(Gen. 19: 1-29; Luk. 17: 32)
The Bible doesn't gives us her personal name. She's just "Mrs. Lot" to us, Lot's wife.
However, we can learn plenty about how to prioritize our lives from her negative example. Her heart belonged to this world--not to the condition of her soul or the spiritual well-being of her family. We can know this because of her hesitancy in leaving Sodom when she learned of its imminent destruction, and her ultimate demise in being turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at it when she was told not to do so. God wasn't joking, but she failed to take Him seriously.
Sodom must have been a beautiful place to look upon from the mountain top, for Lot readily selected it when his uncle, Abram, gave him first pick of the land about them (Gen. 13: 1-13). The Bible says that the men of Sodom were wicked. This was the case already when Lot arrived there. Yet he willingly chose to expose his wife and daughters to such an environment. In this respect, he failed his family in not being a strong spiritual leader for them.
That doesn't excuse Mrs. Lot's behavior though. Why, oh why, did she look back!? Perhaps they lived in luxury by the standards of their time. Perhaps the Lots had the finest home and material goods in the region. We just don't know. We only know that Mrs. Lot's affection for whatever was there cost her her life.
Just a personal self-examination question for today: What do I have a white-knuckled grip on that could possibly cost me my salvation? Think on it.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
We Once Were Lost, But Now Are Found
It happened over the course of 3-4 months or so. I couldn't understand why it was happening. This friend I had made out in the mid-west all of a sudden stopped e-mailing me. I thought I had made her angry, but for the life of me, I didn't know how. Meanwhile, she's not understanding why she's sending me so many e-mails and not getting a return response. She's as upset as I am, thinking the same thing I am; that I'm mad at her for some reason. Her baby had had to have surgery and she had requested my prayers and was hurt when she didn't hear from me. That tore my heart out and stomped it when I learned that later.
The mystery was cleared up when I got a box from her Christmas Eve. In it was a letter enclosed with a picture of their precious baby boy. She wondered what had happened. I called her and told her that I had wondered what happened to her too. We were both greatly relieved to know that each had been seeking the company of the other. We were able to mutually blame it on the net. Somewhere out there in outer space, our unreceived messages are still floating around. Wow, have we ever had a lot of catching up to do!
We were both glad that our reason for non-communication was not what we thought it was. Are you and a friend or family member at odds and not communicating? Don't let it fester. Go seek them out regardless of who's wrong or right. What I may not have in material wealth is more than made up for in the fact that I have a really great bunch of girlfriends. They bring me great joy and help me to live my life in technicolor. They're all gold coins and I don't intend on losing any of them.
Now, y'all go hug and make up.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
The mystery was cleared up when I got a box from her Christmas Eve. In it was a letter enclosed with a picture of their precious baby boy. She wondered what had happened. I called her and told her that I had wondered what happened to her too. We were both greatly relieved to know that each had been seeking the company of the other. We were able to mutually blame it on the net. Somewhere out there in outer space, our unreceived messages are still floating around. Wow, have we ever had a lot of catching up to do!
We were both glad that our reason for non-communication was not what we thought it was. Are you and a friend or family member at odds and not communicating? Don't let it fester. Go seek them out regardless of who's wrong or right. What I may not have in material wealth is more than made up for in the fact that I have a really great bunch of girlfriends. They bring me great joy and help me to live my life in technicolor. They're all gold coins and I don't intend on losing any of them.
Now, y'all go hug and make up.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Just Be Yourself, Part 2
(See? Told you so. Sorry about that.)
Where was I? Oh yeah...
SELF-ACCEPTANCE:
1. Pursue peaceful relationships with others. Self-rejection and self-hatred hinder relationships (1 Pet. 3: 11). We must be willing to lose a few battles to win the war. If you insist on having the last word, the opposition will just see you as a mouthy, mule-headed (my momma used to call me that) bully.
2. God loves you (Jer. 1: 5). Other people love you too. Open yourself to being receptive of their love. You cannot give away what you do not have yourself. Unless and until you receive God's love you simply won't have it to give to others.
3. Past unfortunate events and sin in our lives can leave our souls feeling scarred. We may consider ourselves "damaged goods," but you are not worthless. You're supposed to serve as a useful tool for God's purposes. Lack of self-esteem destroys your confidence and keeps you from becoming all God intended you to be. No one is perfect and never will be. We're all works in progress.
4. Allow God to change you, mold your faith, and overcome your demons (Deut. 7: 19-22; 2 Cor. 3: 18; Heb. 12: 2). Let Him fashion you into the final product He intends for you to become.
Have you ever given something to someone and had them look at you funny? I have. I love to do that regardless of their reaction because it brings me great joy. Period. I don't want anything in return. My only motive is to express my friendship and brighten their day.
I wonder if God feels confounded when people don't understand His freely given gifts of love, grace and mercy. Do we reject Him out of a false sense of humility or worthlessness? He wants us to:
A. accept His love (Mt. 22: 37);
B. love ourselves (godly self-respect) (2 Tim. 1: 7; Jude 21);
C. return His love generously (Jno. 14: 15; Heb. 6: 10); and
D. give that love generously to others (Jno. 13: 34; Rom. 12: 10).
ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION:
1. When you reject yourself, you only compound your problems. Acceptance allows you to face reality so that you can make needed changes.
2. Acceptance involves our will.
3. People reject themselves when they fail to see themselves as proper or right. They only see their flaws and weaknesses--not their beauty and strengths which other people readily see. Personal hang-ups can be caused by past mistreatment by others, but that's exactly where it should stay--in your past. Let it go! Paul did (Phil 3: 12-14). You can't move forward when your wheels are stuck in the mud.
CHANGE REQUIRES CORRECTION:
1. God disciplines His children because He loves them (Heb. 12: 6; Rev. 3: 19).
2. People who do not know they're loved have a hard time accepting correction.
3. Rebuke must be given with an attitude of love behind it (Eph. 4: 15). Ala' Mary Poppins: "A little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down."
4. Be assured of God's love for you (Rom. 8: 38-39).
SELF IMAGE AFFECTS YOUR FUTURE (2 Sam. 9: 8):
1. A poor self-image left unchecked will only repeat itself in the future.
2. God had a plan for the tribe of Judah (Jer. 29: 11). He surely has big plans for His people now.
3. Poor self-image causes us to live in fear instead of faith. Jesus covered our shortcomings with His righteousness (2 Cor. 5: 21).
4. The Lord holds those who belong to Him in high esteem (Deut. 28: 13).
HAVE YOU LOST YOURSELF?
1. Have you tried to so hard to be like someone else that you don't know who you're really supposed to be?
2. Since you can't be everything everyone wants you to be, learn to say 'no.' It's a most useful word.
3. The responsibility of establishing order in my life falls on me.
IT'S NOT BAD TO BE DIFFERENT:
1. The world would be a mighty boring place if we were all alike. We'd be like The Stepford Wives. Now that's scary!
2. God wants you to fit His plan--not someone else's. What everyone else thinks is their own problem.
3. If you're trying to be anyone but yourself, you'll fail every time.
4. We're all unique and possess different gifts (Rom. 12: 6).
5. Accept your limitations and focus on your strengths.
6. We need to love and accept each other without feeling like we need to compete with each other (Gal. 5: 26; 6: 4).
7. Don't be bound by the parameters of public opinion, i.e., "they." You are free (Jno. 8: 36).
8. You can do anything the Lord empowers you to do (Phil. 4: 13).
HOW CAN I CHANGE?
