM to make sure that everything we believe ourselves and teach others is Scriptural. If you are told something that is contrary to what you've read in your Bible, question it, say something like, "Hey, show me that in the Bible, because I don't know where that is." If it isn't in the Bible, it's because GOD didn't want it there, and that was for a reason.
In the meantime Brothers and Sisters before the LORD, be Blessed, and be vigilant. The devil can creep in at any time, and he will every chance he gets!
Terry
Friday, September 23, 2011
What Are We Waiting For?
When I do my morning routine, which includes a devotional, reading in the Old Testament (I read in the New Testament in the evenings), checking my E-mails, checking my WebSite and Blog stats and comments, then checking out Twitter, I end up by reading new posts by UCN (Urban Christian News). It's very rare that I don't find in UCN a new post about how the aclu or freedom from religion or naacp or some other group is protesting a gathering of Christians or a prayer meeting or the fact that some kid in the second grade bowed their head and silently saying grace for their lunch. I've noticed a very disturbing trend here, and that lead to me doing a little research that led to something even more disturbing. Did you know that in the last ten years or so that quite a few GOD centered public events, annual events for churches that had been going on every year for a long time, have been cancelled? It's not that they were cancelled that bothers me, it's the reason why the events are no longer held. Would it bother you to find out that they were taken off of the agenda because the church leaders were worried about offending someone and getting reported to one of these groups that deny GOD? Would it bother you to hear that trying to stay in compliance with all of the newer laws and statutes prohibiting Christianity is deemed to be too much of a problem by a lot of church administrations? But, this isn't the heart of the matter for me, the trend I had noticed that bothered me. The main issue here is that it seems like as soon as someone even begins to think about holding some kind of Christian event, these groupies of satan are all over it. They are sending letters to everyone except GOD ordering them to cease and desist. It's okay for schools to teach the things that satan worshippers hold dear, like that homosexuality and sex (use protection and it's okay) outside of marriage are okay, that stuff is covered under the freedom of speech deal. So then, here's the big question, "Why do we stand around, just waiting for the devils minions to order us to cancel holding church altogether?" Don't think that the day won't come that it happens. Hey, don't believe me, READ YOUR BIBLES! In the meantime, while it's still legal to hold church services, why do we just wait for the next foot to fall? Is this Scriptural? Was JESUS spending all of HIS time cowering in fear of the devil? I don't read my Bible that way. It seems to me that HE spent all of HIS time on the offensive. HE met those in league with satan more than halfway, HE took the battle to them. Now I want to clarify something here, and that is my frequent references to those who I identify as being followers of satan, and in league with satan. I just want there to be no mistake about who I'm talking about here. Give me just a minute here, I want to word this as simply as I can so that there is no misunderstandings about who I feel is following satan and doing his work............. Okay, I've got it. Anybody who is not a follower of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST is a follower of satan. If a person is not working for CHRIST against satan then you are working for satan against GOD, and that makes you a follower of satan. I know that some will say something [inspired by the devil] like, "But it's just not that simple." Sure it is, it is just that simple, JESUS said it, just that simply.
'No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve GOD and mammon.' (Luke 16:13 NKJV)
How much simpler does it have to be said? Contrary to what some may think, I'm not out to vilify anyone, except those who serve satan. That is what JESUS did, HE didn't pull any punches. HE didn't go around trying to dodge situations in which HE knew people would get upset, and that led to anger, and that led to murder. HE bled HIS blood so that we can stand up and say, "Hey, I'm a Christian, and I have not only the right, but the obligation as well, to stand up anywhere at any time and worship my LORD!" I know what's coming next, and that is the argument that we should 'obey every ordinance of man.' No argument on that point. But let's also keep in mind just who we belong to, who we were bought by and for at a price.
'They said to HIM, "Cesar's." And HE said to them, "Render therefore to Cesar the things that are Cesar's, and to GOD the things that are GOD's."'
Cesar, and we have to understand that Cesar is figuratively representative of the world, including politicians and leaders, didn't die for my sins. He didn't shed a single drop of blood in my behalf. Everything about me belongs to GOD, including my responsibilities to '...go forth and evangelize the world.'
