Christian OUT

Prayer For The Learning And Wisdom Of Our Children...

2008-08-13T11:57:00.000-05:00

As we walk through the month of August, our elementary to college family and friends will begin a new year of studies. They will hopefully be given a learning of knowledge and wisdom by their teachers that will be important to both their further education and future opportunities. Though secular understanding is not all they need.

Along with parents, Sunday school teachers, and pastors, seasoned Christians should also have a wealth of wisdom from both experience and meditation in the Scriptures through their life of serving God. We must ensure that we give these students godly examples concerning our Christian walk, to help them prove what is right from the Word of God. For, surely they will see a variety of morality and lifestyles in their fellow students, and possibly their teachers, this year.

May we all join in praying for each and every soul, that God would protect them from the evil of this world. Let us not dismiss the idea that from the youngest child to the mature college student, they do in fact face similar types of intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual warfare as we all do. By this, I mean the intellectual battle of their minds to believe or discount the things of God, the emotional battle of peer pressure and fitting in that may often go unknown to us, the physical battle of temptations along with protection from the desire of others to hurt fellow students, and the spiritual battle of doing that which is right even when it isn’t easy. All of these are extremely real, even though they may not be brought to our attention very often.

Should not our desire be that these may grow in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord, bypassing many of the sins and pitfalls we have found ourselves in, that they may have a better Christian testimony and joyous life than we? May it be so.

Let us be mindful and prayerful of one another.

John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

2008-08-12T10:13:00.001-05:00

What a marvelous work did I happen upon in picking up John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. From the onset he describes his wretched soul, as we all as sinners have been. He tells of the dreams and warnings of the Lord which came while he was yet a child, which caused his heart to ponder such things of heaven and hell, though they soon faded as he continued in sin. He shares of finding a religious experience, which both intrigued him and shallowly gave him comfort, but in his sin was he yet still. We find that even through the rebuke of the lost to one another can change one in the flesh, yet their spirit may remain dead in trespasses and sin. Yet, through it all, the God of Heaven shares mercy and grace to a sinner who, blinded by the flesh and the devil, falls to the depth of believing there is no hope for them, for they are too much of a sinner to find forgiveness in Christ. Oh, how great a change may be shown by the religious and the hypocrite, yet merely skin deep, the heart and soul never truly knows of the conversion whereby we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Trusting not in Christ for forgiveness, though His very Words were nigh even upon his lips and fingertips, he did strive to obey the law to earn that which may only be given: salvation. Though asking God for forgiveness, it was misplaced by mere thoughts of the flesh saying ‘I can do better’ instead of putting faith in His Son’s sinless life and taking our place upon the cross. Praise be to God that dear John Bunyan indeed found salvation by grace through faith, by the mercy of God he found it, and so may every sinner that turns in faith, at the moving of the Holy Spirit, away from themselves and toward the sinless Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.

I have just started this work, but would recommend this to any sinner desiring to know more about Christ, the new convert who has come to know Christ, and to the believer that he may remember the day they met Christ.

A Call To Serve God More...

2008-07-22T08:33:00.000-05:00

I pray this letter finds you all doing well serving the Lord. I pray that we will all be mindful of the opportunities the Spirit may lead us to, but also of our adversaries, namely the world, the flesh, and the devil, of whom we contend against.

Serving with fellow church members, of who are my brothers and sisters in Christ, in Mexico for a week stirs my senses to be more aware of the spiritual warfare that surrounds each and every one of us on a daily basis. Not only do we contend with a world system made of unsaved souls who desire not to serve the risen Saviour, we must rely on being obedient to the Spirit of God to make us mindful of Satan’s devices, not putting confidence in our sinful flesh which all too often leads us astray from the things of God.

Dear friends, we must be willing to place our faith in Christ and serve Him with our whole hearts. Too often I find myself wasting precious time that could be used getting to know my God and strengthening my faith. We cannot contend for the faith if we are unwilling to talk with our King (prayer), mediate upon his Word (Scripture), and put into action that which His Spirit shows us. We cannot allow temporal things to cloud our judgments, hindering us from receiving the wisdom of God that gives us strength and power in spiritual battles.

Our paying lip service to the things of God serves no purpose with man nor with God, for we are but one that neither believes nor cares for even that which we say. For, if we truly loved God, our family and friends, and desired not that one should taste the torments of eternal condemnation, would not our faith move us to witness that which we claim to believe?

You, my friend, may find yourselves doing just that, serving God to your fullest, and to that I say praise God, may you continue steadfast. But, for us (yes, me included) that are not completely using our time wisely, and all to often appear to get sidetracked by the woes and cares of this world, we need to repent (turn away from) those things which may not be sin, but yet hinder us from heading head strong into service for God, putting His will above our own.

Do you desire to know God? Do you desire to serve God? Do you desire to share His Word with others? These are questions that we all need to ask ourselves, being honest with ourselves and God with our answers. If yes, then we must then ask ourselves as to what are we presently doing for the cause of Christ. If no, we must purge ourselves of sin by repentance, seeking the forgiveness of Christ, then moving forth in obedience to the pressing of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Do we not know ‘every one of us shall give account of himself to God?’ [Romans 14:12] May we all live a testimony well pleasing in His sight!

God Bless,

A Little Expounding on 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

2008-07-18T08:36:00.001-05:00

1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

According to verses 1-4, when we have not progressed in our spiritual walk, but continue with envy, strife, and divisions we are being carnally minded.

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Ephesians 5 speaks of the relationship of the husband and the wife, as the relationship of Christ and the church. As the church, we are to submit ourselves to Christ because He loves us and gave Himself for us. His desire is to present us without blemish, cleansing us by ‘the washing of water by the word.’ Just as we are to grow closer to our spouse by taking time to intimately know them, so must we desire to ‘grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’ to ‘beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.’ [2 Peter 3:17-18] A marital relationship can’t simply stay at the same stage as when two people first met, and neither can our relationship with Jesus Christ remain the same as the day we were saved. We must mature in our love and knowledge of the things of God through the study and meditation of His Word.

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

We have to guard ourselves from becoming –ites. It is okay to say ‘my pastor is Bro. Martin’ and that ‘I attend Fellowship Baptist Church’ but we must remember the gospel message of Jesus Christ is about His death, burial, and resurrection, not about our pastor and our church. When we witness, we are to share with persons the Word of God, not try to convert them to be Southern Baptist on their door step. We should support our pastor and our church, but we must guard against simply becoming a follower of a man (any man). We are to be followers of Christ, but testing all things against the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

As Christians we are to be about witnessing and spreading the gospel message to those around us. As the parable of the sewer (or the seed) [Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8] the seed may indeed fall upon various grounds, but how then shall the seed find the good ground unless we are willing to plant and water with the abilities God has given us? We shouldn’t choose by outward appearance to where or whom to plant and water, but obey the moving of the Holy Spirit.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

As Christians we must be conscious that we do not allow pride to have us see ourselves as higher than all other Christians and better than all sinners, for we will become self Pharisaical making ourselves of no profitable use to the cause of Christ. We must remember that by grace through faith we have been converted – by God – ‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.’ [Titus 3:5-7] For it is Christ who is the ‘author and finisher of our faith’ knowing He which hath begun the a good work in us continues to work in us to do His good pleasure. We have not made ourselves saved, nor can we make someone else saved. We must present the gospel, pray, and trust the Spirit of God will move in the hearts of people.

This also does not mean our service to God means nothing, for Romans 10 shows God uses men to further the gospel in that it ask ‘how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?’ And here in 1 Corinthians 3 and verse 13 it declares, ‘Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is,’ and so shall there be reward and loss based on our honest deeds toward God and the spreading of His gospel message. Honest deeds means our heart also, not just what we see each other do on the outside, for the Pharisees appear good on the outside but were corrupt within. [Matthew 23:27]

What this does mean is that we are not the focal point, nor is it us or our ideas which save the lost. God and His gospel of Jesus Christ is the focal point, and He is the one who saves sinners. I mean, what is it that we plant and water? We must choose to plant and water that which God has provided, for if not, we will sin in planting and watering with man-made ideas and quick ‘easy believism’ schemes which may show numbers, but not truly converted hearts.

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

The only way that we can be ‘labourers together with God’ is to preach and teach the same gospel message He has already declared through Jesus Christ. Paul declares unto us the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15, but also elsewhere throughout Scripture. Verse 11 states, ‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ Paul says in Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Just as 2 Timothy 2:16 following telling us to study the Word in verse 15, says ‘shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.’ How are we to witness to others and avoid deceit unless we grow from being babes in Christ and keep ourselves from being carnally minded?

We must humbly submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to work through us, using that which He has given us through Scripture, so that we will grow as Christians, souls will be saved, lives changed, and God receives all of the glory. We do not glory in ourselves when a soul comes to Christ, but glory in the One who has opened our eyes to see and our ears to hear, the One who has given us the seed and the water and works in us to plant and water wherever His Spirit shall lead us, that others may come to know Him also.

Corrupting the Word of God

2008-06-05T12:53:00.000-05:00

In Genesis 3, we have the fall of mankind. This chapter is full of insightful information as to how man fell, but also as to the temptations we face today are merely the same as those which Adam and Eve faced in the Garden of Eden: Such as, “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”

But, for the moment, let us consider the misuse of the Word of God by mankind which led to the fall, for such has continued throughout the ages with men Corrupting the Word of God even unto this day. Really one should take the time to read and mediate on this chapter, for here I will merely try to quickly note the pitfalls we can all find ourselves in when we corrupt the Word of God whether intentionally or not.

Note 1: Not all corrupt communication will come in the form of ‘God is a liar.’

God said: Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.
Serpent said: Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

We see that ‘false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves’ attempt to use the Word of God, but not in its intended purpose and original thought. Notice the serpent puts a negative slant on the Word of God. God said they may freely eat of every tree of the garden, only telling them to refrain from ‘the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,’ whereas the serpent states that God has said they may not eat of every tree of the garden. Instead of presenting the fact that mankind was being given many things having only one tree withheld, the serpent’s words take away from what all has been given to man and focuses on what has been withheld.

Note 2: It isn’t necessary to take away from the Word of God to improve it.

God said: Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.
Serpent said: Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Eve said: We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Here we see liberalism creeping into mankind, desiring to water down the Word of God, as Eve removes the word ‘freely’ from the very mouth of God concerning the trees of the garden. Sure this note could be debatable, but the word ‘freely’ declares it was given unto them to partake without requiring something in return. As seen in salvation, it is freely given by grace through faith, without the deeds of the law.