1. Allow your mind to be renewed by God's Word (Rom. 12: 2). Change will happen in stages.
2. Follow the Lord's doctrine, but don't fall into the legalism trap. God wants you to enjoy life. Salvation is freedom--not bondage (Jno. 10: 10; Eph. 2: 8-9). Revel in the freedom God's given you (Gal. 5: 1).
3. Do whatever God puts before you with joy (Acts. 20: 24; Rom. 15: 13).
Chicas, the original notes to this posting were 18 pages long, so I've spared you and given you the Readers Digest version. My hope for each of you is that you start your new year with a personal resolve to unabashedly be yourself and commit yourself to soul-winning. I know that's my new mission.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Where was I? Oh yeah...
SELF-ACCEPTANCE:
1. Pursue peaceful relationships with others. Self-rejection and self-hatred hinder relationships (1 Pet. 3: 11). We must be willing to lose a few battles to win the war. If you insist on having the last word, the opposition will just see you as a mouthy, mule-headed (my momma used to call me that) bully.
2. God loves you (Jer. 1: 5). Other people love you too. Open yourself to being receptive of their love. You cannot give away what you do not have yourself. Unless and until you receive God's love you simply won't have it to give to others.
3. Past unfortunate events and sin in our lives can leave our souls feeling scarred. We may consider ourselves "damaged goods," but you are not worthless. You're supposed to serve as a useful tool for God's purposes. Lack of self-esteem destroys your confidence and keeps you from becoming all God intended you to be. No one is perfect and never will be. We're all works in progress.
4. Allow God to change you, mold your faith, and overcome your demons (Deut. 7: 19-22; 2 Cor. 3: 18; Heb. 12: 2). Let Him fashion you into the final product He intends for you to become.
Have you ever given something to someone and had them look at you funny? I have. I love to do that regardless of their reaction because it brings me great joy. Period. I don't want anything in return. My only motive is to express my friendship and brighten their day.
I wonder if God feels confounded when people don't understand His freely given gifts of love, grace and mercy. Do we reject Him out of a false sense of humility or worthlessness? He wants us to:
A. accept His love (Mt. 22: 37);
B. love ourselves (godly self-respect) (2 Tim. 1: 7; Jude 21);
C. return His love generously (Jno. 14: 15; Heb. 6: 10); and
D. give that love generously to others (Jno. 13: 34; Rom. 12: 10).
ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION:
1. When you reject yourself, you only compound your problems. Acceptance allows you to face reality so that you can make needed changes.
2. Acceptance involves our will.
3. People reject themselves when they fail to see themselves as proper or right. They only see their flaws and weaknesses--not their beauty and strengths which other people readily see. Personal hang-ups can be caused by past mistreatment by others, but that's exactly where it should stay--in your past. Let it go! Paul did (Phil 3: 12-14). You can't move forward when your wheels are stuck in the mud.
CHANGE REQUIRES CORRECTION:
1. God disciplines His children because He loves them (Heb. 12: 6; Rev. 3: 19).
2. People who do not know they're loved have a hard time accepting correction.
3. Rebuke must be given with an attitude of love behind it (Eph. 4: 15). Ala' Mary Poppins: "A little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down."
4. Be assured of God's love for you (Rom. 8: 38-39).
SELF IMAGE AFFECTS YOUR FUTURE (2 Sam. 9: 8):
1. A poor self-image left unchecked will only repeat itself in the future.
2. God had a plan for the tribe of Judah (Jer. 29: 11). He surely has big plans for His people now.
3. Poor self-image causes us to live in fear instead of faith. Jesus covered our shortcomings with His righteousness (2 Cor. 5: 21).
4. The Lord holds those who belong to Him in high esteem (Deut. 28: 13).
HAVE YOU LOST YOURSELF?
1. Have you tried to so hard to be like someone else that you don't know who you're really supposed to be?
2. Since you can't be everything everyone wants you to be, learn to say 'no.' It's a most useful word.
3. The responsibility of establishing order in my life falls on me.
IT'S NOT BAD TO BE DIFFERENT:
1. The world would be a mighty boring place if we were all alike. We'd be like The Stepford Wives. Now that's scary!
2. God wants you to fit His plan--not someone else's. What everyone else thinks is their own problem.
3. If you're trying to be anyone but yourself, you'll fail every time.
4. We're all unique and possess different gifts (Rom. 12: 6).
5. Accept your limitations and focus on your strengths.
6. We need to love and accept each other without feeling like we need to compete with each other (Gal. 5: 26; 6: 4).
7. Don't be bound by the parameters of public opinion, i.e., "they." You are free (Jno. 8: 36).
8. You can do anything the Lord empowers you to do (Phil. 4: 13).
HOW CAN I CHANGE?
1. Allow your mind to be renewed by God's Word (Rom. 12: 2). Change will happen in stages.
2. Follow the Lord's doctrine, but don't fall into the legalism trap. God wants you to enjoy life. Salvation is freedom--not bondage (Jno. 10: 10; Eph. 2: 8-9). Revel in the freedom God's given you (Gal. 5: 1).
3. Do whatever God puts before you with joy (Acts. 20: 24; Rom. 15: 13).
Chicas, the original notes to this posting were 18 pages long, so I've spared you and given you the Readers Digest version. My hope for each of you is that you start your new year with a personal resolve to unabashedly be yourself and commit yourself to soul-winning. I know that's my new mission.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Just Be Yourself, Part 1
I wrote this much earlier this year, but I haven't posted it because it was a bit lengthy. I knew I would have to have a holiday weekend in order to write it uninterrupted. However, I think the subject is appropriate considering we're coming upon the first of a new year when many make New Year's resolutions. I personally don't make them because I don't like the pressure, but I do enjoy the fresh start the new year brings.
Some people are comfortable in their own skin and have no trouble experiencing life to the fullest. I always envied those people because for most of my life I was painfully bashful and lacked the self-confidence to do or say the things I really wanted to. It's a painful, self-imposed prison. I still don't understand it. I've been trying to analyze it for years. I have dealt with the public for most of my working life and find that I can be friendly and open with complete strangers; but once I form a closer relationship with someone, I tend to clam up and not be as forthcoming with my thoughts and feelings as I would even a casual acquaintance. It's senseless. The only thing I get from it is that perhaps when I get to know someone I really want to please them, so it would hurt me if they were to become upset with or overly critical of me. After all, it's been said that you hurt the ones who love you most. I certainly hope I don't make any of my friends feel that way. I might get angry from time to time, but I usually last a maximum of 5 minutes and I'm more than ready to hug and make up. I NEVER stop loving someone or stop talking to them because they upset me or made me angry.
