Tag Archives: lie

Christian, Inspirational

Rebels

Star Wars and other movies have turned the words rebel and rebellion into something good. Meanwhile the words religion and legalism have been transformed by hip preachers into something uncool.

They say we are saved by grace and not by works (acts of religion and legalism) but let me ask you a few questions.

  • Is it work for you not to kill?
  • Is it work for you not to bear false witness?
  • Is it work for you not to commit adultery?
  • Is it work for you to respect the name of God?
  • Is it work for you not to make or worship idols?
  • Is it work to take a day off and not work at all?
  • Is it work to respect your mom and dad?
  • Is it work to not steal?
  • Is it work for you to not covet another’s property?

Is it really laborious to keep the law? I admit I’ve had issues with or broken all of these, but as I’ve given my life to Jesus they’ve become easier to keep. You would think not working or causing others to work would be easy, but I’m still not doing well with Sabbath keeping. However, since truly turning to Christ keeping most of the Ten Commandments has not been work at all.

In Romans in the New Testament we are told to love and that love fulfils the law. Romans 13:8, 13:10.

I guess that’s my final question.

  • Is love work?

Rebel against the mainstream. Make you religion Christianity and make part of your relationship with Jesus the keeping of his law.

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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

Definitive

Satan’s plans are nefarious and can at times be very subtle. One of his projects is changing the meaning of various words. If you hear his definitions often enough you might just believe them.

  • Religion is bad
  • Legalism is evil
  • Love is unconditional
  • Male is a sexist distinction
  • Female is a personal distinction
  • Sexuality is a choice
  • Life is after birth and before senility
  • White Lie
  • Half Truth

Changing the meaning of words leads to confusion and confusion leads to sin.

The Bible tells us in Isaiah 5:20 KJV Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

But what if you’ve been misled and don’t know the difference?

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Christian, Inspirational

On His Behalf

It is very dangerous to speak on behalf of God. If you say, “God said …” and he did not, you are flirting with disaster and perhaps damnation.

God will not be made a liar.

Even saying something like “God loves you he really does” may be dubious. The truth: it could be true and it can have a strong sales aspect to new converts. However, it could be false. Certainly Esau is not the only person God ever hated.

To be safe when you want to quote God, quote him from the Holy Bible. His word is true and worthy of repetition.

John 3:16-21 KJV
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. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

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Christian, Inspirational

Discernment Part 2

I think that a lesson I learned in my first year of law school could be applied to learning or teaching spiritual discernment and development.

When writing an essay on exams first year law students are taught to use IRAC. IRAC stands for Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion. The question, usually a hypothetical with various facts determines the issue. When the issue is identified you determine the Rule or the law that applies to the facts of the situation. Analysis takes the law or laws into consideration and you provide discussion on how they may relate to the hypothetical facts. Finally your conclusion, how do you think the issue should be resolved.

Dean was wondering if he should lie to his girlfriend about meeting another girl at the bar last night.

Issues: How serious is the relationship with his girlfriend and is the relationship approved of by God’s law? What are his intentions to the girl he met last night? What was he doing at a bar? Should he lie? What are his motives for lying?

Rule(s): Fornication is sin. Hebrews 13:4. Lust is sin. Matthew 5:28. Drunkeness can lead to damnation. Galatians 5:21. Thou shalt not lie. Exodus 20:16

Analysis: Knowing the law, Dean should develop a Christian relationship with his girlfriend in consideration of marriage. Dean should not go to bars and drink too much. Dean should not look on a woman with lust and Dean should not lie.

Conclusion: Following God’s word can be hard. Knowing his law is key. If you know the rule you let the rule govern. Keeping God’s law is crucial to Christian living. The result of keeping his law is strong and healthy relationships on Earth and the promise of a future in Heaven.

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Christian, Inspirational

Believing the Lie

The Church I’m attending (mainly because of my mom) hired a new preacher. He started off his first day stating that he wasn’t here to preach denominational doctrine nor doctrine he learned at the Memphis School of Preaching, but only the Bible.

Would that this were true. You can lie to me because I know the Holy Bible, but perhaps the most dangerous lie is the one you tell yourself.

This is the second young Church of Christ preacher I’ve dealt with and older preachers, though perhaps less obvious, are no different. They honestly believe they dont belong to a denomination.

How can you point out doctrinal error to the person who doesn’t think they belong to a denomination? Or tell them that their opinion is clearly reflected in the denominational doctrine they put forward as the only truth?

I’ve heard the Church of Christ referred to as a cult and have vehemently disagreed with that characterization. Nonetheless, you could describe those that cling to and promote a lie as cultish. Believing their own lie that they are not a denomination only leads to further error. They don’t believe in the power of God – to do miracles – and that is grievous denominational error based on misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:10 KJV.

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