Rules, Rules, and More Rules...

I've had some time to think.  Maybe that's not a good thing.  But it started me wondering... 

Is it worse to add rules to God's word and say it is all His, or to perhaps miss the meaning of scripture in your own personal interpreation?

The past few months...more like 5 months, I've attended a Conservative Mennonite church, but not one that is more lax with their rules.  This church has a fair number of rules, some of which I have expressed my disagreement to before.  From what I understand, these rules are ones added to what the Bible already tells us.  I suppose some of them are meant to clarify or lead the church in unison, but I've started to question many of the rules...

Why is it that some churches add so many man made rules to scripture and say that it is God's Word?  Or that it is "implied" by God's Word? 

For example, the rule that cape dresses are what is considered modest and is what should be worn by the women.  The rule that there is only one correct style/size/color of covering and the rest are wrong.  The rule that patterns (of any size/color) are immodest and therefore should not be worn.  These are just a few rules that I have encountered. 

I haven't decided what to do as far as a church yet...  I would love to find a church that does not add to God's Word, but I know that will not happen.  I also know that I need to seek God's guidance more than I have been on this subject lately.  Hopefully I will be more consistent with my prayer life and relying on God to take control of my life...telling me what He has in store for me, all in His time.  

Blessings in Christ,

 

Thought of the Day...

Christianity is not a democracy.  It is an autocracy.  With God as our one and only leader. 

God gave us the Bible as our guidebook to life.  I do not like to call it a rulebook because God cannot make each one of us do something.  He simply opens the doors for us.  If we listen to what He has to say we will follow His direction for our lives, but if we choose not to listen, He is not going to force us to go the direction He wants us to go.  Prayer and the Bible should be the two things that guide our daily Christian walks with God. 

Blessings in Christ,

 

Will we have talents in Heaven?

I was recently asked the question "do you believe we will take our talents to heaven with us?" Since this is a new thought for me, I hadn't thought of it before being asked the question, I did my best to collect my thoughts and feelings on the subject before answering. But what do you think, will we take our talents with us to heaven?

This is what I said:

I received your question about if I believe we have talents in heaven. Truthfully, I am not sure how I feel about that. Everything I have read said that we will be too busy worshipping God and glorifying Him to be concerned with other things. I am not one to really believe that. I believe we will of course be worshipping and glorifying God, but I do not think that will be the only thing occupying our time. I believe we will be able to fellowship with those who have passed before us as well. Part of worshipping and glorifying God, I believe is using our God-given talents. Will our talents stay the same when we get to heaven? I do not know. I did not think of having talents in heaven until you posed the question; however, since I started thinking about it, I feel that everyone's talents will be equal. Since heaven is not a place with tears, sorrows, grief, or any other negative emotion, it is simply supposed to be a very happy place, I do not see God giving each person a different talent. I think that would lead to jealousy which is not in heaven.

I understand not wanting to go to heaven if you will not have what make you "you" here on earth, there are certain things that would make me not want to go to heaven, but as my roommate said to me tonight... if you are simply going to heaven to see those who passed on before you (as in my case) then is that the right reason for wanting to go? Our primary reason to want to go to heaven should be to glorify God and fellowship with everyone. We should follow the saying JOY...Jesus first, others second and yourself last, even in heaven, so if God chooses to take away our earthly talents and replace them with something else, I think it would be to benefit everyone in heaven that He would do that. It's hard to say exactly what heaven will be like as there is nothing that gives us a definitive answer to a complete picture of heaven in scripture. We get bits and pieces and know enough to know that it will be a happy place where we are free of our restrictions here on earth -- whether they are physical, mental, or emotional -- and we know that it will be a much better place to reside for the rest of eternity than hell.

Blessings in Christ,

In the Middle...

I read an opinion article last week criticizing a family for how they are living. This family is a Conservative Christian family. I guess what should I expect from a liberal media site...? But there was a comment on the article that made sense...unfortunately. The comment was along the lines of why are you critizing and judging a family just because you do not agree with the way they live or their beliefs when you are out there shouting from the rooftop that we need equal rights for all (gays, straight, divorced, marrieds, single, etc.). The commentor agreed on equal rights for all, but I think her point was valid, if you are going to be criticizing one part of society, you cannot be advocating for equal rights for all. Another commentor said something like tolerance seems to be only for sinful lifestyles these days. I think that person may have just hit the nail on the head...but then again, what do I know?

What I don't understand is why, when our country was founded on the principle of religious freedom, would our nation turn towards criticizing those who still live by the Bible and have conservative beliefs. Instead of criticizing them shouldn't we be looking towards these people to see how to better ourselves as individuals? But, instead of doing that, we are out there trying to gain equal rights for everyone, redefining the word "marriage", and criticizing those who do not support those equal rights.