Insecurity, bashfulness, and fear are some of Satan's most effective tools. Also, when we act in such a manner, it makes those around us feel insecure and reserved too. Sometimes it comes from self-loathing. When people don't like themselves, it makes it difficult for them to get along with others. When self-worth is lacking, the mind and emotions suffer, as well as one's social and spiritual life. Consider the following:
A. 1 Jno. 4: 18 Perfect love casts out fear.
B. 1 Pet. 3: 11 Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.
C. Jer. 1: 5 God had big plans for Jeremiah when he was still in utero. Wouldn't
He also have special plans for each of us?
D. Rom. 5: 5 God gives us hope through the Holy Spirit.
(Hold on. Got to try to post this. I think the net booted me. Be right back.)
Some people are comfortable in their own skin and have no trouble experiencing life to the fullest. I always envied those people because for most of my life I was painfully bashful and lacked the self-confidence to do or say the things I really wanted to. It's a painful, self-imposed prison. I still don't understand it. I've been trying to analyze it for years. I have dealt with the public for most of my working life and find that I can be friendly and open with complete strangers; but once I form a closer relationship with someone, I tend to clam up and not be as forthcoming with my thoughts and feelings as I would even a casual acquaintance. It's senseless. The only thing I get from it is that perhaps when I get to know someone I really want to please them, so it would hurt me if they were to become upset with or overly critical of me. After all, it's been said that you hurt the ones who love you most. I certainly hope I don't make any of my friends feel that way. I might get angry from time to time, but I usually last a maximum of 5 minutes and I'm more than ready to hug and make up. I NEVER stop loving someone or stop talking to them because they upset me or made me angry.
Insecurity, bashfulness, and fear are some of Satan's most effective tools. Also, when we act in such a manner, it makes those around us feel insecure and reserved too. Sometimes it comes from self-loathing. When people don't like themselves, it makes it difficult for them to get along with others. When self-worth is lacking, the mind and emotions suffer, as well as one's social and spiritual life. Consider the following:
A. 1 Jno. 4: 18 Perfect love casts out fear.
B. 1 Pet. 3: 11 Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.
C. Jer. 1: 5 God had big plans for Jeremiah when he was still in utero. Wouldn't
He also have special plans for each of us?
D. Rom. 5: 5 God gives us hope through the Holy Spirit.
(Hold on. Got to try to post this. I think the net booted me. Be right back.)
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!
I hope everyone is enjoying being off for the holiday. I certainly enjoyed sleeping in this morning! Now, I'm just fussing with this new computer. I purchased a new laptop a week ago, and it runs Windows Vista, which fights with everything we've tried to install on it. What a headache! Be patient with me during this transition time. I'm on here to post today, but this new thing is temperamental. It also won't let me have our financial files. That's a real problem. I need to reconcile bank statements and such.
I hope Santa's good to y'all.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
I hope Santa's good to y'all.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
New Young Ladies Class
At the first of the year, I will be heading up a teen girls' class, ages 13 - 18. I'm pretty stoked about it! I was told to come up with a name for it, so I chose GEM (Girls' Empowerment Ministry). Whaddayathink? I've felt pulled to teach women--I just didn't know it was supposed to be young women. It will be a preventive ministry. If you can keep one young woman from ruining her life with a bad decision, it's all worth it. I would like to see other preventive ministries begin to replace the need for crisis intervention counseling. Wouldn't that be wonderful? My heart is touched with wanting to do this and I'm praying that it's successful. I'd like your prayers as well.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Robbing God
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." ~ Malachi 3: 8-10
I ponder that verse a lot. This has been a tough year financially for the husband and me, but we've fared well in spite of it. I don't mean that there's been any extra cash, but we've not been late on any bills, and we still have a roof over our heads and food in the pantry. Somehow, we still manage to give as we've planned. God wants our contributions to be free-will, so I wonder what He thinks when one decides that he or she absolutely will not give--not that they have nothing to give. God has been so good to me, so I usually feel sad that I don't have more to give.
So, are we to give a literal tithe (tenth) of our earnings? The New Testament law doesn't tell us that, but it can be asssumed as a starting point for our giving.
In Genesis 14: 1-24, Abram gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, because he was grateful to God for his victory in being able to rescue his nephew, Lot, from King Kedorloamer and his allies.
Mosaical law commanded a tithe as an act of gratitude and allegiance to God for His deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Lev. 27: 30-33; Deut. 14: 22).
How do we conduct ourselves in giving under New Testament law today? God doesn't need our money. He owns everything already. It's a test of our own faith. In faith, the poor widow in Luke 21: 2 gave literally the last money she possessed of her own free will. Likewise, in giving of our means of our own free will we're telling God that we trust Him to provide for our needs (2 Cor. 9: 8-11) (and no, that doesn't mean we need a Hummer or a Lexus). We're commanded to lay aside for the offering weekly in 1 Corinthians 16: 2.
The money we give to the Lord has practical uses in the church's business: building upkeep and utilities, preachers' and support staff's salaries, mission work, outreach programs, benevolent support to church members and within the community, educational supplies for classroom activities, etc. These are all worthy uses of the money we give back to God. We are more effective in collectively pooling our monetary resources in these areas than we could ever be individually, but we're all obligated to support the Lord's work.
Back to Malachi: God was scolding the people for their negligence in not bringing Him the firstfruits, but their leftovers (Prov. 3: 5, 9; Mal. 1: 8). He let them know in no uncertain terms that their offerings were deficient. He was actually criticizing their attitude of giving. We are to give on purpose and be happy about it (2 Cor. 9: 6-7). I realize that sometimes people become anxious about giving of their means for fear of lack. I've been there myself when my faith was weak. God knows we are weak and harbor these anxieties. When the check's not come in at our house, we've given double the next week. I believe God's probably more agitated by one's lack of seriousness in serving Him.
I think God understands when we're in dire straits financially. I think he would undertand when there's absolutely not two thin dimes to rub together for you to give them both. However, I think He does expect you to give when you can, and I have personally found that we can still give, even when it seems impossible.
The most important thing you can give God is yourself (Mar. 8: 34-37 and Rom. 12: 1). Once upon a time, a wealthy church purposed to build a state-of-the-art facility. Special collections were taken up for it over and above the weekly donations. A contractor who worshiped there deeply discounted his normal fee for the project. Some companies donated fixtures and building supplies. One man, a less fortunate member of the congregation, stood nearby feeling sad that he couldn't make such a grand gesture. Before long, he climbed atop a pallet of bricks, stretched out his arms, and said, "I have no money to give, but I give all of me."
Only we can truly know if our hearts whether or not we're robbing God, whether it's of our finances or our time and talents. Examine your heart today and make any needed changes for the upcoming new year. According to Malachi, your payback will be in God's blessings.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
I ponder that verse a lot. This has been a tough year financially for the husband and me, but we've fared well in spite of it. I don't mean that there's been any extra cash, but we've not been late on any bills, and we still have a roof over our heads and food in the pantry. Somehow, we still manage to give as we've planned. God wants our contributions to be free-will, so I wonder what He thinks when one decides that he or she absolutely will not give--not that they have nothing to give. God has been so good to me, so I usually feel sad that I don't have more to give.