So, what are we waiting for? Let's get some extreme proactivity going on here. Let's remember that old [secular] saying about there being three kinds of people in this world. First, you have people who make things happen, then you have people who watch things happen, and finally, you have people who wonder what just happened. CHRIST made things happen, HE didn't sit and watch, and HE never wondered about what had happened. What kind of CHRISTIAN are you? Do you sit on the sidelines watching? Do you sit on the back row, wondering what was happening? Or, are you right out front, in the midst of the action, taking the battle right to satan and his followers? Are you the 'right in your face satan' kind of Christian? Don't get me wrong, it's a lot easier, and safer, to just sit quietly in a corner. Where does that put you with the LORD though? Are you going to be one of those that HE tells, "I never knew you" on that fateful day?
What are you afraid of, being killed for serving GOD and going to heaven?
'No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve GOD and mammon.' (Luke 16:13 NKJV)
How much simpler does it have to be said? Contrary to what some may think, I'm not out to vilify anyone, except those who serve satan. That is what JESUS did, HE didn't pull any punches. HE didn't go around trying to dodge situations in which HE knew people would get upset, and that led to anger, and that led to murder. HE bled HIS blood so that we can stand up and say, "Hey, I'm a Christian, and I have not only the right, but the obligation as well, to stand up anywhere at any time and worship my LORD!" I know what's coming next, and that is the argument that we should 'obey every ordinance of man.' No argument on that point. But let's also keep in mind just who we belong to, who we were bought by and for at a price.
'They said to HIM, "Cesar's." And HE said to them, "Render therefore to Cesar the things that are Cesar's, and to GOD the things that are GOD's."'
Cesar, and we have to understand that Cesar is figuratively representative of the world, including politicians and leaders, didn't die for my sins. He didn't shed a single drop of blood in my behalf. Everything about me belongs to GOD, including my responsibilities to '...go forth and evangelize the world.'
So, what are we waiting for? Let's get some extreme proactivity going on here. Let's remember that old [secular] saying about there being three kinds of people in this world. First, you have people who make things happen, then you have people who watch things happen, and finally, you have people who wonder what just happened. CHRIST made things happen, HE didn't sit and watch, and HE never wondered about what had happened. What kind of CHRISTIAN are you? Do you sit on the sidelines watching? Do you sit on the back row, wondering what was happening? Or, are you right out front, in the midst of the action, taking the battle right to satan and his followers? Are you the 'right in your face satan' kind of Christian? Don't get me wrong, it's a lot easier, and safer, to just sit quietly in a corner. Where does that put you with the LORD though? Are you going to be one of those that HE tells, "I never knew you" on that fateful day?
What are you afraid of, being killed for serving GOD and going to heaven?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
That's The Difference!
It's not hard to sin. It's easy, anybody can do it without putting a lot of effort into it. In fact, it easier to sin than it is not to sin. It takes a whole lot more effort and fortitude to not sin than to just go ahead and get it over with. I've heard people who were professed Christians make the statement that, "I'm not perfect, just forgiven." Both ends of that little saying are absolutely true, but their individual value is reduced to nothing whenever they're put together like this. In fact, when I hear someone use this line, it makes me sick! When people use terms like this one, it's usually to justify their actions. I don't know, maybe in their own minds it makes it okay to just keep on doing whatever it is they're doing. If they weren't feeling some conviction in the first place, I wonder if they would feel the need to justify what they've done. Here's a word for people like that, JESUS already did all the justifying that any of us will ever need. HE doesn't need yours, mine, or anybody elses help in the field of Justification. I don't know about you, but I am more than satisfied with HIS handiwork in regards to Justification, I know that I couldn't do half as good as HE did. So, where does that put us, those of us who fight sin every step of the way, and then still sin. Yes, it's true that our bodies betray us, that our minds will lead us astray every chance it gets. Our own emotions will make a mockery of what we know to be true. What do we do when we've transgressed, and know that any promise we make that it'll never happen again would be words wasted in futility? Are we really any different than those who deny CHRIST? What is it, if anything does, that gives us the right to continue to reach out our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, time after time, for forgiveness? Isn't it true that HIS Word tells us that HE desires that all men would come to repentance? If that's true, then isn't it also true that CHRIST died even for those that deny HIM the most?
