A Guest Post By Mrs. R:
I wanted to share some ideas to jam-pack your day full of God’s word.
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
~Listen to the Bible on CD/cassette in the car.
~Watch the Bible on DVD. I do enjoy my KJV on DVD. At around $30 for the entire Bible this is a deal. My Bible on CD cost around $80. And the DVD Bible is only 2 DVD’s .
Check it out at http://www.biblesondvd.com/ .
~Listen to the Bible on CD or cassette in the kitchen.
~Write verses on notecards and keep the notecards in your purse. When you are in line somewhere take a card out and work on memorizing a verse.
~ Have the kids read the Bible to you.
~ Keep a Bible in the bathroom.
~ Post scriptures around the house.
Colossians 3:16 - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly........"
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines 'dwell' as:
DWELL, v.i. pret. dwelled, usually contracted into dwelt. [See Dally.]
1. To abide as a permanent resident, or to inhabit for a time; to live in a place; to have a habitation for some time or permanence.
I would love to hear how you incorporate Bible reading and memorization into your daily life.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Bible Prophecy
I received a request from Anonymous in the comments of this post asking me to give examples of some prophecies that have come true. Since my 4 most recent posts were quite time consuming, I decided to provide links instead of typing it all out myself. The links provide the MANY examples of fulfilled prophecies....ones from Bible times and even Bible prophecy that is being fulfilled now. This should give you much to think about and is sufficient proof to my claim that fulfilled prophecy is one of the 5 ways we can know the Bible is true.
This link talks about Bible prophecies that are being filled today.
This link talks about fulfilled prophecies.
This link talks about 'How do we know the Bible is true?'
This link shows how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament Prophecies.
This link talks about the prophecies in the book of Daniel---the 70 weeks.
This link talks even more about prophecies.
This link talks about Bible prophecies that are being filled today.
This link talks about fulfilled prophecies.
This link talks about 'How do we know the Bible is true?'
This link shows how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament Prophecies.
This link talks about the prophecies in the book of Daniel---the 70 weeks.
This link talks even more about prophecies.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Part 3--The Conclusion "But I'm A Good Person!"
In response to a comment left about my post on Chick tracts, I started a 3 part series on Hell. You can read part 1 here, and you can read part 2 here. This will be the 3rd and final post.
I've enjoyed doing the research for these posts because I've delved deeply into my Bible and it made me examine my beliefs which confirmed to me that what I believe is true. But I must say I have not enjoyed the subject matter at all! I wish I NEVER had to talk about hell and I wish it wasn't a real place. I'm just like anyone else in that I don't enjoy offending people or making people uncomfortable or angry. I want you to know that I'm not arguing just to argue......or to 'be right' or to try and 'win'......no, in fact I wish I were wrong.....I would gladly be wrong, but unfortunately.......I'm not.
What I want to focus on now is the often used arguements "But I'm a good person!" or "I've done more bad than good, so God will let me into heaven because of that."
Let's examine how 'good' we really are by taking a look at the Ten Commandments....they're found in Exodus 20:
1) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
4) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5) Honour thy father and thy mother.
6) Thou shalt not kill. (Jesus said Matthew 5:21-22 that being angry w/o cause incurs the same penalty as if you killed them. In other words, you are guilty of murder just for being angry without a just reason)
7) Thou shalt not commit adultry. (In Matthew 5:28, Jesus explains that even lusting after someone is committing adultry in your heart)
8) Thou shalt not steal.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness.
10) Thou shalt not covet.
The Bible says in Galatians 3:24 that the law is our 'schoolmaster'. It's what shows or 'schools' us about how we can't measure up to a Holy and Righteous God. (Thankfully Galatians 3:13 says that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:....")
When I look at the 10 Commandments I see that I'm guilty of most of them. No, I haven't killed anyone but I have been angry or hated someone. I would venture to say that most of you who are reading this could find at least ONE of the commandments that you've broken.....and maybe you can even try and rationalize it by saying 'it isn't so bad.' But God thinks differently.
The Bible says in James 2:10 "For whosover shall keep the whole law(which is impossible), and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
Breaking even ONE of the commandments makes you guilty of breaking ALL of them.
Commandment #1 talks about not putting anything before God. --If you've done that, what does that make you? The answer is AN IDOLITOR.
Commandment #7 talks about not committing adultry(but as I've shown you, Jesus said even looking with lust at someone who's not your spouse makes you guilty of adultry). --If you've done this, what does that make you? The answer is AN ADULTERER.
Commandment #8 talks about not stealing. --If you've stolen anything(even as a child), what does that make you? The answer is A THIEF.