Notice Eve also waters down God’s word of ‘in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die’ with ‘lest ye die’ leaving the idea of the possibility that one would not actually die; therefore, making God a liar, and making it easier to sin with a seemingly lesser punishment.

Note 3: It isn’t necessary to add to the Word of God to protect it.

God said: Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.
Serpent said: Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Eve said: We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Here we see legalism creeping into mankind, desiring to go beyond the Word of God, as Eve now claims that God said they could not even touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; though He never said such. Now we see the serpent saying that God has not given mankind every tree, Eve is now saying that they cannot even touch this one tree, and the tree simply becomes more enticing as they corrupt the Word of God.

Note 4: As we corrupt the Word of God, we move closer to sin.

God said: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Eve said: lest ye die.
Serpent said: Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), and that it was pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and a tree to be desired to make one wise (pride of life), she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

When confronted with corrupt communication mankind started by quoting the very Words of God, though they found room to change, add, and take away from the pure words they were given. In turn, they turned away from the truth, embraced the lies, and lusted after that which was sin. It is no different today with each one of us.

David declared, as we all should: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Corrupting the Word of God will surely lead to our own corruption.

It's Summertime!

2008-05-29T09:53:00.000-05:00

School is out and summertime is upon us, and with it comes vacation, family visits, and relaxation for many. Let us remember not to put God and our local church in the trunks of our cars as we head out to enjoy time with family and friends.

Please continue to pray and support your Sunday school class and church worship services; for there are many a soul who still need to put their faith in Jesus Christ, and they will be watching where our hearts are this summer.

Hypnotic Spiritless Singing

2008-05-28T15:07:00.001-05:00

Scripture declares, we are to speak to “yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” and “one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,” but are we taking this a little too far nowadays?

What I mean is it is no secret that music (whether Christian or non) moves our emotions both in positive and negative ways. I would also be willing to say that it is most often the beat, melody, etc. more so than the words that move us rather than the other way around, for sometimes the words can barely be made out or even heard. While other times, some words found in the so-called Christian music (not limited to just contemporary either) can be easily heard, but are so far from Biblical Truth, it is quite amazing that we (well some) still use them.

Just because it falls under the label of psalms (not the Psalms), hymns, or spiritual songs doesn’t mean it is Biblically sound. Just curious, to YOU, what makes a song spiritually sound? Is it the words, the music, both, or because grandma, grandpa and the local church have always sung it?

I have a fear that many a person in modern-day Christianity is experiencing emotional highs with Christian music, but their very soul remains dead in trespasses and sin. Sure they feel good, their flesh may even enjoy the sound, the beat, and even the choruses, but does their spirit rejoice with the moving of the Spirit of God? I’m not saying I can look at one and tell, I believe this is something we each need to ask ourselves when we believe we are “in the Spirit” being moved by the music played by the band, soloist, choir, or pianist.

Let’s be honest, can not many a soul be moved to both joy and sadness by the tunes of a movie, a play, a missionary story, etc.? Is this by the Spirit of God or merely our emotions being moved by what we see and hear at the time, only to walk away from such back into our “normal” lives whereby we usually forget such?

Please tell me why we have so many giving their lives to Christ, shouting “Holy, holy, holy”, crying out with great tears, falling down to worship God, ONLY to walk out of the church, the stadium, wherever merely returning to their daily lives as if the “experience” never really happened and their lives are never really changed?

Did (Does) the music move their (our) souls to confession, repentance, and salvation, or has it just been a case of Hypnotic Spiritless Singing embraced by the flesh and emotions never reaching their (our) dead or backslidden spirit?

Let us not be hoodwinked by our emotions simply being tossed to or fro during the hype of music, but let us judge our experiences by being grounded in the Word of Truth.

"Mayday, Mayday!"

2008-05-07T21:57:00.001-05:00

As we find ourselves in May, I can’t help but think of “mayday, mayday” the “emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications.”

As you know, we just returned from our young people taking part in State Bible Drills in Pineville at Louisiana College. They did a great job, conducting themselves in a mature manner, representing well Fellowship Baptist Church. We appreciate their discipline to study and memorize the Scriptures, along with the faithfulness of the teachers, families, and church members with all of their support and encouragement.

Though our young people are being taught the Word of God, and give themselves over to the studying and reading thereof, there are many in our neighborhoods, work places, cities, and state that simply do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The word mayday “derives from the French venez m'aider, meaning 'come to my aid'/’come [to] help me.’” The problem is, most (if not all) sinners are not even calling out “mayday, mayday” as they fall deeper into sin, and further from the gospel call of Jesus Christ. Lost sinners simply don’t usually run around calling out to Christians to help them spiritually. Sure, they may ask for wants or physical needs, but how many lost persons have found their way to you or stumbled in to church by themselves without first being invited or introduced to such aforetime?

A source I read claims, “Mayday calls can be made on any frequency, and when a mayday call is made no other radio traffic is permitted except to assist in the emergency. A mayday call may only be made when life or craft is in imminent danger of death or destruction.”

Dear friends, I can’t express enough how important it is that we stay focused on the things of God, mindful of His Word, and sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit. Every lost soul “is in imminent danger of death or destruction.” We are to be a light to this dark world, allowing Christ to shine through us. Meaning, we should always be ready to give witness to His marvelous work of salvation to any repentant soul who chooses to place faith in Christ.

When the Spirit moves upon that lost soul, and we find ourselves confronted with their distress call of “What must I do to be saved” are we ready “to assist in the emergency?” Have we hid His Word in our hearts and are we in tune with the Spirit, whereby we may know the signs of a convicted heart, ready to repent, regardless of what fashion (“on any frequency”) it may come? Pray that God would bind the devil to have “no other radio traffic” while the gospel message is presented to this lost and dying world.

As always, let us continually pray for one another.

Friend or Acquaintance

2008-04-25T15:52:00.000-05:00

Scripture declares in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times.”

Now, love properly defined does not mean everything we find our friend doing or saying is acceptable and we totally agree with. Sometimes our friendships need to be seasoned with “reprove, rebuke, [and] exhort[ing] with all long suffering and doctrine.”

Honestly, how shallow are most of our so-called friendships, to be honest, whether they be with Christian or non-Christian persons? Do we honestly love them, or do we simply enjoy the prestige or the things that may come from knowing them? Or do we happen to merely hang around them so that we may feel that we are “in the click?”

How often do we use the word “friend” and how often do we honestly mean it?

Are we quick to forget, gossip about, or turn our backs on certain persons that we claim are our friends, as soon as we find another more interesting one? What about if they embarrass us for one reason or another, or hurt us (even by mistake), or others come forth to pull us from them?

Proverbs 18:24 declares, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Do we show ourselves to be “friendly?” Do we stick “closer than a brother” to those we ourselves claim are our friends? If not, then why do we even use such terminology, merely deceiving ourselves and the persons we declare it to? Why not simply denote that all are merely acquaintances that may come and go with the wind, but shall not remain as faithful friends that we shall “loveth at all times?”

Can we share our deepest sorrows and greatest joys? Can we trust that our words, our fears, or concerns are honestly considered and kept secret from the world around us? Is there a faithfulness to one another that goes without saying? Do others find a haven of rest in knowing we care for their physical, emotional, and spiritual well being and desire only the best for them?

What of the times we see them falter or fall from what we believe is right? What of the days that go by where we feel awkward to confront them with such thoughts of encouragement and constructive criticism with only charity in our thoughts? Do we find such in those we cherish as so-called friends? Do any remain at our darkest hour?

Do you truly have any friends or merely acquaintances?
Are you truly a friend or merely an acquaintance?

Do you have a true friend, one who has stuck by you, through many things in your life? Have you told them how much it matters to you? Maybe you should.

What Seeketh Thou?

2008-03-03T08:30:00.001-06:00

What is the number one thing people seek after in today’s society? What is on the top of your list, my list? How important is it really in the grand scheme of things? What is the motivation factor; self or the well-being of others? How much time and energy do we spend trying to reach that goal, and do we affect others in a positive or negative way while striving to achieve it? How much of it is pure selfishness without regard to others?

How much time do we spend deciding on what we will eat, drink, and wear on a daily basis, along with all of our other thoughts surrounding our desires and wants, compared to pondering the things of God and the lost souls around us?

Scripture declares [Matthew 6], “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

What things? “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

Scripture is not saying that we do not have a duty to work and provide for ourselves and our families, but the main focus is not to be unto ourselves but unto “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.”

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Where is your treasure, where is my treasure? Is it in the things of God, or the temporary things of this world?

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

We must choose this day who we will serve, whether to God or the flesh be given preeminence. Just remember, “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” [Galatians 6:8]

Tell me, “What Seeketh Thou?”

On the Topic of the Handicap, Mentally Ill, and Salvation

2008-02-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

A good friend of mine, concerned about lost souls, asked the question, "what happens to them after death. I wonder how God judges them? If they ever could actually comprehend the gospel?"

I do think it is a difficult question, maybe with few or no easy answers, considering the destination of the mentally handicapped people. But, to me, the discussion of the topic creates a burden within our hearts for souls, and not just the souls of the mental but also of all lost people. If we stop caring about souls, then we are merely a castaway to the Christian faith and cause of Christ. We can all try to live the legalistic life of the Pharisee, but are merely full of dead men’s bones if we have no desire to share the Message with the lost.

First, I believe, we must agree with Scripture that every soul ever born will either reject the gospel of Jesus Christ or accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and therefore spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. Second, we must also acknowledge that God is love, is holy, is just, and perfect; therefore, we cannot blame Him if a soul (whether mentally ill or not) spends eternity in hell for rejecting Him. Thirdly, we must accept the truth that the soul that spends eternity in hell are themselves responsible for their rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and not their friends, family, or the devil though all three may have played a part in the soul not putting faith in Christ.