It's true, the SON died even for those who deny HIM. It's also very true that the Will of the FATHER is that all would choose to come to HIM in repentance. What gives us, as New Testament, Born Again, Raised in the Spirit Christians, the right to continually seek the LORD, whether it be for forgiveness yet again, or for strength, or for discernment? We know that everything that the FATHER has done for us is based on HIS great unconditional love for us. Nothing we've done or could ever do has pre-qualified us, or made us worthy, or gave us more of a right than someone else has, for any part of GOD's gift of Grace. HE places this gift of HIS right in front of each one of us. Some receive the gift, other's walk away from it. That is the difference, that when those of us pick up that precious gift of life-giving Grace, we chose HIM! That's it. No life-long search through the mysteries surrounding the unknowable things of GOD. No spending your whole life locked away in self-imposed isolation, striving to earn an eternity in glory by denying yourself any creature comforts at all. We just chose HIM to love. We chose HIM to live for. We chose HIM to praise. We chose HIM to reach out to. We chose HIM to have to cling to. That's the big mystery that makes the difference, that we chose HIM.
Do you have that difference in your life? Do you have HIM to love, to live for, to praise, to reach out to, to cling to? Hey, it's easy, just choose HIM!
Lord Father, just as YOU chose each of us since 'before the foundations of the earth', I pray that you would convict the world, that every person would choose YOU and know the difference. Amen
It's true, the SON died even for those who deny HIM. It's also very true that the Will of the FATHER is that all would choose to come to HIM in repentance. What gives us, as New Testament, Born Again, Raised in the Spirit Christians, the right to continually seek the LORD, whether it be for forgiveness yet again, or for strength, or for discernment? We know that everything that the FATHER has done for us is based on HIS great unconditional love for us. Nothing we've done or could ever do has pre-qualified us, or made us worthy, or gave us more of a right than someone else has, for any part of GOD's gift of Grace. HE places this gift of HIS right in front of each one of us. Some receive the gift, other's walk away from it. That is the difference, that when those of us pick up that precious gift of life-giving Grace, we chose HIM! That's it. No life-long search through the mysteries surrounding the unknowable things of GOD. No spending your whole life locked away in self-imposed isolation, striving to earn an eternity in glory by denying yourself any creature comforts at all. We just chose HIM to love. We chose HIM to live for. We chose HIM to praise. We chose HIM to reach out to. We chose HIM to have to cling to. That's the big mystery that makes the difference, that we chose HIM.
Do you have that difference in your life? Do you have HIM to love, to live for, to praise, to reach out to, to cling to? Hey, it's easy, just choose HIM!
Lord Father, just as YOU chose each of us since 'before the foundations of the earth', I pray that you would convict the world, that every person would choose YOU and know the difference. Amen
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Separated by Sin
Most of us know that GOD doesn't like sin, but this simple statement doesn't even begin to tell the whole story. It isn't just that HE doesn't like sin, HE is repulsed by sin. Sin is something our Eternal FATHER abhors with every part of HIS being. Sin isn't something that HE makes a case by case decision on as to whether to tolerate being around. Now that we understand just where GOD stands on sin, and don't think for a moment that I've even began to scratch the surface with my few inadequate sentences, let's throw another issue into the mix that GOD has a very distinct position on. Let's talk about love for a bit, and mix it up with HIS intolerance of sin. If we let it, this can get just a bit confusing, so we just won't let it, okay? When we talk about the devil and GOD, we easily fall into the cadence that GOD is good and the devil is bad, that GOD is positive and satan is negative, that GOD is heaven and the devil is hell. This particular area of what we call religion is probably just about the only one in which most people agree, even though some are making noise about there being no hell. In regards to that, I believe that if we give people enough time, someone will be trying to convince everyone else that there is no sun in the sky, that what appears to be the sun is actually something else. Anyways, back to the issue at hand. Getting back to the cadence thing, the point I was after there was that most of us, even those who do not profess CHRIST, see GOD and satan as opposites, and it's only natural that attributes identified with GOD and satan preserve the same status of being opposites. So, is it a reach to see love and sin as opposites? Yes, I know that we commonly view love and hate as opposites, but let's take a different tack on things for a moment. We know that GOD has nothing for sin but hate. Yes, our LORD GOD does hate sin. Do you suppose that HE could ever feel the opposite emotion [of hate] for sin? Isn't the question really do you suppose that HE could ever love sin? I know what my reaction is to that one, my gut tightens up, and I feel that everyone would answer that with a very loud and far reaching, "NO!" So now where does that leave us, as Christians? GOD hates sin, and there is no chance that HE'll ever feel any differently about it. We all know not only from reading HIS Word but also from living in our fleshly natural bodies that sin is as much a part of us as is breathing and our heart beating. But we also know that because of love, our LORD sent HIS only SON to the cross. With GOD hating sin so much, how could HE have basically buried HIS SON in sin? Don't even think that I'm going overboard with this, that is exactly what did happen. Read your Bible! Don't take my word, or the word of any other Minister of the Gospel, take the FATHER's Word.