Commandment #9 talks about not lying. --If you've told a lie(yes even a little 'white lie'), what does that make you? The answer is A LIAR.
By your own admission (if you're completely honest with yourself), you're an idol worshipping, adulterer at heart, thieving, liar.
I think the 10 commandments pretty much blows the 'I'm a good person' argument out of the water.....because remember even if you've only broken ONE of them, you're guilty of breaking them all. And let's be honest, I don't know ANYONE who's NEVER told a lie, do you?
***Now, lest you get upset and think that I'm judging you, remember, I didn't make the 10 commandments, God did. And I didn't write the Bible, God did.......and I failed this test just as miserably as you did.......I've broken most of the commandments, so I have no lofty ideals about being better than anyone because I know that I am NOT better than ANYONE! Like Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15, I know that I am one of the 'chief' sinners. I also believe Galatians 6:14 pertains to me "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,....."
I hope that you are now concerned and see that compared to God's standard, NOONE is 'good enough'. Just in case you aren't convinced, here are a few more verses:
**"But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
**"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Romans 3:10)
**"For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
I think these verses make it very clear that NOONE is 'good enough' to make it to heaven without the blood of Jesus to cover their sin.
But what about the argument that 'God will weigh our good and bad deeds and if the good outweighs the bad then He'll let you into heaven'.?
I think all of the above examples show that because of the Holiness, and Righteousness of God that He cannot allow sin into His presence.....not even one, small sin. And Galatians 2:16 says:
**"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law, no flesh be justified."
**"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;" (Titus 3:5)
**"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)
Let me ask you another question? If being a 'good person' could save us, then why did Jesus need to die?
**".....for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)
I mean, why would Jesus Christ need to leave the glory of heaven and come to earth to die a painful and humiliating death if being a 'good person' could get us to heaven?
The answer is simple. Good works will not and cannot justify us to God. We cannot be good enough!
Let's consider something for a moment......God is a JUST and FAIR God. And because He's Just, He demands justice. On earth, when we look for justice, we go to a courtroom and have a trial. Let's pretend and say that we're in a courtroom and the defendent is guilty of (whatever you want to imagine). The Judge has no choice but to put the defendent in jail in the interest of justice. But what if the Judge said 'Well the defendent is a 'good person', so even though they've committed this crime, I'll just let is slide and they can go free.' Would that be just and fair? Would justice have been served? NO!!! It doesn't matter how 'good' or 'nice' the defendent is, if they've committed a crime, there must be a penalty.
It's the same for us, we're guilty and deserve to be punished but instead, God (The Divine Judge) made a way for us to have our debt or penalty for our crime, paid for. He did it by sending Jesus to die on the cross. Jesus's death on the cross satisfied the justice demanded by God.
I'd like to end this by saying that God DOES LOVE YOU!!! He gave His only Begotten Son for you.....knowing that many would reject His gift. God said in 2 Peter 3:9 that He is "not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentence."
**"For WHOSOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
God made a way for ANY and ALL and WHOSOEVER.....that's all-inclusive. But it is done HIS way, on HIS terms.
I've really enjoyed writing these posts and I thank everyone for your wonderful comments (yes even those who disagree). Without you all, blogging would be very boring.
**Writing these posts took a long time but I will try and get to the prophecy post that anonymous asked for sometime tomorrow......I'm not promising but I'll do my best! (o:
I've enjoyed doing the research for these posts because I've delved deeply into my Bible and it made me examine my beliefs which confirmed to me that what I believe is true. But I must say I have not enjoyed the subject matter at all! I wish I NEVER had to talk about hell and I wish it wasn't a real place. I'm just like anyone else in that I don't enjoy offending people or making people uncomfortable or angry. I want you to know that I'm not arguing just to argue......or to 'be right' or to try and 'win'......no, in fact I wish I were wrong.....I would gladly be wrong, but unfortunately.......I'm not.
What I want to focus on now is the often used arguements "But I'm a good person!" or "I've done more bad than good, so God will let me into heaven because of that."
Let's examine how 'good' we really are by taking a look at the Ten Commandments....they're found in Exodus 20:
1) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
4) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5) Honour thy father and thy mother.
6) Thou shalt not kill. (Jesus said Matthew 5:21-22 that being angry w/o cause incurs the same penalty as if you killed them. In other words, you are guilty of murder just for being angry without a just reason)
7) Thou shalt not commit adultry. (In Matthew 5:28, Jesus explains that even lusting after someone is committing adultry in your heart)
8) Thou shalt not steal.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness.
10) Thou shalt not covet.
