Jesus Freaks
I'm reading through the DC Talk book, "Jesus Freaks". Wow. Two major observations...
1) If any religious group is specified as being responsible for the torture and/or death of Christians, it's muslims. I haven't finished the book yet, but I have yet to read about a new ager or a Catholic or a Buddhist or a wiccan torturing and killing a Christian. Many stories do not specify a religious affiliation, so I'm not saying it's all about muslims killing Christians, but it's predominant.
Didya hear Minnesota voted a muslim into office?
2) While I do not wish to be tortured and burned alive, reading these stories does make me wish my life were lived this on fire (no pun intended) for the Lord. Because we are not much persecuted for Christian faith in America (yet!), we don't have to make a true life or death decision to follow Christ. We can be comfy in our Christianity, but that's not what God wants.
I almost wish (be careful what you wish for) a life that was so extreme it forced me to my knees in prayer, forced me to rely upon the Lord for my very existence, and made me cherish the Bible as I should.
Given the option, would I rather live a short life spreading the Gospel and die a torturous death while praising Jesus or live a comfy life to a ripe old age? Comfy doesn't sound all that appealing, truth be told. I'd rather be a Jesus Freak martyr than the star of "Comfy Christians."
It's easy to think that this life is all we have, or that this is the main attraction. We tend to think a life cut short is a tragedy. In the scheme of things, all our lives are short. What's 20 years or 80 years compared to eternity? Both are a blink of the eye.
Therefore, the goal should not be to live a long life, but to live a God-centric, God-focused, Jesus Freak life.
Lord, while I don't want to pray for a martyr's death, I do want to live the life You want for me. And if that should involve a martyr's death, may You be praised until and with my last breath. Whatever Your plan for my life, use me. I give my life to the Potter's hands. Open my eyes that I may see the plan You have for me...
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
This is how God works...
Okay, it's not how He works all the time, but check it out. Earlier this week I'm looking for a card for a friend. Happen across a card that might make another friend smile since she had a sucky day that day. I have to mail it to her across the country, but figure it'll still make her smile and hopefully she's having better days by the time it arrives.
I'm writing the card out and think "send her money." So I do. She gets it today, emails me to thank me, feels sort of bad since we're not rolling in dough and when I get home... get this... there's a card with a check for me from my aunt -- totally unexpected.
Is that God or what?
Reminds me that God blesses us not so we'll be rich, but so we'll be generous towards others. Personally, it's much more fun to give to others than to hoard for myself, even though I have issues with money. Guess I'm learning to let go.
On a sad note, one of my best buddy's brothers died this week as well as a friend of his -- on the same day no less. We're talking about it and he says one of the things he's realized from these passings is that it doesn't matter what we strive to attain. It's about the people. It's about going golfing with your brother and taking your sister out to breakfast because this life is mighty short and as we get older, it passes even quicker and quicker.
Another reminder to me that it's about the people.
So, here I am, feeling like I'm not living the life God has planned for me, but not knowing that that life should be. I pray for opportunities and insights. No pillars of fire have lit up my night to show me the way, but I also realize that a) sometimes you have to step out in faith towards some things and b) just because I don't feel like I'm doing His will as much as I could/should, that doesn't mean I'm not being used by Him more than I realize.
Lord, here I am. Use me.
Okay, it's not how He works all the time, but check it out. Earlier this week I'm looking for a card for a friend. Happen across a card that might make another friend smile since she had a sucky day that day. I have to mail it to her across the country, but figure it'll still make her smile and hopefully she's having better days by the time it arrives.
I'm writing the card out and think "send her money." So I do. She gets it today, emails me to thank me, feels sort of bad since we're not rolling in dough and when I get home... get this... there's a card with a check for me from my aunt -- totally unexpected.
Is that God or what?
Reminds me that God blesses us not so we'll be rich, but so we'll be generous towards others. Personally, it's much more fun to give to others than to hoard for myself, even though I have issues with money. Guess I'm learning to let go.
On a sad note, one of my best buddy's brothers died this week as well as a friend of his -- on the same day no less. We're talking about it and he says one of the things he's realized from these passings is that it doesn't matter what we strive to attain. It's about the people. It's about going golfing with your brother and taking your sister out to breakfast because this life is mighty short and as we get older, it passes even quicker and quicker.
Another reminder to me that it's about the people.
So, here I am, feeling like I'm not living the life God has planned for me, but not knowing that that life should be. I pray for opportunities and insights. No pillars of fire have lit up my night to show me the way, but I also realize that a) sometimes you have to step out in faith towards some things and b) just because I don't feel like I'm doing His will as much as I could/should, that doesn't mean I'm not being used by Him more than I realize.
Lord, here I am. Use me.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Legalism.
I'm listening to Scott Richards Live on the way home and a man called on behalf of his wife who believes that if you don't go to church, you will go to hell. Now first, there is NO part of this that is meant to mock her. I just want to say that it amazes me the legalistic things people believe just because someone told them it's true. In her case, she was taught by her father since she was a little girl that if you don't go to church, you go to hell.
A couple things I want to say about this. 1) Question authority and 2) Think it through with common sense (again, not mocking her, not belittling her... I'll explain in a moment.)
