ChristianLiving – Page 8 – Random Thoughts

Feelings and Faith

I once worked with a young woman who was a member of an emotional church. They did a lot of shouting affirmations at the preacher as he spoke and hooting and yelling “as the spirit moved them”. As they left the service, they often spoke of how they “really felt the spirit today”.

I found such experiences unsettling. They obviously enjoyed it, and so that’s fine for them. But there is a danger here.

This young woman once said to me “I need to be saved again.”

You need to be saved a second time? Why?”

“Oh, no; this will be the fourth time.”

Her explanation was that she no longer felt The Spirit working in her life, so she must have lost it and needs to be saved again to get it back. I tried to explain that this is not how it works, but she was adamant. “I need that feeling again!”

Continue reading “Feelings and Faith”

James and the Unbridled Tongue

the gossiping tongue — Via greggfetter.blogspot.com

A good portion of the book of James is devoted to the damage (to others and to ourselves) that can be done by an unbridled tongue. Let’s look as these.

But first, what exactly do we mean by “unbridled”? A bridle is a device that is placed over the face of an animal in order to steer the animal while we ride either the animal or a conveyance being pulled by the animal. In general, an unbridled horse, camel, llama, ox, dog, etcetera cannot be steered and will therefore wander about as it pleases. Rarely will that in in the direction we want to go. In like manner, an unbridled tongue is one over which you have little or no conscious control: it (you) will blurt out all manner of hurtful, insulting things with very little thought of the harm it may do to others, or the impact it has on the opinion others hold of you. In all cases this lesson is referring to believers, and especially believers talking about other believers – although some is about our speech in general.

²⁶If anyone among you^[^b^] thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. James 1:26
Continue reading “James and the Unbridled Tongue”

Spiritual Conflict

We, my friends, are in the middle of a war: a spiritual conflict. Humanity is accustomed to war because for most of our history we have waged war amongst ourselves. This conflict is not one where we are civilians caught between armies fighting over some prize; in this battle we (humanity) are the prize.

Who are the Combatants?

In this spiritual conflict we have two sides: God the Creator and his Heavenly legions fighting against Satan and his fallen angels. Humanity is the prize, and Christians are involved in the form of a resistance movement.

Long ago Satan, then known as Lucifer, was the greatest of all angels. But he grew proud, vain, and ambitious: he desired to make himself equal with God, and led a revolt: the original spiritual conflict. As a result, Lucifer and 1/3 of the angels in heaven: those who had followed him, were cast out of Heaven. They inhabit Earth and the lower heaven, but cannot pass through the barrier into the Abode of God.

We are among them. We don’t normally see them because they are spirit, we are flesh. But they are here, and they mean us harm because we are God’s pride and joy. Continue reading “Spiritual Conflict”

Let the Redeemed Say So

In a world that is rapidly becoming anti-Christian, it is more and more tempting to keep our faith to ourselves. Some say, “I don’t want to offend anyone.” and try to blend in with the world. Is that what God told us to do? A part of the problem is the message that has been put out by some as Christianity.

What is a Christian?

Did you know that the term “Christian” appears only 3 times in the New Testament? You will find it in Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and I Peter 4:16. The Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos), meaning “follower of Christ” was first used by Romans occupying Antioch, Greece as a derogatory term for those who were teaching about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Originally these people called themselves “followers of The Way” (because Jesus said, “I am the way…” – John 14:6). Later, those who sought to model their lives on Jesus adopted the derogatory term and wore it proudly. Continue reading “Let the Redeemed Say So”

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

As a young man, shortly after having given my life to Jesus, I was worshiping at a church pastored by a dynamic young man. He was probably in his late 30’s or early 40’s: older than I was but he seemed young to me – for a pastor — because the pastors I’d known before were in their 60’s or 70’s. He was also the first pastor I’d encountered as an adult who was formally educated: he could research and relate the meaning of words and phrases in their original Hebrew or Greek. He knew the context behind the words and the social settings and customs that gave deeper meaning to the thou-shalts and thou-shalt-nots. These details really got me fired up and thirsting to know more.