The Bible says in Galatians 3:24 that the law is our 'schoolmaster'. It's what shows or 'schools' us about how we can't measure up to a Holy and Righteous God. (Thankfully Galatians 3:13 says that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:....")
When I look at the 10 Commandments I see that I'm guilty of most of them. No, I haven't killed anyone but I have been angry or hated someone. I would venture to say that most of you who are reading this could find at least ONE of the commandments that you've broken.....and maybe you can even try and rationalize it by saying 'it isn't so bad.' But God thinks differently.
The Bible says in James 2:10 "For whosover shall keep the whole law(which is impossible), and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
Breaking even ONE of the commandments makes you guilty of breaking ALL of them.
Commandment #1 talks about not putting anything before God. --If you've done that, what does that make you? The answer is AN IDOLITOR.
Commandment #7 talks about not committing adultry(but as I've shown you, Jesus said even looking with lust at someone who's not your spouse makes you guilty of adultry). --If you've done this, what does that make you? The answer is AN ADULTERER.
Commandment #8 talks about not stealing. --If you've stolen anything(even as a child), what does that make you? The answer is A THIEF.
Commandment #9 talks about not lying. --If you've told a lie(yes even a little 'white lie'), what does that make you? The answer is A LIAR.
By your own admission (if you're completely honest with yourself), you're an idol worshipping, adulterer at heart, thieving, liar.
I think the 10 commandments pretty much blows the 'I'm a good person' argument out of the water.....because remember even if you've only broken ONE of them, you're guilty of breaking them all. And let's be honest, I don't know ANYONE who's NEVER told a lie, do you?
***Now, lest you get upset and think that I'm judging you, remember, I didn't make the 10 commandments, God did. And I didn't write the Bible, God did.......and I failed this test just as miserably as you did.......I've broken most of the commandments, so I have no lofty ideals about being better than anyone because I know that I am NOT better than ANYONE! Like Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15, I know that I am one of the 'chief' sinners. I also believe Galatians 6:14 pertains to me "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,....."
I hope that you are now concerned and see that compared to God's standard, NOONE is 'good enough'. Just in case you aren't convinced, here are a few more verses:
**"But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
**"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Romans 3:10)
**"For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
I think these verses make it very clear that NOONE is 'good enough' to make it to heaven without the blood of Jesus to cover their sin.
But what about the argument that 'God will weigh our good and bad deeds and if the good outweighs the bad then He'll let you into heaven'.?
I think all of the above examples show that because of the Holiness, and Righteousness of God that He cannot allow sin into His presence.....not even one, small sin. And Galatians 2:16 says:
**"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law, no flesh be justified."
**"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;" (Titus 3:5)
**"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)
Let me ask you another question? If being a 'good person' could save us, then why did Jesus need to die?
**".....for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)
I mean, why would Jesus Christ need to leave the glory of heaven and come to earth to die a painful and humiliating death if being a 'good person' could get us to heaven?
The answer is simple. Good works will not and cannot justify us to God. We cannot be good enough!
Let's consider something for a moment......God is a JUST and FAIR God. And because He's Just, He demands justice. On earth, when we look for justice, we go to a courtroom and have a trial. Let's pretend and say that we're in a courtroom and the defendent is guilty of (whatever you want to imagine). The Judge has no choice but to put the defendent in jail in the interest of justice. But what if the Judge said 'Well the defendent is a 'good person', so even though they've committed this crime, I'll just let is slide and they can go free.' Would that be just and fair? Would justice have been served? NO!!! It doesn't matter how 'good' or 'nice' the defendent is, if they've committed a crime, there must be a penalty.
It's the same for us, we're guilty and deserve to be punished but instead, God (The Divine Judge) made a way for us to have our debt or penalty for our crime, paid for. He did it by sending Jesus to die on the cross. Jesus's death on the cross satisfied the justice demanded by God.
I'd like to end this by saying that God DOES LOVE YOU!!! He gave His only Begotten Son for you.....knowing that many would reject His gift. God said in 2 Peter 3:9 that He is "not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentence."
**"For WHOSOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
God made a way for ANY and ALL and WHOSOEVER.....that's all-inclusive. But it is done HIS way, on HIS terms.
I've really enjoyed writing these posts and I thank everyone for your wonderful comments (yes even those who disagree). Without you all, blogging would be very boring.
**Writing these posts took a long time but I will try and get to the prophecy post that anonymous asked for sometime tomorrow......I'm not promising but I'll do my best! (o:
Christianity-Substance and Evidence
Christianity has much evidence to back up it's claims. One thing I like to talk about is 5 reasons I know the Bible is true:
1)Prophesy-there are over 7,000 and 80% have already come true.