'And about the ninth hour JESUS cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My GOD, My GOD, why have YOU forsaken ME?" ' (Matthew 27:46 NKJV)
What we have here is the reaction of JESUS CHRIST when HE experienced something for the first time in HIS life. Just as our kids draw strength from us when they know we're watching their first ballgame, or their first band concert, CHRIST had always felt the presence of HIS FATHER's eyes on HIM, and had drawn strength from that. But then, at the precise moment of HIS [physical] death, two things happened. First, all of mankind's sins were [figuratively] piled onto HIS body. And second, because GOD hates sin so much that HE cannot and will not, even for the sake of HIS SON, gaze on it, HE turned HIS eyes from it. HE wasn't turning HIS eyes from HIS SON, HE was taking HIS gaze off of the sin HIS SON was buried in. I've taken us into the death of CHRIST in order to illustrate just how much GOD hates sin. Now don't go trying to get your minister to explain away this scene of death and momentary abandonment as being something other than exactly what it was. Let's bring a question we looked at earlier back into play, "Where does this leave Christians?" It leaves us in just about the same position JESUS was in there on the cross, but with a distinct advantage HE didn't have. When CHRIST died, and 'yielded up HIS spirit' (Matthew 27:50 NKJV), HE spent three days 'amongst the dead' before arising. What we have to remember here is that HE arose. That's what is important, not how many days HE spent 'amongst the dead.' I believe that HE arose on the day HE did, the first day of the week, so that we would use that day as a day of celebration. Isn't that what our worship should be, a celebration of life? The day HE arose as victorious over death, which is the opposite of life, shouldn't that day be celebrated by our worship as the day our lives began? This is where we as Christians stand in regards to GOD'sHE'll always love us. That is, and will always be the reason HE 'forsook' HIS only begotten SON. And just like we'll sometimes separate ourselves from HIM by sin as CHRIST separated HIMSELF from HIS FATHER by sin, when we have victory over sin, which represents death, as CHRIST did, HE'll be waiting with outstretched arms. A point to be made here, and that is that CHRIST did make the decision to separate HIMSELF from GOD by sin. When HE made the decision to accept the will of the FATHER, HE knew what was in store for HIM. This is what gives such value to HIS obedience in contrast to the disobedience of Adam.
'For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one MAN's obedience many will be made righteous.' (Romans 5:19 NKJV)
This is also the position the 'one MAN's obedience' puts us in before GOD, as righteous, not on our own accord, but by the obedience of the ONE who made the conscious decision to separate, by sin, HIMSELF from GOD.
So, has your decision been made? To 'unseparate' yourself from GOD?
Be BLESSED!