So, are we to give a literal tithe (tenth) of our earnings? The New Testament law doesn't tell us that, but it can be asssumed as a starting point for our giving.
In Genesis 14: 1-24, Abram gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, because he was grateful to God for his victory in being able to rescue his nephew, Lot, from King Kedorloamer and his allies.
Mosaical law commanded a tithe as an act of gratitude and allegiance to God for His deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Lev. 27: 30-33; Deut. 14: 22).
How do we conduct ourselves in giving under New Testament law today? God doesn't need our money. He owns everything already. It's a test of our own faith. In faith, the poor widow in Luke 21: 2 gave literally the last money she possessed of her own free will. Likewise, in giving of our means of our own free will we're telling God that we trust Him to provide for our needs (2 Cor. 9: 8-11) (and no, that doesn't mean we need a Hummer or a Lexus). We're commanded to lay aside for the offering weekly in 1 Corinthians 16: 2.
The money we give to the Lord has practical uses in the church's business: building upkeep and utilities, preachers' and support staff's salaries, mission work, outreach programs, benevolent support to church members and within the community, educational supplies for classroom activities, etc. These are all worthy uses of the money we give back to God. We are more effective in collectively pooling our monetary resources in these areas than we could ever be individually, but we're all obligated to support the Lord's work.
Back to Malachi: God was scolding the people for their negligence in not bringing Him the firstfruits, but their leftovers (Prov. 3: 5, 9; Mal. 1: 8). He let them know in no uncertain terms that their offerings were deficient. He was actually criticizing their attitude of giving. We are to give on purpose and be happy about it (2 Cor. 9: 6-7). I realize that sometimes people become anxious about giving of their means for fear of lack. I've been there myself when my faith was weak. God knows we are weak and harbor these anxieties. When the check's not come in at our house, we've given double the next week. I believe God's probably more agitated by one's lack of seriousness in serving Him.
I think God understands when we're in dire straits financially. I think he would undertand when there's absolutely not two thin dimes to rub together for you to give them both. However, I think He does expect you to give when you can, and I have personally found that we can still give, even when it seems impossible.
The most important thing you can give God is yourself (Mar. 8: 34-37 and Rom. 12: 1). Once upon a time, a wealthy church purposed to build a state-of-the-art facility. Special collections were taken up for it over and above the weekly donations. A contractor who worshiped there deeply discounted his normal fee for the project. Some companies donated fixtures and building supplies. One man, a less fortunate member of the congregation, stood nearby feeling sad that he couldn't make such a grand gesture. Before long, he climbed atop a pallet of bricks, stretched out his arms, and said, "I have no money to give, but I give all of me."
Only we can truly know if our hearts whether or not we're robbing God, whether it's of our finances or our time and talents. Examine your heart today and make any needed changes for the upcoming new year. According to Malachi, your payback will be in God's blessings.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Falling from Grace
I have heard of the concept of "once saved, always saved." However, it's not scriptural because the Scriptures say otherwise. I aver that the concept of "backsliding" and "falling from grace" are one and the same. Let me explain. You cannot fall (or backslide) from somewhere you've never been. That's plain logic. Ergo, we must first have entered into a covenant relationship with the Lord and be saved by His grace before we can fall from it. The Scriptures back this, not only of individuals, but of entire congregations of people:
A. 2 Tim. 4: 9 - Demas' fall
B. Rev. 2: 1-5 - the church at Ephesus
C. Rev. 2: 14-16 - the church at Pergamum
D. Rev. 3: 1-3 - the church at Sardis
E. Rev. 3: 14-20 - the church at Laodicea
F. Gal. 5: 4 - the actual term "fallen from grace" used
G. Heb. 6: 1-6 - It is possible for a Christian to fall from grace
What is grace anyway? What is this thing we can supposedly fall from? It is God's unmerited kindness (Eph. 2: 4-9). Being saved by grace is an intelligent matter--not a charismatic one. It requires your cognizance because you cannot be saved against your will. Grace teaches us (Titus 2: 11-12). We learn right from wrong through our own personal study of the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2: 15; 3: 16). Grace shows itself to us through the gospel (Psa. 119: 172; Rom. 1: 16-17; 5: 20-21); and grace is forgiving (Jno. 3: 16; Heb. 9: 22-28).
Consider for a moment the conversion of Saul (Paul) in Acts 9: 1-19. He was genuinely contrite for his persecution of the church once he learned that he was truly wrong. After Ananias was sent to Saul to tell him what he needed to do to be saved, Saul could have refused to obey and he would not have received God's grace.
At the other end of the pole, an erring Christian can fall away from God so as no longer be in a saved condition (note the progression in Gal. 3: 26-27; 4: 8-9; and 5: 1-4). How? By constantly forsaking God for other people or other things because: (a) God knows our hearts (1 Chr. 28: 9); and (b) He only forsakes us when we forsake Him (2 Chr. 15: 2). When our conscience no longer convicts us, we can become lost to Him for good simply because we refuse to come back (1 Cor. 9: 27; 10: 12). Unbelief will condemn many (Heb. 3: 12). It's an insult to Christ's sacrifice when I show such indifference for my soul's regard (Heb. 6: 4-6; 2 Pet. 2: 20-21).
My soul's well-being is dependent upon my acceptance or rejection of Christ (Jno. 3: 36). Our hope of eternal life is contingent upon our living a righteous life (Rom. 6: 22; Rev. 2: 10). Remember, no one snatches us out of God's hand. We allow ourselves to be led away (1 Cor. 10: 13; Jas. 4: 7).
"...Doth not commit sin" in 1 John 3: 9 doesn't mean that it is impossible to sin. See 1 John 2: 4 as well.
God doesn't want to cast anyone out (Mt. 11: 28-30; Jno. 6: 37). If we go to Hell it will be a consequence of the actions we have chosen to take by our own free will. The unprofitable servant will be cast out (Matt. 25: 30; Rev. 21: 7-8, 27). While Jude 24 does state that the Lord is "able to keep you from falling...," earlier Jude 21 states, "keep yourselves," denoting personal responsibility. Romans 8: 35-39 says, "nothing can separate us" from God's love. That's true, but we can separate ourselves from Him to the point where He will no longer hear our prayers as long as we choose to remain in a willfully sinful state (Isa. 59: 1-2).
In conclusion, even as Christians we are capable of committing "sins of the flesh," (Gal. 5: 19-21); but to do so and remain unrepentant will cause us to fall from grace. This was also a problem in the first century church (Jno. 15: 5-8; Rev. 2: 4-5). A fallen child of God can be restored through the avenues of repentance and prayer (Acts 8: 13-24; Rev. 2: 5). James 5: 16 says that we need to confess our sins to each other. However, a confession need be only as public as the sin is. Some things can be handled between you and God alone. Some things will be known by only a selected few besides you and God. Yet others may be so widely known that they require a public acknowledgment. (Never refuse to repent because you're afraid of going forward in the assembly. The elders and preacher will be more than happy to meet in private with you and then make it known publicly at the next assembly that you were restored.)