2)Archeology-nothing has been dug out of the ground that disproves the Bible
3)Preservation-satan has tried to destroy the Bible NUMEROUS times and yet it's still around and has been for 1,000's of years
4)Historocity-history proves it!
5)What the Bible has done in my own personal life!
God wouldn't create us and then just leave us to 'figure it all out for ourselves'. He left us an instruction book---the Bible.
**The Bible records that Jesus was seen by over 500 people after His resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:6)
**Jesus, Himself, claimed to be God .....NOT just a prophet or a good man.
**The bottom line is that you can't be neutral about Jesus. You must either believe that He's the Lord, or a lunatic or a liar.
I **KNOW** He's the LORD!
1)Prophesy-there are over 7,000 and 80% have already come true.
2)Archeology-nothing has been dug out of the ground that disproves the Bible
3)Preservation-satan has tried to destroy the Bible NUMEROUS times and yet it's still around and has been for 1,000's of years
4)Historocity-history proves it!
5)What the Bible has done in my own personal life!
God wouldn't create us and then just leave us to 'figure it all out for ourselves'. He left us an instruction book---the Bible.
**The Bible records that Jesus was seen by over 500 people after His resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:6)
**Jesus, Himself, claimed to be God .....NOT just a prophet or a good man.
**The bottom line is that you can't be neutral about Jesus. You must either believe that He's the Lord, or a lunatic or a liar.
I **KNOW** He's the LORD!
Monday, March 27, 2006
Part 2-Why Talk About Hell?
Something I've often heard people say when I've been out witnessing is "My god is a loving god who would never send anyone to hell." My response to them is, "Then your god is not the True God, of the Bible, but a false god." Truth isn't always pleasant to hear but it is necessary.
The Bible says in (Jude 22-23) "And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;......"
Did you know that Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven?
**"And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:42)
**"And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:50)
**"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" (Matthew 25:41)
**"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:46)
Modern-day Christianity has watered down the gospel and presented only half of the truth. The reason I like Chick tracts is that they present the WHOLE gospel....not just the 'Jesus loves you' part. Hell is real! and it's FOREVER!! I don't want ANYBODY to go there, so that's why I warn them. Like Mrs. R said in her comment on my last post, if there was a bridge that was out and I warn people about it, it doesn't make me 'unloving' or 'intolerant'. The people who DON'T warn you about it are the ones who are being unloving. I agree that talking about heaven and the love of God is much more pleasant but that's only half of the gospel message.
Fearing God is the sign of an intelligent and wise person:
**"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
**"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
**"The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."
**"And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:" (Hebrews 9:27)
The good news is that:
** "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
God doesn't want ANYONE to end up in hell but He gave us a free will. We must choose Him....and it's His way because He's God and He can do anything He wants, any way He wants to.
Hell was not originally created for man. God created hell for the devil and his demons but because of sin, the Bible says in Isaiah 5:14 that "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself,...." Hell had to be made larger to accomodate the growing number of people who reject the Saviour and therefore choose to go there. Yes, I said choose. It is a choice....a concious choice to reject God's provision and pridefully believe that you can be 'good enough' to get there.
**"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,(hell) and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,(heaven) and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)
God knows that many people will willfully CHOOSE to reject His provision. It seems that mankind wants to devise any other scheme, except the Biblical one, to get to heaven.
-Muhammad and Buddha didn't die for your sins......but Jesus did!
-Muhammad and Buddha are still in the grave.......but Jesus arose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
**"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)
Here is an analogy I like to use. If you went to the doctor and he/she told you that you had cancer you wouldn't call him/her intollerant or think that the doctor was unloving because they told you an unpleasant truth......it's the same with the truth about hell only the news is better because there is a cure that is 100% effective. Placing your trust in Jesus Christ, repenting of your sin and asking Him to save you will keep you from ever having to experience hell.
I will finish up part 3 tomorrow. Part 3 will be about why 'being a good person' and doing 'good works' will not get a person to heaven.
The Bible says in (Jude 22-23) "And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;......"
Did you know that Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven?
**"And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:42)
**"And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:50)
**"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" (Matthew 25:41)
**"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:46)
Modern-day Christianity has watered down the gospel and presented only half of the truth. The reason I like Chick tracts is that they present the WHOLE gospel....not just the 'Jesus loves you' part. Hell is real! and it's FOREVER!! I don't want ANYBODY to go there, so that's why I warn them. Like Mrs. R said in her comment on my last post, if there was a bridge that was out and I warn people about it, it doesn't make me 'unloving' or 'intolerant'. The people who DON'T warn you about it are the ones who are being unloving. I agree that talking about heaven and the love of God is much more pleasant but that's only half of the gospel message.