I began attending Sunday School, Sunday morning worship, Sunday evening worship, Wednesday evening worship and a Thursday morning Young Men’s Prayer Breakfast. I learned so much that I began looking forward to those times when the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses canvassed the neighborhood: I was eager to discuss the Bible with them. I can’t claim to have converted any, but a one or two did leave questioning their rote presentation. I began the process of enrolling in a nearby Seminary College. I knew I could not be a preacher: I don’t have the personality for that, but thought I might make an effective missionary.

One Sunday morning we assembled for worship. The deacons were in their places, but Pastor Dennis was missing. As the service began, a Deacon took the lectern and announced that Pastor Dennis – the man who had so often stood in that pulpit denouncing sin and encouraging righteous behavior, a married man with children, had been discovered having an affair with the church secretary. Both had been fired and were gone. Continue reading “Lessons Learned the Hard Way”

WHAT ARE WE DYING FOR?

When we reflect upon the cross of Jesus, we are impressed by the fact that He invites us to share death with Him. In following Him we expose ourselves to a cross-like life. His promise is that in losing our lives we will find our lives. Love has no greater expression than laying down one’s life for another. The gospel is a cause worth dying for and many martyrs have made the ultimate sacrifice. The Christian life is a risk-taking adventure. We cannot escape its call to death even as it offers the highest quality of life. Because life is our most precious asset we cannot make a total commitment until it too has been offered. We can never overestimate the power of dying love.

There is a sense in which we are all dying for something. Some folk are dying for cigarettes. They are smoking themselves into the throes of lung cancer. There are those dying for excessive use of narcotics. They are drinking themselves toward alcoholism and cirrhosis. They are popping pills with fatal implications. Some people are dying for their careers. They are exhausting themselves into workaholics. They are losing the joy of their work in the addiction to work. We are beginning to see more and more people dying for food. Poor diets and gluttonous eating habits are creating serious health problems. There are any number of people dying for attention. They worry so much about being neglected it eats away at their nervous system. Yes, in one way or another we are all dying for something.

The big question which confronts us is this: Is what we are dying for, worth dying for? This is where the gospel comes to our rescue and offers us something bigger than ourselves to which we can be committed. Giving ourselves away to worthy causes is what the Christian life is all about. From the time we are born we begin the process of death. Hopefully on the journey we can find a life worth living through the things worth dying for. Some people are dying for no good reason. Other people are dying with a peace and a purpose from God.

The cross of our Lord becomes our model for both living and dying. The spirit of sacrifice is necessary for abundant living and peaceful dying. Our Lord taught us that unless a seed falls into the ground and dies it cannot produce life. Dying daily to ourselves we are resurrected in fulfillment. Giving ourselves away to that which is high and holy exposes us to that which is high and holy. May the Lord God of the cross give us a cross-bearing witness in a world which still crucifies innocence. Since we are all going to die at some time, let us make it worthwhile.

DEATH DEFYING FAITH

How does one die who never prays nor talks to God about anything? How does one approach death when there has been no effort to claim God’s death defying promises? Surely it must be a shock to one’s spiritual system to face the unknown with an unknown God. The trauma of death is too much for our human resources alone. The thoughts of dying requires us to have some serious thoughts about God. Our fragile understanding of our departure from this life is proof that we need more than the human intellect to guide us into eternity.

We are not equipped to face death with calloused indifference and that too is a part of God’s grace. He requires us to have sober thoughts about our eternal destiny and then offers us a place He has gone to prepare. He frightens us with the prospects of entering the darkness all alone and then He promises to be with us always. He lures us to the edge of life with resurrection hope and bids us come unto Him and find rest.