This is what makes sin and the devil so terrible, because they confound the lost, confuse the saved, and easily manipulate us into obeying them over obeying God and His Word. Usually, simply because we choose to follow them (the flesh, the world, and the devil) instead of heeding to godly wisdom and the Spirit of God, we sow to the flesh destruction and ultimately the loss of rewards for the saved and eternal condemnation for the lost. So, though they may lead us astray and blind us to the truth, we are responsible for choosing (or allowing ourselves) to follow them instead of being as Joshua, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Though we must remember [1] we cannot serve God, even if we want to, without the Spirit working in us to do so, and [2] without giving ourselves over to the reading, studying, mediating on the Word of God and having a faithful prayer life. We do not save and convert souls, nor can we convince a soul they are lost and need Christ. It is the Father, Son, and Spirit that move in us to present the gospel and in the soul to accept the gospel. Remember Paul said, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

With the mentally handicapped we have a great variety, and here is just three groups I can think of, and a little as to what I believe concerning salvation:

1. Born mentally handicapped – People that are born mental can have degrees of handicap, where some comprehend more than others. This would include those born to drug addicts or simply gene and birth defects. I totally believe that God can and does communicate with them, for we must remember God is all powerful, and what is it but a simple thing for the Creator to speak to His creation. Remember when Moses was crying about his speaking? God said, “Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” So, to say God could not communicate to them so they freely get to go to Heaven would mean [1] God isn’t all powerful, and [2] they do not need the Savior Jesus Christ. But we know they are still sinners for Scripture declares, “all have sinned” and if we deny we sin we are a liar. Here lies the issue, we would like to assume that they could all go to Heaven because we feel sorry for them, but if we believe God can communicate with them on their level (whatever that may be) then we must also realize that they have the option to either accept or reject the truth presented by the Holy Spirit on their level.

And speaking of levels or types of mental illness, if John the Baptist can be filled with the Holy Spirit before ever leaving the womb (without a developed mind to comprehend the written Word of God), I believe the Spirit of God is not hindered at all by the mental issues of any soul.

2. Become mentally handicapped – To me this group is somewhat different because (though could have at different ages in life) they had an opportunity to hear the gospel and mentally understand it before they became mentally ill by drug use, accidents, genes, etc. I mean, if I were presented the gospel of Jesus Christ today and reject it, get in a wreck tomorrow and become mentally disabled, is God really under any obligation to guarantee me the opportunity of the Spirit of God to speak to me again in my mentally ill state? I would pray that He would, and I believe by our prayers and witnessing God will offer his salvation to these souls yet again as long as they are yet alive. Yet again, they were responsible for rejecting the truth when they could understand and hear it, and may even been at fault for the reason that they can no longer hear or understand it. And many times these things cause people to go one of two ways: [1] turn to trust in God, [2] rebel and hate God.

3. Demon possessed handicapped – I don’t want to discuss too much concerning this, but the Scripture is clear this does occur. I honestly believe many or some of the souls kept in mental institutions are demon possessed. I believe we fail to acknowledge it because they are not on the streets like during biblical times, because we have them locked away out of society and out of our minds. Also, I believe that we use so much medication in today’s society, whereby many of the possessed souls merely stay in a hypnotic, drugged induced state. You know what the problem with this is? Yes, they may hurt themselves or others if they were to be taken off of the drugs, but while on the drugs who can witness to them? Again, I believe the Holy Spirit can, but not all possessed souls get freed from oppression – but remember God is still not at fault for their rejection of his gospel, for God knows the entirety of every soul’s life and their opportunities whereby they were presented the gospel whereas we do not.

Now, please consider the above as merely my understanding from my walk through Scripture, and I am far from being a theologian. Trust God, trust the Book, and pray for both the lost souls to come to Christ and the saved souls to be about the Christian walk. We must acknowledge that ALL souls MUST go through CHRIST, for He is the way, the truth, and the life; therefore, if this be the case, and it is, this includes the mentally handicapped soul as well as the genius.

Do You Love Me? What About Them?

2008-02-08T16:38:00.000-06:00

I am going to just come out and say it: “I Love You!”

Am I the only one that finds that which we are commanded to do in Scripture to be sometimes awkward and/or unnatural? I didn’t personally come from a “huggy” family that often told each other “I love you.” Even now, I find it somewhat uncomfortable to tell someone besides my wife or children that I love them. I believe I may show it to others by my actions, but to have the words flow from my mouth seems maybe even harder than saying, “I’m sorry.”

Scripture teaches us there should be a love between husband and wife (Ephesians 5:25, Ephesians 5:33, Colossians 3:19, Titus 2:4), a love between parents and children (Proverbs 13:24, Ephesians 6:4, Titus 2:4), a love between friends (Proverbs 17:17, John 15:13), a love between Christians (John 13:34-35, Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 3:8-9), and even a love concerning our enemies (Matthew 5:43-45, Luke 6:35).

Paul covers the act of love with his use of the word charity in 1 Corinthians 13. For it is not the mere mention of “I love you” that only matters to God, but that which lays in our hearts toward others that God judges us also. We are to live both inwardly and outwardly as Christians concerning the Word of God. Remember, man sees the outward, but God judges the inward, so both must be done if it is to be a pure act of love before man and God. (1 Samuel 16:7)

It is written, “Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

This is just a few things I hope to consider not only this Valentine’s Day, but each and every day of the year. As Christians, we should be a people of love, and not ashamed of it.

Make a Joyful Noise unto God

2008-01-24T10:56:00.001-06:00

The Scripture is full of verses asking us to Make a Joyful Noise unto God, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of praise, not only to ourselves but also to others.

There is probably not a Christian that would object to such teaching from Scripture, even from those which may not sing aloud themselves while sitting in the pews during worship services.

The thing I would like to ponder is the idea of children verses adult singing specials in the church. In fact, I’ll just come right out and ask the question:

Why do we accept and applaud a child that sings a special, though it may be off key, but seem to dare not let an adult sing that does not have the “voice of angels”?

Is it simply because they “look cute” and the adult may not? I know that sounds silly, but it appears this is indeed the reasoning behind it. I mean, what else could be justifiable reason to allow a child that does not have the prefect voice to sing, but not the adult?

Should not the underlying factor be the heart of the person desiring to sing? “Why do you want to sing a special in church?” should be the question we ask, not make them audition for a singing solo. Am I wrong to think this way? I heard a pastor once say, “Sometimes the only reason people want to sing specials in church is because they can’t sing anywhere else.” Meaning self gratification is the reasoning behind it, and not the love for God.

Consider the child that sings, or wishes to: Is it truly their heart wanting to glorify God by their praise to Him in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, or is it their parents which desire to see their child upon the stage in church bringing notice more to their child’s voice (a talent from God) than to God Himself?

Indeed, we can become too legalistic in trying to peer into each heart before we allow them to sing within our churches, but have we not done so by allowing talent to judge whether one is worthy to sing unto God within the church service?

Now, with this said, I am not against special music in church and most often enjoy it, so I am not saying that we need to cast out special music in church but to allow each heart the opportunity to sing praise unto God. I say, “Let the children sing unto to Lord, but hinder not the heart of the adult who wishes to Make a Joyful Noise unto God.”

A Reply to Comments and Emails

2008-01-03T10:10:00.001-06:00

** Updated 1/4/2008

When I first created this blog, I believe in August 2007, I had no idea that it would draw so much attention, as it has in the last few days (1/2008), especially from a non Christian audience. I surely did not expect it to show up at RichardDawkins.net.

I believe if readers would take a moment to consider the About and Concept pages, there would be less assumptions and claims regarding what this blog is really all about.

The first sentence of the About page declares, “CHRISTIAN OUT is currently more of an idea or concept than an organization or campaign.” The OUT simply stands for “Observable Underlying Testimony” in that, “My desire is that we, as Christians, may each have a personal, individual, Observable Underlying Testimony of Christianity that can be seen by the world around us, without even a word having to be spoken at all. Not that we should not speak of the things of God, but that our inward spirit and outward walk should match our words.”

It has been seemingly demanded that, “Richard Dawkins is a Professor at Oxford University, give him the respect he deserves and acknowledge him as Prof. Richard Dawkins on your site.”

As concerning the outcry of why I simply chose the use of “Mr.” instead of “Dr.” or “Professor” was not intended to diminish Richard Dawkins in any way. The term mister (Mr.), as defined by the dictionary, means “a title of respect prefixed to a man's name.”

I highly doubt that he is offended or feels disrespected by me calling him Mr. Richard Dawkins instead of Dr. Richard Dawkins or Professor Richard Dawkins. Calling him Mr. makes him no less of a man, than calling him Dr. or Professor makes him more of one. Neither my blog nor my simple choice to use Mr. takes away any of his accomplishments, nor any respect his peers may have for him. Not to mention that some of the emails I received simple use Richard Dawkins without the use of Mr., Dr., or Professor. Again, I highly doubt that he is really concerned or offended by my use of Mr. in front of his name on this small blog in the scheme of the entire Internet.

As written in the About page, “Although the idea originated from the initial view of Mr. Dawkins’ campaign site, CHRISTIAN OUT has little to do with atheism and more to do with a deeper more personal relationship with Jesus Christ concerning our Christian walk in our daily lives as Believers.”

If one should see a limit in comments, especially recently, it is because this blog is not meant as a place to debate Atheists or non Christians, but as a place to help those that profess to have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to act as such.

Thank you all for visiting.

** UPDATE: 1/4/2008

I have received a good number of emails, some more lively than others, but it still appears that many are so fixated on the concept of Richard Dawkins’ OUT Campaign that they fail to see what this simple blog is about.

I would like to note two things, as concerning the comments I have been given.

1. I have been called all sorts of names, claiming I am just a thief that cannot come up with an original idea, but we must remember The Scarlet Letter ‘A’, now used for Atheism, is not original either. Does this mean that the originator of the OUT Campaign is a thief and unoriginal also, for Nathaniel Hawthorne did not write of Atheists, did he? I am not saying they are, but ask those, which have wished to label me as such, if one be a thief and unoriginal, is not the other also? I was also emailed the “Atheist "out" campaign, which was based off of the homosexual coming "out" of the closet campaign.” If this be true, does this make the OUT Campaign any less original?

2. I have received various emails concerning this blog and the idea of homosexuals. One has said, “Way to stick it to the homos and gays,” claiming “The whole reason the original Out Campaign was called the OUT CAMPAIGN was a coorelation of homosexuals/gays who were too afraid to "come out of the closet."” Interestingly, I notice the taking of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter ‘A’ (originally for Adultery) for use in the OUT Campaign, but the sight itself claims “Atheists are far more numerous than most people realize. COME OUT of the closet!” Neither The Scarlet Letter nor the OUT Campaign seems to say anything about homosexuals (thought granted, some homosexuals may be Atheists or adulterers, just as some heterosexuals may be).

Again, if one would honestly take a moment to read through this blog, I do not believe they will find any writings directly against Atheists or homosexuals, but writings that are written toward Christians. As stated above, this site is/was not intended to argue with Atheists or homosexuals; therefore, I have limited the comments that seem to have not really been intended for discussion, but merely ridicule or rant.