Fearing God is the sign of an intelligent and wise person:
**"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
**"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
**"The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."
**"And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:" (Hebrews 9:27)
The good news is that:
** "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
God doesn't want ANYONE to end up in hell but He gave us a free will. We must choose Him....and it's His way because He's God and He can do anything He wants, any way He wants to.
Hell was not originally created for man. God created hell for the devil and his demons but because of sin, the Bible says in Isaiah 5:14 that "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself,...." Hell had to be made larger to accomodate the growing number of people who reject the Saviour and therefore choose to go there. Yes, I said choose. It is a choice....a concious choice to reject God's provision and pridefully believe that you can be 'good enough' to get there.
**"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,(hell) and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,(heaven) and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)
God knows that many people will willfully CHOOSE to reject His provision. It seems that mankind wants to devise any other scheme, except the Biblical one, to get to heaven.
-Muhammad and Buddha didn't die for your sins......but Jesus did!
-Muhammad and Buddha are still in the grave.......but Jesus arose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
**"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)
Here is an analogy I like to use. If you went to the doctor and he/she told you that you had cancer you wouldn't call him/her intollerant or think that the doctor was unloving because they told you an unpleasant truth......it's the same with the truth about hell only the news is better because there is a cure that is 100% effective. Placing your trust in Jesus Christ, repenting of your sin and asking Him to save you will keep you from ever having to experience hell.
I will finish up part 3 tomorrow. Part 3 will be about why 'being a good person' and doing 'good works' will not get a person to heaven.
Part 1--An Apology
The idea for these next couple of posts came from a comment left by my friend, 'The Happy Feminist' in response to my Chick tract post. Here is her comment:
"Hmmmm . . . The Chick tracts are certainly very honest and don't pull any punches. But as a non-Christian, I have to confess my doubts as to whether the Chick tracts would be an effective way to get the message across . Of course, they did work in the case of that woman at the Chinese restaurant, so what do I know?
(Especially this part of her comment)
But they seem kind of scary and cruel. They focus more on the punitive aspects of conservative Christian belief, rather than the redemptive aspects. I would have a tough time worshipping a God who would cast people I know and love into a lake of fire. I realize that it's good to be honest about what you believe, but it seems as though focus on the positive would be a better first step. (Mrs. B, please let me know if I am being too contrarian for your blog.) "
First, I want to start by saying to The Happy Feminist, no, your comment was not offensive to me in any way nor was it too contrarian. I'm glad you voiced your concerns and I thank you for doing so in such a kind and respectful way.
Before I get into what I want to say, I wanted to share this letter. I read it about a month ago and really liked most of it......I've edited it (I didn't add anything but I took quite a bit out) but if you'd like to read it in it's entirety, click here. It was written by a man named Doug Perry.
Disclaimer: I know nothing about this man's ministry and linking to this letter is not an endorsement of him or of his beliefs....I liked most of the letter and want to give credit where credit is due, that's why I provided the link.
Open Letter of Apology to The World
I know you think that Christians are a big bunch of hypocrites. We say we're more "religious" and we're going to heaven and you're not, and then we drive our big shiny cars with little fishies on the trunk and cut you off in traffic as we race by the homeless guy on the corner. We average just 2% of our money to church and charity, despite that we say the Bible is the word of God and it says we're supposed to give everything. On average, we buy just as many big screen TVs and bass boats and fur coats and makeup and baseball cards and online porn as anybody else. Maybe more. You've seen leader after leader end up in jail or court or a sex scandal of one sort or another.
Well ... you're right. We're guilty of all of it. We've done it all. And, I'm really sorry.
You see our cheesy TV shows and slick guys begging for money and you get that there's something seriously sneaky and wrong here. A high-pressure call for money so they can stay on the air? Were we supposed to use Jesus as just another form of entertainment? Who do we think we're kidding? Where's Jesus in all this? Aren't we supposed to rely on him? Isn't He going to meet our needs if we're inside His will?
What happened to sacrifice and suffering and helping the poor? I'm just sick about this. I mean, the church leaders, they're not all bad guys, there are lots and lots of really hard-working well-meaning folks who love and care and are meeting real needs in the community. Some of them understand and love Jesus - but I'm just real sure those pastors don't drive Bentley's, have multi-million dollar homes and their own lear jets! I mean, what "god" are we worshipping? Money? Ego? Power?
We've got playgrounds and bowling alleys and basketball leagues. We've got Starbucks coffee in the sanctuary. We've got orchestras and giant chandeliers and fountains out front. We've got bookstores full of "jesus junk" with every imaginable style and flavor of religious knick-knack. But where's Jesus? Is this what HE wanted?
