Category Archives: Christian

Christian

A Smothering

I have heard various preachers say that you need a covering. You need to be under a preacher or teacher. I’ve also heard people describe someone as their spiritual father. What’s wrong with either or both of these?

Under a covering? When I hear someone teach on this, this is what usually comes to mind: Matthew 23:15 KJV says Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

What should come to mind is 1 Timothy 2:5-6 KJV which says, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

We don’t need a covering. Thanks to Jesus’ actions in becoming the sole sacrifice for sins and our High Priest there is no intermediary between man and God other than him.

A spiritual father? Jesus said call none Father but God. Matthew 23:9 KJV says
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Through Jesus you can go directly to your Father for wisdom. James 1:5 KJV says If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

It’s okay in my opinion to have spiritual influences here on Earth, the Bible does say iron sharpeneth iron. But remember who your spiritual Father should be: Jehovah himself.

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Christian

I Sense Much Fear

Why are people afraid of the word religion? Could it be they’re afraid of the word duty? Does replacing the word religion with the word relationship mean you get to define the relationship yourself rather than let God define it? Jesus said, if you love me keep my commandments. John 14:15.

The Bible also says in Luke 17:10 KJV So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Why do people want unconditional love? Could it be because they are afraid of consequences? Read John 3:16. It is the first condition of Christianity: Believe.

Heaven and Hell are real and we will all be judged.

Matthew 16:27 KJV
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

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Christian, Inspirational

Tell of His Love

If you’re a reader of my blog, you might know I’m against certain interpretations of God’s love. I will say again, there is no such thing as unconditional love.

Preach and teach the truth. At it’s very heart is John 3:16. Jehovah gave his Son and Jesus willingly laid down his life for us. Hence when we speak of God’s love there’s no reason to exaggerate.

1 John 4:16 KJV …God is love…

Exodus 34:14 KJV For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Isaiah 49:15-16 KJV Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. [16] Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

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Christian, Inspirational

We Can’t Begin This Way

Can you build a healthy relationship starting with a lie?

Today’s teachers say it’s not about religion it’s all about relationship. But the honest truth is Christianity is a religion. It is your relationship with God. Do you keep his Commandments? Do you read the Bible, attend Church, sing praises unto him? These are all acts of a healthy relationship with Jesus that are parts of a healthy Christian faith.

Telling millenials and Gen Z it’s about relationship not religion and that God loves unconditionally may gain more followers. It’s what they like to hear. It’s what they need to hear. But can you build a solid, strong relationship with our God based on a lie?

Isn’t it enough to ask millennials or anyone to follow the Lord Jesus, be baptized for the remission of sins, and teach them how to walk in the light? Preach John 3:16 and teach the whole gospel. God’s love is incredible, but it’s not unconditional. Heaven and Hell are both real. They are eventualities to how you live your life, i.e. how strong was your relationship with Jesus.

Once you’ve introduced someone to the love of God tell them how you live out your religion. Tell them about your own relationship with Jehovah, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Let the foundation be truth and the fruit Holy.

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Christian

Changes In Attitude

Or Works vs. Grace

Many have taught that salvation is by grace and not works. This is true. Salvation is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

But does this belittle works and what exactly are works? Could it cause some people to give up and not even try to please the Lord?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV says Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Is duty work? It doesn’t have to be. Attitude matters.

Mark Twain once said “Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do. Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.” Citation

Is it work to not kill? Is it work to not lie, steal, or cheat on your spouse? I think the answer to all of these questions should be no. Character and morals may take years to cultivate, but Jesus told us his yoke was easy and he did not lie. What you once found hard, may become second nature with observance and the Lord’s help.

In the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom is obligated to paint a fence. He turns the situation around by making it appear to be fun rather than work and soon has a handful of boys doing the work for him and even paying him for the opportunity. Young Tom, or at least Mark Twain, understood attitude and ways to affect it.

Just because God provided grace for salvation, oft times defined as undeserved favor, or because even our righteousnesses may appear as filthy rags before the Lord does not mean good works have no value.

On the contrary they are of much value before the Lord and they are of much value upon whom they are bestowed.

I believe God has in store heavenly rewards for our good works. Revelation 22:12. And if you accomplish many good works in your life and don’t even account it work but rather a pleasure, how much greater any later reward for earned favor.

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Christian

IDC

I discussed synonyms in my previous post. Here’s one more for your consideration.

Unconditional Love is another word for IDC. What does IDC stand for?

I don’t care.

Errant and misled preachers are teaching: God loves you no matter what you do or God’s love is unconditional.

There is no such thing as unconditional love. If I don’t care what you do, if I don’t care what you do to me – the honest truth is I Don’t Care.

God is Love.

God cares what you do.

God cares how you treat him and how you treat others.

Since he cares, he created certain conditions or rules for us to follow. These are also known as Commandments. And Jesus said if you love me, keep them.

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Christian, Inspirational

At What Cost

Christ did die on the cross for us. But a dangerous and misleading teaching is that Christ died on the cross so that we don’t have to.

It can be a bit confusing, but it’s important to get it right. Jesus died so that we will not have to die the second death as long as we believe, are baptized , and follow him. The second death is being found unworthy and cast into Hell forever. It is eternal separation from the Lord, where the Bible says our soul is destroyed.

Jesus did not promise us that we should never suffer or die. In fact the opposite is true. John 15:20 KJV says, … If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you… . Revelation 2:10 KJV says … be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

So why is this important. You may have been taught Jesus has already done everything necessary for your salvation or that he died on the cross in our place. The realistic version is that as a Christian you may suffer and you may even be called to give your life for Christ.

To those of you that are called and chosen. Be mindful that one thing yet remains:

Be faithful unto death!

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Christian

Sympathy For The Devil

I am sick of people on religious programs saying God’s love is unconditional. I honestly don’t believe these people know or understand love.

Yet, I must admit I’m finally convinced. God’s love is unconditional. Really? – No. Although perhaps I have been too harsh in my judgment. He does ask us to even love our enemies.

Here’s your choice though and it’s a big one: You can be loved by God in the same way He loves Satan or you can be loved by God as he loves Jesus.

I think if you study the Holy Bible you’ll find the only difference between the two is how they dealt with God’s conditions.

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Christian

Placing Membership

Most churches I’ve attended expect you to place membership with them.

There is absolutely no biblical requirement for this.

If you believe and are baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost you have become a member of the family. You are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

What you do with that membership is now up to you. Will you learn, follow, and grow in Christ or will you let your membership lapse?

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Church of Christ Revisited

I stopped attending the Church of Christ because as a denomination they fail to believe in the possibility of modern miracles. The Bible does say to depart from those who doubt or do not believe in the power of God, but perhaps I have wrongly judged. Just because they don’t believe in the availability of miracles in this age doesn’t necessarily mean they believe God is without power.

Also, I miss a few things about the Church of Christ. I miss the fact that they offer communion every Sunday. I believe all churches should do this. I miss the hymnal. New music and musicians can be a great way to worship the Lord, but I miss the classics. I miss hearing them and I miss singing them. I’d like to say women don’t speak in Church to their shame, but some usually want to say hi (inside the building). The good news is they don’t speak in an official capacity, at least upstairs. How hard is it to keep the word of the Lord? 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Ignorance is not really an excuse. We as adults are all expected to have read the Bible.

Still looking for a more perfect Church, but today I’ll be going back to Land Between the Lakes Church of Christ in Dover.

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