The reason for moderation at this blog is because for quite sometime I have had an Atheist at my other blog which visits everyday, commenting on every topic presented. Knowing good and well it is a Christian blog, they regularly posted cursing, blasphemy, and even pornographic links, just out of spite. I was unable to keep up with all of the comments throughout my entire blog, so I decided to enforce moderation to allow the good discussion I have shared with many Atheists, but to weed out the comments which serve no purpose but for personal attack or those which bring no productivity to discussion. I am most surprised they have not revisited this blog and left a comment as of yet.

Feel free to check out my other blog (http://www.splintersofsilver.com/) which is where I do most of my writing, but I ask that your comments be in good taste if there is to be genuine discussions.

Thanks again for visiting.

** UPDATE #2: 1/4/2008

Question: If I stole the idea from Richard Dawkins, did he steal the idea from Hawthorne (the ‘A’) or the homosexuals, which many have claimed had an OUT campaign even before him?

un·der·ly·ing:

–adjective

2. fundamental; basic
3. implicit; discoverable only by close scrutiny or analysis

un·der·lie
–verb (used with object) -lay, -lain, -ly·ing.

2. to be at the basis of; form the foundation of.

That which lies within us will make its way to the surface without a word being spoken. If that be Christ, His light shall shine forth, but if it be darkness, how great is the darkness within us?

The symbol means nothing, but the man Christ Jesus means everything. It is He, the very Son of God, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only means to forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

I realize that the opposition is not to this simple site, but to the very God who formed the universe and all that is.

“God Doesn’t Want Me To Be Unhappy”

2008-01-02T12:33:00.001-06:00

I have heard this statement more than once, and largely in the context of a wife desiring to leave (divorce) her husband. Where exactly does such a thought arise? I find it not within the writings of Scripture, so who then is the author of such?

First, I would like to take a look at the central word, which is interestingly “Me”. Now, I may be going out on a limb here, but usually when a person centralizes their thoughts upon self they are considered to be self-centered. A synonym for self-centered is selfish, meaning “devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.”

Now, I am not going to assume that everyone (or anyone) that claims this line of reasoning, when considering the idea of divorce, may not have a legitimate reason for separation from their spouse (though Biblical justification is very limited and seldom adhered to), but I do believe this says more about their spiritual condition than it does of the marital condition of why they feel justified in leaving.

If by chance, there were such a teaching as “God Doesn’t Want Me To Be Unhappy”, how exactly would that work toward a family? For a moment, let us consider this analogy a bit:

Husband + Wife + Children = Family

Wife (or Husband) wants out and claims “God Doesn’t Want Me To Be Unhappy”. They are finally awarded a divorce, and apparently (but probably not) find happiness in it.

Has the Husband (or Wife) and Children found happiness also, given only the desires of the other to leave the Family has been granted? Does not God want the other spouse and children to be happy also? What child is ever happy at the divorce of their parents? The logic simple does not add up.

Honestly, I don’t find the teaching “God Doesn’t Want Me To Be Unhappy” anywhere in Scripture. What I do find is God telling us that we will find joy in obedience to Him. To look and desire joy outside of the Word of God is to enjoy the pleasures of sin but for a season. Remember sin is any transgression against the law of God (both internal and external acts).

When one entertains the thought of divorce (or any other act) one must first examine their personal relationship with God. Are we in tune with the Spirit and adhering to the Word of God, or have we simply placed “ME” in the center of all that is and have just become selfish in our thinking?

Though we may think we are making our future happy by putting asunder what God has joined together, happiness for ourselves, our spouse, and our children is not what will be found.

As I once heard a pastor say, “If one would put as much work into the marriage as they do to get out of the marriage, most likely the marriage and happiness could be restored to the entire family.”

There is one truth to “God Doesn’t Want Me To Be Unhappy” and that is God has given us Scripture whereby to live our lives, and has sent His Son Jesus Christ that we might be forgiven of sin and be given eternal life. When we reject His Word and/or His Son, there is no true happiness to be found.

Resolutions ‘08

2008-01-01T07:52:00.000-06:00

Here we go again, a new year and some new resolutions. Each year, come January 1st, quite a lot of people find themselves making promises to themselves which they hope to stay committed to for 365 days. I often wonder how many last past the first 30 days.

As I consider resolutions, I can’t help but recall the hymn I Am Resolved, by Palmer Hartsough.

The very first verse should be the desire of every professing Christian, and for the repentant heart which comes to Christ for salvation:

I am resolved no longer to linger,

Charmed by the world’s delight,

Things that are higher, things that are nobler,

These have allured my sight.

And to those which know not the loving Savior, Jesus Christ, and to the backslidden Christian, such is the refrain of hope to which we pray their hearts will be moved:

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;

Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;

Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

Let not our resolutions be fixed solely upon the desires and wants of the flesh, but let them be spiritual in thought, whereby we may live as one who shall hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Tri-fold Effects of Sin

2007-12-13T12:20:00.001-06:00

Whether we wish to call it short-comings, faults, mistakes, or accidents, the most direct name given to our daily “transgression of the law” (being the law of God) is labeled appropriately by God as sin.

Sin is so common is our daily lives, whether inwardly among ourselves or outwardly plastered all over in the actions and advertisements of others, we seem to grow somewhat accustomed to it and fail to understand its total disgust to the eyes of a Holy God. Until we come to the realization of just how bad sin is and how corrupt man is because of it, how can we truly ever understand and acknowledge just how marvelous and wonderful the gift of salvation really is?

When we choose to sin as a professing Christian, I believe then cometh the Tri-fold Effects of Sin:

[1] Fellowship Broken With Self
This may appear to sound awkward at first, but consider that Paul tells us that we are to follow the spirit and not the flesh to sin anymore. We are told that in salvation our spirits have been quickened (made alive), and that we should no more live after the flesh. Knowing also that the wages of sin is death, we should live after the spirit which is the new man in Christ. When we choose sin over righteousness, we are turning out backs on the new man to follow the ways of the old man, sowing corruption to our flesh and hindering the growth of our spirit; breaking fellowship with the new man within us.

[2] Fellowship Broken With God
By giving into our flesh and choosing to enjoy sin for a season over the joys of righteousness which shall last forever, we are breaking fellowship with the very God who loved us enough to send His Son Jesus Christ to save us from sin and His Spirit which dwells in us to keep us from sin. Choosing sin over righteousness is telling Christ that we desire such wickedness over the holiness found within Him. Holding on to sin in one hand and Christ in the other is not having fellowship with God. Repentance of sin, returning to that which is right in the eyes of God brings fellowship with the Almighty.

[3] Fellowship Broken With Others
When we are out of fellowship with God and not abiding within the proper Christian character which a regenerate person should desire and possess, there is no way that we can have the proper fellowship with other believers or non-believers. If we have chosen not to adhere to the Words of God or the Spirit which dwells in us which desires to move our spirits to do right, how then can we be conscious of the needs of others around us? Choosing sin over righteousness causes us to lose sight of the fellowship we should have with fellow believers in Christ, and the need of Jesus Christ to those which believe not. A loss of testimony is sure to follow, should we love sin over righteousness.

Any dabble in sin can throw our entire Christian walk out of balance, causing us to break fellowship with everything we know but the sin itself. Are the pleasures of sin for a season really worth the broken fellowship it brings? Consider thy ways Christian. In whose fellowship do you wish to partake?

Whence Cometh Wisdom

2007-12-04T09:07:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite passages of Scripture, and seemingly often quoted by others is Proverbs 3:5, 6.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

These two verses share with us some great truths, about trusting and acknowledging the things of the LORD over our own thoughts. Have you ever continued to the next two verses?

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Here the Scriptures tell us that we are not to be wise in our own eyes. In fact, it goes on to declare that if we fear the LORD and depart from evil, it will bring us health to our physical bodies.

If we are honest, most of us believe we have it all figured out, and seldom wish to adhere to the wisdom of others (of those proven to be wise). This can be seen in our children, as they develop from kids into teenagers and into adulthood, but seldom ceases to exist even as we grow older knowing better than to think we are a “know it all.” It usually isn’t until failure or disaster comes that we may momentarily come to realize that we don’t quite know all there is to know. Sometimes even then we fail to admit it, but simply cast blame elsewhere or reason away why it appears we don’t know as much as we claim to.

In and of ourselves we do not know how to trust in the LORD and not in ourselves, nor do we desire to depart from evil and to allow the LORD to direct our paths.

Whence Cometh Wisdom? From one greater than ourselves!

Maybe David said it best in Psalm 51:

He comes before God in humility, acknowledging his sin, and asking God to show him mercy he knows he does not deserve. He pleads with God to cleanse him of sin, to make him righteous before His eyes; for he knows he is unable to do this himself. He knows God desires truth to dwell within us, and acknowledges that it is God alone who causes us to know wisdom. It is God who gives man a clean heart, and quickens the spirit of fallen man to make it right.

Scripture declares multiple times, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”

“Be not wise in thine own eyes,” but seek it from the LORD. Take a moment to read Proverbs 2. Here is just a taste:

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

As a Christian, knowing we could do nothing to save ourselves from the depravity which bound us to sin, being freed only through trusting in the wisdom of God by putting faith in Jesus Christ, how is it then that we so proudly claim we can be wise by any means other than obeying and fellowshipping with God in prayer and through His Word? Then, and only then, shall we be granted His wisdom, if we shall repent and trust in Him over ourselves.

Prodigal Prayers

2007-11-27T12:07:00.000-06:00

This past Sunday our pastor preached a sermon on the passage of the prodigal son, which he entitled The Prodigal Sons (notice the ‘s’). The sermon referenced the actions of both sons: The son who took his inheritance and left, eventually returning, and the son which stayed with the father, as recorded in Luke 15, notably in verses 11-32.

Today I wanted to give emphasis on the Prodigal Prayers we most often pray as Christians, compared to the Righteous Prayers we should consider more worthy to be offered.

The prodigal prayer goes as follows: “Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.”

Now, what portion of goods did this son mean? Was it not the inheritance in which he would receive upon his father’s death? Therefore, his selfish desires pushed all wisdom aside, giving over to the “I want my way now” attitude, caring not for the wishes of his father.

How often do we, as Christians, selfishly pray and demand that God do that which we voice to Him in prayer? How often are our prayers filled with what we want done, and seldom about the will of God?

It is not necessarily wrong to pray asking God to heal the sick, to help others, and to help us with wisdom in our emotional, physical, financial, and spiritual needs. We just need to realize that we easily become selfish in our prayers by asking all these things of God, never considering His will, not realizing we have taken the glory from God and given it to what we would like to have done.