Look, I know you're mad. And you have a right to be. We've done you wrong for a LONG time now. There's some things about Jesus that people need to hear, but we've buried a beautiful masterpiece under hundreds of layers of soft pink latex paint. If you have a Bible handy, look up Matthew 23. Find it? Read it carefully, the Pharisees were the "religious" people of the day, the leaders of the faith. In this chapter Jesus SEVEN times says how pitiful and wretched and cursed they are for what they're doing to the people they're supposed to be leading. He even calls them "white washed tombs of dead mens bones" and a "brood of vipers"! I don't have time here, but read it and see if we're not doing EVERY single one of those things. Jesus can't possibly be happy about what we've done to you.
Sure, we like to kid ourselves and pretend everything is OK - but it's not. We're hated. Now, please understand, Jesus was hated, too. But that was because he said hard things and sometimes people don't like hearing the Truth. And he promised we would be hated if we were like him. But that's not why we're hated at the moment. We're hated right now because we're a giant pack of lying hypocrites that say one thing and do something else altogether. If we were hated because we were like Jesus, that would be one thing, but that's not it at all. You see right through our happy music and fluffy services and you can tell there's something desperately wrong here. We're no different than anybody else - except that we say we're better than you.
It was never supposed to be like this. Jesus asked us to care for the widows and orphans, to feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit those in prison, reach the lost. He wanted us to love our enemies and pray for them. He cared about human justice and suffering, the lost and lonely. But I don't think He would have marched on a picket line - He had His mind on much bigger problems. He wanted us to focus on the eternal things, not the everyday. He never once said to go into all the world and build big buildings and divide up into factions and buy Bentleys. Just the opposite! I get that you're mad at us and I think you have a right to be, but please understand, you're mad at what we've made under our own power, you're mad at "Churchianity." That's different than Christ and what he wanted. Don't be mad at Jesus! This mess wasn't His idea!
Look, I'm really sorry. I accept responsibility for my part in having hurt you. But I'm committing to you all, dear Members of the World, that I'm not going to do it any more. Not a single penny more. I'm not going to put my faith in "Churchianity" or any leader or program or TV show -- but in Christ Jesus and His salvation.
It took centuries to build this monster, so it's not like it's going to just turn around overnight. But the times are changing and we're way overdue for something new. Big bad things are happening - like the tsunami in Asia - and I think more are coming. I don't want any more time to go by without having said this. I'm sorry for all the time and money I've wasted. But Jesus saves. Really. Jesus is the real deal. He lived and He died for my sins and He rose again. He is who He said He was and He cares about me - and you. He's our only hope.
Please don't think all Christians are just posers. Some of them really mean it when they say they belong to Christ. The problem is mostly in the West where we're all comfy and complacent and seem to like it that way. The Christians in China and other places are deadly serious. There's no room for anything but Jesus when you're on the run from the government. They are dying every day for their faith and doing crazy-hard things because they're absolutely committed to Christ. These are martyrs. People willing to crucify little pieces of themselves every day to be more like Christ. People willing to set aside everything they want to do what Christ wants. People willing to rot in prison or take a beating or die if that's what it's going to take. People that act in pure love and never back down. I'm not worthy to tie their shoes. And there are some like that here, too, and I hope we can get a lot more people to start living that way. It's way overdue.
If you're talking to someone and they tell you they're a Christian, ask them if they're the kind of Christian that really means it all the time or the kind that just means it on Sunday. The Bible says we'll know them by their "fruits" - by the faith and purity and love in their deeds and words. When you find one that proves Christ is in them by how much they love you, ask them to tell you all about Jesus. If you know one of those fearless martyrs that speaks nothing but pure, clean, hard Truth - ask lots of questions. Truth is a lot more rare than you would think. But don't settle for soft, fluffy and comfortable anymore - that's not in the Bible."
written by: Doug Perry
I edited quite a bit out (but I didn't add anything) because I didn't agree with all of it....but I liked the gist of it. I would also like to add some things.
An apology because modern-day Christians have sugar-coated Christianity to try and talk people into 'accepting Jesus as their Saviour'......to make 'accepting Jesus' more palatable. I think, for the most part, our intentions were good but the results have been disasterous. We (Christians) have presented only a part of who God and Jesus are. Yes, God and Jesus are love but not the mushy, gushy, warm-fuzzy type of feelings that we, humans, have tried to call 'love'. God showed His love to the world through the sacrifice of His Holy, Righteous, Sinless Son.