 I am in a personal struggle right now with the way our society has so loosely defined "marriage". My cousin who has choosen to be a lesbian, has decided that she should be allowed to get married and that it will still be a church sanctified wedding. Yes, that is right, her church is allowing her to have her wedding there and her pastor is presiding over it. At first I was told that it was open to everyone but it was not something that we should feel like we have to attend. But now, my mom is telling me I need to put aside my thoughts on the subject and be at my cousins "wedding". I am struggling to know where to draw the line. I will support my cousin in her life, but I will not support the decisions that are sinful in nature. I cannot. If I attend her "wedding" wouldn't that be supporting her sinful lifestyle? To me it is, but I don't know how to address the situation with my mom who knows that I have different views than her as she says. I have said before "love the sinner, hate the sin", and I agree with that, but the hard thing with that is where do you draw the line? How do you support the sinner without it seeming that you are supporting their sin?

Blessings in Christ,

 

The Bible NEVER Changes

Want to know something absolutely WONDERFUL??

The Bible NEVER changes!!

If we want to know the truth, the way, the word of our Lord, we need to open up our Bible and pray that God will lay the meaning of passages in our hearts.

Yes, sometimes that is easier said than done. I know I have my fair share of struggles trying to figure out what a passage is meaning, but I also know that if I pray about it God will tell me what He wants me to know.

People change what the Bible says. We change it to fit what we want it to mean. What we want it to say. We take out passages we decide do not apply to lives today and leave in the passages we wish to obey.

God never changes nor does He waiver from the truth. People change. People waiver from the truth.

The true meaning of the Bible NEVER changes! That means the TRUTH does not change!

Blessings in Christ,

Beatitudes for Women

I recently got a new Bible. It's a NKJV Women's Study Bible. I'm not sure how I feel about the Bible as a whole yet, but I am intrigued by a few things in it.

One thing is a chart they have with "Beatitudes for Women" in it. I'm not sure how the description would differ from those for men, but okay, here it is.

Blessed are...those who are poor in spirit (Matt 5:3)
Character quality: Humility
Description: Stripped of pride and sensitive to God's ministry in their behalf
References: Is 61:1, Luke 4:16-21; 7:22

Blessed are...those who mourn (Matt 5:4)
Character quality: Sensitivity
Description: Responsive to personal sinfulness and tender-hearted toward one another
References: Is 61:2, Eccl 3:1-8, Luke 19:41, John 11:33,35

Blessed are...those who are meek (Matt 5:5)
Character quality: Meekness
Description: Demonstration of self-control and submission
References: Matt 6:33, 1 Pet 3:1-7

Blessed are...those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt 5:6)
Character quality: Obedience
Description: Desire to hear and do the will of God
References: Luke 1:53

Blessed are...those who are merciful (Matt 5:7)
Character quality: Compassion
Description: Outworking of faith to meet the needs of others
References: Luke 1:58

Blessed are...those who are pure in heart (Matt 5:8)
Character quality: Holiness
Description: Lifestyle of set-apartness, including thoughts and actions
References: Ps 24:4-6

Blessed are...those who are peacemakers (Matt 5:9)
Character quality: Reconciliation
Description: Forbearance instead of retaliation; forgivness of wrongs; restoration of fellowship
References: Rom 3:25, Rom 12:18, Eph 4:32, Phil 1:3-5, Titus 3:2, 1 John 1:7

Blessed are...those who are persecuted for righteousness; sake (Matt 5:10)
Character quality: Commitment
Description: Steadfast loyalty that cannot be broken
References: Luke 13:35, 2 Thess 2:15-17, 2 Tim 2:3

Blessed are...those who are reviled and persecuted (Matt 5:11)
Character quality: Patience
Description: Willingness to endure suffering
References: 1 Pet 2:19-21, 1 Pet 3:14, Rev 12:11

Are these things that you see in your life? In other Christian's lives around you? I see some of these in my life, but certainly not to the extent that they should be. Guess that's something that I need to work on.

Blessings in Christ,

The Divine Duet

I started reading "Overcoming Negative Emotions" Sunday. It's kind of interesting, and one thing the author did kind of jumped out at me.

I've been told many times that a realationship with God is not just a one-way street, He will not force us to come to Him. He is always there for us, but we have to go to Him. The author emphasized this point in a different manner than had ever been given to me.

The Divine Duet.

We have a partnership with God. We can see the partnership throughout Scripture between God an dpeople and the benefits we get.

She picks several key scriptures and divides it into three categories.
1. God's part
2. Our part
3. The end result

So take Joshua 1:9 for example.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
She breaks it down to:
God's part: Stay with us wherever we go
Our part: Choose courage; don't tremble
End result: Living in the comfort of His awesome presence

At the end of that chapter, she leaves 9 sections from scripture to be evaluated in that pattern as to "further solidify the 'divine duet' truth in your heart". They are below.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God's part:
Our part:
End result:

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God's part:
Our part:
End result:

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 - 'Therefore come out from their midst and be separate', says the Lord...'And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.'
God's part:
Our part:
End result:

James 4:8 - Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
God's part:
Our part:
End result:

Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
God's part:
Our part:
End result:

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God's part:
Our part:
End result:

Matthew 6:14 - If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
God's part:
Our part:
End result:

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.
God's part:
Our part:
End result:

Matthew 6:25,33 - Do not be worried about yoru life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?...Seek first [God's] kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.
God's part:
Our part:
End result:


Blessings in Christ,