Bottom line, if we choose the world over God, the truth is not in us and our souls are in jeopardy (1 Jno. 2: 15; Jas. 4: 4).
I know this is a heavy post, but it's one that shouldn't be ignored. I hope it is construed as tough love rather than condemnation.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
A. 2 Tim. 4: 9 - Demas' fall
B. Rev. 2: 1-5 - the church at Ephesus
C. Rev. 2: 14-16 - the church at Pergamum
D. Rev. 3: 1-3 - the church at Sardis
E. Rev. 3: 14-20 - the church at Laodicea
F. Gal. 5: 4 - the actual term "fallen from grace" used
G. Heb. 6: 1-6 - It is possible for a Christian to fall from grace
What is grace anyway? What is this thing we can supposedly fall from? It is God's unmerited kindness (Eph. 2: 4-9). Being saved by grace is an intelligent matter--not a charismatic one. It requires your cognizance because you cannot be saved against your will. Grace teaches us (Titus 2: 11-12). We learn right from wrong through our own personal study of the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2: 15; 3: 16). Grace shows itself to us through the gospel (Psa. 119: 172; Rom. 1: 16-17; 5: 20-21); and grace is forgiving (Jno. 3: 16; Heb. 9: 22-28).
Consider for a moment the conversion of Saul (Paul) in Acts 9: 1-19. He was genuinely contrite for his persecution of the church once he learned that he was truly wrong. After Ananias was sent to Saul to tell him what he needed to do to be saved, Saul could have refused to obey and he would not have received God's grace.
At the other end of the pole, an erring Christian can fall away from God so as no longer be in a saved condition (note the progression in Gal. 3: 26-27; 4: 8-9; and 5: 1-4). How? By constantly forsaking God for other people or other things because: (a) God knows our hearts (1 Chr. 28: 9); and (b) He only forsakes us when we forsake Him (2 Chr. 15: 2). When our conscience no longer convicts us, we can become lost to Him for good simply because we refuse to come back (1 Cor. 9: 27; 10: 12). Unbelief will condemn many (Heb. 3: 12). It's an insult to Christ's sacrifice when I show such indifference for my soul's regard (Heb. 6: 4-6; 2 Pet. 2: 20-21).
My soul's well-being is dependent upon my acceptance or rejection of Christ (Jno. 3: 36). Our hope of eternal life is contingent upon our living a righteous life (Rom. 6: 22; Rev. 2: 10). Remember, no one snatches us out of God's hand. We allow ourselves to be led away (1 Cor. 10: 13; Jas. 4: 7).
"...Doth not commit sin" in 1 John 3: 9 doesn't mean that it is impossible to sin. See 1 John 2: 4 as well.
God doesn't want to cast anyone out (Mt. 11: 28-30; Jno. 6: 37). If we go to Hell it will be a consequence of the actions we have chosen to take by our own free will. The unprofitable servant will be cast out (Matt. 25: 30; Rev. 21: 7-8, 27). While Jude 24 does state that the Lord is "able to keep you from falling...," earlier Jude 21 states, "keep yourselves," denoting personal responsibility. Romans 8: 35-39 says, "nothing can separate us" from God's love. That's true, but we can separate ourselves from Him to the point where He will no longer hear our prayers as long as we choose to remain in a willfully sinful state (Isa. 59: 1-2).
In conclusion, even as Christians we are capable of committing "sins of the flesh," (Gal. 5: 19-21); but to do so and remain unrepentant will cause us to fall from grace. This was also a problem in the first century church (Jno. 15: 5-8; Rev. 2: 4-5). A fallen child of God can be restored through the avenues of repentance and prayer (Acts 8: 13-24; Rev. 2: 5). James 5: 16 says that we need to confess our sins to each other. However, a confession need be only as public as the sin is. Some things can be handled between you and God alone. Some things will be known by only a selected few besides you and God. Yet others may be so widely known that they require a public acknowledgment. (Never refuse to repent because you're afraid of going forward in the assembly. The elders and preacher will be more than happy to meet in private with you and then make it known publicly at the next assembly that you were restored.)
Bottom line, if we choose the world over God, the truth is not in us and our souls are in jeopardy (1 Jno. 2: 15; Jas. 4: 4).
I know this is a heavy post, but it's one that shouldn't be ignored. I hope it is construed as tough love rather than condemnation.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Where's the Piano!?
FOR THE RECORD: Christians who do not use instrumental music in their worship are not opposed to the recreational use of musical instruments at home or in their work. Many are accomplished musicians.
I don't know why it's such an issue, but we in the churches of Christ get needled all the time about why we don't use instrumental music in our worship services. There's a very concise explanation: Instrumental music was not used in the worship of the first century church. Only vocal music was mentioned:
A. Mk. 14: 26
B. Acts 16: 25
C. Rom. 15: 9
D. 1 Cor. 14: 15
E. Eph. 5: 19
F. Col. 3: 16
G. Heb. 2: 12
H. Jas. 5: 13
I say that the voice is a musical instrument. I'm sure many professional
vocalists would agree. Regardless of how you or those around you think you sound, God thinks your voice is beautiful. He loves to hear you sing His praises.
Now, for the long answer:
While the argument has been made that David used musical instruments to worship God, remember that he was also under the old covenant as far as rites of worship are concerned. We're under a totally different law of worship; although there is no mention of God actually sanctioning instrumental music in the old covenant either. As a matter of fact, while God is condemning the complacent in Amos 6: 5, He accuses them by saying, "You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments."
So just how did instrumental music in worship to God come to exist?
The apostles only sang. They practiced true worship, so we can conclude that the use of instrumental music in worship is not necessary to true worship. In 1 Tim. 4:
1-3, Paul warned Timothy of the coming apostasy. One cannot help but draw parallels between this passage and certain aspects of the Catholic church with regard to not being allowed to marry and dietary restrictions. Please understand that I am not prejudiced against Catholics. I have several non-practicing Catholic friends, but I had to make that comparison to go on to the rest of the explanation.
Following the apostasy at some point after the apostles' lifetimes, instrumental music was introduced into the worship services of the Catholic church. In 666 A.D., Pope Vitale I brought in an organ for the purpose of it being used during worship services. Constantinople gifted an organ to the Byzantine emperor, Pepin, for use in the worship of the Catholic church at Campaigne in 757 A.D. After Charlemagne's lifetime, instrumental music was commonplace in the Catholic church's services.
Re-read the scriptural list of references again at the beginning of this post. Now, do they deal in the general or specific? Each of the passages specifically mentions "sing," rather than "music," which is generic. Because we are New Testament Christians, we are "not to go beyond that which is written" (1 Cor. 4: 6). To do so could fracture our unity and God condemns such (Gal. 1: 8-9; 2 Jno. 9-11).
Love Ya,
God Bless!