**1 John 4:9-10 "In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (emphasis mine)
**John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (emphasis mine)
God didn't sacrifice His Son because He had a 'warm-fuzzy' feeling towards us....He did it to provide for us a way to be able to live with Him forever. God is holy and righteous and cannot be in the presence of sin.....EVER.
I plan on posting part 2 of this tomorrow (Tuesday).
"Hmmmm . . . The Chick tracts are certainly very honest and don't pull any punches. But as a non-Christian, I have to confess my doubts as to whether the Chick tracts would be an effective way to get the message across . Of course, they did work in the case of that woman at the Chinese restaurant, so what do I know?
(Especially this part of her comment)
But they seem kind of scary and cruel. They focus more on the punitive aspects of conservative Christian belief, rather than the redemptive aspects. I would have a tough time worshipping a God who would cast people I know and love into a lake of fire. I realize that it's good to be honest about what you believe, but it seems as though focus on the positive would be a better first step. (Mrs. B, please let me know if I am being too contrarian for your blog.) "
First, I want to start by saying to The Happy Feminist, no, your comment was not offensive to me in any way nor was it too contrarian. I'm glad you voiced your concerns and I thank you for doing so in such a kind and respectful way.
Before I get into what I want to say, I wanted to share this letter. I read it about a month ago and really liked most of it......I've edited it (I didn't add anything but I took quite a bit out) but if you'd like to read it in it's entirety, click here. It was written by a man named Doug Perry.
Disclaimer: I know nothing about this man's ministry and linking to this letter is not an endorsement of him or of his beliefs....I liked most of the letter and want to give credit where credit is due, that's why I provided the link.
Open Letter of Apology to The World
I know you think that Christians are a big bunch of hypocrites. We say we're more "religious" and we're going to heaven and you're not, and then we drive our big shiny cars with little fishies on the trunk and cut you off in traffic as we race by the homeless guy on the corner. We average just 2% of our money to church and charity, despite that we say the Bible is the word of God and it says we're supposed to give everything. On average, we buy just as many big screen TVs and bass boats and fur coats and makeup and baseball cards and online porn as anybody else. Maybe more. You've seen leader after leader end up in jail or court or a sex scandal of one sort or another.
Well ... you're right. We're guilty of all of it. We've done it all. And, I'm really sorry.
You see our cheesy TV shows and slick guys begging for money and you get that there's something seriously sneaky and wrong here. A high-pressure call for money so they can stay on the air? Were we supposed to use Jesus as just another form of entertainment? Who do we think we're kidding? Where's Jesus in all this? Aren't we supposed to rely on him? Isn't He going to meet our needs if we're inside His will?
What happened to sacrifice and suffering and helping the poor? I'm just sick about this. I mean, the church leaders, they're not all bad guys, there are lots and lots of really hard-working well-meaning folks who love and care and are meeting real needs in the community. Some of them understand and love Jesus - but I'm just real sure those pastors don't drive Bentley's, have multi-million dollar homes and their own lear jets! I mean, what "god" are we worshipping? Money? Ego? Power?
We've got playgrounds and bowling alleys and basketball leagues. We've got Starbucks coffee in the sanctuary. We've got orchestras and giant chandeliers and fountains out front. We've got bookstores full of "jesus junk" with every imaginable style and flavor of religious knick-knack. But where's Jesus? Is this what HE wanted?
Look, I know you're mad. And you have a right to be. We've done you wrong for a LONG time now. There's some things about Jesus that people need to hear, but we've buried a beautiful masterpiece under hundreds of layers of soft pink latex paint. If you have a Bible handy, look up Matthew 23. Find it? Read it carefully, the Pharisees were the "religious" people of the day, the leaders of the faith. In this chapter Jesus SEVEN times says how pitiful and wretched and cursed they are for what they're doing to the people they're supposed to be leading. He even calls them "white washed tombs of dead mens bones" and a "brood of vipers"! I don't have time here, but read it and see if we're not doing EVERY single one of those things. Jesus can't possibly be happy about what we've done to you.
Sure, we like to kid ourselves and pretend everything is OK - but it's not. We're hated. Now, please understand, Jesus was hated, too. But that was because he said hard things and sometimes people don't like hearing the Truth. And he promised we would be hated if we were like him. But that's not why we're hated at the moment. We're hated right now because we're a giant pack of lying hypocrites that say one thing and do something else altogether. If we were hated because we were like Jesus, that would be one thing, but that's not it at all. You see right through our happy music and fluffy services and you can tell there's something desperately wrong here. We're no different than anybody else - except that we say we're better than you.