Scripture declares: “seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Therefore, we must adhere to the fact that we must first seek the will of God over our own wills concerning our prayer life. Remember Romans 8:28, and recall we are to adhere to the Spirit in prayer, for we know not what to pray for.

Recount the son’s prayer “when he came to himself”: “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

Here we see a couple of things:
1. Confesses he is a sinner and has sinned.
2. Repents by turning from his wicked ways, and returning to that which is right.
3. Requests to be made as a servant, one who is obedient and cares for the will of their master (father) over their own will.
4. Faith exercised in knowing his father had the power and would do so.

Consider your prayer life, and ponder if by chance it is full of merely Prodigal Prayers.

Just How Thankful Are You?

2007-11-21T10:28:00.000-06:00

Coming this Thursday, actually tomorrow, many will be celebrating the holiday we call Thanksgiving here in America.

The meaning behind the title, Just How Thankful Are You, is meant to allow you, the reader, to ponder to yourself what you may be thankful of.

I think too often we spend most of our year considering the things that we are not thankful for, meaning the things we dislike or wish we could change, etc. How often do we actually take a moment to just enjoy a fresh thought toward all of the many blessings in our lives to be thankful for?

What if we could enjoy the entire day, the whole twenty-four hours, of tomorrow expressing our thoughts and appreciation for whatever we are thankful for? How about we refuse to allow anything besides that which we are indeed thankful for to creep in and take over our day of Thanksgiving? Some may say, “that is impossible,” but I assume we could at least try. I completely realize there may be those that are suffering from physical, emotional, and spiritual problems at this very time, but surely even you have something to be thankful of.

Is there not something we can all be thankful for? Is there not someone we can all be thankful for? Should we not be thankful for the good things we are able to enjoy here in America, compared to some of the other countries, or compared to how it could be?

Forget what you dislike about America, things, and persons that you may come in contact with on a daily basis, and choose this coming Thanksgiving to enjoy those things which you are thankful for.

To spend Thanksgiving complaining and sorrowing about those things which we do not have or dislike seems like a waste of the purpose of the holiday.

Enjoy Thanksgiving!

You have a whole year to complain about what you are not thankful for!

Qualifications of a Bishop or Deacon

2007-10-24T08:53:00.001-05:00

In I Timothy 3, we have the qualifications of a bishop and deacon, as given us by God, through the pen of Paul.

1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

As Christians, we understand that bishops (pastors) and deacons are not sinless persons which have reached a stage of perfection others cannot. We must acknowledge that it is the power of God which works in us to do that which is right. Although there be some that feel the moving of the Spirit of God to be called to these positions of service, can we not all strive toward these qualifications in our own personal lives also, even if we are not called to the specific ministry of bishop or deacon?

Men: Is there any cause whereby we should not desire to be vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach (even if simply presenting the gospel to a lost soul or sharing what God has given us from Scripture with a friend or family member), not addicted to alcohol or a drunkard, not a fighter, not greedy of filthy lucre, patient, not a brawler or covetous, not double-tongued, holding firmly to the faith of the gospel within us, without slander, being faithful in all things, ruling our house and raising our children well (by the use of godly wisdom, correction, and Scripture), being of good report both within and without the church?

Ladies: Is there any cause whereby you should not desire to be serious concerning the things of God and how you study and obey them, not a liar or a gossip, faithful in all things, helping your husband raise the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, being an example of a godly woman both to those who are within the church and those who are without?

If we dare look for these qualities in the bishops and deacons, whereby we judge their character and walk with God, as whether to call them to service within our churches, should we not also look for these same qualities within ourselves lest we hold them to a higher standard while we ourselves become slack and lazy in our service to God?

Spiritual Immigration

2007-10-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

Today I would like to discuss the idea of Spiritual Immigration from a person without God, to a person of God. We understand Christianity is so-called, because it is made of persons who are called Christians, meaning they have put faith in Christ Jesus for forgiveness of sins unto salvation, and should desire to be Christ-like. So, although the context shall remain in Christianity, I would ask for the moment to dismiss the idea of denominations, for I would assume that any Christian denomination agrees that a person is either without God, or is of God (meaning Christ has saved them).

As a lost man, we are out of fellowship with God, living in our sin, and have no desire for the things of God. We are happy to do our own thing, and make our way upon this earth without adhering to what is written in Scripture. There may be times that we feel sorry, may even try to live by what Christian things we have heard, and may even try church for a while, but soon find ourselves pushing it all aside once more to do what we find pleasing in our own hearts and minds.

One day, whether at home, work, church, or merely anywhere one finds themselves, they come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit of their sin and need of Christ as Savior. By grace, they put their faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of sin, as they are converted from a place out of fellowship with God, to a place of being in fellowship with God. Scripture declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” At this very moment of conversion, one has passed through Spiritual Immigration, from the devil unto God.

Why then, when we have been given a new birth by God Himself, do we wish to yet cleave to the old man, old ways, and desire not to embrace the new? Why do we believe that now that we have been placed into fellowship with God, by Christ, that we should try to bring with us those things which kept us out of fellowship with God? Do we not grieve the Spirit in trying to doing so? How is it that when we know God does not like that which we have been saved from (sin), do we think He will somehow accept it now within Himself, simply because we refuse to let it go?

Dear Christian, do we not see this as spiritual hypocrisy, as we claim to thank God for allowing us to spiritually migrate from the land of Satan to the land of God, only to desire the things of the land of Satan over the things of the land of God; further acting as if God doesn’t care that we desire sin over righteousness. God help us as professing Christians, to not hold on to our sins as we Spiritually Immigrate, by the hand of God, from the desert of Satan into the holy land of God.

Bitterness

2007-10-11T10:38:00.000-05:00

“lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”

Bitterness may be defined as, “a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will,” and is a powerful enemy of charity and Christian living.

Scripture declares, “grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Bitterness may arise from burdens, criticism, denial of faults, feeling uncomfortable, unforgiveness, and comparing ourselves to others, failing to acknowledge our own sin, along with many others.

We must not allow bitterness to have its way in our lives, for “any root of bitterness springing up trouble” in us, opens the door “thereby many be defiled.” Do we really want to be the reason that many become defiled?

Yes, there may be things that happen in life, that cause us to distance ourselves from other persons and certain things, but we are still to “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

“Be ye angry, and sin not” is not permission to have “a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will” towards someone. For Christ, beaten and suffering, hung upon the cross of Calvary, as a substitute Lamb, crying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”, and the following verses of Ephesians 4:26 & 27 say, “let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Bitterness is giving “place to the devil”, by allowing our anger of sin to grow into “a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will” against person(s) or thing(s), without ever granting forgiveness. Remember, it doesn’t matter if one deserves it, for neither have we, yet Christ has forgiven.

Although, persons and circumstances in our lives may cause us difficulties, whereby the soil of our hearts may become ground for the seeds of bitterness, it is us who nourish the vines of bitterness to grow. Further allowing it to attach itself to those around us, till it takes root so deep, no one can tell from whence it has come. We must allow the Gardner to keep the seeds of bitterness from our soil, for which His seed is made. And if by chance, we have allowed the vines of bitterness to grow above our eyes to see past it, we need only to plead to the Gardner, to clean us as only He knows how.

Put away the seed of bitterness from you, and “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Burdens

2007-10-10T09:44:00.000-05:00

Burdens, of various types, can bring us down into depths of sorrow, if we are not careful to keep our eyes focused on God. They come in many different forms, being brought on by ourselves or others, and can catch us most unaware; especially if we fail to notice or address the signs at the onset. How quickly bags of leaves can become lead weights upon our backs.

Some burdens are self induced, by sin in our lives, and failing to obey the Word of God.
Some burdens are created by what others do in sin, which personally affect us.
Some burdens are created by what we see around us, in people’s lives, our churches, the communities, our country, and the world.
Some burdens are shared, when we are in a position or asked to pray for, counsel, witness, or help someone (whether unaware to them or by their asking).

When we become burdened down in the trials and worries of this life, we must not allow our pity party to keep us from God. God is still on the throne, and has promised, “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” We must remember that Christ laid down His life, that we might be saved. He will not forsake us, but has said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” The Holy Spirit also is here, whereby we are “sealed unto the day of redemption.” He is a Comforter to us, if we would only trust in Him. We must reject the works of the flesh, and embrace the fruit of the Spirit.

Something I think we often miss, when we become overwhelmed with our own burdens, is that everyone around us has burdens of their own to endure. At the very moment one finds time to comfort us, their own hearts may be heavy with burdens. Have you ever considered the heart of the pastor, who may carry the burdens of the whole church? Why do we have the right to enjoy a self indulgent pity party, when there are many persons which we could possibly help, suffering the weight of burdens also? Are we any more deserving than them? Are we any more deserving than Christ, whom suffered and gave Himself ransom for our sins, on the burden of the cross of Calvary? Who then was there to give Him comfort? Yet, He has promised to give us “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.”

I am not saying that some burdens are not more grievous than others, trust me, I know. We are asked to “Bear ye one another's burdens”, and so we must, that the whole body of Christ (each person) may have their needs met.

We cannot allow our own burdens to keep us from listening to the Spirit of God, and continuing to do the work we are called to do. There is hope if “in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Follow Up To: Do I Make You Feel Uncomfortable

2007-10-09T09:26:00.000-05:00

As a follow up to my recent post, entitled Do I Make You Feel Uncomfortable, a friend of mine suggested that I write an article discussing “the correct ways to do things.” As in most cases, to see what is wrong is a bit easier than to find the right corrective action for it. And I am not sure I have done any better work here.

As discussed in my last post, let us consider the topics of witnessing, touching, too personal, and personal space. As posted in red within the right column of my blog, one may note that these are merely my personal thoughts and are not to be used to judge my church, pastor, or its members, and thus the reader is free to agree or disagree with the assertions I put forth. But if you disagree, please suggest a positive alternative.