I don't know why it's such an issue, but we in the churches of Christ get needled all the time about why we don't use instrumental music in our worship services. There's a very concise explanation: Instrumental music was not used in the worship of the first century church. Only vocal music was mentioned:
A. Mk. 14: 26
B. Acts 16: 25
C. Rom. 15: 9
D. 1 Cor. 14: 15
E. Eph. 5: 19
F. Col. 3: 16
G. Heb. 2: 12
H. Jas. 5: 13
I say that the voice is a musical instrument. I'm sure many professional
vocalists would agree. Regardless of how you or those around you think you sound, God thinks your voice is beautiful. He loves to hear you sing His praises.
Now, for the long answer:
While the argument has been made that David used musical instruments to worship God, remember that he was also under the old covenant as far as rites of worship are concerned. We're under a totally different law of worship; although there is no mention of God actually sanctioning instrumental music in the old covenant either. As a matter of fact, while God is condemning the complacent in Amos 6: 5, He accuses them by saying, "You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments."
So just how did instrumental music in worship to God come to exist?
The apostles only sang. They practiced true worship, so we can conclude that the use of instrumental music in worship is not necessary to true worship. In 1 Tim. 4:
1-3, Paul warned Timothy of the coming apostasy. One cannot help but draw parallels between this passage and certain aspects of the Catholic church with regard to not being allowed to marry and dietary restrictions. Please understand that I am not prejudiced against Catholics. I have several non-practicing Catholic friends, but I had to make that comparison to go on to the rest of the explanation.
Following the apostasy at some point after the apostles' lifetimes, instrumental music was introduced into the worship services of the Catholic church. In 666 A.D., Pope Vitale I brought in an organ for the purpose of it being used during worship services. Constantinople gifted an organ to the Byzantine emperor, Pepin, for use in the worship of the Catholic church at Campaigne in 757 A.D. After Charlemagne's lifetime, instrumental music was commonplace in the Catholic church's services.
Re-read the scriptural list of references again at the beginning of this post. Now, do they deal in the general or specific? Each of the passages specifically mentions "sing," rather than "music," which is generic. Because we are New Testament Christians, we are "not to go beyond that which is written" (1 Cor. 4: 6). To do so could fracture our unity and God condemns such (Gal. 1: 8-9; 2 Jno. 9-11).
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Being People of Knowledge
I made a commitment around 15 years ago to read the Bible from lid to lid every year. I can tell you that without fail I see or understand something new every year that I didn't discover in the years prior. After reading it over and over, you begin to see the message within the message, so to speak.
It used to be that Christians could quote book, chapter and verse. No more. I'm afraid The Word is gathering dust on bookshelves, coffee tables, etc. I'm afraid that people view it as a dead letter, when in fact, it's far from it. In it are all the answers to life that no amount of self-help books in the local bookstore can ever cover.
Why study it? So that you won't be easily deceived by false teaching (Eph. 4: 14; Hos. 4: 6). Knowledge is one of the Christian graces (2 Pet. 1: 5-9). Most importantly, failure to spiritually mature will endanger your soul (2 Pet. 1: 9-10; 1 Tim. 2: 4; 4: 6; and 2 Tim. 3: 15).
Acquiring spiritual knowledge is no different from any other type of learning. You must crack a book (God's Book) in order to do it. If I could have learned by osmosis, I would have slept on my algebra book every night my freshman year of high school. But learning doesn't come that way. Instead, it requires the use of diligence and brain cells. It's been calculated that if you read three chapters every day during the week, and five apiece on Saturday and Sunday, that you can cover the entire Bible in a year. I've tried different reading schedules, but I have one that I've favored for many years that was published in the Gospel Advocate. It alternates between the Old and New Testaments, which makes it the more interesting method. I have also found that taking sermon notes helps me to maintain my focus on the message being delivered and that I retain the information more readily than if I were passively listening. I take notes to keep my mind from wandering. After awhile, you'll have learned many passages by rote and be able to follow the preacher's sermon track and anticipate what passage he'll be citing next.
The next big question would be: Must we follow doctrine? My knee-jerk answer would be, 'Well...DUH!' Not to be disrepectful, but doctrine is in the Bible and it obligates the Christian to take action (Matt. 7: 21-27; Luk. 6: 46). For doctrine to operate correctly, one must handle the Bible logically (Isa. 1: 18-20). New Christians are expected to continue to spiritually mature (Isa. 29: 9-10); and humble submission is necessary for doctrine to work (Isa. 57: 15; 66: 1-2).
Unless and until we re-establish ourselves as "people of The Book" we're in grave danger of becoming extinct as a body of believers.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
It used to be that Christians could quote book, chapter and verse. No more. I'm afraid The Word is gathering dust on bookshelves, coffee tables, etc. I'm afraid that people view it as a dead letter, when in fact, it's far from it. In it are all the answers to life that no amount of self-help books in the local bookstore can ever cover.
Why study it? So that you won't be easily deceived by false teaching (Eph. 4: 14; Hos. 4: 6). Knowledge is one of the Christian graces (2 Pet. 1: 5-9). Most importantly, failure to spiritually mature will endanger your soul (2 Pet. 1: 9-10; 1 Tim. 2: 4; 4: 6; and 2 Tim. 3: 15).
Acquiring spiritual knowledge is no different from any other type of learning. You must crack a book (God's Book) in order to do it. If I could have learned by osmosis, I would have slept on my algebra book every night my freshman year of high school. But learning doesn't come that way. Instead, it requires the use of diligence and brain cells. It's been calculated that if you read three chapters every day during the week, and five apiece on Saturday and Sunday, that you can cover the entire Bible in a year. I've tried different reading schedules, but I have one that I've favored for many years that was published in the Gospel Advocate. It alternates between the Old and New Testaments, which makes it the more interesting method. I have also found that taking sermon notes helps me to maintain my focus on the message being delivered and that I retain the information more readily than if I were passively listening. I take notes to keep my mind from wandering. After awhile, you'll have learned many passages by rote and be able to follow the preacher's sermon track and anticipate what passage he'll be citing next.
The next big question would be: Must we follow doctrine? My knee-jerk answer would be, 'Well...DUH!' Not to be disrepectful, but doctrine is in the Bible and it obligates the Christian to take action (Matt. 7: 21-27; Luk. 6: 46). For doctrine to operate correctly, one must handle the Bible logically (Isa. 1: 18-20). New Christians are expected to continue to spiritually mature (Isa. 29: 9-10); and humble submission is necessary for doctrine to work (Isa. 57: 15; 66: 1-2).
Unless and until we re-establish ourselves as "people of The Book" we're in grave danger of becoming extinct as a body of believers.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Dealing With Greed
I want it! I want it! I want it! Do you ever have to deal with your inner 2 year-old? Sometimes I do and I tell her to shut up or she gets no ice cream after dinner (Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, dontcha know?). Many words have pictures for me, and to me greed looks a lot like Jabba the Hut off the Star Wars movies. It's a big, nasty, slobbering, icky, toad-looking thing.