It was never supposed to be like this. Jesus asked us to care for the widows and orphans, to feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit those in prison, reach the lost. He wanted us to love our enemies and pray for them. He cared about human justice and suffering, the lost and lonely. But I don't think He would have marched on a picket line - He had His mind on much bigger problems. He wanted us to focus on the eternal things, not the everyday. He never once said to go into all the world and build big buildings and divide up into factions and buy Bentleys. Just the opposite! I get that you're mad at us and I think you have a right to be, but please understand, you're mad at what we've made under our own power, you're mad at "Churchianity." That's different than Christ and what he wanted. Don't be mad at Jesus! This mess wasn't His idea!
Look, I'm really sorry. I accept responsibility for my part in having hurt you. But I'm committing to you all, dear Members of the World, that I'm not going to do it any more. Not a single penny more. I'm not going to put my faith in "Churchianity" or any leader or program or TV show -- but in Christ Jesus and His salvation.
It took centuries to build this monster, so it's not like it's going to just turn around overnight. But the times are changing and we're way overdue for something new. Big bad things are happening - like the tsunami in Asia - and I think more are coming. I don't want any more time to go by without having said this. I'm sorry for all the time and money I've wasted. But Jesus saves. Really. Jesus is the real deal. He lived and He died for my sins and He rose again. He is who He said He was and He cares about me - and you. He's our only hope.
Please don't think all Christians are just posers. Some of them really mean it when they say they belong to Christ. The problem is mostly in the West where we're all comfy and complacent and seem to like it that way. The Christians in China and other places are deadly serious. There's no room for anything but Jesus when you're on the run from the government. They are dying every day for their faith and doing crazy-hard things because they're absolutely committed to Christ. These are martyrs. People willing to crucify little pieces of themselves every day to be more like Christ. People willing to set aside everything they want to do what Christ wants. People willing to rot in prison or take a beating or die if that's what it's going to take. People that act in pure love and never back down. I'm not worthy to tie their shoes. And there are some like that here, too, and I hope we can get a lot more people to start living that way. It's way overdue.
If you're talking to someone and they tell you they're a Christian, ask them if they're the kind of Christian that really means it all the time or the kind that just means it on Sunday. The Bible says we'll know them by their "fruits" - by the faith and purity and love in their deeds and words. When you find one that proves Christ is in them by how much they love you, ask them to tell you all about Jesus. If you know one of those fearless martyrs that speaks nothing but pure, clean, hard Truth - ask lots of questions. Truth is a lot more rare than you would think. But don't settle for soft, fluffy and comfortable anymore - that's not in the Bible."
written by: Doug Perry
I edited quite a bit out (but I didn't add anything) because I didn't agree with all of it....but I liked the gist of it. I would also like to add some things.
An apology because modern-day Christians have sugar-coated Christianity to try and talk people into 'accepting Jesus as their Saviour'......to make 'accepting Jesus' more palatable. I think, for the most part, our intentions were good but the results have been disasterous. We (Christians) have presented only a part of who God and Jesus are. Yes, God and Jesus are love but not the mushy, gushy, warm-fuzzy type of feelings that we, humans, have tried to call 'love'. God showed His love to the world through the sacrifice of His Holy, Righteous, Sinless Son.
**1 John 4:9-10 "In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (emphasis mine)
**John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (emphasis mine)
God didn't sacrifice His Son because He had a 'warm-fuzzy' feeling towards us....He did it to provide for us a way to be able to live with Him forever. God is holy and righteous and cannot be in the presence of sin.....EVER.
I plan on posting part 2 of this tomorrow (Tuesday).
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Things Aren't Always As They Appear
Another funny that a friend forwarded to me. I liked it because it was humerous and also because it teaches the truth that 'things aren't always as they appear, so don't be too quick to judge'.
Flying Blind?
A man was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. Unexpectedly, the plane stopped in Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft, the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.
Everybody got off the plane except one gentleman who was blind. The man had noticed him as he walked by, and could tell the gentleman was blind because his seeing eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of him throughout the entire flight. He could also tell he had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached him, and calling him by name, said, "Keith, we're in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?" The blind man replied, "No thanks, but maybe my dog would like to stretch his legs."
Picture this: All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!
Remember, things aren't always as they appear. (o:
Flying Blind?
A man was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. Unexpectedly, the plane stopped in Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft, the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.
Everybody got off the plane except one gentleman who was blind. The man had noticed him as he walked by, and could tell the gentleman was blind because his seeing eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of him throughout the entire flight. He could also tell he had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached him, and calling him by name, said, "Keith, we're in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?" The blind man replied, "No thanks, but maybe my dog would like to stretch his legs."
Picture this: All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!
Remember, things aren't always as they appear. (o:
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