'And about the ninth hour JESUS cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My GOD, My GOD, why have YOU forsaken ME?" ' (Matthew 27:46 NKJV)
What we have here is the reaction of JESUS CHRIST when HE experienced something for the first time in HIS life. Just as our kids draw strength from us when they know we're watching their first ballgame, or their first band concert, CHRIST had always felt the presence of HIS FATHER's eyes on HIM, and had drawn strength from that. But then, at the precise moment of HIS [physical] death, two things happened. First, all of mankind's sins were [figuratively] piled onto HIS body. And second, because GOD hates sin so much that HE cannot and will not, even for the sake of HIS SON, gaze on it, HE turned HIS eyes from it. HE wasn't turning HIS eyes from HIS SON, HE was taking HIS gaze off of the sin HIS SON was buried in. I've taken us into the death of CHRIST in order to illustrate just how much GOD hates sin. Now don't go trying to get your minister to explain away this scene of death and momentary abandonment as being something other than exactly what it was. Let's bring a question we looked at earlier back into play, "Where does this leave Christians?" It leaves us in just about the same position JESUS was in there on the cross, but with a distinct advantage HE didn't have. When CHRIST died, and 'yielded up HIS spirit' (Matthew 27:50 NKJV), HE spent three days 'amongst the dead' before arising. What we have to remember here is that HE arose. That's what is important, not how many days HE spent 'amongst the dead.' I believe that HE arose on the day HE did, the first day of the week, so that we would use that day as a day of celebration. Isn't that what our worship should be, a celebration of life? The day HE arose as victorious over death, which is the opposite of life, shouldn't that day be celebrated by our worship as the day our lives began? This is where we as Christians stand in regards to GOD'sHE'll always love us. That is, and will always be the reason HE 'forsook' HIS only begotten SON. And just like we'll sometimes separate ourselves from HIM by sin as CHRIST separated HIMSELF from HIS FATHER by sin, when we have victory over sin, which represents death, as CHRIST did, HE'll be waiting with outstretched arms. A point to be made here, and that is that CHRIST did make the decision to separate HIMSELF from GOD by sin. When HE made the decision to accept the will of the FATHER, HE knew what was in store for HIM. This is what gives such value to HIS obedience in contrast to the disobedience of Adam.
'For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one MAN's obedience many will be made righteous.' (Romans 5:19 NKJV)
This is also the position the 'one MAN's obedience' puts us in before GOD, as righteous, not on our own accord, but by the obedience of the ONE who made the conscious decision to separate, by sin, HIMSELF from GOD.
So, has your decision been made? To 'unseparate' yourself from GOD?
Be BLESSED!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
It's Not Your Choice!
If you take the time to look around you at the 'religious' world, and weed out all of the non-Christian denominations and sects, you may be surprised at what you find. I've read through my Bible several times, at least, and the last time I did it for a specific reason. I was looking for something in particular, and I didn't find it. Now that's not saying it isn't there, maybe I missed it. After all, there are those who contend that if a person hasn't had years of specialized education in theology followed by years of being mentored by someone qualified that the average person has no business even opening a Bible. (I rambled on about that subject in my August 22, 2011 posting.)
Oh yeah, about what I couldn't find, the 'it' I was searching for. Okay, here goes. I couldn't find any reference to 'conservative Christians' or 'liberal Christians' or 'moderate Christians' or any other kind of Christians other than in the Acts of the Apostles.
'Then when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.' (Acts 11:26 NKJV)
The only other two times I could find that the word 'Christian' was used, not just in the New Testament but throughout the whole Bible, was in Acts when the apostle Paul was supposed to be defending himself but was actually witnessing the Agrippa, and then in I Peter in that apostle's letter to those who'd been scattered by the Dispersion.
'Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."' (Acts 26:28 NKJV)
And,
'Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify GOD in this matter.' (I Peter 4:16 NKJV)
This first Scripture is very revealing in that Agrippa, who was sitting in judgment of Paul over charges levied against him by those in the Jewish religious community, was so convinced by the apostles humble yet firm convictions that he conceded that he himself was moved in the directions of Paul's beliefs. Then we have Peter, writing to those Believers scattered about by the Romans attempts to quash any kind of organization among the new Christian groups, whose purpose was to provide instruction and just as important to bolster the people spirits. The point I'm after here is that even though I've searched through eight different versions of the Bible, I can't find any reference to being a 'liberal' or a 'conservative' Christian.