Question authority. Perhaps more aptly said to "consider the source." If you believe something about the Christian faith, you should know where in the Bible to find supporting scripture. Now, that doesn't mean you should know every chapter and verse (well, perhaps we all *should* do that!) but I'm suggesting you a) know that you've read it in the Bible and b) can find it with a concordance or c) if you can't prove what you believe, look to disprove it in the Scriptures.
Example: Dad has said all your life that you go to hell if you don't go to church. Now you think that if you're sick Sunday and miss church and die on Monday, you go to hell. Friends and family tell you they don't think this is true. Answer: Go ask dad to show you in the Bible where he gets it. When he can't do that or gets offended that you'd even ask, go to a pastor or, as in this case, a call-in radio show. Keep looking until you find or are shown passages that, in context, support or deny what you believe.
Next, learn for yourself the Bible. We're free... read it... buy Bible studies...listen to solid Bible teachers... don't let others define your faith. Spend time in God's Word, spend time with God, and He'll reveal Himself to you.
Common Sense: I realize this is much easier said than done when I'm sitting outside this particular situation, but let's think about it a moment. If you don't go to church, you go to hell. Can I go to any church? Can I go to a church of Satan? Can I go to a wiccan church? Is going to synagogue the same as going to church?
How often must I go to church? Must I attend each service? Some churches have services every day. Some have one per week. How many services attended assure salvation?
What if I'm sick one week? What if my job makes me work every weekend, or even one weekend? Am I going to hell for working?
What is it about 'going' to church that saves me? If I listen to a sermon online from home, is that the same, or must I walk into the church building?
What if I go to church, but sleep through service? Am I still saved or not?
This kind of thinking can be applied to many legalistic views: being baptized as an infant saves you; being Catholic saves you; being Lutheran saves you; being Jewish saves you; upholding 612 laws saves you (except that you cannot uphold 612 laws... sorry, but who do you know who can even keep the Ten Commandments?); being a 'good person' saves you; not murdering anyone saves you; believing everyone goes to heaven saves you; and on and on.
What if a baby dies before being baptized? What if you break one of the Jewish laws or one of the Ten Commandments? How good is good when it comes to being saved? What if you accidentally kill someone?
THINK about what you believe. LOOK UP what you believe. ASK other people and then LOOK UP what they tell you. Test all things, don't just believe all things. You might be right in what you believe, but you may also be wrong. Be assured in what you believe!
I'm listening to Scott Richards Live on the way home and a man called on behalf of his wife who believes that if you don't go to church, you will go to hell. Now first, there is NO part of this that is meant to mock her. I just want to say that it amazes me the legalistic things people believe just because someone told them it's true. In her case, she was taught by her father since she was a little girl that if you don't go to church, you go to hell.
A couple things I want to say about this. 1) Question authority and 2) Think it through with common sense (again, not mocking her, not belittling her... I'll explain in a moment.)
Question authority. Perhaps more aptly said to "consider the source." If you believe something about the Christian faith, you should know where in the Bible to find supporting scripture. Now, that doesn't mean you should know every chapter and verse (well, perhaps we all *should* do that!) but I'm suggesting you a) know that you've read it in the Bible and b) can find it with a concordance or c) if you can't prove what you believe, look to disprove it in the Scriptures.
Example: Dad has said all your life that you go to hell if you don't go to church. Now you think that if you're sick Sunday and miss church and die on Monday, you go to hell. Friends and family tell you they don't think this is true. Answer: Go ask dad to show you in the Bible where he gets it. When he can't do that or gets offended that you'd even ask, go to a pastor or, as in this case, a call-in radio show. Keep looking until you find or are shown passages that, in context, support or deny what you believe.
Next, learn for yourself the Bible. We're free... read it... buy Bible studies...listen to solid Bible teachers... don't let others define your faith. Spend time in God's Word, spend time with God, and He'll reveal Himself to you.
Common Sense: I realize this is much easier said than done when I'm sitting outside this particular situation, but let's think about it a moment. If you don't go to church, you go to hell. Can I go to any church? Can I go to a church of Satan? Can I go to a wiccan church? Is going to synagogue the same as going to church?
How often must I go to church? Must I attend each service? Some churches have services every day. Some have one per week. How many services attended assure salvation?
What if I'm sick one week? What if my job makes me work every weekend, or even one weekend? Am I going to hell for working?
What is it about 'going' to church that saves me? If I listen to a sermon online from home, is that the same, or must I walk into the church building?
What if I go to church, but sleep through service? Am I still saved or not?
This kind of thinking can be applied to many legalistic views: being baptized as an infant saves you; being Catholic saves you; being Lutheran saves you; being Jewish saves you; upholding 612 laws saves you (except that you cannot uphold 612 laws... sorry, but who do you know who can even keep the Ten Commandments?); being a 'good person' saves you; not murdering anyone saves you; believing everyone goes to heaven saves you; and on and on.
What if a baby dies before being baptized? What if you break one of the Jewish laws or one of the Ten Commandments? How good is good when it comes to being saved? What if you accidentally kill someone?
THINK about what you believe. LOOK UP what you believe. ASK other people and then LOOK UP what they tell you. Test all things, don't just believe all things. You might be right in what you believe, but you may also be wrong. Be assured in what you believe!
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