WITNESSING: Although I received a comment, to my last post, “If you don't want to make people feel uncomfortable, consider not proselytizing to non-believers,” witnessing is a command by God, both in the Old Testament and New Testament, which is clearly expressed by Jesus Christ before and after His crucifixion. Scripture saith, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” A person must realize that they are a sinner and need to repent (to turn from sin to Christ), to receive salvation by grace, through faith in Christ. This does not come from brow-beating a person into submission of our legalistic rules, but by showing them the Word of God, and what He has determined to be sin and righteousness. Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit using the Word of God; therefore, sometimes when non-believers become uncomfortable with the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is really being uncomfortable in their sin by the convicting presence of the Holy Spirit. Before one simply tries to witness, they should be in tune with the Spirit of God and His Word. This can’t be done on a spur of the moment, if we are not already striving to live obedient to Scripture, in a healthy, personal relationship with Christ. Quite often we need to take notice of the opportunities we have to witness to lost family and friends, which will seldom have one feeling uncomfortable, unless we question them in a public setting or exhaust their patience, by our continual placing more emphasis on each and everyone of their personal sins, than the grace and mercy that can be found through forgiveness in Christ. Remember a “good” sinner and a “bad” sinner are still sinners, and only the blood of Christ can cleanse us white as snow. Don’t witness in self righteousness, for it is the righteousness of Christ that saves a sinner from sin, and works in us to do that which is well pleasing to the Father. There is a greater chance of making persons feel uncomfortable as we witness, when we go door to door, pass out tracts, or simply speak to one is passing. When we offer a tract, if the person refuses to take it, accept their rejection. If a person is holding a beer, when they open the door as you hand them an invitation to church, don’t start railing or rebuking them on alcohol. Acknowledge we all have sin, even Christians are saved sinners, and that we all need the Savior, Jesus Christ. Be Holy Spirit led in witnessing, and don’t expect others to come to Christ, if you haven’t spent time with Him all day either.

TOUCHING: In dealing with touching, it seems that hugs have drawn the most attention from my previous post. It appears a lot of women are “huggers”, but the evidence remains that they do not all like to hug all men. So a man can scream to the roof tops, “Why won’t she hug me”, and the simple answer remains, “She doesn’t want to, and doesn’t owe it to you.” A friend of mine noted, at another place I posted my topic, the following:

First: a man is ALWAYS to wait for a lady to extend her own hand before he shakes hands with her. ALWAYS. It is considered rude in polite society for a man to extend his hand first. Since it is always assumed that a woman would not ever be the aggressor, but rather, is the weaker and gentler sex, the extension of her hand is a non-threatening gesture and always acceptable.

Second: this hugging rule is slightly trickier. Certainly one would not hug a complete stranger, however, in the company of friends, it is not considered impolite for a 'BRIEF,' yet warm, hug to be offered by a woman. If a woman hugs a man and he deems it uncomfortable, it is never polite to, in turn, make the woman feel uncomfortable, or to make her feel that she has done something wrong. It is ALWAYS up to the man to be a 'gentleman.'

Apparently, these were derived from Emily Post’s Etiquette, from 1922. If we take these at face value, the common theme is to allow the female person to extend the handshake or hugging toward a male person. I dare say that this may not remove all uncomfortable situations for the male, but I can’t help but believe this would be a much better practice; especially in a church setting. I am not addressing that we should not hug anyone, but I think one needs to consider, “Why do I want to hug them,” before they do it. Characters are easily seen, especially for persons in a church setting. People notice those that are “innocent huggers” and those which may appear to be “selective huggers” (and I will leave it at that). I completely realize that many family and friends grow up in church and honestly love one another and enjoy seeing each other on Sundays, but if the only time you talk to this teenage or younger woman is Sunday morning, do you really need a hug from her, men? Personally, I would say it is best to refrain from older men extending a hug toward a teenage or younger woman, unless she first extends it to him, and it is done openly.

TOO PERSONAL: I believe friendships and relationship must somewhat grow before we can expect someone to feel comfortable giving or accepting too much personal information about ourselves or themselves. The best policy should be, if you are not sure if the other person is comfortable talking about something (whether of them or you), I would suggest refraining from doing so, or asking them politely, would they mind first, and accept their answer without getting offended. Personal is exactly what it means, it is theirs or yours, and not necessarily for another person. Even though, both men and women enjoy a compliment, there is a line that one needs to take care not to cross over. “Your hair looks really nice today,” is not the same as saying, “Your skin looks so soft.” This may be a little extreme, but also consider the idea of whether the comment is made in passing, or is continuously elaborated on. Pay attention to your comments, before you say them, to see if they are questionable. If you think they could be taken wrongly, and cause the person to feel uncomfortable, don’t say it.

PERSONAL SPACE: Often times, especially in church, there is interaction of male and female persons. We need to take notice and beware that we do no invade another’s personal space, to cause them to become uncomfortable. If a female is alone in an area, and a male enters to speak with her (or vice versa), especially if you do not mutually see one another as friends (meaning already both feel comfortable with each other), take note that you allow “buffer” space to [1] ease the other party, and [2] not allow one in passing to take notice and assume something inappropriate. Keep doors open and remain visible to hallways, and if the other party seems uncomfortable, don’t make a scene, but dismiss yourself till others are present.

I may have done nothing but repeat my last post of this issue, but it is only because I consider it important and it seems that it is not often thought about. More than just touching can and does cause a person to become uncomfortable, and if all possible, we should refrain ourselves from being the cause. I believe that staying spiritually minded, in a prayerful relationship with Christ, meditating on the precious Words of God, we will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and the uncomfortableness that we could bring upon others and/or ourselves may be diminished.

Do I Make You Feel Uncomfortable

2007-10-04T13:02:00.001-05:00

I saw a brief segment of the news Tuesday, and it was talking about the Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill case of 1991. Apparently, this recent interview stemmed from his writing of a book regarding himself, called “My Grandfather’s Son”, and it appears that he has been accused of trying to “re-write history” by doing so. The case of 1991, involves Anita Hill bringing sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas, assumingly which he denies.

Although this story caused me to ponder this post, it is not really the topic I would like to discuss. I would rather simply entertain, for a moment, the idea of how we (both men and women) may actually make another person feel uncomfortable, with or without even knowing it.

I personally believe a person can become uncomfortable with us or us with them, accidentally, meaning one does or says something innocently, not meaning anything by it, yet it causes the other person to feel uncomfortable. I also believe, there is the intentional act, not really to cause one to become uncomfortable, but an “over the boundary” sort of act, which is intended to draw a particular reaction from the individual, whether the hoped for response is achieved or not, which may or may not be followed by a quick forethought “apology”, if the response is negative. Some sexual harassment readings will tell us that this can start with hints, words, and lead into brief or light touching, just to see how far one can go, to receive the response they desire.

But, again, I would like to cover, the somewhat less offensive (if there is such) ways of which I believe we may be causing people to feel uncomfortable, without even knowing it, yet maybe should be.

WITNESSING: As a Christian, I firmly believe that we should share our faith with others, and present the gospel in a clear Biblical fashion, according to the words of Christ in Scripture. I have been with persons that present the gospel, and ask the person if they would like to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. The person politely avoided the question, but said that they may come to church Sunday. Instead of allowing the Spirit to move upon the person to conviction (which may be years later or another visit), they asked them about five more times, if they would like to ask Jesus to save them. This is not necessary Christian witnessing, and all it did was to cause the person to become uncomfortable with us. Who knows if the person would have come to church, if the person would have refrained from boxing them into a corner, by continuing to demand an answer? We cannot confuse our making a person uncomfortable with our forceful witnessing, with Holy Spirit conviction.

TOUCHING: My wife’s family is the “huggy” type, whereas my family is not. When we meet her family, there is always an exchange of hugs and maybe even a peck on the cheek. This is not to say this is wrong, but I often see hugging elsewhere that seems somewhat less appropriate and less desirable to the one being hugged. Take for instance, older men hugging the younger ladies (or girls) in the church setting, or elsewhere for that matter. Please understand, I am by no means claiming these men are perverts, I am simply noting the faces of some of the young girls I have seen being hugged. We should realize that maybe people do not feel comfortable hugging us, or us hugging them. They (as in a woman or a man) do not owe you a hug. You ask, how you can know if you make them feel uncomfortable or not – wait until they reach to hug you. If they don’t, don’t get offended, realize they just don’t need or want a hug at that moment. This also applies to older women hugging younger men (or boys), but it seems to be seen less, although some boys may find it uncomfortable to hug also. Although young children may hug more frequently (especially girls), as they mature, they may become less comfortable hugging an adult (especially a male) – even if they had for years as a child. Respect it.

TOO PERSONAL: This seems to be an area that many miss the signs of the other person growing uncomfortable. The simple fact is some persons click into friendships, whereas some do not. This is not to mean that something is wrong with one of the people, and/or the other person is simply unfriendly, but personalities and other factors do play a role in how friendships develop, and as to whether one becomes comfortable or uncomfortable with us (or another). Just because we feel comfortable with another person, to share all or some of our more personal thoughts, does not mean they feel comfortable listening to it or lending advice. We can cause some to become uncomfortable by telling them all about ourselves, as we can by asking them personal questions. We have no right to pry or ask another individual personal questions about anything, and expect them to feel comfortable sharing information with us. This is especially true when it comes to male and female interaction. Someone may be a very nice person, and unable to tell us that we make them uncomfortable, sharing all of our personal information or asking them of theirs, so we must not mistake their listening, as to them feeling comfortable with us. A lady (or teen) does not always need to know that you think she is beautiful, she looks nice in such and such of clothing, you like her skin tone, or if you were younger you might like her. Sorry guys, but the fact is, ladies may not mind one person expressing there thoughts in this matter, but they may not want to hear it from you.

PERSONAL SPACE: Personal space is when one finds themselves having to always call or be around another individual. Again, this may be because we really like (not necessarily as anything more than friendship) a person, and feel comfortable around them. Remember, just because we have attached ourselves to them (for whatever reason), doesn’t mean they feel comfortable around us, or that they are equally attached to us. This does not mean there is something wrong with them or us, it simply means they could be really busy, already have a best (or bests) friends they confide in, or simply just don’t feel that comfortable with us. A lot of times, ladies feel uncomfortable when placed in a setting alone with a man, especially if they do not already feel comfortable with that man, but it may also be true of a man they have known for years. Realize that (men and women), and don’t place the other party in that position of feeling uncomfortable.

We cannot make or cause one to feel more comfortable with us by invading their personal space, by always calling them, by telling them all of our personal history, by inquiring of all of their personal history, and/or by complimenting them on physical appearance, but we sure can cause them to become more uncomfortable around us. I sure would hope there is no Christian that has a desire to have others tip-toe uncomfortably around us, so lets take the time to observe ourselves, and how we are causing people to react to us. We can’t get mad or frustrated simply because someone may feel uncomfortable around us, we need only to acknowledge it, and desire to change our actions which are causing it. We may never be able to be best friends or as close to someone we really like (as we hoped), so we need to accept it and not allow it to cause us to become depressed about it, to where we become offended.

I am sure each one of us has been put into an uncomfortable situation before, and we know how it feels, even if the other person did not. How about we take the time to consider the other person (as in the above), and ask ourselves, Do I Make You Feel Uncomfortable.