Our hope is a matter of faith and acceptance. He does not force His house of “many mansions” upon us. He does not walk beside us as an uninvited presence. It is a simple gospel of receiving what Jesus has to offer and we complicate it greatly when we try to earn it. Heaven is a gift we do not deserve, therefore, dying as well as living is a matter of grace.

Only with Christ can we face death with the assurance that God who called us into life has something special for us in death. Who knows what we might grow to become in the hereafter.

CHURCH

Church at its best is more than a spectator experience. It is a fellowship of people equipping themselves for ministry and witness. The call of God has always been for His people to be actively involved in making a redemptive difference in the world.

Church, therefore, is a learning resource, a training ground, and an experimental laboratory in the art of Christian living. Whatever transpires in the context of church is of great importance to every area of our lives. We cannot attend church in the same way we go to the theater. An entertainment mentality is not conducive to discipleship.

Church at its best requires a commitment to the higher things of life. There is no call like the call of God, which finds expression in the church. It challenges the moral and ethical fibers of our being. It pleads with us to minimize the things of the world as we maximize spiritual realities. Earthly ambitions are flavored with Godly motives. Love of self is defined only in the context of love for neighbor and love for God. Wealth is seen against a background of need. Stewardship becomes a matter of properly using that which we have. Ministry becomes the password of our lives as compassion grants us entrance into the hurting side of society. If we are serious about God we cannot leave events at church in the same way we leave the theater. A take-it-or-leave-it attitude does not produce commitment.

Church at its best is a fellowship of Jesus’ followers. We do not go it alone. There is a body of believers to whom we relate. In the strength of togetherness we struggle with the issues of life. God calls us into spiritual cooperation where we honor Him by honoring one another.

There is a public dimension to our faith. Lest we become spiritual hermits, we sing some of our songs and pray some of our prayers with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Church gives us a place to observe and experience the operations of grace. The power of people energizes us to seek the will of God and in so doing we find a reason for which to live.

Church at its best is our most wholesome inspiration to do our best because “the church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.”

Spiritual Athletes

Sports are a big part of the American way of life. We admire athletes for their drive, their determination, their dedication to the game, and the contribution they make to their team and to the sport as a whole. And these are good things.

Christians Are Like Athletes

The Christian life is a lot like the life of an athlete. In fact this comparison is drawn several times in the Bible. I Corinthians 9:24, Galatians 2:2, and 5:7, and Hebrews 12:1 all use running a race as an allusion for the Christian life. Let’s look more closely at one of these. Continue reading “Spiritual Athletes”

THE CHRISTMAS EVENT

The Christmas event captures our attention in many ways. Its heavenly drama accents the extent of diving participation. Its earthly response gives evidence of human anticipation. There are many impressive features of that nativity night which enable us to grasp the gospel of Christmas.

The humble setting in which it all occurred reveals the condescending nature of God. The Lord Jesus came from heaven’s glory to be birthed with the crudest of maternity care. If God would stoop to a lowly stable to usher in His Son, then surely He would stoop to share with lowly sinners His love and grace. How could it be that the shepherds, noted for their simplicity and rugged life style, were the first to come? Was it not indicative of the fact that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost? The wise men came because their scholarly insight gave them a special revelation of God’s activity. The simplest and the wisest as well as the poorest and the richest were all to share in this redeeming light.

The angelic choir reminds us that the coming of Christ was an event to celebrate. Because on that night “the heavens declared the glory of God,” today we have a reason to sing. That first Christmas music has put a song in every believer’s heart. It has been the inspiration of all our singing which truly magnifies the gospel.

The threat of Herod was but a parable of the kind of world into which our Lord had come. It was a foreshadowing of the cross which would eventually result in His painful, yet loving, sacrifice. The exodus from Egypt was symbolic of God’s protection and care. The Herods of the world would not have the last word. Crucifixion would give rise to resurrection and in that power His word would go forth. Hallelujah what a Savior!