Let's take this a bit farther. I read just the other day on UCN that a longtime teacher of Theology had made the public statement that there was no way that the garden there in the east of Eden or Adam or Eve ever existed. It's in the Bible, but according to this 'expert' it never existed. What does that do, make GOD a liar? I've also read recently that a very popular TV minister was asked during an interview about the virgin birth. His response was that he personally didn't believe in it, but it was his policy to stay away from what he termed as 'controversial' issues. Even more disturbing than two individuals, both prominent in the circles of Theology and what I call 'commercial religion', both making statements that challenges the honesty of GOD, is that these aren't isolated incidents. More and more people, who label themselves as 'conservative' or 'liberal' or some other crazy kind of Christian, are picking and choosing what to believe and not believe out of the Bible. What do people think the Bible is, some kind of Scriptural buffet that they can assemble their own belief manual from?
I had to take a break for just a minute there. I can get really stirred up when people try to destroy the truths that my LORD JESUS CHRIST sealed with HIS Blood. And have no doubt, when anyone tries to take away even one little comma or period from the Holy Bible, then they've taken a huge step in the wrong direction.
'For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, GOD will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, GOD shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.' (Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV)
Now let's get right down to the nitty-gritty about this. If we dig right down to the bare bones of what our LORD GOD has offered us, through Grace by Faith, we only have one choice offered us by HIM. That single choice has nothing to do with what part of HIS Word we'll believe, or how we'll change the parts of HIS Holy Scriptures to be more convenient for us. The choice also doesn't allow us to be more 'conservative' or more 'liberal' as Christians. That single choice gives us the final say in whether we accept the Blood of HIS SON as atonement for our sins, or not. That's it. Like the Scripture says, we're not to add to or take away from anything HE offers us, including HIS Word. It's an all-things or no-things thing with the FATHER, either accept through belief all-things of HIS Grace and all of HIS Word or HE'll have no-things to do with you. Don't take my word for it, I don't want you to. My prayer for you is that you'll do what I always tell people; READ YOUR BIBLE!
'Not everyone who says to ME, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of MY FATHER in heaven. Many will say to ME in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV)
Now don't read this and put a 'conservative' or 'liberal' interpretation on it. Just read it exactly like it's written, even if it's not convenient for you or if it isn't what you want to hear. The fact is that most often what we don't want to hear is exactly what we need to hear. Besides the Scriptures not being convenient for a lot of people, and so they try to change things to fit their plans, another factor in play here is motivation. The reason why we do something most of the time is often more important to GOD than what it is we did. Our motivation can negate something we've done that's a good thing into a negative thing. It's as much why we do something as what we've done that determines the value of the act itself. The end of story here is that there is never, and will never be, a proper motivation to try to change a single bit of Scripture. GOD didn't make any mistakes, HE didn't need any proof readings or editors or spell check, I can guarantee HE got it right the first time. So what makes any person thinks they have the right to correct HIM? That's exactly what people are doing when they try to 'modify' HIS meaning about something Scriptural. Like I said earlier, that is a huge step in the wrong direction, and good luck trying to 'modify' the Scriptures that says that!
My prayer for people are that we all accept JESUS as our personal Savior, and that we all allow ourselves to be nurtured by HIS Holy Spirit and taught by HIS Word, exactly as it's written and exactly as it's read. GOD doesn't need our help in this area, HE's got it under control. We each only have one choice before the LORD, so make it count.
Be BLESSED!
Terry & Faith Keiner
Being Blessed in Absarokee MT!
Oh yeah, about what I couldn't find, the 'it' I was searching for. Okay, here goes. I couldn't find any reference to 'conservative Christians' or 'liberal Christians' or 'moderate Christians' or any other kind of Christians other than in the Acts of the Apostles.
'Then when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.' (Acts 11:26 NKJV)
The only other two times I could find that the word 'Christian' was used, not just in the New Testament but throughout the whole Bible, was in Acts when the apostle Paul was supposed to be defending himself but was actually witnessing the Agrippa, and then in I Peter in that apostle's letter to those who'd been scattered by the Dispersion.
'Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."' (Acts 26:28 NKJV)
And,
'Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify GOD in this matter.' (I Peter 4:16 NKJV)
This first Scripture is very revealing in that Agrippa, who was sitting in judgment of Paul over charges levied against him by those in the Jewish religious community, was so convinced by the apostles humble yet firm convictions that he conceded that he himself was moved in the directions of Paul's beliefs. Then we have Peter, writing to those Believers scattered about by the Romans attempts to quash any kind of organization among the new Christian groups, whose purpose was to provide instruction and just as important to bolster the people spirits. The point I'm after here is that even though I've searched through eight different versions of the Bible, I can't find any reference to being a 'liberal' or a 'conservative' Christian.
Let's take this a bit farther. I read just the other day on UCN that a longtime teacher of Theology had made the public statement that there was no way that the garden there in the east of Eden or Adam or Eve ever existed. It's in the Bible, but according to this 'expert' it never existed. What does that do, make GOD a liar? I've also read recently that a very popular TV minister was asked during an interview about the virgin birth. His response was that he personally didn't believe in it, but it was his policy to stay away from what he termed as 'controversial' issues. Even more disturbing than two individuals, both prominent in the circles of Theology and what I call 'commercial religion', both making statements that challenges the honesty of GOD, is that these aren't isolated incidents. More and more people, who label themselves as 'conservative' or 'liberal' or some other crazy kind of Christian, are picking and choosing what to believe and not believe out of the Bible. What do people think the Bible is, some kind of Scriptural buffet that they can assemble their own belief manual from?
I had to take a break for just a minute there. I can get really stirred up when people try to destroy the truths that my LORD JESUS CHRIST sealed with HIS Blood. And have no doubt, when anyone tries to take away even one little comma or period from the Holy Bible, then they've taken a huge step in the wrong direction.
'For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, GOD will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, GOD shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.' (Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV)
Now let's get right down to the nitty-gritty about this. If we dig right down to the bare bones of what our LORD GOD has offered us, through Grace by Faith, we only have one choice offered us by HIM. That single choice has nothing to do with what part of HIS Word we'll believe, or how we'll change the parts of HIS Holy Scriptures to be more convenient for us. The choice also doesn't allow us to be more 'conservative' or more 'liberal' as Christians. That single choice gives us the final say in whether we accept the Blood of HIS SON as atonement for our sins, or not. That's it. Like the Scripture says, we're not to add to or take away from anything HE offers us, including HIS Word. It's an all-things or no-things thing with the FATHER, either accept through belief all-things of HIS Grace and all of HIS Word or HE'll have no-things to do with you. Don't take my word for it, I don't want you to. My prayer for you is that you'll do what I always tell people; READ YOUR BIBLE!
'Not everyone who says to ME, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of MY FATHER in heaven. Many will say to ME in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV)
Now don't read this and put a 'conservative' or 'liberal' interpretation on it. Just read it exactly like it's written, even if it's not convenient for you or if it isn't what you want to hear. The fact is that most often what we don't want to hear is exactly what we need to hear. Besides the Scriptures not being convenient for a lot of people, and so they try to change things to fit their plans, another factor in play here is motivation. The reason why we do something most of the time is often more important to GOD than what it is we did. Our motivation can negate something we've done that's a good thing into a negative thing. It's as much why we do something as what we've done that determines the value of the act itself. The end of story here is that there is never, and will never be, a proper motivation to try to change a single bit of Scripture. GOD didn't make any mistakes, HE didn't need any proof readings or editors or spell check, I can guarantee HE got it right the first time. So what makes any person thinks they have the right to correct HIM? That's exactly what people are doing when they try to 'modify' HIS meaning about something Scriptural. Like I said earlier, that is a huge step in the wrong direction, and good luck trying to 'modify' the Scriptures that says that!
My prayer for people are that we all accept JESUS as our personal Savior, and that we all allow ourselves to be nurtured by HIS Holy Spirit and taught by HIS Word, exactly as it's written and exactly as it's read. GOD doesn't need our help in this area, HE's got it under control. We each only have one choice before the LORD, so make it count.
Be BLESSED!
Terry & Faith Keiner
Being Blessed in Absarokee MT!
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