Why Me?

2007-09-18T13:52:00.001-05:00

Who has never asked the question, “Why me”, when it comes to something that has taken place in our lives that we find depressing, catastrophic, unfair, or anything that we believe should not have come our way? The alternative, when sometime good happens to us, which may also be unfair (meaning we didn’t deserve it) we usually don’t hear, “Why me”, but “Thank you” or “I deserved it”. I would like to pose three things to think about next time either yourself or one of your friends have something happen in their lives to cause one to ask, “Why me”.

[1] I believe that some things happen to the unbeliever to bring them to Christ. It is ashamed to say, but some people seem to need drastic measures in their life to bring them to the place where they see their need for Christ as Savior. It is easy for the unbeliever to further reject God, but a healthy fear of God can draw them to Him in repentance. The fear is not to cause one to run from God, but to run to God for forgiveness and protection from His wrath. But also the love of God can cause them to run to Him for peace and comfort found only in faith in Christ. [Job 28:28; Matthew 11:28]

[2] I believe that when a Christian is disobedient in lifestyle, as in acting as a lost person by knowing what God has said but is living in open rebellion to it, God indeed will chasten them. God does not do this out of meanness, but out of love. As a loving father desires to see his child do well and enjoy good things, so much more is God the Father to His children. One should not get mad at God, but come to Him in repentance and obedience. [1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12]

[3] I believe that some things happen to Christians that are for examples to others, and not based on anything wrong they may have done. It is a test of faith, which brings them closer to God, and allows others (both believers and unbelievers) to see Christ through their obedience and character through unpleasant and sometimes unexplainable situations in life. [James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:7]

Regardless of which situation you find yourself, the thing to remember is that putting your trust in God is where we should start. Point the unbeliever and remind the believer of the grace and mercy found in God through the Savior Jesus Christ. [Romans 8:28]

Hypocritical Hymn Singing

2007-09-18T13:41:00.001-05:00

Although this also holds true of the praise & worship singing, I am partial to the old hymns so I chose to use them.

How often do we attend church tired, grumpy, depressed, angry, and any other emotion that over takes us for countless reasons by things we face in our lives? Instead of being spiritually, prayerfully prepared to worship a Holy God, we show up for personal prestige and duties sake.

We sing, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, while thinking of the SuperBowl; Amazing Grace, while gritting our teeth over what the neighbor said; It Is Well With My Soul, while we weep that the world is not treating us fair; Blessed Assurance Jesus Is Mine, while we dream of that person we want to be with; All To Jesus, while we fidget waiting for that final prayer to release us from the service.

We want to know why our churches are dying and not growing; why members leave and visitors don’t stay; why the preacher gets weary and the congregation gets tired.

We don’t need to build larger gyms; bring in all the entertainment; shorten the preaching and omit the words “sin” and “repent”; throw out the hymns and turn to music with only a feel good message; leave the old behind as we serve the young.

We need a revival in our heart to return to God; a life of prayer and obedience; a life of reading, studying, and meditating of scripture; a life of love for God and sharing the gospel with others; a life of singing and praising God from the heart and put a stop to Hypocritical Hymn Singing.

Visiting Side Shows, Missing the Main Event

2007-09-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

I am borrowing this topic from a comment our pastor used last Sunday in his message, although I am mostly likely taking a different route.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; - Ephesians 4:14

I fear that modern Christianity (or a better term, “modern religionist”) is “aiding and abetting” in the lost world being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine”. I fear many are missing the Main Event, a personal relationship with Christ, by spending too much time and energy at Side Shows.

People seem to flock to healings, tongues, baptisms, casting out devils, concerts, and how to get rich, yet where are they for preaching on sin and repentance, a life of obedience, and the teaching of doctrines and theology.

A thirst for an outward display of holiness, signs, and wonders appeal to the flesh, yet often yield no fruit in the spirit. Examples such as the Pharisees and the onlookers of the miracles which Christ performed give proof that such do not guarantee salvation to any.

Scripture declares, For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

Scriptures declares, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. - Romans 1:16

Signs and wisdom are the Side Shows which keep man from the Main Event. To be in awe and excited about signs and wisdom is not the same as to be in awe and excited about the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Scripture declares above in 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 that people seek signs and wisdom, yet the gospel of Christ is a stumbling block and foolishness to them.

Many seek after witchcraft, which is both magical (signs) and mysterious (wisdom), yet do not seek after Christ.

Scripture declares, But without faith it is impossible to please him - Hebrews 11:6

Searching for a sign and wisdom is not what God requires nor is what is needed to receive salvation and a personal relationship with God. Salvation requires faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10

Are you enjoying the Main Event or just wasting your time and energy on Side Shows?

Which are you pointing others to?

WARNING: SPYWARE FOUND

2007-09-18T13:14:00.001-05:00

Most everyone has most likely heard the word spyware, if not have also enjoyed trying to remove it from their computer system. Here are some snippets of information concerning spyware: it is often used interchangeably with adware and malware (software designed to infiltrate and damage a computer respectively); they watch and observe for advertising purposes; occurs in the background and the data is used for "targeted" advertisement impressions; gets on a system through deception of the user or through exploitation of software vulnerabilities.

Surely one has heard of the brain being the most powerful super computer [Man Vs Machine]. One of the first things one may learn as a programmer is, “Garbage in, garbage out.” The computer does what it is programmed and/or told to do. We are always adding things to our minds by things we see and hear. Although we may not always be able to quickly recall all the information, it is still in there somewhere.

For this cause, we need to limit the “garbage” we allow to be recorded in our brain. Because this information is still in there somewhere, whether we are able to recall it or not, it will most likely “pop-up” at the most inopportune times. Then we are not only corrupted by the initial viewing, but now the “pop-up”. As advertisement goes, these “pop-ups” will appear beautiful, vividly colored, enticing, and playing toward our lusts which they know all too well. How often when we try to pray to God, study His Word, and think on good things do we find those “lost files” popping up their ugly head?

Although we are unable to rid our system of these “wares”, for a complete re-format/system upgrade will only occur for the saved when we see Christ [1 Corinthians 15:49-52], there are a couple of things that we may do.

Remember the little song you may have learned as a child? “Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear.”

2 Timothy 2:22, Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Corinthians 10: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Our only “Internet Security” is obedience to God. This means a life of prayer, study, witness; a lifestyle of Christianity.

Deuteronomy 6: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Don’t let the spyware cause a complete system failure.

1 Corinthians 9: 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Missed Opportunities

2007-09-18T13:12:00.001-05:00

What you are about to read is actual events, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent. (I think this came from a television program.)

I know a girl we shall call Sally. Sally knows a guy we shall call John. Apparently they have known each other for a while (just friends, mind you), but I have only recently met John when we were over at Sally’s house working on some things she needed done.

We needed some material from Lowe’s, so John asked me if I would like to ride. I said sure, and we head off. On the way there I asked him if he went to church around here anywhere (which is not anywhere close to where I live). He said the last time that he went to church was when he was back home at his grandmother’s church. He said, “I keep hoping Sally will invite me.”

Instantly, this stunned me.

Not because he hadn’t been to church, for I could easily condemn him and ask why he hasn’t just invited himself or found another church to go to. If he really wanted to go to church wouldn’t he just go?

Not because Sally hadn’t asked him, for I could easily condemn her for not being a Christian witness and for knowing this guy and never asking him to go to church with her. Apparently never witnessing either, or surely church would have entered somewhere into the conversation.

I was stunned for I began to wonder how many Missed Opportunities have I had? How many times have I passed up the opportunity to witness and how many people have I failed to invite to church or share with them the glorious gospel of salvation found through faith by grace in the Lord Jesus Christ?

How many Missed Opportunities have been on purpose (due to laziness, afraid, too busy, etc.) and how many have been without even realizing it (due to being in my own world, not spiritually minded, not in a state of prayer, not in tune with the Spirit of God, etc.)?

By this incident, may I learn from my mistakes and may God forgive me and make me more aware of the spiritual warfare and lost souls around me.

Am I One of the Elect

2007-09-18T13:09:00.000-05:00

The simple answer:
If you have accepted by faith the gospel of Jesus Christ, that He was delivered for our offences, was buried, and was raised again for our justification, then indeed yes you are of the Elect.

There is no special formula or hidden message in the scriptures to identify the Elect of God. “Elect” is not a dirty word and should never be treated as one. “Elect” means “chosen or selected”, so it should carry a sweet smell that indeed we are chosen, selected, and most importantly loved by God.

Being of the Elect does have great benefits: He shall gather them up by His angels when the time is right [Matthew 24:31]; He has shortened the tribulation period [Matthew 24:24]; He shall not allow them to be deceived in the end [Mark 13:22]; He shall avenge them [Luke 18:7]; He will have no one lay charge upon them [Romans 8:33]; He knew us by foreknowledge, sanctified us by the Spirit, cleansed us by the blood of Christ [1 Peter 1:2]; and these are just a few. Read the Manual and you will find many, many more.

Being of the Elect does not authorize us to be proud: We are not given the authority or privilege to walk about with our chest held out and our nose in the air as if we have attained that which others have not. This is not a club or lodge whereby we have earned our title by works of the flesh. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8, 9] We should be in a continual state of humility and obedience for the simple fact that God has chosen to give grace and mercy over justice.

Being of the Elect carries great responsibility: One is to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind [Matthew 22:37] and obey Him [Acts 5:29]; One is to love thy neighbor as thyself [Matthew 22:39] and thy enemies [Matthew 5:43-45], and forgive them [Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 18:22]; One is to spread the gospel by witnessing [Mark 16:15] and being a light in darkness [Matthew 5:16]. If we fail to be obedient, we shall be chastened of the Lord [1 Corinthians 11:32].

There is no reason to sit around and wonder if you are of the Elect or not. One needs only to obey scripture by putting their faith in the finished work of Christ. Don’t worry about if the Father is going to call you, whether the Spirit is going to convict you, and whether Christ will accept you. All one needs to do repent of your sin and come to Christ in faith believing He can take care of all the details!

Critical Teardown versus Constructive Criticism

2007-09-10T08:59:00.000-05:00

To criticize someone is quite easy to do. All one must do is observe another person long enough, and we could quickly become critical of that person, their ideas and their actions. If we take notice of ourselves, we may find that this practice, most often, comes about when we do not particular like a person, when we are jealous of this person, or when we simply just think mighty highly of ourselves over another person; especially in times that we may find ourselves disagreeing with this person, whereas others (we wish were on our side) lean more toward them, rather than us.