I'm a habitual clipper of interesting news articles I salvage from the many newspapers I speed-read after work each day. I have an article from the Wall Street Journal dated May 2, 2007 by Jonathan Clements entitled, "No Satisfaction: Why What You Have Is Never Enough." In it, Mr. Clements makes the opening statement that we have life and liberty; that we have the privilege of living in the wealthiest country, but that we can't seem to figure out what will make us truly happy. He rightly observes that we always want a bigger paycheck, a nicer vehicle, etc. He also notices that these things only bring us temporary happiness. Like the Preacher of Ecclesiastes that we've been studying in our Sunday School class, we're chasing that "one more thing" thinking it will make us finally and forever happy. Mr. Clements goes on to say that we aren't built to be happy, but to reproduce and keep society functioning. He also says that we're bad at forecasting because we can only think of what will make us happy for now. We're such temporal beings in our thought processses. If we happen to snag that nicer, bigger, more luxurious home, we soon start taking all the new space for granted. We get that promotion that we thought we had to have, only to find that it's a letdown. I guess that's what the old cliche', "be careful what you wish for" means.
Forgive me if I've said this before, but God is not opposed to our becoming fiscally and materially wealthy. He's more concerned with it possessing us (1 Tim. 6: 6-10; Luk. 12: 15; and Jno. 10: 10). Greed is a soul eater (Matt. 16: 26). God loves to give His children gifts. He's already given us the most generous gift we could ever receive (Jas. 1: 17-18). Are we truly grateful?
I don't have nearly as much as my peers that make more than I do, but I can honestly say that I want for nothing. In spite of this being a year of unemployment in our household, I still view it as "glass half-full." I can say that because I am blessed in so many ways that money can't buy. Mama taught me how to handle myself in the most formal circumstances even though I'm of humble estate. It gives me confidence. That's priceless. My husband gives unconditional love that I can trust. That's truly priceless. I'm not saying that I wouldn't be pleased to own a newer vehicle or a nicer or bigger home, but they're not priorities with me. In fact, I find the drive to acquire such things a frustrating and malicious cycle. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes thought so too (Eccl. 2: 17-23). Jesus told us where we should invest in Matthew 6: 19-21. Are we sending up nice grade brick for the construction of our eternal homes or worm-eaten barn wood? Remember, U-hauls don't follow hearses.
Back to my glass half-full theory: I get contentment by leading a simpler life (1 Tim. 6: 6-10). I learned how wealthy I was when missionaries would return giving reports of their trips into poverty-stricken, third-world countries. I thought to myself, 'How dare I take my luxuries for granted!' I learned from the smiles of those newly saved souls that wealth is immaterial (Eccl. 12: 13; Luk. 12: 16-21). I vowed to keep putting the kingdom first (Matt. 6: 33 and 1 Tim. 6: 11-16); and to be a good steward of what God has already blessed me with and to help others as much as I can (Rom. 12: 8; Prov. 28: 27; and 2 Cor. 9: 10-12).
Remember, this season loves to cloak itself in "peace on earth, good will toward men," but people will run you over in the aisle to get to the last whatever that's on the shelf. Don't get caught up in the hype. Go home, stoke the fireplace, make some cocoa, and do your shopping via catalog while watching football in your rattiest jammie bottoms and your husband's oversized sweatshirt like I do.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
I'm a habitual clipper of interesting news articles I salvage from the many newspapers I speed-read after work each day. I have an article from the Wall Street Journal dated May 2, 2007 by Jonathan Clements entitled, "No Satisfaction: Why What You Have Is Never Enough." In it, Mr. Clements makes the opening statement that we have life and liberty; that we have the privilege of living in the wealthiest country, but that we can't seem to figure out what will make us truly happy. He rightly observes that we always want a bigger paycheck, a nicer vehicle, etc. He also notices that these things only bring us temporary happiness. Like the Preacher of Ecclesiastes that we've been studying in our Sunday School class, we're chasing that "one more thing" thinking it will make us finally and forever happy. Mr. Clements goes on to say that we aren't built to be happy, but to reproduce and keep society functioning. He also says that we're bad at forecasting because we can only think of what will make us happy for now. We're such temporal beings in our thought processses. If we happen to snag that nicer, bigger, more luxurious home, we soon start taking all the new space for granted. We get that promotion that we thought we had to have, only to find that it's a letdown. I guess that's what the old cliche', "be careful what you wish for" means.
Forgive me if I've said this before, but God is not opposed to our becoming fiscally and materially wealthy. He's more concerned with it possessing us (1 Tim. 6: 6-10; Luk. 12: 15; and Jno. 10: 10). Greed is a soul eater (Matt. 16: 26). God loves to give His children gifts. He's already given us the most generous gift we could ever receive (Jas. 1: 17-18). Are we truly grateful?
I don't have nearly as much as my peers that make more than I do, but I can honestly say that I want for nothing. In spite of this being a year of unemployment in our household, I still view it as "glass half-full." I can say that because I am blessed in so many ways that money can't buy. Mama taught me how to handle myself in the most formal circumstances even though I'm of humble estate. It gives me confidence. That's priceless. My husband gives unconditional love that I can trust. That's truly priceless. I'm not saying that I wouldn't be pleased to own a newer vehicle or a nicer or bigger home, but they're not priorities with me. In fact, I find the drive to acquire such things a frustrating and malicious cycle. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes thought so too (Eccl. 2: 17-23). Jesus told us where we should invest in Matthew 6: 19-21. Are we sending up nice grade brick for the construction of our eternal homes or worm-eaten barn wood? Remember, U-hauls don't follow hearses.
Back to my glass half-full theory: I get contentment by leading a simpler life (1 Tim. 6: 6-10). I learned how wealthy I was when missionaries would return giving reports of their trips into poverty-stricken, third-world countries. I thought to myself, 'How dare I take my luxuries for granted!' I learned from the smiles of those newly saved souls that wealth is immaterial (Eccl. 12: 13; Luk. 12: 16-21). I vowed to keep putting the kingdom first (Matt. 6: 33 and 1 Tim. 6: 11-16); and to be a good steward of what God has already blessed me with and to help others as much as I can (Rom. 12: 8; Prov. 28: 27; and 2 Cor. 9: 10-12).
Remember, this season loves to cloak itself in "peace on earth, good will toward men," but people will run you over in the aisle to get to the last whatever that's on the shelf. Don't get caught up in the hype. Go home, stoke the fireplace, make some cocoa, and do your shopping via catalog while watching football in your rattiest jammie bottoms and your husband's oversized sweatshirt like I do.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The Danger of Complacency
I have read most everything that I'm aware C. S. Lewis has ever written. I'm impressed because this former atheist converted himself to Christianity by trying to argue against it. His good friend, J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit series, oftentimes debated with him in private while Lewis was a professor at Oxford. Lewis started studying the Bible in an effort to disprove it and wound up believing what he read. That little intro has nothing whatsoever to do with the post I'm about to write except to give you a some background on C. S. Lewis. I will be using excerpts from his writings in this post.