The problem with being entirely critical of someone else (deeds or actions), is that, in and of itself, does not bring forth anything positive or productive for the one we view with a critical eye, nor for our own humility, nor for those which observe our gossip of the situation from the sidelines.

Criticizing and being critical of another, again, is easy to do, and is sometimes done without even taking thought to the fact that it is being done. Especially when one is fixed upon boosting their own self pride and image, we may fail to see the destructive nature in simply having the critical eye fixed upon everyone but ourselves.

“Criticism voiced out of self-interest or competition may be destructive.”

Constructive Criticism, on the other hand, can be both positive and productive, to both the one and the other, and their relationship. This not only points out a “negative”, but gives a “positive” solution to help improve and/or correct; therefore, helping an individual better themselves (physically, emotionally, spiritually) with encouragement from one they can trust, because the person has shown a love and desire for the improvement of the person, and not simply a selfish desire to merely point out their “flaws”, to only have themselves appear better, can be beneficial to all persons.

We all have places that need constructive criticism, from a pure heart, with a pure desire to want us to succeed in growing as persons and Christians.

Scripture declares, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Meekness: “humbly patient; longsuffering”

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

Next time you look around that beam, take a moment to see if you are about to perform a Critical Teardown versus Constructive Criticism.

I Am Sorry, BUT…

2007-09-04T10:28:00.000-05:00

How often do we say or hear an apology quickly followed by a conjunction?

As long as we live among people here on earth, there will be times when we owe someone an apology and times when we are due an apology from someone. The fact is, we sometimes do things intentionally and/or unintentionally against others, and others do intentional and/or unintentional things against us during our lifetime.

Sometimes we are confronted or confront others with the need of apology, while other times it is left unsaid, but dwells still in the mind of the persons none the less. The person that needs to apologize can dismiss its necessity, and fail to understand why the other person seems to be different or somewhat disconnected from them, and why they can’t simply forget about the issue. The person that needs or expects the apology can dwell in self pity and/or become bitter toward the person simply because they believe they are due the apology, but never receive it.

What I want to ponder is the idea of do we merely pay lip service in apologies that contain conjunctions? Why are we, most often, unable to simply say, “I am sorry, I was wrong”, without having to also pass the guilt to another cause which apparently “caused” us to perform the way we did? By passing this guilt, seemly, from us to this other “cause”, are we really acknowledging our own guilt and asking forgiveness from the person we have offended, or are we really saying, “I am sorry, but this and this caused me to do it, so really it is not or not completely my fault”?

We will say things like: I am sorry, BUT
I had a headache.
I didn’t feel good.
You did it first.
They do it.
I didn’t know.

Here is the question, and by all means, one will answer it themselves, for only we know what we are thinking at the time of apology, whether given or accepted.

When you apologize, do you see your self as guilty (regardless of circumstance and/or other influence) and honestly feel sorry for your actions, or do you simply say the words for personal gain, to make the other person feel better, and/or see the circumstance and/or influence as the true guilty party and yourself as not so much?

Seeing Our Sins In Others

2007-08-17T21:38:00.000-05:00

I initially thought of this concerning one point, but now I believe I have come to realize two observations which can be taken from this thought. Or, at least I have been thinking of the following:

1] Scripture speaks about getting the beam out of your own eye before trying to get the mote out of another’s eye [Matthew 7]. With this in mind, and the observation that most of us find it easier to locate, examine, and point out another’s faults (sins) over our own, I would like to consider the idea that maybe we could actually use this to our own benefit.

I realize, at first, this may sound contradictory to Scripture and that I might be suggesting that we should go around judging others and expounding to them concerning all of their sins that they need to repent of. Actually, what I am considering does include judging, but of self with the help of others.

My suggestion to myself is that when I see what I believe to be sin (or more importantly what Scripture deems as sin) in another’s life (by actions seen), I should first examine myself and see if I hold the same sin in my life. If, upon honest examination of myself, I find that I do indeed also have this sin (or thoughts/actions) in my life, I should take what I would rather tell/give the other person and apply it to myself first. By this, I should be able to bring myself to repentance, by reminding myself that I and the one whom I have mentally judged are both sinners and both need repentance toward God and forgiveness of sins we equally commit. This way, I can focus on the fact that I am not okay in my sin or simply better than this person whom I am quick to judge, but that we are both equally short of the glory of God in our thoughts and actions. We both need the grace and mercy of God found in the atonement for sin provided by Jesus Christ, through putting faith in His work and not our own.

2] Another thought I suppose is when we see sins in persons (children or adults) which resemble our own. What I mean is when we see the expressions, thoughts, and actions of children, teenagers, and adults which appeared to be close or (for some reason or another) look up to us as an example. Are we giving them the proper example, or are we causing others to sin because they are watching us and we fail (because we don’t study to know better, or know better but simply fail to act better). Basically are we teaching them to sin or do right by our example?

I realize that their eyes should be on Scripture and the example of Christ, but I dare say there is most likely no one among us that does not look to someone (whether truly consciously or not) and mimic their ideas and actions as our own if we, by chance, consider them to be above us in intelligence, prestige, spirituality, etc. (even though that may only be our personal perception based on nothing at all).

In both of these thoughts, I can’t help but see if we would first examine ourselves with the sin we easily find in others, we could not only help our own spiritual condition and Christian walk, but also find love and compassion to help others with the same.

Concept

2007-08-17T15:06:00.001-05:00

Although the initial idea originated from Mr. Richard Dawkins’ campaign, the concept that I would like to draw from is much different. In contrast to Mr. Dawkins, I would like to ask the Christian to:

Come OUT for the cause of Christ.
We need to realize that there are those Christians who are shy or not well versed in Scripture, whether new or old, that may be timid or less likely to share their testimony of salvation, the gospel with others, or even their convictions against sin. We should be conscience of this and encourage them to pray, meditate in the Word of God, and observe godly examples, as we all should, that we may become bolder in the faith and understanding of the things of God. In this we must realize that when we do come out as Christians, we should portray the characteristics outlined in Scripture by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our great example.

Reach OUT for the cause of Christ.
We need to realize that we should be reaching out to people with true compassion and sincerity, minus the pious pharisaical cloaks; to both the saved and the lost. We need to reach out in support to our fellow Christians that are new or struggling, to give support and love through their trials, tribulations, and times of growth as a Christian; to be understanding, yet Scriptural, with a kind heart. We need also to reach out to this lost world with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, remembering to not find it uncommon if by chance the lost person chooses to reject God and the Scriptures, to our dismay. We should not allow their rejection of it to be taken personally, but to be brought to God in prayer for their soul’s need of salvation.

Speak OUT for the cause of Christ.
We need to realize that it is necessary for a Christian to personally speak out against sin. We need to speak out against the sin in our own lives and other professing Christians, and also when we are confronted with sin by family, friends, and co-workers. At the same time we are first to examine the beam in our own eye before pointing out the dust in our neighbor's eye. The dust in another's eye does not make us more righteous, nor does looking around the beam in our own eye. In contrast, we also need to speak out concerning the truth, morality, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even when it is uncomfortable, we are to be true to Scripture and obedient to God, therefore calling good "good" and evil "evil". Remember we are to speak and do that which is right because it is right, out of obedience to God, not for personal prestige, gain, or that we should be puffed up while others are put down, causing our pride to be lifted up causing us to fall into sin.

Keep OUT for the cause of Christ.
We need to realize as Christians, it is important to always be aware of sin. We need to be conscience of the devices of the evil one and the lusts of this world that will quickly lead us astray from that which is right and good in the sight of the holy God. Knowing that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, as the Church we are to be faithful to the words of Christ, our Lord and Savior which shed is blood on Calvary that we may have eternal life. As Christians, we should desire to be more Christ-like, refusing to give into the desires of the flesh to sin. As the children's song sings, becareful little eyes what you see, becareful little ears what you hear, and becareful little mouth what you say, we need to add becareful little mind what you think, that we may trust in God as He brings Scripture to our remembrance in the time of temptation.

Stand OUT for the cause of Christ.

We need to realize that Christians are watched by both other Christians and the lost world. We do not need to be seen in a negative conitation, giving them reason to blaspheme the Lord God or sin. By this, we need to be aware of what we say and do, making sure to be followers of the very Scriptures we claim to uphold, also noting that it is done in the right spirit for God to receive the glory. We needn't be so timid or worldly that no one knows that we are a child of God, yet we must refrain from the pitfall of legalism whereby we judge the whole world by our personal moral code brow beating and demanding the lost world or fellow Christians to conform to a system that is above even that which Scripture calls for. We must allow the Scripture to guide us, listening to the Spirit give us knowledge as to when, what, and where to speak and act, shinning as a light in darkness. People should know that we are a Christian, without us having to tell them, by our actions of love toward God, toward the brothern, and toward the lost world.

About

2007-08-17T11:04:00.001-05:00

CHRISTIAN OUT is currently more of an idea or concept than an organization or campaign.

Some may wonder why there is a need to ask Christians to “Come out”, for indeed there seems to be no short supply of television evangelists, churches on every corner, and religious activism across the nation, but real Christianity, true to the Scriptures Christianity, may not be as wide spread as we would hope or like to think it is. This is a call for personal individual Biblical conviction Christianity and not denominational and religious ideals. Are we failing by looking at the numbers of enrollment and loosing sight of the individual lives?

The idea was drawn from Mr. Richard Dawkins’ “Scarlet Letter”, OUT Campaign, which I am fully aware is an atheist. In Mr. Dawkins’ campaign, he calls atheists to Come OUT, Reach OUT, Speak OUT, Keep OUT, and Stand OUT. Although the idea originated from the initial view of Mr. Dawkins’ campaign site, CHRISTIAN OUT has little to do with atheism and more to do with a deeper more personal relationship with Jesus Christ concerning our Christian walk in our daily lives as Believers.

In a recent (Jun 2007) Gallup Poll, 86% believe in God, yet only 57% believe religion is important in their lives, with 27% claiming fairly important and 16% claiming not very important. Concerning Scripture, 32% believe the Bible is “the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word” whereas 45% believe Scripture is “the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally”. So we have 86% that believe in God, 77% that believe in the Bible, and only 57% believe it is important? The numbers don’t seem to add up with the current display of characteristics clearly in violation of Scripture by what would appear to be the majority of persons today.

My desire is that we, as Christians, may each have a personal, individual, Observable Underlying Testimony of Christianity that can be seen by the world around us, without even a word having to be spoken at all. Not that we should not speak of the things of God, but that our inward spirit and outward walk should match our words.