According to Merriam Webster, the definition of complacence is, "satisfaction, esp. self-satisfaction." Complacence should not be confused with contentment. My own personal definition of complacence is, "a laziness borne of apathy; a satisfaction with the mediocrity of the status quo." I guess you can tell I'm peevish about it because I find it so boring!
Consider these excerpts from some of the writings of C. S. Lewis:
"We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
"XII. My Dear Wormwood, ...for this reason I am almost glad to hear that he is still a churchgoer and communicant. I know there are dangers in this; but anything is better than that he should realize the break he has made with the first months of his Christian life. As long as he retains externally the habits of a Christian he can still be made to think of himself as one who has adopted a few new friends and amusements but whose spiritual state is much the same as it was six weeks ago. And while he thinks that, we do not have to contend with the explicit repentance of a definite, fully recognized sin, but only with his vague, though uneasy feeling that he hasn't been doing very well lately... If such a feeling is allowed to live, but not allowed to become irresistable and flower into real repentance, it has one invaluable tendency. It increases the patient's reluctance to think about the enemy (God, emphasis mine) ... They hate every idea that surrounds him... In this state your patient will not omit, but he will increasingly dislike his religious duties. He will think about them as little as he feels he decently can beforehand, and forget them as soon as possible when they're over... You can make him do nothing for long periods... Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts... Your Affectionate Uncle, Screwtape" ~ C. S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters
If you've never read the writings of C. S. Lewis, I highly recommend that you add him to your reading list.
Now, back to the subject at hand: What causes some of us to neglect worship services? Some may have a job with a heathen boss that makes them work on Sundays at the risk of being fired. I think God will understand that situation; but I don't think He'll understand if a person voluntarily works rather than attend church because she wants to make double-time. That's just one hypothetical example of countless other reasons people may choose not to attend worship.
Some people grow weary of keeping up the Christian lifestyle. They'll drop off gradually at first, then as time goes on, their conscience is no longer wounded by it and they become like those Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24: 12-13 regarding the destruction of Jerusalem; and later in verses 36-42 regarding the destruction of the world. Finally, in verses 45-51 of that chapter, Jesus describes the diligent servant who is ever aware that his master can return at any time (see also Rev. 3: 14-22).
The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25: 1-3 illustrates that we are to always be in a state of readiness for the Lord's arrival. That doesn't mean we're to sell all our possessions, quit our jobs, buy white robes, and wait for Him on some mountain top. No, it's a state of inward readiness; being reconciled to God as the need arises knowing that we can be called home anytime. I might not make it to work and back alive today. I should always be ready to meet Him.
Many people are led away from an active Christian life by deceptive spirits (1 Tim. 4: 1, 15-16; and 2 Pet. 2: 20-22). Deceptive spirits can come in the form of supposed friends, so beware.
Some simply give up because they think obedience and commitment to the Lord are too onerous (Rom. 3: 24-25; 5: 1, 2, 8; 6: 11-12; 8: 5-8; Mt. 7: 13-14). The prior passages also tell us that there is no such thing as a perfect person. Don't let a legalistic influence cloud your understanding of your freedoms in Christ (Phil. 3: 12-14). Be sure to exercise temperance and good judgment in matters of opinion (Romans 14).
We need to stop viewing Christianity as a religion. I prefer to call it a total life system. We are to go about our daily lives and make the most of every one, as long as we seek first the kingdom (Mt. 6: 33). Never turn down an opportunity to do the right thing and you'll never have to live with regret (Gal. 6: 9-10; 1 Tim. 6: 17-19).
Love Ya,
God Bless!
According to Merriam Webster, the definition of complacence is, "satisfaction, esp. self-satisfaction." Complacence should not be confused with contentment. My own personal definition of complacence is, "a laziness borne of apathy; a satisfaction with the mediocrity of the status quo." I guess you can tell I'm peevish about it because I find it so boring!
Consider these excerpts from some of the writings of C. S. Lewis:
"We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
"XII. My Dear Wormwood, ...for this reason I am almost glad to hear that he is still a churchgoer and communicant. I know there are dangers in this; but anything is better than that he should realize the break he has made with the first months of his Christian life. As long as he retains externally the habits of a Christian he can still be made to think of himself as one who has adopted a few new friends and amusements but whose spiritual state is much the same as it was six weeks ago. And while he thinks that, we do not have to contend with the explicit repentance of a definite, fully recognized sin, but only with his vague, though uneasy feeling that he hasn't been doing very well lately... If such a feeling is allowed to live, but not allowed to become irresistable and flower into real repentance, it has one invaluable tendency. It increases the patient's reluctance to think about the enemy (God, emphasis mine) ... They hate every idea that surrounds him... In this state your patient will not omit, but he will increasingly dislike his religious duties. He will think about them as little as he feels he decently can beforehand, and forget them as soon as possible when they're over... You can make him do nothing for long periods... Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts... Your Affectionate Uncle, Screwtape" ~ C. S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters
If you've never read the writings of C. S. Lewis, I highly recommend that you add him to your reading list.
Now, back to the subject at hand: What causes some of us to neglect worship services? Some may have a job with a heathen boss that makes them work on Sundays at the risk of being fired. I think God will understand that situation; but I don't think He'll understand if a person voluntarily works rather than attend church because she wants to make double-time. That's just one hypothetical example of countless other reasons people may choose not to attend worship.
Some people grow weary of keeping up the Christian lifestyle. They'll drop off gradually at first, then as time goes on, their conscience is no longer wounded by it and they become like those Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24: 12-13 regarding the destruction of Jerusalem; and later in verses 36-42 regarding the destruction of the world. Finally, in verses 45-51 of that chapter, Jesus describes the diligent servant who is ever aware that his master can return at any time (see also Rev. 3: 14-22).
The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25: 1-3 illustrates that we are to always be in a state of readiness for the Lord's arrival. That doesn't mean we're to sell all our possessions, quit our jobs, buy white robes, and wait for Him on some mountain top. No, it's a state of inward readiness; being reconciled to God as the need arises knowing that we can be called home anytime. I might not make it to work and back alive today. I should always be ready to meet Him.
Many people are led away from an active Christian life by deceptive spirits (1 Tim. 4: 1, 15-16; and 2 Pet. 2: 20-22). Deceptive spirits can come in the form of supposed friends, so beware.
Some simply give up because they think obedience and commitment to the Lord are too onerous (Rom. 3: 24-25; 5: 1, 2, 8; 6: 11-12; 8: 5-8; Mt. 7: 13-14). The prior passages also tell us that there is no such thing as a perfect person. Don't let a legalistic influence cloud your understanding of your freedoms in Christ (Phil. 3: 12-14). Be sure to exercise temperance and good judgment in matters of opinion (Romans 14).
We need to stop viewing Christianity as a religion. I prefer to call it a total life system. We are to go about our daily lives and make the most of every one, as long as we seek first the kingdom (Mt. 6: 33). Never turn down an opportunity to do the right thing and you'll never have to live with regret (Gal. 6: 9-10; 1 Tim. 6: 17-19).
Love Ya,
God Bless!
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